Arnold took it out and held it before the old man who beheld
it for some time in silence.
‘ ‘ And you wish to take that away with you ? ” he said at last,
“and perhaps frame it and hang it in your room?”
‘ ‘ And why should I not ? ”
“ May he, father ! ” asked Gertrude.
“ If he does not stay with us,” laughed the mayor, “ I will
have no objection—but there is one thing lacking; you must
draw upon it the funeral procession which we saw a few minutes
ago. ’ ’
“ But what has it to do with Gertrude? ”
“ There is enough space,” said the mayor stubbornly, and you
must put it in or I will not allow you to take my daughter’s
picture with you, for no one will be able to think evil of it when
it has such solemn surroundings. ’ ’
Arnold could not help smiling at this ridiculous proposition,
but the old man seemed so determined to have it thus that he
complied with his request, knowing that he could again erase it.
With practiced hand he quickly sketched the solemn funeral pro
cession on the paper while the entire family watched him in
astonishment.
‘ ‘ Did I reproduce it correctly ? ” he cried as he sprang to his
feet and held it out at full arm’s length.
“Excellent!” exclaimed the mayor, “ I had no idea that you
could do it so rapidly. You and Gertrude may go now and see
the village for it is hardly likely that you will again have an oppor
tunity to see it. Do not be gone later than five o’clock as we will
celebrate a feast tonight. ’ ’
The streets were less quiet than before. The children were
playing and the older persons sat at their doors, but the mist still
rested on the roofs of the houses.
“Is there a burning bog near here? ” asked Arnold,
does not notice such a cloud above the surrounding villages. ’ ’
“It is caused by vapor rising from the ground,” she replied
quietly; “ but have you never heard of Germelshausen ?’ ’
“Never.”
“That is strange, and the village is already so old.”
“The houses look like it, and the people look and act very
different from those in the neighboring towns. And are there no
longer any swallows here ? Ido not see any nests.”
“ One