Marlitt_Gold_Elsie.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
All day long had it been snowing, albeit quietly and
gradually so that the spotlessly white covering laid upon
the roofs and window-sills was thick and smooth. Now an
early evening set in, and with it a fierce hurricane that
played wildly with the down-coming snowflakes like a vul-
ture among a flock of peaceful doves.
Although the weather was of such sort that no well-to-do
resident of a small town would have willingly let his dog
remain outside of shelter, much less his own precious limbs,
in the great capital city, B , between the hours of six
and seven in the evenmg no striking difference was per-
ceptible in the frequentmg of the streets. Gas-jets took
the place of those heavenly lights that would not shine;
equipages dashed around the corners at such furious speed
that the pedestrians could only save life and limb by a bold
leap toward the houses, and thereupon a volley of energetic
oaths was hurled at the bef urred coachman and elegant
coach, behind whose closely shut windows charming iSiies
with difficulty raised their prettily draped heads above the
immense waves of their voluminous gauze robes, in blissful
ignorance that at this instant fire and brimstone was being
voted to fall upon their perfumed locks.
Well dressed wax heads in the midst of hideous black and
blonde wigs, watchmakers silently absorbed in their work,
the faces of clerks smiling from behind heaps of goods and
tempting mantillas, and bent old women making up
wreaths and bouquets amid sweet-blooming fresh flowers,
moving about in enviable security and a well-warmed at-
mosphere behind the show-windows that cast a dazzling
light upon the slippery sidewalk and stream of people flow-
ing past^ whereby became visible the red nose-tips^ tearful
eyes^ and desperate movements of head and arm made by
ail the passers-by, younff and old indifferently.
But stop! not by alll Just then emerged from a side
street into one of the main avenues a womanly form with
light, elastic step. Her small cloak, which she had evi-
dently outgrown, fitted close to her slender limbs, and the
dilapidated old muff was pressed tightly against her breast
where it held down the ends of a veil. Beneath its dark
folds laughed two girlish eyes in the splendor of fresh youth,
that look merrily out into the snow-storm, fasten delight-
edly upon the half-open rosebuds and rich dark violets be-
hind the glass panes, and only seek shelter beneath their
dark eyelashes when sleet mingled slyly with the snow-
flakes.
Any one who has ever heard how child hands or niaybe
hands belonging to some full-grown body start to play some
familiar air on the piano, but almost directly by some dis-
cord harrows the musical senses with false fingering, strik-
ing every possible note but the right one, while the despair-
ing teacher drops the foot already raised for beating time,
until at last the melody is once more distinguishable only
to be lost in discords again by another unhappy stroke.
Any one whose nerves have been subjected to torture of this
sort will understand how it was that this young girl, who
had just finished two hours of lesson-giving in a young
ladies* institute, joyfully presented her glowing cheek to
the fury of the blast as to a true associate in system and
correct execution, whose mighty roaring is subdued into
wondrous melody in organ and jEolian harp.
Rapidly and lightly then the young girl skimmed along
through falling snow and crowding people; and I do not
for a moment doubt but that jf I were to introduce her to
the reader as Miss Elizabeth Ferber, she would make her
bow as gracefully and with as sweet a smile upon the swim-
ming flag-stones of the sidewalk, storm-beaten though she
be, as if we met her on the smooth floor of a parlor.
That it is impossible for this introduction to take place is
peculiarly convenient to me, inasmuch as I intend to make
the reader acquainted with the young lady's past.
Mr. Wolf Greswit was the last scion of a glorious stock
that could trace its origin back to the dim twilight prevail-
ing before that golden aisce when the passing merchant dis-
Msed of his costly silks and stuffs to be converted into noble
banners, the glittering paraphernalia of the tournament or,
whether he would or not, for the enlivenment of knightly
banquets. From those never to be forgotten times also
dat^ a wheel in the Ores wit scutcheon, upon which one of
its ancestors had to breathe out his heroic spirit because,
in the exercise of that knightly system of appropriation, he
had shed too much traders' blood.
Mr. Greswit, the last of his race, was chamberlain in tlie
princely service of X , beside being the holder of high
orders and various manors, as also possessor of all the
qualifications which, according to his own views, became a
man of high birth, because the common man is deprived of
any approach to the inimitable grace and elegance of vice
by the rough, coarse diet of morality, and the severe re-
strictions put upon him by circumstance and custom.
Mr. Greswit loved show too, as had done his grandfather,
who forsook old Castle Nordeck in the Thuringian Mount-
ains, the cr&dle of his race, in order to erect a fairy-like
abode down in the valley after the Italian taste. His
grandson allowed the old house on the mountain-top to fall
mto yet greater decay, while he enlarged and beautified
considerably the new residence. Yes, it seemed as if Mr.
Greswit entertained not the smallest doubt but that some
day the last of his race would appear before the Judgment
Seat as the one representative oi the human family; for in
order to fill all the newly added apartments the old trunk
must of course put forth numberless branches. But this
was "to reckon without one's host.'' True, Mr. Greswit
had a son, who at twenty years of age was so very a Gres-
wit that even the glittering image of that ancestor with the
wheel paled before him. But one day the young gentle-
man, upon occasion of the first grand hunt of the season,
had given a terrible blow on the head with his riding-whip
to onaof the beaters-up for game, and with perfectly good
reason too, as all those invited to take part in the chase
declared, inasmuch as the clown had trodden on the paw of
the gentleman's favorite hound and hurt him so badly that
the creature was unfit for service the whole day long. And
so it came to pass that a short while afterward John Gres-
wit was found, not only on the genealogical tree in the
great hall of the new castle, but really and truly upon an
oak-tree of the forest; and more than that, with a rope
around his neck. The beaten huntsman, it is t/ue, atoned
for his crime, if not upon the wheel, yet under the execu-
tioner's ax; but this could not bring to life the last of the
Greswits, for he was dead ^irrevocably dead as the doc-
tors said; and so had come to a full stop a long unbroken
series of rapine, carousals, hunting, and horse-racing.
After this frightful catastrophe Mr. Greswit had forth-
with forsaken his lowland palace, and indeed that entire
district, and moved to Silesia, where he lived upon one of
his many estates. He received into his establishment as
housekeeper a distant cousin ^the last of a collateral line
of relations. But this cousin proved to be an extremely
lovely young girl, at sight of whom the old gentleman
clean forgot the proper end of her coming, and jumped to
the conclusion that his sixty years placed no impediment
whatever in the way of his speedy marriage. To his un-
speakable indignation, however, he was made aware that
the time had come when even a Greswit could be a rejected
suitor; and raving mad he became when this girl confessed
to him that, basely unmindful of her lofty origin, she had
given her heart to one of the people a young officer the
son of one of his foresters.
The young man had nothing but his sword and his fine
manly figure, but could boast of a thorough scientific train-
ing, was pleasant in conversation, and of unblemished char-
acter. When Mr. Greswit put the pretty Marie out of
doors in consequence of her speaking her mind, young Fer-
ber happily took her home as his wife, and in the first ten
years oi his married life would not have changed places
with any king in the world. In the eleventh, to be sure,
he would have been still less likely to wish to make such an
exchange for it was the year 1848; but it brought stern
conflicts for him as well, and a complete revolution in his
affairs. There came to him the trying crisis of having to
decide between two duties. The one which his father had
instilled into him from his cradle was: You shall love your
neighbot as yourself, but your German brothers abov^
everything. The other, which he had imposed upon him-
self, although much later, commanded him to draw hi?
sword in the interests of his ruler. In this conflict thai
cradle-song obtained the victory, which had become inter-
woven with the very fibers of his being.
Ferber did not fire upon his brothers; but this victory
cost Um his profession^ his only assured means for a liveli-
hood. He received his dismissal , and soon afterward fell
sick of a deep cold which confined him to his. bed for well
nigh a year. When he got upon his feet again he moved
with his family to B y where he soon secured lucrative
employment as book-keeper in a large book-store. It was
high time^ for his wife's little fortune had been lost by the
fa&ure of a bank^ and want in its worst shape had only
been held aloof from his distressed family by repeated re-
mittances of money made by Ferber's elder and only
brother, a Thuringian forester.
Alas! this good fortune was not to be of long duration.
Ferber*s employer belonged to a set of fanatics who could
not be satisfied unless everybody about them was of their
own way of thinking. Ferber among the rest was exhorted
to conform, but he refused with quiet earnestness, and pre-
sented his own convictions with such a force of skillful
argument that the merchant was mortally offended. He
could find no relief for his injured feelings until bo pre-
sumptuous a clerk was dismissed from his service. He
could not nourish such a viper in his bosom.
About the same time Mr. Wolf Greswit went home to
his ancestors; and since, during his whole earthly career,
he had stuck to the principle of his family that no injury
must ever go unavenged, he could find no worthier ending
for this life than the testament which he wrote down with
his own hand ere he descended into the narrow vault where
posterity was to guard his precious remains. This final act
of manly consistency, which nominated as sole heir a re-
mote relative of his deceased wife, concluded with the fol-
lowing bequest:
" In consideration of her indubitable claim to inherit
from me, I bequeath to Anna Maria Ferber, nie Greswit,
the Castle Nordeck in Thuringia. Anna Maria Ferber will
not deny that I remember in kindness, inasmuch as I ap-
portion to her a shelter that will be fraught, for her, with
mnumerable memories of the noble race to which she once
belonged. Well knowing that good fortune and blessings
have ever been inseparable from these ancient halls, and
giving due weight to this undeniable fact, I deem it per-
fectly superfluous to add anything more whatever to mjr
gift. . . . However, should Anna Maria Ferber fail
to appreciate my bequest and want to sell or alienate, m any
manner whatever, her claim to the property forthwith ex-
pires, and the orphan asylum at L steps into her
placjB. ^^
Immediately after delivering himself of so bitter a satire,
Mr. Wolf Greswit had been laid out in state upon a bier
richly draped in black velvet, whence he was borne to the
family vault.
