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diff --git a/33008-h/33008-h.htm b/33008-h/33008-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74ca630 --- /dev/null +++ b/33008-h/33008-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9497 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Villa Eden: The Country-House on the Rhine.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="Berthold Auerbach"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="Roberts Brothers."> +<meta name="Date" content="1871"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +p.center {text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + + +p.section {letter-spacing:1em; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt;} +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:10%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.quote {font-size:90%} + + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} +.space {letter-spacing: 1em; text-align:center; margin-bottom:24pt; margin-top:24pt;} + + +hr.W10 {width:10%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} + + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em; margin-bottom:24pt; font-size:90%; margin-top:24pt} + +.poem { + margin-top: 24pt; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + margin-top:24pt; + } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Landolin, by Berthold Auerbach + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Landolin + +Author: Berthold Auerbach + +Translator: Annie B. Irish + +Release Date: June 28, 2010 [EBook #33008] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LANDOLIN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p>Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p class="hang1">1. Page scan source:<br> +http://books.google.com/books?id=7DYoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP1&dq=Landolin&output=text</p> + +<table style="width:90%; margin-left:5%"> +<tr><td style="border-top:2px solid black; +border-bottom:2px solid black; border-right:2px solid black; border-left:2px solid black;"> +<h2>STANDARD LITERATURE OF THE +EASTERN QUESTION.</h2> + +<p class="hang1"><b>McCOAN'S EGYPT.</b> Egypt As It Is. By <b><span class="sc"> +J. C. McCoan</span></b>. With a Map, taken from +the most recent survey. 8vo. $3.75.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very competent, honest and impartial, and does not praise +merely for +the sake of praising.... A reader will find in it all about Egypt that +he can reasonably wish to know."--<i>London Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<h2>UNIFORM WITH THE ABOVE.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"TWO OF THE FOREMOST BOOKS OF THE YEAR IN VALUE AND +INTEREST."--<i>N. Y. +Evening Post</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>WALLACE'S RUSSIA.</b> With two colored Maps. 8vo. $4.00.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One of the stoutest and most honest pieces of work produced +in our +time, and the man who has produced it ... even if he never does +anything more, will not have lived in vain."--<i>Fortnightly Review</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent and interesting ... worthy of the highest praise +... not a +piece of clever book making, but the result of a large amount of +serious study and thorough research.... We commend his book as a very +valuable account of a very interesting people."--<i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">... "The book is excellent from first to last, whether we +regard its +livelier or its more serious portions."--<i>London Athenæum</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is very seldom that so readable a book as Mr. Wallace's <i> +Russia</i> +contains so much solid information."--<i>London Academy</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The solid and most valuable chapters ... outfit to be read +and re-read +by all who wish to become really and thoroughly acquainted with Russian +institutions. It is impossible to praise them too highly."--<i>London +Times</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>BAKER'S TURKEY.</b> With two colored Maps. 8vo. $4.00.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His book is indispensable to a just and impartial decision on +the +character of the conflict now pending between the two European powers. +It should be read and even studied in connection with the statements in +the daily prints."--<i>N. Y. Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cannot but be regarded as a very useful addition to the +literature of +the 'Eastern Question.' ... He is enough of a politician and farmer to +take a keen interest in the social and administrative economy of the +country, and to be able to offer, as he does in this book, a very clear +and careful account of both."--<i>N. Y. Nation</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His work, like Mr. Wallace's, is in many parts a revelation, +as it has +had no predecessor, which was so founded upon personal observation, and +at the same time so full of that sort of detailed information about the +habits, the customs, the character and the life of the people who form +its subject, which constitutes the best possible explanation of history +and of current events.... Invaluable to the student, profound or +superficial, of Turkish affairs."--<i>N. Y. Evening Post</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of all that he speaks of from personal knowledge, he is a +trustworthy +witness--calm, shrewd, impartial. Of all that he speaks of from +historical and other printed documents, he is a trustworthy +compiler--intelligent, concise and rapid."--<i>London Saturday Review</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>CREASY'S HISTORY OF THE OTTOMAN TURKS: From the Beginning of +their +Empire to the Present Time.</b> By Sir <span class="sc">Edward R. Creasy, M.A.</span>, +author of +"The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World." "Rise and Progress of the +English Constitution," etc. Large 12mo. $2.50.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>GAUTIER'S RUSSIA.</b> 12mo. <i>Reduced to</i> $1.75.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The book is a charming one, and nothing approaching it in +merit has +been written on the outward face of things in Russia.... He sees +pictures where most people find mere dead surfaces, and where common +eyes find the tint of a picture, he constructs a complete work of +art."--<i>Nation</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><b>GAUTIER'S CONSTANTINOPLE.</b> 12mo. <i>Reduced to</i> $1.75.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is never too late in the day to reproduce the sparkling +description +and acute reflections of so brilliant a master of style as the present +author."--<i>N. Y. Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>HENRY HOLT & CO., Publishers, 25 Bond St., N. Y.</i></p> +</td></tr> +</table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BY THE SAME AUTHOR</h2> + +<h3>(<i>Leisure-Hour Series</i>)</h3> +<div style="margin-left:25%"> +<p class="continue">ON THE HEIGHTS. 2 vols.<br> + THE VILLA ON THE RHINE. 2 vols.<br> + BLACK FOREST VILLAGE STORIES.<br> + LITTLE BAREFOOT.<br> + JOSEPH IN THE SNOW.<br> + EDELWEISS.<br> + GERMAN TALES.<br> + WALDFRIED.<br> + THE CONVICTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.<br> + LORLEY AND REINHARD.<br> + ALOYS.<br> + POET AND MERCHANT. + LANDOLIN.</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LEISURE HOUR SERIES.</h3> + +<hr class="W90"> + + +<h1>LANDOLIN</h1> + +<br> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>BERTHOLD AUERBACH</h2> +<h3><i>Author of "On the Heights," "Waldfried," "Villa on the Rhine," etc.</i></h3> +<br> +<h3>TRANSLATED BY</h3> +<h2>ANNIE B. IRISH</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>NEW YORK:</h3> +<h2>HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY</h2> +<h3>1878</h3> + +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<p class="center"><span class="sc">Copyright<br> +1878<br> +By HENRY HOLT.</span></p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h1>LANDOLIN.</h1> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The spring has come again to the hills and valleys of our +home. The day +awakes, a breeze moves strongly through the forest, as if its task were +to carry away the lingering night; the birds begin to twitter, and here +and there an early lark utters his note. Among the pine-trees, with +their fresh green needles, a whispering and rustling is heard. The sun +has risen above the mountaintop, and shines upon the valley; the fields +and meadows are glittering with dew. From the cherry-trees comes a +stream of fragrance, and the hawthorn hedges that blossomed in the +night are rejoicing in the first sunbeams, which penetrate to the very +heart of each floweret.</p> + +<p class="normal">Down in the valley, where the logmen's rafts are floating +rapidly--down +by the saw-mill, where the water dashes over the wheel, and the saw +sounds shrill--a young man with white forehead and sunburnt cheeks +opens a window, looks out, and nods gayly, as if greeting the awakening +day. Presently he appears on the doorstep; he opens his arms wide, as +if to embrace something; he smiles, as though looking at a happy, loved +face. Taking his soldier's cap from his head, and holding it in his +hand, he leaves the house; his step is firm, his bearing erect, and +sincere honesty and candor look from his eyes. He goes through the +meadows toward the forest-crowned hill, not stopping till he reaches +its summit. Pausing there, he looks far into the distance, where a +column of smoke ascends to the cloudless sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, Thoma! Are you still sleeping? Awake! our own +day is +here!" he said in a deep, manly voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now he joyously bounded down the hill, but soon moderated +his step, +and sang a yodel until the birds joined with him, and the echo repeated +the song. Before long he reached the house; by the door stood his +father, scattering bread crumbs to the chickens.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, father!" cried the young man. The father, a +tall, thin +man, looked up with surprise, and answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, up already, Anton? Where have you been?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I? where? Everywhere. In heaven, and in this beautiful world +below. O +father! it has often seemed to me that I should not live to see this +day; that I should die before it came, or that something else would +happen. But now the day is here. And such a day!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man drew the palm of his hand twice, three times, over +his +mouth; for he would have liked to say: "Your mother was just so, so +faint-hearted, and again so confident;" but he kept back the words; he +would not mar his son's happiness; and at last he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, so it is; that's what it is to be young. Tell me, +Anton, +were you so uneasy in the war, and so----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, father, that was quite another thing. Father, I'm afraid +you are +not entirely satisfied with Thoma."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's true, I'm not in love with her, as you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but that's not all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There's nothing else, but for me she is almost too----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too rich, you mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't mean that. No girl is too rich for an honest lad. I +only +meant she is too beautiful. Yes, laugh if you choose; but a wife as +beautiful as she, is a troublesome possession. I think, however, it +will come out all right; she certainly seems more like her mother than +like Landolin. To be sure, she has some of his pride, but I hope not +his ungovernable temper. In old stories we read of wicked giants; +Landolin might have been one of them. It's well that we live in other +times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, father, you make too much of this; my Thoma----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, she has her mother's good disposition. I have been +thinking +it over, and I believe that, all told, I have been fifteen times at +Rotterdam. There are no such violent men as Landolin in Holland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, perhaps it's because they have no mountain streams in +Holland, +only quiet canals."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well! Is there anything that the young people nowadays +do not +know all about? However, I did not mean to say anything bad of Thoma."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you can never do, father. There is one thing about her +that will +please you especially; an untruth has never escaped her lips, and never +will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The world doesn't set much store by that now, but it's a +great thing, +after all. But enough of this. You are a man that can be master. I have +only said this that your mind might be prepared. Enough now. It is a +glorious day, thank God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, glorious indeed," replied Anton; but he did not mean the +weather, +for to-day was to take place, at the spring fair in the city, the +betrothal of the miller's son, Anton, with Thoma (Thomasia), the +daughter of the farmer and former bailiff, Landolin of Reutershöfen.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="normal">High up on the plateau lie Landolin's broad acres. The +buildings stand +by themselves, for the farm-houses of the borough are scattered miles +apart over the hill-sides. Only the dwelling-house, with its shingled +roof, faces the road; its various outbuildings lie back of it, around +an open square, and the pastures and fields extend up the steep +hill-side to the beech wood, whose brown buds are glistening with the +morning dew.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is still early in the morning; no sound is heard in the +farm-yard, +save the noisy splashing of the broad rivulet from the spring. A roof +extends far over the water, for in the winter the cattle are brought +there to drink. Near by are heaps of paving stones, with which a new +drain is to be built through the yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gradually the larks began their songs high in the air; the +sparrows on +the roof twittered; the cows lowed; the horses rattled their halters; +the doves began cooing; the chickens on their roost and the pigs in +their pens all awoke and gave signs of comfort or discomfort. The huge +watch-dog, whose head lay on the threshold of his kennel, lazily opened +his eyes now and then, and closed them again as though he would say, +"What strange sounds; what do they all amount to, compared with a +hearty bark! That's, after all, the most beautiful and sensible noise +in the world, for dogs of my rank never bark without good reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">The first person who came through the yard was the farmer's +stately +wife, well dressed, and still in her prime. It is a well-ordered +household where the master or mistress is the first awake.</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife was a quiet woman, such a one as is called a +"genuine +farmer's wife;" not much more than this could be said of her. She was +industrious, and watchful of her interests, and kept others under +strict control. She held her husband in all fitting honor, as a wife +should, but there was never any thought of love, either in her youth or +now. She was the daughter of a farmer in a neighboring borough, and had +married in the same rank, for she had never dreamed of the possibility +of doing otherwise. During the time that Landolin was bailiff she had +worthily done the honors of the house; she had unbounded confidence in +her husband, and when people came with complaints to her, her usual +answer was: "Just be patient, my husband will make everything right." +She was entirely frank, what she said she meant; but she spoke little, +for much speaking was not befitting a farmer's wife; and as for much +thinking--for that there was no need. A wife must keep the house in +order, economize, and be strictly honest, as the custom is--to think is +quite unnecessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">The head-servant, Tobias, came from the stable-door. The two +nodded to +one another without a word, and yet each had a deep respect for the +other; for, in his place, the head-servant was equally responsible for +the honor of the household; therefore he ranked next after the farmer, +and before the only son, who, in this family, was indeed too young to +be much thought of.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias had already endured fifteen years in this house, for +living here +meant endurance, and during all this time he had never called upon the +farmer's wife for aid against the violence of the master; in his heart +he respected the mistress who never wanted anything for herself, but +who seemed to think herself in the world only that she might be +obedient to her husband. When the farmer drove through the country to +the different gala-day festivals with his beautiful, proud daughter, +his wife thought it only right and a matter of course that she should +be left behind, and she had no longing for the world outside. She had +grown up in a secluded farm-house, where the principal pleasure lay in +being able, while the sun shone on Sunday--to sleep in the afternoon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mistress," began the head-servant, Tobias, "Mistress, may I +ask you a +question?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it true that your daughter----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will be betrothed to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Praise be to God and thanks!" cried the head-servant; "God +forgive me, +I was afraid the master would not give her to anybody, that he would +think nobody good enough for her! Anton Armbruster is a fine, honest +fellow, and in the war he showed himself a brave man; he will be the +husband to----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife interrupted this speech, lest something +unpleasant +about Thoma might be added, and said, "The betrothal is not to be here +at home, it will take place in the city to-day, at the Sword Inn. I am +to go too," she concluded, pleased that so great an honor should be +done her. She walked more quickly than usual to the house, awakened the +maids, and then mounted the stairs to the large guest chamber. There +stood two high bedsteads, but they held bed-clothing enough for six, +for from this house neither feathers nor linen were ever sold. It was +easy enough to see that when the mistress opened the double doors of +the great, gayly-painted wardrobe. She feasted her eyes on the masses +of linen heaped up there; of which that in the left side of the +wardrobe, tied with blue ribbon, was the outfit long ago prepared for +Thoma. The mother laid her hand on it as if in blessing, and her lips +moved.</p> + +<p class="normal">But now she heard footsteps in the living-room, and went down +stairs +again.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="normal">There, where the bright morning light streamed through many +windows, +and the ever-heated porcelain stove spread a pleasant warmth, the +farmer was walking up and down. He was a broad, stately man; his thick +hair was cut short, and the stubble stood upright, which gave his +immense head a certain bull-dog look. From his smoothly-shaven face +looked forth self-esteem, obstinacy, and contempt of the world. He was +still in his shirt sleeves, but otherwise arrayed in holiday attire; +the single-breasted, collarless, velvet coat alone hung on the nail; he +wore high boots, whose tops fell down in folds, showing the white +stockings below the knee-breeches; and also a gay silk vest, buttoned +close to his throat.</p> + +<p class="normal">As his wife entered he nodded silently. Following her came +their son +Peter, a discontented-looking, full-faced young fellow, and then the +servant-men and maids. After grace was said, they sat down to +breakfast. There was no conversation; no one even spoke of the chair +that remained vacant, that of Thoma. Not until the after-grace had been +said, did the peasant speak to Tobias, telling him to take the fat oxen +to the fair.</p> + +<p class="normal">He then sat down in the great arm-chair, not far from the +stove, and +looked toward the door. Thoma may be permitted to make an exception +to-day. Usually she takes great pride in allowing no one to be before +her at work, early or late.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly he arose, and stepping to the porch that led to the +yard, +called to Tobias to take the prize cow also to the fair. "Father," +called a strong girlish voice from the chamber window over the door, +"Father, do you mean to sell the prize cow too?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin half-turned his head, and looked toward the window, +but seemed +to think a reply unnecessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">He called to the servant not to forget to stop at the "Sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">The oxen were led out. They moved as though half asleep, then +stopped +and looked around, as if bidding farewell to the farm-yard. A splendid +cow followed--she was of Simmenthaler stock, but raised here on the +farm. The cow's eyes glistened as though she were conscious that she +had taken the first prize at the last agricultural fair.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went down the broad stone steps into the yard, and +stood +balancing himself first on one foot, then on the other, surveying with +great satisfaction the animals and the comfortable appointments of his +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, father!" called the same strong, girlish voice +from the +veranda. "I could not sleep till near morning. Father, are you really +intending to sell the prize cow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not know as much as I thought," answered Landolin +laughing; "do +you think nothing goes to the fair except to be sold? A man sometimes +likes to show what he owns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're right," answered the girl, shaking back her long, +flowing +yellow hair, "you're right."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the miller was right too. The girl was almost too +beautiful. She +now seated herself upon the door-step, and began braiding her hair, and +singing softly to herself; but she often stopped, and gazed dreamily +into the far distance with her great blue eyes. She was thinking of +Anton, down by the mill in the valley.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Arrayed in the velvet coat, on his head his broad hat adorned +with a +large silver buckle, and in his hand a stout stick, Landolin came +through the door-way and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, I'm going now; I want you and your mother to follow +soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">He started on, but waited a while at the gate, for the common +people +there, who greeted him obsequiously, to pass by; he could not accompany +those who were driving to the fair only a poor little cow or a goat, or +perhaps going empty-handed to make some small purchases. The Galloping +Cooper greeted him as he hastened by. He was a gaunt man, by trade a +cooper, and received this name because he was always in a hurry. The +gamekeeper saluted by touching his hand to his cap. Landolin responded +graciously, for he had appointed the man to his present position when +he was bailiff. Cushion Kate, an old woman with sunburnt face and a red +kerchief tied round her head, who carried a number of gay-colored head +cushions, passed by without greeting; she was angry with Landolin, and +had no other way of expressing it. Not until a wealthy farmer like +himself came up and cried: "Come along, Landolin," did Landolin +condescend to nod, and join his equal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Our story lies in that part of the country where great farms +are still +found in the hands of peasants; these descend by inheritance from one +generation to another; and with them certain lines of social +demarcation which exclude from the farmer's circle those who are styled +the "common people;" even at the inn an unwritten law prescribes that +the farmers should sit at a separate table from the laborers and +mechanics.</p> + +<p class="normal">The village consists of thirty-two farm-houses, that lie +scattered +amidst their broad fields, and of a few small houses collected about +the church, the school-house, and the inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are your women folks?" said Landolin's companion, after +they had +walked silently side by side a good distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are coming after us; they are riding," answered +Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first speaker had indeed heard that something more +important than +the sale of cattle was to take place at the fair in the city to-day; +but, as a discreet and self-controlled farmer, who allowed no one to +meddle in his affairs or to trouble him with impertinent questions, he +said no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two walked a long distance, silent and supercilious, for +each felt +that here were walking two men who together represented three hundred +acres of field and meadow, and nearly as many more of forest-land. At +length the neighbor, who was the younger, and besides was Burgomaster, +asked,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any old hay left?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; sold it all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At a good price?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. You too?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course."</p> + +<p class="normal">They spoke to each other as unconcernedly as though neither +had ever +thought of increasing his acres; but for all that the enchanted +dragon--Speculation--had flown over this peaceful valley, leaving dire +destruction in his track. Each of these men had lost large sums of +money by a recent bank failure, and in American railroad stocks; but +neither was willing to ask the other's sympathy, or even to acknowledge +his own loss; and each thought, "I can bear it better than he."</p> + +<p class="normal">One said to himself, "I am younger than he is," and the other, +"I am +older than he;" one, "How could the young man be so rash?" and the +other, "How could the old man have shown so little experience?" On only +one point did their thoughts agree; both intended to resist temptation +for the future, and to be contented with the slow and sure profits of +their fields.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are a little late," the younger farmer at last said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh," replied Landolin, standing still (he always stood still +when he +spoke), "what I have to buy will wait for me. I only sent my cattle +that the fair might amount to something, as I hear that a great many +Alsace traders are coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other glanced sideways at Landolin, as though he would +have enjoyed +saying, "I know you wish the miller and his son to be there first, and +be waiting for you; but I'll not give you the satisfaction of knowing +that I understand your meanness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's wagon with the two great horses now overtook them. +In it +were seated mother and daughter, in holiday attire. Landolin's +companion bowed quickly many times, and murmured, as he glanced at +Thoma, "It is certainly true; she is the most beautiful girl in the +country." Thoma asked if the men did not wish to ride, for there was a +second seat in the "Schaarenbank," as they here call the <i>Char-à-banc</i>, +which has now taken the place of the old-fashioned coach. The men +declined, and the wagon rolled on.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Mountain and valley must join each other after all. Down by +the brook +Anton was walking with his father, and from the hill-side Thoma was +coming with hers. A few weeks only had passed since Anton and Thoma +gave themselves to each other; but when once the verdure of the +spring-time appears, its spread is strong and unceasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">It came about thus: the snow was lying heavy on the mountains +and in +the ravines, on the fields it had begun to melt, when three young men +in soldiers' caps had come one Sunday to Landolin's gate. They greeted +as a comrade the servant Fidelis, who was currying the horses, and also +wore a soldier's cap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What!" said Fidelis, "do you dare to invite the master's +daughter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, of course."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't believe that she'll consent, or rather that her +father will, +but he won't mind having the honor offered him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come with us, Fidelis," said Anton, "you are one of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other two young men, who were sons of rich farmers like +Landolin, +looked astonished, but said nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you will," answered Fidelis; "just wait till I put my +Sunday coat +on."</p> + +<p class="normal">He accompanied the three to the house, but stopped on the +threshold, +and allowed the farmers' sons to approach his master alone. After +welcoming them, Landolin seated himself quickly and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The son of the farmer, Titus, called the Mountain-king, who +lived on +the other side of the plateau, a tall fellow with broad shoulders and a +boyish face, answered glibly, as though reciting a carefully committed +lesson, that they had come most humbly to invite the maiden Thoma to be +Maid of Honor at the presentation of the flag to the Club.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are to be the other maids of honor?" asked Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My sister and the daughter of the District Forester."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin nodded, and then asked on what day the festival was +to take +place. Anton, who had not before spoken, answered that the fifteenth of +July had been chosen, as it was the anniversary of the declaration of +war, and fortunately happened to fall on Sunday. He added adroitly, +"that they desired to change the day of terror into one of gladness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin looked up, astonished at Anton's temerity in +addressing him; +then fixed his eye on the mountain prince, who, instead of replying +himself, had permitted the miller's son to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You make arrangements far in advance; it's a long time from +now to the +middle of July; but never mind. We thank you for the honor, but we +cannot join you," said Landolin, with decision.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right, we need go only one house farther," quickly +answered the +mountain prince, his face reddening. He was about turning away, when +Anton interrupted:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me; but if I have rightly understood the ex-bailiff, +he is +going to leave the decision to his daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer compressed his lips craftily, then said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; you are right. And mind you, I shall not say a word +to her, +and you shall find that she will give you the same answer that I gave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask why?" inquired the mountain prince.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may ask," answered the peasant, going to the door and +calling to +Thoma to bring wine and something to eat. It seemed as if Thoma had +already prepared this, for she came immediately, the young men +following her movements with admiring eyes. She poured the wine, they +touched their glasses, and Anton had begun to repeat his request, when +she interrupted him:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say no more!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton turned pale, and Thoma blushed; their eyes met, and +Thoma's +eyelids dropped. In a moment, however, she looked up frankly, and +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard all that has been said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo! that's splendid!" cried Anton; "pardon me, but I +imagine there +are few who would so honestly confess that they had been listening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your praise, but it is nothing--that is, I +mean being +honest deserves no praise."</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer shrugged his shoulders, and opened his mouth with +delight. +"He's getting it now," thought he, "she pays in good coin."</p> + +<p class="normal">Turning to her father, Thoma continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, did you really mean that I should do as I choose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly! Whatever you say will be right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I say yes; I accept the honor with thanks."</p> + +<p class="normal">Fidelis, who was standing at the door, bit his lip to keep +from +laughing aloud; and an expression of astonishment spread itself over +the faces of the farmer and the three young men. The mountain-prince +and the other farmer's son thanked Thoma and shook hands with her, but +when Anton offered his hand she turned quickly away, and busied herself +with the plates and glasses.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the farmer's wife had entered, unnoticed, and now, +whilst +they were enjoying the refreshment, spoke to them all, for she knew +their mothers. Turning to Anton, she expressed her sympathy at his +mother's death, saying that she was a most excellent woman, and that +her happiness must have been great indeed when her only son returned +from the war, safe and with honor.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the three young men had gone, the farmer's wife said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton's a splendid fellow, he pleases me best of them all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so too?" the farmer was about to ask his +daughter, but he +refrained, and only answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has a tongue like a lawyer's; the only real substantial +farmer is +Titus's son and heir."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma left the room without a word, and that which Landolin +dreaded +came to pass. From this time Thoma and Anton met often, in public and +alone, in the bright day time and the quiet evening. And when at length +Thoma told her father of her love, he calmly endeavored to show her +that this would be an unequal marriage, and that he had always had +confidence that her pride would not allow her to throw herself away; +as, however, he found that Thoma never wavered in her decision, he was +wise enough to give his consent, thereby securing their gratitude +instead of having to yield without it; for above all else he valued +Thoma's love and respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">So it came to pass, that to-day was to take place the +betrothal of the +haughty Landolin's proud daughter with her honest, but not quite so +well-born lover, Anton.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"Mother!" said Thoma, during the drive, "when father was young +he must +have been the handsomest man in the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was, indeed, but wild and unruly, very wild; you will have +a more +gentle husband. It will be just the opposite with you to what it was +with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma looked up wonderingly; it was unusual for her mother +either to +think or speak so much; and her astonishment increased when her mother +added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your father had been a soldier like Anton, he too would +have +learned to give way to others, and not always think himself the only +person in the world. Heaven forgive me, I was not going to speak of +your father at all, I only meant to tell you that you must now learn to +give up to others; with marriage willfulness must end."</p> + +<p class="normal">The deference with which Thoma had listened at first, +disappeared now +that her mother concluded with advice and censure. She moved her lips +impatiently, but said nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the valley could be heard the din of the fair; the drums +and +trumpets in the show booths, the lowing of the cows and oxen, and the +whinnying of the horses in the broad meadow by the river side.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the foot of the mountain, where the signpost is, Thoma +beckoned to +her a beggar, who sat by the roadside, holding out his handless arm, +and gave him a bright, new mark.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That pleases me," said the mother, as they drove on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma answered with a voice clear as the morning:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, mother, on this, my day of happiness, I cannot pass the +first +beggar I meet without giving him something; and see," she cried, +looking back, "see, he is making signs to us; he has just found out how +much he received, and is showing it to the others. If I could only make +the whole world happy, as happy as I am! O mother, it must be terrible! +There sits a poor man appealing with such pitiful glances; men pass by, +one gives nothing, the others give nothing, it is too much trouble to +put their hands into their pockets and open their purses, and the poor +man begs with empty mouth."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother nodded with a happy face, and wanted to say: "You +do not +take after your father in everything, in some things you are like me," +but she suppressed the words. She was still vexed for having so far +forgotten herself as to say anything against her husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, Thoma! Good morning, mother!" suddenly sounded +in +greeting the clear voice of Anton; he held out his hand and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, jump out and walk with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you ride with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll walk beside you," replied Anton, and rested his hand +upon the +railing of the wagon, as he walked along.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother made excuses for having kept him waiting, and said +that the +farmer was following on foot.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Upon entering the fair ground, Landolin was immediately +greeted by the +farmer Titus, called the Mountain-king, whose estate lay on the other +side of the plateau. Titus offered him a large sum for the prize cow, +which Landolin haughtily refused. He was soon surrounded by a crowd of +farmers, who, partly in earnest, and partly in jest, charged him with +having ruined the fair by exhibiting her, for the other cattle looked +small and poor in comparison. Landolin smiled; he had brought her +merely to gratify his pride, but he was very well pleased to find that +he had been able to arouse the envy of others; and the annoyance of the +Mountain-king especially pleased him, as they had long been rivals. The +other farmers had really no ambition, their thoughts and efforts were +centered on gain. This was the case with the rivals, too, but in +addition to this, they desired a special recognition of their superior +importance.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Mountain-king Titus had this advantage, he despised the +world, and +let it be so understood; the man who does this the world runs after. He +acted as if (and perhaps it was true) he desired nothing from any one; +he had the indifference of the pretentious peasant; he might hear his +name spoken behind him seven times without so much as turning his head +to find out who spoke, or what was said of him. He rarely talked with +any one, but when he did, the person addressed was happy; "The +Mountain-king has just spoken to me, and so long, and so politely!"--he +who could say this was elated with the honor. Landolin, on the other +hand, despised the world no less than the Mountain-king; but he longed +for applause and homage, and when it was not voluntarily offered him, +he endeavored to compel it. He was boastful, and displayed his +condescension, or even his anxiety for the good opinion of this and +that one, and by that very means trifled away the desired standing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin and the Mountain-king treated each other like +friends, while +at the same time they hated each other profoundly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Presently they stood in the presence of a third person, to +whom each of +them was bound to do honor. Pfann, the Circuit Judge, a man with a fine +countenance, wearing gold spectacles, was walking with his wife on his +arm, through the crowded fair, bowing here and there. He now came up to +the two men, and told them that on the next day they would be summoned +to serve on the jury.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sorry it cannot be arranged otherwise," he added, "but +the next +term of court falls during harvest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's always so," cried Landolin; "in return for paying high +taxes, we +have the privilege of sitting for weeks at a time, nailed to a bench."</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought that he had spoken not only with dignity, but with +general +approval, and he looked around for signs of assent; but nobody nodded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus, on the other hand, was silent, and his silence was more +weighty +than Landolin's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We may congratulate you," said the judge's wife to Landolin; +"I +hear your daughter is to be betrothed to the miller's son, Anton, +of Rothenkirchen. He is an excellent young man, intelligent, +well-educated, and brave."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin did not appear to be altogether satisfied with this +praise, +and could not help saying, vaingloriously, even at the expense of his +future son-in-law:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the young folks are so desperately fond of each other, +that I +have given my consent. Thank God, I am able to take a son-in-law of +lower rank; and, indeed, he might have been an officer. But I must say +farewell; I have waited too long, they are expecting me at the +'Sword.'" He stepped quickly away.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the Circuit Judge had found his way through the crowd to +a quiet +corner, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you have a sample of your honest-hearted peasantry. +Utter +stupidity or cunning roughness is their alternative. The roughness hits +at random, without reflecting how the smitten feels the blow. Landolin +is not ashamed to belittle the brave boy his daughter is to marry, +merely to make himself appear bigger by his side."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I still hold," answered his wife, "that the hearts of these +people are +true, and are often better than their words and deeds. Landolin did not +really wish to speak disparagingly of Anton; he only wanted to set down +his old rival, Titus; for Titus, too, would have been glad to have +Anton for a son-in-law."</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge was astonished at this new information from his +wife; but at +her charitable judgment, which nothing could shake, he had long since +left off being astonished.</p> + +<p class="normal">They wandered on; and as they proceeded, the greetings given +the wife +were, if possible, more earnest than those given the judge himself. She +nodded to some with special friendliness, and to a few she gave a +pleasant passing word.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">On one side of the river was the noise and bustle of the +crowded fair; +on the other, in the shade of the elms and willows, hidden from all the +world, sat Anton and Thoma, caressing each other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now be sensible, and say something," said Thoma at length.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, I cannot talk, and I don't need to, for everything I +would say +you know already," replied Anton. He told, however, of his awakening +before day, of his morning walk, and how he had greeted Thoma from the +far distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">She laughed gladly, and tears came to her eyes. She was +certainly +sincerely fond of Anton, but the deep, gushing love which now burst +from him she had scarcely dreamed of.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yonder is the fair," said he, "anything can be got there. I +should +like to buy something for you, but it would be useless; the world, the +whole world, is yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite the whole," she laughed, "but you are right, don't +buy +anything for me. All I want is your good heart; that I have, and such a +one all the gold in the world couldn't buy. Do you know what pleases me +best in all you say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me what it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe every word you speak. I don't believe you could +possibly +tell an untruth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again they were silent until, as a happy smile broke over +Anton's face, +Thoma said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you smile? Your soul laughs out. Tell me why!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, love; doesn't it seem as if our river were more +joyous than +usual to-day? I've grown up on its banks, you know. When I was in the +war, I often fancied at night I heard it rushing. It made me homesick. +I was thinking just now, darling, that the little fishes must be happy +down there in the water."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be hard, Anton, for me to grow accustomed to it. I +have a real +horror of water. When I was a very little child, one of our servants +was drowned, and they told me that the river must have its sacrifice +every year, and after three days it would give up the dead; so I hated +it. But nonsense, what foolish talk! See, there comes Titus's wagon, +with his son and daughter. The son wanted me and the daughter wanted +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">She arose and waved her hand to them, and then called out, +taking care +they should not hear her:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Buy yourselves dolls at the fair."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton remained seated, and a cloud passed over his face, for +it pained +him that Thoma should greet them so scornfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">A messenger came from the inn to say that Landolin had +arrived. The +hostess met them at the door, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your friends are all up stairs in the corner room. Good luck +to you!"</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The hostess of the "Sword"--it so happens that every one +speaks of the +hostess and not of the host, and her husband seems to be quite +satisfied with it--this wise woman, according to a plan of her own, had +changed and enlarged the old inn until it was twice as large as before. +For, as soon as a spot had been fixed upon for a railway station, she +had a new building added on the side toward the river, with a large +summer hall and verandas, where the people of rank in the village could +hold their summer gatherings in the open air. The corner room of the +house, on the town side, she arranged especially for betrothal +festivities. There was a great mirror, in which people could survey +themselves at full length--to be sure not always an advantage. There +were colored prints of young lovers, of marriages, of christenings, and +of golden weddings.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the table sat the miller and Landolin's wife, and waited +long for +the farmer. The miller was annoyed, and Landolin's wife did not know +what to say, for she could not deny that her husband probably kept the +miller waiting intentionally, in order to show him who was the more +important.</p> + +<p class="normal">The miller had an earnest, good-natured face, and a +thoughtfulness in +every word and gesture. He had a high regard for the farmer's wife, and +expressed it to her. She looked down, abashed, for she was not used to +being praised, and became silent. The miller, too, ceased talking, and +whistled gently to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Landolin's step was heard, and following him came +Thoma and +Anton. Landolin shook hands with the miller.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been waiting a long time," the miller said.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin did not consider it necessary to excuse himself; he +thought +people must be satisfied with all he did, and the way in which he did +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">The miller poured out some of the wine which stood on the +table, and, +after touching glasses, Landolin said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have really nothing more to arrange. You know what +division Peter +must make when he takes the estate. The money I have promised I will +pay down the day before the wedding. The five acres of forest which I +have bought, which border on your land, and are properly no part of my +farm, I now give to Thoma to be hers in her own right. You have no one +but your son, so there is nothing more to be said. Of course, you will +not marry again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The miller smiled sadly, and said at length:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then give your hands to one another in God's name, and may +happiness +and blessing be yours for all time."