Landolin
by Berthold Auerbach · English · Gutenberg #33008 · 357,615 chars · public domain (US)
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Title: Landolin
Author: Berthold Auerbach
Translator: Annie B. Irish
Release date: June 28, 2010 [eBook #33008]
Most recently updated: January 6, 2021
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33008
Credits: Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
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_HENRY HOLT & CO., Publishers, 25 Bond St., N. Y._
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
(_Leisure-Hour Series_)
ON THE HEIGHTS. 2 vols.
THE VILLA ON THE RHINE. 2 vols.
BLACK FOREST VILLAGE STORIES.
LITTLE BAREFOOT.
JOSEPH IN THE SNOW.
EDELWEISS.
GERMAN TALES.
WALDFRIED.
THE CONVICTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.
LORLEY AND REINHARD.
ALOYS.
POET AND MERCHANT.
LANDOLIN.
LEISURE HOUR SERIES. No. 44.
* * * * *
LANDOLIN
BY
BERTHOLD AUERBACH
_Author of "On the Heights," "Waldfried," "Villa on the Rhine," etc._
TRANSLATED BY
ANNIE B. IRISH
NEW YORK:
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
1878
Copyright
1878
By HENRY HOLT.
LANDOLIN.
* * * * *
CHAPTER I.
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.
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.
"Good morning, Thoma! Are you still sleeping? Awake! our own day is
here!" he said in a deep, manly voice.
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.
"Good morning, father!" cried the young man. The father, a tall, thin
man, looked up with surprise, and answered:
"What, up already, Anton? Where have you been?"
"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!"
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:
"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----?"
"No, father, that was quite another thing. Father, I'm afraid you are
not entirely satisfied with Thoma."
"It's true, I'm not in love with her, as you are."
"No, but that's not all."
"There's nothing else, but for me she is almost too----"
"Too rich, you mean."
"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."
"But, father, you make too much of this; my Thoma----"
"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."
"Father, perhaps it's because they have no mountain streams in Holland,
only quiet canals."
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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 Reutershoefen.
CHAPTER II.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Mistress," began the head-servant, Tobias, "Mistress, may I ask you a
question?"
"Certainly."
"Is it true that your daughter----?"
"Will be betrothed to-day."
"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----"
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.
But now she heard footsteps in the living-room, and went down stairs
again.
CHAPTER III.
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.
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.
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.
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?"
Landolin half-turned his head, and looked toward the window, but seemed
to think a reply unnecessary.
He called to the servant not to forget to stop at the "Sword."
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.
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.
"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?"
"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."
"You're right," answered the girl, shaking back her long, flowing
yellow hair, "you're right."
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.
CHAPTER IV.
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:
"Thoma, I'm going now; I want you and your mother to follow soon."
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.
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.
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.
"Where are your women folks?" said Landolin's companion, after they had
walked silently side by side a good distance.
"They are coming after us; they are riding," answered Landolin.
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.
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,
"Have you any old hay left?"
"No; sold it all."
"At a good price?"
"Yes. You too?"
"Of course."
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."
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.
"We are a little late," the younger farmer at last said.
"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."
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."
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 _Char-a-banc_,
which has now taken the place of the old-fashioned coach. The men
declined, and the wagon rolled on.
CHAPTER V.
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.
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.
"What!" said Fidelis, "do you dare to invite the master's daughter?"
"Yes, of course."
"I don't believe that she'll consent, or rather that her father will,
but he won't mind having the honor offered him."
"Come with us, Fidelis," said Anton, "you are one of us."
The other two young men, who were sons of rich farmers like Landolin,
looked astonished, but said nothing.
"As you will," answered Fidelis; "just wait till I put my Sunday coat
on."
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:
"What can I do for you?"
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.
"Who are to be the other maids of honor?" asked Landolin.
"My sister and the daughter of the District Forester."
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."
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.
"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.
"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:
"Pardon me; but if I have rightly understood the ex-bailiff, he is
going to leave the decision to his daughter."
The farmer compressed his lips craftily, then said:
"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."
"May I ask why?" inquired the mountain prince.
"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:
"Say no more!"
Anton turned pale, and Thoma blushed; their eyes met, and Thoma's
eyelids dropped. In a moment, however, she looked up frankly, and
continued:
"I have heard all that has been said."
"Bravo! that's splendid!" cried Anton; "pardon me, but I imagine there
are few who would so honestly confess that they had been listening."
"I thank you for your praise, but it is nothing--that is, I mean being
honest deserves no praise."
The farmer shrugged his shoulders, and opened his mouth with delight.
"He's getting it now," thought he, "she pays in good coin."
Turning to her father, Thoma continued:
"Father, did you really mean that I should do as I choose?"
"Certainly! Whatever you say will be right."
"Then I say yes; I accept the honor with thanks."
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.
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.
