Year: 1875

marvelously puzzled to find an answer
the riddle why Maitre Seller came to thei
hut four OF five times week.


One day barrel of rikvir, capt.;
wine in those parts, would be sent wit
Maitre Sellers compliments; and, with
a week an admirable present Of sausag
would be received.
| The gravest condemnation of the poo
old judge, and the best proof of the hon
esty of the couple, Y eri and kristine, wer
to be found in the fact that the latter neve
suspected the real basis of all these civil
ties on the part of the smitten old gentle
man.


AS for trout, the good woman Kristin
was weary OF cooking it, so much of tina
fish did the good old judge bring to thu
chalet.


He never said much to Lottie, spoke
like Il father to her when he old say any
thing, and certainly never led the pretty
girl to guess what was in his heart.
Thus life went on until the end of June
when the tall mountain grass was ready
for the scythe


The old judge, however, had never slep
at \ eri's, except upon that one particular
night when he visited the forester


He did not know that he had been pu
in Lottie's room-he supposed that it wa.
the guests chamber.


But upon that particular night in June
he made up his mind to speak to Yeri on
the subject that lay nearest to his heart
and then it was to be found that Judge anC
orator as he was. he could not plead fol
himself


What ails the Old judge tonight ?'
thought the forester ''He does not seem
himself


The time went on, and when the old
Judge decided that he would defer it until
the morning, the forester made the dis
covery that it was dark, and that the moon
would not be up for two hours, SO the good
judge was invited to stop for the night


He had no idea that his remaining put
the primitive family to an Inconvenience
no more than he was aware that he was
taking Lottie's room from her


But, in fact, the young goat-herdess was
carried off to her mothers room for the
night, while the forester made himself
up a bed of furs on the ground of the liv-
ing room.


He thought the girl looked pale and
anxious. but he did not detect that she was
in deep tribuation.


A little while, and the forest hut was
quiet--not a light to be seen.


How they have habit in some parts of
Switzerland of cutting the high grass by
moonlight. the belief being that grass so
cut makes better hay than that which falls
beneath the scythe in sunlight.


The old Judge unable to sleep was turn
ing over in his mind what he should say
on the following day to the forester, when
he heard the tinkle Of COW bells, the lum-
bering OF heavy wagons, and the rattle OF
singing and talking voices. all of which
gradually approached.


Not ignorant of the customs of moon
light hay making, the old Judge found the
sounds rather soothing than not, when he
thought he heard a atapping at the window.


He listened and the sound was repeated


He knew that the window was ten or
twelve feet from the ground, and that it
could only be reached either by ladder
or by climbing the vine which grew on the
wall about the lattice


A thief! What thief would tap at Win
dow? What a thief hope to steal in that
poor place unless


The old judges heart began to beat
high.


And, as though in reply to his thoughts
q soft. pleasant. voice called as the tappn"
was heard again;


'Lotten


He moved off the bed for he had lain
down in his clothes too weary with think
ing over the grand question to undress,
and, drawing near the window, he saw. .
by the light of the moon, which had just
topped the trees, that black-haired and
extremely handsome youth was cllnging
to the vine. his bright eyes eagerly fixed
on the window.


The old Judge silently opened the lattice :;
there was Il low, light laugh, and the
young man leared lill,ciy and biithely into
the room.


"And who have we here ?' suddenly
cried the Judge. pouncing upon the in
truder.


The youth uttered low cry, but offer
ed no resistance.


What thief in the night are YOU p


$50 please your good worship" said q
clear pleasant voice, Il am not thief,
but Wilhelm, only son Of the wood ranger
at Kusnach, and comes to see my Lottie."


''Thy Lottie ?''


SO please you, she is my wife,


"Your wife"


cay, messire, twas an Unterwalden
wedding. 'Tis our custom here in this
canton; and | am but waiting for my ap-
pointment as ranger, which hope to get
by the interest of one Messire Seller. an
ex-iudge, who has been second father
to my Lottie, to tell my father and hers
that we are betrothed, and that we are
ready to marry by sunlight"


'Oh, then, the interest Ieris daughter
has shown in the old Judge comes out of
the hope of the rangershipP"


Ills exactly 50, messire. | am no thief
but an honest man, and Lottle's husband
by the law of Unterwalden =


''How long since ?''


"These fair six weeks -


The very time during which she looked
at him SO earnestly.


He understood the look then.


"Begone, young man; think | may
promise thee thy wife and place"


Next morning he was very grave, but
there was something noble in mis- face that
we are pleased to call resignation.


.'Messire Seller thou art not well, :"
cried the forester


NAY; better than yesterday. BY the
way, i told thee last night | Should have
something to say to thee. 1t is this, |
want thy consent to a marriage between
Lottie, here, and one Wilhelm, only son
of the ranger at Kusnach."


The forester beat his hand upon the table
as Lottie uttered cry, and the good wife
clapped her hands


Never ~ said he; ''tis rare good-for-
naught"


No" said the Judge. ''I'll answer for
him.


Thou. .judge?"


"Yes-he will make her good hus-
band"


''But he has 70 post; he is nothing


Il promise you he shall have the undel
rangership"


We'll, now, messire, when thou plead
est with me It's as thou didst when thou
vert a lawyer, and if my girl says aye


Lottie looked at the judge meaningly
and said: II do not hate him, father" :"


Then it's settled said Yeri.


So the old iudpe went home wearilN q