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lovers clasped each other's hands firmly, and so did the +fathers +and mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">The betrothed drank from the same glass; and it was a good +omen that +Thoma did not take from his hand the glass, which Anton held out to +her, but drank whilst he held it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin might have spoken, but he remained silent. It is not +necessary +for him to speak. Is he not Landolin? He even looked suspiciously at +the miller. He did not esteem him highly, for every one praised his +good nature, and Landolin was inclined to consider good nature as one +kind of rascality.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father-in-law," said Anton, "whenever you come to our house +you will +find joy there, for as surely as our brook will never flow up the +mountain side, so surely will Thoma's thoughts never turn toward her +old home in discontent."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin opened his eyes at this speech; but his only answer +was a tap +on the shoulder. The miller said, with a trembling voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes; 'twill be beautiful to have a young woman in our +house once +more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma will hold you in all honor," said the farmer's wife. +"She honors +her parents, and that makes sound housewives."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin shrugged his shoulders slightly, when the miller +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm very sure, Landolin, that your daughter is not so +hot-tempered as +you and your side of the house have always been."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin smiled, well pleased that people should think him +hot-tempered, for this made them fear and respect him.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="normal">As Landolin still remained silent, the miller felt called upon +to +speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can well understand that it must be hard for you to let +your +daughter leave your house; we found it so when our only daughter was +married. My wife--it is from her that Anton gets his ready speech--said +that when the daughter who sang as she went up and down the stairs is +gone, then it seems that all the cheerfulness of the house has flown +away like a bird."</p> + +<p class="normal">At these stupid, soft-hearted words, Landolin gave the miller +a +disdainful look. But he did not notice this, and went on in a voice too +low for the lovers to hear:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I needn't praise Anton to you any more. He belongs to you as +well as +to me. He is well educated; the military authorities wished to keep him +in the army. They said he would be made an officer, but that is not for +one of us. It will not be long before your daughter is the wife of the +bailiff. My wife, thank God, lived to see him come home from the war +with the great medal of honor. I'm sure you are glad of it too. A man +with that medal is worth much, I do not mean in money, but wherever he +goes he is esteemed and respected, and needn't stand back for anybody, +no matter who he is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We needn't do that, either," said Landolin, looking at the +miller +arrogantly. He laughed aloud when the miller added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The judge's wife put it well when she said, 'Wherever he goes +he has +the honorable recognition of the highest rank in the whole kingdom.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hoho!" cried Landolin, so loudly that even the lovers +started. There +was nothing more said; for, as the fair was over, the miller's +relatives and the brother of Landolin's wife came in. The farmer's wife +greeted her brother affectionately; and Landolin shook hands with him, +and bade him welcome. He and his brother-in-law were enemies, as the +brother-in-law sided with Titus; but to-day it was only proper that he +should be invited to the family festival.</p> + +<p class="normal">They sat down together to the feast, when the miller remarked +that next +Sunday he would go with the lovers to visit the patriarch Walderjörgli, +in the forest, and announce to him their betrothal. Landolin's face +reddened to the roots of his hair, and he exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't care anything for the patriarch. I don't care +anything for old +customs; and, as for me, Walderjörgli, with his long beard, is no +saint; he's not down in my calendar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a relative of my wife," replied the miller, "and you +know very +well of how much importance he is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just as much as there is in my glass," answered Landolin, +after he had +drained it.</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife, fearing a quarrel, declared she had great respect +for +Walderjörgli, and begged her husband to say nothing against him. Thoma +joined her, and laid her hand on her father's shoulder, imploring him +not to stir up a dispute unnecessarily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin smiled on his child; poured a fresh glass of wine, +and drank +to the lovers' health.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton and Thoma now started to go, but Landolin cried +excitedly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold on! Wait a moment, Anton! You mustn't ask for the +marriage to +take place before Candlemas. Give me your hand on it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no hand to give. I have already given it to Thoma," +replied +Anton, laughing, as he went away with his betrothed.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"How many friends you have!" said Thoma; for they were often +stopped on +their way through the crowded fair grounds, especially by Anton's old +comrades. "I wish we were alone," she added impatiently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, love," answered Anton, "if we choose the day of the fair +for our +betrothal, and show ourselves then for the first time together, we must +expect these congratulations, and I am glad to have them. Isn't it +delightful to have so many people rejoice with us in our happiness? It +adds to their enjoyment without taking from ours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you really believe they rejoice?" asked Thoma.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation was interrupted by the handless beggar, who +came up to +thank Thoma again, and tell her how astonished he was at such a gift. +He said he had been her father's substitute (for at that time +substitutes in the military service were still allowed).</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton encouraged him to tell where he had lost his hand. It +was on a +circular saw, in a mill on the other side of the valley. Anton told him +to come the next day, and perhaps he could give him work. While he was +speaking the judge's wife approached, and congratulated them heartily. +Thoma looked at her in surprise when she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are the new generation; preserve the honesty of the old, +and add +to it the progressiveness of the present. I shall write to my son of +your betrothal."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton shook hands twice with the judge's wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you will give the lieutenant my most respectful +greetings."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was still difficult for the lovers to disengage themselves +from the +crowd, for a group of Anton's comrades surrounded them, saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your wedding we are going to march in front of you with +the flag of +the Club and the regimental music."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton thanked them, and said he would be much pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had scarcely got out of the throng, when a teamster in a +blue +jacket, who was walking beside a four-horse wagon, called out, "Captain +Anton Armbruster! Hallo!" and came up to him and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are you? So you've got her, have you? Is that she? Is +that Thoma?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I wish you happiness and blessing. How tall and +beautiful she is! +Let me shake hands with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma gave her hand with reluctance, and the teamster +continued +jokingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Get him to tell you what he did one night when we were before +Paris. +We were lying by the camp-fire, roasted on one side, frozen on the +other. Anton, who was asleep, called out, 'Thoma! Thoma!' He wouldn't +own up to it afterwards, but I heard it plain enough. Well, good-by; +may God keep you both. Get up," he called to his horses, and drove on.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the lovers made their way out of the crowd to the +quiet +meadow-path, where, for a time, they walked hand in hand, then stood +still. Any one who saw them must have thought they were speaking loving +words to each other. The youth's voice was full of tenderness, but he +spoke not of love, or, at least, not of love for his betrothed. He +began hesitatingly: "Let me tell you something, darling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it? What's the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just think of our being here together, and having each other, +and +belonging to each other, and only a little while ago I was so far away +in France. There, in the field, on the march, or in the camp, thousands +upon thousands of us, we were like one man, no one for himself, no one +thinking of what he was at home. The brotherhood was all; and now, each +lives for himself alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are not alone, we are together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed. But you were going to ask me something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes! How did it happen that you called my name in your +sleep?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll tell you. Do you remember my passing your house when I +was on my +way to the army as a recruit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly I remember it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you notice that I took a roundabout way over the +mountain, so as +to pass it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't notice it then, but afterward I thought of it. When +you gave +me your hand in farewell you looked at me with your fiery eyes, that +are so piercing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I wanted then to tell you how much I loved you, but I +wouldn't do +it, for your sake. I said to myself, 'You had better say nothing, and +so save her from heart-ache and anxiety while you are in the war, and +from life-long grief if you should be killed.' It was hard for me to +keep silent, but after I had gone I was glad of it. And, do you +remember? you had a wild-rose in your mouth by the stem, and the +rose-leaves lay on your lips, just where I wanted to put a kiss; and at +your throat was a corn-flower as blue as your eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you flatterer! But go on, go on; what else?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton drew her to him and kissed her, then continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There! Shall I go on? Well, you took the two flowers in your +hand, and +I saw you would like to give them to me, and I wanted to have them, but +even that I wouldn't ask. Often and often by day and by night, in the +field and on the watch, I thought of you, as the song says: and once, +when the teamster lay beside me, I spoke your name in my sleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you are so dear and so good and so sweet," cried Thoma, +"I'm +afraid I'm not gentle enough for you. In our home everything is rough, +we are not so----. But you'll see I can be different."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes moistened while she spoke, and the whole expression +of her +face changed to one of humility and tenderness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not have you different," cried Anton, "you shall +remain as you +are, for just as you are you please me best. Oh, Heaven! who in the +world would believe that Landolin's Thoma of Reutershöfen could be as +gentle as a dove."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I gentle?" she exclaimed, laughingly, "I a dove? All right +then, catch +me!" she cried, joyously clapping her hands and running quickly into +the forest, whither Anton followed her.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">They came within the border of the wood which belonged to +Landolin. On +the side where the sun is most searching and powerful, the bark of the +mighty pine-trees was torn open, and the resin was dropping into the +tubs which were set for it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's a pity for the beautiful trees," said Anton; "your +father mustn't +tap such trees as these hereafter; they are good for lumber. He must +leave them to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma begged him to be very careful how he dealt with her +father, for +he would not bear opposition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know," she added, "it seems to me father is +very----very +irritable to-day. I don't know why."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I know. He is vexed because he has to give you up. You'll +see, I +shall be so too in a thousand weeks. But a man must be a grandfather +before----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh you!" interrupted Thoma, coloring.</p> + +<p class="normal">They kept on deeper into the forest, away from the path, and +sat down +on the soft, yielding moss at the foot of a far-branching pine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have had enough kissing, let me rest a little now, I'm +tired," said +Thoma, as she leaned against the tree. She smiled when Anton hastily +made his coat into a pillow for her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lilies of the valley blossomed at their feet. Anton plucked +one, and +with it stroked Thoma's cheek and forehead, gently singing the while +all manner of nursery songs, and magic charms.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="t6">I wish thee a night of repose,</p> +<p class="t6">A canopy of the wild rose,</p> +<p class="t6">Young May-bells to pillow thy head,</p> +<p class="t6">Sleep soft in thy flowery bed.</p> +</div> +<p class="normal">And where two lovers sit thus together, in the depth of the +forest, +there streams from the mists arising heavenward, and from the murmuring +and rustling in the tree-tops, that same subtle enchantment and delight +which resounds in song, and is portrayed in fairy tales, where trees +and grass and wild beasts speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hark; there's a finch," said Anton. "Do you remember the +story about +the finch?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; tell it to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Once a young man went through a field to visit his +sweetheart, and the +finch called out: 'Wip! Wip!' (wife, wife.) 'That's just what I want,' +said the young man. As he was on his way home again the finch cried: +'Bethink you well. Bethink you well.' Now we, dear Thoma, have +bethought ourselves well. Fly on, finch, we don't need your help. 'Wip! +Wip!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How tender you are!" said Thoma, smiling; then she shut her +eyes, and +soon she was fast asleep. As Anton looked at her she seemed to become +more beautiful, but she must have gone to sleep with some willful +impulse in her mind, for her face had a strained expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">From a little stone near by, some lizards looked with their +bright, +knowing eyes at the slumberer and her guard. They shuffled noiselessly +away, and presently others came to see the wonder. Dragon-flies in +green and gold came flying through the air, brushed against each other, +and sped away. A gay butterfly lighted on Thoma's forehead, just at the +parting of her hair, and rested there like a diadem. On the highest +twig of the tree, a green finch perched. He turned his head, saw the +sleeping girl, and flew swiftly away. A cuckoo alighted from his +flight, and sounded his cry. Thoma awoke, and looked around bewildered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, my darling," said Anton, "you have been my +betrothed +ever since yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I slept very long?" asked she.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not very, but surely you dreamt something strange. What +was it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never tell dreams; I don't believe in them. Come, let us go +home."</p> + +<p class="normal">And so they started homeward.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At the edge of the wood they saw "Cushion Kate," with her red +kerchief +round her head, standing by a young man who sat by the roadside. She +offered him a pretzel, but he refused it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See," said Thoma, "that's 'Cushion Kate' with her Vetturi. +She spoils +the good-for-nothing fellow. He used to be a servant of ours, but we +found that he had been stealing oats, nobody knows how long. So, of +course, father sent him away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor creature looks almost starved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's not only poor, but he's a rascal. Father doesn't want to +prosecute him, so the fellow keeps bothering him for his wages."</p> + +<p class="normal">When they came up, the lad arose quickly. He was of slight +build, and +his bluish-black hair fell in disorder over his forehead. The dark, +weary eyes had a frightened look. He took off a torn straw hat, and +bowed several times to Anton. He seemed to be trying to say something.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your name is Vetturi, isn't it?" asked Anton. "Come here. Is +there +anything you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I won't take alms like a beggar, I'd rather strike my mouth +against a +stone," replied Vetturi in a hoarse voice; and turning to his mother as +though she had contradicted him, said: "Mother, you shan't take +anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then in an entirely different tone he said to Thoma: "May I +wish you +joy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you may not. Nobody who speaks so disrespectfully of my +father +shall wish me joy. Own up to stealing the oats. If you do, I will go to +father and get him to forgive you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I won't do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then abuse me, not my father. My father might, perhaps, have +given up +to you, but I won't let him as long as you keep on lying."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I can wish you joy, Anton," cried Cushion Kate; "I hope +your wife +will be like your mother. She was a good woman; there isn't her like in +the whole country. I was in your house when you came into the world. +You are just eight days older than my oldest daughter would be now. +Now, get your father-in-law to take my Vetturi again, and straighten +everything out. We are poor people. We don't want to quarrel with such +a powerful farmer as he is, but he must not squeeze us until the blood +runs out from under our nails."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come along," cried Thoma, taking hold of Anton's arm, "don't +let her +talk to you so."</p> + +<p class="normal">She walked away. Anton did not follow her, but said to Vetturi +that he +would employ him as a wood-cutter up in the forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Vetturi cannot do that," interrupted the mother. "He +cannot work up +there from Monday morning to Saturday night, and have no decent food, +and no decent bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come! come!" urged Thoma from a distance. Anton obeyed, and +Vetturi +called after them all kinds of imprecations against Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a frown Thoma said to Anton, in a reproachful tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Vetturi is no comrade of yours, and why do you stop and +talk with +him? I do not like it in you. You are not proud enough. Such people +should not speak to us unless they are spoken to."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton looked at her with astonishment. There was a sharpness +in her +words and voice which surprised him. She noticed it, perhaps, for she +gave him a bewitching smile, and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, I am proud of you, and you must be proud of yourself. +Such a man +as you are! People ought to take off their hats when they speak to you. +I wouldn't say good-day to a rascal, and you ought not to either. +Perhaps you think I'm angry. Don't think that for an instant. It's only +that I have no patience with a liar. Whatever a man does, if he +confesses it, you feel like helping him; but a liar, a hypocrite----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, Thoma dear," interrupted Anton, "lying belongs to +badness; a man +who is bad enough to steal, must be bad enough to lie."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand everything at once. You need not always explain +a thing +to me twice. I could see a liar or a hypocrite perishing before my eyes +and not help him until he----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! You're getting excited."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I always do when I'm on this subject. But enough of +this. What +are the cottagers to us! See there, it was there by the pear-tree that +you said good-by to me, when you went to the war. See, it is the finest +tree of all. It looks like a great nosegay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And before the flowers become fruit you will be mine."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Anton asked about their neighbor's daughter, Thoma's old +playmate. +Sadly she told him how she had broken with her only friend. Anger and +shame reddened her cheeks as she related to him how her old playmate +had, on her wedding day, worn a wreath which she had no right to wear. +Thoma's lips quivered when she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"They say that Cushion Kate's mother was forced to stand at +the church +door with a straw wreath on her head, and a straw girdle round her +waist. That was hard, but just. But for the girl to lie so, before God +and man; to accept an honor to which she had no right. To know it +herself and yet be so bold----. There, that is just like Vetturi. I +have no patience nor friendship with a liar, whether rich or poor, man +or woman. He who will not take the responsibility of his own acts may +go to perdition. Indeed, it is not necessary to tell him so, for he has +already gone there. You laugh? You are right! Such an honorable man as +you are doesn't need to be lectured. Now I don't need my playmate nor +anything else while I have you and father. No princess could be happier +than I."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went on hand in hand. When they reached the farm-house, +her +mother, who had come straight home, called to them from the window to +wait until everything should be ready for the visitors, who would soon +be there with their congratulations.</p> + +<p class="normal">So the two seated themselves in the garden back of the house, +on the +terrace beyond the cherry-tree, and the blossoms on the tree were not +richer than the happy thoughts of the young couple.</p> + +<p class="normal">While they were here under the cherry-tree, Cushion Kate was +sitting by +her son; he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, I must get away from here. I will go to Alsace, into +a +factory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you will leave me alone," complained the mother for the +hundredth +time; and for the hundredth time related, as though it were a comfort, +that Vetturi's grandfather had been one of the Reutershöfen family; and +though he received his portion as a younger son, neither he nor his +descendants had ever been able to get along. Vetturi let his mother +talk, but still insisted that he would go.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, I'm a burden to you. It makes me ashamed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not a burden to me, and you shouldn't be ashamed to +stay with +your mother. What have I left in the world if you go away? I shall +never want to get up again. I shall never want to make the fire. If you +go away you must take me along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We'll see, mother. But first, I will have my pay from +Landolin; this +very day I will have it."</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words he tore himself away, and hurried to the +farm-house.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Just as the farmer's wife had expected, many people returning +from the +fair, and many too who had not been there, came to offer their good +wishes upon Thoma's betrothal. She made them welcome, and invited them +to eat and drink.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin reached home his greeting to the guests was cool +and +careless, and he did not look at all like the father of a girl who had +just been happily betrothed to her lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">People said afterward that they knew then from his manner what +he was +likely to do. But who knows whether they were really so wise?</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin said to his wife:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop feeding these people. Start them off. Don't be so +friendly and +talkative with the herd. It's impudence for them to come to me with +good wishes. I don't want their good wishes."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then went across the yard and stood awhile by the dog. Yes, +he even +spoke to him. "You're right, you should have been with me. Such fellows +don't deserve a word. They ought to have a dog set on them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Vetturi rushed into the yard, bareheaded, and called out: +"Farmer! +for the last time I say, I want my pay, my money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? You want anything from me! March out of this yard at +once. Off +with you! What? You're standing there yet? Once for all, go, or I'll +make you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I won't go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I untie the dog and set him on you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You needn't untie the dog. You're a dog yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I just said."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Vetturi, you know I have a hand like iron. Go! Go, or I'll +knock you +down so you'll never move again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do it! Kill me! You man-skinner, you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">A stone was thrown; there was a shriek; a moan was heard that +even +hushed the barking of the dog. Vetturi fell down, groaned once, and +then lay motionless.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton and Thoma had come to the open gate. They stood there as +if +rooted to the spot.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake! What has happened?" Anton cried, and hastened +to the +prostrate form. But Thoma stood still, and fixed her gaze on her +father, who was tearing open his vest, and loosening his collar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Controlling herself with a violent effort, Thoma went up to +her father, +who was staring into his open hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father! What have you done?" cried she. He looked at her. +There was a +terrible change in his face. Is this the look of a man at the moment +that he has killed another?</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma laid her hand on his shoulder. He shook it off and said: +"Let me +alone." He was afraid of her, and she of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment it came to pass that father and daughter lost +each +other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He's dead! His skull is broken!" called the hostler, Fidelis, +who, +with Anton, had lifted Vetturi up.</p> + +<p class="normal">With eyes cast on the ground, Thoma went to the house. +Landolin left +the yard, and went to the spring on the other side of the road.</p> + +<p class="normal">The people in the house, who had come to give their +congratulations, +hastened out. With lamentation and mourning they carried Vetturi home +to his mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's yard was suddenly still and forsaken; only a little +pool of +blood, near the heap of paving-stones, showed what had happened there. +The sparrows and chickens had gathered round. The head-servant Tobias +drove them off, and quickly swept everything away. He then threw the +stone and the broom into the drain.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">When Anton returned Landolin was still at the spring, holding +his hands +under its broad stream of water.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it?" he asked, turning round.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dead; he gives no sign of life," replied Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin shook the water from his hands fiercely, and shaking +his head +slowly, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You saw it, Anton? You had just come up. The stone didn't +touch him; +he fell down at the sound of my voice."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before Anton could reply, Landolin asked: "Was his mother at +home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, she had just come in, and it was terrible when she threw +herself +on her son's body and cried out: 'Vetturi! open your eyes, Vetturi! +Open your mouth, here is some brandy! Drink, do drink!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, too, must drink something," replied Landolin; and placing +his lips +to the trough, he drank long. Indeed, it was plain that he purposely +allowed the water to splash into his face, and as he slowly wiped it +dry, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go to Thoma, now! I'll soon follow you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton obeyed. He found Thoma standing near the porch by the +flowers, +picking off the dead leaves of the rosemary, the yellow jessamine, and +the carnations. She did not look round.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, here I am; don't you see me?" cried he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I see you," answered Thoma. Her voice and her face, +which she now +turned toward Anton, were changed; and her eyes, which before had been +so fearless, now wandered uneasily here and there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see you," she continued, "I see the flowers, I see the +trees and the +sky. Everything pretends to be alive, but everything is dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, you are always so strong and resolute. Control +yourself. I +know it is sad and distressing, but for the sake of a person who is +dead----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not only that a person has been killed; he, you, I, my +father, +all, all have received a deathblow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, don't excite yourself so, you are always so sensible. +You know +I have been in the war, and have seen many----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, it is true; you too have killed men. When he was +still alive +you were so tender-hearted toward him, and now that he is dead you are +so hard. Say, am I still in my right mind?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are, if you will only control yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll try, thank you. Do you think that my father, that any +one of us, +can ever be happy again for a single minute?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly! Your father has done nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who then has? Is Vetturi not dead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dead, but he was hurt by falling on the paving-stones. +Yes, he +was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton!" cried Thoma, intensely excited, "Anton, you're not +saying that +yourself, some one else is speaking through you. Did my father tell you +that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton trembled, and Thoma continued: "Anton, for my sake you +are +speaking falsely. You lie! There he stands, and has such true eyes, so +honest, and yet will lie. How can I now believe your Yes before the +altar? Anton, you're telling a lie."</p> + +<p class="normal">With tremulous voice, Anton replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, I'm--I'm a soldier." His hand touched the medal of +honor upon +his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take that off," cried Thoma. "Go! go away! Even you can tell +a lie. +Go! go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma! I forgive you. In affliction one turns against his +dearest +friend----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're no more my dearest friend. I'll not have your +forgiveness. Go +away forever and ever. I have no part in you, and you shall have no +part in me."</p> + +<p class="normal">She rushed away and locked herself in her bedroom. Anton stood +for a +time benumbed, then knocked at her door, and spoke lovingly to her. She +made no answer. He threatened to break open the door unless she gave +some sign. Then the bolt was drawn; the door opened a little way; and +at his feet fell the engagement ring. The door was again closed and +bolted; Anton picked up the ring and went away.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Landolin turned away from the spring and went into the yard. +He stopped +a moment at the dog's kennel, and said to himself: "Chained! Chained!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Did he feel, and did he wish to say that henceforth he himself +was in +chains?</p> + +<p class="normal">He unfastened the dog, and it followed him into the +living-room. No one +was there. Landolin sat down in the easy chair, nervously grasped its +arms, and moved his hands over them as if to convince himself that they +were still there. Then he pulled up the loose tops of his boots, as +though making ready for a walk. He arose, but went only as far as the +table, which he repeatedly rubbed with his hands, as though trying to +wipe something off. With a peremptory voice he called to have the +supper brought. It was soon ready. His wife sat down beside him. She +said nothing; she seemed comforted, even delighted, that her husband +was willing to eat; and she forced herself to eat with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin told the maid to call Thoma and Anton to supper. The +maid +returned with the answer that Anton had gone away, and that Thoma sent +word that she was not coming. At this, Landolin seized his fork, and +struck it through the cloth, deep into the hard table. His wife arose, +her lips tightly compressed, and looked with dismay at the sacred +family table, as though she expected to see it shed blood after her +husband's terrible blow.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fork was still sticking in the table, when a carriage drew +up to +the door, and the District Judge and his clerk entered. The farmer's +wife had the courage to draw the fork quickly out.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin held out his hand in welcome, but the District Judge +appeared +not to notice it. Landolin with a steady voice thanked the judge for +coming so soon to find out the facts of the unhappy affair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray be seated, your honor; and you, too, Mr. Clerk," he +said, +ingratiatingly; then poured out three glasses of wine, and taking one +in his hand, touched the other two, as a sign to the gentlemen to +drink. But the District Judge said curtly: "No, thank you," and did not +take the glass. He leaned back in his chair while the clerk spread a +paper on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down," he said to Landolin; but the latter replied: "I'm +comfortable standing," and laid his hand upon the back of the chair +which stood in front of him. He drummed on it with his fingers, and +controlling himself with a violent effort, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you ask me questions, or shall I tell it in my own way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your honor, that wine there is pure, for I brought it myself +from the +vat at Kaiserstuhl; but I think the wine at the Sword is not pure. When +I drink during the day, and talk at the same time, it sets me beside +myself; but the fright at the accident has brought me to my senses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you were drunk at the time of the----of the accident."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin started. "This is not a man who has come to gossip +with me. It +is a judge, and a judge over me. Stop! How can being drunk help?" These +thoughts passed rapidly through his mind, and he replied, almost +smiling:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank heaven, I am never so drunk as not to know what I am +doing. I +can stand a good deal."</p> + +<p class="normal">He bestowed a confidential smile on the judge, but when he saw +the +unchanging gravity of his countenance, he shrugged his shoulders +contemptuously, and went on determinedly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can prove that the good-for-nothing fellow got no harm from +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you got that down?" said the judge to the clerk; and he +replied: +"Yes, I am taking it in short-hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">The chair under Landolin's hand moved, for he was dismayed to +find that +his disconnected expressions were all written down. He now waited for +questions to be put to him, and after a little while the judge began:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you not had a violent quarrel, once before to-day, with +one-handed Wenzel of Altenkirchen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you found that out already?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Tell me how it happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How it happened? The story is soon told. More than thirteen +years ago +Wenzel was my substitute in the army. My father knew him well. He was a +boatman. You can ask Walderjörgli if he wasn't. Our families are the +oldest in the country----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what has that to do with Wenzel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes! Well! My father gave both Wenzel and his mother a +great deal +of money and clothes, and now Wenzel still tries to bleed me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you not threaten to lay him out cold if he spoke to you +before +other people again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maybe I did, and maybe I didn't. A man sometimes says such a +thing +when he's angry; but I did not say it in earnest. Have I all at once +become a man who is ready to kill any one that crosses his path? Am I +an unknown adventurer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin waited in vain for an answer, for the judge came back +to the +main point and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Were there any witnesses to the affair with Vetturi?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, to be sure! My future son-in-law, Anton Armbruster, whom +you +know, and my daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">The District Judge desired them both to be called. He was told +that +Anton had gone away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma soon entered, and the judge arose and set a chair for +her +opposite to him.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Thoma sat down and folded her hands. She did not look up. "As +you are +Landolin's daughter you may refuse to testify," said the judge in a +kindly tone. Thoma wearily raised her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father! What can I say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What you saw."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked steadily into her father's face. She saw that he +forced his +eyes to remain open, but the eyelids trembled as though they must close +before her glance. She turned away with a relentless movement of her +head, and laying her clenched hand upon the table, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your honor----I say--I--I refuse to testify."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin groaned. He knew what was going on in his daughter's +mind. She +rose and left the room without a look or a word for any one. They all +gazed after her in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge now asked Landolin if any of the servants had seen +the +affair. Landolin answered hesitatingly that he did not know; he had not +looked around; but that Tobias and Fidelis were at home. It was with +alarm that he perceived that his fate was in the hands of others.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge asked for his son Peter. Landolin shrugged his +shoulders. +Nobody cared whether Peter was at home or not. He was an obstinate, +insignificant boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, though no one knew it, at this hour Peter had +become an +important personage.</p> + +<p class="normal">No one dreamed that the little sliding window, between the +living-room +and the kitchen, was half-open, and that Peter lurked behind it. When +he heard his father's answer, he quickly pulled off his boots, sprang +noiselessly down the steps to the barn where Tobias was, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We now know how it happened. The stone did not hit Vetturi. +Do you +hear? And you too?" turning to the hostler Fidelis. Tobias nodded +understandingly. Fidelis, on the other hand, made no answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no time to say anything more, for the two servants +were +called into the house. Before Tobias left the yard he threw a stone +down near the gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias was first reprimanded for having swept away the marks +of blood. +He took it all quietly, and said, in a firm voice, that he had plainly +seen that Vetturi, who was always shaky, had not been hit by the stone, +but had fallen down himself on the paving-stones. When the head-servant +began speaking, Landolin had closed his eyes, but he now looked up +triumphantly. His elbow rested on the chair; he held his hand over his +mouth, and pressed his lips tightly together when Tobias concluded +with:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The stone that Vetturi threw, lies down there yet, scarcely a +step +from where the master stood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin raised himself to his full height. "That's the thing! +Self-defense! I must justify myself on that ground." Landolin grasped +the arm of the chair, as a drowning man, battling with the waves, +grasps the rope thrown out to save him; and, just so, his soul clung to +the thought of self-defense.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fidelis said quite as positively that he had seen his master +pick up a +paving-stone with both hands, lean back, draw a long breath, and throw +it. It had struck Vetturi on the head, and he had not seen Vetturi +throw anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin started up with an angry exclamation. He was told to +be +silent. The judge arose and said, evidently with forced calmness, that +he was sorry, but, in order to prevent any tampering with the +witnesses, he was compelled to place Landolin in confinement for the +present.</p> + +<p class="normal">The chair moved violently, and Landolin cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your honor, I am Landolin of Reutershöfen; this is my house; +out there +are my fields, my meadows, my forests. I am no adventurer, and I +sha'n't run away for a beggar who is nothing to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge shrugged his shoulders, and said that they would +probably be +able to release him in a few days.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the clerk folded his papers together, he cast a longing +look at +the poured-out wine; but he had to content himself with licking the +ink-spots from his fingers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I not send my husband a bed?" asked the farmer's wife. +This was +the first word she had spoken. The judge replied with a compassionate +smile that it was not necessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin took her hand, and, for the first time in many years, +said in +an affectionate tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Johanna." Her face was illuminated as though a miracle +had been +worked; and Landolin continued: "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can't he take me with him?" asked his wife of the judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry that it is impossible."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was about to send a maid-servant for Thoma, but Landolin +prevented +it, and said to the judge:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready to go now."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin had taken his seat in the carriage, a guard, who +had been +standing before the house, sprang upon the box with the coachman. The +farmer's wife brought her husband's cloak, and he wrapped himself in +it, for he was shivering, although the air was mild. He pulled his hat +down to hide his face, and besides, it was night.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage rolled away. The barking of the dog, and the +rumbling of +the wheels over the plateau could long be heard. At last it died away, +and all was still.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">All was still in the yard. The moonbeams shone upon the house +and +barns, and glistened on the spring, the splashing of which could still +be heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Under the broad eaves sat the head-servant and Peter. Tobias, +in +delight, clapped his hands together, and rubbed his knees. He had not +only testified so as to help his master, but what, if possible, pleased +him more, he had succeeded in cheating the judge, and making a +laughing-stock of him. It was rare fun for him. He whispered to Peter:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only be sharp! You're smarter, slyer, than anybody guesses. +You +mustn't go after Fidelis hammer and tongs; that will only make the +matter worse. He's a stiff-backed soldier of the new Prussian pattern. +Just keep your head on your shoulders. By degrees, we'll teach him what +he saw. If you turn him off now, then----Hold on! I've got it! Now +listen to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped a moment; put his hands together, as though he had +a bird +caged in them; chuckled to himself; and not until Peter questioned him +did he say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen! Before taking the oath, they ask, 'Are you in the +employ of +the accused?' And if one answers 'Yes,' his testimony doesn't amount to +much, good or bad. So we must keep Fidelis, do you understand! Hush! +Who's knocking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias opened the gate and greeted the pastor, whom he told +that +Landolin had already been taken away, and that his wife was in the +house. The pastor went to the living-room, where he found the farmer's +wife with an open prayer-book in her hand. He commended her for this, +and said that he would have been there earlier, but had returned from +the fair only an hour before, and had gone to "Cushion Kate's" first. +He strove to comfort her, reminding her that man must bow to the will +of Heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clergyman, a tall, hard-featured man, was the youngest son +of a +rich farmer. He was brusque in his intercourse with his people, but +mingled little with them--election-time excepted--for he knew this +conduct pleased the farmers best. In summertime the pastor was all day +long by the brook in the valley, fishing. In the winter-time he stayed +at home, and no one knew what he did.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, sir!" said the farmer's wife, mournfully, "people don't +know how +much they love each other until something like this happens." She +blushed like a young girl, and continued: "Children live for +themselves; but married people----it seems to me that I have done wrong +in not letting my husband see how much----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her emotion would not allow her to continue. The pastor +consoled her by +saying that she had always been an honest woman, and a good wife; that +God would ward off this evil from her; and that this misfortune would +redound to her lasting welfare. He was astonished that this woman, whom +people generally considered shallow, could show such deep affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How does Thoma bear it?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will call her," she answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">She went out and soon returned with Thoma, who looked so +careworn, that +for a moment the pastor could say nothing. He soon, however, endeavored +to comfort her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Pastor," began Thoma, "what do you think about it? I +don't know. +I think I must go to Cushion-Kate's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait till to-morrow morning," interrupted her mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I think I must go to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! do so," said the pastor approvingly, "I have just come +from her +house. She did not show by word or sign that she heard what I said. She +sits motionless on the floor beside her dead boy. Come, you can go a +part of the way with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma and the pastor walked side by side. The pastor could not +speak of +Anton, for this was no time for congratulations.