The Ellrichs
talked of Switzerland, and Wilhelm thought timidly of the charms of
the Black Forest. He longed to be back at Hornberg, and he spoke
often of being there together in the near future. He did not mention
marriage, however, and his formal offer had not yet been made.
Loulou thought this very odd, and one day she spoke to her mother
about it. Frau Ellrich, however, caressed her pretty child, and
kissing her on the forehead said:
"It is nothing but modesty. I think it is very nice of him to leave
you in freedom for the whole season."
"I am not free, however."
"I mean before the world, dear child. You are both so young that it
would not matter if you did not take the cares of marriage upon you
for another year."
And to Loulou that was evident.
CHAPTER III.
HEROES.
All over Germany the corn stood high in the fields, ripe for the
sickle. Then suddenly the threatening shadow of war rose in the west
like a black thundercloud in the blue summer sky, filling the
harvest gatherers with anxious forebodings. For fourteen days the
people waited in painful suspense, not knowing whether to take up
the sword or the scythe. Then the cry of destiny came crashing
through the country, terrifying and relieving at the same time: "The
French have declared War!"
That was on July 15, 1870, on a Friday.
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