In very sooth, Ferber and his wife had never laid eyes on
the old castle; but it was notorious as a tumble-down pile
of ruins, which had not had a finger laid upon it in the way
of improvement for at least fifty years, and which, when
the new castle in the valley had been built, had been
stripped of all its furniture, tapestry, yes, even of the cop-
per roofing upon the main building. Ever since the heavy
bolts and bars upon the main door of entrance had re-
mained undrawn, and were now rusty and choked with
dust. The huge forest trees that closely encircled the gray
old edifice, undisturbed, locked in their arms the luxuriant
undergrowth at their feet, and soon the deserted castle lay
like a swathed mummy behind that green impenetrable
wall.
The fortunate heir who disliked alien property to nestle
in the very midst of his woods would have bought back
the old ruins at a good price, but that far-seeing clause at
the end of the will effectually precluded any such arrange-
ment.
Mrs. Ferber, after shedding a few tears over it, silently
laid the copy of the will upon her husband^s desk, and then
picked up her embroidery again and set to work with re-
newed, well nigh feverish ardor.
In spite of every effort Ferber had been unable to find
another position, and now found himself obliged to eke out
a scanty subsistence by ill-paid translations and, when that
failed, copying ^his wife helping him by the sale of fancy-
work, to the utmost of her ability.
However dark now were the skies of Ferber's life, one
star gradually showed itself above the lowering clouds and
seemed to atone, by its sweetness, for all the slights recently
cast upon him by fickle fortune. A foretaste of that mild
radiance which was one day to cast a luster upon an over-
flhadowed life came to Ferber the very first time that he
dtood beside the cradle of his little daughter and gazed into
GOLD ELSIE, IS
tte glorious eyes which smiled up at him from that infant
face.
All Mrs. Ferber's female acquaintance! were unanimously
of the opinion that the little new-comer was a charming
creature, a rarely gifted being, for indeed she had not
looked at all, from the very beginning, like a common
baby that comes into the world yelling like mad and as
red as a beet. So
Here they always brolce off; and it is to be supposed that
only the skeptical nineteenth century and the sarcastic curl
of their husbands' lips hindered the revelation that some
beneficent fairy had been showering her gifts upon this
favored infant.
In a body they held this little world's wonder over the
baptismal font, vied in emulation as to who should show
most tenderness for their god-chiLd, and declared that this
was a day which they never should forget
Undoubtedly they had set too high and over-hasty an
estimate upon their powers of recollection; for when mis-
fortune overtook the Ferber family, selfishness, with her
hard finger erased the memorial, and lo! not a trace re-
mained to show that it had ever been.
This familiar experience, which little Elizabeth had to
make in her ninth year, for that matter disturbed her very
little. The supposed fairy, in addition to the other rich
gifts which she had laid in her cradle, had endowed her
with a perennial joyousness and a great degree of will-
power. She therefore accepted henceforth from her
mother's hand a frugal meal just as gratefully and pleas-
antly as she had formerly accepted the showers of dainties
pressed upon her by those loving god-mothers of hers; and
when on Christmas-eve a poverty-stricken little tree had
nothing to offer her but a few apples and gilded nuts it did
not seem to occur to her that in past years its boughs had
been laden with hosts of rich and elegant presents.
Ferber educated his daughter himself. Never had she
attended a school or college; alack, alas! that in many
cases nowadays might be called an advantage, when one
considers that many young girls leave school by far more
knowing than is agreeable to their anxious mothers, who at
home watch strictly over the purity of the young soul and
suspect not that through the contamination of evil com-
14 GOLD ELSIE.
paDlonship at school they are imbibing impressions the
taint of which will empoison their whole career hereafter.
Elizabeth^s ductile mind unfolded gloriously under the
guidance of such richly endowed parents. She pursued the
studies imposed upon her with deep earnestness and eager
resolve to learn thoroughly whatever she undertook, so
that it might remain an inalienable possession of her soul;
this was to her a matter of conscience, and pertained to the
domain of duty. But to music she devoted herself with a
fervor displayed by the human soul only in relation to what
it recognizes as its special mission in the world. Soon she
had far outstripped her mother, who had been her in-
structress; and as, when a little child she had been accus-
tomed to climb upon her father's knees and, seeing a cloud
upon his brow, dispelled it by the recital of some bright
story of her own invention, so, later, she whiled away the
grieis that often heavily beset Ferber's spirit, by wonderful
melodies that originated in her soul like pure pearls, and
flowed forth unbidden to cheer and bless as they fell fresh
upon the ear.
But this was not the only blessing that accrued from the
maiden's rare genius. The superb piano-playing in the
f arret had attracted the attention of some of their nei^h-
ors. Elizabeth obtained by and by in this way a few
pupils, and afterward the place of music-teacher in a sem-
inary, whereby she was enabled to lessen considerably her
parents' anxiety as to a means of subsistence.
Here we shall take up again the thread of the narrative,
and not account it a trouMe to follow the young girl who
was hurrying home to her parents on that stormy winter
evening.
CHAPTER n.
GOOD NEWS.
While Elizabeth threaded her endless way through
streets crooked and narrow, dark and light, she was
already enjoying by anticipation the delight she always ex-
perienced whenever she crossed the threshold of that cozy
little room. There sat her father at his desk, in the mild
luster of a little shaded lamp, lifting up his pale face and
BmHing when he heard Elizabeth's step. The pen which
QOLD ELSIE. 15
had been flying over the paper all the afternoon was passed
into his left hand^ that with the right he might draw down
to him his returning daughter and imprint a kiss upon her
brow. Her mother, who usually sat with her work-basket
at her feet as close as possible to him, in order to share the
feeble lamp-light, greeted her with a fond smile, pointing
to Elizabeth's slippers that she had considerately Drought
into the warm room. On the hot stove-plate hissed a few
apples, and over yonder in the dark snug corner by the
stove hummed the little tea-kettle on the sofa-table, whose
pale, blue flame had to light up moreover a whole com-
pany of tin soldiers that were marching there under the
orders of Ernest, Elizabeth's only little brother.
Up four flights of stairs had Elizabeth to climb ere she
gained the dim little hall giving access to her parents'
dwelling. Here she quickly pulled off her hat, drew from
underneath her cloak a new boy's cap and pressed it upon
her fair hair. Thus adorned she entered the room, and
was greeted by a shout of delight from little Ernest.
But this evening the dark corner by the stove was
brightly lit up, and the desk was left in the shadow, for
her father and mother sat side by side on the sofa, and
there was a peculiar brightness on the face of each,
although her mother's countenance showed traces of tears,
which however Elizabeth saw at a glance must have been
tears of joy. In astonishment she paused at the door; and
there must have been something comical in her appearance,
with^the cap stuck awry upon her head, for both her par-
ents' laughed aloud. Elizabeth merrily echoed their
laughter, and set the fur cap upon the curly locks of her
little brother.
" There, darling heart," said she, taking his blooming
face tenderly between her two hands, and giving him a kiss,
" this belongs to you. And I have got something to help
mamma with her housekeeping, too," continued she, joy-
ously, laving four bright silver dollars in her mother's
hand. To-day I have received my first five dollar fee at
the seminary."
" But, Elizabeth," said her mother, with moist eyes as
she drew her daughter down to caress her, ** Ernest's last
winter cap still looks quite respectable; and you had much
greater need yourself of a pair of warm gloves."
*^ r, mother? Why, only feel my hands. I have just
li GOLD ELSIE.
come in out of the street; and they are as warm as if I had
been holding them by the fire. !No, that woald have been
sheer luxury. Our boy has grown larger and stronger, not
so his cap, therefore tlus was the most important thing just
AOW. ''
" Oh, you dear good Elizabeth !^^ cried the little fellow,
enraptured, " why, the baron ^s son on the first floor has
not such a pretty cap as this. It will just suit for me to
go hunting m, will it not, papa?'*
"Hunting?^* laughed Elizabeth; ** you mean to shoot
the poor littte sparrows in the Thiergarten, I suppose?'*
" xou guess wrong, Elsie!** shouted the little boy.
**Yes, rd do finely in the Thiergarten,** added he,
seriously ** no, in the woods, the real woods, where there
are such crowds of stags and hares that you can shoot them
down without stopping to take aim. **
** Well, I*m very curious to learn what your uncle will
think of these fine prospects for hunting,** said his father,
smiling, at the same time taking a letter out of his pocket
and handing it to the young girl. '* Bead this letter, my
child,** said he, "it is from your forester uncle, as you
have always called him, from Thuringia, you know.*'
Elizabeth glanced over the first lines, but then read aloud:
" The prince, who seems to like better the taste of a dish
of sauerkraut and slice of bacon than all the elegant tidbits
prepared by the palace French cook, spent several hours
with me yesterday at the lodge.
" He was very gracious, and told me that he wanted me
to have a clerk, for he saw that I had too much upon my
shoulders. Hereupon I took opportunity by the forelock,
and seeing that tne game was fairly within range I fired
away, for if I missed nothing was lost but a trifle of pow-
der and shot.
