The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-28
TIE GOOSE GIRL
A Romantic Stoyby -
HAROLD r1AGGRATHSs1
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r1rH ShS WHY tdEu " ptNo~S ASbaei~
women
But what of women 2. bitingly.
Not such az 1 should care to meet.
VIII you let me by Deaceruily?'
after the toll, after the toil'
Tot late sue started TO run. He
laughed and caught hold of her.
Slowly but irresisuniy he drew her
toward his heart The dead-wnite of
her face should have warned him.
With q supreme effort she freed her
SELF and struck him aeruss the Lace;
and There was a mans strength in the
hat of her hand. Quick as u Hash
she whirIed ranpd and ran UP the
street, he hot upon her heels He was
raging now with pain and chagrin.
The one hope for Gretchen now lay
in the Black Eagle: sand into the
tavern she darted cxcftedly.
Frau Bauer" she cried, gasping
as much in wrath as for lack of
breath. may come behind your
counter"
TO be sure. child. Whatever is
the natter
wallerstein's entrance was suir-
cien,. His hand, held against his
stinging cheek. was teiltale enough
tor the proprietress OF the Black
Eagle.
Shame" she cried Sine knew her
rights. She was not afraid to speak
plainly 70 any officer In The dnchF,
however high he might be placed.
i can not get at you there,
Gretchen" said the colonel. giving To
hia voice that venom which the ladyts
man always has at hand when thwart-
cd In his gallantries. You viii have
20 come hence presently"
She shall stay here all day" de-
clared Frau Bauer decidedly.
II can wait The colonel. now
possessing two smarts- one to his
cheek and one 10 hts vanity. made
for the door. Rut there was bulk
In the doorway formidable enough to
be worth serious contemplation.
What Ia going on here, little goose
girif'' asked the. grizzied old man.
folding his arms round his oak star.
Herr Colonel insulted me"
'-Insnlted you." The colonel
laughed boisterousiy, This was coed;
an officer insult wench of this
order. out of the wayi" he snaried
al the obstruction in tne doorway.
What did he try 10 do to YOU,
Gretchen
..lIe tried 10 kiss me
The man who tries io kiss "a NO
man against her VIII is Always st
heart a coward. said the noun-
taineer.
Tha colonel se,yed the old man By
the shoulder 10 push him aside. The
other never So much as stirred lie
put out one VI his arms and eiasped
the colonel in such & manner that he
gasped lie vas in the clutch or
Carpathian bear.
well, nay little soldier 60 said the
mountaIneer, his voice even zTrc mot
vein showtng III his neck.
II viii kill yeu for this, hrearhea
She colonel heavily.
..So?" The old man thrust him back
several feet, without any visible exer-
zion. He let his stan slide into his
hand.
The moment she colonel felt him
self liberated. hs drew hts saosr ana
iunged toward his assailant. Ihere
was murder In his heart. fhs two
women screamed. The old man laugh
cd He turned the thrust with his
staff. The colonel. throwing caution
to the four winds, surreadared to his
rage lie struck again, Tise 50 aEi
rang against the OAK. This dsxterity
with the staff carried no warning to
the enraged officer. He struck again
and again. Then the old man
struck back The pain In the colonefs
arm was exerujating. His saher rat
tied to the stoie flooring. Before he
could recover the weapon the victor
had put his foot upon IL. lie was still
smiling. as IL the while affair was a
bit OF pastime.
ON his part the colonies blood sud
denly coo'ed. This was no accident,
this msddlng peasant had MT some
time or ether hald a Der IN his hand
and knew how SO use II fannHsis
well. The colonel realized that he
had piayed the foot nicely.
My sword" he demanded, with
as much dignity as he could muster.
win YOU sheathe it," the old man
asked mildly.
Since it is Of no particular use"
bitterly.
wise In the future. and draw 1t only
In the right
.'The gall was bitter on the
coloners tongue. but his head was
evenly balanced now. He damned the
blade into the nabbard.
II should like word or two with
you outside" said the mountaineer.
To what purpose :"
To q good una, AZ you will learn, =
The two Oh them went out.
Grethen. overcome, fell upon Frau
Bauer's neck and wept soundiy. The
whole affair had heen 80 sudden ana
appalling.
Outside the old man laid his hand
on the coloneis arm.
You must never bother her again"
tMust?''
The very word. Listen, and do
mol be 1o0l because YOU nave some
authority on the general stan. You
are Colonel Won Wailenstain; you are
something more besides"
What do YOU infer
II infer nothing. Now and then
there happens strange leakage In the
dukes affairs The man IL well paid.
H ii gambier and one Is always
roaa0nabiy certain that the gambler
will be wanting money. Do you be-
rim 70 understand me, or must be
more explicit 2"
'sWho are your
VINO / am is OF no present con-
sequence. But know who and what
you ara That Is all-sufileient IT
you behave yourself In the future. you
will be allowed to continue In pros
perity. But II you attempt to MODEST
that gtrl again and hear Of II. there
viii So no more gold coming over the
frontier from Jugendheit- Now. do
you understand"
Yves" The colonel experienced
weakness tn the knees.
s'ao But be advised and walk cir-
cnmspcctlyn The speaker showed hts
hack lRseleHtly, end Fe-eHtefed the
Black Eagle.
The Colonel. pale and distract,
stared at the empty door; and he
sAw IN his minds eye Equad or sol
dierE wall. Z single voiley. and