Veronica And Other Friends

r morning, both hands plunged deep into his pockets as was his wont, and looked abo

e well, carrying her

" she cried. Blasi looked on the ground, tu

said, and stuffed his han

aid Judith, "when I've lost

making a fool

osing something, and I was just going to make you a present

to me," said Blasi,

sed to say, "If you keep your hands out of your pockets they will get full, but if you keep them in, your pockets wil

d Blasi, angrily. "Now giv

your hands out of your pockets, and then your earnings woul

ver knows how to take

nd, I have really something good for you," and Judith motioned to him to come nearer. "Would you like

h sides, he had never a clean one for Sunday. He had no one to wash for him. His mother was dead, and his father had enough else to spend

e trees. Now listen; Can you tell me what is going wrong with Dietrich? He never whistles now, he never laughs, an

t. Somebody comes over from Fohrensee and explains it to them. He does not belong there; but I guess you have seen him; he has fiery red hair, and red beard and red face. He has business in Fohrensee once a week, and lives the rest of the time down in the city; and he arranges everything down there, and then brings the account of gains and losses up to them; but it's a good deal more loss than gain. Dietrich puts in more money every time. Jost has nothing to put in but promises. He tells Dietrich all the time that presently the winnings will

to pay your debts, and that it would be well for him to follow your example. Now y

jug and was turning away

t to ask you a question. Do

interest Judith, for

? what do

?" As Blasi spoke he came slowly nearer to Judith. "He ha

o hear it," cried Judith very angry indeed; but she did not

he is hot with anger against him because he has not told her about it himself. Jost says that if he only mentions Dietrich's name before her she looks like a wild-cat in a moment, and he says too t

ng her jug she went off, snorting with anger, in such a rage that

she wants to

long, talking a

she is capable of anyt

, was rather distasteful to Judith as regarded herself, but she liked it towards others. She had planned it all out that Dietrich should marry Veronica soon after the confirmation, that they should set up a pretty little establishment, and be her beloved neighbors. She meant to be their intimate friend and helper,

few months. She had no longer the cheerful expression that she had always been noted for. She had grown very quiet and silent. She even avoided her old and well-tried friend Judi

ht, and that she herself would be surprised and satisfied at the result. He knew from some one who understood it, that it could not fail. He had to draw large sums several times for himself and also for Jost, but he was sanguine that in a short time it would all be paid back, with interest. Gertrude d

ing words had fallen unheeded on the mother's ears; or at least Veronica believed

she felt so miserably anxious, Gertrude hers

d to herself, "Ah! how much longer will this go on?" but she tried hard to believe that it would soon come to an end, and her son would resume hi

g, and it was all for her son's sake. His should be the pleasure and the profit of all. Why could he not be happy in it now? Why was she so worried about him? Dietrich was walking in steep and dangerous paths; that she was sure of, but he knew the straight road and would not his steps turn back to it again? Her thoughts went back to the days when her little Dieterli loved good an

ot good to go to bed bef

u know the way home," she said to herself, and she folded her hands in prayer, f

o a wild tumult. Then many of the voices seemed to scatter in different directions while some sounded as if approaching the garden. A v

bly, "Jost, what is i

ran faster than before, and the second fellow ran too. Th

while. You can go to b

te with terror. "Don't leave me so, but tell me, Blas

rom her when she put a direct question to him, although he wou

k. Two men were killed. Some one st

Speak out!" broke i

of the fellows got enough of it, and lay

is Blas

morning light filled the room, still she sat there listening in trembling anxiety, as she had listened thr