</p> + +<p class="normal">The moon had disappeared, and dark clouds covered the sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will rain to-morrow, thank God. It is much needed," was +all that +the pastor said during the walk. At the meadow-path which leads to +Cushion-Kate's house, he asked if he should go there with her, but she +declined and went alone. She had to pass the house of the "Galloping +Cooper," and there, in the shadow of a pile of barrel staves, she heard +old Jochen say to the people who sat with him on the bench before the +house,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes! It's Landolin! They've got him now, and he won't get +away. +He'll have to pay for it, but not as his father used to pay for his +tricks. Here, on my right thumb is still the scar where Landolin bit me +in a fight we had. His father paid smart money for it. Yes; in old +times the common people only had bones that the farmers' sons might +break them. When Landolin stepped into the dancing-room, the floor +trembled, and so did the heart of everybody there. Now, he's getting +paid back."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will his head be cut off?" asked a child's voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He deserves it; but they don't behead people any more."</p> + +<p class="normal">All this fell on Thoma like a thunderbolt. She stood as though +on fire. +Her fresh life seemed all burned away and turned to ashes. She pressed +her cold hands to her burning face, and fled homeward, unseen.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she had almost reached the house, she started back in +terror, as +though a ghost had waylaid her; but it was only the dog who rubbed +himself affectionately against her. Thoma was angry with herself for +being so easily frightened. "That must not be, and certainly not now." +The dog leaped before her, barking. He had evidently been driven home.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she came in, her mother resting her hand on her open +prayer-book, +asked how Cushion-Kate was doing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma acknowledged that she had not been to see her, but did +not tell +the reason.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her mother begged Thoma to stay with her during the night. +Thoma sat by +the bed until she had gone to sleep, and then went to her own room, for +she knew that she would disturb her mother's rest.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It was late at night, when Thoma threw open the window of the +room in +which she should have been asleep. Her cheeks glowed; but her lover, +who on this mild spring night, should have been talking with and +caressing her, came not. From the forest came the song of a +nightingale, and from the hill behind another answered, in rivalry. +Thoma did not hear them. She was struggling with a demon that night.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma was a well-bred farmer's daughter. To be sure she had +not had +much training. She had been one of the best scholars in the public +school, and at home she was taught to be diligent and honest; and this +she was. She was proud and imperious like her father, who had indulged +her from her childhood, and, as her mother cared nothing for the +outside world, had been her companion on all sorts of pleasure +excursions. He delighted in her decision of character, and above all +else had encouraged her pride.</p> + +<p class="normal">A daughter of a neighboring farmer had been Thoma's playmate, +but in +reality, her father was her only confidant. It might do for poor people +to fall in love, but Thoma, as became a rich farmer's daughter, had +made up her mind to marry only a rich and influential man of the same +class. Anton, to be sure, was of somewhat lower rank, but still he was +of a good family; and, though not rich, he was sought after by all the +daughters of the country side.</p> + +<p class="normal">Even a princess is glad to be loved; and certainly no princess +was ever +more deeply loved, or received truer homage than Anton gave Thoma.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now how had it all turned out!</p> + +<p class="normal">The pride which Landolin had fostered in his child until it +had grown +all too powerful, was now turned against him, and against the whole +world.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma clenched her hands. She did not want to be pardoned, or +receive +anything as a gift, not even from her lover. "He shall not come and +say, or even hint by his manner--'The honor of your family is lost; you +are the daughter of a murderer; but still I will be good and true to +you.' No--it is over."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she thought of her father, her hands tightened +convulsively. How +could he have done such a thing! Common people, servants and beggars +may now look into her life, discuss it, and pass judgment upon it. They +may be respectful or not as they please. They will act as though she +should be thankful to them for greeting her.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a rapidity which knows no distance, Thoma's thoughts +hastened from +farm-house to farm-house, where the daughters were condemning or +pitying her--her--Thoma; or they were sleeping--<i>they</i> could sleep +peacefully, but Thoma could not sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">As when the poison from an adder's fang permeates the body of +a strong, +vigorous man; rushes through his veins, maddens him, urging him on, and +at the same time making him powerless; seeks outlet where there is +none; stifles his cry for help; destroys his life--so it was with +Thoma, when on this night she clenched her hands in silent desperation. +A concentration of thought, a subtlety of which she never dreamed, +possessed her. She struggled against it as against a bitter enemy, but +in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Imprisonment, the penitentiary, capital punishment--these are +things +for the poor; but not for the rich and influential. Thus Thoma had +always thought; or rather, scarcely giving it a thought, she had +considered it a matter of course. But now--if her father confesses what +he has done, eternal disgrace will be the consequence. Should he not +confess, eternal falsehood, hypocrisy, constant trembling, a cowardly +shunning of every glance, and a forced smile when criminals are +mentioned.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma groaned, stricken to the heart, and then her thoughts +became +pitiful; "Oh, my father! He is sitting sleepless and alone in prison. +This one day must seem to him like many years; like a whole life-time. +Who can help him? Who? Who can bring the dead to life, or wipe away sin +from the soul?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma looked up at the stars. "They stand still, and twinkle +and +glitter over millions of sleepers; over millions of watchers in +sickness, sorrow, and distress, and no one of them is more unhappy than +I--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears filled her eyes. She forced them back impatiently. She +must not +allow herself to become faint-hearted, nor to lament. She would have no +pity from any one, for any one!----Proud, proud! "But where is my +pride? 'Tis gone. Over yonder lies a corpse, a murdered man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It seemed to Thoma that she could plainly see Vetturi, +standing before +her with his bleeding head. She screamed aloud, but the terrible +picture did not vanish. She threw herself on the pillows, then raised +her head to listen. The cock crew. Her eyes closed tremulously, and, as +she lay there but half awake, fragments of the verse from the Bible ran +through her mind: "The cock crows--thou wilt deny"----In prison one +does not hear the cock crow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma buried her face deeper in the pillows. It was raining +gently, and +she fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Thoma who awoke was a different girl from the Thoma of the +betrothal morning. She soon heard this from strangers. Her former +playmate, with whom she had quarrelled, came and told her how changed +she was, and that they must be friends again. Thoma soon showed her, +however, that she had not grown more lenient with the change, and would +accept no pity. She repulsed the disgraced girl coldly and sharply.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The prison at the county-town stands high up on the mountain; +the sound +of the bells in the village on the plateau reaches it from far away. +Landolin knew they were tolling for a funeral. He thought of home, +where they were burying Vetturi. He tried to imagine all that was +passing, but he could not.</p> + +<p class="normal">Round Cushion-Kate's little house stood a crowd of people, +mostly +women, for their husbands did not think it worth while to lose a day's +work for an insignificant person like Vetturi.</p> + +<p class="normal">The district physician left the house, followed by the bailiff +and the +clerk of the borough, who put on his hat as he came out of doors. Then +came the pastor. The sobs and weeping became louder and louder, and +almost drowned the tolling of the bells.</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession was formed. Cushion-Kate followed the bier with +her red +kerchief tied under her chin, and pulled far down over her forehead, so +that her face could scarcely be seen; and reaching from her shoulders +to her feet hung the large black woolen cloak which the borough +furnished to mourners. Her eyes were fastened on the ground as she +walked.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the procession passed Landolin's house, she shook her bony +fist +toward it, from under the black cloak.</p> + +<p class="normal">The house was closed. No window was thrown open.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton, who walked in the procession next to the village clerk, +could +not see that Thoma joined the last persons of the little train, and +knelt in the churchyard, hidden by a hedge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor spoke a few touching words of comfort. He exhorted +the poor +bereaved mother to bear no malice in her soul--to leave punishment to +God. He repeated that he who thinks of revenge and retaliation does +more harm to his own soul than to him whom he seeks to punish.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cushion-Kate's moans changed to rebellious mutterings. But +almost as +many eyes rested upon Anton as upon Cushion-Kate herself; and overcome +by his emotion, he suddenly burst into loud weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession broke up, and the people scattered in different +directions. Anton started away. He walked slowly, as though undecided +what to do; and then turning as with a sudden presentiment, he saw +Thoma, who was rising from her knees. She stood still. She seemed to be +embarrassed at his seeing her. He turned back, and holding out his +hand, said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"One must not say good day, in the churchyard; or perhaps you +do not +share the superstition?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She neither answered, nor gave him her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I walk with you? See, they are looking at us. Be calm!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She walked by his side without raising her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm waiting patiently for you to speak," said Anton in a low +tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked into his face with her great eyes, but their glance +was +changed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is your father here?" she asked at length; her voice too was +changed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, he is at home," replied Anton. "Shall he come and see +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She shook her head silently, and Anton continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately your father quarreled with every one yesterday; +with the +one-armed man, and with my father. He thought your father had already +returned from town, and so he did not come now. Your father must make +the first visit."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma cast a bitter, wounded glance at Anton, who said in a +soothing +tone, almost gaily indeed, that Thoma's father had been so fierce with +all the world because he had had to give up his daughter. A sad smile +passed over Thoma's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I may go home with you, may I not?" asked Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma stood still. She laid her hand on her heart, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am done with this. I have settled it here. Don't say that +it is +pride, don't say that I did not love you;--or, if it is a comfort, you +may think so. Anton, I am walking with you for the last time. I am +speaking to you for the last time. Anton, it must, it <i>must</i>, be all +over between us. I cannot, I will not----I will not go into a house +where I do not bring honor. I will learn to bear my lonely life. Seek +for yourself some other happiness. Farewell!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, you thrust from you him on whom you should lean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thrust no one away from me, and I will lean on no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">They had reached the house. She entered quickly, leaving Anton +standing +alone outside, but he was not long by himself, for Tobias and Peter +came up to him. They welcomed him heartily; for of course he would +testify, as they would, that the stone did not hit Vetturi, but that he +had fallen down on the sharp-pointed paving stones in terror at +Landolin's strong voice. They were very careful not to say that Vetturi +had thrown a stone first.</p> + +<p class="normal">They said how fortunate it was that a man so highly thought of +as Anton +had seen it all plainly; and Tobias added, smirkingly, that it was well +that the engagement was broken off for the present; for, as son-in-law, +his testimony would not have full weight. He further begged Anton to +instruct his comrade Fidelis. "Go and call Fidelis," Tobias said to +Peter, who soon returned with him. The head-servant and the son now +urged Fidelis to let Anton convince him that he had been mistaken; but +Fidelis remained immovable, and repeated that he had no doubts in the +matter. He was sure that Anton's convictions were as honest as his own, +even though they differed from them ... but for his part, he could not +and would not say anything different from what he had seen. In court it +would appear who was right.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton returned home troubled. He said to himself: "Have I let +Landolin +tell me what I saw? Shall I lose my heart to the daughter, and my +conscience to the father? It would be better if the marriage had not +been broken off, for then I could refuse to testify."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife had often visited her husband in the +presence of the +examining magistrate. Peter had several times accompanied his mother, +but Thoma did not come. Her father was too high-spirited to inquire for +her, or ask why she staid away. Perhaps she disapproved of his +obstinacy in staying in prison; perhaps she approved of his pride, for +Landolin had told the judge, "I will not go out with a halter round my +neck, for people to make sport of me; one to pull it tight, so as to +choke me a little, and another to graciously loosen it. I will only go +as a free man. And didn't you say that I am to appear in court next +week?"</p> + +<p class="normal">So he staid in prison, and was not obliged to see any one but +his wife, +his son, the examining magistrate, and his attorney. But one pair of +eyes he saw, that looked more friendly at him than the eyes of a child +or a sister. The district judge's wife had obtained permission to visit +the prisoners.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the hearts must indeed have been hard that were not +gladdened when +that lady entered the cell, while the guards waited at the open door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann--for by this simple title did the judge's wife +allow +herself to be called--Madame Pfann was exceedingly happy in her +marriage. Although her husband could not forbear occasionally laughing +at her missionary zeal, nevertheless he willingly allowed her her own +way in everything. He delighted in the many successes she achieved, but +above all other things, in the unwavering faithfulness with which she +fulfilled the duty she had taken upon herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">They had an only son, who in July, 1870, entered the army as a +volunteer, was promoted to a lieutenancy on the field of battle, and +had remained in the service. Madame Pfann had not waited for some great +event before she set herself to work. Years before she had commenced +the work of philanthropy, and carried it out with a zeal that was +universally acknowledged. She was the daughter of a plain professor in +the gymnasium at the capital; and she took pleasure in saying that she +owed her capacity for her work to her father's simple and noble +character.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was aware that people called her conduct eccentric and +sentimental; +but she cared nothing for that.</p> + +<p class="normal">An old-time saying tells us that on the path of heroic deeds a +man has +to battle with giants and monsters. Madame Pfann had had to battle with +a great and noble intellect. She remembered Goethe's cynical words, +that finally the world would be bereft of all beauty, and each one +would be only his neighbor's benevolent brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Veneration for our great poet was an heir-loom in her +girlhood's home. +Fierce was the conflict before she overcame the mighty coercion of the +master mind, but she gained at last that liberty which shakes off the +fetters of an undue veneration. She was convinced that even a Goethe +cannot give precepts for all time. Our age has made the unity of human +interests its law, and no longer tolerates a mere æsthetically selfish +life. Yes, out of a life devoted to the common welfare, springs a new +beauty of being.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann often met with rudeness and thoughtlessness where +she +least expected it, so that her experiences were sometimes painful; but +she remained steadfast.</p> + +<p class="normal">In her visits to the prisons, she refused to interfere in the +least +degree with the course of the law. She only desired to comfort the +prisoners; to make them at peace with themselves; and above all things +she wished to help their friends who were left destitute at home. Here, +too, she had sorry experiences. Rascals imposed upon her, and amused +themselves in sending her on fruitless missions, and would even give +her directions whose baseness she could not suspect.</p> + +<p class="normal">She knew that baseness and uncleanness existed, and yet clung +to her +faith in greatness, nobility, and purity.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of time she settled upon a regular method of +talking with +the prisoners. She sought to learn of their early life, but she found +that they distrusted her motive, suspecting that she was seeking to +discover some crime which they might have committed, and she had to +contend with their cunning, which led them to tell her falsehoods.</p> + +<p class="normal">Often, however, she succeeded in bringing the most hardened to +better +thoughts and feelings, so that they spoke with tremulous voice of the +paradise of youthful innocence.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Madame Pfann visited Landolin in prison, she found her +task easier +than usual, for she had long known him and his family. He quickly gave +her to understand that he did not value her visit very highly, as she +honored the commonest prisoner in the same way.</p> + +<p class="normal">He listened attentively for her answer, and was not surprised +when she +replied, with a smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot double myself when I visit you; but I will come +oftener if +you like."</p> + +<p class="normal">It now happened, as it often had before with prisoners, that +Landolin +looked for her visit as a diversion, and that was something gained.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has Titus been here, and taken a look at the tower where I +shut am up? +Or perhaps he has not wanted to see me. I'll say beforehand I won't see +him," said Landolin, angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann saw that his thoughts were occupied with his +rival, so she +said that no one should rejoice in another's misfortune, for every one +has his own secret sorrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has he? Has anything happened to him?" asked Landolin, +eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lady said: "No!" and then turned the conversation to his +childhood. +He related his boyish pranks, and laughed heartily over them; but still +he censured his father for having yielded to him in everything, except +once when he wanted to marry the Galloping Cooper's sister, for whom he +had had a fancy. He even complained of his wife for having always +yielded to him. He said he was the most grateful of men when any one +kept him from his wild pranks, even though at first he rebelled against +the restraint. Then he stopped short. He was afraid he had betrayed +himself, and protested solemnly that he was innocent of Vetturi's +death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann asked, "Would you like me to have some flowering +plants +brought here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin laughed aloud and said: "I don't want anything with +me except +my dog."</p> + +<p class="normal">She promised to see that he should have it. She soon found +that it +really was a very deep grief and trouble, that Thoma did not come to +see him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann went to Reutershöfen, and listened patiently to +his wife's +lament that her life was changed since her husband's hat hung no longer +on its accustomed nail. When Thoma came in after a long delay, the +kind-hearted lady was touched by her appearance, and told her that she +could well imagine her grief, in having been plunged in one day from +the highest joy to the deepest sorrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma trembled. She had never before placed the two events so +close +together. Madame Pfann felt the awkwardness of her remark, and +endeavored to reassure her by saying that she had no doubt that she +could adjust the difficulty with Anton, for he had great confidence in +her. Thoma soon became more composed, but she was still silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann urged her strongly to lighten her father's +imprisonment by +visiting him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean it well, I know," replied Thoma, "you are very good, +but I +cannot; I cannot go down the road, and up the prison stairs, and I +should be no comfort to my father, quite the contrary. It is better as +it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not better, only more comfortable, more easy for you; +you will +not conquer yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame Pfann arranged for Tobias to take the dog to its +master.</p> + +<p class="normal">She then went to see Cushion-Kate, who called out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You went to Landolin's first. I'll not let you into my +house."</p> + +<p class="normal">She bolted the door and Madame Pfann went quietly homeward.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"The house is changed when the husband's hat no longer hangs +on its +accustomed nail," the farmer's wife often said. Her thoughts were not +many, but those she had she liked to repeat like a pater noster.</p> + +<p class="normal">When, on the morning after her husband's arrest she said this +for the +first time, and was about handing Thoma the keys, Peter called out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, give me the keys; I am the son of the house, and I +must take +the reins now."</p> + +<p class="normal">If the stove had spoken they could not have been more +astonished. +Peter, whom they had all looked upon as a dull, idle fellow, who did +only what he was told, and never undertook anything of himself--Peter +of a sudden gave notice of what he was and what he wanted, and even his +voice, generally heavy and drawling, became somewhat commanding and +energetic. In reality a transformation had begun in Peter. He ceased to +be taciturn and became almost talkative. His natural effort to aid his +father had called forth a latent energy, which no one, least of all +himself, had ever suspected, and which once aroused, continually grew +in strength. Other awakenings assisted in changing his trouble into a +joyous sense of courage; yes, almost of presumption. It was not only at +home, but in the whole neighborhood that people saw with astonishment +how his father's absence had changed him. The head-servant, Tobias, +smiled as he went about his work at the thought that he had had a hand +in helping Peter into the saddle. And, indeed, Peter was, literally, +much on horseback, riding everywhere on the bay mare, to tell the +people who were at the house congratulating Thoma at the time of the +accident, what they had seen. Some of them thought they knew all about +it; and some, on the other hand, declared they had seen nothing; for +they did not want the trouble of testifying in court.</p> + +<p class="normal">Wherever Peter went the people said, "No one knew that you +were such a +smart fellow. Thoma used to be the only one talked about, just as +though there were no such person as you." Peter smiled craftily when he +heard this; he put on a grieved, troubled look, and shook his head, but +was nevertheless pleased to hear people add, "Your father rather put +you down."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter was not unassuming; quite the reverse, for he looked +upon all men +as his debtors. They had allowed him to grow up in simplicity and +honesty for three and twenty years without revealing to him how sweet +knavery tastes. But now, he was finding out for himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look! Look! There comes Peter of Reutershöfen!" was heard up +and down +the mountain side.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Peter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin's Peter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, people did not know what kind of a fellow he was; they +thought he +couldn't count three; and now he turns out to be one of the sharpest +fellows possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was true; he had not been exactly a blockhead; but dull and +unsympathetic. And what had he now become?</p> + +<p class="normal">It may, perhaps, seem unnatural, but nevertheless it was a +thoroughly +logical development; he had become an accomplished hypocrite.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once, at a fair, when Peter had taken an electric shock, a +strange +something ran through his frame. He had very much the same feeling the +first time that Tobias said to him, "We must act as though we had seen +everything so, and seem thoroughly honest about it, and then we shall +be able to make other people think so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter discovered that hypocrisy was sweet to the taste; and +that it was +no new thing for the world to feast on it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Wherever he went people condoled with him over his misfortune, +even +when he was quite sure they were glad of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">However, he paid them in the same coin by pretending to be +excessively +amiable. This helped to make him energetic; for the secret pleasure and +delight of making a laughing stock of others, animated him anew every +morning. He and Tobias made themselves merry over the trick they were +playing on the people, and on having succeeded in persuading a few +simple-minded persons, as well as some rascals, to testify as they +wished. Tobias gave his pupil this advice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, you see, sharp people get along best in this world. They +are +never cheated nor plagued. If you want anything of them, and knock at +their door, they pretend not to be at home. 'There is no one at home; +and I'm asleep,' as the old peasant woman called out to the beggar that +knocked at her door on a Sunday afternoon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Only once was Peter worsted. He went to see Anton, and told +him he +thought he had been very wise in breaking off with Thoma so promptly; +for now, as he was no longer related to them, he could be a witness for +his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter was not a little astonished to hear Anton answer that it +was +Thoma who had broken off the match, and that it was hardly possible for +them to make it up again.</p> + +<p class="normal">What? Will Anton refuse to tell him the truth? Is he so sly as +to try +to keep up a false show before his brother even?</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton's bright face darkened when he heard Peter's words. He +saw +clearly through his scheme, and astonished him by replying that he +would tell no one how he would testify; that he had taken counsel with +his conscience, and would do as he thought right.</p> + +<p class="normal">Notwithstanding this, Peter, with honest mien, confided to +many +persons, under strict injunction of secrecy, the testimony that Anton +would give; and in this way persuaded some of them, for they thought: +"Whatever Anton Armbruster says is certainly true."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was with dismay that Thoma heard--for Peter made no secret +of his +preparations--what corruption he was spreading over the whole +neighborhood; but she could do nothing to prevent it, and had to keep +silent when her mother praised the good, kind people.</p> + +<p class="normal">So the time drew near for Landolin to appear before the court +for which +he had been selected as juryman.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The days, the weeks, came and went; the crops in the field +grew +steadily; and the work went on in its usual good order, under the +direction of Tobias and Peter. They had hired a new servant in place of +Fidelis, who had left their service of his own accord, and had been +engaged by Titus.</p> + +<p class="normal">The pine trees had put on their yearly growth; rye and early +barley +were ready for harvest; and the hay was already cut and put away. Thoma +was the most active in all this work; but she spoke with no one, and +looked up astonished when the men and maid-servants sang as they went +about their tasks. Her face said plainly: "They can sing, they have no +father in prison."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a bright summer morning. The farmer's wife was up +before day, +for she wanted to see Tobias and Peter before they drove to the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the servants who remained at home had eaten their +breakfast, and +the dishes had been cleared away, she still sat at the table, in the +so-called "Herrgott's Corner." Her hands were folded on the table +before her. She gazed at them wearily and sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">On a bench, beside the large stove in which there was no fire +to-day, +sat Thoma at her spinning. Nothing could be heard but the low whirring +of the wheel, and the ticking of the clock on the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma," at length began her mother, "you're right in not +going to the +field to-day. My feet feel as though they had given way. Say, is to-day +Wednesday or Thursday? I don't know any more----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day is Thursday, the tenth of July, mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he is in court, on trial for his life. Look and see what +saint's +day this is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The calendar is hanging right behind you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife seemed not to care to turn or look around. +She rubbed +her hands hastily over her head, as though to keep her hair from rising +on end, and said, as if speaking her thoughts aloud:</p> + +<p class="normal">"So many people! I see them all, one after another, just as +they +were when I was a little child, and they beheaded Laurian, on the +city-green."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother! Don't talk so. We must control our feelings, +whichever way +things turn out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! Can it turn out any other way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows? That is what the trial is for."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely there must be compassionate and just men there, who +will have +pity. There are many who rejoice in our misfortune, but there are more +who mean well by us. Your Anton will testify for your father, and will +pledge his medal of honor for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than that," added Thoma; but she did not explain what +she meant.</p> + +<p class="normal">Will Anton persist in saying that he saw what her father told +him he +did? Does he really believe that he saw it in that way? or will he ruin +his own life in order to save another's? She compressed her lips +tightly. She thought she must scream out for pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">But her mother seemed to find it necessary to express her +thoughts; and +again she murmured, half aloud:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are the servants talking about, to-day? I am ashamed to +go among +them, and I dare not say a word, for fear they will answer me with +insult and abuse. I hear that people from all over the valley have gone +to the city to-day, to see Landolin sitting on the prisoner's seat. +Yes, there he sits, and has to let the gentlemen of the court say +everything they can think of right in his face. And everybody rejoices +in it, and yet they themselves are--God forgive me! Yes, so it is, if +anything is wrong with oneself, one tries to find something wrong with +one's neighbor. There stands your arm-chair. Who knows if you will ever +sit in it again, and rest your strong arms and good hands! When will +the door open again and you come in? Hush! Listen Thoma! Don't you hear +something? There is some one at the door! I hear some one breathing. It +might be Cushion-Kate, or is it----Open the door!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Even Thoma could not shake off her fear; but summoning her +courage, she +opened the door, and, with a sigh of relief, cried, "It is Racker."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come here," said her mother to the dog, coaxingly. "Do you +know what +is the matter with your master to-day? Will he ever see you, and lay +his hand on your head again? Yes, yes; look at me pitifully! If men +were as pitiful as you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're right, mother," said Thoma at length. "See, mother, +everybody +on his way to the field to-day, fills his pitcher at our well, as if +there was water nowhere else. They look toward our house as though they +took pleasure in our misfortune. I wish I could poison the well, so +they would all die! I wish I could poison the whole world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother longed to soothe her daughter, but dared not try. +She was +thankful that Thoma at least spoke, instead of staring silently before +her. And now that Thoma had once broken her silence, she continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, I want to go to the city."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, too, will leave me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma explained that she would soon return. She only wished to +telegraph to Peter, to report to her the verdict as soon as it should +be rendered, and she would leave word at the telegraph office for the +messenger, the "Galloping Cooper's" brother, to wait all night for the +message.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her mother took up her prayer-book, and said: "Well, you may +go; but +don't hurry too much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come along," Thoma called to the dog, and, with him, hastened +out of +doors.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At the edge of the forest stands a pine tree, with its top +bent down. +Some say that it was struck by lightning; others say a raven has +lighted there so often that his weight and the clutching of his claws +have broken it. But the strong-rooted pine grows on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Is Landolin's house such a tree; struck by lightning, and +bowed down by +dark sorrow? And will it flourish again?</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma stood in the road, and looked around, as though for the +first +time she saw that the heavens were blue, and the trees and fields were +green. She had to exert herself to remember for what and where she was +going.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," sighed she, and started away.</p> + +<p class="normal">A narrow foot-path led over the hill, down into the valley, to +the +city. To be sure she must pass Cushion-Kate's house; but why shouldn't +she? Nevertheless, Thoma, who before had been so strong and brave, +could not overcome a certain terror; as though, like the children in +the fairy-tale, she must pass a frightful dragon, lying in wait for her +at the mouth of his rocky cave.</p> + +<p class="normal">To be sure Thoma is much stronger than the poor old woman, +but, for all +that, it is hard enough to be obliged to conquer the crouching foe. +"Or, may it not be possible to help the poor woman, who must suffer +even more than we do? In the midst of her bitter trouble, may we not +save her the necessity of working for her daily bread?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as I thought! There is Cushion-Kate sitting at the stone +door-sill; both hands pressed to her temples, and her head bent down, +so that the red kerchief almost touches her knee.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did the poor creature know that this was the day of the trial? +She +seemed to be asleep, and Thoma, holding her breath, walked noiselessly +along. But when she had come nearly opposite to her, the old woman +suddenly raised her head. Her eyes glittered, and she called out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You! you! To-day is the day of payment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I not say a kind word to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kind? To me? You? Go away or----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She pulled out a pocket-knife, opened it, and cried: "I too, +can +murder! You are his child; and he was mine. Go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As Thoma turned tremblingly away, the open knife, which the +old woman +had thrown at her, fell at her side. She hurried down the hill; and, +until she reached the forest, she could hear loud moans and screams +behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cushion-Kate had been in the beginning a gay-hearted little +woman +enough. A patch-work tailor's daughter, a patch-work tailor's wife, one +could almost say that her life was a patch-work of little gay-colored +scraps like her cushions. She was one of those placid, grateful people +who are thankful for the smallest gift of Providence, and who never +wonder why they too cannot live in abundance, like the rich farmers. +After she had drunk her chicory coffee, she went about her work, +singing like a thrush. And who knows but she put the same ease with +which she carried the burden of life into her cushions; for it was +acknowledged that they were the softest in all the country side. She +seemed to have entirely forgotten her sad birth. Now, a heavy +affliction had come upon her. Her last and only treasure was taken +away; and suddenly fear, bitterness and hate, and all the spirits of +evil took possession of her. Suddenly, as though she had awakened from +a sleep in a paradise of innocence, she perceived how miserable her +life was; and she hated every one who lived in prosperity, and had +children to rejoice in. Above all others, she hated the murderer of her +child, and his family. Her only thought and wish were that he and they +should suffer and be brought to ruin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor old woman carried a heavy burden of sorrow and hate. +Her life +had been darkened, and she only wished to stay until she had avenged +herself on Landolin. This was why she had been so sullen and morose +since her son's death.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hate, anger and misery grew within her, and transformed her +happy, kind +heart into a sad and wicked one.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">In the summer garden of the Sword Inn, the linden trees were +in full +bloom. The bees came, sipped, and flew away without asking for the +reckoning. But to make up for this, the finches sang without pay; and +the swallows circled round, as though dancing a figure in the air, and +sometimes shot after a honey-laden bee.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything rejoiced in its own way. It was a morning so full +of +freshness, so full of enjoyment and exuberant life, one could hardly +believe that misery still existed in the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">A horseman trotted up to the garden fence, stopped, +dismounted, and +gave his horse to the servant, telling him to take it home and say to +his wife that if any one asked for him she might send him here; that he +would, however, soon be at home.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, doctor," called the hostess, from the veranda. +"You have +come just at the right time. We have this moment tapped a keg of beer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician had already heard that refreshing, enticing +sound, that +deep thud when the spigot is driven into the keg, and that clear sound +when the bung is drawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hostess brought him the first glass. He held it up to let +the sun +shine through the clear amber liquid, and then drank it with evident +enjoyment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had to go out before day this morning, all the way to +Hochenbraud," +said the doctor, as he drained the glass; then said, "Give me another, +for my twins." As he drank the second glass, he told the hostess that +he had that morning assisted at the advent of a pair of twins into the +world; two fine, healthy boys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is curious that something very extraordinary is always +happening +to Walderjörgli. His first great grandchildren are twins. It is a +blessing that this strong, upright race should go on growing. They are +honest-hearted men of the old primitive German type."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are shrewd, too," interposed the hostess. The physician +went on +to say that the primitive Germans must have been crafty rascals, for +savages are always cunning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But where is our host?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he has gone to the trial. There is an actual +pilgrimage +to-day. As early as half-past three this morning we had sold a whole +keg of beer. The witnesses went on the express-train. There were men +and women from Berstingen, from Bieringen, from Zusmarsleiten, from +everywhere, who had nothing to do with the trial, but went from +curiosity. They wanted to see Landolin brought before the court. The +station-master says that when a man is on trial for his life the people +throng to see his distress. He thinks that people will spare neither +pains nor money to gratify their desire to see the misfortunes of +others. But the district-forester says that the people go more because +they long for something new to break in upon the monotony of every-day +life."</p> + +<p class="normal">The cautious hostess gave this as a report, and not as an +opinion of +her own.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the physician said: "Both are true," she cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad to hear you say so. It is pleasant when one gives +medicine +to have the doctor come and say: 'that was right. I should have +prescribed that myself.' But I should like to ask you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think it possible for Landolin to be acquitted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With God and a jury all things are possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but then, who killed Vetturi? For he is dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That question is not on the list."</p> + +<p class="normal">The hostess went on to tell how Landolin's head-servant, +Tobias, had +been talking that morning with every one, and cunningly instructing +them what to say. How he had said, with a laugh, that the life of such +a person as Vetturi was not of enough value to have a man like the +ex-bailiff imprisoned an hour for it. Tobias wanted to pay for what +they all drank; but--and as she told the story, the hostess' face +became a flaming red--she had declared that each person must order her +to take pay from Tobias for him; then it would be known what was to be +thought of him and what might follow later. Some of them seemed to be +frightened at this hint.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor laughed and replied that the rich farmer thought +money would +do everything; and his son Peter, instigated by his father of course, +had offered to sell him their fine horse at a third of its value. They +wanted him to testify that Vetturi, who had suffered from severe +illness ever since his childhood, was weak and easily injured; so that +a fall on level ground might have killed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry for Thoma," began the hostess. "She was such a +stately, +fresh-hearted girl; and how well she and the miller, Anton, were suited +to one another. He, too, was here this morning. He is one of the +witnesses, but he staid in the garden, and kept looking at the medal of +honor on his breast. Do you think the trial will be finished in one +day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician could give no opinion, and the hostess +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our dear good Madame Pfann was going to Landolin's house to +spend this +sad day with his wife and Thoma. I advised her not to go now. They will +need her soon enough.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't believe there is another pure soul like hers in the +world. +Why, she finds something pure hidden even in a man like Landolin. Our +Madame Pfann is a woman such as they had in the time of the Apostles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo!" cried the doctor, "I have seen a rare wonder: one +woman +unreservedly praising another."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; who can know the judge's wife and not praise her? But +she seeks +neither praise nor thanks from anybody."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She needs none. He to whom nature has given the blessing of +such a +good heart is the possessor of all human good."</p> + +<p class="normal">The telegraph messenger came into the garden, and handed the +physician +a dispatch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've got it now," cried the physician, when he had read it. +"When does +the next express train leave?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In seven minutes."</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician explained to her that the defendant had called +for his +oral opinion. He left word for his wife that he was called away, and +hastened to the station, where he met Thoma, just coming in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you going too?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; I just want to send word to my brother to telegraph me +the +decision as soon as it is announced."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will attend to that for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The train sped away. Thoma asked the telegraph messenger, who +was a +brother of the "Galloping Cooper," to wait all night and bring her the +dispatch as soon as received.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma walked homeward. From the hill she could see the train +in the +distance. It sped by hamlets and villages, through newly-mown meadows, +past fields where potatoes were being gathered in little heaps. The +passengers talked together about the flood which had done such great +damage in Switzerland; of the political questions of the day; of the +conflict with Rome. The physician heard it all as in a dream. It +troubled him that he had after all to testify in Landolin's case. How +could the defence hope for any advantage from his testimony?</p> + +<p class="normal">The train stopped at the county-town. One of the court +officers was +waiting for him with a carriage, and took him to the court-house. The +air within was damp and sultry.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Long before day the bell from Landolin's prison cell rang +violently. +The keeper heard it, but did not hurry in the least.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can wait," he said to himself, and dressed leisurely. He +was a +tall, broad-shouldered man, of dignified and imposing appearance. He +had been appointed to his excellent position as a reward for bravery in +the war, and felt that he carried in his own person the whole dignity +of the court. He was gruff, but could, when he chose, be polite and +condescending; and he had a reason for being polite to Landolin. +Softening his powerful voice as much as he could, he asked what +Landolin wanted so early. It was scarcely day. Landolin gave him a +bewildered look; then he said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard the early train whistle. The people from my village +have come +in it. Go to the Ritter inn and bring my head-servant, Tobias, here. It +shall not be to your disadvantage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sorry I can't do that. You were bailiff yourself, and you +know +what the law is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then call my lawyer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's too early."