After the three young men had gone, the farmer's wife said:
"Anton's a splendid fellow, he pleases me best of them all."
"Do you think so too?" the farmer was about to ask his daughter, but he
refrained, and only answered:
"He has a tongue like a lawyer's; the only real substantial farmer is
Titus's son and heir."
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.
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.
CHAPTER VI.
"Mother!" said Thoma, during the drive, "when father was young he must
have been the handsomest man in the country."
"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."
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:
"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."
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.
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.
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.
"That pleases me," said the mother, as they drove on.
Thoma answered with a voice clear as the morning:
"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."
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.
"Good morning, Thoma! Good morning, mother!" suddenly sounded in
greeting the clear voice of Anton; he held out his hand and continued:
"Come, jump out and walk with me."
"No, you ride with us."
"I'll walk beside you," replied Anton, and rested his hand upon the
railing of the wagon, as he walked along.
The mother made excuses for having kept him waiting, and said that the
farmer was following on foot.
CHAPTER VII.
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.
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.
Landolin and the Mountain-king treated each other like friends, while
at the same time they hated each other profoundly.
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.
"I'm sorry it cannot be arranged otherwise," he added, "but the next
term of court falls during harvest."
"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."
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.
Titus, on the other hand, was silent, and his silence was more weighty
than Landolin's words.
"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."
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:
"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.
When the Circuit Judge had found his way through the crowd to a quiet
corner, he said:
"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."
"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."
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.
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.
CHAPTER VIII.
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.
"Now be sensible, and say something," said Thoma at length.
"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.
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.
"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."
"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?"
"Tell me what it is."
"I believe every word you speak. I don't believe you could possibly
tell an untruth."
Again they were silent until, as a happy smile broke over Anton's face,
Thoma said:
"Why do you smile? Your soul laughs out. Tell me why!"
"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."
"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."
She arose and waved her hand to them, and then called out, taking care
they should not hear her:
"Buy yourselves dolls at the fair."
Anton remained seated, and a cloud passed over his face, for it pained
him that Thoma should greet them so scornfully.
A messenger came from the inn to say that Landolin had arrived. The
hostess met them at the door, and said:
"Your friends are all up stairs in the corner room. Good luck to you!"
CHAPTER IX.
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.
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.
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.
At length Landolin's step was heard, and following him came Thoma and
Anton. Landolin shook hands with the miller.
"I have been waiting a long time," the miller said.
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.
The miller poured out some of the wine which stood on the table, and,
after touching glasses, Landolin said:
"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?"
The miller smiled sadly, and said at length:
"Then give your hands to one another in God's name, and may happiness
and blessing be yours for all time."
The lovers clasped each other's hands firmly, and so did the fathers
and mother.
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.
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.
"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."
Landolin opened his eyes at this speech; but his only answer was a tap
on the shoulder. The miller said, with a trembling voice:
"Yes, yes; 'twill be beautiful to have a young woman in our house once
more."
"Thoma will hold you in all honor," said the farmer's wife. "She honors
her parents, and that makes sound housewives."
Landolin shrugged his shoulders slightly, when the miller continued:
"I'm very sure, Landolin, that your daughter is not so hot-tempered as
you and your side of the house have always been."
Landolin smiled, well pleased that people should think him
hot-tempered, for this made them fear and respect him.
CHAPTER X.
As Landolin still remained silent, the miller felt called upon to
speak.
"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."
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:
"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."
"We needn't do that, either," said Landolin, looking at the miller
arrogantly. He laughed aloud when the miller added:
"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.'"
"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.
They sat down together to the feast, when the miller remarked that next
Sunday he would go with the lovers to visit the patriarch Walderjoergli,
in the forest, and announce to him their betrothal. Landolin's face
reddened to the roots of his hair, and he exclaimed:
"I don't care anything for the patriarch. I don't care anything for old
customs; and, as for me, Walderjoergli, with his long beard, is no
saint; he's not down in my calendar."
"He is a relative of my wife," replied the miller, "and you know very
well of how much importance he is."
"Just as much as there is in my glass," answered Landolin, after he had
drained it.
His wife, fearing a quarrel, declared she had great respect for
Walderjoergli, 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.
Landolin smiled on his child; poured a fresh glass of wine, and drank
to the lovers' health.
Anton and Thoma now started to go, but Landolin cried excitedly:
"Hold on! Wait a moment, Anton! You mustn't ask for the marriage to
take place before Candlemas. Give me your hand on it."
"I have no hand to give. I have already given it to Thoma," replied
Anton, laughing, as he went away with his betrothed.
CHAPTER XI.
"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.
"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."
"Do you really believe they rejoice?" asked Thoma.
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).
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:
"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."
Anton shook hands twice with the judge's wife.
"I beg you will give the lieutenant my most respectful greetings."
It was still difficult for the lovers to disengage themselves from the
crowd, for a group of Anton's comrades surrounded them, saying:
"At your wedding we are going to march in front of you with the flag of
the Club and the regimental music."
