The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-28
AN EXILE'S
RETURN
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER


ing a step behind me. turned and SAY
coming down the road directly benin
me young man with the haxen hal
and blue eyes OF the Saxon. Seem
me, he lifted his hat politely and wa
passing on when, In order to stop him
asked him n question about tn
Catskills. was so struck by his az
pearance that l wished to make
sketch Of him. He was unable TO rem
der the information / asked for, blu
my ruse served Its purpose. He stood
hat In hand. deferentially chatting will
me.
He told me that he was a Germ "A
that he had not been long in America
that he preferred to travel as a pedes
trian and was making a tour through
the Catskill mountains on foot. In
time / made bold to ask him to pose
for me. l dared not offer him money
for doing so, for he seemed too aristo
cratic to receive pay for such serv.
Ice He not only granted my request
but intimated that he would buy the
picture to ship to his father and moth
er In Germany.
While worked on the sketch drew
him on 10 tell me what had brought
him to America. At first / got only
evasive replies to my questions, but /
purposely delayed my work for time to
gain his confidence and at last got the
story. The heir apparent of the prln-
rfn ~ whit ha 1aI
ed himself by a theft. My model
was present at the time. 1t would not
do for their future ruler to bear u
stain, so the party drew lots as to
which one should bear the obloquy. 1t
fell to the man ] was sketching, and
when the theft was discovered he
falsely owned himself the guilty one.
His parents were mobiles: they settled
an annuity upon him, and he left home
to become a wanderer. His allowance
was not sufficient TO enable him to
travel by conveyance, SO he walked.
But he declared he preferred that man.
ner of travel
The meeting with this man occurred
In April. | went into the country ear
lier than city folk, in order to catch
that pale green which only appears on
the foliage either in that month or
May. l agreed 70 part with my sketch,
since he begged so hard for 1t. lie
wished me TO put it in oils for him, and
/ agreed to do so. But to do this pre-
ferred to take II to my studio in New
York, where | could work on 1t to bet
ter advantage. I gave him my address
In the city. and he was to give me
few sittings there while l was making
the transfer from pastel to oils.
1t was the middle of July before I
completed tie sketches | needed for
my winters work and returned to the |
city. / had told my subject he might |
call any time after the Goth of the !
same month. But that was about the |
time that the emperor of Austria de-
clared war on Servia. Whether the |
prospect of general European war In
fuenced my German friend or not I
cannot tell At any rate, he did not
make his appearance. Then the spark
of war became a flame and the fame
confagration. Germany called on her
sons to return to the fatherland to do
military duty.
One evening when the Belgians and
Germans were struggling for the mas
ter Of Liege there was ring at my
bell, and my young friend appeared.
II come not for you to SIT" he said,
"but to bid you goodby. l have found
passage for Europe, and If not inter-
cepted by British or French cruiser
shall probably be able to end my exile
and my loneliness on the field of battle"
AS he spoke the last words his ex- =
pressive face showed sadness that
went straight to my heart.
But the picture, baron" exclaimed,
"wil you not wait for me to finish it?"
1t was not the picture about which I |
was concerned. / chung to a straw to
keep him from his purpose. to urge him Z
TO make a home for himself in Amer
Ca and in time to be happy.
When you hear that am no longer
sensible to disgrace send the sketch
you have made to my parents" ~
/ begged him to alter his resolution, :
1ut failed. Il
Would you have me add one dis 4
,race to another he asked. II am :
enrolled as a soldier, and l must serve -
IS soldier" -
He gave me the address of his par ~ .,
nts, babe me adieu and was gone. ~ =,
The war dragged on. Many Of our q q
Dung women went over to work with ~
he Red Cross. and / finally threw -
own my brush and palette and went
o France to nurse the soldiers.
One day among the German wound
d who were brought in | recognized
ny friend met in the Catskill noun
aims in America. He was badly
He recognized me at once,
nd his eye lit up at seeing me. He
cid up cross made OF gun metal and
aid, Il am no longer disgraced"
Does gallantry in war in Germany
emove such stain as theft?" asked.
"Gallantry in war in Germany" he
splied, removes any stain"
But has not the real thief been call
] upon TO bear the burden that be- |
ngs to himy" |
II am proud to say that l still bear
lat burden. | am conscious of having |
rived my country well. but / have |
rived my prince"
/ wondered at the difference in the
erman and the American mind as In \