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not too early. I have a right to see my lawyer at any +time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right, I'll bring him; but I advise you to compose +yourself +to-day. If you get so excited, you will be a witness against yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin looked at the keeper as though he wanted to knock him +down, +but he controlled himself. His face bore the marks of the battle which +he, who was formerly so self-willed, had been fighting for weeks, and +especially during the past night. Yesterday he had shaved off his full +beard, which had grown in the prison; and it was plain that he had +grown old very rapidly. The elasticity of his flesh, and the brown, +healthy color were gone; and his features were faded and flaccid.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swallows twittered as they flew hither and thither about the +grated +window. Landolin whistled a gay tune; and he continued whistling when +the key turned in the door, and his lawyer entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So gay already?" said the lawyer; "I hardly knew you. Why! +What made +you cut off your beard?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? So the jurymen can recognize me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very good. Now what do you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The lawyer had not uttered a syllable about the early hour. +His +relation to the accused was that of a physician to his patient. +Landolin, however, felt that he must make some excuse for sending for +him; and he asked to see the list of jurymen, so that he might +determine whom to object to, and whom to accept. First on the list, +which was in alphabetical order, was the name of the miller, +Armbruster, who had been summoned in Landolin's place.</p> + +<p class="normal">The lawyer said that he had asked to be excused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hoho!" cried Landolin. "He is just the one I'll keep. Let him +find me +guilty if he dares! We are not related, and our children are no longer +betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">The next on the list was the lumberman, Dietler.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He wants to be released too," said the lawyer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He wants to be released? So do I."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he will be angry with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you must see that the government counsel keeps him on. +Then he'll +be for us and against the other side. He has known me a long time. I +had almost said ever since wood was cut."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin laughed. The lawyer smiled and looked at Landolin's +wily face +in astonishment. One after another he struck off all the city people, +and the men of higher education. He wished to be tried by farmers. Only +one man from the city, the host of the Ritter inn, who was a man ready +of speech, was acceptable to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I won't have Baron Discher."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? He is a just man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be. But he is an enemy of mine because I outbid him +at the +sale of forest land. You will see," said Landolin in conclusion, "Titus +will be the foreman. He hates me heartily; but I know him well. I know +that in order to make a grand impression on the rabble, and to give +vent to his insolence, and to show me what a great man he is, he will +say not guilty, and induce the others to say the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lawyer was careful not to shake Landolin's confidence; and +he +himself acquired new hope of a favorable result. As he was about +leaving, Landolin asked, drawing his hand over his eyes and forehead,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the----Is his mother called as a witness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The government counsel was willing to do without her. I was +surprised, +but it was a good sign that he is not going to drive you to the wall. A +poor, bereaved old mother makes a bad impression on the jury. He is not +a bad man. He is, you know, a brother of your district judge's wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That won't help me any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think," continued the lawyer, "I think, the government +counsel +himself will recommend to the jury to find that there were mitigating +circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not have them find mitigating circumstances," cried +Landolin, +his face reddening. "You may in my name, by my authority, refuse such a +verdict. I know what that means. It is easy for a jury to say guilty +when mitigating circumstances are tacked on; but when it's neck or +nothing, they think twice before they speak."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin, we are playing a serious game."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish to address the jury yourself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know yet. I am afraid I should make some mistake."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can tell me your decision in the court-room. You have the +privilege of speaking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never thought of it before. It's come to me since I have +been in +prison. If I had my life to live over again, I'd like to be a lawyer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lawyer urged Landolin to try and sleep a little, for he +had a hard +day before him, and must husband his strength. He would try to be fresh +and strong himself.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Landolin tried to sleep, but he soon sprang up again. A man +may sleep +as much as he likes after he gets home, but now there is not a moment +to be lost. He rang the bell, and very submissively asked the keeper to +go for his son Peter, for he wanted to find out if the mother had come.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What mother?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh pshaw! The mother of--of--of the poor fellow. Ask right +out if +Cushion-Kate is here. And tell my son to give you twenty marks for the +saint's keeper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the saint's keeper? Where is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you so stupid? Or are you only pretending? The saint's +keeper is +inside of your coat."</p> + +<p class="normal">The grim keeper chuckled, and said to himself:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And just think of people saying that farmers are stupid."</p> + +<p class="normal">He soon returned, and said that Vetturi's mother had not come, +but--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what? Not my wife and daughter? I expressly forbade +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not they; but half the village."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did the saint's keeper get anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," chuckled the keeper. The day had brought him a rich +harvest, +both from those who were seeking to be dropped from the list of +jurymen, and had sought his influence with the different counsel for +that purpose, and from the people from the neighboring villages, whom +he had promised to let into the court-room before any one else.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin was again alone. He visited, in fancy, the various +inns of the +city, and the beer-garden near the station. He seemed to hear what the +people said--how they could hardly wait for the time when they might +see him in the prisoner's seat. Nothing is thought of to-day but +whether Landolin will be sentenced to death, or to long imprisonment, +or will be acquitted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Something that was almost a prayer passed through his soul, +but he did +not utter it; for he could not escape the thought that Cushion-Kate was +to-day praying to God for his just punishment. He started back. It +seemed to him as though she, herself, had run against him bodily.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prison door was unlocked. Landolin was led through along +passage to +the prisoner's waiting-room. The doors and the windows of the large +court-room were open; bright sunshine streamed in; the room was +empty---soon it would be crowded. The two keepers walked back and forth +near Landolin. Loud laughing and talking could be heard from the street +before the court-house. Who knows what jokes they were making! Men can +still laugh though there is one up here whose heart would fain stand +still. Landolin's eyes glistened. He said to himself: "After all I was +right in despising the whole world."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the room in which he was now confined he could hear, as he +listened +at the door, the tramp of steps through the long corridor. He would +have been glad to know whose steps they were. A confused sound of +voices reached his ear. At length he plainly heard the words "My +father!" It was Peter's voice. No doubt he had called so loud on +purpose that his father might hear him. Landolin felt as though he were +buried alive. He heard voices and could not answer them. His head swam +so that he leaned against the door-post.</p> + +<p class="normal">The door was unlocked, and Landolin was led into the +court-room.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">His eyes fastened on the floor, with measured steps Landolin +entered +the room. He seemed about to turn to the jury box, but the keeper laid +hold of his arm, and motioned him to the prisoner's dock.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he reached it he straightened himself with a violent +effort, and +looked calmly around; but he must have felt something like a veil +before his eyes, for he repeatedly drew his hands over them. He saw his +son Peter, who nodded to him, but he only answered with a slight motion +of his head. He recognized men and women from his and neighboring +villages; but Cushion-Kate's red kerchief was not to be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">He surveyed the jury with a keen scrutiny. He knew them all. +They all +stared at him, but no one of them gave him to understand, by so much as +a motion of the eyelids: I know you and am friendly to you. The miller +was not on the jury.</p> + +<p class="normal">Who is foreman?</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus. A red and white variegated pink lies before him on the +desk. Now +he takes it up and presses it to his large nose. The farmer of Tollhof, +called the jester, who sits beside him, hands him an open snuff-box and +says something. It is evidently, "Landolin is very much changed." Titus +nods, takes a pinch of snuff, and sneezes loudly. The host of the +Ritter inn, who is seated on the front bench, turns around, and says, +"Your health!" and whispers something to the lumberman, Dietler. Who +knows that the fickle host has not abandoned Landolin as a dead man, +and commenced paying court to Titus! The other members of the jury are +most all well-to-do, comfortable farmers--among them Walderjörgli's +son, dressed in the old-time costume, with a red vest--have folded +their large hands upon the desks, and look steadily before them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The solemn, impressive ceremony of taking the oath is over; +the +witnesses are sent out of the court-room; the charge is read. While the +reading is going on, the counselor drums with a large pencil on a +volume of the statutes before him. It may be he is gently playing a +tune, for he keeps perfect time. He is a young man with a heavy +moustache, which he smooths incessantly; and an unframed eye-glass, +attached to a broad, black ribbon, is fastened on his left eye. There +is something in the appearance of the counselor that suggests a +soldierly combativeness, and, in truth, he is an officer of the +Landwehr. The glance through the eye-glass, which sparkles strangely, +is often turned upon Landolin, and Landolin is uneasy under it. He +would like to say: "Please put the glass down," but he may not.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's lawyer has risen to his feet, and leans on the +railing of +the prisoner's dock. His hands are thrust in his pantaloon pockets. +Sometimes he turns his head and exchanges a few brief words with +Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The charge is manslaughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">The witnesses are called; and before the first one appears, +the lawyer +for the defense announces that he has telegraphed for the district +physician, for the purpose of obtaining his professional opinion +regarding Vetturi's frailty.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Landolin sat perfectly still, and looked at his hands. They +had grown +soft and white in prison. Only when a new witness was called, he raised +his eyes and watched him narrowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The witnesses in favor of the accused spoke hesitatingly. They +had seen +Vetturi fall on a heap of paving-stones, but whether the stone that had +been thrown had gone past him, that they could not say with certainty. +The blacksmith, from the upper village, was the only one who was sure +that he had seen it quite plainly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care you don't commit perjury," called out the +prosecuting +counsel. The lawyer for the defense arose in great excitement, and +earnestly protested against this intimidation of the witness. Even the +jurymen put their heads together, and whispered to one another. The +presiding judge said politely, but with marked decision, to the +youthful counselor, that he must leave such matters to him. The counsel +for the defense did not let this incident escape him; but made quite a +point of it, and it was some little time before matters moved on in +their usual quiet way. When Anton was called, Landolin's counsel asked +to have the district physician heard first, as he was obliged to leave +immediately. But the doctor's testimony proved to be of no importance. +Then Anton was called, and all eyes were fastened upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The iron cross on his breast rose and fell, as he breathed +deeply and +rapidly.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the preliminary question, as to whether he was related to +the +prisoner, he answered in a tremulous voice, but in well chosen words, +that at the time of the accident he was betrothed to the daughter of +the accused.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this the government counselor moved that Anton should not +be sworn, +but the counsel for the accused insisted that he should be. The judges +retired for consultation. They soon returned, and the presiding judge +announced that Anton Armbruster was not to be sworn. He added, however, +with impressiveness, that because of Anton's high character for +honesty, he should confidently expect him to tell the truth, and the +whole truth, with a clear conscience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I will do," said Anton. Every one held his breath, and +Landolin +clutched the railing of the bench with both hands. Plainly and readily +Anton said that it was his conviction that Landolin had not intended to +kill Vetturi. Still, he could not say that he had seen the occurrence +distinctly. He had just stepped through the gate, holding his +betrothed's hand, and had no eyes for any one else.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drew a long breath, and paused. The counsel for the defense +asked +him if he did not remember what he had said to Landolin, on his return +from the unfortunate man's house. Anton replied that it was Landolin +who had spoken, not he.</p> + +<p class="normal">With soldierly precision he answered each question, and ended +by saying +that it could not be imagined that a man like Landolin, that a father, +would willingly kill a man on the day of his daughter's betrothal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without looking toward Landolin, Anton returned to his seat, +and when +there, he did not look up. His eyes glistened, and his face burned.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Tobias was called, he came forward with long strides, +bowed to the +judge, to the jury, and most deeply to his master. He then said, with +the utmost assurance in his manner, that he would not have believed +that the good-for-nothing Vetturi, who was too lazy to lift a sheaf of +grain, could have been able to throw such a stone; but as good luck +would have it, the stone had fallen just at his master's feet. +Otherwise Vetturi would have been sitting in the prisoner's dock, and +his master lying in the grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">The government counselor tried to drive Tobias into a corner +with +questions, but he seemed prepared for everything, and gave smiling +answers; and at last, even said pertly, that he, who had been there and +seen it all, must know what happened better than the counselor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fidelis was then called. Some discussion arose as to whether +he could +be sworn; as he had been Landolin's servant at the time of the +occurrence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin made a good impression by saying that Fidelis was a +good +fellow, and would say nothing against him out of spite.</p> + +<p class="normal">At these words of his master, Fidelis seemed disconcerted for +a moment, +but he soon gave his testimony, briefly and succinctly; that Vetturi +had not bent over and picked up a stone, but that his master had thrown +one, and that it had seemed to him that it would hit his own head.</p> + +<p class="normal">The counsel for the defense inquired if any one had spoken to +the +witness regarding what he had seen. Whereupon the government counsel +rejoined that, if such questions were to be allowed, he should put the +question whether Tobias had not endeavored to persuade Fidelis to +testify otherwise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must I answer?" asked Fidelis.</p> + +<p class="normal">The presiding judge replied that he need answer neither +question.</p> + +<p class="normal">The examination of witnesses was now closed, and a pause +ensued, during +which there was a final arming of the forces upon both sides.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had grown dark and candles were lighted in the court-room. +They lit +up first the judge's desk, then the jury, then Landolin and his +counsel, and at last the spectators, of whom not one seemed to be +missing; indeed their numbers had apparently increased.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was damp and sultry in the room. The battle began.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The counselor's eye-glass glistened and glittered, but his +speech was +plain and quiet. He seemed studiously to avoid any approach to +vehemence. He began with a strong statement of the unruliness and +presumption which characterized the servants of the present day; and of +their frequent dishonesty in the present instance. The jury nodded +assent. He was sorry to say that the guilt of the accused was very +plain. The pretext of self-defense he materially weakened, by showing +carefully and clearly that the defendant had only hit upon the +subterfuge as a last resort, when he could find no other. It was more +than strange that the stone thrown by Landolin, which was bloody and +easy distinguishable from others, had so soon been made away with; +while the one said to have been thrown by Vetturi had been found, where +no doubt it had been placed for that very purpose.</p> + +<p class="normal">At these words Landolin shook his head violently. The +counselor paused +for a moment, then continued composedly, that, as only justice should +be done, he would recommend a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with +mitigating circumstances.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he had finished, Landolin leaned forward to speak to his +lawyer, +who rose and proceeded with persuasive eloquence to set forth the +perfect innocence of the accused. When he depicted Landolin's +uprightness and influence, Landolin cast down his eyes. It made a +strong impression when the lawyer raising his voice cried: "Gentlemen +of jury! The accused was chosen as a juryman for this session of the +court. He should be sitting among you, and not here; and I expect from +your straightforward honesty he will soon be with you, shoulder to +shoulder; for he belongs with you. The one of you that feels himself +exempt from outbursts of anger which, against his will, might result in +an unhappy accident; the one that feels himself free from all natural +faults, let him throw the stone; the stony word, guilty. By the +authority of the accused, I refuse 'mitigating circumstances.' That is +merely disguising the deadly missile. I call for the verdict 'Not +guilty.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">A murmur ran through the mass of spectators, so that the +presiding +judge threatened to clear the court-room if such disturbance were heard +again. In the profound silence that followed he gathered up the pros +and cons, and laid them in the scales before the jury. When he had +finished he asked Landolin if he had anything to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin arose and bowed. He moistened his dry lips, and +began:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your honors! Gentlemen of the jury! I--I am guilty!" Again a +murmur +ran through the room; but the judge did not repeat his warning. He was +himself too much astonished at the words; and even Landolin's lawyer +involuntarily threw up his arms in despair. The counselor's eye-glass +sparkled more brightly than before, and his face had a triumphant +expression. When silence was restored, Landolin continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I am guilty. I deserve punishment, just punishment; but +not for +that of which I stand here accused. I deserve punishment because I was +so soft-hearted and compassionate that I did not prosecute the +miserable fellow for his theft.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen of the jury! You twelve men! It is terribly hard +that such +men as you should be taken from the harvest-field to sit here through a +long, hot day! And why? Because of a miserable servant-man, whose life +is not worth twelve hours' time, of twelve honorable men like you. I +will not speak of myself, of my having to stand here. I only say I +should not have been so tender-hearted. Through that I have become +guilty of making servants ungovernable. For that, I deserve punishment, +for nothing else. Should I have quietly allowed him to kill me? And is +it likely that I, who forebore so long with him, sought to kill him? +Was I likely to place my wife, and my children, my honor, my house, and +my lands in peril for such a one as he? I will not abuse him; he is +dead." Landolin's voice trembled. He seemed unable to continue. His +counsel whispered to him: "Don't stop there. Say again that you are +guilty." And Landolin cried again: "I am guilty in not having +prosecuted the thief. Of that I am guilty, of nothing more."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin sat down, and covered his face with both hands. He +seemed to +be weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge handed the foreman of the jury the list of points +for their +consideration. They all arose, and Landolin was led to the room set +apart for the accused. On the way out his son pressed his hand; they +could neither speak a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keeper," asked Peter, "can I go with my father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I want to be alone," interrupted Landolin sharply, and +the door +closed behind him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He would have let Thoma in, but he does not want me," said +Peter to +himself; and as other evil thoughts linked themselves to this one, he +grated his teeth.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The court-room and the long corridor were filled with people, +eagerly +discussing the expected verdict. Some thought it well-advised, others +thought it fool-hardy, that the accused and his lawyer had declined to +accept a verdict with "mitigating circumstances." They all agreed, +however, that Landolin's speech was a surprise, such as they would +probably never live to see again. There were some even who tried to set +a money value on it, and asserted that they wouldn't have missed +hearing the speech for such or such a sum. No one had dreamed that +Landolin was such an orator and actor.</p> + +<p class="normal">During this time, Landolin stood at the open window of the +prisoner's +room, grasping the iron grating with both hands. The keeper brought +wine. Landolin did not drink it, but he poured some on his hands, and +washed them with it; then turned again and started out into the starlit +night.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although he felt the triumph that he had gained by his last +words, his +knees were weary as if he had climbed over a high mountain, and now, as +it seemed to him, he was compelled to walk over a grave, yonder by his +home----</p> + +<p class="normal">A meteor shot across the heavens. Ah! if one could only +believe that +that is a good sign!</p> + +<p class="normal">The prisoner's room, and that in which the jury was locked +till they +should agree upon a verdict, were only separated by one thick wall. +Have they been there long, or only a short time? From the towers of the +city twelve o'clock was tolled. "Twelve strokes of the bell! The voices +of twelve men!" said Landolin to himself. Yonder, through the black +night, comes a monster with two red eyes, ever nearer and nearer. +Landolin knows very well that it is a locomotive, but nevertheless he +starts back from the window in terror, and sits down in a chair. Hark! +A bell rings. It is not outside; it is here. The jury are ready. A +heavy trampling is now heard in the corridor, followed by an unbroken +silence. Landolin is sent for. With a firm step he mounts the stairs to +the prisoner's dock. He stands still; for he is saying to himself: +"They shall never say they saw me break down." He looks at the twelve +men, but their faces seem to him to be swimming in a sea. Now, as +though emerging from the waves, they rise. The foreman, Titus, lays his +right hand on his heart, in his left a sheet of paper trembles and +rustles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus first reads the points that have been submitted to them. +Oh, how +long that lasts! Why this repetition? Why not immediately say, Guilty; +or, Not Guilty? Now Titus draws a deep breath, and says:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The accused is pronounced not guilty, by six voices against +six."</p> + +<p class="normal">A blow is heard to fall on the statute book which lies on the +counselor's table. His glistening eyeglass falls down, and twirls +around on its broad, black ribbon, as if astonished.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judges hold a whispered consultation; and the president +rises, and +after reading the passages of the law bearing upon the case, says:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The accused is not guilty. Landolin! you are free."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin sees gathering about him his lawyer, his son, Tobias, +and +several jurymen and old friends. He sits on the bench, nods silently, +and tears that he cannot keep back roll down his cheek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, don't weep; rejoice!" cried Peter. But in a moment a +different +cry is heard. The spectators had crowded noisily out of the building, +and announced the verdict to the many people waiting in the corridor, +on the stairs, and in front of the court-house. And now one could hear +loud cries of "the murderer's released!" then yells, whistles, and +threatening exclamations from the keepers and guards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait until the mob has scattered," said the host of the +Ritter, who +was one of the jury, "you will put up with me. I have ordered a good +meal to be prepared for you and your guests."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin had regained his self-command, and answered in a +clear voice: +"Yes; serve as good a meal as you can, and invite all the jurymen. The +other six are not my enemies. I--I will never have another enemy in the +world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, I would like to give Titus a special invitation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so. Didn't I say that for the few years I have yet to +live, I will +be nobody's enemy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I will send a telegram to mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so, and say that I am all right."</p> + +<p class="normal">The electric spark flashes over the wire, knocks at the +station of the +little town where the stationmaster is still awake, and soon the +brother of the "Galloping Cooper" ascends the hill.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">On this still summer night a current of fresh air streams +through the +valley and over the hilltops. The ripe blades of wheat sway to and fro +as they draw their last breaths. All nature is silent, save the river +which rushes through the valley. The men are all resting from the hard +work of the harvest, to begin again with renewed strength at the first +glimmer of the morning sunshine.</p> + +<p class="normal">Up the white mountain road moves a man who often presses his +hand to +his breast pocket, as if to convince himself that he had not lost the +dispatch.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Landolin's house a light is still burning. Thoma sits at +the table, +and stares at the candle. Her features are changed by bitterness and +pain, and the lips that once so sweetly smiled, so warmly kissed, are +tightly compressed. Will those lips ever smile again; ever kiss again?</p> + +<p class="normal">Her mother reclines at the open window, and looks out into the +night.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother," said Thoma, "you must go to sleep. It is past +midnight; and +the doctor thought that the trial would scarcely be finished in one +day."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother barely turned her head, and then looked out again. +Is +Cushion-Kate awake, too, thought she.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, she was awake, but she could not afford a light. Perhaps, +at the +same moment, she was thinking of Landolin's wife. "She has not deserved +such misery; but neither have I; and I have no one else; nothing but +this gnawing sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly Cushion-Kate straightened herself. She heard +footsteps.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you brought anything for me?" she asked the frightened +messenger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! nothing for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For whom then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Landolin's Thoma," he answered, pulling out the blue +envelope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know what is in it?" asked Cushion-Kate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not supposed to know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you do know. Say, is Landolin sentenced to death?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll lose my place if you tell anybody."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I swear to you by all the stars I'll tell no one. I have no +one to +tell. I beg of you, have pity!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin is acquitted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Acquitted? And my son is dead! Ye stars above, fall down and +crush the +world. But no: you are fooling me. Don't do that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have sworn that you would not tell," said the messenger, +and +hastened away. But Cushion-Kate threw herself on the ground, and wept +and sobbed.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the messenger had reached Landolin's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you bring good news?" his wife called from the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma hastened down the stairs with the light, and returned +quickly +with the open dispatch in her hand, and cried out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father is acquitted. Not guilty by the court."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother sank on her knees. It was long before she could +speak a +word. At length she said, half smiling, half weeping:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will sit there at the table, there on the bench, once +more! He will +eat and drink there again! Wait, Cooper! I'll bring you something. You +must be tired."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma drew her mother into a chair, and then brought food and +drink.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; eat and drink," said the mother. "Why are you so silent, +Thoma? +Why are you not happy? Eat your fill, Cooper, and take the rest with +you. Oh, if I could only give food and drink to the whole world! Oh, if +I could only awaken the dead, I would eat only half enough all the rest +of my life! He should have the best of everything. Praise and thanks be +to God! my husband is free; it is so good of him to send word that he +is well. Yes, no one understands his good heart as well as----Cooper, +go to Cushion-Kate, and tell her that I will come to see her to-morrow +morning. As long as I live I will divide with her as though she were my +sister. Tell her to be calm, and thank God with me. It would not have +done her any good if the verdict had been different. Go, Cooper; go +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Cooper went to Cushion-Kate's. The house was open, but she +was not +to be found.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Landolin's house his wife said, "Now we will go to sleep. +Thank God +that your father can sleep again in peace. You'll see he will bring +Anton home with him to-morrow, and everything will be all right +again. Dear Anton certainly helped your father a great deal with his +testimony. He is so kind and good. God be praised and thanked, +everything will be all right again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything all right again?" said Thoma; but her mother did +not catch +the questioning tone in which she spoke.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Cushion-Kate had hurried through the village to the pastor's +house near +the church. She rang the bell violently. The pastor looked out, and +asked, "Who is ringing? Have you come for me to take the sacrament to a +dying person?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pastor," shrieked Cushion-Kate, "tell me, is there a God in +heaven? Is +there justice?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are you that dare blaspheme so? All good spirits praise +the Lord +our God. Who are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The mother, the mother whose son was murdered; and the +murderer is +acquitted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it you, Cushion-Kate? Wait; I will open the door." The +pastor +opened it, but Cushion-Kate was no longer there. He went to the +churchyard, to Vetturi's grave. There he found her red kerchief, but +she had disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">In mad haste, as though driven by invisible demons, +Cushion-Kate ran +through fields and forest, down to the river. There she stood, on a +projecting rock, under which the water boiled and bubbled as though +imprisoned. The whirlpool is called the "Devil's Kettle." Cushion-Kate +leaned forward, and was about to throw herself in; but when her hands +touched her head, and she became aware that her kerchief was missing, +her self-control returned, and sitting down she said as she looked up +to the sky:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, I feel it again. I, under your heart, and you, with a +straw +wreath round your head, and a straw girdle round your waist,--that was +the world's justice to the poor unfortunate. Mother, you are now in the +presence of eternal justice. Don't let Him turn you away! And Thou, on +Thy throne in Heaven, answer me. Tell me, why is my son dead? Why hast +Thou let the man that killed him go free, and live in happiness? Thou +hast given me nothing in all the world; and I ask for nothing but that +Thou shouldst punish him, and all those who acquitted him. Let no tree +grow in their forest, nor corn in their fields. Torment them; or if +Thou in Heaven above wilt not help me, then he, the other one, from +below, shall! Yes, come from the water, come from the rocks; come, +devil, and help me! Make a witch of me. I'll be a witch. Take my poor +soul, but help me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A night-owl rose silently from out the darkness. Cushion-Kate +beckoned +to it, as though it were a messenger from him whom she had called. The +owl flew past; a train of cars rushed by on the other side of the +river. Cushion-Kate shrieked, but her cry was drowned in the clatter of +the cars. She sank down--she slept. When the day awoke and shone in her +face, she turned over with a groan, and slept on with her face to the +ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wake up! How came you here?" called a man's voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cushion-Kate opened her eyes, and drawing her hands over her +forehead, +she moaned out, "Vetturi!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; it is I, Anton Armbruster. See, here is some gin. Come, +drink!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Cushion-Kate drank eagerly, then asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know that he is acquitted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I have just come from the trial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," cried Cushion-Kate, and she struck Anton on the +breast with +her bony fist. "Yes, you too are----. They say you testified that he +did not do it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kate, you have a strong hand. You hurt me, but I forgive you. +Kate, I +did not testify falsely. I said honestly that I saw nothing that +happened plainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why was he acquitted?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because six men said not guilty. Come, raise yourself up. +There!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old woman rose to her feet. She held her left hand to her +head, and +her dishevelled grey hair fluttered in the morning wind. She looked +around in bewilderment, and seemed unable to collect her thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some one has stolen my kerchief from my head," she said at +length. +"Stop; it must be lying on his grave. Yes, he is in his grave, and the +man who brought him to his death is free--I understand it all. I am not +crazed. I know you. You are Anton; and your mother, in heaven, kept +your tongue from lying. Thank God, you no longer belong to that family. +They must go to ruin--all of them. The haughty Thoma, too. Great God," +she cried, clasping her hands, "forgive me! Thou art a patient +creditor, but a sure payer. You need not lead me, Anton; I can go +alone--alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Anton offered to accompany her, she motioned him back, +and went +through the woods, over the hill, to the village, gathering dry twigs +on her way.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a long time Anton stood gazing after her. He would so +liked to have +hastened to Thoma, but he overcame the impulse, and wandered homeward.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">For weeks Anton lived among the wood-cutters in the forest, +high up on +the mountain. He was one of the most diligent workers, from early +morning until nightfall; and he was rewarded by having in the log cabin +such a sound sleep as he could not have had in his father's house in +the valley. To be sure, the wood-cutters thought it strange that the +miller's only son should devote himself to such hard work and +privation; but they asked no questions, and days often passed without +Anton's speaking a word. But he thought the oftener: How does Thoma +live? She cannot, like me, find a new place for herself. She must stay +at home, where everything awakens bitter recollections. Is she asked, +as I am, by every one she meets, why our engagement has been broken +off? And, like me, is she at a loss to know how to answer? Not the +smallest lie escapes her lips, for she is honest and truthful. She +demands that her father should confess what he has done, and submit to +punishment. But, can her father confess what, perhaps, he has not done?</p> + +<p class="normal">It was plain and clear to Anton that he could not give a full +account +of the occurrence. And when he was called before the court, he gave his +testimony strictly in accordance with the truth; for that the stone had +not hit Vetturi, he had only heard from Landolin, as he stood at the +spring.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wanted to go to Thoma, after the trial, and tell her this; +but she +had thrust him from her so unmercifully and unlovingly that he could +not humble himself again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Does she not love him? Did she never love him? The perfume of +the +lily-of-the-valley, which was just beginning to bloom up on the +mountain, reminded him of a blissful hour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton had gone down from the mountain to the trial; and after +his +meeting with Cushion-Kate, troubled thoughts filled his mind as he went +on his way home. He said to himself that he would no longer hide in the +mountain-forest; it was nothing but a cowardly flight. As he +acknowledged this, the medal of honor on his breast trembled. Does +Anton Armbruster fly from anything? He looked around with a fearless +courage. He was himself again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How many years did he get?" asked his father when he reached +home. +Anton had to tell him that Landolin was fully acquitted.</p> + +<p class="normal">The calm, thoughtful miller struck his fist on the table and +exclaimed: +"Well, that is----." He suddenly broke off, went to the window, and +looked out. He did not wish to have a second dispute with his son; and +Anton's composed manner seemed to him to say that he rejoiced in the +verdict, and built new hopes upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, I am going to stay at home now," said Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is right," answered his father, without turning round, +"and you +had better go to the river. We must send off a raft to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, have you nothing to say about the acquittal?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What difference does what I say make?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Much, father--it makes very much difference."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, I will tell you. It would have been better for +the cause +of justice, and for the hot-tempered Landolin himself, if he had been +punished for a few years. But, mark my words, he must now suffer much +more for his crime. He needs now to be acquitted by every one he meets. +If he had submitted to punishment he would be better off. He would have +paid his debt to justice, and everything would go on smoothly and +evenly. In two years he would regain his civil rights and his standing +in the community. It was only a misstep. But how is it now? And I +believe Landolin is not tough enough--how shall I say it--he is not man +enough to blot out the sense of his guilt from his own mind, and from +other people's. But, Anton, let this be the last time we dispute about +him. I don't deny that I have no place in my heart for him; but we two +need not, on that account, live in discord. It is time for you to go +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton went up the stream, and set himself busily to work, +helping +to bind the logs and planks together into a raft. He who saw this +well-built man, handling the oar and boat-hook so energetically, and in +his quickly changing attitudes presenting such a picture of strong, +graceful manhood, would not have dreamed that he carried in his heart a +bitter sorrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Thoma was estranged from her father, so Anton was estranged +from +his. Thoma and the miller were of the same opinion, with only this +difference; that in Thoma deep respect for her father had changed +into the opposite feeling; whilst with the miller, a deeply hidden +hostility, or rather aversion toward the haughty Landolin had only come +to the surface.</p> + +<p class="normal">The acquittal made no change in the miller's feelings, except, +possibly, to intensify them; and perhaps it was so also with Thoma. +Still Anton hoped that matters would change for the better; and he was +continually studying how he could bring it about.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At the capital, the night following the trial was to be spent +in +revelry and carousal.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin entered the chamber prepared for him at the +Ritter inn, +he pulled off his coat, and hurling it across the room, exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There! I'm rid of it! I've felt the whole time as if I had an +iron +jacket on."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the great dining-room, where the table was already spread, +he walked +up and down in his shirt sleeves. The host said smilingly that supper +would soon be served.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are the twelve men all coming?" asked Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They were all invited, but they seem to have slipped into the +ground +and vanished."</p> + +<p class="normal">The first to arrive was Landolin's lawyer. He seemed far from +being +elated with his victory; and in Landolin's manner toward him there was +by no means the same dependence and helplessness as before. Then +Landolin had treated him as a very sick man does his physician; every +word and every glance were welcomed as though fraught with healing. Now +Landolin was an ungrateful convalescent, who has come to the conclusion +that he has not been sick at all; or, at any rate, that not the +physician, but his own good constitution has helped him through.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," said his counsel, "you should have been a +lawyer. Your +last words turned the scale. It was a master stroke."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin accepted this praise as his due, and made no reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call Anton! Where is Anton?" said he, turning to his son.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I was sending the dispatch I met him at the depot. He +went home +on the freight train, which usually takes no passengers; but the +conductor is an old comrade of his, and smuggled him on board."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin whistled, and walked hastily around the table, on +which they +were just placing the wine-bottles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landlord, bring in the supper. Herr Procurator, take this +chair beside +me. So, this is a different way of sitting down together. I invited all +the jurymen,--all. I don't want to know who said guilty, or who said +not guilty. I don't want to have an enemy in the world. If they don't +come--all right. I've shown how I feel, and that's enough. Landlord, +let the witnesses come in, and anybody else that's there. Be sure and +call Tobias."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias soon appeared. To be sure he had just eaten in the +hostler's +room; but he wiped his mouth, as though he would say, "If it's +necessary I'll do it again." So he sat down next to Peter, and fell +bravely to work.</p> + +<p class="normal">The so-called common people who had testified now came in. +This was, to +be sure, no company for Landolin, but he could not do less than give +the poor fellows a good bite and a good drink. He asked what the +witness fee was, and when he heard how small it was, he said he would +like to double it, but he dared not, lest it should be said that he had +tried to bribe them. By this speech he sought to ingratiate himself +with these people at no expense to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias nudged Peter with his elbow, and laughed and drank. +Peter cast a +look at him as though he would like to tear him to pieces, then quickly +controlled himself and joined in the laugh. His face wore the +expression of a young fox who has just caught his first hare, and is +feasting upon it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Among the guests were some who had been Landolin's companions +when he +was young; and they strove to divert him by reminding him of his wild, +youthful pranks. Landolin laughed and drank immoderately. The lawyer +did not find it congenial, so he slipped quietly away. Landolin's eyes +often fell upon the empty chair at his side, but he looked quickly +away. Suddenly he called out, "Take away that empty chair! Who the +devil is going to sit there? Take it away! Away with it!" He jumped up +and overturned it with such force that all the four legs were broken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You oughtn't to do that father. Be quiet!" whispered Peter, +sternly, +and roughly grasped his father's arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go! I'm all right," said Landolin, quieting down. "Come, +Tobias, +come with me! Indeed I have not drunk too much to-day, but I have gone +through so much that its almost upset me. Here, Tobias, let me lean a +little on you. Good night to you all. I hope you will get home all +right. I shall soon follow you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up to his room with Tobias, and as soon as he got +there he +caught tight hold of Tobias' arms and cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be still! I won't hurt you. Not you! You haven't deserved it. +Do you +know what I long for? Do you know what I wish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I know it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'd like to have one of 'em between my thumb and finger, like +this, +so--Hutadi! I'd like to snap and crack his arms and legs. I'd like +best to get at Titus--or all of the six--they ought to have been +unanimous--the cursed--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me go, master," begged Tobias, for the grip of his hand +was far +from gentle; "and I advise you to keep quieter. You can say anything +you like to me. What we two have got through together, can't be +undone."