Marlitt_Old_Mamselles_Secret.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
the exchange which
she made. have grown up in the belief that stand
alone in the world, nothing has occurred to change this
belief. have no grandparents."
" sounds harsh and stern," he said with some
embarrassment "," he continued, shrugging his
shoulders, "as matters stand, am compelled to desist
from all attempts to alter your conviction. will, how-
ever, do everything in my power for you. have no
doubt that can succeed inducing my father to allow
you a considerable yearly stipend."
" are very kind," she hastily interrupted him. "
have just told you that have no grandparents, ^you can
scarcely expect me to accept charity from strangers."
blushed once more, but this time it was the blosb
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f shame, wbich perhaps saffused those aristocratic feat*
ores for the first time in his life. much em-
barrassed, he look up his hat one requested him to
remain. a f3w almost whispered words addressed to
young , be touched upon several matters of busi-
ness, and then, as if actuated by a sudden impulse, h
oflfered his hand to , but she courtesied to him
formally and profoundly, letting her hands drop slowly
by her sides.
was a harsh retaliation for the juggler's daughter to
make upon a von ; but it must be
forgiven to her blood. recoiled in con-
fusion, bowed with another shrug to the rest, and, stripped
for the moment of all aristocratic dignity, left the room,
accompanied by the young lawyer.
- the door closed behind him, suddenly
buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.
"" cried the , and held out his arms.
looked up, and sought her refuge there. her
arms around his neck, she leaned her head upon his
breast. wild young bird was caged forever ^it
made not the smallest attempt to escape. , what rest
there was in those strong arms after its weary, lonely
flight through storms and winds which had so tossed &n^
beaten it
this moment the and his wife ezchange4
a significant glance, and noiselessly left the room.
", toill,^^ she whispered, looking up at him with
the tears trembling upon her eyelashes.
'' last," he said, clasping more closely her slender
form. words made her his own. a mingling
of passion and tenderness glowed in the gray eyes that
sought the smiling face upon his breast
" have waited wd longed for those three words from
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808 01 ' .
boar to hoar," he continaed. " , they come of
their own accord mast else hav^e besonght for them
again this evening, and doabt if they woald have sonnded
as delicioaslj in mj ears as now. , , mast snch
hard trials befal me before yoa could consent to make mo
happy "
"," she promptly replied, extricating herself from
ikis clasping arms; "it was not the thought of year trials
and suffering that conquered me, ^but it was when you
80 decidedly and consistently refused to give me back
the book, that entire confidence in you first possessed
me "
" a few moments afterwards, when the secret was
disclosed to me," he interrupted, once more drawing her
towards him, " was convinced that in spite of all your
pride, there was the deep, undying love of woman in your
heart for me. would have sacrificed yourself sooner
than have had me suffer. ! we have both been taught
in a hard school ! and do not shut your eyes. , to the
task you have undertaken. have lost my mother my
faith in mankind has received a cruel blow, and must
tell you this too possess at this moment almost no-
thing except my profession!"
", what happiness to be with youl" she said, laying
her hand lightly upon his lips. " cannot hope to re-
place for you all that you have lost, ^but whatever a
devoted wife may do to brighten a man's life, that shall
be unreservedly yours."
" when will these proud lips ever condescend to
make a request of me?" he asked, smiling down upon her.
blush overspread cheeks and brow.
", , do not stay too long away from me " she
whispered beseechingly.
" did you really think that could go with oat
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jroa!" he said with a gentle laagh. '' the mtelligecce
did not seem to fit in so well just at this moment, yoa
would have waited until this evening to learn that to-
morrow morning at eight o'clock you will leave
for , accompanied by . dear old
friend has joined the plot against you, my child, up-
stairs in her guest chamber the trunks have been ready
packed since yesterday, was not my valuable advice
asked and gravely given concerning the travelling hat
which should rest upon that lovely head? month
you will end as my betrothed with von ,
and then then a charming wife will share the study of
the grave , who is, you recollect, to bring home
angry looks and a frowning brow every day."
von substantiated his father's an(!
his own claims, as the only existing heirs of the -
sprung race, to the old 'selle's property, which wan
all handed over to him.
lie declared all the claims upon the
of wig finally settled, when the
had added from his own inheritance thirty thousand
thalers to 's thirty thousand, thus com-
pleting the stolen sum of sixty thousand thalers.
exacted a thousand thalers from as in-
demnification for the burned operetta of 's, and she
paid the money with grim reluctance only because she
was assured that, in case of a lawsuit, her pecuniary
sacrifice would be much more considerable.
