Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-27
I'll RI

occasionally was she obliged 20 use her
stick
he observed her critically. for he
was interested. she was not tall. but
her 1.-THE slenderness gave her the Rp-
pearance OF tallness- Her hands.
rough nailed and sunburnt. were small
and shapely. Her hair. In thick
braid. was the tone Of the heart OF
chestnut bur. and her eyes were Of
that mystifying hazel. sometimes
brown, sometimes gray.
How old are you. Gretchen
II do not know" she answered,
perhaps eighteen. perhaps twenty"
Arriving at length In the city. they
passed through the crooked streets.
Gretchen. where shall I find the
AdlergssseT"
IT will show you. You are Also a
stranger in DreibergT"
Yes"
They took the next turn. and the
weather beaten sign Zum Schwartzen
Adler. hanging IN front OF a frame
house OF many gables. caused the
mountaineer 70 breathe gratefully.
Here my journey ends, Gretchen. at
the Black Eagle" be said
They were passing a clock members
shop. The man from Jugendheit peer
ed in the window. but there was no
clock in sight 10 give him warning Of
the time. and he dared not now look
at his watch. He had a glimpse OF the
ancient clock member himself. however.
huddled over a table upon which sput-
tered a candle. The eyes OF the two
men met. but only for moment. The
mountaineer started 20 cross the street
20 the tavern
Good night. Gretchen. Good luck 20
you and your geese tomorrow"
Thanks. Herr Ludwig. And will
you be long IN the cityT'
That depends; perhaps" adding a
grim smile en- answer 20 grim
thought.
He offered his hand. which she ac-
cepted tustfully. He was a strange
old man. but she liked him. when she
withdrew her hand something cold
and hard remained In her palm. Won
ders Of all the word, IL was a piece OF
gold, Her eyes went up quickly. but
the givcr smiled reassuringly and put
a finger against his lips
But. herr" she demonstrated.
Keep f. I give 10 20 you. DO not
question Providence. and / am her
handmaiden just now. Go along with
YOU"
So Gretchen in mild state OF stupe-
faction turned away. Clat-clat. sang
the little wooden shoes. A plantive
gouk rose as she proddcd a laggard
from the dank gutter. a piece OF gold,
Ciat-clati Clat-clat, Surely this had
been a day Of marvels.
She was regarded with kindly eyes
tim the dark jaws OF the Krumerweg
swallowed up both her and her geese.
Poor little goose giri,r he thought
II she but knew she could make a
bonfire Of "a thousand hearts a dnc
day" lie eyed again the battered
sign. IL was then that ne discerncd
another leaning from the ledge OF the
first story OF the house adjoining the
tavern. It was the furnished shield of
che United States
Two weeks tramping about the
country in this unholy garb. following
false trails half the time. living on
crusts and cold meats, An. you have
led me a merry dance, nephew. but
shall not forgctr
He entered the tavern and applied
for room. haggling over the price.
The nights were chilly. Carmichael
in order TO finish his cigar on the little
balcony fronting his window found II
necessary 10 put on his light overcoat
though he perfectly knew that he was
Ia no manner forced 20 smoke on the
balcony. But the truth was he wanted
clear vision Of the palace and the
lighted windows thereof and Of one in
particular. He had no more sense
than Tom Fool. the abetter Of follies
She was as far removed from him as
the most allen OF the planets. but the
magnet shall ever draw the needle.
and woman shall ever draw a man.
He knew that il was impossible. that
Il grew more impossible day by dav.
and he rallied at himself bitterly and
satirically.
He sighed and teetered his legs
Carmichael sighed for the Princess
Hildegarde. understanding. II was
sigh or curse. and the latter mode OF
expression wastes more vitality.
Arthur Carmichael was Irish. Tie
was born In America, educated there
and elsewhere little while in Paris
a little while az BOnn-and like all
irishmen. he was bancd with the wan
dering foot, for the man who is home
less by choice has a subtle poison IN
his blood. He was at Bonn when the
civil war came. lie went back 20
America and threw himself into the
fight with all the ardor that had made
his forbears famous in the service OF
the worthless Stuarts. 1t wasn't a
question with him Of the mere love Of
fighting, OF tossing the penny. He
knew with which side he wished 70
fight. He Joined the cavalry OF the
north and hammered and fought his
way to a captaincy He was wounded
five times and imprisoned twice AT