Short Story Classics (American) Vol. 2

el Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this l

uman beings. The mother, who, in spite of her anxiety for the child's life, had found time to plot for him a career of future magnificence, now suddenly set him apart for literature, because that was the easiest road to fame, and disposed of him in marriage to one of the most distinguished families of the land. She cautiously suggested this to her husband when he came to take his seat at her bedside; but to

bey him, tyrannized over his nurse, and sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his mother's entreaties. On such occasions, the Colonel would hide his face behind his newspaper, and chuckle with delight; it was evident that nature had intended his son for a great military commander. As soon as Ralph himself was old enough to have any thoughts about his future destiny, he made up his mind that he would like to be a p

other child I ever k

ild. I was a very remarkable child too, even if I do say it myself; but, as f

but he forgot to take into account tha

e annoyed him. The day after his having entered the gymnasium, which was to prepare him for the Military Academy, the principal

ervant to carry my book

books," said

rcel of school- books. Colonel Grim and his wife, divining the teacher's intention, agreed that it was a great outrage, but they did not mention the matter to Ralph. Henceforth, however, the boy refused to be accompanied by his servant. A week later he

e of his features was pleasing, his dress irreproachable, and his manners bore no trace of the awkward self-consciousness peculiar to his age. Immediately on his arrival in the capital he hired a suite of rooms in the aristocratic part of the city, and furnished them rather expensively, but in excellent taste. From a bosom friend, whom he met by accident in the restaurant's pavilion in the park, he learned that a pair of antlers, a stuffed eagle, or falcon, and a couple of swords, were indispens

indow, and tried vainly to interest himself in the busy bustle down on the street. It provoked him that everybody else should be so light-hearted, when he was, or at least fancied himself, in trouble. The parlor grew intolerable; he sought refuge in his bedroom. There

, and caught the yellow moonbeams on their glittering shields of snow. She had been reading "Ivanhoe" all the afternoon, until the twilight had overtaken her quite unaware, and now she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to write her

said; then immediately rep

was th

d began to twist it with

" she whispered, at last

re ver

er; he was evidently

write my exercise for me. I ha

indow, and he caught it on the edge

turning over the leaves of the book, althoug

weeks before Christmas,

I excu

If you don't want to write my exercise, you may send the book back a

ck again without the exercise," r

he would return. Then, with a great burst of repent

ude," she sobbed. "But it was Iv

fore the curtain of his window was raised. He greeted her politely; threw a hasty glance around

he flyleaf," he said. "You will probably

obliged to you," sh

stuck in her throat, and threatened to choke her. She had taken

r name?" he asked, carel

rth

I am happy to have ma

er a polite bow, an

is," thought she; "but no one

He found himself frequently glancing over to her window in the hope of catching another glimpse of her face; but the curtain was always drawn down, and Bertha remained invisible. During the second week, ho

d that she was going to school in the city, and boarded with an old la

of his failure in the examination could no longer be kept a secret. The old Colonel flared u

inly racked his brain to remember if any youthful folly of his could possibly have made him enemies among the teachers of the Academy. He at last felt satisfied that it was envy of his own greatness and rapid advancement which had induced the rascals to take vengeance on his son. Ralph reluctantly followed his father back to the country town where the latter was stationed, and the fair-haired Bertha vanished from his horizo

ride

loqu

gen

alage the fair-haired Bertha, quite reg

urned to the capital, and, after having worn out severa

ly known for a few weeks. Nevertheless, he thought of her at odd times, but not enough to disturb his pleasure. The standing of his family, his own handsome appearance, and his immaculate linen opened to him the best houses of the city, and he became a great favorite in s