Tautphoeus_At_Odds.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
returning at night,
although the days were, unfortunately, very short just
then.
'^Yery short indeed,'^ said ; ''and therefore
think the sooner we set out now the better.'^
o 4tt7
road to passes throagh the best land
about : on each side of it there are fields of
wheat and com, belonging to the rich peasants who
reside on the mountain ; and, after wandering for some
weeks throagh endless vineyards, the change to less ro-
mantic scenery is more welcome than people generally
are willing to acknowledge.
old fortress of is situated on an ele*
vated rocky projection commanding the country be*
neath; but, having reached the summit, one is surprised
to find it part of a highly^ultivated plain of consider-
able extent, beyond which the mountain rises again a
i^gg^ mass of wood and rocks, and among these there
is a waterfall that is not only an object of interest to
tourists, but the termination of every ex*
cursion undertaken by the inhabitants of .
the old castle itself its square tower and
marble-pillared veranda, its wainscoted rooms and won*
derfal stove, we have no concern; for at the entrance
to the dilapidated court saw the miller's hcwse,
and soon ascertained that had gone to ihe
waterfall and intended to rest there for an hour of
two. mother urged her to follow him, proposing
herself to visit the family at the castle, with whom she
was slightly acquainted; and, after some hesitation,
consented, declaringi however, that she could not,
468 oim%.
and would not, mnke any attempt to induce to
speak to her.
knew the way well, and did not panse until she
reached the end of the fields and commenced a descent
to the ravine, into which the water fell in cascades of
various heights. she began to feel the difficulties
of her situation in full force, and to doubt her power
of keeping her promise to her sister as she ought.
sat down on the trunk of a felled tree, hoping by a
short d^ay to fortify herself for a meeting that cer-
tainly had the most satisfactory appearance of chance
and could raise no suspicion in his mind; but just as
she clasped .her hands round her knees, and began to
conjecture what he was likely to do or think when he
saw her, she discovered that he was actually at no
great distance from her, standing on the edge of a small
plateau of grass, whence a view of the waterfall could
be obtained without much exertion.
secure from her observation he must have
thought himself, as he leaned on his mountain-staff,
his hat on the ground, and the black bandage no longer
concealing his forehead also perceived at a
glance that his hair had been cut and the greater part
of his wild beard removed: so that he now looked so
like himself that an attempt to ignore him would be
perfectly absurd. was a dilemma for which she
was quite unprepared, and she started from her seat
with such impetuosity that some chips and stones
loosely attached to the bark of the tree rolled down-
wards, and instantly attracted 's attention.
he looked up, she stood for a moment still as a
statue; then, as the thought flashed through her mind
that flight would betray consciousness, she sprang for-
ward, and, choosing a more precipitous path than the
one near which he stood, never once stopped until she
neysb! 469
reached the bottom of the ravine, and found herself
close to the small pool formed by the waterfall before
it fonnd an oatlet through the rocks and became a
rivulet.
and iagitated, she leaned against the near-
est tree, and began to repent the course she had
taken. " was the use of my coming here?" she
thought, looking around her; '' cannot remain beside
this noisy waterfall for two hours, and must therefore
make up my mind to pass him again ^Perhaps, how-
ever, he will have tied on the black handkerchief, or
put on his hat, or he may turn away, or or have gone
away ^but no, hope not, as believe could pass
him now with tolerable composure."
, while so thinking, began a deliberate
ascent, pausing occasionally as if to admire the view,
but in fact to reconnoiter the ground around her and,
if possible, see without being seen by him.
forgot the advantage of his position above her, and was
for some time unconscious that she was watched; but
even when aware of it she continued her ascent, not
even venturing on the slightest deviation from the beaten
path that she knew would bring her quite close to him.
, however, was the relief afforded by a pro-
truding rock, behind which she could hide herself for
a short time; but no sooner did she feel the certainty
of being unobserved than her courage foiled, and,
utterly disheartened, she pressed her burning forehead
against the cold stone, raised her clasped hands above
her head, and wept with the noiseless agony of forcibly
restrained grief; her whole frame shook with sobs
scarcely louder than sighs, and her sorrow was so ab-
sorbing that she was quite unconscious of the sound
of approaching footsteps, though they were accom-
panied by the load striking of a staff on the ground.
40
470 .
name even was pronounced twice by before
she tamed round and saw him standing almost beside her.
as death, and scarcely less agitated than her-
self, he faltered, ^* has written to me, , and
now know that farther concealment would be folly."