Anton thanked them, and said he would be much pleased.
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:
"How are you? So you've got her, have you? Is that she? Is that Thoma?"
"Yes."
"Then I wish you happiness and blessing. How tall and beautiful she is!
Let me shake hands with you."
Thoma gave her hand with reluctance, and the teamster continued
jokingly:
"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.
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."
"What is it? What's the matter?"
"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."
"You are not alone, we are together."
"Yes, indeed. But you were going to ask me something."
"Oh, yes! How did it happen that you called my name in your sleep?"
"I'll tell you. Do you remember my passing your house when I was on my
way to the army as a recruit?"
"Certainly I remember it."
"Did you notice that I took a roundabout way over the mountain, so as
to pass it?"
"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."
"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."
"Oh, you flatterer! But go on, go on; what else?"
Anton drew her to him and kissed her, then continued:
"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."
"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."
Her eyes moistened while she spoke, and the whole expression of her
face changed to one of humility and tenderness.
"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 Reutershoefen could be as
gentle as a dove."
"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.
CHAPTER XII.
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.
"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."
Thoma begged him to be very careful how he dealt with her father, for
he would not bear opposition.
"I don't know," she added, "it seems to me father is very----very
irritable to-day. I don't know why."
"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----"
"Oh you!" interrupted Thoma, coloring.
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.
"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.
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.
++
I wish thee a night of repose,
A canopy of the wild rose,
Young May-bells to pillow thy head,
Sleep soft in thy flowery bed.
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.
"Hark; there's a finch," said Anton. "Do you remember the story about
the finch?"
"No; tell it to me."
"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!'"
"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.
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.
"Good morning, my darling," said Anton, "you have been my betrothed
ever since yesterday."
"Have I slept very long?" asked she.
"No, not very, but surely you dreamt something strange. What was it?"
"I never tell dreams; I don't believe in them. Come, let us go home."
And so they started homeward.
CHAPTER XIII.
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.
"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."
"The poor creature looks almost starved."
"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."
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.
"Your name is Vetturi, isn't it?" asked Anton. "Come here. Is there
anything you want?"
"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."
Then in an entirely different tone he said to Thoma: "May I wish you
joy?"
"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."
"I won't do it."
"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."
"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."
"Come along," cried Thoma, taking hold of Anton's arm, "don't let her
talk to you so."
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.
"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."
"Come! come!" urged Thoma from a distance. Anton obeyed, and Vetturi
called after them all kinds of imprecations against Landolin.
With a frown Thoma said to Anton, in a reproachful tone:
"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."
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:
"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----"
"But, Thoma dear," interrupted Anton, "lying belongs to badness; a man
who is bad enough to steal, must be bad enough to lie."
"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----"
"Oho! You're getting excited."
"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."
"And before the flowers become fruit you will be mine."
CHAPTER XIV.
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:
"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."
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.
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.
While they were here under the cherry-tree, Cushion Kate was sitting by
her son; he said:
"Mother, I must get away from here. I will go to Alsace, into a
factory."
"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 Reutershoefen 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.
"Mother, I'm a burden to you. It makes me ashamed."
"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."
"We'll see, mother. But first, I will have my pay from Landolin; this
very day I will have it."
With these words he tore himself away, and hurried to the farm-house.
CHAPTER XV.
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.
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.
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?
Landolin said to his wife:
"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."
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."
Then Vetturi rushed into the yard, bareheaded, and called out: "Farmer!
for the last time I say, I want my pay, my money."
"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!"
"I won't go."
"Shall I untie the dog and set him on you?"
"You needn't untie the dog. You're a dog yourself."
"I'm what?"
"What I just said."
"Vetturi, you know I have a hand like iron. Go! Go, or I'll knock you
down so you'll never move again."
"Do it! Kill me! You man-skinner, you----"
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.
Anton and Thoma had come to the open gate. They stood there as if
rooted to the spot.
"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.
Controlling herself with a violent effort, Thoma went up to her father,
who was staring into his open hands.
"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?
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.
At this moment it came to pass that father and daughter lost each
other.
"He's dead! His skull is broken!" called the hostler, Fidelis, who,
with Anton, had lifted Vetturi up.
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.
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.
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.
CHAPTER XVI.
When Anton returned Landolin was still at the spring, holding his hands
under its broad stream of water.
"How is it?" he asked, turning round.
"He is dead; he gives no sign of life," replied Anton.
Landolin shook the water from his hands fiercely, and shaking his head
slowly, said:
"You saw it, Anton? You had just come up. The stone didn't touch him;
he fell down at the sound of my voice."
Before Anton could reply, Landolin asked: "Was his mother at home?"
"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!'"
"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:
"Go to Thoma, now! I'll soon follow you."
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.
"Thoma, here I am; don't you see me?" cried he.
