Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/504

Granny.—As if you carried your soul in your mouth, Mr. Andrew!—Humbly kiss your hand, my lady, and yours, too, Mrs. Julia—Holy Mary! In the woods . . . I can’t get my breath!

Andrew.—If an old woman will fly like a young girl, she must expect to get flabbergasted!

Granny.—If you had heard and seen what I have, you might have made still better time, seeing that you are such a verdant youth!

Andrew.—Likely the warden’s dog showed his tongue, and you thought it was at you.

Granny.—I want you to believe me . . . in the woods today . . . I caught a glimpse of . . . our Mr. Hans.

Andrew.—Mr. Hans? The late Mr. Hans!

Ann (With a shudder).—What is that, Granny?

Granny.—Mr. Hans, the lawful heir of this house.

Julia (With an anxious look toward the old man’s cottage).—Sh! Not so loud!

Granny (Unmindful of consequences).—I tell you I saw him!

Ann.—With your own eyes, Granny?

Granny.—Not exactly . . . that is to say . . .

Ann.—Well, then . .

Granny.—But I heard! God is my witness that I heard!

Andrew.—Had you lost your sight that you only heard?

Granny.—How could I see when I was sitting in the woods on a stump, and he somewhere below on the highway. But I am not mistaken! No one else ever called me that way.” “Granny, grandma, grandmother!” My precious!

Andrew.—Perhaps it was the old knight of Shorfstein himself, the robber king of the woods. They say he used to fall for well preserved old ladies like yourself.

Julia.—Andrew!

Granny.—It was no other but the very one, my Hans. Were I to hear it once in a hundred years, I should recognize that voice at once.

Ann (Much perturbed).—You must be mistaken! And, Granny, whether you saw and heard, or only heard, please don’t say a word about it in the village. Do you understand?

Granny.—I understand.

Ann (To Julia).—I am sure she is wrong. We have had proofs of his death . . And yet my knees are all a-tremble.