</p> + +<p class="normal">The situation dawned upon Landolin. He, the farmer, was +reproved by his +own servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right, all right," he muttered and soon fell sound +asleep.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It was almost noon when Landolin awoke. He prepared for his +journey +home, and paid his bill. It was very evident that the landlord had +cheated him. He was greatly vexed at being taken in by this plausible +fellow, but he did not want an open quarrel. The thought that, for some +time to come, he must allow himself to be cheated without daring to say +anything, worried him more than the loss of his money. He now wished to +return home immediately, and enter the village in triumph; but Peter +put off going until near evening; for he did not want his father to +reach home until after dark; and when Landolin swore at the unnecessary +delays, Peter said, coolly and meaningly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, you will have to give up fussing and spluttering so. +I should +think you would have learned, by this time, to keep quiet and be +patient. Yes, you may well stare at me. I am no longer the simple +Peter, over whose head you looked, as though he didn't exist. I am +here, and you and I have no secrets from one another. Self-defense is a +nice thing, but--well I guess you understand me. Of course I have great +respect for you. You drove the cart well, and Tobias and I pushed at +the hind-wheels. The cart is out of the rut, and now we'll wash our +hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin looked at his son as though another man were standing +before +him. Peter noticed it, and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, father, I've found out what the mainspring of the world +is; and I +know that it's all one what a man does. He can do what he likes, if he +only keeps other people from knowing it. Am I right, or not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin was so astonished that he could not utter a word. Who +dare +speak to him in such a way? Can it be Peter! But something still worse +followed; for Peter began again:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, see here, father; before we go home we'd better have +matters +settled. You are the farmer; you are the master. And before the world +you may appear as you always have; but at home, in house and field, +only my word must be obeyed. You may be sure that you shall want for +nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Tobias?" asked Landolin, gnashing his teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You needn't halloo so; I'm not deaf. I sent Tobias home +before us; and +I might as well tell you at once, that I shall dismiss him soon. He +knows too much, and puts on too many airs. Moreover, I intend to send +away all of the servants. I'm going to lay a new foundation."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin kept silent, but smiled. He was incensed at Peter's +impertinence, yet he could not repress his delight that his son had +become so fearless and resolute.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could almost be proud of you, you have changed so," he +said, at +length. And Peter cried exultingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's right. You shall see that I'll do everything right; +and that +I'll do the right thing by you. I find that we've been losing a big +pile of money in speculation, but that's past and done with, and I'll +say nothing more about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin kept his wrath down, and thought: "Just wait till we +get home, +then I'll talk to you differently."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father and son spoke not a word after this. A wagon was +waiting at the +depot in the city; and Landolin asked his wife, who with tears in her +eyes came to meet him: "Where is Thoma?" He was told that she would not +come.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin thought to himself: "I am acquitted, but my +children----. My +son wants to depose me, and my daughter will not even come to meet me."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meadow near the station was an unfinished platform, and +though +it was twilight, the men were still hammering busily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are they doing?" asked Landolin; and before an answer +could be +given, he continued: "I remember, when I was a child, that a scaffold +was built there, and a man beheaded on it. Beheading is not the worst +thing in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! husband!" replied his wife. "What strange thoughts! +Peter, don't +you know what they are doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; certainly. Next Sunday the soldiers have their +celebration."</p> + +<p class="normal">As the wagon drove past the garden of the Sword inn, a number +of ladies +and gentlemen were looking down from the veranda. Landolin raised his +hat and bowed, but no one returned the salutation; and, for the first +time in his life, he tasted the bitter experience of stretching out his +hand in greeting, and of finding no hand ready to take it.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">No one had returned Landolin's greeting from the veranda of +the inn. To +be sure the judge's wife, who sat near the railing, looked an +acknowledgment, but that could not be seen at the distance. More she +dared not do, for they were having a full meeting of the members of the +"Casino," a society or association of the people of rank in the city, +which met the first Wednesday after each full moon. Several members +from a distance were there; the Catholic priest; and the only +Protestant pastor of the district, with his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation naturally turned upon the monstrous verdict +of the +previous day. The corporation-attorney said that he was glad he had +declined to defend the case. He could well imagine the surprise of +Landolin's counsel when his client was acquitted. Of course, in such +cases, a lawyer feels bound to make use of all possible dialectic arts +and strategies, but still, when successful, he must feel the recoil of +the gun.</p> + +<p class="normal">The school-teacher, whom but few knew to be the editor of the +weekly +paper, <i>The Forest Messenger</i>, complained in a disheartened tone that +this verdict of the overbearing farmers would necessarily intensify the +hate existing between the different classes; for the poor man felt that +he had no rights. It was high time that the choice of jurymen should no +longer depend upon the length of a man's tax-list.</p> + +<p class="normal">The attorney coincided with him, but went even farther, and +asserted +that it was an old prejudice of liberalism, that the ordinary mind +could render a just verdict.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge nodded to him, and he continued, somewhat +vehemently: "I now +understand the legend of Medusa. The uneducated class is such a head. +If a man should look into its face, he would turn into stone before its +horrid visage, so wild, so malevolent, so false, so furious. Our much +vaunted German nation is not yet ripe, either for universal suffrage, +or for the right of sitting on a jury. Indeed, since we have obtained +what we have so long and ardently desired, the German wave in the tide +of morality is sinking away. Our German people are not so great as we +believed and hoped."</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge earnestly protested against this assertion, and +insisted that +although there were undoubtedly deplorable indications, still the wave +was beginning to rise again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician, who still clung to the old ideal of his student +days--an +ideal always mingled with a profound hatred of Metternich--came bravely +to the judge's assistance, by declaring that the influence of the +profligate times of Metternich is still felt; for our people persist in +the belief that everything that our rulers propose to do is wrong and +tyrannical; and applaud when the law is evaded, or a criminal slips +through without punishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">In conclusion the physician could not refrain from giving the +lawyer, +who, while he really had a contempt for the people, belonged to the +so-called radical wing of the liberty party, to understand that his +party was greatly to blame for the disorganization of the popular mind, +by its carping depreciation of the great and good things which had +actually been accomplished.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clergyman agreed that the foundation of all the mischief +lay in the +weakening of religious belief; but the schoolmaster was bold enough to +assert that in the boasted days of unshaken faith there was much more +wickedness in the world than now.</p> + +<p class="normal">The discussion was apparently about to be taken up with the +subject of +religion, which was strictly forbidden in the Casino. But the +Protestant minister's timid, quiet wife, happily turned the +conversation, by asking, during a slight pause:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are there not more offenders who are undetected than are ever +brought +to justice?"</p> + +<p class="normal">No one seemed to care to answer this question, and the young +lady +blushed deeply at the silence that followed her words, but at length +the schoolteacher took pity on her, and said, with a smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is quite impossible to give an exact answer to your +question; but +it is probably much as it is with the aërolites. Two-thirds of our +planet is covered with water, consequently two-thirds of the aërolites +fall into it unnoticed; and of the last third, which falls on dry land, +not all are found."</p> + +<p class="normal">This bright and skilfully devised figure led the company back +into a +more agreeable frame of mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">The school-teacher, who liked to deal in generalities, +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would like to present another subject for consideration. It +would be +profitable to inquire in what different degrees, truthfulness, whether +due to nature or education, is found to exist in different nations. +This department of statistics would, I grant, be the most difficult."</p> + +<p class="normal">The problem was not discussed; for the stationmaster entered, +and said +that Landolin's wife had come with the carriage, and that Landolin was +expected by the evening train. Again the conversation turned upon +Landolin. The old district forester, who, until now had not spoken, but +had been steadily smoking his long pipe, said in his strong, grave +voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing can be more pernicious than that the best and most +universal +belief, the belief in justice, should be shaken, or quite destroyed. +Public opinion will and must rebel against the verdict in Landolin's +case. The conscience of the people is still too strong and pure. But +the very fact that the popular conscience condemns both him and the +jury, undermines all stability."</p> + +<p class="normal">The forester had scarcely finished speaking when the train +arrived. +Landolin soon drove past. The company had risen from the table, and the +physician stood beside the judge's wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">These two shared the noblest of vocations, and often met in +their +common work of aiding the unfortunate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think," asked the lady, "that the innocent young +people, Thoma +and Anton, can now be happily united?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician shrugged his shoulders, and she continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was going to Landolin's house, but our hostess advised me +not. But +now I think it is time to do something, and that I can be of benefit to +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had better wait a few days, at least," counseled the +physician. +"You know a wound must bleed awhile, before it is allowed to heal. +Besides, I am inclined to think that affairs have undergone a change. +At first Landolin yielded an unwilling consent, now the miller will be +obstinate. I should not be surprised if in the end the young people +themselves----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I can prevent that."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a polite bow the physician replied: "Faith is supposed to +be able +to remove mountains. I have great confidence in your faith. But hush!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The piano struck up in the next room. A portly, merry Catholic +priest +sang with strong tenor voice; and presently the young wife of the +Protestant clergyman was persuaded to sing a duet with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Joyous songs, sung by sweet voices, floated out into the +moonlit summer +evening, and all dissension and all misery seemed to be forgotten.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It was a source of vexation to Landolin that the people of +rank of the +Casino did not notice him; and as their wagon went slowly up the hill, +he said to his wife, with unaccustomed tenderness:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We'll not concern ourselves at all about the world, but be +happy in +having each other and being together again. Nobody cares for a man as +his own family does."</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife looked at him in astonishment, and her careworn face +shone in +the clear moonlight. She was not used to such affection from Landolin, +and she had never known that he felt any need of sympathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Thoma ill?" he asked, after a little while.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, only frightened, and angry about Anton. She goes around +for days +without speaking a word; but she works busily, and eats and drinks as +usual. To be sure, she doesn't sleep as she should. I made her sleep +with me; but she would not lie in your bed, and I had to give her +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything will come around all right now," said Landolin. +For his +part, he thought it strange that his wife, contrary to her usual habit, +had so much to say; but he wanted to hear more, so he asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has the prize cow a bull calf?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; coal black, with a white star on its forehead, and stout +hoofs. +Didn't Peter tell you that we were going to raise it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As for Peter, who sat on the front seat driving, his sides +shook. He +was evidently laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin, who had striven against the temptation, at last +yielded, and +asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How does Cushion-Kate get along?"</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife did not answer, and Landolin repeated impatiently, +"Don't you +hear me? Didn't you hear what I said? I asked how Cushion-Kate was +getting along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't scream so! You have changed very much."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's you, not I, that have changed. Why don't you give me an +answer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I have none to give. Last night Cushion-Kate was not +at home. +Early this morning she came back, and lit a fire for the first time in +many days. She must have been at the grave yesterday, for the pastor +found her red kerchief there, and sent it to her. Since then she has +disappeared again; and her goat cries terribly, for it has had no +fodder. The poor animal----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do I care for the goat! I don't know how it is--either +everybody +is crazy or I am crazy myself. Is this my forest? Are those my fields? +To whom do these horses and this wagon belong? Say, am I crazy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you go on in this way, you'll make both me and yourself +so. For +God's sake, don't torment us both! What do you want with Cushion-Kate +just now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife had scarcely uttered these words, when Cushion-Kate +rushed out +of the forest, and grasped the horse's reins.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go!" cried Peter. "Let go! or I'll drive over you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold still!" said Landolin. "Kate! I mean well by you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I don't mean well by you. They didn't cut off your head. +They +didn't hang you. You shall hang yourself. There is your forest, with +thousands and thousands of trees. They all wait for you to hang +yourself on them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Kate! come here to me," besought his wife. But Kate +continued to +pour terrible execrations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give her a cut with the whip," cried Landolin; "give it to +me; I'll +strike her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, father, I'll fix it," said Peter; and springing down +quickly, he +pushed Kate to one side; then, mounting again, he drove rapidly up the +hill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's wife looked back, and drawing a long breath, said: +"Thank +God! she has sat down on those stones. Some one has come up the hill, +and is speaking to her."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<p class="normal">When they reached home, Peter cracked his whip loudly, and +drove +through the open gate to the house. A strange servant brought a chair; +Peter helped his mother out, then turned to assist his father, who +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind! I'm still able----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood again on his own ground. No sound of welcome was +heard, save +the barking of the chained dog.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bright moon lit up the square yard, which was neatly +paved, and +entirely changed in appearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who made these changes?" asked Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma had them made," replied her mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin understood it. She desired for her own sake, and +perhaps for +his, that the place where the murder was committed should be no longer +recognizable.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Again I say, God keep you, and I bid you most heartily +welcome," said +his wife, in a tone full of emotion. "May the years that are still +granted to you pass in peace!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, there, that will do," responded Landolin. He went to +the dog +and unfastened his chain. The dog leaped up against his old master, and +ran round and round about him, wild with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's a good dog," said Landolin. "Be quiet. You know me, +don't you? +They said my hands were covered with blood; but you don't smell +anything wrong, do you? The only faithful thing in the world is a dog."</p> + +<p class="normal">The tears on his wife's cheeks glittered in the moonlight, and +he said, +turning toward her,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go in first!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, you go first, you are the master. It was just such a +night as this +when we came home for the first time after our marriage; then you went +first into the house. It seems like a wedding again."</p> + +<p class="normal">She held out her hand for him. He gave it to her, and hand in +hand they +went up the steps. As he entered the room, she sprinkled him with holy +water from the basin that stood at the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no one in the room but an old servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Thoma?" asked Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is in her bedroom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell her to come here; that I have got home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I called to her through the closed door, but she did not +answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin seated himself in the great arm-chair, and his wife +gave +thanks to God that her husband sat there once more. She had often +doubted that he ever would again. Landolin looked at her, and it seemed +to him that she reeled to and fro, and that the room and furniture were +all in motion. He straightened himself with an effort, went out on the +porch, and knocked at Thoma's door. Nothing moved.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, I am here, your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door was unbolted and Thoma stood before him. In a +constrained +voice she said: "Welcome, father!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you nothing more to say to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You never liked people to talk much."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin took his daughter's hand, which she had not offered +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My child, do you no longer love me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should never ask a child such a question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My child, I am a poor man; as poor as a beggar. Do you +understand me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma shook her head, and her father continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have sinned against you all, especially against you; but +now I beg +you to forgive me. Don't let me perish." His heart beat so fast that he +could not speak another word. As Thoma still remained silent, he turned +quickly away, and went with tottering steps to the living-room. He +listened to hear if Thoma would not follow him; but he heard nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at the table in the living-room, and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that a new table?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but Thoma had it planed because the holes were there."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin remembered having stuck the fork in the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Steps were now heard. It was not Thoma, but the pastor, who +came. His +words were kind and comforting, but Landolin stared at him blankly. +True, he saw him, but he heard him not; his thoughts were with his +daughter, who was so terribly changed. It was not until the pastor +mentioned Cushion-Kate, and said that she had grown wild and +uncontrollable, and talked most blasphemously, that Landolin paid any +attention to what he said. And when the pastor added that it seemed as +if Cushion-Kate had gone crazy, he cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are insane asylums for such people. She should be put +into one. +The town can pay for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's not so easily done; the district physician will have +to order +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma had unexpectedly appeared, and brought in the supper, +which she +had had prepared. The pastor started to leave, but upon Thoma's and her +mother's entreaties he remained. They needed a man of peace to bring +quiet and concord. The meal-time passed cheerfully, and Landolin ate +ravenously. During a pause, he asked: "Herr Pastor, is neither the +young bailiff nor any of the councilmen at home? It would be no more +than proper for them to call. They must have known that I was coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">The pastor seemed to find no answer, and Landolin's wife +spared him +embarrassment by reminding her husband that he had said that he would +no longer concern himself about other people.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the pastor took his leave, Landolin accompanied him +respectfully. +Pausing before the house, the pastor said in a low tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me half."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Half of what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you were in prison, did you not vow a hundred times that +when you +were released you would give liberally to the poor and the church? Give +me half, or a third, or a fourth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Pastor, you're joking. It is too soon for me to joke +with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you change your mind, you know where to find me," said the +pastor. +As he turned away, Landolin looked after him scornfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went to the well and drank of the water that poured swiftly +from it. +As he wiped his mouth, he said to his wife who was looking out of the +window:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing in the world quenches my thirst so, and makes me feel +so well +and fresh as water from our own well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come in, it is bed-time."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Landolin strove to think of something else than that which, +against his +will, forced itself upon him; and asked his wife after they had got to +their room:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there nothing new? Hasn't anything happened all this long +time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; at least not much. The old Dobel-Farmer was so badly +hurt, +unloading a wagon-load of wood, that he died. Perhaps you heard of it. +The government has bought the Dieslinger farm for a forest. The owner +of the Syringa farm is married again. In Heidlingen they have a new +minister. The former one tried to make his church Old-Catholic, as they +call it; and the Improvement Society, as they call it, has laid out a +new road near our forest. The superintendent, the good old General, has +often been here, and asked after you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus his wife went on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who came to see you oftenest while I was away?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My brother. But there were a good many other people who came +to +condole with me. I wouldn't listen to their pity, so after awhile they +stopped coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Didn't the miller ever come to see you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; not once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's just like a Dutchman. He won't go unless he's pushed. +To-morrow +I'll straighten matters between Anton and Thoma. I'll go and see the +miller."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't do that. Don't try to hitch up so fast. You understand +what I +mean. You know when a man wants to turn a wagon round, or back his +horses, he can't do it on a gallop."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aha!" thought Landolin, "she's trying to be smart. Everybody +thinks +they're smarter than I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Landolin was silent, his wife continued: "Now, you go to +sleep. I'm +sleepy."</p> + +<p class="normal">The quiet did not last long, for Landolin tossed back and +forth on his +bed, and sighed and groaned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter? Aren't you tired?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, wife, I can't make it real that I am not alone; and that +the +sword no longer hangs over my head. I see the counselor's glittering +eye-glass on its black ribbon all the time. Indeed, you haven't your +old husband any more. You have another--and I can't abide the fellow, +he's so soft-hearted. I wish you would often remind me not to care for +what other people think. They have forgotten me, and I'll do what I can +to forget them. Only you must be very patient with me; but don't give +up to me, and don't let me be so soft-hearted."</p> + +<p class="normal">The strong man wept bitter tears in the depth of the night, +and called +out, almost with a curse:</p> + +<p class="normal">"May my eyes run out if I ever weep again, as long as we two +live +together! I make this promise to you, and to myself. Others cannot +embitter my life, if I do not embitter it myself. Yes, yes! +Self-defense! Self-defense!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife lighted a candle, and tried to comfort the +self-tormented man. +He said, at length:</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing more. Cushion-Kate called after me, that I must +make away +with myself--I won't do that, for your sake."</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife stroked his hand, wet with freshly-fallen tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I won't give people the satisfaction of thinking we need +sympathy. +Leave the candle burning; and then, if I wake up again, I shall know I +am no longer in prison. Good-night, we'll go to sleep now."</p> + +<p class="normal">He slept until late in the day. His wife rose gently and went +about her +work, carefully avoiding the least noise that might wake her husband. +She blessed every moment that brought him sleep and exhilarating +strength and health.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Thoma was still in the harvest field when Landolin came into +the +living-room. His wife sat down beside him, and he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can't think how different food tastes when one has to eat +it +alone, in prison."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't let your thoughts run back to that all the time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has any one been here to see me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. But remember what you said last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, that was easily said; but Landolin could not help +thinking of the +people outside, and how it could be possible that they were not at +least curious to look at him again.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked out of the window. Heavily laden grain-wagons passed +by, but +no farmer, no servant, so much as gave a glance toward his house. The +new bailiff came up the road, steadying the wagon with his pitchfork. +He had evidently seen Landolin from a distance; for, not far from the +house, he walked to the other side of the wagon, where he could not be +seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin drew back into the room, and seating himself in the +great +arm-chair he drummed awhile on its arms, then went into the bedroom and +pulled on his high boots.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You're not going out?" said his wife. He looked at her in +astonishment. This questioning, this observation of all he did or left +undone, was distasteful to him. He was about to say so to his wife, but +checked himself, and explained that in prison he had worn slippers, and +he felt like putting on his boots again, and going out.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cracking of a whip was heard in the yard.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Peter on the saddle horse, driving the four-horse +grain-wagon. +Landolin went out, and met Thoma with sunburnt face following the +wagon. For a while she looked at her father in silence, as though she +could find nothing to say. Her look was severe and gloomy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, Thoma."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, father," she replied. A milder frame of mind +seemed to +gain predominance as she looked on her father's care-worn face, but she +threw back her head as if to shake off the gentle feeling. Now that +father and daughter met in the clear light of day, they seemed +unfamiliar--yes, almost strange in appearance to each other. To Thoma +her father appeared smaller in size than she remembered him; and the +self-confident, defiant expression of his face had become uncertain and +timorous.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the other hand Thoma had grown stronger, prouder, more +erect in her +carriage; her eyebrows seemed to have sunk lower; and between them +deep, narrow wrinkles had been traced. These are furrows from which a +bitter harvest springs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good morning, master," was the greeting of the head-servant +Tobias, in +a confidential tone. "You will find everything, the stock and the +fields, in good condition."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin only nodded. So Peter had not yet dismissed the +head-servant; +perhaps he will not do it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin spoke to the servant who had been taken in Fidelis' +place; and +asked him, condescendingly, from what district he came, and in whose +service he had previously been. The servant answered respectfully, and +Landolin was reassured. Peter had evidently not announced that he was +now to be master, and Landolin was almost grateful for this deference, +which in reality was simply what was due to him. He went through the +stables, and found everything well cared for. A maid, who was singing +as she filled the racks with fresh clover for the cows, did not stop +her song when she saw him. He looked at her in astonishment, and asked +at length, "Why do you not speak to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I've hired out to the Gerlach farmer, and the other +two maids +are going too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter has dismissed us; but we would have gone anyway."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went into the yard again, and while he unfastened the +dog's +chain and patted him, he said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll not forsake me, will you?" He pushed the dog's jaws +apart, to +look into his mouth. "You must be happy! they have broken out my teeth. +I can bite no more, and people are no longer afraid of me. Come; hold +still, while I put a spiked collar round your neck. I must have +something of the kind for myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went in and sat down in his arm-chair. The dog lay on the +floor +beside him. Strange! The chair is not so easy as it used to be--the +seat is hard, the back too straight! But, notwithstanding this, +Landolin forced himself to stay quietly at home. He felt sure that +somebody or other would call, if only as they were passing. He +frequently looked toward the door; but it did not open, and no one +came.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally, when evening drew near, he went out of doors.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Only a few months ago a strong man had crossed this threshold. +He was +now changed, and the world was changed, particularly his own household. +During his absence he had constantly thought how merry it was at home. +And yet there was nothing merrier there than quiet, uninterrupted work; +and he himself had always been a stern, morose man, before whom every +one in the house, save Thoma, trembled. To be sure Thoma had always +been light-hearted, and perhaps that was why he thought the whole +household merry.</p> + +<p class="normal">With downcast gaze Landolin went up the road. His present +frame of mind +was the most injurious a man could be in, and highly improper for a +farmer. He was irritable, and, as is always the case with irritable +people, he was weak and helpless, and trusted to external causes to +bring him new energy and incitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he raised his eyes he saw, at some distance, a woman with a +red +kerchief approaching him. Is that "Cushion-Kate?" Should he turn back?</p> + +<p class="normal">He called the dog nearer to him; but it was not +"Cushion-Kate;" it was +a stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">See! There comes the "Galloping-Cooper." He was walking faster +than +usual, and as he hurried by he said "Good evening" carelessly, and +without waiting for a response. Landolin stood still, looked back after +him, and shrugged his shoulders contemptuously at the beggarly man, who +once, if he wanted to borrow a log of wood for barrel staves, could not +find submissive words enough. "Not another chip shall you have from +me," said Landolin to himself as he walked on. He had now reached the +bailiff's farm. The watch-dog rushed out at Racker; but as soon as he +saw the spiked collar he fled. Racker started in pursuit of the coward; +but Landolin called him back. The bailiff, who was sitting astride a +block of wood, mending a scythe, must certainly have heard him, but he +did not look up; and not until Landolin stood in front of him and +spoke, did he stop hammering. Then, running his fingers along the edge +of the scythe, to see if there were any notches left, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Back again, eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you see. Down! Racker." The dog had been standing +perfectly still +beside him; and it seemed as though he visited upon the dog a fit of +anger which something else had provoked. It galled him that the bailiff +should speak so disrespectfully, neither offering to shake hands, nor +rising; but he said with a forced smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I only came to tell you, and you may announce it generally, +that I +shall not be a candidate for councilman for this district at the +election; and that I resign my office of judge of the orphans' court."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right. I'll attend to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin stared at the young bailiff. Is that the way to speak +to him? +Must he put up with that? And not dare to get angry and give blow for +blow? Yes, Landolin; you are no longer feared. Curb your passions, and +learn to rule yourself.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a long pause, during which Landolin struggled against +his +indignation, he said abruptly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good by."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good by," was the dry answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin walked away, and the bailiff went on hammering his +scythe. But +the strokes fell faster and faster; for he thought exultingly that he +had treated Landolin as he deserved, for having brought scandal and +dishonor upon the whole district. Had not Landolin acted as though he +could still lay claim to something? "Now, I think, he'll know what his +standing is."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Landolin only knew that the whole world was hostile to +him, and +begrudged him his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good evening, Mr. Ex-bailiff." Thus he was suddenly accosted.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked up and saw a rough-looking young man of sinewy make +standing +before him, and taking off his hat. Disordered, bristly hair fell over +his forehead into the unquiet, black eyes, that wandered restlessly +here and there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The ex-bailiff does not remember me? I am Engelbert, the +shepherd of +Gerlachseck. I have been waiting for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll surely take me into service now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where do you come from?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From down there."</p> + +<p class="normal">The vagrant made a motion toward the plain. "I had three +years. If my +master had been good to me, and had not prosecuted me----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you are just out of the Penitentiary?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man nodded, and smiled in a confidential way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why should I, in particular, take you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, just because it is so. Of course, after this, your +servants will +have an easy time. You'll get a new set throughout, and you'd better +have me to watch the rest."</p> + +<p class="normal">The veins swelled on Landolin's forehead, but he concealed his +annoyance, laughed aloud, and called out in a commanding tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"March! How dare you speak to me so? Off with you, or----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! So you want to murder another man. You can't finish me +as quickly +as you did Vetturi."</p> + +<p class="normal">He put on his hat and clenched his fists.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without speaking another word, Landolin went on, while the +vagrant +called after him with threats and insult.</p> + +<p class="normal">The evening bells began ringing. Landolin nodded, as if +greeting the +sound, or as though he felt they were calling him. He took a roundabout +way, so as not to pass through the church-yard where Vetturi's grave +was.</p> + +<p class="normal">The church stood open. Landolin took off his hat, ordered the +dog to +lie down and wait for him, and was just putting his foot on the +threshold, when Cushion-Kate came out. She gave him a look that made +him blench; then she caught the heavy church-door, and dashed it to +with such force that it fairly groaned. And louder yet the terrible +woman cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"For you the church is closed. Raise your hand! Here, at the +church +door, kill me! You are equal to anything. You are rejected by God, cast +out by men. You----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The dog had sprung up. His master quieted him, and the old +woman went +away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin opened the door and entered the church. All was +silent within, +save the pendulum's measured tick, far up in the tower. A bird had +flown through the open window. It fluttered about, affrighted, until it +found the opening again, and Landolin was alone in the vast edifice, +where the ever-burning lamp alone shed its light. No prayer escaped his +lips. Rather, in imagination he gathered in the whole congregation, men +and women, one by one, to their places. In imagination he took hold of +each one, looked him in the face, and shook him--but what good did that +do? They still hated him. Cast out, as a dead body, by the stream! Cast +out. All the empty benches repeated Cushion-Kate's words.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hate of the God of whose compassion he had been taught in his +childhood, grew within him. It is not true, and if it were, what good +does it do for God to be pitiful, if he does not force men to be +pitiful too?</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden terror seized him, as though the roof were falling, +and he +left the church and went home.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has no one been here?" he asked his wife when he reached +home. She +said, "No;" but he did not answer her question as to where he had been +and with whom he had spoken. His wife's curiosity and idle questioning +were disagreeable to him. She saw that he did not value her love and +care, but she was patient. For she thought she was not wise and clever +enough for him, and resolved to be very careful in everything she did +or said. But in the goodness of her heart, the very next moment, she +tried to talk to him and cheer him, and that annoyed him. For it showed +that the past was still in her thoughts; and that he did not like. She +took special pains with his supper, and said: "Eat heartily, now that +you are at home again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does no good to wish that," he replied, "if it doesn't +taste good +of itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He waited and waited for a kind word from Thoma, but her +strict and +cruel truthfulness forbade her to give him one. She was dissatisfied +that her father, in his weariness, and the humility which he had gained +by a violent effort, should be so indulgent with Peter. Day after day +she saw him taking upon himself the sole control of affairs, and her +father permitting it. Yes, he even worked like a servant, and seemed to +take satisfaction in being tyrannized over by his son. Everything was +transformed and changed.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The determined, steadfast Landolin had become a coward. He +despised +himself for it, but that did not mend matters. His lips were always +tightly compressed, and their bitter expression became habitual. Often +he would stop suddenly while walking along. He felt that he must draw +his breath: he was almost smothered by the thoughts that lay so heavy +upon him. Then he looked around beseechingly, and went on his way. How +rich he had been before! He had had an outstanding capital of honor +with every one; and now, when he wanted to draw upon it, it was no +longer there. Strictly speaking, he had thought neither well nor ill of +other people, he was indifferent to them; but now things had changed. +His power of thought had lain fallow; and now upon this fallow land all +manner of weeds, whose seeds had lain unsuspected in the ground, made +their appearance. He had lived and had had an acute mind, especially +when an advantage for himself was to be gained. But now, it seemed as +though he were half asleep. Stop! What are men to you? What do you care +for this one and that one? What does one gain in life, after all? +Plowing, sowing, and reaping. The forest trees grow, long after the man +who planted them has become a clod of earth. Is it for this that a man +gives himself so much trouble and thought? Yes--gives thought. That is +what is hard for a man who, until now, has not had it to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the soul comes to a spot where harshness, and selfishness +pass +step by step before its eyes, then it is difficult for it to turn back +and take another path. It seems as if irresistible forces drive it +along the path of grief and bitterness, and yet all the while a longing +to meet with friendship and responsive love grows stronger and warmer +within it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin felt something of this emotion, although he probably +could not +have given it utterance. But in the soul there is much that is +unutterable, even for a far more thoughtful and meditative nature than +Landolin's.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man who was formerly strong as iron, had become unnerved, +and one +could conceive of nothing which could happen to renew his strength. +Perhaps Thoma's love could have accomplished it. Perhaps! Certainly, he +said to himself. There were even times when he not only mourned that +this love was denied him, but was yet more deeply grieved to see his +child, his proud, beautiful child, bent with sorrow, and her life left +waste and bleak. He had nurtured a pride and severity in her, which now +threatened her destruction. In his distress he groaned aloud, and +submitted to Peter's dominion as if to a penance; indeed, though +Peter's boldness was so serious an offense, it often extorted his +admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will some day be the man to trample the whole world under +foot, and +laugh as he does it. He will be more powerful than Titus himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin resolved to dissemble and play the hypocrite; to act +as if he +mistook people's malice for good will, and to retaliate secretly. But +his pride was incompatible with success in hypocrisy. He was annoyed at +his own lack of courage, he very candidly called it cowardice, but +still that did not help him to regain the old fearlessness--the old +pride. Yes, he had become over-sensitive.</p> + +<p class="normal">His walk had now brought him to the forest, with its +overhanging +branches. In other times how little he had cared for the noxious +insects of the woods. He had not grown up with gloved hands, but now he +shuddered at the caterpillars that hung in the air by their slender +threads, as though they were waiting to drop down upon him. These +caterpillars can be shaken off, but the world's malicious thoughts, +that like caterpillars hang everywhere by invisible threads, cannot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin was sitting on an old tree-stump, when the +game-keeper +approached, and addressed him in a friendly manner, expressing his +sorrow that Landolin had had to undergo so much trouble. Landolin +complained that in the short time, he had grown twenty years older, and +suffered with a constant palpitation of the heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly he paused, for he became aware that he was begging +for +sympathy. And from whom? But the game-keeper responded,</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know myself how a man feels the half hour that the jury are +out, and +he is waiting for the verdict of life or death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know about it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you forgotten my shooting the poacher? He had his piece +leveled +at me from behind a tree. Crack--crack. It is self-defense! There you +lie," said the game-keeper, with a crafty smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went home fortified. "It was self-defense. The court +has +acknowledged that it was, and it was so. I must learn to keep that in +mind. I must."