"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.
"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."
"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----"
"It is not only that a person has been killed; he, you, I, my father,
all, all have received a deathblow."
"Thoma, don't excite yourself so, you are always so sensible. You know
I have been in the war, and have seen many----"
"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?"
"You are, if you will only control yourself."
"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?"
"Certainly! Your father has done nothing."
"Who then has? Is Vetturi not dead?"
"He is dead, but he was hurt by falling on the paving-stones. Yes, he
was."
"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?"
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."
With tremulous voice, Anton replied:
"Thoma, I'm--I'm a soldier." His hand touched the medal of honor upon
his breast.
"Take that off," cried Thoma. "Go! go away! Even you can tell a lie.
Go! go!"
"Thoma! I forgive you. In affliction one turns against his dearest
friend----"
"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."
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.
CHAPTER XVII.
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!"
Did he feel, and did he wish to say that henceforth he himself was in
chains?
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
"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:
"Will you ask me questions, or shall I tell it in my own way?"
"You may go on."
"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."
"So you were drunk at the time of the----of the accident."
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:
"Thank heaven, I am never so drunk as not to know what I am doing. I
can stand a good deal."
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:
"I can prove that the good-for-nothing fellow got no harm from me."
"Have you got that down?" said the judge to the clerk; and he replied:
"Yes, I am taking it in short-hand."
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:
"Have you not had a violent quarrel, once before to-day, with
one-handed Wenzel of Altenkirchen?"
"Have you found that out already?"
"Yes. Tell me how it happened."
"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 Walderjoergli if he wasn't. Our families are the
oldest in the country----"
"But what has that to do with Wenzel?"
"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."
"Did you not threaten to lay him out cold if he spoke to you before
other people again?"
"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?"
Landolin waited in vain for an answer, for the judge came back to the
main point and asked:
"Were there any witnesses to the affair with Vetturi?"
"Yes, to be sure! My future son-in-law, Anton Armbruster, whom you
know, and my daughter."
The District Judge desired them both to be called. He was told that
Anton had gone away.
Thoma soon entered, and the judge arose and set a chair for her
opposite to him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
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.
"Father! What can I say?"
"What you saw."
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:
"Your honor----I say--I--I refuse to testify."
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.
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.
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.
Nevertheless, though no one knew it, at this hour Peter had become an
important personage.
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:
"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.
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.
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:
"The stone that Vetturi threw, lies down there yet, scarcely a step
from where the master stood."
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.
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.
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.
The chair moved violently, and Landolin cried:
"Your honor, I am Landolin of Reutershoefen; 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."
The judge shrugged his shoulders, and said that they would probably be
able to release him in a few days.
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.
"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.
Landolin took her hand, and, for the first time in many years, said in
an affectionate tone:
"Dear Johanna." Her face was illuminated as though a miracle had been
worked; and Landolin continued: "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to
me."
"Can't he take me with him?" asked his wife of the judge.
"I am sorry that it is impossible."
She was about to send a maid-servant for Thoma, but Landolin prevented
it, and said to the judge:
"I am ready to go now."
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.
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.
CHAPTER XIX.
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.
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:
"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."
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:
"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?"
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.
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.
"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----"
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.
"How does Thoma bear it?" he asked.
"I will call her," she answered.
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.
"Herr Pastor," began Thoma, "what do you think about it? I don't know.
I think I must go to Cushion-Kate's."
"Wait till to-morrow morning," interrupted her mother.
"No, I think I must go to-day."
"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."
Thoma and the pastor walked side by side. The pastor could not speak of
Anton, for this was no time for congratulations.
The moon had disappeared, and dark clouds covered the sky.
"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,
"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."
"Will his head be cut off?" asked a child's voice.
"He deserves it; but they don't behead people any more."
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.
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.
When she came in, her mother resting her hand on her open prayer-book,
asked how Cushion-Kate was doing.
Thoma acknowledged that she had not been to see her, but did not tell
the reason.
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.
CHAPTER XX.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And now how had it all turned out!
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.
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."
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.
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--_they_ could sleep
peacefully, but Thoma could not sleep.
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.
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.
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?"
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--"
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!"
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.
Thoma buried her face deeper in the pillows. It was raining gently, and
she fell asleep.
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.
CHAPTER XXI.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As the procession passed Landolin's house, she shook her bony fist
toward it, from under the black cloak.
The house was closed. No window was thrown open.
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.
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.
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.
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,--
"One must not say good day, in the churchyard; or perhaps you do not
share the superstition?"
She neither answered, nor gave him her hand.
"May I walk with you? See, they are looking at us. Be calm!"
She walked by his side without raising her eyes.
"I'm waiting patiently for you to speak," said Anton in a low tone.
She looked into his face with her great eyes, but their glance was
changed.
"Is your father here?" she asked at length; her voice too was changed.
