Page:The Dial (Volume 73).djvu/321

Rh "Why not? Isn't it beautiful here?" He pointed through the window at the distant line of hills upon the horizon, and then added jestingly, "And I'll also see to it that you are satisfied on the score of board and lodging."

With sudden decision he arose, offered Katharina his arm, escorted her into the room of his deceased sister, switched on the lamp so that a soft, reddish shimmer of light flowed through the friendly room, and with an air of gentility offered his sweetheart, as it were for a gift, all that her gaze could encompass. Katharina remained silent; at last she shook her head gravely.

"Don't you want to?" Graesler asked tenderly.

"Why, it isn't possible," she responded softly.

"Why? It is quite possible." And, as though he had to combat nothing more in her than a superstitious agitation, he explained, "Everything is quite new, even the wall-paper. It did not look nearly so friendly before." And somewhat hesitantly he added, "I guess it was all fated to turn out this way."

"Don't say that," she answered as though alarmed. Then she looked all around the room, her features brightened, and she ran her hand, as though critically, over the brightly flowered cretonne on the arm-chair which stood near the bed. Then her eyes fell on the light curtains drawn back over the toilet-table and spied a pretty toilet set and some cut-glass phials. While she stood there absorbed, Graesler quickly left the room, to return in a few seconds with her little grip. She turned around, started slightly, smiled half incredulously. He nodded to her; she shook her head. Then, as though finally conquered, she spread her arms out to him. He set the grip down, and with pride and emotion took his sweetheart to his breast.

There followed wonderful times, such as he had hardly ever experienced even in his youth. Like happy newly-weds they remained almost all day long within their snug four walls, solicitously served by the printer's wife; she had accepted this unusual state of affairs the more easily as Doctor Graesler had in the meantime fulfilled her immodest wish and laden her with presents from the wardrobe of his deceased sister. Arm in arm, drawn tenderly close, the young pair would go for walks along the more deserted streets in the evening; and one sunny afternoon they drove into the country in an open carriage, completely unconcerned over the possibility of en-