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The summer night was mild and clear. A Saturday evening in +harvest-time +has a peculiar quiet, a premonition of the full day of rest after the +six days' unceasing work.</p> + +<p class="normal">At all the farm-houses, far and wide, the people sat on the +out-door +benches and talked of the harvest; of how much was already stored +away, and of how much was still standing in the fields. Then they +talked of their neighbors far and near, and of course of Landolin +also. They spoke pityingly of his misfortune, but with a certain quiet +self-congratulation that they themselves were free and happy. It was +almost like breathing, upon the mountain, air purified and freshened by +a thunder-storm in the valley.</p> + +<p class="normal">Soon with weary steps they sought their beds; for in the +morning young +and old were going to the celebration in the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin and his wife were sitting on the bench before his +house. Thoma +sat at one side on an old tree-stump, where the men often mended their +scythes.</p> + +<p class="normal">These three had so much to say, and yet spoke so little!</p> + +<p class="normal">"So to-morrow is the fifteenth of July," said Landolin. Thoma +looked +around, but turned quickly away, and again seemed buried in her own +thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dedication of the flag was to take place the following +day. One +might imagine that years had already passed since the day when Anton, +with his two companions, came to ask Thoma to be maid of honor. Thoma +was unselfish enough not to think first of the pleasure and distinction +she would lose, but she sighed sadly when she thought how dreary and +sorrowful the day would be for Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think, Thoma," asked Landolin; "shall I go to the +celebration, or not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no opinion as to what you should do, or not do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you go with me?" said he, turning to his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would like to, but I'm not well. I'm so chilly, I think +I'll go +right to bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma wanted to go into the house too, but her mother refused, +and +insisted that she should remain with her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her mother went in, and Thoma felt that she now ought to talk +with her +father; but she couldn't think of a word to say. Every pleasant word +appeared to her to be a lie, and the bitterness of her fate lay in the +fact that there was a lie to contend with. It distressed her to pass +her father by, at home and in the field, in silence, or with only a +cold greeting, and now to sit so speechless, and force him to think of +their trouble; but she could not do otherwise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin said that her mother was more ill than she was +willing to +admit, and that it was evidently hard for her to keep up. Thoma tried +to quiet his fears; but her words sounded as hard as stone, when he +said, "But that is a matter where the doctor can help us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I know something that no doctor can prescribe, which +would make +your mother strong and well again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin had to wait long before Thoma asked what it could be, +and he +explained that the joy which her wedding with Anton would give her +mother was the remedy. Thoma said, in a hollow voice,</p> + +<p class="normal">"That can never be, no more than"--she stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! No more than what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma gave no answer, and Landolin knew that she would have +said--"No +more than Vetturi can live again."</p> + +<p class="normal">A well-known voice suddenly broke in upon the silence which +followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good evening to you both!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton stood before them. Landolin arose and held out his hand. +Thoma +kept her seat, and wrapping both arms in her apron, said only "Good +evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin made room for Anton beside him, and told Thoma to +come and sit +on the bench too. But she replied, "I am quite comfortable where I am; +besides, I must go in to mother. She is not at all well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will stay here," said Landolin, in his old commanding +voice. Then +he explained to Anton that he would have liked to go to see his father, +but--and it was hard for him to say this--he did not wish to be +obtrusive; and so he waited for people to come to see him. He thanked +Anton for his favorable testimony at the trial, and said, that he was +glad that he had kept his conscience so clear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When I saw you standing there so resolutely, and heard you +speak so +firmly, I loved you twice as much as before," he added.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton understood what it meant for the proud and arrogant +Landolin to +speak in this manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hesitatingly, at first, and then in well-considered words, +Anton +explained that he had come to beg father and daughter to go with him to +the celebration; that would show the whole world at one stroke that +everything was all right again, and everybody would congratulate them +anew.</p> + +<p class="normal">No word, no motion showed that Thoma had heard him. Anton +continued in +a tremulous tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, dear Thoma! You sit there as though you were frozen, +but I know +that deep in your heart, love for me is still burning. Thoma, for this +once throw away your pride."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pride?" said Thoma, in a low voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton did not hear her, for he went on: "Thoma, you turned me +away. I +too am proud, but not with you. I have come back again. Show yourself +as good and loving as you really are. Give me one single word--one kind +word."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma arose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, Anton. I thank you a thousand times; but I +cannot. Good +night; I thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! You shall stay here, and I will go," cried Landolin, as +Thoma +turned toward the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anton, for my part, I am----But settle matters alone between +yourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastened into the house. Anton and Thoma were alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not speak, Thoma. Give me a kiss, and that will say +everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot. Anton, 'tis hard for me to talk. I would far rather +be dumb, +and unable to speak. Anton, it's good and kind of you to come. But tell +me,--you are honest--tell me, does your father feel toward my father as +you do? Is it not true,--you can't say yes?--you are here against his +will. Your father"----</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father honors and loves you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe that. But, Anton, I can never be happy again, nor +bring +happiness to others. I beg of you strike our house from your mind. One +blow will be enough to destroy it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! Your house still stands firm. Thoma, you were right. On +that day I +did not know what I saw or what I heard; but now that is all past. +Thoma, I know you. Your heart is honest, and I cannot blame you for it, +though it gives you much sorrow. Thoma, you cannot appear to be happy +before the world, because you are not happy. Say, do I not understand +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She nodded, suppressed sobs were heard, and Anton continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Darling Thoma! I tell you, you can and must be happy; and +that without +telling a lie."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't rejoice in stolen goods." Thoma forced herself to +say.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand. I know what you mean. But your honor and my +honor are +not stolen. I beg of you, be good, be kind. I beg the wicked Thoma to +trouble my good Thoma no longer. You exaggerate----.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps so. There--you may take my hand for the last time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not take it for the last time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I say good night; thank you a thousand times!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton tried to throw his arm around her, but she tore herself +away, and +hastened into the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">He waited awhile to see if she would not relent; but as all +continued +silent, a spirit of defiance awoke within him, and he went away without +turning around, though he sometimes paused and listened to hear if any +one were following or calling him. At length he disappeared in the +forest.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">There is still merriment in the world; song, music, and +laughter. +Joyous, singing, laughing people drive along the plateau in wagons +decorated with flowers and green boughs. They are seen and heard from +Landolin's house; he nods to them from the open window; he is in +holiday attire and has decided to go to the celebration, and take part +again in the world's gayety. Turning, he said to his wife, who sat in +the room:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hanne, Thoma won't go; can't you go with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would rather you'd let me stay at home."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin would have liked to say, "If you are with me they +will pay me +more respect;" but he could not bring himself to say it. He had humbled +himself before the humblest; but before his wife he could not--she had +always been so submissive to him. He often looked toward Thoma and +wondered if she would not tell him what had passed between her and +Anton the day before; and if she would not go with him to the +celebration; but she remained motionless and silent. He ordered the +wagon to be hitched up immediately; but Peter said that the horses had +worked so much in the harvest-field during the week that they would +have to rest to-day: at most the bay mare might be saddled, but that +wouldn't be wise. Landolin looked at Peter furiously, but he did not +want to quarrel with him; for, as long as they did not disagree openly, +it was not noticeable that the authority was no longer his. So he +consented to ride, but soon changed his mind and said he would go on +foot.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the church bells began to ring, he started for the city. +"Won't you +go to church, too?" asked his wife timidly. He answered angrily:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! They have sung and prayed thus far without me. I guess +they can +keep it up awhile longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">This he said; but he thought besides: "They must treat me +kindly before +they can pray with clear conscience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Won't you wait till afternoon? I have something nice for +you," said +his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are always talking about eating--beginning about dinner +already! I +have money in my pocket, and shall get myself something in town."</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife made no answer, but pressed her prayer-book to her +bosom. +There are no more good thoughts in the book than in her heart, but both +are now dumb.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the bells were ringing for the third time, Landolin went +down the +road toward the city. A rider was trotting along after him. He came +nearer. Landolin lifted his hat and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-morning, Baron Discher. I owe you an explanation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not know it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I refused you as a juryman, through my attorney. I know you +are a just +man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I only refused you because it would be pleasanter for you not +to have +to sit on a jury in such hot weather."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Baron laughed and held the knob of his riding-whip to his +mouth; +then he said, "Good-morning," gave his horse the spur, and rode on.</p> + +<p class="normal">A presentiment of the reception he was exposing himself to +came over +Landolin. He wanted to turn back: there was no necessity for his +presence at the festival; but he was ashamed for his family to see him +so irresolute. Peter is, then, in the right in having taken the reins +from his hand. He went toward the town with long strides. Gunshots +echoed, multiplying themselves in the wood through which he was +passing, for the dedication of the flag was just beginning in the +church.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin moderated his step; indeed he sat down on the side of +the +road; he had already missed the chief solemnity, and could take his +ease. The coach came up from the railway station. The driver asked +Landolin if he would ride. Landolin was tired, and it was a good +opportunity for returning; but he refused as if something drove him to +the city. He laughed at himself as he recollected that in his childhood +the May-meadow had been a place of execution. What can happen to him? +He is acquitted, free, and in all honor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now clear trumpet-notes sounded from the upper town. Landolin +hastened +his steps--not to miss the procession.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Up and down the valley, in all the villages of the district, +there was +busy life on this Sunday morning. The children on the street announced +to one another that they too were going. Not a few were exceedingly +proud, for soldiers' caps had been given them; and many a father was +persuaded into promising his son that he would buy him one, too. The +youth of the whole district seemed to have caught a martial enthusiasm. +The men of the fire-companies, in glittering helmets, gray linen coats, +and red belts, assembled before the court-house. They formed in line, +the signals were sounded; and they marched out, accompanied by an +escort of men, women, and children. They stopped at the forest to put +green twigs in their caps. The children shouted, the old people walked +thoughtfully along, and the maids and matrons, in their Sunday dress, +whispered to one another.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the little mountain-rivulets flow down to the river in the +valley, +so to-day, the stream of humanity rose, and flowed down the roads and +foot-paths, to the May-meadow near the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">But there were few of the old peasant-costumes to be seen +among the +men. Military service and the railroads do away with that, and efface +the many distinguishable differences between village and city. But in +still another manner a new ground of equality is established. This +marching side by side, and especially the election of the officers of +the soldiers' associations and fire companies, bring about an +equalization or readjustment of the former classification. To be sure +the captain of the organization was the district forester, but Anton +Armbruster was unanimously chosen lieutenant; and the son of the +district physician, who was a merchant, and a member of the +association, had cast his vote for Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin reached the valley in good season. The May-meadow on +which the +procession was to disband, where tables were arranged, and a green +platform put up for the speakers, was kept clear by the young pupils of +the Gymnasium.</p> + +<p class="normal">The women and young girls, with their white aprons and gay +caps, sat in +rows and groups in the outer meadow near the forest, and some daring +boys had climbed the linden trees, which to-day sent out a strong +fragrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are coming! They are coming!" was heard among the +waiting crowd; +and the music of the trumpets at the head of the column was drowned by +the hurrahs which arose from the people on the hollow slope of the +meadow, and in the trees.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin stood on the edge of the crowd, near the students, +and was +surrounded by a group of people who seemed not to know him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession drew nearer. The band struck up one of the +national +hymns, and all the people joined in singing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is carrying the flag? Why, that is not the miller's +Anton--where +is he? I don't see him. He isn't there at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">These words Landolin heard from the people behind him, and a +feeling of +terror came over him. He had intended to walk by Anton's side, and show +the whole world on what friendly terms he was with the man who was so +highly honored. Now Landolin felt as though his protector had forsaken +him. He strained his eyes to see if Anton was not there after all, but +he was not to be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See the lieutenant there. That is the son of the district +judge--it +was good of him to get a furlough to come to the celebration. Yes; he +has inherited his good disposition from his parents; his mother in +particular."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the people around Landolin were talking. Then he heard a +person +who had just come up say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know why Anton Armbruster did not come? He is ashamed, +though +he hasn't done anything to be ashamed of; but Landolin, whose acquittal +was such an atrocity, was to be his father-in-law. Aha! There stands +Landolin himself! That man there with the broad back, that's he."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's broad back moved. The cordon of students was +broken, and he +found himself in the midst of the festivities.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">High up in the mountain forest, near the log-hut where the +woodcutters +lived from Monday morning till Saturday night, Anton sat this Sunday +morning. About him lay axes, and wedges of iron or ash, as if resting +themselves. For the men who used them had all gone down to the valley +to spend the Sunday at home with their families, or perhaps at the +celebration in the city. No sound was heard save the occasional twitter +of the wren who was just brooding. All the other birds were mute, and +the hawks circled in silence over the treetops. A drowsy odor of pitch +from the felled trees and split wood rose from the ground on which the +weary, tried young man had slept. A cannon thundered, and Anton awoke +and felt at his side for his gun. He imagined for a moment that he was +lying in the field before the enemy; but he smiled sadly as he +reflected that the enemy he had to combat was no visible one, who could +be mortally wounded. It was not a cannon which had awakened him, but a +mortar from the city, where the flag was being dedicated. Anton drew a +deep breath and his face lighted up as though he were being greeted by +hundreds and hundreds of his old comrades, as though he held the many +faithful hands that were stretched out toward him. But he soon looked +sadly down before him. He had not only destroyed the celebration for +himself, but had robbed his companions of a great part of their +pleasure, by sending a messenger early in the morning to say he could +not be with them. What did his companions' love profit him, when the +love of the one for whom his heart beat was wanting? What did he care +for a joy or an honor that Thoma did not share?</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood up. There is yet time. He can yet hasten to join his +comrades, +and though late, he will be gladly welcomed. He rejected the thought, +and gave himself up to painful questionings and fancies. Would he find +happiness in anything again? He had humbled himself before Thoma, and +she had scornfully spurned him. He had done what he could to set +matters right again. Perhaps Thoma will be softened when she sees that +for her sake he avoids the most enticing pleasures. She knows what he +suffers, but what must she suffer!</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma was not in the solitude of the forest, she was solitary +and +forsaken in her father's house. She, too, heard the report of the +mortar, and she asked herself if Anton was at the celebration, honored +and happy. No, it cannot be. She mourned deeply that she had been +forced to destroy and fill with sadness this day, and all the coming +days of his life. She remembered in terror that she had yesterday said +to Anton: "I cannot rejoice in stolen goods." Is it then so hopeless? +Had not the words escaped unguardedly from the depth of sorrow? She +almost envied her mother, who could sleep all day long. She must stay +awake, and harbor such bitter thoughts in her soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">What will happen to her father at the celebration? Will he, +rebuffed on +all sides, allow himself to be drawn into committing a new crime? With +folded hands, staring fixedly before her, Thoma sat in her bed-room, +till at last her heavy heart was lightened by a flood of tears.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Thoma was not curious to learn why Peter was talking with his +mother so +long, nor would it have given her pleasure had she known, for he +whispered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, hereafter you mustn't let father roam around the +world this +way, and I'll help you keep him at home. We've helped him through, and +that's enough. He must be quiet now, and not keep people gaping at +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother looked at Peter sadly, as though looking at a +stranger. +Peter understood the look to mean something quite different, and +continued confidingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We've got the upper hand now, mother; but we won't make a +noise about +it. Before, you weren't accounted anybody; neither was I. 'Twas always +the farmer and Thoma; we two were never spoken of. Now help me. You can +do it smoothly as a wife can, and I'll be quiet about it too. Not a +soul shall notice that I control the farm. But, on the other hand, you +must see to it that he doesn't roam around any more. Of course he's +told you that he lost a great deal of money in stocks. However, that's +past and over with. We won't say a word of reproach to him about it, +but I'll guarantee that he shan't squander any more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is our whole house bewitched?" said the mother, speaking her +thoughts +aloud--"Is our house no longer a home? Where shall I go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother, you mustn't talk so, nor look at it that way. I am +here, and +you shall see what I'll do. Good fortune has followed us for your sake. +Wherever I've been, people say, 'Yes certainly, Landolin must be helped +out of his trouble, for Johanna's sake.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for my sake," exclaimed his mother. "Your father is +innocent, and +he proved himself so; nothing is due to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course not, and everything is all right. And besides, now +let me +tell you something. That Tobias is an unfaithful rascal. I shall only +keep him through harvest; then I'll send him away. He may claim that it +was he who lied father out of the scrape, but that won't help him; on +the contrary he must learn that we don't fear him. Father was acquitted +at the trial, and no appeal can be taken from that. I asked the +lawyer."</p> + +<p class="normal">After an astonished silence his mother asked,</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you say? Your father is no longer master?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, mother; don't you think I've managed it cleverly? Not +even you +have noticed it. He thought, too, that I ought to keep Tobias; but I +know better."</p> + +<p class="normal">The mother and son sat a long time together in silence; but at +length +she said, "Take the wagon and go to meet your father. I feel as though +something would happen to him; I am so frightened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, mother, I will do as you say. I'll go, but I don't +know +whether I can find him or not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, go, for heaven's sake, and be a good boy. I will try and +get a +little sleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter went; but he soon turned down an alley to a tavern where +they +were rolling ten-pins. Here he enjoyed himself highly, winning a good +sum of money from the woodcutters of the upper forest, and from some +half-grown boys; for Peter was an adept at ten-pins.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Landolin was suddenly in the midst of the crowded meadow, and +the first +person that he hit against was the one-handed man who had been his +substitute in the army.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come here, I'll give you something," said Landolin, putting +his hand +into his pocket. The one-handed man hesitated to reach out his left +hand, but at length he did it; for he couldn't bear to refuse a gift, +although he was earning good wages, especially just now; for Anton had +bought him some pictures of the heroes of our day, which he was hawking +about, and he well understood the art of praising his wares. Titus +watched Landolin as he gave the man something, and their eyes met, but +neither greeted the other. Titus was of the opinion that Landolin +should speak to him first in a very humble manner; and Landolin +expected the man of unsullied honor to make the first advances.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin saw Fidelis. The servant who had formerly been in his +employ, +passed by as though he didn't know him; perhaps he was annoyed that his +master had been acquitted notwithstanding his damaging testimony. +Landolin was inclined to speak to him and be friendly, but he heard +Titus call him (for Fidelis was now in his service) and say: "Enjoy +yourself as much as you can--your honor is without a stain--and I will +pay for what you eat."</p> + +<p class="normal">The maids of honor with wreaths on their heads went past, +walking arm +in arm. Their number had evidently been increased. They were the +daughters of the district forester, of Titus, and of another farmer; +but what would they all have been beside Thoma, had she been there?</p> + +<p class="normal">The men shook hands and congratulated one another upon the +pleasant day +and the fine celebration. Landolin rubbed his cold hands--no one had +touched his hand--was there blood sticking on it? Had he not been +acquitted?</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can be the matter with Anton Armbruster? What has kept +him from +coming?... The best part is wanting when he is away.... Thoma wouldn't +let him come to the celebration.... No, their engagement is broken +off.... I'll tell you; Anton is ashamed of Landolin, whose acquittal +was such an atrocity. Look! There he goes now."</p> + +<p class="normal">Such, and still more biting words Landolin heard from every +group, as +he went around like one risen from the dead, with whom no one would +have anything to do. "I have not deserved this, not this----" said +Landolin, angry and at the same time sad. His eyes burned as they +sought a friendly glance. He not only felt that all the people at the +celebration disliked him because of what he had done, and delighted to +wound him by ignoring his presence, but he also saw plainly that they +were particularly angry at him, because on his account Anton was +absent. Here, at the very place where, on the day of the fair, he had +vaingloriously boasted that he considered Anton of lower station than +himself--here he was made to hear how universally the man whom he might +have called son was beloved and honored.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin turned to go. Why should he stay? But "Hush! Stand +still!" was +heard from all sides; for a trumpet sounded, and the district forester +mounted the platform. He said that Anton Armbruster had been selected +to welcome their friends and comrades.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cries of "Hurrah for Anton!" arose here and there; but silence +was +commanded, and the forester, in simple words, welcomed the guests, and +explained the significance of the celebration. He said he intended to +be brief, for hungry stomachs do not like to be fed with words; and he +concluded with a cheer for the Fatherland.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To dinner! To dinner!" was now the cry. The tables were soon +crowded, +while the band played lively airs. Titus sat at a table with the other +rich farmers. Landolin took a chair, and saying, "With your leave," sat +down with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, Mr. Ex-bailiff, you here too?" Landolin heard himself +addressed, +and turning around, saw Engelbert, the shepherd of Gerlachseck, who had +wanted to hire out to him. He now wore a large white apron, for the +hostess of the Sword had engaged him as an assistant for the day. +Landolin did not answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">His companions at table ate and drank heartily, and talked +loudly, but +no one spoke a word to Landolin, until at length Titus said: "Well, how +is it, Landolin? I hear you're going to sell your farm. If that's so, +I'm a purchaser. I'll pay a good price. You can have a valuation put on +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who said that I was going to sell?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it's generally reported that you're going to leave the +neighborhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I knew who started that story, I'd pull his tongue out of +his +throat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wouldn't do that," laughed Titus; "you certainly ought to +know that +that isn't a good plan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Twas you," cried Landolin, "that started it--you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus gave no answer, but got up and walked away; the others +soon +followed him, and Landolin was left alone at the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Music filled the air. There was dancing; and during the +intervals +people laughed and sang, and made merry, while Landolin struggled with +rage and sorrow. Are these people here all snow-white innocents? Are +there not dozens of them who have much worse things on their +conscience?</p> + +<p class="normal">He wished that he had power to rush in and crush everything +under foot.</p> + +<p class="normal">At other times a sadness came over him, and he thought: "Were +I only in +prison, or, better still, not in the world at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">But lest he should show his emotion, he leaned back, lighted +his pipe, +and smoked with a defiant look on his face. "They shall not succeed in +making me eat humble pie."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment merry laughter arose from the table where the +people of +rank were sitting. "What does that mean? Are the great folks rejoicing +over my misfortune? No, that cannot be, for there sits the judge's +wife, with her son, the lieutenant."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At this table, which was spread with a white linen cloth, and +decorated +with vases of flowers, the school-teacher was just saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Madam Pfann, that is the hardest riddle hidden in the +whole +history of man. Why can nothing but a myth or a people's war move the +souls of the masses? In a war the souls of nations see one another, if +one may say so, face to face."</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused in the midst of his dissertation; for the lieutenant +said in +a clear voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Frenchmen literally took us for cannibals. In a village +near +Orleans, I went to a house and called; there was no answer. Presently I +saw a woman, sitting on top of the brick oven; I spoke to her +pleasantly, but she remained dumb, until, at last, I asked where the +children were. She looked at me in terror; and I said, laughing: 'Bring +me one, and roast it well. I want to eat it.' Then the woman laughed +too, and let the children out of the oven, where she had really hidden +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was at this they had laughed so loud, at the great folk's +table. +They were all pleased with the lieutenant, whose former wild boyishness +had changed to dignified composure. The eyes of the judge's wife danced +with a mother's pride; and if she was always thoughtful of comforting +and helping others, to-day she would have been glad to have poured joy +upon every one. But to-day no one needed her, for there was joy and +happiness everywhere. Just then she saw Landolin, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There sits the farmer of Reutershöfen all alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is well," said the district forester, "that the people are +still +strong-hearted and straight-forward enough to cast out a man who was +unjustly acquitted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wolfgang, come with me," said the judge's wife, rising; and +taking her +son's arm, she went to Landolin's table. She said to her son that she +would remain there, and that he might join his comrades; and giving her +hand to Landolin, she sat down beside him, asked after his wife and +daughter--people never asked after Peter--and promised to visit them +soon. She also intimated that she hoped to be able to straighten out +the difficulty with Anton. Landolin told her, composedly, that Anton +had visited them the evening before, but that Thoma had refused him, +and that was probably the cause of his staying away from the +celebration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had I known that, I should not have come either," he +concluded; and +the lady discovered what suffering he must that day have undergone; and +with the most sympathetic expression of voice and countenance, she +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ex-bailiff, I have some good advice for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good advice? that is always useful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think you ought to go away with Thoma for a few weeks. Go +to a +bathing place. It will do you good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not sick. There is nothing the matter with me. I didn't +know that +our judge's wife was a doctor, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You understand what I mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm sorry I'm so stupid, but I don't understand you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must speak plainly. Do you think that I desire your +welfare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, certainly; why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ought to go away a few weeks, and when you come back +matters will +be in a better condition. Other things will have happened in the +meantime, and----You may believe me it would be well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin shook his head, and said after a long silence: "I +know you +mean thoroughly well; of course you do; but I shall not stir from this +spot. I'll stay, if only to fool the rest of them. Already the +honorable Titus--the hypocrite!--has been trying to spread the rumor +that I am going to sell my farm. I'll stay here and cry fie upon the +whole country. We have owned our farm for hundreds and hundreds of +years. You can ask Walderjörgli; he will testify."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe your word alone," said the judge's wife; Landolin +nodded +well pleased, for it did him good to be so readily believed, and he +continued, in a clear voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, madame, we farmers are not so easily displaced as +the----people +of rank. We at Reutershöfen are a strong stock; people may dig as much +as they choose at the roots; they will not bring it down."</p> + +<p class="normal">All his pride arose; his sunken face became full; his form +seemed to +grow larger. The judge's wife did not know what more to say; and she +would have been heard no longer, for a thousand voices cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walderjörgli! The Master of Justice! Walderjörgli!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The cry spread, the girls and children on the further meadow +took it +up; crying, "Walderjörgli!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A man appeared, who stood head and shoulders above all who +surrounded +him. His head was covered with soft, snow-white hair; his snow-white +beard fell far down to his breast, and his face, with its heavy +contracted brows and its large nose, looked as if chiseled with an axe.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hutadi! Hutadi!" screamed Landolin, springing up as if in a +frenzy, +and dashing into the crowd. "Hutadi!" he screamed, stretching out his +arms, and clenching his fist in Titus' face.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet, Landolin! The time for that has gone by," said +Walderjörgli +in a commanding tone; and laid his broad hand between the combatants. +They stood still; but their chests heaved, and they looked down at the +ground like chidden boys.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ancient cry of defiance, "Hutadi!"--no one knows exactly +what it +means; probably 'Beware' or 'Take care of yourself'--was formerly +regarded as a challenge which no one could refuse. When it rang out, +whether from forest or from meadow, whoever heard it must give battle +to him who called.</p> + +<p class="normal">In his youth, Walderjörgli had been considered the readiest +and most +powerful of combatants; but in his riper years he had become one of the +most even-tempered and circumspect of men, so that he was elected +Master of Justice for the forest republic in the mountain; which, as an +independent peasant state, acknowledged no lord but the emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jörgli settled lawsuits, decreed punishments, and in +conjunction with +the council, apportioned the taxes; and all without appeal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jörgli was the only survivor of that last embassy which the +forest +peasants sent to the emperor at Vienna, to protest against being made +subject to any prince. They desired to remain a free peasantry of the +empire. Jörgli insisted that he was ninety-three years of age, but it +was universally believed that he was already over a hundred; for the +church registers had been burned with the church and parsonage in +Napoleon's time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The thought flashed through Landolin's mind that Walderjörgli +could, +with one stroke, reinstate him in all his old honor; so he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"From you, Master of Justice, I am glad to receive commands. +All +reverence is due you; and besides, you were my grandfather's dearest +friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">He laid his hand on his heart, and hoped that Walderjörgli +would grasp +it; but the old man looked sternly at him from under his bushy, +snow-white brows, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is your wife?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin could scarcely answer. What did this mean? His health +was not +asked after! Had his wife then suddenly acquired any peculiar +distinction? Did the old man ask after her only to avoid asking after +Landolin's own health?</p> + +<p class="normal">He stammered out an answer; and the old man sent a greeting by +him to +his wife, who was "a good, honest housewife." Landolin smiled. If +nothing is given him, still it's well that one of his family gets +something, for then he too has a share in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin informed the bystanders that Walderjörgli's family +and his own +were the oldest in the country, for theirs had been the only two farmer +families that had survived the war with Sweden. While he was talking, +he noticed that nobody listened to him; but he went on, and finished +what he was saying with his eyes fixed on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife had approached, and Titus gained an advantage +by +introducing her, and saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the benefactress of the whole neighborhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jörgli took the lady's delicate hand in his large one, and +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I've heard of you before. You are a noble woman; it is well. +In old +times women were not of so much account as they are now. But it is +quite right now. And is that your son? Did you not once come to see me +when you were a student? You have behaved yourself nobly."</p> + +<p class="normal">He clapped the lieutenant on the shoulder, and every one was +astonished +that Walderjörgli still talked so well, and knew everything that was +going on. It was considered a great honor to be spoken to by him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus said very cleverly what an honor it was that +Walderjörgli had +come to the celebration, and begged that he would ascend the platform +and speak a few pithy words to the assembly. The judge's wife added +that it would be a precious memory to old and young, to children and +children's children, if they could say that they had heard the last +Master of Justice speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">Walderjörgli looked at Titus and the judge's wife with a +penetrating, +almost contemptuous glance; for he was not vain, nor did he wish to be +considered wise, and play the part of a prophet; so he shook his great +head, and stuck his thumbs into the arm-holes of his long red vest, but +straightened himself to his full height, and his eyes sparkled, when +the district forester, who knew exactly how to deal with Jörgli, added +that it would be well if the clergy were not allowed to entirely +monopolize everything, even the soldier's associations, and to dedicate +the flag; it would be particularly appropriate that a man like Jörgli +should drive the nail that fastened the flag to the staff: the Emperor +Joseph would certainly have approved of that.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the Emperor Joseph was mentioned it seemed as if a new +life were +awakened in Jörgli. Around Emperor Joseph, who was venerated like a +holy martyr, were gathered recollections of Jörgli's father, which he +almost considered events in his own life.</p> + +<p class="normal">He clenched his hands, and raising his arms, said, "Very well; +so let +it be."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was led to the platform, and boundless were the +acclamations of joy +when he appeared, supported on the right hand by Titus, and on the left +by the lieutenant.</p> + +<p class="normal">There fell such a silence that the people noticed the whirring +of the +wings of a pair of doves which flew over the speaker's stand. Pointing +to them, Jörgli cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There they fly! One says not to the other, 'We will turn this +way or +that.' Their flight agrees by nature. So it is. Agreeing by nature--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He paused, and seemed unable to proceed. The figure had +evidently led +him off from what he meant to say. He looked around perplexed, and +seemed not to be able to speak another word--yes, even to have +forgotten that he stood upon the platform.</p> + +<p class="normal">His two companions above, and the audience below, stood in +painful +embarrassment. It was wrong to have brought an old man of a hundred on +the stand.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then the district forester, who stood near, said audibly, +"Emperor +Joseph."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jörgli opened his mouth wide and nodded. Yes, now he had his +guiding-star again. Almost inaudibly, and in a very confused manner, he +spoke of the Emperor Joseph and of the new emperor. Only this much was +plain--that he considered the present emperor as the direct successor +and continuer of the Emperor Joseph's struggles against the Pope.</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus handed Jörgli a nail, and the lieutenant gave him a +hammer. He +nailed the flag to the flag-staff, and this widely visible act was more +than the best speech; and he left the stand amid cheers and the sounds +of trumpets.</p> + +<p class="normal">He immediately called for his wagon. He wished to go home, and +no one +dared urge him to remain.</p> + +<p class="normal">The four-horse wagon drove up the meadow. Landolin pushed his +way up to +it, and said, "Jörgli, I will go home with you. Take me along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give my greetings to your wife," said Jörgli, turning away +from him. +He let himself be helped into the wagon, and then drove away. The +wheels were hardly heard on the meadow, and the people on both sides +saluted reverently, as they made way for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How glad I should have been, if I could have sat in the wagon +beside +him!" thought Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">No one ever prayed--no one ever offered to an angel,--to a +saint,--more +childlike petitions than these--"Take me with you; deliver me from this +misery,"--which had just passed Landolin's lips. But in these days the +best are no longer good, and have no pity.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Jörgli had gone the merriment began anew. They invited +one another +to drink, and new groups were soon formed. Only Landolin was not +invited. He stood alone. Stop! Landolin struck his hand on his pocket, +and the money jingled. With that a man can call a comrade who will talk +with him better than any one else, and make him forget his cares.</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned away from the meadow, and went to the city side of +the Sword +Inn. There were no guests there to-day. An old servant brought him +wine. He drank alone, and had his glass refilled again and again.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he still wanted every one to consider him of great +importance, he +explained to the old waitress that he was going to a bathing place for +his health pretty soon. There they wouldn't let a man drink anything +but mineral water, and so he was going to take plenty of wine before he +went.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old waitress said that was wise, and then returned to the +illustrated paper which she had brought down from the Casino.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quiet in the cool room. Only a canary bird in his cage +twittered +awhile, and then began whistling half of the song "Who never on a spree +did go."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin frequently looked up at the bird and smiled; until, +remembering Walderjörgli, he murmured, "Give my greeting to your wife."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The mother slept in her chamber. Thoma sat at the table in the +living-room before a large, handsomely-bound book, filled with +beautiful pictures. It was an illustrated history of the last war, +which Anton had given her. Many book-marks lay between the leaves, at +the places where the battles in which Anton had taken part were +described. There were many soldiers in the pictures, but Anton's face +was not distinguishable. She had heard that he was not at the +celebration to-day. It was on her account. What could she do for him? +There seemed to be nothing that she could do. Thoma had intended to +read, but she could not bring herself to it; and to-day it horrified +her to see in the pictures the men murdering each other, and shell +tearing them to pieces.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a long time she stared before her into the empty air. She +was weary +after the harvest work. Her head sank forward on the open book, and she +fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">A cry awoke her; for her mother was calling,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin! For God's sake! don't do it! Stop!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma hastened to her mother, who looked at her wildly, as +though she +scarcely knew who and where she was.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it you?" she asked at length. "Where is your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the celebration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must come home. Has not Peter found him yet? Where is he +staying so +long? Oh, Thoma! The eye-glass on the little black ribbon! He kneeled +down on Titus, and tried to choke him! The farmer must come home, +home!" she cried, weeping. She was in a fever. Thoma succeeded in +quieting and undressing her. With chattering teeth she begged that a +messenger should be sent for her husband, and Thoma obeyed her request.</p> + +<p class="normal">Boys and girls rode past the house in the decorated wagons, +singing,--the people on foot talked and laughed,--while in the house +the farmer's wife lay in a fever. But at last, with burning cheeks, she +fell asleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma had ordered the messenger she sent for her father to go +for the +physician at the same time. The messenger found the doctor, but not the +farmer.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was late at night when Landolin crossed the bridge on his +way home. +He hit against the railing, and cried, "Oho!" as though it were some +one blocking his way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you drunk?" he said, laying his finger on his nose; then +laughed +and went on.