The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-07
AN OBEDIENT
SON
By ELEANOR MARSH


up under the German patriarchal sys-
tenn of obedience to his parents.
Herr Won Frauenhofen gave out
through friends in different localities
that he would like them to be on the
lookout for a woman with a fortune
who would be willing. for the sake of
adding Won to her name, to marry
his son. In time word came from an
Old friend that he knew Of such a
woman, Gretchen Hauck, but she was
personally very unattractive Her teeth
were bad, some of them having been
lost and not replaced artif1cially; she
was lame and limped when she walk
ed; hair grew on her chin.
Caspars parents now began to en-
deavor to persuade him to accent this
woman whose fortune was represented
to be large enough to enable him to
go to the capital with view to solic-
lt1ng some government position. I'm
fortunately the young man had met
ana fallen III love with the daughter
OF wine manufacturer, and the idea
OF marrying instead a repulsive WON
an even with fortune was more than
even his filial education would stand.
Now, Amelia Schlotter, the girl Cas-
par loved and who returned his love.
was young person Of resource. She
lived near the woman who had offered
70 exchange her marks for a Won and,
going there, spent some time in learn
ing all about her. A letter. came to
Herr Won Frauenhofen from Gretchen
Hauck that before marrying Caspar
she would like to look him over. but
realizing that he was not plentifully
supplied with cash, she would not mt
him to the expense of making the
journey. She had friends in Stuttgart.
where he lived. and was intending to
make them visit During this visit
she would call at the Won Frauenho-
fens and make their acquaintance.
The evening before Fraulein Schlot-
ter's visit Caspar said goodby to Anne
liza. who told him that she would rather
relinquish him than have him con-
stantly blaming himself for having
married her in opposition to his par
ents' will. and they parted, Caspar re-
luctantly promising her that he would
obey them.
The next day a carriage drove I'D to
the Won Frauenhofens' modest resi-
dence. Frau Won Frauenhofen went to
the door to receive the guest, making
an excuse that she would not think of
leaving her on her arrival in the hands
or servant. The truth was that the
Won F'rauenhofens could not afford to
keep a servant Frau Won Frauen-
hofen helped the visitor from her car
rage, who then hobbled into the
house, supported by cane.
Even the father and the mother were
shocked at the lady's appearance. She
had chosen an hour for her call be-
tween daylight and dark, when they
would not get well defined view of
ner, and Frau Won Frauenhofen sus-
pected that she had chosen the time
Tor this very purpose. When the frau
proposed to light the lamps the visitor
on the ground that bright
light hurt her eyes
Caspar stood looking at his proposed |
bride with Indifference, for the loss Of |
Amelia to him absorbed all his |
thoughts, and If he must give her M |
one woman was the same to him as
another After some chat the fran.
lem said to Herr von Frauenhofen.
This is business transaction
mere Is no pretense to love on either
SIDE. | have had hard time in max
ing up my mind with regard to it. and
II go back home without having been
married I shall probably give it I'D. l
am ready for the ceremony now. hut
II not now | cannot promise for the fu-
ture"
The three Won Frauenhofens with
drew to another room for consultation
Herr Won Frauenhofen was strongly
In favor of acting on the principle that
fortune in the hand is better than
one In some other persons possession.
Frau Won Frauenhofen was svmnathet.
&c with her son and left the matter to
MIN. he told them that he had made
up MS mind to obey them, and it mat
Iered not when the ceremony was per-
formed. This settled it, and they ra-
turned to the waiting woman. A min
lster was sent for, and the two were
made one.
NO sooner were they man and wife
than the bride asked to be shown to a
private room for few minutes. When
'he returned she was transformed into
Amelia Schlotter. The black had been
washed off her teeth. a hairy skin
pulled off her chin, and her cane had
9een discarded All looked at her in
wonder. and Caspar started forward
o clasp her In his arms.
Let me explain" she said to him
md then to his parents she added:
We Germans are nothing II NOT
'bedient to our parents Knowing that
FOUR son would be always misera BILE
I he disobeyed you. conceived this
IMPOSITION. But | am happy to in
orm you that | have learned that the
bride intended for your son is not so
oh e. |