Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-28
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

"Ah, yes, the pretty peasant girl al
ways interests you gentlemen Their
was a note of bitterness. did you com
here to- seek her."
This is the first time / ever saw he
here. And let me add evenly, that m
interest In her is not of the order yo
would infer. She is good and patient an,
brave. and my interest in her is i'm
make any explanations. but l do so.''
Pardon me-' The vintner was plainl
abashed.
Granted. But you. you seem to pos
sess a peculiar interest"
The vintner flushed. II have that right.
with an air which rather mystified Car
michael.
That explains everything. do no
recollect seeing you before in the Blacl
Eagle
II am from the north; a vintner. ant
there is plenty of work here in the val
leys late I'm September
THE grape unused Carmichael. "Yo,
will never learn how to press 1t as the!
do in France. 1t is wine there; 1t is vine
gar this side of the Rhine"
France" said the vintner, modify
do you think there will be any Franco
in the future?'
Carmichael laughed. France is an in
durable cosmic malady: 1t will always be
1t mayi be beaten, devastated, thrOttled
but II will not die
You are fond of France?"
Very
do you think it wise to say SO here?'
Il am the American consul: nobod!
minds my opinions.
The American consul" repeated thu
vintner.
Gretchen could now be seen. vending
her return in and out among the cluster
ing tables. She set the tankards dowI
and Carmichael put out a silver crown.
And do not bother about the change
Are all Americans rich?" she asked
soberly. do you never keep the chang
yourselves"
Not when We are in our Sunda!
clothes
Then it is vanity" Gretchen SHOOT
her head wisely.
Mine is worth only four coppers to
night he said.
The vintner laughed pleasantly. Gretchen
looked into his eyes and an echo fount
Carmichael thirstily drank his frs
tankard. thinking: $50 this vintner is il
love with our goose girl? Confound m.
memory! 1t never failed me like this be
fore. would give twenty crowns t
know where l have seen him. It's onl!
the time and place that bothers me, no
the face. fine beer he said aloud
holding up the second tankard.
The vintner raised his; there was al
unconscious grace in the movement.
covert glance at his hand satisfied Car
michael in regard to one thing. He nigh
be vintner. but the hand was as sOf
and well kept as a woman's, for all tina
1t was stained by wind and sunshine.
handsome beggar. whoever and whateve
he was. But q second thought disturbed
him. Could a man with hands like these
mean well toward Gretchen? He was &
thorough man of the world: he knew in
nocence at first glance. and Gretchen
was both innocent and unworldly. Tt
the right man she might be easy prey
Never to a man like Col. Won Wallenstein
whose power and high Office were alike
sinister to any girl of the peasantry; bu
a man in the guise of her own class. o.
snare Gretchen might not be able to fore
see. He would watch this fellow. and a
the first sign OF an evil-Carmichaef:
muscular brown hands opened and shu
ominously. The vintner did not observe
this peculiar expression of the hands
and Carmichaels face was bland
A tankard rapping a table nearby called
Gretchen to her duties. There was some
thing reluctant in her step. in the good
bye glance. in the sudden fall of the
smiling lips.
"She will make some man good wife,
said Carmichael.
The vintner scowled at his tankard.
"He is not sure of her." thought Car
michael. Aloud he said: What funny
world II Isl"
How
Gretchen is beautiful enough to he &
queen and yet she is merely Hebe In &
tavern.
"Hebe?" suspiciously. The peasant i!
always suspicious of anything he doesn
understand.
.Hebe was a cup-bearer to the mytho
logical gods i'm oIden times Carmichae
explained. He had set a trap, but thu
vintner had not fallen into it,
"A fairy story" The vintner nodded
he understood now.
Carmichaels glance once more rested
on the winners hand. He would la,
another trap.
What happened to herr"
oh" said Carmichael. ''she spilled
wine on a god one day and they banishec
her
1T must have been rare vintage"
Il suppose YOU are familiar with al
valleys. Moselle?''
Yes That is fine country"
The old man in tatters sat erect in hi!
chair, but he did not turn his head.
You have served?'
"A little. If 1 could be an officer
should like the army" The vintnel
reached for his pipe which lay on tn
table.
TRY this" urged Carmichael, Offering
his pouch.
This will be good tobacco. 1 know
The winner filled his pipe.
Carmichael followed this gift with many
questions about wines and vintages. ant
hidden in these questions were dozer
clever traps. But the other walked ovel
them, unhesitant, with certainty OF steI
which chagrined the trapper.
BY and by the vintner rose and badt
his table companion a good night. HI
had not offered to buy anything. another
sign puzzling to Carmichael. This fru
gality was purely of the thrifty peasant
But the winner was not ungrateful and hi
expressed many thanks. On his way tt
the door he stopped. whispered into
Gretchen's ear and passed out into tht
black street.
EITHER he is fine actor, or he |:
really what he says he is" Carmichae
was dissatisfied. "Pll stake my chance!
on being President of the United States
which is safe enough as wager. tina
this fellow is not genuine. I'll Watcf
him. I've stumbled upon a pretty TO
nance of some sort but fear that 1t II
but that part of his recollection he aimee
to stir remained fallow. In darkness.
The press in the room was thinning
There were vacant chairs here and ther'
now A carter sauntered past and sa
down unconcernedly at the table occupied
by the old man whose face Carmichae
had not yet seen. The two exchanged
not even so much as a casual nod A lii
tie later butcher approached the same
table and seated himself after the man
ner of the carter. 1t was only when thu
dusty baker came along and repeated thi
procedure. preserving the same silence
that Carmichaers curiosity was enlivened
evanescent order. Undoubtedly they wer,
socialists and this was a little conclave
and the peculiar manner of their meet
ing. the silence and mystery. were purel,