'* I told him, then, that fate had been hard upon you
these last few years, and brought you to the door of starva-
tion despite your talents and acquirements. The old gen-
tleman knew very well what I was driving at, for I talk^
good German, as I have always done, and so far nobody
has failed to understand what I say. Let it be left for
fawning courtiers, I say, to creep and cringe around their
lord, and make believe that good honest German is too
coarse for princely ears, and timt nothing but French is fit
OLD ELSIE. 17
to be spoken in their presence. Out upon such nonsense 1
Well, the old gentleman declared that ne was disposed to
appoint you forester^s clerk, because he felt so kindly to
me; well, he put in a few things here which are not worth
your hearing, but yet overjoyed me as much as that time
when our school-master said to me, after the examination:
' Your papers were admirable, Charles!'
" The long and short of it is tbat his most serene high-
ness commissioned me to write and offer you the clerkship
with a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars and fuel
free. He will have the necessary orders sent you besides.
Consider the offer, for it is not such a bad one, and to my
mind the ^een forest is a thousand times better than that
wretched little garret room of yours, where the neighbors'
cats mew and your eyes are put out by the smoke from mill-
ions of open-mouthed chimneys.
" But indeed you must not think me one of those sneak-
ing creatures who profit by their master's favor, to obtain
office for their relations. Let me tell you if you were not
good and learned as I know you to be, I would have bit my
tongue out before I should have imposed upon my master
with you. On the other hand, if you had been the greatest
stranger in the world and possessed of the same qualifica-
tions, I would have recommended him just as freely as
yourself. All fair and square; but you know that I never
have been a friend to muddy ideas.
"But here comes up another case for consideration.
Properly you ought to live with me, and so you should if
you were a bachelor who needed only one small room for
himself and a chest of drawers for his collars and such like
things. Unhappily for a whole family there is no room in
my old rat-hole of a lodge, that ought to have been thor-
oughly repaired long ago. But the masters are not think-
ing of anything of the sort, nor, will they, until a beam giv-
ing way will ^ake the sand over the hundred and fiftieth
memorial on the subject. The nearest hamlet is a half
league, the nearest town a whole league away from the
lodge ^they are not to be thought of, for you can not go
fto lar in the bad weather, such as we too often experience
here.
" But a queer idea has taken possession of old Sabine,
my housekeeper, who is a native of the nearest village.
The old Castle Nordeck that splendid legacy from the
18 GOLD ELSIE.
late Baron Greswit ^lies, as I have already written yon
word, about a stone's throw from my lodge. Now, wnen
Sabine was a strapping lass which I may as well say was
over a quarter of a century ago she was taken into the
service of the Greswits as a chamber-maid. At that time
the new castle was not fully furnished and did not supply
accommodation for the many guests who every year re-
paired there for grand hunts. In this emergency the so-
called midway building apparently an erection uniting
two main wings of the castle had been done up a little
and put to rights. She herself used to make up beds there
and air the rooms, although she did not like the task much,
for fear of ghosts. And 1 believe it too, for her old head
teems with tales about witches and ghosts, although in
other respects she is a thoroughly respectable person and is
a treasure of a housekeeper.
" Now she maintains stoutly that the house can not have
fallen into such utter ruin in this time; for it looked per-
fectly sound in those days, and would probably afford you
and jours a pleasant enough dwelling. Possibly it might;
but if your children are afraid of ghosts and the like what
is to become of them in an old ruin that people say is
haunted?
" You know how much put out I was at that good-for-
nothing will of the deceased Baron Greswit, and so I never
could persuade myself even to take a single look at the old
nest after I settled here. Yesterday, though, after what
Sabine said, nothing would do but that one of the boys
under me must climb up to the top of a tree on the only
spot where one can see into this cuckoo's nest; but he says
that the whole thing is but one mass of weeds and briers.
This morning, however, I went to the lawyer in town for
the keys to it, but they said they could not let me have
them without a permit from your wife, and put on as many
airs about them as if the wealth of Golconda was shut up
within those shackling old rooms. Not one of those who
had affixed the seals to it could tell me how it looked in-
side, for fhay had very wisely remained on the outside,
being of the opinion that some ceiling or other might have
the frieudliness to fall upon their wise heads, and satisfied
themselves by spotting the main door with a dozen official
miih as big as one's hand. I should like it of all things if
we could look into the state of things together and consult
GOLD ELSIB. 19
as to what is besi Decide^ then^ as speedily as possible^
and set out with your family '*
Here Elizabeth laid down the letter^ and in breathless
suspense fastened her glowing eyes upon Ferber.
" Well, and what have you decided to do, father?'* asked
she, eagerly.
" Why,^' replied he, gravely, " it is somewhat difficult
for me to impart my decision to you, for I see clearly in
your face that you would not for anything in the world ex-
change beautiful populous Berlin for the solitude of the
woods. Nevertheless, there on my desk you will find my
application for the place to the Prince of L already
sealed and directed. It is nothing more than right that we
should consult your wishes in this move, and therefore we
are not at all disinclined to leave you here in case ''
" Oh, no; if Elizabeth does not go with us, then I would
rather stay here too!" interposed little Ernest, with a voice
full of anxiety, while he nestled close up to his sister^s side.
" Make yourself easy, my boy,*' said Elizabeth, laugh-
ing, " Fll find my place in the carriage; and if not, well,
ou know I am brave as a soldier and can run like a hare.
have always had a longing after the green forests, that
gained a hold upon my imagination when I was a tiny bit
of a child. So I can go bravely and discreetly forward on
my own two feet; and then what will papa do if, some
evening, a poor forlorn wanderer with worn-out shoes and
empty pockets makes her appearance before the castle gate
and begs for admittance?'*
" We should have to open, undoubtedly," cried her
father, smiling, " if we would not bring down upon our
crumbling roof vengeance from all those benevolent spirits
that protect a courageous heart As for the rest though,
you will have to pass by that old castle and knock at some
lonely peasant hut in the forest if you want to find us, for
an asylum will hardly be procured for us in that heap of
ruins."
"I fear so too," chimed in Mrs. Ferber. ** We shall
work our way with difficulty through brambles and thorn-
thickets as did the prince m the fairy tale to the sleeping
beauty, and find at last "
" Poetryl" exclaimed Elizabeth. " Ahl the first bloom
would be plucked from our forest life if we could not
{'
30 GOLD ELSIE.
live ia the old castle! Surely four firm walls and
a well-supported chamber roof may be found in an
old turret or some place of the sort; and the rest can
easily be managed by strong and willing hands. We can
stop up cracks m the walls with moss, board up superfluous
or dismantled door-ways, and ourselves weave tapestry for
the walls. Upon the broken stones of the floor we can lay
straw mats plaited by our own hands, declare war to the
death against those sweet-toothed little monsters in gray
velvet jackets that attack our pantry, and with our brooms
wage valiant warfare upon the spiders that, hanging above
our heads in all tranquillity, consider whether they shall
not socially drop down. ^ '
With eyes reflecting the brilliancy of the reveries that
absorbed her, bringing up visions of the life that she would
soon lead in the fresh green woods, she stepped up to the
piano and threw back its lid. It was an old, worn-out in-
strument, whose feeble hoarse tone was in keepinff with its
mean exterior; but none the less beneath Elizabeth's touch
Mendelssohn's song, " Through the forest dark there goes,'*
etc., was given with charming effect.
Her parents sat listening on the sofa. Ernest had
dropped asleep. Outside the raging of the storm had
ceased; but past the uncurtained windows the snow-flakes
were still whirling, to fall noiselessly upon the breast of
earth. The opposite chimnejs, no longer smoking, slowly
drew on their thick white night-caps and coldly and stiffly
as cross old people, they looked across into the little attic
chamber that in the midst of such a snow-storm inclosed
wiihin its limits a rich measure of spring-time gladness.
CHAPTER m.
A FOREST HOME.
Whitsuntide! A word that will exercise its magic over
the human spirit so long as a tree puts forth blossoms, a
lark rises with song into the air, and a clear sk;^ smiles
down upon us in spring. A word, the sound of which can
awaken an echo of youthful joy even under the hardest
crust of selfishness, under the snow of old age, and in the
heart benumbed by pain and sorrow.
Whitsuntide is at the door*
GOLD ELSIE. 21
A soft breeze flits over the Thuringian Monntains and
brushes from their crown the last vestiges of snow. They
rise in the form of mist^ and as shining cloadlets forsake
the old camping-ground, which had set about adorning its
furrowed brow with wreaths of blackberry blossoms and
the blushing bilberry. Below babbles joyously the cool
trout-stream as it emerges from the dark forest and takes
its path through the dappled meadows in the low ground.
The lonely saw-mill clattered away again merrily, and the
fruit-trees strewed its low gray patched roof with showers
of their scattered bloom.
In pent-up cages before the solitary huts of the wood-cut-
ters and villagers sung the accomplished bull-finches, that
during the winter, in the stifling atmosphere of close rooms,
had gone through a regular course of instruction in the
higher art of song. But over yonder in the thicket others,
without any schooling at all, are making sweeter, far more
thrilling music; they bathe their little soulful throats in
the golden stream of fi:eedom.
Where, a few weeks ago the mightjr torrents of melted
snow had poured down in a bed of their own making, the
mosses were now weaving, undisturbed, a carpet of many
colors, laying it softly and considerately over the scarred
and seamed breast of the mountain, while here and there
its surface was broken by the delicate silver veins sent down
by a gushing fountain.
Upon the highway, which traversed a charming valley
in the midst of the Thuringian forest, rolled along a well
packed post-chaise containing the Ferber family on their
way to their new home. It was early in the morning, as
had just been announced by the thin, sharp voice of a little
tower-clock striking three. Therefore there was nobody to
enjoy the charming spectacle of a blissful young human
face but the cross old sign-post by the road-side, and a herd
of stately deer that appeared at the edge of the woods.
