Barbara Heinemann Landmann - Barbara Receives A Proposal of Marriage.

Barbara Receives A Proposal of Marriage.

Near the end of the first day of her journey, she arrived at a town she had visited before. She was hoping to spend the night there with people she knew. Walking down the street toward their house, she saw a man who seemed to be waiting for her. He asked her what her eventual destination was. She said Worms, which she hope to reach the next day. He said she could get there that night if she rode with him in one of his wagons. He was traveling with two wagons: a cargo wagon loaded with wine; and a passenger wagon loaded with people. She said she was unfamiliar with Worms and did not want to arrive there late at night. He said that he would see to it that she found good lodging and food. Thus she was persuaded and went with him.

On the way to Worms, he told her that he wanted to marry her. He said he was a widower, looking for a good woman to be his wife. She asked him how he could make such a proposal to someone he didn't know. He said that as soon as he saw her, he knew that she was the right person for him. He told her she could ask anyone in the passenger wagon about his reputation.

They arrived in Worms late at night. The man stopped at a very reputable inn, called to the innkeeper, introduced Barbara, and told the innkeeper to give her the best accommodations and to provide her with everything she requested. He said he would pay for it all in the morning. The innkeeper now regarded Barbara with extreme kindness. When Barbara was left alone with the innkeeper, she told him that she wanted nothing but a drink of water and a room in which to spend the night. She asked him to give her the bill at once, so she could continue her journey the first thing in the morning.

At dawn she arose and left the city. Afraid of being overtaken, she hurried along the road to Bergzabern.