"No, he is at home," replied Anton. "Shall he come and see you?"
She shook her head silently, and Anton continued:
"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."
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.
"I may go home with you, may I not?" asked Anton.
Thoma stood still. She laid her hand on her heart, and said:
"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 _must_, 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!"
"Thoma, you thrust from you him on whom you should lean."
"I thrust no one away from me, and I will lean on no one."
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.
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.
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."
CHAPTER XXII.
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?"
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.
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.
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.
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.
She was aware that people called her conduct eccentric and sentimental;
but she cared nothing for that.
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.
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 aesthetically selfish
life. Yes, out of a life devoted to the common welfare, springs a new
beauty of being.
Madame Pfann often met with rudeness and thoughtlessness where she
least expected it, so that her experiences were sometimes painful; but
she remained steadfast.
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.
She knew that baseness and uncleanness existed, and yet clung to her
faith in greatness, nobility, and purity.
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.
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.
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.
He listened attentively for her answer, and was not surprised when she
replied, with a smile:
"I cannot double myself when I visit you; but I will come oftener if
you like."
It now happened, as it often had before with prisoners, that Landolin
looked for her visit as a diversion, and that was something gained.
"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.
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.
"Has he? Has anything happened to him?" asked Landolin, eagerly.
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.
Madame Pfann asked, "Would you like me to have some flowering plants
brought here?"
Landolin laughed aloud and said: "I don't want anything with me except
my dog."
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.
Madame Pfann went to Reutershoefen, 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.
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.
Madame Pfann urged her strongly to lighten her father's imprisonment by
visiting him.
"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."
"It is not better, only more comfortable, more easy for you; you will
not conquer yourself."
Thoma was silent.
Madame Pfann arranged for Tobias to take the dog to its master.
She then went to see Cushion-Kate, who called out:
"You went to Landolin's first. I'll not let you into my house."
She bolted the door and Madame Pfann went quietly homeward.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"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.
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:
"Mother, give me the keys; I am the son of the house, and I must take
the reins now."
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.
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."
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.
"Look! Look! There comes Peter of Reutershoefen!" was heard up and down
the mountain side.
"What Peter?"
"Landolin's Peter."
"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."
It was true; he had not been exactly a blockhead; but dull and
unsympathetic. And what had he now become?
It may, perhaps, seem unnatural, but nevertheless it was a thoroughly
logical development; he had become an accomplished hypocrite.
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."
Peter discovered that hypocrisy was sweet to the taste; and that it was
no new thing for the world to feast on it.
Wherever he went people condoled with him over his misfortune, even
when he was quite sure they were glad of it.
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:
"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."
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.
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.
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?
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.
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."
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.
So the time drew near for Landolin to appear before the court for which
he had been selected as juryman.
CHAPTER XXIV.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
"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----"
"To-day is Thursday, the tenth of July, mother."
"And he is in court, on trial for his life. Look and see what saint's
day this is."
"The calendar is hanging right behind you."
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:
"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."
"Mother! Don't talk so. We must control our feelings, whichever way
things turn out."
"What! Can it turn out any other way?"
"Who knows? That is what the trial is for."
"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."
"More than that," added Thoma; but she did not explain what she meant.
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.
But her mother seemed to find it necessary to express her thoughts; and
again she murmured, half aloud:
"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!"
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."
"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----"
"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!"
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:
"Mother, I want to go to the city."
"You, too, will leave me?"
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.
Her mother took up her prayer-book, and said: "Well, you may go; but
don't hurry too much."
"Come along," Thoma called to the dog, and, with him, hastened out of
doors.
CHAPTER XXV.
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.
Is Landolin's house such a tree; struck by lightning, and bowed down by
dark sorrow? And will it flourish again?
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.
"Oh, yes," sighed she, and started away.
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.
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?"
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.
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:
"You! you! To-day is the day of payment."
"May I not say a kind word to you?"
"Kind? To me? You? Go away or----"
She pulled out a pocket-knife, opened it, and cried: "I too, can
murder! You are his child; and he was mine. Go!"
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.
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.
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.
Hate, anger and misery grew within her, and transformed her happy, kind
heart into a sad and wicked one.
CHAPTER XXVI.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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.
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.
"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.
"It is curious that something very extraordinary is always happening
to Walderjoergli. 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."
"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.
"But where is our host?"
"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."
The cautious hostess gave this as a report, and not as an opinion of
her own.
As soon as the physician said: "Both are true," she cried:
"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----"
"What is it?"
"Do you think it possible for Landolin to be acquitted?"
"With God and a jury all things are possible."
"Yes; but then, who killed Vetturi? For he is dead!"
"That question is not on the list."
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.
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.
"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?"
The physician could give no opinion, and the hostess continued:
"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.
"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."
"Bravo!" cried the doctor, "I have seen a rare wonder: one woman
unreservedly praising another."
