Veronica And Other Friends

t before. Never was such excitement known. In every house, at every corner, in a

his bag full of money, when he stopped in at the Rehbock, and joined the game. When the dispute broke out, his big fists took their share in the fray. Not until two of the party l

m Fohrensee shouted into th

Run after them! That's the on

ht, but had mixed with the crowd, tryi

irst of all, Dietrich had disappeared; then several fel

that he, Jost, had told him when he saw him going that there was doubtless good reason for

the Rehbock, and had found that the two men were not dead after all. So he had given or

o one knew whither. Some one whispered, and then it was softly repeated, then louder and louder, that Dietrich would not have taken himself off if he had had a clear conscience; and although nobody seriously believed Dietrich capable of a disgraceful act, yet after awhile it seemed to

ind him, but he could get no clue to his whereabouts. He had entered complaints against Dietrich, and hoped that the hands of the law would succeed in getting track of him. But

against this stream of suspicion. This was Judith. Not timidly and in s

end. Dietrich has no more stolen than I have, and I needn't say more than that. I

beginning. So she decided to apply to Blasi, who, as he had been on the spot, must know all about it. But she had to hunt him up; for since that unlucky evening he had kept himself out of sight. She placed her bucket under the spout at the well, and then took a turn about the kitchen garden beh

ith, sharply, coming upon him be

anything we will share

haps it's worth while for some one who has learned it by the sweat of her brow, to tell you th

another to me, now that Dietrich has gone. There's nothing

o you know w

s call me stupid, I have my eye on him," said Blasi, with angry emphasis. "And I know it was Jost

as if Blasi's information c

me exactly how this thing happened, from the very beginning; and don't

when I went in I noticed at once that something had happened that our two didn't like; for Dietrich sat with his elbows on the table and his head in his hands, and Jost was swearing roundly. Presently Jost said, 'We will double o

; nor to drink when he was not

his great fists. The red-head mixed in the crowd, and stuck close to the cattle-dealer, but he never struck a blow himself; of course not, such a gentleman as he is! I did not see Dietrich knock the Fohrensee fellow down, but just when the storm was most furious, I saw Dietrich run out, and Jost after him, and I thought I saw Jost give Dietrich something. I ran out after them, and I heard Jost advising Dietrich to make off as fast as he could, and send him word where he hid himself. When I came up to them, Jost pushed me back; I couldn't get a word with Dietrich, who ran right off, and Jost pull

me thing and then of course you believe it. A nice set of friends you are-the whole of you. I mean to stir up the ground under you all until I find out where

er anger. He looked after her, shook his

are a very f

er head, she did not wait till to-morrow to put it into execution. And to-day she was bent on giving the cattle deale

she says nothing to me. If 'mum's' t

lease her kind-hearted neighbor who could never get a word with her about what was going on. Veronica and Gertrude were both very silent by nature, about anything that touched them deeply, e

but he has not stolen; I am sure that my son is n

hat he had stolen that money, I should

he workman who had been so many years in her employ and asked if he would help her carry on the business as he had done after her husband's death while Dietrich was still a child. The man was very angry with Dietrich for having thrown away the result of all those years of labor, and at first refused to have anything more t

d early and late; she seemed to have gained new strength a

ies about her, wondering where she could have come from; for they noticed the marked difference between her and the other women of the place. The work which passed through her hands, even if it were most elaborately embroidered, was never crumpled nor soiled, but looked as fresh as if it had not been handled at all. She could obtain any price she chose to set upon her work, and everything she did found ready sale. Moreover, she had been appointed to the place of which Sabina had spoken to her. She was at the head of the great Industrial School for women, where she received so handsome a salary

ew shorter, dusk came on even before she could reach the wood. One bright Saturday afternoon, late in August, Veron

rom desire to spare Gertrude the anxiety of watching for her. Just before she reached the

etting too dark for you to go alone through

Veronica shortly and crossed over to the

done since Dietrich went off. I know as well as you do, that he did wrong in running awa

silent for awhile. She crossed the road again, and presently Jost did the

turn? I often thought of you when Dietrich was risking so much money, and

on with all her might. Jost followed close at her heels. When she had passed throu

d word to me. I shall come to meet you every day, for I will not allow you to go through the wood alone. You may meet all

on and without once looking back, she sprang

ve done with you," muttered Jost, and

despondent attitude, with his hands in his pockets. He was brooding over the melancholy reflection that he had paid away the last penny of the coin that Judith had given him, for last evening's glass at

asked in a friendly tone, "I will r

hance. He opened his eye

a," he said; "I will go thro

, and every evening till the days grow longer again. Will yo

staring at Veronica, w

ly, "I don't see why. Jost is going too, for

lashed forth a fire th

, did I? Who told you

ll of people; and some of them said that you were going to prove th

flushed b

is a master liar. I would tell him myself, but I will never speak to him aga

, I'll come. You may count on me," he replied glee

t his ease, towards the wood, he met Jos

e going?" asked

aged me to," answered Blasi, not at a

hat she was making a fool of you? We had a good laugh together about it last night, she and I, and she said she had a mind to make you go all win

immoderately, and B

occured to him that he could decide by Veronica's air when he met her, whether she had cheated him or not. Jost saw that Blasi was determined no

It was not the look of one who was making a fool of him. Veronica was sincere. She talked kindly with him all

row, and every day

s kindness so gratefully, that it seemed as if he had conferred a great

s friendly way for many a long year. It was not to make fun of him, Jost was a liar as she had said; else why did he run away instead of going with him to meet her? No, he wouldn't be taken in by that fellow, any longer. As they walked along she had asked him all sorts of questions about himself; what his business was, and how he succeeded in it and so on. He had not been able to answer very satisfactorily about his business, for since Confirmation, three years before, he had only been waiting for something to turn up. He had had nothing to do except to ring

e very thing you least expect them to; I've heard that a hundred times. She is after me! Good heavens!" he called

eronica, suggested a farther plan. He decided immediately to become a saddler too,

he never went to the tavern. Blasi went to him and opened his

talk to, instead of merely sitting all day by the side of the silent widow. He said he would speak to his employer,

re only two ways to save this business; either Dietrich must come back and quickly too, and take hold of the business bett

nd he winked so mysteriously first with one eye and then with the other