Elizabeth had bent far forward over the side of the rum-
bling coach, drinking in deep draughts of the spicy breezes,
which, as she mainlined, had already washed away from
her lungs and eyes all the dust of the forsaken capital.
Ferber sat opposite thoughtfully regarding her. He too
felt refreshed oy the loveliness and pleasantness of their
surroundings; but yet more was he moved by the beaming
ejeg of his child, who was so truly sensitive to the charms
23 GOLD ELSIE.
of nature and so inexpressibly thankf al for the change in
their circumstonces. How had those busy little fingers be-
stirred themselves when at last the vehemently desired ap-
pointment had arrived, signed by the Prince of L f
There were crowds of things to be done. How bravely
had she lifted every burden possible from the shoulders of
her parents. It is true that the prince had sent his new
employ6 a considerable sum to defray traveling expenses,
and the forester had added a remittance; but in spite of
the closest calculating the means for moving were not
nearly adequate, and therefore Elizabeth utilized the few
hours in the day hitherto devoted to recreation hj under-
taking work from a ready-made clothing establishment;
yes, many a night, while her parents were unsuspiciously
sleeping m an alcove close by, she was stitching away witn
her ne^e.
Into all this struggling and striving there had been in-
fused only one bitter drop, which hm forced from the
young girl a few bitter tears. This was when two men
came and bore away upon their shoulders her beloved piano
in order to take it to its new owner. They had been
obliged to sell it for a few dollars, because it was so old and
frail that evidently it could not bear transportation to such
a distance. Ah! what a dear old family fnend it had been!
Its wiry, quivering voice had sounded as sweet and pre-
cious to Elizabeth as that of her mother I But that pain
too was overcome now, and lay behind her, like so much
else that she had silently denied herself and given away.
And as she sat there with her bright lustrous eyes looking
out into the morning twilight, a prophecy of future happi-
ness rising before her from its gray mist, who could have
discovered in that youthful form, full of animation and
elasticity, even a trace of those last weeks of unremitting
toil?
For about half an hour longer the travelers pursued the
smooth, level turnpike, then turned aside into a well-kept
carriage-way that led into the depths of the forest. The
sun already showed himself in the sky in all his glory, and
smiled down upon the earth that in the night had been
decking herself in diamonds to meet his admiring gaze.
After midnight a fierce storm had passed over that region;
there had been a great deal of rain; heavy drops still hung
upon trees and shrubs, falling with a splash upon the car-
GOLD ELSIB. 38
riage-top when the postilion touched with his whip an
overhuiging bou^h.
What a magnificent forest! From close undergrowth
mighly giants of trees towered skyward, and high overhead
iuterlocKed their broad full arms in brotherly fashion, as
though it were all-imporfcant to protect that quiet, secluded
home from light anil air, as though they had been two
deadly foes.
Often, however, a stray sunbeam would glide down slyly
from limb to limb, kissing the feathered grasses and the
tiny strawberry blossoms with which the earth was profuse-
ly flecked, and that coquettishly turned their litue white
heads toward the highway.
After a short course the trees grew more open, and soon
afterward the old hunting-lodge became visible in the
midst of a wooded dell. The postilion blew his horn;
forthwith ensued a great commotion, for there was a tre-
mendous barking of dogs, and with a loud rushing sound a
great flock of pigeons left in affright the notched gable end
of the house.
In the open door stood a man in hunter^s uniform a
real giant with an immense beard hanging nearly down to
his waist. He held his hand over his eyes and gazed fixedly
at the approaching carriage, but then sprung down the
steps with a loud exclamation, tore open the coach-door,
and pressed Ferber to his heart as he leaped to the ground.
The two brothers held each other embraced for a second in
silence until tiie forester gently pushed the new-comer from
him, and holding him by the shoulders, scrutinized his
spare, gaunt figure.
** Poor Adolphus!^' said he at last; and there was a
touch of deep feeling in his voice. " Has fate treated you
so hardly as this? Well, never mind, you will thrive here
just like a fish in water it will all come right by and b^.
A thousand welcomes! And now we^l stick together until
the last great trump shall sound, when we shall not be
asked whether we dml stay together or nof
He sought to master his emotion, and helped his sister-
in-law out of the carriage, as well as little Ernest, whom
he kissed and hugged.
" Well,*' said he, " you were prompt in your moving, I
must say. A rare tmng, too, when women-folks are in
34 GOLD ELSIB.
" What an opinion yon most hare of wb, nncle dear.
We are not dormice^ and know right well how the son
looks when he makes his first appearance in the morning."
" HallooP' cried the forester, much surprised, and
laughing loudly, " what chatter-box is that snuggled up in
the comer of the carriage? Come, give us a peep at you,
little puss catl^'
" I little? Why, uncle, you will be amazed to see what
a big girl I am when you first lay eyes upon me!"
Wiui these words Elizabeth bounded out of the coach,
and straightening herself up to her full height planted her-
self on tip-toe by his side. But although her slender,
lightly built form was above the medium height, it looked
at this moment precisely as if a little wren should measure
itself with the lordlj eagle.
"You see,'' said she, a little dejectedly, "I reach
almost up to your shoulder, and that is more than enough
to prove myself a respectable-sized girl.''
Drawing himself up straight as an arrow, her unde
looked down upon himself with a self-satisfied air, and
then, with a roguish side-glance at her; but then suddenly
he picked her up as if she had weighed no more than a
feamer, and amid the laughter of all the rest bore her on
one arm into the house, where he shouted with stentorian
voice:
** Sabine, Sabine, come here; I will show you how the
hedge sparrows in Berlinlookl' '
He gently put the startled girl down in the yard as cau-
tiously as if she had been a brittle plajrthing, took her face
softly between his two great hands, kissed her repeatedly
upon the brow, and called out:
" Such a Lilliputian, such an elfin princess to fancy her-
self as tall as her big uncle! Little wood-nymph, you may
well know how the sun looks when you have a head full of
sunbeams!"
In consequence of her uncle's sudden movement when he
carried her off, the young girl's hat had fallen from her
head, revealing an extraordinary profusion of lovely light
hair, whose golden tint was so much the more striking, as
her very finely penciled eyebrows and eyelashes were deep
brown.
Meanwhile from a side door approached an old woman;
f^nd at the top of the staircase leading to the first stoty ap*
aOLD ELSIK 2S
peared tlie faces of a few men, which, howerer, quickly
disappeared again when the master of the honse looked up.
" STever mind, no need of running away, for I have seen
you now!'^ cried he, laughing. " Those are iny lads,^'said
he, turning to his brother; and they are as inquisitive as
sparrows; well, I can not blame them for that to-day,''
added he, with a sly glance at Elizabeth, who had with-
drawn a little in order that she might rearrange her disor-
dered tresses. Then he took the old woman by the hand
and introduced her in the following comically ceremonious
fashion:
" Miss Sabine Holditch, Minister of the Interior in this
establishment. Head of the Police for every living thing that
peoples stable and farm-yard hereabout, and finally Un-
dispufced Controller of the Kitchen Department. When she
brings food upon the table, follow her Deck confidently, for
you are going a good way; but if she should threaten you
with a display of her legends and ghost-stories, then run,
whoever can, for there is no end to them. And now,''
added he, turning to the laughing old woman, who, strictly
speaking, was very ugly, but nevertheless attractive in ap-
Eearance, through a certain look of brightness and wit m
er eyes and mouth, accompanied by a straightforward
friendly manner and a scrupulously neat dress, " bring
out quickly whatever you have to offer from cellar and
larder I know you have baked a batch of Whitsuntide
cakes in advance ^that our travelers may have fresh bread
to break in their coffee."
So saying, he pointed toward the kitchen, and imme-
diately opened the door to a bright corner room. All en-
tered; only Elizabeth could not forbear casting a glance
through the great door leading into the yard; for through
the white palings that inclosed on both sides the ample
space peopled by poultry of all kinds, gay flower-beds were
visible; and a few late-blooming apple-trees stretched their
rosy boughs far over into the yard. The garden was large,
extending up the mountain-side in terraces, and including
within its domain a few advance guards of the forest, and
among others a fine clump of old beeches. While Eliza-
beth tarried in the doorway, rooted, as it were, to the spot,
the door of a side-building opened and a young girl stepped
forth. She was strikingly pretty, although rather under-
sized, which it would seem as if nature had tried to make up
26 aOLD ELSIS.
for by bestowing upon her a pair of glorions dark eyes. Her
rich black hair was done uj) with unmistakable coquetry,
and let fall some crisp little ringlets upon her finely molded
pale brow. Her attire, too, although very simple in mate-
rial showed an almost painful solicitude in its style of
arrangement; and with the best disposition no attentive ob-
server could fail to notice that her overskirt had not been
laid in such pretty folds merely for the sake of economizing
the cloth, for her dainty little feet were set off in a manner
that surely it would have been a pity to conceal under too
long a woolen petticoat. The maiden held a tray filled
with grain in her arms, and threw a handful of it down
upon the pavement. Immediately there arose a great clat-
ter; the doves rushed down from the roofs; the hens, with
loud cackling forsook their roosts and nests; while the
watch-dog seemed to feel himself called upon to join in the
hubbub, and barked uproariously.
Elizabeth was surprised. Her uncle had been married,
but never had had any children that she knew positively;
who then was this young girl, whom he had never men-
tioned in any of his letters? She went down the steps lead-
ing into the poultry-yard and approached the young stran-
ger quite nearly,
" Do you, too, belong to the lodge?*' asked she, kindly.
