Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-08-02
Huber'S
Daughter
She Was the Last of His
Children Unmarried. and
lie Could Not Give
Her Up
BY EDITH v. ROSS


la one OF the little villages overlook
ing the Lake OF the Five Cantons In
Switzerland there lived a retired watch.
maker named Huber. For years he
had made watches in Luccrnc. aud
when he had saved enough OF his earn
ings to live without work lie bought
chalet OH the lake shore. near the
city. where he could pass the rest of
his life In ease and comfort.
His children had grown to manhood
and womanhood and left the paternal
abode. except Katrina. lass Of eight
cen. Huber. who was n widower. held
on to her as one will keep his last dol
lar. dreading To have man come near
her lest he take her away from him
But 50 far rs the old man knew there
was no one who wanted her or whom
she wanted.
The truth is that Katrina. knowing
her fathers wish that she should
discourage all sutors. assured him
that she would not leave him In his
old age Indeed. when the matter OF
marriage was preached il was 10y Hn-
her himself. Carl Gotthold about thr-
ty-hvc years old. who had succeeded -
the old mans watch business. went
TO see his former partner one day and
asked for his daughter Huber told
him that Katrina was not to marry.
but remain with him always.
Gotthold who had persuasive
tongue In his head. represented TO HUI
Der that when he died Katrina would
be middle aged woman whom no
man would care to marry and would
thereafter live n lonely life. 'If you
will give her 10 me" he said. II will
come here TO live with you. going into
the city every morning to business and
returning In the evening. You will
thus keep her with you. and when you
die she will not be alone in the world. .
Now. Gotthold had considerable mon
ey that he had inherited from his ia
Their. besides his watch business. His
proposition struck Huber favorably.
though be did not admit II. But be.
fore Gotthold left him he promised &c
think OF the matter He did think Of
II and made up his mind that he had
better accept the proposition. He said
nothing for some time 20 his daughter,
for In Eurone parents have for centu.
ries been accustomed TO arrange mar.
riages for their children.
Katrina kept n boat. and when she
wished 10 go TO any place on or near
the margin Of the lake she would go
down TO the little shed where she kept
IT, take II out and pull out on the hos
ON of the water One evening while
near the middle of the lake sudden
squall came up and overturned hei
boat. She chung 10 II till another boat
approached her and n young man In II
took her aboard. righted her boat anc
pulled his. towing her boat. TO the near
est point Of land. There he built a fire
and she dried his clothing by its
warmth
The two remained there for some
time waiting for the storm 10 subside
then re-cniered the young mans boat
and he pulled her to her landing place
He asked her II he might come and sec
her. and she refused her consent. tell.
Ing him that her father dreaded lt
have any Young man call upon her
But there was another reason. She
did not intend 10 let her father know
that she had been capsized In the mid
die OF the lake She had narrowly as
capped drowning. for though gooo
aNafss.
lakes Is so cold that she could not hav,
possibly swur ashore. Indeed. sh,
was - bcnumbed when help reached
her that she was about 10 let 20 hei
hold. should her father know all this
he would never let her go out in hel
boat again.
Who knows but that II Katrina had
given this young man. Caspar Beck
permission 10 visit her he would never
have awaited himself OF II. BE this
as II may. her refusal. which was moi
dictated by an unwillingncss ON her
part 10 receive him. NJ once filed hin
with u desire TO break through tn.
barrier that stood between them. But
he said nothing 10 her Of this. ap
parently accepting her refusal as final.
and with a goodby he pulled out into
the lake toward his home near IIucerne.
Katrina reached her fathers house
when he was absorbed In Gotthold's
proposition. Consequently she did not
receive MS close n questioning as e.
where she had been during the storm
as might have been expected. But
the old man had no idea OF broachine
the matter concerning her future unit
/ he had definitely made up his mind
on the subject. and his mind was far
from being made up Gotthold knew
that II he got Katrina Il would not be
soon and having made his proposition
waited patiently for the old man e
come 20 n decision. The applicant had
nothing further to do IN the matter. fol
Huber would not he influenced aud
whichever way he decided his decision
B L..