" should deny it?" said the young lawyer, with
a blush and much agitation, to his friend the ,
as they stood together in tlie recess of a window on the
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810 '' .
morning of the departure of the latter, waiting for hii
travelling companions. " grudge you . knew
her for one of the rarest of 's creatures when first
saw her, and it will be a long time before can forgot.
have one consolation, she has made another mim
of you, , added a convert to the good cause of the
inalienable rights of humanity. could be no more
thorough illustration of my healthy views concerninje^
our social wrongs than the circumstance that, forgive
the bitter truth, ^the proud were heavy debtors
to the relatives of the despised player's child. of
stand apart looking arrogantly down upon others,
and the blind world never dreams of how rotten at the
core are its arbitrary institutions, and that it needs the
fresh breeze of freedom to sweep away everything that
can foster arrogance, heartlessness, and crime."
" are right, and accept all that you say," said
the gravely, "for, indeed, have greatly erred
but the road along which retraced my wandering steps
was hard and very stony and so do not grudge me my
dearly-won prize."
introduced his young wife to the 'exclu-
sive circle' of , as his cousin called it and in spite
of the last-named lady's malicious whispers, the beautiful
creature was received everywhere with admiration and
love. picture which had so ravished his fancy be-
came a reality. soothes away every frown from
his brow, and when in the evening, after a day of harass*
ing professional care, he entreats, " me a song, !"
the same delicious contralto fills the room, which once
drove him from his home to the forest, because
it so irresistibly attracted him to its wondrous possessor.
of the furniture in the house at reminds
of the rooms under the roof. piano and the basta^
''8 , 811
with the luxuriant ivy, now adorn ' own room
the secret repository of the old cabinet, the young mis
tress of the house still keeps her old-fashioned silver,
but the gray box, with its contents, the burned
on the day when the claims of the wero
finally settled. the account-book is destroyed, the
wrong made right, and 's spirit can pursue
in peace its flight, which was begun while it was still ia
the body, ti higher spheres.
\i ves in with the young couple. lie is
held in high honour, and leads a most contented life.
whenever he passes on the street the velvet-clad
's widow, who now dresses in silks and satins
after the latest fashion, without a thought wasted upon
white muslin, while she turns away her head, as if she
had never seen his honest face before, he mutters to him-
self with a grin, " forget-me-nots were never of
the smallest use, most gracious ladyl"
beautiful woman can no longer adorn her white,
faultlessly-shaped arm with the costly bracelet
father 'conscientiously' delivered it up to the -
sprung heirs, with the declaration that it had come into
his possession by 'mistake or chance.' lives at dag-
gers drawn with hi 3 daughter, because she has had the
'inconceivable stupidity' to betray his share in the rob-
bery of the gold. has been forced to
give up the part which she could once play so well of
childlike innocence and naivete, but indemniGes herself
by unceasing activity in all pious projects for the conver
sion of heathen souls, while her little , left to the
care of strangers is doomed to an early grave. he,
the strict orthodox relative on the ? is not to be
supposed that any nemesis will overtake liim in this
world. will in pious resignation consider everything
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812
that may happen to him, only a proof of his sanctitj.
will leave him to public opinion, the worst punish-
ment that can befal a hypocrite is to have his mask torn
off in public.
still sits behind her asclcpias plane.
has at last crossed her consecrated threshold^
he has lost two children. son she cast off,
and one day she received news that had been
killed in a duel. left behind him many debts and a
reputation. iron expression of the rigid feat-
ures is somewhat relaxed, and many maintain that the
head, which was once carried so high in its assumption
of infallibility, sometimes sinks wearily upon the breast.
, a short time ago, wrote to announce to
her the arrival of his first-born. that time, among
the coarse, gray, and white balls in her knitting-basket, a
small pink piece of knitting has lain concealed, upon
which works often in secret. declares
that it is no missionary stocking, but a pretty little sock
for a child. the delicate rose-coloured articles
will ever enclose the sturdy legs of the youngest mem-
ber of the family, we do not know, ^but for the
honour of human nature be it said : is no soul so
hard, that it docs not contain some chord that will vibrate
to affection, some tender spot, although it is often un-
conscious of the treasure if nothing happens to reveal it.
perhaps the love of her grandchildren may prove
this unforeboded, tender spot, from which a mild warmth
may stream to dissolve 's icy nature.
hope so, dear reader!