Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-01

will become great: but I do not under
stand. l do not understand" closing her
eyes for q moment.
The vintner sat upright, his chin trucu-
lent. his arm tense.
War he murmured.
Gretchen's heart sank; there was joy
in his voice.
Go on. grandmother" she whispered.
shall / iive?" asked the vintner, whose
belief in prescience till this hour had
been of a negative quality.
There is nothing here save death in
old age; vintner:" Her gnarled hand nc,
by my girl?"
"Grandmother.'' Gretchen remon-
strated.
"Silence."
The vintner withdrew his hand slowly.
rs this the hand of a liar and cheat?
Is it the hand of dishonest man."
There is no dishonesty there; but there
are lines l do not understand. Oh, can
not see everything: it Is like seeing peo-
pie in mist. They pass instantly and
we'll by my girl?''
Before God and His angels l love her:
before all mankind l would gladly declare
it. Gretchen shall never come to harm
at these hands. / swear it,"
II believe you The old woman S
form relaxed It's tenseness.
Thanks. grandmother said Gretchen.
Now read what my hand says"
Inc Ola woman look tue Die
loved Gretchen.
II read that you are gentle and brave
and cheerful. that you have loyal heart
and a pure mind. l read that you are In
love and that some day you will be
happy" smile went over her face. a
kind of winter sunset.
You are not looking at my hand at all.
grandmother said Gretchen. in reproach.
Il do not need, my child. Your life is
written in your face The grand DIM, ;,1
take her away from me?"
will 1t be necessary he returned.
quietly. Have you any objection to
my becoming your foster grandchild.
such as Gretchen ISL
The old woman made no answer. She
closed her eyes and did not open them.
Gretchen motioned that this was a sign
that the interview was ended. But as he
rose to his feet there was sound out
! side. carriage had stopped. Some one
opened the door and began to climb the
stairs The noise ceased only when the
visitor reached the top landing. Then all
became still again.
There is something strange going on
up there said Gretchen, in a whisper.
In what way?" asked the vintner. In
like undertones.
Three times a yelled lady has called
at night. three times a man muff1ed up SO
one could not see his face
Let US not question our twenty-crowns
rent. Gretchen interrupted the grand
mother waking. $50 long as no one is
disturbed. SO long as the police are not
brought to our door, 1t is not our affair.
Leopold. Gretchen. give me your hands"
She placed them one upon the other. then
spread out her hands above their heads.
THE holy mother bring happiness and
good luck to you, Gretchen.
And to me-" said the youth.
Il could not wish you better luck than
to give you Gretchen. Now. leave me-
The vintner picked up his hat and
Gretchen led him to the street.
He hurried away. giving no glance at
the closed carriage, the sleepy driver. the
weary horse. Neither did he heed the
man dressed as a carter who, when he
saw the vintner. turned and followed.
Finally. when the yintner veered into the
Adlergasse. he stopped. his hands cench-
ed. his teeth hard upon each other. He
even leaned against the wall of q house,
his face for the moment hidden in his
arm.
wretch that 1 am. Damnable wretch.
indeed.' He flung down his arm pas
sionately. There will be a God up yon-
der" looking at the stars. He will see
into my heart and know that it is not
bad. only young. Oh. Gretchen
..Gretchen?' The carter stepped into
a shadow and waited.
Carmichael did not enjoy the opera that
night He had missed the first acts and
the last was gruesome and the royal box
one of the benches near the fountains in
the platz. His prolific imagination took
the boundaries. All! That mornings
ride, down the southern path of the
mountains. the black squirrels in the
branches. the red fox in the bushes. the
cup which hung there for the thirsty!