"Yes; who can know the judge's wife and not praise her? But she seeks
neither praise nor thanks from anybody."
"She needs none. He to whom nature has given the blessing of such a
good heart is the possessor of all human good."
The telegraph messenger came into the garden, and handed the physician
a dispatch.
"I've got it now," cried the physician, when he had read it. "When does
the next express train leave?"
"In seven minutes."
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.
"Are you going too?" asked he.
"No; I just want to send word to my brother to telegraph me the
decision as soon as it is announced."
"I will attend to that for you."
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.
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?
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.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Long before day the bell from Landolin's prison cell rang violently.
The keeper heard it, but did not hurry in the least.
"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,
"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."
"I'm sorry I can't do that. You were bailiff yourself, and you know
what the law is."
"Then call my lawyer."
"It's too early."
"It is not too early. I have a right to see my lawyer at any time."
"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."
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.
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.
"So gay already?" said the lawyer; "I hardly knew you. Why! What made
you cut off your beard?"
"Why? So the jurymen can recognize me."
"Very good. Now what do you want?"
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.
The lawyer said that he had asked to be excused.
"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."
The next on the list was the lumberman, Dietler.
"He wants to be released too," said the lawyer.
"He wants to be released? So do I."
"But he will be angry with us."
"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."
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.
"I won't have Baron Discher."
"Why? He is a just man."
"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."
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,
"Is the----Is his mother called as a witness?"
"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."
"That won't help me any."
"I think," continued the lawyer, "I think, the government counsel
himself will recommend to the jury to find that there were mitigating
circumstances."
"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."
"Landolin, we are playing a serious game."
"I know it."
"Do you wish to address the jury yourself?"
"I don't know yet. I am afraid I should make some mistake."
"You can tell me your decision in the court-room. You have the
privilege of speaking."
"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."
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.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
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.
"What mother?"
"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."
"For the saint's keeper? Where is he?"
"Are you so stupid? Or are you only pretending? The saint's keeper is
inside of your coat."
The grim keeper chuckled, and said to himself:
"And just think of people saying that farmers are stupid."
He soon returned, and said that Vetturi's mother had not come, but--
"But what? Not my wife and daughter? I expressly forbade that."
"No, not they; but half the village."
"Did the saint's keeper get anything?"
"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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
The door was unlocked, and Landolin was led into the court-room.
CHAPTER XXIX.
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.
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.
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.
Who is foreman?
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 Walderjoergli'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.
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.
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.
The charge is manslaughter.
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.
CHAPTER XXX.
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.
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.
"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.
The iron cross on his breast rose and fell, as he breathed deeply and
rapidly.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Without looking toward Landolin, Anton returned to his seat, and when
there, he did not look up. His eyes glistened, and his face burned.
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.
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.
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.
Landolin made a good impression by saying that Fidelis was a good
fellow, and would say nothing against him out of spite.
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.
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.
"Must I answer?" asked Fidelis.
The presiding judge replied that he need answer neither question.
The examination of witnesses was now closed, and a pause ensued, during
which there was a final arming of the forces upon both sides.
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.
It was damp and sultry in the room. The battle began.
CHAPTER XXXI.
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.
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.
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.'"
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.
Landolin arose and bowed. He moistened his dry lips, and began:
"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:
"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.
"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."
Landolin sat down, and covered his face with both hands. He seemed to
be weeping.
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.
"Keeper," asked Peter, "can I go with my father?"
"Certainly."
"But I want to be alone," interrupted Landolin sharply, and the door
closed behind him.
"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.
CHAPTER XXXII.
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.
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.
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----
A meteor shot across the heavens. Ah! if one could only believe that
that is a good sign!
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.
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:
"The accused is pronounced not guilty, by six voices against six."
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.
The judges hold a whispered consultation; and the president rises, and
after reading the passages of the law bearing upon the case, says:
"The accused is not guilty. Landolin! you are free."
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.
"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.
"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."
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."
"Father, I would like to give Titus a special invitation."
"Do so. Didn't I say that for the few years I have yet to live, I will
be nobody's enemy?"
"And I will send a telegram to mother."
"Do so, and say that I am all right."
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.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
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.
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.
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?
Her mother reclines at the open window, and looks out into the night.
"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."
The mother barely turned her head, and then looked out again. Is
Cushion-Kate awake, too, thought she.
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."
Suddenly Cushion-Kate straightened herself. She heard footsteps.
"Have you brought anything for me?" she asked the frightened messenger.
"No! nothing for you."
"For whom then?"
"For Landolin's Thoma," he answered, pulling out the blue envelope.
"Do you know what is in it?" asked Cushion-Kate.
"I'm not supposed to know."
"But you do know. Say, is Landolin sentenced to death?"
"I'll lose my place if you tell anybody."
"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!"
"Landolin is acquitted."
"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!"
"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.
In the meantime the messenger had reached Landolin's house.
