Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-09-13

l "hAhtSh 10
Heaven did not write It," she re
pad.
mo. my daughter" said the duke
"Man Is at the bottom Of all the kinks
aud twists ip this short life. not heav
en-. But Herbeck is right. You shall
marry when you will"
The knock of the valet was again
heard.
"Your highness, there is a young
woman outside. peasant. who desires
to speak to her serene highness."
what! She enters the palace with
out any more trouble than this?"
"By my orders, father" said Hide
garde, who gathered that this privlleg'
ed visitor must be Gretchen Of the
Krumerweg. admit her."
Gretchen was ushered in. Her throat
was q little full as she recognized the
three most important persons In the
grand duchy.
"The little goose grip the duke said
half audibly.
"Yes. highness." Gretchen's face
was serious, and her eyes were mourn
full. She carried an envelope In hel
hand tightly.
"Come to me, Gretchen" said the
princess. What is itY
"She Is dead. highness, and I found
this letter under her pillow"
Herbeck took the envelope.
Dead" Hildegarde's eyes filed.
"Who is dead?" demanded the duke.
Emma Schultz, father. Oh, l know
you will forgive me for this deception
She has been In Dreiberg for month
| dying. and | have often stolen out to
see her." She let her tears fall unre-
strained.
The duke stared at the rug. Present
| ly he said: Let her be buried in con.
secrated ground. Wrong or right. that
chapter Is closed. my child. What Is
in the letter, Herbeck?"
Herbeck was strong man. He was
always far removed from tears, but
there was mist over the usual clarity
Of his vision. He ripped down the
flap. 1t was only simple note to heI
serene highness begging her to give
| the inclosed banknotes to one Gretch.
en-, who lived in the Krumerweg. The
| notes represented Il thousand crowns.
"Take them. little goose girl" said
the duke. Your ship has come In.
This will be your dowry."
An icy shiver ran up and down
Gretchen's spine. n shiver Of wonder.
delight, terror. A thousand crowns! A
fortune!
"And / shall add to 1t another thou.
sand" said Hlldegarde. Give them
to me. father"
In all this fortune amounted to lit
tie more than $4OO. but to Gretchen.
frugal and thrifty. to whom single
crown was large sum. to her It rep
resented wealth. She was now the
richest girl in the lower town. Dreams
Of kaleidoscope variety few through
her head. Tears sprang into her eyes.
Que udu tuc po"Si W wv Nv u'o'S 'h.1
weep.
The duke was the first to relieve the
awkwardness Of the moment.
Count, has 1t not occurred to you
that we stand in the presence OF two
very beautiful young women"
Herbeck scrutinized Gretchen with
care. Then he compared her with the
princess. The duke was right. And
the thing which struck him with most
force was that, while each possessed
beauty Individual to herself, 1t was
not opposite. but strangely alike.
When the duke was alone he slowly
passed on to his secretary and opened
a drawer. He laid small bundle on
the desk and united the string. One
by one he ranged the articles-two lit
tie yellow shoes, little cloak trimmed
with ermine. There had been q locket.
but that was now worn by her high
ness.
Hermann Breunner lived in the gran
ite lodge just within the eastern gates
of the royal gardens. He was Wild
over and shared the ample lodge with
the undergraduates and their families.
He was a man Of brooding moods, and
there was no laughter in his withered
heart. He adjusted his heavy specta-
cles and held the note slantingly to-
ward the candle. A note or letter was
singular event in Hermann's life.
This note, left by the porter OF the
Grand hotel, moved him with surprise.
1t requested that he present himself
at o'clock at the Office Of the hotel
and ask to be directed to the room OF
Hans Grumbach, whoever he might be.
He decided to go. Certainly this
man Grumbach did not urge him with
out some definite purpose. The con-
cierge at the hotel, who knew Her.
mann. conducted him to room 10 on
the entresole Hermann Knocked. A
voice bade him enter.
"You Wished to see me?"
yes, OuerlnS cnulr.
"You are Hermann Breunner." be-
gan Grumbach, "and you once had a
brother named Hans"
Hermann grew rigid in his chair. Il
have no brother"
"You did have"
Hermanns head dropped. MY God.
res, ! did have brother. but he was
1 scoundrel."
perhaps he was scoundre! He is
-deadr' softly.
Gods will be done" But Her
mann's face turned lighter.
"As a boy he loved you"
"And did l not love him" said Her
mann fercely. did not worship that
hoy. who was more like son to me
than brotherT
81 knew your brother. knew him
we'll. He was not scoundrel. only
weak. He went to America and be-
came successful in business. he fought
with the north in the war. He was
not a coward. He did his lighting
bravely and honorably. He died facing
the enemy, and his last words were Of
you. He begged your forgiveness. He
lmplored that you forget that black
moment. He was young. he said' and
they offered him thousand crowns.
In a moment of despair he fell"
Despair! Did he confessT
"Yes."