New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24
AYuletideTal ale

lou WuSt yVuh ocA' cbshiSf BHo0IkD r.
that have so far observed the strietss -
Of social propriety-a curse on themI But-
il not so!-here in the free air Of nst.,.
conform to such artifcialities would Be s..s.
weakness"
With a clear laugh she stretched a ~
hand.
"And il you feel Obliged notwthstauS,.
reprosch me even q little then shall =.
along the reproach. For there is only :.
p.r,on on earth who is to be blamed \.
can one leave so young, so beautiful, = /.
t.llirent a woman TO face alone for mona. !.
a time the perils Of a great city! Hev -
one leave her alone on the most oesutifi /.
winter mornings TO enjoy the splendors II =
romantic NoepHe path? Yes, the only pen,
70 blame for our many encounters (swshn,
a lest, she smiled over at him) is your m
band, gnadigste Frau, who has not suibciest,
kept an eye on you"
She shrank back with a murmur Of Mn
and he broke of short in his banterinr m
versation.
Deg VI gOu, Ho'S yON.
She turned sadly away.
You had no means Of knowing. That h,
pens because the enemy did not leave me e,s
his wedding ring. Ny husband, conrad I
yours, fell at Liege more than year asu, q,
| am here because am paying q tribut
his memory; for we met each other here ssss
wears ago and here we entered into mn,
which was to last forever, but which lsax
only six summers
Pale. with eyes half closed, she stood bsss
him and spoke in her quiet, Tranquil name
Rut he stared at her as il distraught and 4
not even seek to frame word Of apology. b.
only kissed her hand-both hands. Thea b
hurried of.
They did not see each other again as
day. and on the next day they avoided ~.
other. But in the evening under the star,
sky, they met suddenly on the hotel terrace.
I'VE must have souls that are akin, hr
We run across each other only here in h
OPEN" he said in shy, friendly way.
She nodded lightly.
"Oh. yes. We are pretty much alike"
He looked at her in surprise.
But you don't know me and know alnss
nothing about me, gnadige Frau. How a
you judge?"
With an almost roguish expression Of int
est she smiled over at him and jestinsly sE
But last fall you introduced me to rr
entire library. A man can always be judrx
by his taste in books"
His old jollity returned.
1T was with that in view that brought u
books along
She felt that he had scored on her and snix
again.
But he continued
However, it is easier to judge men fra
books than books from mon. would like y
ask this wise young woman here test que
ton. When I first went to the mobilintr
I didn't want to lock my trunk until h|
squeezed into it at least one favorite boa
That one favorite became three favoritss. "a
this wise young woman tell me what nr
volumes I took to war! will say that ! a.
ried none Of the three along in my trips on u|
underground"
He saw Frau Edda's figure trembe slight
She made an impetuous gesture and then ~
in q soft, eager voice:
"If you knew how simple your qussun
seems to me! So simple that might alna
doubt the correctness Of my answer just
cause it comes TO me 50 easily
She drew . deep breath. Then she 10
quickly:
First you put Faust in your trunk
He nodded.
"Then you bethought yourself Of "a"
thustra.'"
He looked at her with admiration
Right again. And the third
Now she glanced at him shyly and WIN
little hesitation.
II don't want to name the third
"Then you know the third, too? But "'n'
you to name it."
Softly her trembling lips whispered:
Ibid you not learn in that hour, As les''s.,
to appreciate the value-the literary vsius-~
the Bible!"
Frau Eddas soft-spoken words souno'' "
him like confession warm from hp y"
heart. What she said worked in his SOU "
the uncovering of a mystery which nse -
long hidden in its depths.
II he kissed her hands now, as ne -"
impulse to do, he knew that he would i'',.
her good opinion. So he drew away irom J.
and plunged his hot hands in the sno" VIZ
lay on the top Of the granite rampant
She also stood there little unnerv'' ~
only slowly recovered strength to turn -"
toward the house.
Frau Edda."
His voice Was deep and his call soun'''
if it had come from afar.