The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-07-25

fatc, liOuD Unit mOIDtHt lie rcSOlNeu 10
accept Gottholds proposition.
The next morning Huber went to In.
cerne, saw GOtthold and told him that
he might have his daughter. The two
went to an attorney. who drew up an
agreement by which Gotthold was to
Katrina, was to leave her with ber
father so long as he lived, and Huber
agreed to give a stipulated amount
for a dowry. Katrina herself, most
concerned Of all. was not consulted.
Indeed, her father, who was very de
liberate, did not tell her Of the ar
rangement for two weeks after 1t had
been made.
During this fortnight Caspar and
Katrina had met frequently on the
lake, where they were not likely to be
observed by her father. The forbid
den fruit, which Is always sweetest,
worked on the emotions Of the two and
stimulated the passion that was grow
ing between them. Katrina, who loved
her father and realized the obedience
required Of her. suffered with her new
~ found pleasure. Her father noticed
that something was troubling her and
concluded to bring about her nuptials
in the hope that they would drive II
away.
The principal cause of Katrina's dis.
tress was that she had got wind Of the
match her father had arranged for her
with Gotthold. She was at liberty to
write her lover. but she dare not re-
ceive letter from him lest it fall into
the hands of her father. As soon as
she learned that she was to be given
to GotthOld she wrote Caspar of the
fact. telling him at the same time that
they must succumb to the plan. There
was but one other alternative-thats she
should refuse to marry any one. re-
naming unwed with her father. he
might consent to the latter alternative,
but that he would consent to her mar
rying Caspar. who was but few
years older than herself and without
any means whatever. was not to be
considered.
On receipt of her letter Caspar aban
doned all caution. He resolved to see
Katrina at once and persuade her to
defy her father. Getting into his boat
he pulled toward her home. reaching il
after dark. Seeing light in her win
dow, which was accessible by means
Of trellis. he climbed it and appeared
before her. Standing on the trellis, he
told her that he would not give her up
and remain alive. The idea Of being
the cause of his death well nigh drove
her to madness. She begged him to so
away and accept the situation Dur
ing the interview he climbed into the
window. Frightened lest he be dis
covered there, she promised him that
IL he would go away she would refuse
to marry any one. the only alternative
her father could be expected to accept.
Caspar, thinking he could not accom-
plish any more, at least at the time,
was about to depart when step was
heard coming toward the room. 1t was
SO real that within few. seconds who
ever was coming would enter. Caspar.
seeing some jewels on bureau. seized
them. Katrina convulsively clutched
his wrist. Huber came in and saw a
man clasping his daughters jewels,
she apparently endeavoring to prevent
his getting away with them. Caspar's
move won. Huber seized him by the
shoulder, and Caspar dropped the jew
els.
LET me CO." he cried. 1T will kill
my poor mother to know that her son
is a thief
Without reply Huber, keeping his
grip on Caspar. took him down the
stairs and out on to the porch. where he
set up shout that aroused his nearest
neighbor. who came to his assistance.
The two took their prisoner to the
basement, where they locked him in
Then Huber returned to his daughter.
whom he found just recovering from
having tainted. She asked what had
become Of the thief and was told that
he was locked in the cellar. In the
he would be taken to Lucerne.
She must go to bed and try to sleep.
for she would be required to go to the
city and appear against the robber.
Katrina begged her father to let the
man go for his mothers sake. but HUI
Der was not so merciful and paid no
attention to her request Within half
an hour the house was closed and
those in 1t supposed to be asleep. There
was but one opening. door to the
room where the prisoner was confined,
and to that Huber had the key.
Katrina lay awake thinking To 60
to Lucerne and appear against her
lover with the evidence that was ex-
pected from her would send him to
prison probably for many years. To
tell the truth would defeat the object
for which her lover had sacrificed him
self-to save her good name. A third
course which might be successfully
carried out suggested itself to her.
Rising, she put on her clothes and
crept downstairs to her fathers room.
The door was ajar, and. going in, she
felt for the chair on which he always
laid his clothes. In his trousers pocket
she found the key to the basement
Going there. she unlocked the door. In
a moment she felt her lovers hand
clasp hers. without word she led