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"The thought of how I love you hurts , neither riches nor crowns, nothing but you, Gretchen How long ago was it I met you first?"

"Teeks"

"Teeks? Is it not years? Have I not always known and loved you?"

"And I! What an empty heart and head were mine till that wonderful day! You were tired and dusty and footsore; you had walked soeese There were almost tears in your eyes, but I knew that your heart was a ain and turned him round to her "And you love me like this?"

"Whatever betide, Lieberherz, whatever befall" And he e was he in the ave a cry He kissed her, not on the lips, but on the fine white forehead, reverently

They proceeded, Gretchen subdued and the vintner silent, until they came to the end of their journey at nuables, alriossips, noisy, obtrusive and provocative Nuone to his chair by the fireside, who listens to the shbors saturninely What was it all about? Had he not seen battles and storms, revolutions and bloodshed? The prattle of children was preferable

Gretchen's grandmother, Fräu Schwarz, owned the house; it was all that barricaded her from poverty's wolves, and, ith sundry taxes and repairs and tenants who paid infrequently, it was little enough Whatever luxuries entered at number forty were procured by Gretchen herself At present the two stories were occupied; the second by a malter and his brood of children, the third by a woround floor of four rooms she reserved for herself As a e fireplace and the great square of bea, was sizable for all domestic purposes Gretchen's pallet stood in a small alcove and the old woman's bed by the left of the fire

Gretchen opened the door, which was unlocked There was no light in the hall She pressed her lover in her ar-roo smoldered di, lighted two candles, then kissed the old woman seated in the one coed stools There was little else in the rooin Mary