^' would be cruel, ," she answered, smiling
through her tears, when, forgetfol of all his resolutions,
he embraced her passionately. " would be cruel; and
indeed did not deserve that you should doubt my
affection so ungenerously
doubts he may still have entertained were,
it may be conjectured, removed in a very satis&ctory
manner: it is rather to be feared th^t 's impul-
sive nature induced her to make a fuller confession of
her love, and greater profession of penitence, than was
necessary. actually was said no one ever ascer-
tained; but never afterwards seemed in the
least to distrust any demonstration of affection on
her part, or for a moment to attribute it to com-
passion; and perhaps the greatest, and at the same
time first, effort on his part to prove this was,
when the short afternoon began to draw to a close,
he accepted her arm and leaned upon it while ascending
the steep path that took them out of the ravine.
ride back to and the miller's house was
very pleasant, ^the evening spent together in perfectly
unreserved conversation, singularly cheerful.
lingered on from hour to hour, until atJength his aunt,
after having repeatedly fallen asleep, stood up and
quietly wished him good-night.
" understand the hint," he said, laughing ; ' but it is
very hard to be dismissed in this way when know
shall not see you all day to-morrow."
not ?" asked .
^ must go to the of to
neyebI 471
speak to &r: be is surrounded by people
trying to induce bim to bead anotber insurrection^ and
bope to induce bim to lay down bis arms and secure
bis and tbeir personal safety wbile it is yet time.
see, tbis is an affair tbat will admit of no procrastination,
and intend to be on tbe road to tbe ' ' at eigbt
o'clock to-morrow morning. /' be added, witb
difficulty suppressing a smile, ^'you once said you would
visit , tbat you wished to see tbe little inn on
tbe ''
'* sbould like better/' sbe answered, quickly;
* and, if you will take me witb you to-morrow, promise
to be ready at any bour you please/'
" bad better set off early," interposed ber motber,
"or else you will not be able to return before it is
dark."
" , we sball bave plenty of time," cried , gayly.
" will be altogetber a deligbtful excursion; and don't
so mucb mind going to tbe mill, now tbat know may
return to you so soon again. , wisb it
were morning."
* * * * ^
few bours later, tbey were onCe more assembled,
and, after a basty breakfast, descended to tbe road.
' 6oodrbye, dear motber," said , springing on ber
horse; '^we sball come back early,. tbat you may not
bave time to be uneasy about us; and wbile you are
alpne to-day you can write a long, long letter to ,
and tell ber ''
" ber/' interposed , " tbat ber last expedient
for tbe promotion of our happiness has been completely
successful, and tbat, instead of reproaching, shall thank
her for it when we meet."
horses moved slowly on. looked back,
smiling brightly, and her mother he^d ber exclaim.
47S .
' a ohanning ride we shall have never felt so
happy in all my life/'
'0r either/' answered ; and, though imme-
diately afterwards they were oat of sight, the sound of
their mirthful voices as they slowly descended the hill
on the paved road through the vineyards was still heard
by the profoundly inqaisitive and much amazed inhabit-
ants of the mill.
evening approached^ a peasant from the of
was seen walking up to the miller's house; he
was the bearer of a note from containing the fol-
lowing lines :
** : ^Frank says that returning to
to-night would fatigue him dreadfully: so, of course, we
must not think of attempting it; but you need not be
uneasy, as the ride here appears not to have been in the
least too long for him. am sorry to say that all his
efforts to persuade to accept the offered amnesty,
and to refuse to command the projected continuation of
the insurrection, have been fruitless. first answered
evasively, until the 's name was used and
urged more strongly, when he at length exclaimed,
would comply with your request if it were in my
power; but if moved one step from my house with
such intentions my own people would shoot me on the
spot!'"*
next day brought another letter from ffilda, con-
taining a communication for which her mother seemed
wonderfully well prepared. smiled' as she read:
'^ have eloped, dear mother, and when this reaches
. ' '
* 'a own words.
nsyerI 473
yoa we shall be riding oyer the on oar waj to
. . we shall remain a few days, in the
hope that 70a will send us some clothes, so that we may
be able to go on to and . wish yoa
could have heard dear old yesterday evening
admonishing us to love one another and live in peace.
knows so well his great predilection for the
adjustment of conjugal quarrels, that he listened with
the most exemplary patience, and delighted by
observing that inasmuch as at had been
indirectly the cause of our separation, so had
at promoted our reconciliation.
ended with the assurance that we were now the happiest
and most attached couple in the world; and you shall
have proof that this assertion is true, dear mother, when
we return to you a few weeks hence with and
; for 's perfectly satis&ctory explanations
on every subject have made it impossible for us ever
again to be at odds."