The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-04

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a clean youngster. this. but there was
something In his eyes that vaguely
disturbed the head winter. 1t was
like naockery more than anything else
The youth recounted his abilities
and Hoffman ives gracious enough to
asSnit tnat he seemed to know what
he was talking about.
I have a letter to you also.v
Ach. We shall be properly irtrC,s
duced now" said Hoffman. growing
! Let me see IT,"
ne saw IT, but with starting eyes
There was. then, something new un-
oer Inc sun "A picker Of grapes, rec
commended by q princess, He turned
the letter Inside out but found no H.
Illumination
'Du iisber Colt You are Leopold
D3etrich?"
"Yes.( Herr
rpw dld you come By this letter ?"
her serene highness is patron Ia
Gretchen. the googe-girI. az whose "a.
quest the recommendation was given
me-" @NeA
| This altered matters. Follow me. F"
said Hoffman.
The two entered the Office.
Can you write?r
"A little. Herr.
Then write your name on this
piece of paper and that Each night
you with present yours with the num-
Der OF pounds. which win be credited
to you. You must bring ii back each
morning. III you lose IT you will be
paid nothing for your labor
Dietrich wrote his name twice. II
was rather hard work, for he screwed
up hts mouth and cramped his fin
gers. StiIl. Hoffman was not wholly
satisfied with hts eyes.
.'6sottlieb," he said to one of tns
men. take him TO terrace ninety
eight. That hasn't been touched yet.
Wen zee what soft OF workman he
is." He spoke TO Dietrich again.
What Is Gretchen to your" For Hofr-
man knew Gretchen: many time sh 9
had filled her basket and drawn her
crowns.
she Is nay sweetheart. Herr" And
there was no mockery in the youth =
eyes as he said this
Take him along. GottIteb. You
will have no further use for this let
ter from her highness. so. I'll keep
II and frame IL and hang II in the
Office" Which showed that Hoffman
himself had had lessons In the gentle
art OF meckery.
Terrace ninety-eight was given over
to small grapes; thua. many punches
had to be picked to fiji the basket
But Dietrich went 10 work with q
: VIII Ills fingers were delft and hia
knife WIS sharp: and by mfdsun he
had turned his sixth basket, which
was fair work. considering.
As Hoffman did not feed his en-
nroyes. Dietrich was Obliged Ia heg
from his co-workers Very willing,
ly they shared with him their coarse
bread and enfons He ate the bread
ard ssmTsa the s,etfrsis IN hts pocket
There was no fdiing. As soon as the
frugal meal was over, the peasants
troopsd away to their respective ter
raceg Once more the youth WAS alone
/ He SET down his basket and laughed,
Was there ever such n nne world
I uoa there ewer feeu more Nkable
adventure? The very danger OF II was
the spice which gave ii flavor. Hf
stretched out his arms az II TO en-
1 brace this world which appeared &c
I ross, so Joyous to his imagination.
Thanks, thanks. You had giver
me youth, and | accept It," he saie
aloud, perhaps addressing that muta'
ble goddess who presides over all fol-
/ lies. Regret 1t in my old age7 MOI
r, I shall have lived for one shor'
month. Youth was given to us 70 en-
JOY, and | propose TO press the grape
10 the final drop. And when grow
old this adventure shall be the toni'
to wine out many wrinkles OF CAR
mad flinx. a Drumming cup. one shor
merry month---and then. tho reckon
ing, How / hate the thought
i He sobered: the laughter went ou
of his eyes and face. Changeful TWEEN
Inv. where 80 many paths reach GU
into the great world. paths straigh
and narrow, of devious tarninxs Whlci
end at precipices, of blind alleys wnicf
lead nowhere and close In bshinni
,T love her, / love hsri'' His fac'
grew bright again, and the wooinf
hlaod ran tingling In his veins An
IL a thief. a scoundrelly thief. De
cause ] have that right common u
all men. to love one woman SOM
day / shall suffer for this some Ca
my heart shah ache; SO be u!
The sun began the downward cir
c,e. the shadows crept eastward ant
/ inperceptibiy grew longer; gra.
tome settled under the stones At his
feet. Sometimes no sang. sometimes
he stood dreaming. His fingers were
/ growing sore and sticky and there
was a twtnge in his back as he shoui-
asred his eighth basket and seram.
hlsd down to the man who weighed
the nick. He was beginning his ninth
] szheE- he saw Gretchen coming alohe
the purple aisle. She waved nanc
in wsicorne, and he sheatnen ms
rrtya. No more work this day TOT
ihfm. He waited -.
what beautiful day. SAID
Gretchen, with a. happy laugh.
..Aye. what a day for ioVe'
And work."
when you I'M that basket"
"Not before2"
On, came the knife and the vint'
rar r,,sed himself furiously Gretch-
on had "A knife Of her own ana sh'
sa;,,aa him. They laughed gaiiy
snip. snip: bunch by nanch 'hs con-
/ tents Of the basket grew
,t-Fs,, &re... ha said ut last. lhat y
wha, / cali work: but II is worth IT.
I ~ewf' <..,.
s.ra,cnen saw that it would be futile
i 49, bald him OFF longer; what she
,..,,,,d not give he would NJ a surety
tafa 90 rhe put her hands behind
,,er mack. closed her eyes and raised
ner chin. He kissed not only tne
lovely mouth. but the eyes and cneeks
aGretchen, you are as good and
\ Yeauttful as an angel"