The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-12-04


would give Professor Coblesteiner ev.
cry facility to serve him. he started on
bis journey.
Now. Frau Keisewetter had been so
diligent in hunting for girl who
would marry her son that she had tried
every girl living both up and down the
river. Since Ludwig travelled down
the river. he passed the homes Of girls
who had been tried living in that d.
rection. The fact had spread that
young Keisewetter. who was so serious
looking that he could not get wife.
was going to Cologne to have bis dis
position changed, and the girls who
had refused to marry him were watch
ing him from behind blinds as he
went by.
HE would make an excellent model
for tombstone"
"'Tis better to laugh than to cry
Laugh and the world laughs with
you: weep and you weep alone"
II would rather marry an Egyptian
mummy"
His face Is as long as from Coblenz
to Cologne"
These were some Of the remarks Of
the girls who were watching Ludwig.
So Ludwig gloomily journeyed on
down the river. unconscious of the re-
marks made from behind the blinds by
those who had refused him. hoping,
though not expecting. that some good
would result from his journey.
When Ludwig left home it was ex-
pected that he would remain under
Professor Coblesteiner's care for q
week or two. But at the end of that
time the professor wrote Frau Keise-
wetter that he had found In her son
very peculiar patient. one especially
susceptible to his influence. and he
hoped that by hypnotizing him fire.
quently for several months to break
the lugubrious spell that rested upon
him.
At the end Of four months the widow
received letter from the professor
stating that be had ceased to put her
son under hypnotic influence. The
young man had not yet relapsed into
bis former condition. but the professor
could not tell how long this present
one would last He was sending Lud-
wig home to remain there while wait
ing developments.
Frau Keisewetter was so filled with
hope and enthusiasm that she told all
her friends that her son was coming
home cured. The news Travelled. and
before Ludwig left Cologne it had
reached even to that city. The young
man had not ridden half an hour be-
fore he passed the house of Gretchen
Hallub, who was watching for him.
She went out into the road to con-
graduate him. He greeted her with a
smile that she considered the most
beautiful she had ever seen in mans
face. Clasping her hands in hesitancy.
she said:
ooh, Ludwig. how changed you are"
"Ha. ha" gently laughed Ludwig.
but he did not stop, and Gretchen
walked along beside him. talking to
him, he looking down upon her with
that heavenly smile and an occasional
soft "Ha, hav' Then another girl ran
out Of house and added her congratu
lations to those. Of the first. taking the
other side Of his horse from Gretchen.
So Ludwig was kept turning his head
from one side to the other. smiling at
each alternately. while now and then
a musical "Ha, ha!' came from him
like the soft piping of bird.
AS Ludwig proceeded one after an
other the girls who had watched him
from behind blinds on his outward
Journey came forth to congratulate
him, and it seemed as If the hypnotic
spell that had been thrown upon him
by professor Coblesteiner was commu-
nicating itself to each and every girl.
for all the girls followed him. and none
Of them seemed to have the power to
turn back to- her home But an old
curmudgeon who lived on the road and
saw the procession Of girls led by Lud-
wig took his pipe out Of his mouth long
enough to grunt and say:
"Look at those girls! When the man
went to Cologne none Of them wanted
him. Now they all want him, and no
one will give way to the Others"
Frau .Keisewetter was informed OF
the hour her son would arrive and went
out before her house to welcome him.
Lena Stieber had always been her
choice for her sons wife, and she ask
ed Lena to be with her when he came.
So Lena was there waiting with the
widow.
Presently they heard babel Of sweet
voices. above which sounded an occa'
sional merry "Ha, ha!' and, looking up
saw Ludwig ambling along on bis
horse surrounded by every girl who
lived between the vineyard and Co
logne. Strange to say, there was not
that pickering which might have beer
expected from so many girls who
wanted the same man. It was held II
check by the beautiful smile be gave
each one Of them, causing her to be
neve that she was the best beloved
Of all.
When Lena saw this procession sht
turned on her heel and went into thu
l h>...o ,,1xr,{c oorninCr IN RI tho hONS0