The dark eyes fastened themselves almost piercingly upon
the questioner; and for an instant their expression was one
of great amazement; then her features assumed an inde-
finable look of haughtiness, while her thin lips seemed "to
close down more tightly upon one another than even they
had done before; the eyelids dropped over those flashing
eyes, which were averted now as she composedly and silently
went on scattering com in the barn-yard.
At that moment Sabine passed by the yard-door. She
beckoned confidentially to the mortified Elizabeth, and
drew her into the house -as she whispered
** Come in, my child, this is no place for you. *'
In the sitting-room Elizabeth found all getting along as
snugly and pleasantly as if they had been together all their
days. Her mother had taken a seat in a comfortable arm-
chair, which the forester had had drawn up for her before
the window, whence she could enjoy a lovely j)rospect out
into the forest. A great tortoise-shell cat had jumped into
her lap and was enjoying, with evident satisfaction, being
GOLD ELSIE. 27
Btroked by her soft hand. For little Ernest^ meanwhile^
the four walls of the apartment were furnishing an inex-
haustible fund of amusement. He climbed from chair to
chair^ and was just now standing in speechless admiration
before a glass case containing a superb collection of butter-
flies. The two men sat upon the sofa eagerly consultine
about the future residence of the family; and Elizabeth
could hear her uncle saying
" Well, if quarters can not be found for you up the
mountain, then just fix yourselves up in my room. 1 can
move my desk and other things down-stairs, and then lay
fiuch close siege to the authorities in town that they will be
compelled to grant me an addition to my house.'*
Elizabeth laid aside her traveling mantle and began to
assist Sabine in laying the breakfast-table. A first shadow
had just fallen upon the bliss with which her whole heart
was overflowing. Never before had any one treated her
with unfriendliness. That, for this, she had to thank the
charms of her appearance, the purify and simplicity of her
character, whose influence often made itself felt upon the
roughest people, Elizabeth had no idea. She had accepted
it as a matter of course, since she felt kindly toward all the
world, and never allowed herself to be rude to the hum-
blest. The beautiful face of the stranger too had awakened
her lively interest. What was artificial in her appearance
had totally escap^ed her, since she herself knew nothing of
the art of exalting oneself by appealing to the aid of the
toilet. Her parents had always bidden her to make every
effort to improve her mind as much as she could, constant^
ly striving to become better, for then her outward appear-
ance could never be otherwise than pleasing, no matter
what form nature could have given her.
The troubled look upon Elizabeth's features immediately
struck her mother. She called her to her; and Elizabeth
was about to tell her of the interview; but the first words
had hardly crossed her lips ere the forester turned around.
A deep fold appeared between his two bushy eyebrows,
making his face look dark and sinister.
** What is that?" said he, " have you seen her already?
Well, then, 1*11 tell you who and what she is. I received
her into my house several years ago that she might help
Sabine in her housekeeping. She is a relation of my de-
28 GOLD ELSIE.
ceased wife^ having neither parents^ brothers nor sisters.
I thought to do a good work, and brought upon myself a
rod of chastisement without my having sinned. In the very
first weeks of her stay I perceived that there was something
wrong about her head, which was nothing bat a chaos of
overstrained ideas and incredible haughtiness. I would
fiave liked nothing better than to send her packing back
where she came from, but Sabine pleaded for her and
would not have it so, although she, least of all, had cause
to like her presence, for the young thing made her life a
burden, what with her airs and bragging of her own rela-
tionship to the master. However, I closS my eyes to ber
misdoings as much as I could, and had her kept at steady
work as the best means of exorcising that devil of pride.
And so it was bearable for quite a long while. But there
lives over at Lindhof that is the old Greswit property,
which has changed hands since the last baron's death a
Baroness Lessen, who has been there about a year. The
owner proper, who has neither wife nor children, is a sort of
antiquarian, travels much and leaves his only unmarried
sister there under the guardianship of the said lady.
Heaven defend us! for since she came everything there has
been topsy-turvy. Of old, when I used to hear it said
* there goes a pious person,' I felt respect and took off my
cap; now I shake my fist and would much rather draw my
cap over my eyes and ears, for the world has turned
around. The Baroness Lessen belongs to a class of pious
people who are hard, cruel, and narrow-minded in the
name of religion, and pursue any who does not keep his
eyes hypocritically on the ground, but opens them and lifts
them up to the heaven where God dwells, as relentlessly as
my pacK of hounds does game. Into this hedge has my
excellent niece fallen, nor could there be better ground for
the springing up of all the weeds lurking in her brain
and so here we have a fine crop for you. Si the beginning
I had no suspicion^ until all at once she began with at-
tempts to maKO converts. There was Sabine pronounced
devoid of piety because she was not dropping down upon
her knees to pray at least ten times a d!ay; the poor old
thing who goes to Lindenhof to church every Sunday
through wind and weather, although often tortured by
rheumatism, and has behind her a long life of faithful serv-
ice performed; a pound, I reckon, likely to outweigh ten^
GOLD ELSIB. 29
fold a good-for-nothing life of much lip-service. The
preacher ventured to approach me too; but she had come
to the right ona that time she was satisfied with that one
trial. She had made acquaintance, moreover^ with some
Joung fellow over there, and spent all her spare time there,
now forbade her all intercourse with those people at
Lindhof. This did me precious little good, for she has
made use of every unguarded moment to slip over there
clandestinely. There is no talk of gratitude to me who am
supporting her; there is no congeniality whatever between
her and me; and that makes it doubly hard for me to pro-
tect her as I should. God only knows what fixed idea has
taken hold of her brain now. Enough ^for about two
months she has been perfectly dumb, not only in this
house, however, but with everybody. In all this time not
a sound has passed her lips. Neither softness nor severity
makes any difference, ^e performs her tasks the same as
before, eats and drinks like any other healthy mortal, and
is not an atom less vain than formerly. But because she
had lost her rosy cheeks and looked pale I consulted a
physician, by whom she had been treated previously. He
told me that she was physically sound, but seemed to him
a person of highly wrought nervous system; and since there
had been cases of alienation of mind m her family he would
advise me to indulge her whims. In time she would weary
herself of this self-imposed silence, and some fine day
would open her lips and chatter like a magpie. No, no, so
far as 1 am concerned, I will let things take their own
course; but it requires a heavy sacrifice to submit to some-
thing, so that I will acknowledge. All my life long I have
had a peculiar aversion to hypocrites, and would rather eat
salt and bread with smiling faces around me than the rich-
est dainties where people are whom I must despise. "Well,
little Golden Locks,^^ said he, to Elizabeth, while he stroked
her head with his hand as though he would smooth away
vexations thoughts. " Now shove your mother ^s chair
nicely up to the table here, and tie a napkin around the
neck of that little fellow there, who is gazing himself blind
there at my armory cupboard, and we^ll take our breakfast
together. Then you must take some repose and let your
limbs have a little rest after that long jo.urney. After din-
ner we'll go up to Castle Nordeck. It will be well for your
eyes to lay up a good stock of strength through sleep, else
80 GOLD ELSIB.
they might be dazzled by all the splendors we are likely to
find up there/'
After breakfast^ while her father and mother slept^ and
little Ernest lay in a soft couch dreaming of the wonders
conttdned in the forester's room^ Elizabeth was unpacking
and laying ready for use the articles^ most indispensable for
the present. She could not possibly have composed herself
for sleep. Eyer and anon she would step up to the window
and gaze out upon the wooded mountain that rose up in
the rear of the hunting lodge. There from the tops oi the
trees emerged a small black rod, which was sharply defined
against the deep blue sky. This was, as she had been in-
formed by old Sabine, an ancient iron staff that sprung
from the roof of Castle Nordeck, and from its top, in days
long gone by, had fluttered the proud banner of the Gres-
wit& Was it, indeed, behind those trees that she was to
find that ardently longed-for asylum, where her parents
might rest their feet, so weary with long wandering in a
bleak cold world?
Her searching looks fell upon the yard likewise; but the
dumb girl was no longer to be seen. She had not made
her appearance at breakfast either, and seemed to have
made up her mind to avoid coming into contact with the
guests. This troubled Elizabeth. It is true that her
uncle's narrative had made a very unfavorable impression
upon her mind; but a young person does not so easily give
up an illusion, and prefers to be undeceived by the bursting
of his or her own bubbles rather than by the wise experiences
of the old. The beautiful girl who locked up her secret so
obstinately behind her lips became doublj interesting to
her, and she exhausted herself in suppositions as to the
ground of this silenoe.
OHAPTEB IV.
THB OLD CASTLB,
AiTEB the midday meal, which had passed off most
pleasantly, Sabine took down a pipe from the comer shelf,
stuffed it well and brought it to the chief forester with a
lighted match.
** What are you thinking about, Sabine?*' said he, re-
jecting it with comic indignation. ** Do you think I could
GOLD ELSIE. 81
have the heart to smoke my pipe in all tranquillity while
there are little Elsie's feet itching to be clambering up the
mountain and peering into that enchanted palace?^'
Everybody got up and made ready for the jaunt. The
chief forester offered his arm to his sister-in-law^ and away
they went through yard and garden. Outside a man joined
their party, who proved to be a mason from the next village
whom the chief forester had directed to be at hand in case
of necessity.
There was tolerably steep climbing as they went up thv
mountain through the dense forest by a little trodden nar
row path, which, however, gradually broadened and finallj
led to a small open square, behind which arose whal
seemed to be a high gray cliff.