</p> + +<p class="normal">The meadow was empty; not a soul was there. Landolin crossed +it with a +steady step, and ascending the speaker's stand--</p> + +<p class="normal">"All you people there together, may the devil catch you all! +Hutadi! +Hutadi!" he cried, in a terribly strong voice. He seemed to expect that +some one would come and fight with him; but no one came; so he +descended from the stand, and went up the mountain road.</p> + +<p class="normal">A sober Landolin struggled with a tipsy one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fie! shame on you, Landolin!" he said to himself, "what a +fellow you +are--Fie upon you! A man like you drunk on the open road, before +everybody--Let me alone, Titus! I don't want anything to do with +you--I'm not drunk. And if I am--no--. The cursed wine at the Sword--at +that time--Go away--away!--If you don't go, Vetturi, you shall--There, +there you lie--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He bent over to pick up a stone, and fell down.</p> + +<p class="normal">Getting up again, he said to himself, as he would to an unruly +horse: +"Keep quiet, quiet! So, so!" And then he cried angrily: "If I only had +a horse! At home there are twelve, fourteen horses and one colt--Who's +coming behind me? Who is it? If you have any courage, come on! 'Tisn't +fair to hit from behind. Come in front of me! Come, and I'll fight with +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">From the steep hillside a stone rolled into the road, loosened +by who +knows what animal's flying foot? Landolin clenched both hands in his +hair, that rose on end with fright, and cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you throwing stones? That's it, self-defense! +self-defense! Just +wait!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped and said, "Don't drive yourself crazy, or they'll +put you in +an asylum."</p> + +<p class="normal">A railroad train rushed through the valley. The locomotive's +red lights +appeared like the flaming eyes of a snorting monster. Landolin stared +at it, and in doing so he became calmer, for ghosts cannot haunt a +locomotive's track. The sweat of fear ran down his face, and with +loudly beating heart he hastened up the road. At length he breathed +more freely; he took off his hat; a refreshing breeze blew over the +plateau: he saw his house, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The light is still burning; they are waiting for me; supper +is on the +table. Control yourself; you are Landolin of Reutershöfen. You have a +wife called Johanna, a daughter called Thoma, and a son called Peter. I +care nothing for the hammering in my temples. I am not drunk--tipsy: +three times three are nine--and one more is ten. You lie when you say I +am drunk. I can walk straight. So, there is the well. Oh well, you are +happy; you can stay at home, and yet be full all the time. Ha! ha! +Hush! don't try to make jokes. Hush!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he stood at the well, and cooled his hands and face, +then went +into the yard, and without stopping to speak to the dog, passed up the +steps and into the living-room, where he found the doctor sitting at +the table, writing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it? There's nothing the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your wife is sick."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not serious?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know yet. At any rate you must keep quiet. You may go +in; but +don't talk much, and come right away again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The walls, the tables, the chairs, seemed to reel; but his +step was +firm as he went to his wife's side and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walderjörgli sent his greeting to you; he charged me with it +twice."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had sufficient self-control to say all this with a steady +voice, and +his wife replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it already; the doctor told me that Walderjörgli was +there. +Where he is, everything goes right. Thank him. Good-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin threw himself into the great chair out in the +living-room, and +cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, what misery it is to come home and find your wife sick, +and no +joy, no welcome, nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at Thoma, who, without moving or making a sound, +stood +leaning against the bedroom door.</p> + +<p class="normal">To what a pass has it come when, in the midst of such misery, +the +father thinks of himself alone!</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin arose wearily and whispered to Thoma:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You've noticed that I'm tipsy? Yes, I am; and if you do not +treat me +affectionately, as you used to, I will be so every day,--then you'll +see what will come of it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot keep you from doing what you choose, either to +yourself or to +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bring me something to drink. I'm very thirsty," ordered +Landolin. +Thoma went, and returned with a bottle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing but water! But never mind; you're right. +You're +sharp."</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first time in many days, father and daughter laughed +together, +but their laughter soon died away.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"The farmer works like a hired man," said the servants and +day-laborers +on Landolin's farm.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was true that Landolin was the first up in the morning, and +the last +abed at night; and that he took hold of the work in the field he had +never done before. His appetite was good, and he slept all night +without tossing about. He never left the farm, neither week-days nor +Sunday; and he did what cost him a great effort: he said in the +presence of the servants that Peter should now have the control of +everything; for in the few years he had left, he wanted to see with his +own eyes how Peter would carry things on after they should be closed +forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">His speech was milder, and his manner less haughty.</p> + +<p class="normal">He seemed grateful that a heavy storm had passed over his +house without +breaking; for his wife was out of danger. To be sure, she was yet +ailing, and had to keep her room; but she seemed to revive when she saw +that her husband had discovered the best mode of living; that is--to be +independent of the world's opinion, and to keep his own life straight. +She did not know that he had discovered what a treasure he had in his +wife, and he did not tell her; for he could not express himself on the +subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were but two persons in the house whom he shunned. One +of them +noticed it, and the other did not. Landolin avoided being in the same +field, or at the same work anywhere, with Thoma; for he felt as though +he were under a ban whenever she looked at him: and even when he was +not looking at her, he thought he could feel her eyes following every +motion he made. He could not imagine what more she wanted of him, since +she had forbidden his making any effort to arrange matters with Anton. +Since his coming home, and especially since the celebration, Landolin +was in the habit of shutting his eyes when he thought he was unnoticed; +and even when looking at anyone they winked incessantly, as though they +were tired and only kept open by force. A glance that Thoma gave him +made him conscious of this habit for the first time, and also apprised +him that she knew its cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other person whom Landolin avoided was Tobias; for Peter +persisted +in saying that Tobias must be sent away. And although Landolin was by +no means soft-hearted, especially toward servants, whom, at the best, +he considered rascals; yet the thought of this dismissal was painful to +him. He could not forget how much Tobias had helped him to his +acquittal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Outside of the house there were two persons whom they would +all have +been glad to forget entirely. One was Anton. They heard nothing from +him directly; for he had gone, with a large raft, down the Rhine to +Holland. But all the people who came to the house--and gradually many +began coming--expressed their regret that Anton was not to be his +son-in-law; and their inquiries as to the cause were unceasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whoever could have observed her closely must have seen that +Thoma's +eyebrows had sunk a degree lower since Anton went away. He had once +told her that his father had often urged him to go to Rotterdam with a +raft some time, and get acquainted with the daughters of his business +friends there, and look around for a wife. There was already a Dutch +woman in the neighborhood--a comfortable, clear-complexioned, good +woman, also married to a miller; and Thoma fancied that Anton could be +happy with such an honest, careful wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">The second person whom they would have liked to forget was +Cushion-Kate. She lived quietly, and scarcely spoke with any one; but +every night she might have been seen with her lantern, at her son's +grave. Whenever she met one of Landolin's family, she stopped and +stared at them. She never returned their greeting, and always went out +of her way to avoid Landolin himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin's wife and Thoma had both taken great pains, +personally and +through friends, to help Cushion-Kate, but she refused everything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not be bought off by the murderer Landolin," was her +invariable +answer. She gathered grain in every field except Landolin's. Once, when +crossing the bridge, on her way to the mill with her gleanings, she met +him on horseback. She sprang before the horse, and cried: "Get off and +drown yourself, you murderer! Ride on! Drive on! Whether you ride or +drive, you carry your hell around with you! Get off and drown +yourself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you done? Then step out of my way," said Landolin, +calmly. But as +the old woman still clung to the horse's bridle, he cried angrily:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go, or I'll let you feel my whip or set Racker at you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The dog understood his master's words. He set his paws on the +woman's +shoulders, and snapped at her red kerchief. She stepped back. Landolin +made Racker drop the kerchief, and then rode on without a look at the +old woman, who picked up her sack of wheat again. At home he did not +mention the occurrence.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It is unfortunate, as every one knows, when two horses hitched +to the +same wagon fail to pull evenly together. But no one can suppose that it +is from malicious intention, and either horse might complain that it +was all the fault of the other, and that it was only from a surly +delight in obstinacy that he didn't put himself to the harness, and so +pull the wagon along. But with two persons it is quite different; +especially with those who have before pulled so well together as Peter +and Tobias. The latter had of course noticed Peter's imperiousness and +malignity; but he did not understand it, nor ask the reason for it, for +he really gave the matter very little thought. This was no time for +bickering and contentions as to which should outrank the other. Tobias +thought to himself, "Only wait till after the harvest; then we'll have +threshing-time." Peter likewise thought, "Only wait till the harvest is +over; then I'll draw my hand over the measure and level it off." Tobias +smilingly allowed Peter to give orders; he even scarcely looked up when +Peter countermanded those which he had himself given to the servants +and day-laborers. It is harvest-time; stormy weather would be injurious +now, but a storm between people working together would be still worse.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias gave the servants to understand that he was glad to let +the +little boy Peter sit in the saddle and manage the whip; for, thanks to +his care, the wagon would move on safely.</p> + +<p class="normal">Matters continued in this way during the whole harvest-time. +Peter and +Tobias stood opposite one another like two men that, with axes raised, +ready to strike each other, wait a moment to draw their breath. When +will the blow fall?</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin pretended to see or hear nothing that was taking +place between +the head-servant and his son. He had not had a confidential talk with +Tobias since the evening after the trial. But Tobias was not concerned +about it. A man does not say to the forest behind his house, "It's +right for you to stay there and keep on growing;" and it was just as +easy to imagine the mountains moving away with the forest as to think +of Tobias leaving the farm, especially since he had helped, so cleverly +and well, to have his master acquitted.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Tobias often looked at his master to see if he would not +say a word +of reproof to Peter for his overbearing manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin could no longer avoid doing so, he said, shaking +his +finger and winking confidentially: "Let him alone. A horse that pulls +so hard at first will soon let up."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Peter did not let up. The principal part of the harvest +was over. +They were about to take the grain that had been threshed out on rainy +days to market. This had been for many years Tobias's undisputed right, +but Peter now declared that he would do it alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It's not necessary for me to answer you," replied Tobias. +"You are not +the master. The farmer and I will show you who is master."</p> + +<p class="normal">He called Landolin, and made his complaint to him. Landolin +took a +grain of wheat out of a sack that had just been filled; bit it in two; +looked at the white meal, and nodded without giving a reply. But Tobias +pressed him for an answer, and demanded to know whether he was in the +farmer's service or in Peter's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter and I are now one and the same," said Landolin, at +length, +swallowing the grain of wheat, the first that had ripened since spring. +He decided that it would be wisest to side with his son. Tobias could +do him no more harm, and one need not be better than all the rest of +the world; ingratitude is the world's wages. But still he did not want +to appear ungrateful; so he said, when he had swallowed the wheat, "Be +wise, Tobias."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wise? Who is master--you or Peter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter," Landolin forced himself to say; and then turned away. +It may +be that Tobias is treated unjustly; it may be. But Landolin must look +out for himself first. He thought he had burden enough of his own, +without bearing other people's.</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up the steps and stood on the porch.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter was triumphant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you hear that? Now listen to something more. You may go +to-day, or +to-morrow, or at this minute; the sooner you go, the better."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias looked toward the stables, toward the barns, and toward +the mountains to see if they were not shaking. "So I'm sent +away--dismissed? I--by you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, by the little boy you so willingly let play at +being master, +just for fun. I've calculated what is still coming to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is coming to me? And what price have you set on what I +have done +for you? For you, you acquitted man up there!--and for you, you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you want a witness fee, I'll give you four marks more," +said Peter, +with a sneer. "We're not afraid of you. Go and say that you gave false +testimony, and see what you'll get by that. Father! don't speak--not a +word; he has to deal with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it serves me right: I might have known it would be so. +The +stones that lay here then are now firmly bedded in the pavement; but, +Peter, mark my words: Stones will fly through the air at you, till you +are dead and buried. I am an innocent child in comparison with you. You +will suffer for this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prophesy, if you like. You know from experience what a good +prophet +you are. You understand what I mean."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias groaned like a goaded bull; he pulled at his clothes; +he +evidently wanted to rush upon Peter: but Peter stood still and lit a +fresh pipe. Tobias clenched his hands upon his breast, and, without +another word, went to his room.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The wind whistled over the stubble, and when they awoke in the +morning, +the first snow lay high upon the crest of the mountain. The powerful +autumn sun soon melted it, and laughing rills ran down through all the +little channels to the river in the valley.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was St. Ægidius Sunday, shortly before church time, when +Tobias went +to the farmer's wife, who was sitting in the living-room, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mistress, I've come to say good-bye to you, and thank you for +all your +kindness through these many years. You know I've been dismissed." The +farmer's wife nodded. "By Peter," continued Tobias, "by Peter, not by +the farmer; that I see plainly enough, though he did give his consent. +But he isn't of any account any more. For your sake, Mistress, I wish +the house no evil as long as you live. I've deserved to have this +happen to me; it serves me quite right. Why did I lie, and say before +the court that Vetturi threw a stone at the Master? Why, the shaky +fellow couldn't have lifted one of those paving-stones. It serves me +right; and Peter is smart. He carries things with a high hand. He knows +that I can't say this to anybody but you, and you knew it before. +Wherever else I'd say it, they'd laugh at me, and despise me into the +bargain. Now good-bye, and I hope you'll see many happy years yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">A cold shudder crept over the farmer's wife. Her hands +trembled and her +head moved from one side of the great chair to the other. But at length +she controlled herself and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you, for my sake, don't say this to any one else. Give +me your +hand on it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tobias hesitated, but he could not withstand her imploring +look. So he +grasped her cold hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going when you leave here?" asked she.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are the first that's asked me that. What do the others +care for a +dismissed servant, even though he has served them so many years? I'm +going to my brother, the teamster's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take him my greeting. And you shall soon come back +again--I'll fix +that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I think not. I'll not come back again. I've laid by +something, and +perhaps I can get another place. I won't go to Titus, but perhaps Anton +will take me when he comes home. So again farewell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell, and keep up a brave heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife looked through the window as Tobias, with +his +brother's help, lifted his great chest into the wagon. It looked almost +like a coffin. She stepped back from the window, and called a maid to +help her to her bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin and Thoma were frightened when they were summoned to +her +bedside. She lay with her back to them, and without turning around she +said, "Don't be frightened; I'll soon be all right again." Landolin +knew in a moment that Tobias had been doing mischief here, so he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shouldn't have let the rascally fellow come up to see you +alone. +Before my eyes he wouldn't have dared to pour his stupid spite into +your--into your good heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Such an affectionate word caused his wife to turn over and +grasp her +husband's hand. Holding her hand in one of his, and stroking it gently +with the other, Landolin continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, one only finds an unfaithful man out when it's too late. +When a +servant is discharged, his hidden meanness shows itself. Tobias has the +impudence to say that he invented a lie for my sake. It's infamous how +malicious the greatest simpleton can yet be. But, thank God, what he +says won't make any difference with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife looked at him with glistening eyes; and casting a +sidelong +glance at Thoma, Landolin continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must beg Peter's pardon; I didn't know him. He's smart; +smarter +than--than I knew. We send Tobias away, and that is the best proof that +we, thank God, have nothing to hide. But I've talked enough. Not +another angry word shall escape my lips. You know I'm going to +confession to-day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The farmer's wife lay perfectly quiet. She felt chilly, but +she begged +the family to go to church; for the bells were just ringing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went, and not without great self-satisfaction. To be +sure, it +was not a difficult matter to deceive his confiding wife; but Thoma had +received a hit at the same time. She deserved it for her obstinate +hard-heartedness; for of course she must know in what direction the +praise of Peter led.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma stayed with her mother, who prayed quietly.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Up the same road over which Landolin had passed the night +after the +celebration, now came, on this clear autumn Sunday, the judge's wife. A +scoffer, who knew her thoughts, might have said to her: Not the +intoxication of wine alone makes a man talk to himself, and changes +his view of everything; and, worse still, the recovery from an +over-indulgence in exciting thought is, perhaps, even bitterer.</p> + +<p class="normal">This might have been said, and still the lady would not have +stopped in +her walk. Obeying a voice from within and not from without, she felt +that she ought no longer delay in an effort to establish peace and +quietness in Landolin's house, and peace between them and Cushion-Kate. +She knew right well, for she had often enough experienced it, that a +man sets little value on unsolicited help; yes, even frequently refuses +it. But she also knew that her advice, even when repulsed, had had +effect, and worked for good; and, above all things, she felt herself +within the circle of the duties that spring from the union of man to +man. As in war the wounded is no enemy, so in peace the sufferer is no +stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">So the lady went up the hill. The church bells were ringing +for the +noon-day service; but in her ears rang the sound of a bell whose metal +was not yet molten, and for which, who knows when a tower will be +built!</p> + +<p class="normal">The lady's thoughts by no means hovered in the so-called +"higher +regions"--quite the reverse. She thought of the nearest and most +every-day subjects.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she stood by the road, she saw a four-horse spring-wagon +coming down +the hill on a trot. A cow, grazing by the wayside, sprang, frightened, +into the middle of the road, and ran along before the wagon, terrified, +and with difficulty; at last the coachman rose in his seat, and hit her +with his long whip, so that she turned aside, stood awhile, staring +after the dust-enveloped monster with the four horses, and then went on +grazing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Smilingly the lady thought that this might be given as an +example to +the villagers. Turn aside, and you will be free from fear of what comes +rolling behind you, threatening destruction.</p> + +<p class="normal">But one must not give country-folk an illustration from their +own +immediate surroundings. Clergymen understand this; or perhaps hold by +tradition that only strange, powerful figures have any effect. This is +why they so like to speak of the storm-tossed ship on the sea, of the +palmy oases in the desert; when neither they, nor their hearers, have +ever seen either.</p> + +<p class="normal">Engaged in these thoughts, Madam Pfann had reached the +plateau, and +came in sight of Landolin's house. The shingled roof glittered in the +mid-day sun, and the tree on the east side was standing full of nuts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although Landolin, who was sitting on the bench before the +house, saw +the lady coming, he did not move, but kept on cracking nuts in his +hand, and shelling out the kernels. Not until she had drawn very near +did he rise and say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-day, Madam. Will you not rest here a little while?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; I was just coming to see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask what news you bring me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Properly speaking, none. Or perhaps--I hope----</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! what is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would like to talk with you in the house; not here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My wife, I'm sorry to say, is sick. It's nothing serious, but +she +might wake up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then take me to the upper room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you wish, why not? But are you not afraid to be alone with +a +murderer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must not say that word again; and no one else must. I +hope to root +out even the thought of it from every mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll have to use witchcraft," thought Landolin; but +nevertheless he +wondered what the lady had to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the two rose, Peter came from behind the nut-tree. It was +strange, +one met Peter everywhere. It seemed as though he had come out of the +wall, or through the steps. Without paying any attention to the fact +that his sudden appearance must be surprising, Peter said, very +submissively:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam does us great honor in coming to see us. Great folks +know what +is the proper thing to do. They are the best, after all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin opened his eyes wide at hearing Peter talk thus. +"Where has +the boy learned it all?" The lady, too, looked at him in astonishment; +but Peter went on composedly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam, my father keeps no secrets from me. May I not know +what news +you bring us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With these words Peter fixed his eyes sternly upon his father, +that he +might not be able to give the lady the slightest sign, even with his +eye. But the judge's wife helped him out, for she replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I wish or bring is for your father alone; but I am +heartily glad +that you and your father are in such unison. A child that is not good +to his parents never prospers in this world."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter chuckled. It is delicious how every one dissembles. Of +course the +lady knows how he and his father stand toward one another, and yet she +plays the hypocrite. He laughed again and again until his father said +to him:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Send something for the lady to eat and drink to the upper +room; but +don't wake your mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Landolin and Madam Pfann went up the stairs, Landolin +stepped as +lightly as the lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the upper room, where Thoma's outfit was stored, the air +was close. +The judge's wife quickly opened the window, and then turned to +Landolin, and looked at him with the clear, friendly glance before +which harshness and obduracy seemed always to disappear. Wherever she +came, she diffused peace and calmness and noble graciousness.</p> + +<p class="normal">A maid-servant brought food and drink.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went to the doors to see that no one was listening, +and then +said, with a modest politeness that was quite new for him:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray be seated on the sofa; and permit me now to ask what you +have to +tell me?"</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Ex-Bailiff," began the lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please say simply Landolin, without the Mr. or ex-bailiff."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, Landolin, a while ago you said a word which I will +not +repeat. You said it in derision, in anger and vexation. Landolin, you +are acquitted, but I wish that you would acquit yourself, and that you +can do to-day, to me, by my help."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam, I went to confession to-day, to the priest, at +church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. I don't mix myself in church affairs; but I see in +your +eyes, I see in your heart, that you have a feeling like one who strives +to hide a secret sorrow, and thinks that it is not seen. You do not +feel yourself free, and clear, and at ease."</p> + +<p class="normal">The veins in Landolin's forehead swelled in anger, but the +lady looked +steadily into his face as though he were a wild animal that could be +tamed by a firm, unwavering look. His eyelids rose and fell quickly, +his tightly compressed lips quivered, and his hand that lay on the +table clenched nervously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what you want to say," said the lady, quickly; "you +have a +right to do so: only say right out that I must leave your house; that I +had no right to force myself into your home, or into your heart. Only +say it, and I will go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, stay. You are a brave woman, I must say. I should not +have thought +it possible, never,--a woman! Speak without fear. From such a woman as +you I will hear anything. I think there can be but one such as you in +the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lady blushed, and for hardly longer than a thought takes +the +flattery disconcerted her, and seemed to turn her from her course.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin perceived this momentary confusion, and smiled +triumphantly. +"After all, she's only a woman, and, like every woman, can be bought +with dress and praise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Controlling herself quickly, the lady resumed, with a tone +that came +from her inmost soul:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin, men are put in the world together that one may help +another----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see nothing of it. Nobody troubles himself about his +neighbors," +interrupted Landolin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did you ever do otherwise yourself? Did you formerly concern +yourself +about others? the lady wanted to say; but she was quick-witted enough +to suppress that, and replied instead:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have a right to be bitter against the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin looked at her in astonishment. He felt something of +that mild +art of healing which does not try to soften sorrow by denying it and +covering it over, but by recognizing it in its reality and importance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you," said Landolin, "but I have taken advantage of +that right. +The world is nothing to me, and I am nothing to the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I ask a question?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then tell me if the misfortune, or accident, in this poor +fellow's +case had happened, not to you, but to Titus, to the Oberbauer, or to +Tobelurban, would Landolin of Reutershöfen have acted differently +toward him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin shrugged his shoulders and whistled softly. He +followed her +through the first, second, even the third thought, but at the fourth he +stopped, and, like a balking horse, was not to be moved from the spot. +With an encouraging smile the lady said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will answer for you. 'Yes, Madam Pfann; I should have acted +toward +the others just as they have acted toward me.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin nodded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are sharp; you cut one through and through."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; then do not be so timid and afraid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I afraid? Of what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of your own thoughts. Within Landolin there are two +Landolins, and one +of them wants to cast out the other. And now I want to say, don't turn +away the only one who can help you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nobody can help me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, there is one, and he is a strong man; only he does +not know +it now. And do you know what his name is? Landolin of Reutershöfen. You +alone can help yourself, and then you will have no one else to thank."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but how?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take a drink first, and give me one, and then listen."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"Landolin," began the judge's wife anew, "if we could rely +upon it that +people would lay penance upon themselves, and do good where they had +done evil, or when a bad accident had happened to them--if we knew that +surely, we should need no courts and no punishment in the world. +Landolin, there is a way in which you can free yourself and your whole +house from unhappiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does this look like an unhappy house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does not look so, but it is so, Landolin. Outside, there +sits a +poor woman, whose only son is dead. In field and forest this woman +has only the one little spot of earth in which her son rests, where +grows----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The woman is nothing to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your mouth only says that; the soul within you speaks quite +differently. If you had been found guilty you would have had to support +this desolate widow."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was startled when she was suddenly interrupted by a laugh +from +Landolin. To be sure, it was a forced one, but a laugh nevertheless. +She looked at him inquiringly, and he cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see you understand all about law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not talking of law. The poor woman has no legal claim. +What you +do you will do voluntarily, and it is that that is beautiful. Landolin, +you will give the money that I desire; but that is not enough for me: +you must also give the right thoughts with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no money, and no right thoughts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, you have; you have both. You will have them, and the +more you +give the more you will have. I vouch for you, you will yet make the +poor woman's days happy and peaceful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho!" cried Landolin, "so that the world shall say, 'He +feels, after +all, that he is guilty, and is trying to cover it over with +generosity.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What difference does what the world says make to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A violent struggle must have taken place in Landolin's soul, +and it +showed itself in his manner. He walked restlessly up and down the room. +He clenched his hands; he opened them again. At length he stood still +before the judge's wife and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam, even should you succeed with me, seven angels could +not tear a +wicked woman from her wickedness. 'Tis easier to drag a fox from his +hole with the bare hand. Perhaps you do not know that Cushion-Kate has +always had a hardened disposition. Perhaps she cannot help it. Her +mother stood at the church door with a straw wreath on her head before +Cushion-Kate was born. No, Madam Pfann, with me--you have seen--I let +myself be persuaded; but who knows----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just leave that to me. Oh, dear Landolin, you'll make my life +more happy if you'll obey me; and every morsel you eat, every moment +you sleep, will be doubly blessed to you. Come now with me to +Cushion-Kate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I go to Cushion-Kate! If she wants anything of me she may +come to me. +I wouldn't like to tell you of all she tries to do to me on highway and +byway."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And for that very reason go to her with me now. I know very +well what +that is--Landolin to Cushion-Kate;--but do not ask yourself now if you +are doing too much--if you are lowering yourself. Come with me! Give me +your hand. Come!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. I will go with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quiet in the road; no one was to be seen while Landolin +walked +along with the judge's wife. She frequently looked at her companion, as +if in fear that he might suddenly turn and run away; but he kept step +with her, and only where the road and the meadow path met he stopped +and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should never have believed it if any one had told me that I +should +do this. But I do it for your sake; and Cushion-Kate may curse and +insult me as she will. I will say nothing in return."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She will change for the better," said the judge's wife, +confidently.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">In the little house past which led the meadow path, +Cushion-Kate sat at +the table this Sunday afternoon. Before her lay the hymn-book, but it +was not open. The old woman had rested her elbow on the table, and her +left cheek lay on her bony hand; she was gazing out of the window +before which the black elderberries glistened, and a young starling +sang.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a long time she looked before her without moving, and a +bitter +smile passed over her hard features as she muttered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He dares to go to the Lord's Table before the whole +congregation. O +Thou above! forgive me that I quarrel with Thee so. But even Thou art +not as Thou wast in old times. Landolin should have stood before the +church door in a penitent's dress. Yes, mother; you had to stand there +with a straw wreath on your head, and thought that you must sink into +the ground in shame; and you cursed the whole world; and I beneath your +heart learned it then--there is nothing but sorrow and distress in my +blood. O God, I pray for only one thing; let me not die before I have +seen how this ends with Landolin. I cannot wait till the next world; I +will not----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She took her hand from her cheek and listened; voices, steps, +drew +nearer; the wooden bolt of the house door was pushed back, and the room +door opened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit still, Kate," said the judge's wife; and behind her stood +Landolin. The old woman opened her mouth, but she could not bring out a +word. The judge's wife laid her hand on her shoulder, and said, "Kate! +Here is the ex-bailiff; he wants to bring you rest and kindness, and +everything that is beautiful and right. Now I beg you, take heart, and +lighten your soul and his; he wants to take care of you as though you +were his own mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His mother! I was a mother; I am called so no longer. Had +there been, +not twelve men, but twelve mothers, in court, they would have hanged +him, and the ravens would have eaten his eyes and his fat cheeks."</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife was struck dumb by this raving; but +Cushion-Kate now +turned to Landolin:</p> + +<p class="normal">"They say that you spoke for yourself in court; do you now +need some +one else to speak for you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Controlling himself with a violent effort, Landolin said that +he was +heartily sorry that so great a sorrow had come upon Cushion-Kate; that +he could not bring the dead to life, but he promised her that she +should live as though she were a rich farmer's wife. With a shrill cry +Cushion-Kate screamed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I say to you, fie upon all your gold and goods! Only +because the +good lady is there do I not spit in your face. I have found out in +weary nights that every sinner can be forgiven except one--except the +liar, and that is what you are. You must go to ruin, you must have no +rest by day or night, and all that is yours must go to ruin too. Come +with me! Come to my Vetturi's grave; kneel down there; call the +congregation together and confess--But true, you never go through the +churchyard. But take heed! You must soon go, when one of your family +dies----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is enough," cried Landolin. "Come with me, Madam Pfann, +or I +shall go alone; I cannot stand this any longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned away; Madam Pfann cast one more beseeching glance at +Cushion-Kate, but she laughed scornfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin and the judge's wife walked silently together to +where the +footpath joins the road; there they stood still, and taking his hand, +she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell! I thank you for having been so good to me; and you +may be +sure it will do you good too. You have done all a man could, and may +now rest easy. We have not gained what I hoped, but your soul must feel +easier and freer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but I should like to ask a favor----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only tell it," said the judge's wife, encouragingly, as +Landolin +paused hesitatingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Madam, when I think of it fairly, I cannot blame +Cushion-Kate so +much, that she is so frantic and raves against me; I am innocent, but +still it happened. I don't believe in witchcraft and prophecy; but the +way she spoke of death in my family frightened me. Now what was I going +to say? I forget. Oh! this. Cushion-Kate may cherish a hate toward me; +but my daughter--yes, I will tell you how deaf and dumb she is toward +me. It is hard that a stranger should come between father and child; +but I think----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So do I. You may depend on it I will speak to Thoma, and I +shall +succeed better than we did over there. I will ask her to come and see +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">With hearty thanks, Landolin and the lady parted. She walked +on a while +as if lost in thought, and forgetful of the way; but she soon began, as +usual, to pick flowers and grasses and pretty sprigs, and arrange them +in a beautiful bouquet.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the garden of the Sword Inn her husband met her, and she +soon sat +pleasantly conversing with the people of rank in their separate arbor.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">"The members of the Casino had made it an variable rule never +to +question the judge's wife respecting her experiences in her work; and +she herself never mentioned it unless she had need of another's help. +It could easily be seen that she must have met with something difficult +to-day; but her face brightened when the school-master began:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The gentlemen will allow me to explain to Madame Pfann the +starting-point and progress of our conversation. The physician had told +us that Walderjörgli, since the day of the celebration, had been +approaching his release. This suggested the assertion that the +advantage of culture to the common people is questionable in every +respect; that roughness keeps the people even physically stronger than +culture. The judge replied that a child must become a youth, and then a +man, and it is an idle question whether it would not have been happier +if it had remained a child. The physician was just about to speak of +the effect of culture in relation to diseases."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly that," said the physician; "but I was going to +say that +the greater difficulty of regulating the peasant's diet is attributable +to his degree of culture; and, again, the acute character of a disease +that is already developed may often be broken up by timely remedies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I claim this also for intellectual and social discipline," +cried the +school-teacher. "The moderating power of culture will turn aside the +violence of the passions, and ward off their tragical end. Obstinacy +and unbending willfulness are not real strength."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A quarrel about the people's beard," said a clergyman to a +colleague, +smiling, and handing him an open snuff-box. The school-master had heard +a whisper, but had not understood what was said; so he continued, with +a sharp sidelong glance at the disturbers:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As sure as the means of healing from the apothecary help +struggling +nature in sickness, or put aside a hindrance to nature's work, just as +certainly will the means of culture, which for centuries have been +gathered together by science, mitigate and heal moral infirmity, and +the outbreak of passion that leads to crime--yes, even crimes that are +already committed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Turning to the clergyman, he continued: "Religion is also a +health-giving means of culture, but it is not the only one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks," replied the clergyman, waving his hand, between the +thumb and +fore-finger of which he held a pinch of snuff. "But, most honored +doctor, your culture-cure is a brewage of classic and scientific +education, a teaspoonful every hour, to be well shaken before +taken--probatum est."</p> + +<p class="normal">Amidst general laughter his colleague added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your plan of education would not even give the people new +enjoyments. +What do you propose to give them? They have not the coarseness that is +necessary. Look there! Those boys who have been tiring themselves all +the week at harvest work, on Sunday play ten-pins and throw the heavy +balls."</p> + +<p class="normal">The game of ten-pins was here interrupted, for the railroad +train +rushed past; and the boys, who had evidently been waiting for some one, +hastened to the station, which could be seen from the Casino arbor, and +the company exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Hollanders! There comes Anton Armbruster with the +raft-drivers." +Powerful men descended from the cars; they carried cloaks rolled up +tightly on the axes over their shoulders. They came into the inn +garden, and soon sat drinking the foaming beer, surrounded by groups of +friends and strangers. The voices of the raftsmen were loud, and their +laughter sounded like logs rolled over one another. Anton sat with his +father, who had awaited him here. He had regained his old, fresh +appearance; but, from his manner, as well as from that of the miller, +it was easy to see that something had happened that was not to the old +man's liking. To be sure, he touched glasses with his son; but he put +his down again without drinking.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife walked up and down the garden with the +hostess; but +the latter soon went and said something to Anton. He rose and went +toward the judge's wife, greeting her politely. She gave him her hand, +and went with him toward the vacant promenade by the river side. There +she first gave him the lieutenant's greeting, and then told him where +she had been that day, and what she had experienced. She looked at him +closely and added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma is soon coming to see me. May I speak to her of you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you did not become engaged in Holland?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, indeed! As long as Thoma does not marry, I too will +remain single. +It was very pleasant in Holland. They are very pleasant, hearty people, +and they have got over the stupidity of thinking that we Germans want +to take Holland. They listened to me attentively when I told of the +war, and the eldest daughter of our business friend said to me that she +could listen three days while I told about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you like her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes. She is a beautiful girl, and good-nature shines from +her face; +but nevertheless she was not Thoma. As I said, I have not changed. +Look! There comes Peter of Reutershöfen with the wagon. Peter, what's +the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mother is sick, and I have come for the doctor. There +isn't much +the matter, but father is so anxious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are all the rest well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course they are."