"Do you bring good news?" his wife called from the window.
"I think so."
Thoma hastened down the stairs with the light, and returned quickly
with the open dispatch in her hand, and cried out:
"Father is acquitted. Not guilty by the court."
The mother sank on her knees. It was long before she could speak a
word. At length she said, half smiling, half weeping:
"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."
Thoma drew her mother into a chair, and then brought food and drink.
"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."
The Cooper went to Cushion-Kate's. The house was open, but she was not
to be found.
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."
"Everything all right again?" said Thoma; but her mother did not catch
the questioning tone in which she spoke.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
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?"
"Pastor," shrieked Cushion-Kate, "tell me, is there a God in heaven? Is
there justice?"
"Who are you that dare blaspheme so? All good spirits praise the Lord
our God. Who are you?"
"The mother, the mother whose son was murdered; and the murderer is
acquitted."
"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.
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:
"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!"
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.
"Wake up! How came you here?" called a man's voice.
Cushion-Kate opened her eyes, and drawing her hands over her forehead,
she moaned out, "Vetturi!"
"No; it is I, Anton Armbruster. See, here is some gin. Come, drink!"
Cushion-Kate drank eagerly, then asked:
"Do you know that he is acquitted?"
"Yes; I have just come from the trial."
"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."
"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."
"And why was he acquitted?"
"Because six men said not guilty. Come, raise yourself up. There!"
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.
"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."
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.
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.
CHAPTER XXXV.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
"How many years did he get?" asked his father when he reached home.
Anton had to tell him that Landolin was fully acquitted.
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.
"Father, I am going to stay at home now," said Anton.
"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."
"Father, have you nothing to say about the acquittal?"
"What difference does what I say make?"
"Much, father--it makes very much difference."
"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."
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.
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.
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.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
At the capital, the night following the trial was to be spent in
revelry and carousal.
When Landolin entered the chamber prepared for him at the Ritter inn,
he pulled off his coat, and hurling it across the room, exclaimed:
"There! I'm rid of it! I've felt the whole time as if I had an iron
jacket on."
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.
"Are the twelve men all coming?" asked Landolin.
"They were all invited, but they seem to have slipped into the ground
and vanished."
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.
"You are right," said his counsel, "you should have been a lawyer. Your
last words turned the scale. It was a master stroke."
Landolin accepted this praise as his due, and made no reply.
"Call Anton! Where is Anton?" said he, turning to his son.
"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."
Landolin whistled, and walked hastily around the table, on which they
were just placing the wine-bottles.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
"You oughtn't to do that father. Be quiet!" whispered Peter, sternly,
and roughly grasped his father's arm.
"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."
He went up to his room with Tobias, and as soon as he got there he
caught tight hold of Tobias' arms and cried:
"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?"
"How can I know it?"
"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--"
"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."
The situation dawned upon Landolin. He, the farmer, was reproved by his
own servant.
"All right, all right," he muttered and soon fell sound asleep.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
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:
"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."
Landolin looked at his son as though another man were standing before
him. Peter noticed it, and continued:
"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?"
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:
"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."
"Where is Tobias?" asked Landolin, gnashing his teeth.
"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."
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.
"I could almost be proud of you, you have changed so," he said, at
length. And Peter cried exultingly:
"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."
Landolin kept his wrath down, and thought: "Just wait till we get home,
then I'll talk to you differently."
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.
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."
In the meadow near the station was an unfinished platform, and though
it was twilight, the men were still hammering busily.
"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."
"Oh! husband!" replied his wife. "What strange thoughts! Peter, don't
you know what they are doing?"
"Certainly; certainly. Next Sunday the soldiers have their
celebration."
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.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
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.
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.
The school-teacher, whom but few knew to be the editor of the weekly
paper, _The Forest Messenger_, 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.
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.
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."
The judge earnestly protested against this assertion, and insisted that
although there were undoubtedly deplorable indications, still the wave
was beginning to rise again.
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.
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.
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.
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:
"Are there not more offenders who are undetected than are ever brought
to justice?"
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:
"It is quite impossible to give an exact answer to your question; but
it is probably much as it is with the aerolites. Two-thirds of our
planet is covered with water, consequently two-thirds of the aerolites
fall into it unnoticed; and of the last third, which falls on dry land,
not all are found."
This bright and skilfully devised figure led the company back into a
more agreeable frame of mind.
The school-teacher, who liked to deal in generalities, continued:
"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."
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:
"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."
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.
These two shared the noblest of vocations, and often met in their
common work of aiding the unfortunate.
"Do you think," asked the lady, "that the innocent young people, Thoma
and Anton, can now be happily united?"
The physician shrugged his shoulders, and she continued:
"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."
"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----"
"I think I can prevent that."
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!"
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.
Joyous songs, sung by sweet voices, floated out into the moonlit summer
evening, and all dissension and all misery seemed to be forgotten.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
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:
"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."