** Here I have the pleasure,^' said the chief foresteri
smiling sarcastically at the astonished Perber, "of intro*
dncing you to the legacy left by the deceased Baron Ores-
wit in all its glory.'*
They stood in front of a huge wall which looked like i
solid mass of granite. Of the buildings lying behind it no
a trace was any longer to be seen, because the woods en-
croached so that the spectator could not find standing room
for making a survey. The chief forester walked along the
wall, his foot being caught by briers at every step, and
finally drew a halt before a great oaken door, whose upper
part terminated in an iron trellis. Here he had had the
shrubbery cleared away the day before, and now drew forth
a bunch of big keys, which had been delivered to Mrs.
Perber yesterday as she passed through L ,
The united strength of all three men had to be put forth
ere the rusty locks and bolts would yield. At last the door
turned creating on its hinges, and a choking cloud of dust
filled the air. The in-comers found themselves in a
court-yard surrounded by buildings on three sides. Op-
posite them extended the imposing front of the castle, to
the first story of which led a broad flight of stone stairs
flanked by heavy iron balusters. Along the side wings ran
dismal colonnaaes whose granite columns and arches
seemed to bid eternal defiance to time. In the middle of
the court a few old chestnut-trees spread their spindling
boughs over an immense basin, in whose midst had their
lair four stone lions with gaping jaws. In former days four
strong water-jets had sprung up here from the depths of
8) CiOLD BLsns.
the earth and filled this reservoir; but now a feeble little
stream flowed through the teeth of one of the monsters,
just strong enough to sprinkle the intrusive bladBs of erasa
puUing up between rifts in the basin, and to infuse a faint
glow of life into this waste. The outer walls of the build-
ing and the arcades were the only things in this place on
which the glance could dwell without distress. Through
sashless casements the interiors were visible in all their
bareness. In some rooms the roofs had already fallen in,
while in others the rafters bent down as though the slight-
est touch would bring them tumbling over one's head.
The front staircase was half suspended in the air; a few
heavy moss-covered stones had already become loosened and
rolled into the middle of the court.
** There is nothing to be done here,'* said Ferber, ** let's
go further/*
Through the embrasure of a deep doorway they entered
into a second court, which, although a great deal larger
than the other, made a much more uncanny impression, if,
for nothing else, by its irregularity. Here a tumble-down
dismal building projected far out into the court, forming a
dark corner, into which not even a sunbeam could pene-
trate; there mounted aloft a damp, slimy tower, and cast a
dark shadow upon the wing lying in its rear. An old h'lao
bush, that dragged out a wretched existence in one corner,
and the leaves of which were covered with the fallen mor-
tar, as also scattering bunches of yellow grass forcing their
way through the cracks in the pavement, made these desert-
ed spots look yet more dreary. Not a sound interrupted
the death-like stillness that brooded here; even a flock of
jackdaws cleaving the bright blue skies overhead flew past
noiselessly; and so the rustling of their own footfalls upon
the echoing stone pavement sounded almost spectral to tho
ears of the intruders.
** Here,'* s&id Ferber, moved by the aspect of desolation
all around, " those powerful old barons heaped up piles of
stone, and thought by making the cradle of their race
strong to render their name imperishable. Each one has
made additions to the common inheritance as his own fancy
and needs dictated, which may be gathered from the vary-
ing style of architecture, as if there never would come any
end.'*
** And yet he was only here on lease for a little while/'
0OLD ELSUL 8S
bterposed the chief forester; ** and in order to pay his
rent to the great landlord earthy had to give himself up
bodily. Bat do let us go on! I am chilli to the bone--
here is death, nothing but death !^'
'' Do you call that death, uncle?'' cried Elizabeth, sud-
denly, who had hitherto been awed into silence, as she
pointed to an arched doorway that was half covered by a
projecting pillar. There behind a trellised gate glimmered
a patch 01 sunny greensward, and young hedge roses
clasped fondly its iron posts.
Elizabeth, with a few bounds was at the gate, which
she opened by a strong push. This quite large open
open space before which she stood had eyidently answered
the purpose of a garden; now nobody could give such a
name to this green wilderness, for not a foot's breadth of a
path was to be discovered; and here and there the mutilat-
ed head of a statue, was hardly distinguishable amid the
entangled mass of brambles, bushes, and parasitic plants.
The wild grape-vine in a thick mat ran up to the top story
of the building, clamped the window-sills tightly, and from
there dropping their tendrils, formed a natural arbor for
the blooming wild roses and lUac-bushes. There was a
whirring and buzzing in this remote little garden-spot as if
the spring were assembling here all of her winged hosts.
Countless butterflies fluttered through the air, and over the
gigantic fan-like ferns at Elsie's feet hurried shining gold
beetles. Above all these growing blooming things a few
orchard and beautiful linden-trees lifted their crowns, and
upon a little eminence were the remains of a pavilion.
The garden was environed on three sides oy two-storied
buildings, and the quadrangle was completed by a sort of
high embankment over which nodded the tops of forest-trees.
Here too the repairs bore the stamp of decay; frequently
the outside walls were well preserved; but inside the deso-
lation was complete. Only a single one-storied building,
wedged in between two high walls, struck through its dark
exterior.
It could not be seen through like the other roofless, door-
less buildings; the flat roof that had heavy stone balus-
trades on both sides, must have bidden defiance to wind
and storm, as had also the gray window shutters that
peeped forth here and there from an overhanging mass of
creepers. The chief forester opined that this is most
84 GOLD ELSIE.
probably the middle house about which Sabine had talked
so much: possibly it was not so dilapidated as the rest of
the castle; only he could not imagine how one was to get
access to such a glued-K)n swallow-nest. Certain it was
that neither a trace of door nor steps was to be seen, both
of which however would have been rendered useless by the
impenetrable thicket that had invaded the ground story. It
was determined, therefore, to risk the ascent of a broken but
yet tolerably strong stone staircase leading to one of the main
wings, and come around from the inside. They succeeded,
although with considerable clambering along the uneven
wall. They came, first, through a great hall which had
for its roof the blue sky, and nothing to show by way of
ornament but a few ereen bushes clinging to its walls.
Crumbling balconies, broken rafters, and bits of ceiling
with the remains of frescoing formed a hideous conglomera-
tion over which the discoverers had to climb.
Then followed a series of rooms in the same state of
ruin. On some walls still hung shreds of family portraits
that, often comically and sadly at the same time, displayed
here only one eye, a pair of pale female hands crossed, or a
man's finely shod foot outstretched in theatrical fashion.
At last they had reached the end of the suite of apartments,
and stood before a tall arched doorway that was walled up
with tiles.
'* Ah ha!'* said Perber, " here they have sought to cut
off the middle house from the general destruction. " I
think, ere we pursue further this break-neck expedition, it
would be wiser to remove these tiles.''
This proposition met with approval, and so the mason
set to work; he penetrated to a deep niche in the wall, and
declared that there were double walls. Both the other men
helped him with their might, and soon there appeared a
strong oak door behind the masonry which they had (juick-
Ij demolished. The door was not locked, and yielded
directly to the men's pressure. They stepped into a per-
fectly dark, moldy place. Only one thin ray of sunshine
forced its way through a small crevice, and indicated the
position of the window. The window-bolt, which had not
been touched for so long a time, resisted bravely the chief
forester's assaults, as did also the shutters, which were
held fast to by strong boughs of trees pressing from the
outside. Finally it yielded with a loud screech. A rich
OOLD EL6IB. 9ft
fiiinbeam ponred in light tbroagh a tall bow-window and
illnmined a deep but not very wide apartment^ the win-
dows of which were hung with tapestry. The ceiling dis-
played in all its four comers^ the neatly painted coat of
arms of the Qreswits. To the astonishment of all it was
found to be completely furnished^ and^ indeed^ as a sleep-
ing apartment. Two canopied bedsteads trimmed in yel-
low, which stood against the two walls, were in perfect
order. The bedding was still secure in its fine linen cases,
and tbe silk counterpanes had suffered neither in color nor
texture. Everything needful for the comfort of refined
people was here, and although buried beneath loads of dust,
it is true, yet in a perfectly sound condition. Adjoining
this chamber was a second and much larger one with two
windows; it was likewise furnished, although in old fash-
ioned taste, and unmistakably with articles that had been
brought together from different quarters. An antiquated
desk, with artistically wrought table and queerly carved
feet was not at all in keeping with the more modern form
of the luxurious crimson sofa; and the gUt frames, in which
hung some not badly painted hunting scenes, did not at all
harmonize with the silver setting of the large wall-mirror.
But be this as it may, nothing was lacking to make this
room habitable; even a full-sized though somewhat faded
carpet covered the floor; and beneath the mirror stood a
great old-time clock. There was besides a small, com-
pletely f urnidied study, whence a door led into a front hall
and entnr to the stairs. Behind these windows were three
others of equal size, the windows of which looked out upon
the garden, and from these one fixed up with deal furniture
and containing two beds had certainly been destined for
the accommodation of servants.
" Odds fish I'* said the chief forester, smiling content-
edly. "Behold us in the enjoyment of a gift that we
modest people would never have dreamed of. Why, if the
departed knew of this, I verily believe the old fellow would
turn over in his coffin. These are nothing but things for
which we have to forget the negligent soul of some house-
keeper or the dreadf S f orgetf ulness of some superannuated
steward.''
" But is it right for us to keep them?'* queried Mrs.
Terber and Elizi3)eth with one voice, who up to this tim^
had both been dumb from surprise*
Stf GOLD SLSIS.