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor drove away with Peter, and the judge's wife asked +him to +send Thoma to her as soon as she could leave her mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton, too, soon went home with his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician on the plateau, and the raft-drivers in the +valley, were +overtaken by a severe thunderstorm that burst forth with wind and hail.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Two days and two nights it stormed in the valley and on the +plateau, +with only short intermissions. When the thunder-clouds are ensnared +between close-set wooded mountains and sharply pointed rocks, they can +find no outlet. They toss hither and thither; they break and then come +together again; it thunders and lightens, rains and hails, till they +have entirely disburdened themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">One could almost say that it was the same with the people +here; when +bad humor had fastened on these hard, sharp-pointed natures, the anger +and quarreling had no end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin and Thoma sat by the mother's sick bed; sometimes +together, +sometimes alone. Their eyes flashed, but their thoughts were unspoken. +The mother was constantly faint, for the air did not cool off during +the two days and nights. On the third day, however, when the sun shone +again, and a balmy, fresh air quickened everything anew, she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feel better. Thoma, it would do you good to go out, and the +judge's +kind wife has certainly something good to say to you. Go and see her. +She sent you word by the doctor. Go, for my sake, and bring me back +good news. You can go right away. You have nursed me as I hope some day +your child may nurse you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter had told them that Anton had returned from Holland, and +that he +had seen him talking earnestly with the judge's wife. And, although her +mother did not say so, she secretly hoped to live to see their +reconciliation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma prepared herself for the walk into the city. But she did +not wish +a stranger to mix in their affairs. She did not need outside help, and +it would do no good.</p> + +<p class="normal">When she went to her mother, in her Sunday dress, the mother +said, +taking her hand:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Child, you look quite different, now you have fixed yourself +up a +little. Let me give you this advice. You are so gentle and so kind to +me; be the same to others. Don't put on such a dark face. There, that's +right. When you laugh you are quite another person. Say good-bye to +your father; he is at the stable. The bay mare has a colt. That is a +good sign. Go in God's name, and you will come home happy again. God +keep you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As Thoma went past she called a hurried good-bye into the +stable, and +did not wait for an answer. On the road it seemed to her as if she must +turn back: she ought not to leave her mother to the care of strangers; +but she went forward, thinking over what she should say to the judge's +wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma often threw up her hands in distress, and looked sadly +at the +destruction which the hail had wrought in the fields; but she soon +comforted herself. She knew that her father had them insured against +hail. Now they should have something in return for the tax they had +paid so many years. When she reached the beautiful pear-tree which +before had looked like a nosegay, she stood still. The storm had shaken +off almost all the pears, and they lay scattered on the ground. Thoma +called a girl who was working in the potato field to come and pick them +up. Then she went on her way.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everything reminded her of her first and only walk with Anton, +after +their betrothal. Since then she had not been on this road. She avoided +the spot where Vetturi had spoken to her; but where she had rested, and +Anton had stroked her face with the lily of the valley, she paused +awhile. There was no sound in the forest; not a bird sang, a sultry +stillness brooded over moss and grass on which the sunbeams quivered, +the path was strewn with dead and green branches, and the trees which +had been tapped for resin were broken down. The way was not clear and +open again till she reached the path through the meadow where the grass +was still trodden down from the celebration. The water in the river was +yellow, and ran in high, roaring waves almost to the upper arch of the +bridge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hostess of the Sword Inn nodded to Thoma from the window. +Thoma +responded and hurried past.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife was not at home, but the maid--saying that +she would +be back soon: she had only gone to the station; her brother was +expected, and might perhaps come by the first train--opened the corner +room, where Thoma was to wait.</p> + +<p class="normal">An air full of rest and comfort, full of refreshing odors from +blooming +plants on tables and pedestals, surrounded Thoma; and her eyes wandered +over the beautiful pictures and statues on which the sun shone so +brightly. Everything was as still as the flowers and the pictures; even +the clock over the writing-table, among the family pictures, moved its +pendulum without making the least noise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma sat down in the corner. The river and the mountains of +her home +appeared strange to her; everything looked so different through these +great panes of glass.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife soon entered, with a fresh bouquet of field +flowers in +her hand. She welcomed Thoma heartily, and the tones of her voice were +both gentle and firm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How beautiful it is at your house! How very beautiful!" Thoma +said, +her voice trembling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad that it pleases you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! and to think," Thoma went on, "that this lady who has +such a +beautiful home goes to the huts of the poor--goes to Cushion-Kate!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down and make yourself comfortable with me. How is your +mother?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better, but not quite well yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you bring me good news from your father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father says nothing to me. I learned from strangers that +he went +with you to see Cushion-Kate. His going there shows that you can do +more with him than any one else. May I ask you something?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did my father ask Cushion-Kate's forgiveness? And did he +confess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Confess? Your father is acquitted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! Then I have nothing more to say. I beg you to let +what I have +said be as if unheard."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Thoma, try and think that I am your mother's sister. +Have +confidence in me. I see that something weighs down your heart. I beg +you disburden your soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I will; even if it does no good, it must come out. Dear +lady, +I--I saw it with my own eyes. I saw how the stone from my father's hand +hit Vetturi; and Vetturi no more picked up a stone than that picture on +the wall picks up one. Then my father went and denied everything; and +caused all the witnesses and the whole court to lie. O heavens! What +have I said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet. So you think then your father should have +confessed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, right out. I would have gone to our Grand Duke and +kneeled +before him; but justice would have been done. 'I did not mean to kill +him, I did it in anger,'--that is honest and brings one to honor again. +How often has my father spoken in anger and derision of this one and +that one who pretends to be richer than he is and deceives people for +money--for money! And what good has it done my father? He must beg from +the lowest, for a good word or even for silence. Madam Pfann! last year +on Whitsunday I was with my father at St. Blasius. There was a woman +there who had painted her cheeks red, and put flour on her neck and +forehead. There she sat, in broad daylight, and looked boldly at +people, to see if they saw her beautiful red cheeks and white neck, +while she herself knew that she was not young, but on the contrary, old +and wrinkled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand. You think it is unworthy of your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unworthy?" repeated Thoma, for this expression, from a higher +sphere +of thought, affected her strangely; and the judge's wife continued: +"Child, your thoughts at first were not so hard, but by degrees they +have grown sharper, have become bitterer and more poignant; and that +which should have softened you only made you more harsh. When your +father was humble it revolted you, and when he was proud, likewise."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma's eyes grew larger and larger. She was like a patient +whom the +physician tells exactly how he feels; and this amazement at another's +knowledge becomes a preparation for, and the commencement of a cure.</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife laid a hand on her shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear Thoma, in imprisonment a man can only do no evil; but at +liberty +he can do good. My child, your love of truth is good, beautiful, and +excellent, but--how shall I say it?--it is not in place now----"</p> + +<p class="normal">The good lady was sensible of a deep embarrassment, and her +face +reddened as though with shame. She, who was always urging +straightforwardness, should she now shake this girl's strict truth?</p> + +<p class="normal">But she recovered herself, and continued: "If your father did +deny the +truth, he is suffering a heavy punishment, because you also deny it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. You disown your child's heart. Don't tremble. You need +not +promise me anything, except that you will once again examine yourself +earnestly and conscientiously. And your doing so will show itself in +the matter for which in reality I sent for you. My brother may soon +come, and I must arrange this with you quickly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife then told her about Anton; how much every one +esteemed and loved him; and how honorably and beautifully he had +expressed himself after his return from Holland. She showed Thoma her +mistake--how she, from upright and honorable feeling--and this +commendation did good--was acting wrongly, both toward her parents and +her lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You think," she added, "you think you cannot call your lover +yours +again, because you cannot bring him the same honor that he brings you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how do you know everything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you do not know, or have forgotten, that love does not +calculate--so much have you, and so much have I. Collect yourself and +build up your happiness for yourself and your lover, and your parents, +and all who mean well and kindly by you, as I do. Hush! There's someone +coming up stairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened; the counselor entered, and the judge's wife +embraced +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Welcome, dear Julius."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma stood at one side, and the judge's wife introduced her +brother, +the government counselor. Thoma could not answer a word. A counselor is +a brother, and is called "dear Julius!" A government counselor was to +her a sort of executioner, who brought people to the block. And now, as +this courteous gentleman put his eye-glass up, she was aware that this +was the man who had prosecuted her father. Defiance and smiles +alternated swiftly in her manner. "Would not I, too, have defended +myself against this man with all means in my power?" She did not +recover her speech until, after the introduction, the counselor let his +eyeglass fall. As if in a dream, she heard him say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your father made a master-stroke. He played for a high stake, +but he +won it. I wish him good fortune. Give him my greeting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, even the judges do not look at it so severely!" Thoma +thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">The counselor opened the piano, ran his fingers over the keys, +and said +to his sister:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall be glad to play a duet with you again."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma prepared to go. The judge's wife accompanied her to the +stairs, +and begged her again not to delay making things happy and right once +more. She should remember that we do not know how long we shall have +our parents, and then repentance comes too late.</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden fear overcame Thoma that she had stayed here too +long, and she +hastened homeward. At the pear-tree the Galloping Cooper met her, and +said that he had been sent to tell her to come home quickly; that her +mother was very ill.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Not long after Thoma had gone, her mother called Landolin and +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Put your mind at ease and be cheerful again. You may be sure +that +Thoma will come home with pure happiness and blessing. Everything will +be right again. She will come holding Anton's hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin was silent. He was struck by his wife's glorified +expression, +and changed voice. She closed her eyes, but after a while she said, +laughing:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walderjörgli! Nothing has pleased me so much for a long time +as his +greeting. When I am well again you must take me up to see him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin nodded. He could not tell his wife that the news had +just come +that Walderjörgli was dying.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin went into the living-room and looked out of the +window. He saw +the agent of the Hail Insurance Company come out of the field with the +bailiff and several of the town council. The agent was putting his +note-book into his pocket. The men had evidently been looking at and +estimating the damages done by the hail. They drew nearer to Landolin's +house, and he greeted them pleasantly, but the agent nodded, and was +passing by.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! How is it?" asked Landolin. "Have you not looked at my +fields +and valued the damages? And why without me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The agent replied that Landolin was no longer insured; that +Peter had +discontinued in the spring.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin drew back and shut the window. He probably did not +want to +show the people how this news of Peter's willfulness and indiscretion +surprised him. He sat down on the bench, and pressing his hands between +his knees, and biting his lips, he thought: "Now they are laughing at +me; now they can rejoice in my trouble, and the more because it is +plain to be seen that I am of no consequence in my own house."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went into the yard, and asked for Peter. He was told that +he had +gone into the forest with the horses. He said to himself: "It is well +that my anger has time to cool; there shall be no quarrel. They shan't +have the satisfaction of rejoicing at our misunderstanding, but Peter +must be made to own that he has been thoughtless."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin seemed to have conquered his uneasiness; and again +looked out +of the window, and saw Peter coming with a great load of wood. He +called to him to come into the living-room, after he had unhitched and +unloaded, for he had something to say to him. It was long before Peter +obeyed, and Landolin, whose anger was ready to boil over again, +preached composure to himself. At length he came, and asked what his +father wanted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin took a chair and said: "Sit down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can stand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't speak so loud. Your mother is sick in the bedroom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'm not speaking loud."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then; come away with me to the porch."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went out together, and Landolin said that he was only +going to +speak in kindness, and Peter must understand it so; that he had made a +mistake in discontinuing the hail insurance, and it should be a warning +to him. He should see that his father had, after all, done some things +better than he, and that he ought to confess his mistake.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Confession is not to be spoken of between us," replied Peter, +defiantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin felt a pain in his breast, as though he had been +stabbed with +a dagger. He groaned, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only think how the people will ridicule us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be well if that were all the ground they had. They +do it at +many other things. That's enough! I won't be found fault with."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't find fault with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. You can deny that too if you like. There are no +witnesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter, don't provoke me. I was only speaking to you in +kindness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I didn't see any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter, don't force me to lay hands on you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do it. Kill me, as you did Vetturi, and then deny it."</p> + +<p class="normal">A cry sounded from the porch; but another, much shriller, rang +from the +living-room. Landolin rushed in. On the threshold of the chamber door +lay his wife, a corpse.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had evidently heard the quarrel; had wanted to make peace; +and had +dropped dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter too had come into the living-room; but Landolin motioned +him +away, and he obeyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">They laid his wife on the bed again. Landolin sat beside her a +long +time; then he went out and said they must send a messenger for Thoma.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not long before Thoma came into the room. She sank down +beside +the body, and cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"O mother, mother! Now, I am all alone in the world--all +alone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">When she looked around for her father, he was no longer there.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Thoma had often looked into the cold, stony face of death; she +did not +force herself where misery and sickness were, but she never refused a +call. But how different it was now, when she knelt beside her mother's +dead body! It seemed incomprehensible that the good, faithful mother, +who was always so ready for every call, could not answer any moan of +sorrow or cry for help. That is the bitterness of death. Thoma had +really only learned to know her mother since trouble had broken in upon +the house. In the days before that, she, like her father, had paid +little attention to her quiet, modest, busy mother, although she had +never refused her childlike respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother! Dear, dear, good mother!" cried Thoma; but that is +the +bitterness of death--it gives no answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoughts about everything ran through Thoma's soul in +confusion; things +long past, and of to-day. The judge's wife lives down there in the +beautiful room with her pictures and flowers; she is probably now +playing duets with her brother; but out there sits Cushion-Kate. Will +she be glad that death has entered Landolin's house? No, that she +cannot! Down by the saw-mill sits Anton, and thinks of his beloved; and +she now bends her head, as though her longing were fulfilled; as though +Anton were by her side, and she could lay her heavy head on his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">With what happy reconciling thoughts Thoma had returned home! +And +now----?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is Peter? Where is father? Why is he away? How did it +happen so +suddenly?" Thoma no longer remembered what she had called out to her +father.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now she hears steps in the upper chamber; that is her father's +step. +"Why does he not come? Why is he not here?" Now she hears a fall.</p> + +<p class="normal">It seemed to Thoma hard-hearted to leave the dead; but she +went, +nevertheless. She wanted to comfort the living, and tell him what was +in her soul. She went up the stairs; the door was locked. She knocked; +no one answered. She called out, "Father! father!" It was the first +time in many days that she had spoken that word.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin raised himself up from the floor and listened. This +cry from +his child seemed to revive him; but he answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said that you were alone. I too will be alone. I am +alone. For you +I am no longer in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, open the door! My heart is breaking."</p> + +<p class="normal">The door opened, and Thoma fell on her father's neck, and +could not +speak for sobbing. But at length she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, I wanted to ask your forgiveness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not you, I--I wanted to come to you. Don't speak; let me +talk. Thoma, +you were right; I did do it. I killed Vetturi, and then denied it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma sank on her knees and covered her father's hard, rough +hand with +tears and kisses. The moon shone into the room; and when Thoma looked +up and saw her father's face, it seemed to her as if glorified; it was +no longer the face of the hard, indomitable man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall say it to no one but you, and no one but you has a +right to +hear it from me. I have forgiveness to ask from no one but you; and no +one but you can help me bear my burden, the few years yet till I am +with your mother," said Landolin. And the strong man sobbed and cried +as though his heart were broken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thoma, you thought it, and never said it to me, and never +pretended to +be friendly to me before the world; but he, he threw it in my face: and +I did not die, but it killed your mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">He told of the quarrel with Peter, and its consequences.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father," began Thoma, "you cannot wish that Peter should be +ruined; he +is your child. We cannot excuse to him what he has done; but we can +help him. And the best help, the only help is, that we two, whom it has +hurt, should forgive him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, child. You are brave-hearted. We will do it. +We will +strive to keep things from ruin. We will stand by Peter; he must not +utterly sink. I know how a man sinks. Come, let us go to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father and daughter went hand in hand to Peter's room; he was +not +there. They went to the stable, and there he sat on the fodder bin, +beside the new-born colt.</p> + +<p class="normal">If his dead mother had come to life and walked toward him, +Peter would +not have been more astonished than now, when he saw his father and +Thoma coming hand in hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter," said the father, "I forgive you everything as I pray +to God to +be forgiven myself. And do not fret your heart out. You are not to +blame for your mother's death; she was very sick; the doctor +acknowledged it to me. Do speak! Do say one word!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right," said Peter; "all right. I thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you not go with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! I will stay here. I am best off here. I wish I were a +horse; such +a creature has the best time, after all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh come, dear brother!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not your dear brother; let me alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father and daughter went into the living-room, and there the +father +related what his sainted wife--he sobbed aloud when he spoke this +word--had said while Thoma was gone; and Thoma told about the judge's +wife, and about Anton.</p> + +<p class="normal">All night long father and daughter sat by the body. At +daybreak +Landolin said, "Your mother can never see the day again."</p> + +<p class="normal">The father now tried to rest; and Thoma too went to her room, +but she +could not sleep.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The rain had passed over and had come back again, and now +seemed to +make itself quite at home in the valley and on the height.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin followed his wife's coffin down the outer +stairs, he +caught, step by step, with his left hand at the wall of the house, as +though he needed support. The school children, who were in the yard +singing the funeral hymn, looked up at the changed man.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the burial, at which one could hardly hear the words of the +pastor, +for the pattering of the rain on the open umbrellas, there was only a +small attendance, although she was honored and loved by the whole +neighborhood. For at the same hour that the bells were tolling here, +they were also tolling on the mountain in Hoechenbrand, the highest +village in the province, for the funeral of Walderjörgli.</p> + +<p class="normal">For this reason Anton was not present. He had to lead the +soldier's +association, which had decided to go in a body and pay the last honors +to the last Master of Justice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Among the men with long black mantles, who carried Landolin's +wife's +coffin, relieving one another from time to time, was one who from the +house to the open grave did not move from his post. It was Tobias. In +the short time since he had been dismissed from the farm he had grown +old fast; and the former crafty expression of his face had disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the funeral procession left the church-yard, Cushion-Kate +was seen +kneeling on her son's grave. She had no umbrella, which even the +poorest always has. She was kneeling on the ground, letting the rain +pour down upon her red kerchief and her dress, and did not look up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would like to go to her," said Thoma; "I should think she +would +accept a kind word from us now in our sorrow; but I am afraid she will +rave and abuse us here by mother's new-made grave."</p> + +<p class="normal">As Landolin and Thoma went past, Cushion-Kate's glance +followed them, +and she clenched her fist. Had she expected the mourners to go to her?</p> + +<p class="normal">A man struggling with a river's death-bringing waves cries +involuntarily for help, even though he is weary of life. Thus, tossed +on the waves of sorrow and pain, of hate and revenge, the sad, gloomy +soul hearkens for rescue--for a storm dispelling word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why does no one help me?" Landolin had so often thought. +Perhaps the +poor bereaved woman there now asks, "Why does no one help me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Through his deep, dark grief for his wife's death, his child's +love +shone like a star that he had won back. He looked at Thoma, who walked +beside him, and over his sorrow-worn face there flashed, as it were, a +swift gleam of joy. He heard indeed what Thoma had said; but he could +not think of strangers now.</p> + +<p class="normal">At home, in the yard, in the living-room, in the chamber, it +seemed as +though all the lifeless things had been robbed of a nameless something, +and as though they all were waiting for the dead to come back and greet +them with her cheering smile!</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying nothing, his eyes fastened upon the floor, Landolin was +sitting +in his chair, when the pastor soon after presented himself again at the +house of mourning. He spoke words of comfort, but when he had gone +Landolin said, "He goes away again. He lives for himself; no one lives +for me any longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">The regular stroke of the threshers awoke him from his +reverie. These +sounds were not new to him, but they startled him from his chair. +To-day, the day of his wife's funeral, they still keep on threshing? +But, to be sure, in this streaming rain, there is nothing else for the +servants and day-laborers to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">His wife's brother came; it was the first time he had shown +himself +since Thoma's betrothal. He did not say much; and not until Thoma came +in, who in composed self-forgetfulness was attending to everything, +were friendly words spoken. It was arranged that the so-called "Black +Mass" should be said for the departed one in the village where she was +born.</p> + +<p class="normal">The uncle asked for Peter. He was called, and they sat down at +the +table. They ate, and when the uncle went away, Peter, who had scarcely +spoken a word, accompanied him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come up again, Peter," his father called after him; but he +neither +answered nor came back.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter's taciturnity from this day on became more marked.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the candles were lit, Landolin said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is her first night in the grave; I wish I lay beside her +in the +ground."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma tried to comfort her father, but he said, looking at the +light:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will see, Anton will come to-day when he gets back from +Hoechenbrand. And if he does not come, do you know what I shall do? +I'll go to him to-morrow. I haven't a day to lose. 'Twould be better if +I were to go to-day; now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, it's raining as hard as it can pour. You must not go +to-day; +you are no longer young, and must not hurt yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; I'll do as you say. Say good-night to Peter for +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole house was silent. Landolin and Thoma slept, overcome +by the +fatigue of grief. But Peter tossed in his bed for a long time, and did +not find rest until he had resolved that he would again give all honor +and control of affairs to his father. He would do it, but would not say +so; for he had become again, and more than ever, "the silent Peter."</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The day awoke, but it did not seem like day; the rain had +ceased, but +thick clouds enwrapped mountain and valley in deep shade.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Landolin was again alone with Thoma, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I'll not stay on the farm; I'll live with you at the mill. +You will +take good care of me, and the Dutchman is just the right comrade for me +now. I'll not be useless or burdensome to you. Peter can take the farm +and pay you your portion. I think he has an eye on one of Titus' +daughters. I don't care. I've nothing against it. But I want to stay +with you the few years I have left; and when I die, bury me beside your +mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma nodded silently; then she said: "I would like to let the +judge's +wife know how matters are between us now. She has been very good to +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is very true; and we'll invite her to the wedding; and +she must +lead the bride in the mother's place. Your mother in heaven will +rejoice in your happiness; she said so before, but she thought you +would bring Anton home with you then."</p> + +<p class="normal">The bells rang, and Thoma said it was time to go to church, +where mass +was to be said for her mother's soul. Landolin and his two children +went to church. Peter's silence couldn't strike any one, for no one +spoke a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they came out of church, the clouds had disappeared, with +the +exception of some small flaky ones that crept over the mountains. +"Thank God, the sun has come again," each one thought; and their +sorrowful faces brightened.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the yard Peter separated from his father and sister, and +gave +orders, in brief words, for every one to go into the field, to bind and +stack the oats that were cut, and put them up to dry; then he went into +the stable. Landolin soon came out and ordered a horse to be saddled; +for he wanted to ride to the saw-mill to see Anton and his father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, father; but you can't take the bay mare: its colt is +only a few +days old."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let me have the black horse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, father; but I really need him in the field, and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter shot a startled glance, perhaps also an evil one, at his +father, +when he spoke these words so sharply, but he repeated them still more +sharply: "And what? Speak out. You could speak well enough a while +ago."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter was evidently struggling with his anger, when he +replied, in a +calm tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't know why, but the black horse isn't good for riding +now. You +can't ride him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't? I can ride the wildest horse!" cried Landolin, +lifting his +clenched hand; and going to the stall, he unfastened the horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin had said these words with no double meaning, but +because his +pride was hurt by the hint that there was a horse which he was not able +to ride. But Peter understood the words to have a different meaning; he +thought his father had meant to say that he should be able to get the +better of him again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The black horse was saddled; Landolin unchained his dog and +mounted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma had come out into the yard, and her father gave her his +hand, +saying, "If we were not in mourning you should fasten a sprig of +rosemary on my coat with a red ribbon." The cows were just then let out +to drink, and Landolin cried, "Thoma, you shall have the prize cow. May +God keep you! Peter, give me your hand. I'll often come up from the +saw-mill to see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He urged his horse forward, so that it reared and struck +sparks from +the paving-stones at the very spot where Vetturi had fallen.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin mastered it with a strong hand. His son and daughter +watched +him from the gateway as he let the horse prance down the road; their +father appeared again in all his old stateliness; and where the road +bends into the forest toward the valley he turned around and lifted his +hat in greeting.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Thoma turned again toward the house an open carriage drove +up from +the other side, and in it sat the judge's wife with her brother the +counselor. They stopped and got out. They had come to comfort the +mourners, and the judge's wife heard, to her great joy, on what mission +Landolin had gone.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">While Landolin was riding to the valley, Peter had saddled the +other +horse for himself, had dressed himself in his Sunday clothes, and now, +wrapped in his mantle and noticed by no one, took the road to the city, +across the bridge that was almost covered by the water.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the Crown Inn he ordered a pint of beer without +dismounting. Then he +trotted up the opposite hill to the plateau where Titus lived.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter did not look around much, but once he stopped to observe +a +strange sight; for on the rocks by the roadside were a large number of +hawks. There were evidently young ones among them, whom the old ones +were talking to, and encouraging to fly. They tried it, and in their +outcries there must have been great pride and happiness; the nest was +so narrow, the air is so wide, and prey that can be caught and killed +is flying everywhere. And when the young ones have learned to fly, they +care no more for the old ones.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are you going so soon?" Peter was asked. The questioner +was +Fidelis, his former servant, who was now in Titus' service.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glad I've met you. Is Titus at home, and----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was probably about to say, "and his daughter too." But he +kept that +part of it back. Fidelis said "Yes;" and without wasting another word +on him, Peter rode on.</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus' farmhouse was not so isolated as Landolin's; there were +several cottages near by. Titus had bought the houses and fields +from----emigrants, and had added them to his farm. The gates were +wide open, and things were going on merrily inside. A large hog had +just been killed, and Titus' daughter stood beside it with her sleeves +rolled up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There comes Peter of Reutershöfen," said the butcher, taking +a knife +from between his teeth. "What does he want so soon? His mother was only +buried yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter called out welcome to Titus' daughter, and jumping +nimbly from +his horse, he held out his hand to her. But she said her hands were +wet; she could not give him one; and she disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter went into the living-room, where Titus sat at a large +table, +figuring on some papers that lay before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that's you!" he called out to Peter; "you're come just in +time for +butcher's soup. Sit down."</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter did not use much ceremony, but told his wish. His mother +was +dead; his father had gone to see Anton to-day to straighten out matters +for Thoma again; and was going to give up the farm and live with her at +the saw-mill. "So," said Peter, in conclusion, "you know what I want. I +need a wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You go ahead quickly," replied Titus; "but I have no +objection. Have +you already spoken to Marianne?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not exactly; but I guess it'll be all right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think so too. Shall I call her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus sent a maid for his daughter; but she sent back, asking +her +father to "come to her for a few minutes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does that mean?" said Titus. He was not used to have his +children +oppose any of his orders. "Excuse me," he said to Peter; and left the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peter felt cornered: how would it be if he had to ride home +dejected? +Perhaps he had a suspicion of what was going on between Titus and his +daughter; for she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father, do you want me to take Peter? Yesterday his mother +was buried, +and to-day he goes courting."</p> + +<p class="normal">Titus declared that that was of no consequence, and when +Marianne began +to express a dislike, an aversion, to Peter, he interrupted her +peremptorily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Peter is a substantial farmer. So there's nothing more to be +said +about it. You must take him. Put on another dress and make haste to +come in."</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned to Peter, and said, "The matter is arranged."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Marianne said to the old maid-servant in her bedroom, "I +take him +because I must; but he shall pay for it. He shall find out who I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">She entered the room. Peter held out his hand to her, simply +saying +that this was only for the present; that to-morrow or Sunday his father +would come and ask for her hand in the usual form.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your father," interrupted Titus. "Does he know that you +are +here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It isn't necessary for my father to know; the farm has been +in my +hands for a long time, and I've only let him appear to be of some +consequence before the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but does your father know that I was one of those who +said +guilty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, he need never know it."</p> + +<p class="normal">While they were speaking a man came with the message that +Peter must +come immediately to Anton's saw-mill, for Landolin was in great danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just as the butcher's soup was served, and Peter's mouth was +watering +for it, he was obliged to leave.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The wild water rushes from mountain to valley. It flows and +splashes +through all the ditches. Even through the middle of the road a small +brook has torn its way. It is all so merry, and to-morrow it will not +be there.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the fields men work busily; every year they cut the grass +and grain. +The forest trees grow many years, but at last the axe fells or the +storm uproots them. Only the earth, in which men are buried, remains.</p> + +<p class="normal">Down in the rapids, not far from the Devil's-kettle, lies an +uprooted +pine. No one can pull it out. In the summer-time the ground caves in; +in winter the ice is too slippery. So this tree had stood many, many +years by the whirlpool, and had forced its roots into the rocky bed. +The water sprinkled upon it from the falls had nourished it so richly; +and now it is done with decaying----. "What a pity for the fine, +valuable tree!" was really Landolin's last thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">The black horse neighed loudly, then looked back at his +master, who +held the reins so loose. Landolin straightened himself in the saddle +and tightened his hold on the bridle. See, there comes Cushion-Kate, +with a bundle of dry twigs. Landolin nodded approvingly at his own +resolution.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait; I'm coming," he cried to Cushion-Kate. She stopped and +threw +down the bundle of wood. Landolin sprang from his horse, and holding it +by the bridle, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kate, my wife is dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose so; they buried her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want to talk kindly to you. Who knows how long either you +or I shall +live?" And in deep contrition he went on, in a low tone: "You have lost +your son, and I am almost persecuted to death by my son. I suffer----"</p> + +<p class="normal">A devilish laugh interrupted him. The dog snuffed around the +old woman. +Landolin called him away, and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would like to do something for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then hang yourself!" cried Cushion-Kate. Hastening to her +bundle of +twigs, she unfastened the string.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There, there you have it! Hang yourself on the tree there. +That's the +only thing you can do for me. I want to see you hanging."</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin mounted his horse again, and rode away. He did not +look +around. He did not see how Cushion-Kate, with the cord in her hand, +hastened after him through the forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Landolin reached the valley. The stream has risen above its +bed, but +there is the bridge, and just across is Anton's saw-mill.</p> + +<p class="normal">The horse stepped gayly into the water that scarcely reached +its knee. +The dog waded by its side, and often looked up at his master, as though +begging him to turn back. But Landolin rode on and on, and did not look +around when it splashed so strangely behind him. He reached the bridge +over which the water was already rushing. Just then something like a +noose wound itself about his neck. He looked round. Cushion-Kate was +clinging beside him to the horse. A struggle, a wrench, splash! and +Cushion-Kate's red kerchief appeared for a moment; then nothing more +was to be seen. Only the dog swam through the roaring waters, down to +the mill, and there sprang on land.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER LXX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The judge's wife and her brother were just about entering +their +carriage to return home, when a messenger came from Anton to say that +Thoma and Peter must come immediately to the mill. The messenger told +them that Anton had rescued the ex-bailiff from the water with great +danger to his own life, and that the horse was drowned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But my father! Is he alive?" asked Thoma.</p> + +<p class="normal">The messenger said that when he left they were trying to +restore him, +and he seemed to show signs of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage was quickly turned round, for her guests wished +to +accompany Thoma. Word was sent to the field for Peter to follow at +once.</p> + +<p class="normal">They drove down into the valley as quickly as the roads, torn +and +damaged by the water, would allow. In the stream was a boat, and Anton +called from it:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is alive!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The boat had to be taken far up the stream, in order that the +current +might drive it to the other shore. Floating pieces of rafts and forest +trees with roots and branches made the journey across long and +difficult.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me an oar--I've seen how it's done," begged Thoma. Anton +did so; +but the oar soon escaped from her hand and floated away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be brave and strong, as you always are," was all that Anton +said to +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they reached the shore she hastily begged her friends to +let her +go alone to her father. She could not say that she wished to keep her +father from seeing the counselor, although he was so kind and friendly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma hastened to her father. The old miller was with him, and +fortunately the physician also. The dog, on whose head Landolin's hand +was resting, stood by the bed. The miller was unfastening the spiked +collar, so that Landolin should not prick himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician motioned to Thoma to be quiet and keep at a +distance, and +she heard her father moan out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is she? Kate! Kate! Rope round the neck!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thoma could control herself no longer, but ran forward, +kneeled at her +father's bed and caught his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis good that you are here. That's right," said Landolin. +"Come here, +Anton: I have brought her for you, and--the forest is yours, and the +prize cow, and----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He seemed to find no more words; he closed his eyes, but he +breathed +calmly, and the physician made a sign of encouragement.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then the door opened. Landolin opened his eyes, and the +judge's +wife entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that's good!" cried Landolin, but suddenly perceiving the +counselor, he raised himself up, and screamed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep off, glass eye! Keep off! Thoma! Anton!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He breathed his last. When Peter came he found only his +father's dead +body.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the day of Landolin's funeral, Cushion-Kate's body floated +to the +shore. She had a rope tightly clasped in her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">To-day Peter is master at the farm, but he is only called so; +for he +is, they say, not master of a penny. He married Titus' daughter, and +she is said to be sharp-tongued; some even say a shrew.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anton Armbruster is Burgomaster of Rothenkirch; and Thoma +wears her +honors with becoming dignity.</p> + +<br> + +<p class="normal">THE END.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table style="width:90%; margin-left:5%"> +<tr><td style="border-top:2px solid black; +border-bottom:2px solid black; border-right:2px solid black; border-left:2px solid black;">> +<p class="hang1"><b>WHITNEY'S GERMAN AND ENGLISH DICTIONARY.</b> (German-English and +English-German.) With Notation of Correspondences and Brief +Etymologies. By <span class="sc">William Dwight Whitney</span>, of Yale College. 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