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.
"Is Thoma ill?" he asked, after a little while.
"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."
"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:
"Has the prize cow a bull calf?"
"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?"
As for Peter, who sat on the front seat driving, his sides shook. He
was evidently laughing.
Landolin, who had striven against the temptation, at last yielded, and
asked:
"How does Cushion-Kate get along?"
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."
"Don't scream so! You have changed very much."
"It's you, not I, that have changed. Why don't you give me an answer?"
"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----"
"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?"
"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?"
His wife had scarcely uttered these words, when Cushion-Kate rushed out
of the forest, and grasped the horse's reins.
"Let go!" cried Peter. "Let go! or I'll drive over you."
"Hold still!" said Landolin. "Kate! I mean well by you."
"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."
"Oh, Kate! come here to me," besought his wife. But Kate continued to
pour terrible execrations.
"Give her a cut with the whip," cried Landolin; "give it to me; I'll
strike her."
"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.
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."
CHAPTER XL.
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:
"Never mind! I'm still able----"
He stood again on his own ground. No sound of welcome was heard, save
the barking of the chained dog.
The bright moon lit up the square yard, which was neatly paved, and
entirely changed in appearance.
"Who made these changes?" asked Landolin.
"Thoma had them made," replied her mother.
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.
"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!"
"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.
"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."
The tears on his wife's cheeks glittered in the moonlight, and he said,
turning toward her,
"Go in first!"
"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."
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.
There was no one in the room but an old servant.
"Where is Thoma?" asked Landolin.
"She is in her bedroom."
"Tell her to come here; that I have got home."
"I called to her through the closed door, but she did not answer."
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.
"Thoma, I am here, your father."
The door was unbolted and Thoma stood before him. In a constrained
voice she said: "Welcome, father!"
"Have you nothing more to say to me?"
"You never liked people to talk much."
Landolin took his daughter's hand, which she had not offered him.
"My child, do you no longer love me?"
"I should never ask a child such a question."
"My child, I am a poor man; as poor as a beggar. Do you understand me?"
Thoma shook her head, and her father continued:
"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.
He looked at the table in the living-room, and asked:
"Is that a new table?"
"No, but Thoma had it planed because the holes were there."
Landolin remembered having stuck the fork in the table.
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:
"There are insane asylums for such people. She should be put into one.
The town can pay for it."
"That's not so easily done; the district physician will have to order
it."
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."
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.
When the pastor took his leave, Landolin accompanied him respectfully.
Pausing before the house, the pastor said in a low tone:
"Give me half."
"Half of what?"
"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."
"Herr Pastor, you're joking. It is too soon for me to joke with you."
"If you change your mind, you know where to find me," said the pastor.
As he turned away, Landolin looked after him scornfully.
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:
"Nothing in the world quenches my thirst so, and makes me feel so well
and fresh as water from our own well."
"Come in, it is bed-time."
CHAPTER XLI.
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:
"Is there nothing new? Hasn't anything happened all this long time?"
"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."
Thus his wife went on.
"Who came to see you oftenest while I was away?"
"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."
"Didn't the miller ever come to see you?"
"No; not once."
"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."
"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."
"Aha!" thought Landolin, "she's trying to be smart. Everybody thinks
they're smarter than I am."
As Landolin was silent, his wife continued: "Now, you go to sleep. I'm
sleepy."
The quiet did not last long, for Landolin tossed back and forth on his
bed, and sighed and groaned.
"What is the matter? Aren't you tired?"
"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."
The strong man wept bitter tears in the depth of the night, and called
out, almost with a curse:
"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!"
His wife lighted a candle, and tried to comfort the self-tormented man.
He said, at length:
"One thing more. Cushion-Kate called after me, that I must make away
with myself--I won't do that, for your sake."
His wife stroked his hand, wet with freshly-fallen tears.
"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."
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.
CHAPTER XLII.
Thoma was still in the harvest field when Landolin came into the
living-room. His wife sat down beside him, and he said:
"You can't think how different food tastes when one has to eat it
alone, in prison."
"Don't let your thoughts run back to that all the time."
"Has any one been here to see me?"
"No. But remember what you said last night."
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.
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.
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.
"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.
The cracking of a whip was heard in the yard.
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.
"Good morning, Thoma."
"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.
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.
"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."
Landolin only nodded. So Peter had not yet dismissed the head-servant;
perhaps he will not do it.
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?"
"Because I've hired out to the Gerlach farmer, and the other two maids
are going too."
"Why?"
"Peter has dismissed us; but we would have gone anyway."
Landolin went into the yard again, and while he unfastened the dog's
chain and patted him, he said,
"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."
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.
Finally, when evening drew near, he went out of doors.
CHAPTER XLIII.
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.
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.
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?
He called the dog nearer to him; but it was not "Cushion-Kate;" it was
a stranger.
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 reache
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