" To be sure you may, dear wife," said Ferber, com-
fortingly. " Good uncle left you the castle with all it
contents.^'
"And they are little en,ough,'' growled the chief for-
ester.
** But in comparison with our expectations a very mint
of wealth/' said Mrs. Ferber, as she opened a pretty glass
press that contained a variety of porcelain. And when
you consider that if my uncle had left me a really rich in-
heritance in the days of my youthful pride and spirit, it
would certainly have made no greater impression upon me
than does at this moment a tocovery which relieves our
minds from great anxiety. '^
Meanwhile Elizabeth was leaning out of the window in
the first chamber which they had entered, and was trying,
with her arms, to part the branches which completely bar-
ricaded the whole front row of windows, and so left the
rooms in a twilight gloom as it were. " What a pity!''
exclaimed she, seeing the fruitlessness of her exertions,
*' how glad I should have been to have had from here a
view of the forest!"
" Why, do you really believe," said the chief forester,
that I would allow you to be hidden here behind this
freen fortification that cuts you off from any fresh breeze?
t shall be gotten rid of this very day, depend upon that,
little Elsie."
They went down the steps. They too were in good con-
dition and led into a hall, in the middle of which stood a
table surrounded by high-backed chairs. The floor was of
red tiles, but the walls and ceiling were decorated with
artistically carved wood. This large room had besides four
windows, two doorg, that stood opposite the one to the
other; one of these led into the garden, the other (which
could only be opened with difficulty) into a small open
square which intruded itself between the building and outer
wall. Here the syringas and hazel-nut bushes had spread
with uncommon luxuriance; but nevertheless the men suc-
ceeded in forcing a way through, and three steps brought
them in front of a little door in the opposite wall, that
opened upon the neighboring thicket.
" Well," said Perber, delighted, *^ this removes the last
objection. This entrance is worth a great deal. We shall
iS
OOLD ELSIE. 87
have need no longer to go through the coart-yard, which
would have been formal and certainly dangerous/'
Once more the dwelling was traversed, its future arrange-
ment decided upon, and the mason engaged to come back
the next morning and convert one of the back rooms into
a kitchen. Then, after the oaken door that gave access to
the adjoining wing had been properly locked and barred,
the return path was entered upon, an undertaking that
was rendered very difficult in consequence of the dense
shrubbery; but in spite of that was to be preferred to the
perils of the first way.
When the exploring party re-entered the forestei'^s gar-
den, Sabine came to meet them with little Ernest, who nad
been left behind in her charge, both with faces aglow from
expectancy.
She had served afternoon coffee upon a table covered
with a white tablecloth, and set out underneath a huge
beech-tree, and the shady spot looked most inviting. She
was burning with impatience, however, to hear what ac-
count the party would have to give, and clapped her hands
with delight when she had heard their report.
" Bless my heartl^^ cried she, " now the master sees that
I told the truth. Yes, yes, things have been forgotten;
and no wonder. Ko sooner had the young baron been laid
in the cold ground than the old one left in the greatest
hurry and took all the servants with him too. Nobody
was left but old Silber the steward, and it was not long be-
fore he grew right weak-minded, and what with seeing all
the fine furniture safely moved to the new castle, and
Watching lest anything be stolen, he had trouble enough,
poor old man. And so, you see, at last all these things
were overlooked, and not a living creature was the wiser
for it. Dear me, every piece of it has passed under my
hands when I dusted and rubbed it up. And I used to be
so terribly afraid of that clock, for it played a melancholy
little tune when it struck, and it did have such a grewsome
sound when I was at work there all by myself. Heighol I
was but young then ^where are those times now?"
There followed now an hour of restful sociality, while the
coffee was being enjoyed. And because Elizabeth had ex-
pressed her opinion liiat nothing could be more charming
than to wake up in their new home on Whitsuntide morn-
ing, when the dmrch-bells in the villages all around would
38 GOLD ELSHS.
be ringing so sweetly, and her mother shared her sentiment,
it was determined that the work of renovation should be
set about the very next morning, so that it would be possi-
ble to occupy their abode on Whitsuntide-eve, and to this
end the chief forester placed all his people at their disposal.
Sabine had taken her seat at a little distance apart from
the company, upon a grassy bank, in order to be at hand if
wanted.
So as not to be utterly idle she had pulled up several
handf uls of carrots from their bed and was proceeding dili-
gently to clean and scrape them. Elizabeth sat down be*
side her. The old woman cast a roguish glance at the
slight fair fingers that formed a striking contrast with her
own brown horny hands, as they took a few carrots from
her lap.
" Ifo, no,*' said she, deprecatingly, " this is no work for
you ^you do not want to have yellow fingers.'*
"Oh I that makes no difference !'* laughed Elizabeth.
" Let me help you and you tell me if you please something
about the history of the old castle, lor I know you have
been brought up in this neighborhood, and must know all
about it. *'
" I do indeed,'* replied the old housekeeper. " Lindhof,
where I was bom, has belonged to the Barons von Greswit
from time immemorial; and you see, in such a little place
the sun rises and sets in the lord of the manor. The least
thing that happens to the family in the great house is pub-
lished far andl^near. Though it were only the drawing of
a tooth, the 'prentices and village maids would find in it a
fiubiect for talk.
*^ There was my sainted great-grandmother, whom I can
remember right well. She knew things that would make
your hair stand on end. For all that she had the greatest
respect for the Greswits, and with both her trembling hands
would bend my head low when any of the family passed by
^for I was but a little thing then, and could not make my
courtesy properly. She knew far, far back into past gen-
erations, ana could call the names of all the barons who
had lived in the castle in succession, and a great deal that
had happened there contrary to the laws of God and the
right. As I afterward went to the new castle and had to
clean up the great hall where their portraits hung not a
scrap of which probably is left I used to stand there many
GOLD ELSIX. 39
a time and wonder why they looked so very like common
people, seeing that they were so very proud. And of
beauty I can tell you they had but little to boasfc. In my
stupidity I used to think if lovely Lieschen, the prettiest
and best girl in the village, could only be lifted up into
that gold frame and be dressed in a silk train, with qui^nti-
ties of Jewels in her hair and on her breast, and having
that blackamoor stand behind her snow-white face with his
silver waiter, that she would be a thousand times more
beautiful to look upon than that lady there, who was bitter
ugly, with her dark and scowling brow. But this was the
very one in whom the whole family took most pride. She
was some rich countess or another, but hard and unfeeling
as a stone.
'^ Among the men, though, there was one that I did like
to look upon. He had a fine open countenance with a
pair of eyes as black as a coal, and his fate seems to prove
that the best have to suffer most in this world. Of all the
others in that long series,' one knows nothing but that
things went well with them all their lives long. Many have
brought mii^chief enough into this world and then laid
themselves down to die in their beds as peacefully as if they
had done everything right. Well, to go back again to
Jost von Greswit, his fate was a very sad one indeed. The
grandmother of my great-grandmother knew him herself
when she was a little girl. In those days he was called
nothing but " the bold hunter,*' because he just used to
live in the woods. In his picture, too, he is painted in a
green hunting-habit, with a long white plume in his hat
that used to suit so prettily, I thought, with his long black
curly locks. But he used to be good; and not the smallest
child ever received hurt at his hand. It went well with
the villagers in those days, and they wished it could stay so
all the time.
*^ But all of a sudden one day he went away; nobody
knew where in the world he was, until at last he came back
one stormy night. But from that time on he was totally
changed. No harm came to the people in Lindhof ; but it
no longer gave them any pleasure to see their young lord,
He sent away all the servants and lived in the old castle by
his lone self, with a favorite man-servant.
''But then there began to be a great deal of gossiping
among folks about the black art which he earned on up
40 eOLD ELSIB.
there and hardly a creature would any longer trust himself
alone on the mountain in broad daylight, let alone in the
night. But my old grandmother was a brave thing in the
days of her youths and made a habit of letting her goats
browse by the castle walls. Well, one day she was sitting
under a tree all in quiet, looking across at the wall opposite,
thinking how high it was, and wondering what was behind
it. And all of a sudden there was lifted above it an arm,
as white as snow, and afterward a face grandmother used to
say it was fairer than sun, moon and stars and finally with
a bound a maiden stood on top of it, throwing her arms up
and calling out something, the meaning of which grand-
mother could not make out; and she came within an ace
of plunging down into the water, that in those days flowed
all around the whole castle.
^ ** But all of a sudden Baron Jost stood behind her, threw
his arms around her and struggled with her, while she
begged and pleaded until it would have moved a stone to
pity, and his coal-black hair stood straight uj) on his head
with horror. Afterward he picked her up in his arms as
if she had been a child, and they disappeared behind the
wall. A veil, however, fell from the lady^s head and flew
across to where grandmother stood. It was as fine as gos-
samer, and with delight she carried it home and showed it
to her father; but, with abhorrence he threw it into the
fire and called it an accursed thins; and after that grand-
mother was forbidden to go near the castle.
"Later it had probably been a full year since Baron
Jost had been leading that secluded life on the mountain
all of a sudden, upon a bright morning, he came riding
down the mountain before sunrise; but nobody that had
ever seen him before. would have known him now, so terri-
bly altered was his face, so very much paler because h
was dressed in black from top to toe, He rode slowly
along, and with a melancholy nod acknowledged for the
last time the salutation of any who met him. Then he
was gone and never came back any more. He was killed
in battle, and his old servant too with him ^it was in the
times of the Thirty Years' War. ^'
" Well, and what of the beautiful maiden?*' asked Eliza-
beth.
" Of her, well, nobody ever gaw or heard of her again.
Baron Jost left a huge sealed packet in the town-h^ at
OOLD msoL H
L^ , saying that it was his last will and testament It
was to have been opened when news came of his death.
But a dreadful fire broke out at L that destroyed many
houses^ the churches and town-hall among the rest, and, of
course. Baron Jost's will in it.
*' In those last days the pastor at Liudhof was to see
Baron Jost a few times. But the good man was as still as
a mouse concerning anything that he had seen there; and
because he was old and died soon afterward his knowledge
was buried in the grave with him.
" And so nobody knows to this day what was the story
of that strange young lady; and it will remain a secret, too,
I suppose, until Judgment Day/'
"That's right, Sabine, don^t put any constraint upon
yourself I'* called over the chief forester, as he knocked the
ashes from his pipe, " it is better for Elsie to become ac-
customed, from the very beginning, to the tragic ending of
your tales. Why not say what you know well enou^
that one fine day that beautiful girl was seen to fly oat of
the chimney on a broom-stick?*'
** Ko, that I do not believe, master, although I **
** Would swear to it that the whole region round about
is swarming with such as were fit for the stake any day,*'
interposed the chief forester. " Yes, yes," said he, turn-
ing to the rest of the company, " Sabine is of the old
Thuringian stamp. She does not lack for sense, and her
heart is in the right place too; but when the Question of
witchcraft comes up she loses both, and is capable of send-
ing away from the door a poor old woman without cutting
of^ so much as a bit of bread for her, because she has red
eyes!'*
" Ko, sir, it's not so bad as that," answered the morti-
fied Sabine. " I would give her something to eat; but I
would draw in my thumbs, too, and answer her neither aye
nor nay ^and for this nobody can blame me. "
All laughed at this preservative a^gainst being bewitched,
which had been evidently very seriouslv meant. But the
old housekeeper shook from her apron the remainder of the
carrots, and got up to go and prepare supper for the work-
men, who were to eat earlier than usual, for there was
enough to do at the old castle to keep tbein hvssj ontil
nightfall
4a 0OLD SLSia.
CHAPTER V.
HOW ELSIE SPIES OUT THE LAJSTD.
Whek Elizabeth o|)6ned her eyes the next morning the
great upright clock in the dining-room was just striking
eighty thus admonishing her^ to her mortification and
alarm, that she had overslept herself. A hideously bad
dream was entirely to blame for this.
The golden, poetical halo, with which her tmoy had in-
vested cabinets narrative, had been converted by night into
a heavy cloud, the pressure of which burdened her still at
the moment of her awakening.
In imagination she had been running through the vast,
empty halls of the old castle, ever pursued by Jost, whose
hair bristled up around his corpse-like brow, and his black
eyes glowed at ner; and she had just stretched out her arms
in speechless agony to thrust him back when she awoke.
Her heart was still beating, and she thought, with a shud-
der, of that unhappy one on the wall who, perhaps, chased
just as she had been, had sought death in her despair, but
at that dreadful moment had been seized by her pursuer.
She jumped up and cooled her face in fresh water; then
she opened the window and looked down into the yard.
There sat Sabine under a pear-tree busy with her churn.
All the tenants of the poultry- yard had congregated around
her, looking up at her expectantly, for, from the great tray
of bread and butter that lay on the stone table at her side
she now and then threw a few crumbs upon the ground,
not omitting, as occasion called, to admonish the greedy
and console the slighted ones.
As soon as she caught sight of the young girl she gave
her a friendly nod and called up to her that everything at
the lod^e that could walk had been up and astir at the old
castle smce six o'clock. In reply to Elizabeth's reproach
for not having been waked, she stated that this was in
obedience to her mamma's request, because her little
daughter had over-exerted herself greatly during these past
weeks.
Sabine's good, peaceful countenance and the fresh morn-
ing breeze speedily soothed Elizabeth's nerves, and brought
GOLD ELSIE. 48
her back to tihat reality which was now coming into such
bright and promising shape. She began to reproach her-
self bitterly with having disregarded her uncIe^s fatherly
exhortations^ and leanea oat of the window until nearly
midnight gazing over the moonlit meadow into the slum-
bering forest beyond. But reason often plays a wretched
part m face of excited fancy.
In the midst of the trials plaintiff and witnesses suddenly
yanish; he finds himself alone upon his judgment seat and
has even to submit to being hidden behind the scenes, while
around and beside him fancy's paii; is bein^ re-enacted with
fresh vigor. Just so Elizabeth's accusations against self
were very soon silenced in view of the picture that unfold-
ed itself before her inner vision, and brought to her con-
sciousness once more all the enchantment of a moonlight
night in the forest.
After she had dressed herself and been refreshed by a
glass of fresh milk she hurried up the mountain. The sky
was overcast, but only by those light, high-sailing clouds
that give promise, not of a brilliant spring day, but of one
the fresher for the absence of the sun s heat. For the
same reason to-day the morning concert of birds lasted
somewhat longer, and the dew-drops rocked themselves as
contentedly in the flower-cups as if for this day their gentle
presence was to be left unchallenged.
When Elizabeth entered the wide-open main door of the
castle there forthwith met her glance an immense green
hill beside the fountain. There were thistles, ferns, and
blackberry vines that, dragged from their snug old home in
the garden, were now breathing out their young lives here.
The path through the vaulted doorway of the second court
as far as the trellised gate was strewn with branches of
green, as though some joyous wedding procession were to
wend its way Sirough the ruins, and even on the sill of a
high window that snowed on the top of its pointed arch a
magnificently carved stone rosette with vestiges of colored
glass in passing by, a few tendrils had been left hanging,
and lovingly laid their living green close up to the stone
clover-leaves of the Holy Trmity, which left no doubt but
that the dark deserted spot inside bad once been the castle
chapel.
The garden^ where yesterday one could not take two steps
unimpeded^ all appeared totally changed to the young girL
44 60I.D ELSIE.
A considerable part of it had been cleared up, and now re-
vealed the traces of well-laid-out grounds. Elizabeth could
now proceed as far as the green embankment, which they
had discovered yesterday from the distance. Her path led
along a tolerably well defined main walk, over which fright-
ened lizards darted as quick as lightning. On both sides
of this long sodded terrace broad washed-out stone stairs
led up to a low parapet, over which one had a view of the
forest; and there where the trees stood a little apart, one
could look down into the valley and get a peep at the
hunter's lodge snugly ensconced in a green meadow, with
its slate roof full of white doves. At the foot of the wall
just where the main walk ended a small fountain cast up a
strong jet of crystal-clear water from the mouth of a gnome
covered with green moss. Two linden-trees stretched their
arms over the splashing fountain, casting their grateful
shade over the delicate little forge t-me note that sprung up
in (juantities here out of the moist earth, and edged the
basin with a fringe of heavenly blue.
Opposite the terrace lay the middle building. It looked
so cheery and hospitable to-day with its window-shutters
fastened back, and its large door on the ground-floor open,
that Elizabeth joyfully yielded to the sweet feeling that
here she was at home. She surveyed the garden, and
thought of the days of her childhood and those moments of
uncontrollable longing when she had been walking out with
her parents, and tarrying behind, with her face pressed
agninst the fast-locked iron railing she had looked into a
strange garden. There she had seen happy children play-
ing unrestrainedly upon the greensward; they could pull
as many roses from the bushes as they pleased, and smell
their delicious fragrance to their hearts* content.
And what a delight it must be for those little bodies to
stoop and sit under a full rose-bush in the green shade iust
like grown people under an arbor! In those days it had
ended in wishing and longing. Never had one of those
closed gates opened to the child who stood before them
with pleading eyes; and yet she would have been content
if anybody had only put into her little hands a few flowers
through the iron bars.
While Elizabeth stood against the wall, the chief forester
appeared at one of the upper windows of the middle house.
When he caught sight of the young g^'rl as she stood ther
GOLD ELSIB. 45
^t in thonglit^ her delicate form resting against the para*
pet, and her fair head half inclined toward the garden,
there flitted across his face an unmistakable expression of
gratification and quiet joy.
Elsie too perceived her uncle, and waving him a merry
greeting, she ran down the steps toward the house.
There little Ernest bounded out of the great hall to meet
her; and laughing, she caught him up in her arms.
According to his enthusiastic description, the little fellow
had been performing wonders. He had carried bricks for
the mason, who was fixing up the hearth, had been em-
ployed by mamma to beat up beds, and was proudly of
opinion that the lords and ladies on the woolen tapestry
looked much finer and more friendly too since he had
passed a brush over their dusty faces. He joyously flung
nis arms around his sister's neck, who carried hmi upstairs,
and was never tired of repeating that he liked it here a
thousand times better than in Berlin.
The chief forester received Elizabeth up in the front hall.
He hardly allowed her time to salute her parents, and led
her without saying a word into the room hung with Gobe-
lin tapestiy. 'What an alteration! The green network be-
fore the window had vanished; out of doors, on the other
side of the wall, the woods retired on either hand, screen
fashion, opening up a full view of an extensive valley that,
in Elizabeth's eyes, seemed a very paradise.
" That is Lindhof,'' said the chief forester, pointing to
a magnificent edifice built in Italian style, that was planted
quite near to the foot of the mountain on which Castle
ITordeck was situated. " I have something for you here
that will introduce you directly to every tree upon the
mountains and every blade of grass down in the meadows,''
he continued, as he held a good spy-glass before the young
girl's eyes.
Then drew near the great solemn mountains, whose
granite heights here and there broke in upon the continuity
of the woods, and at their extremest verge lifted heaven-
ward a solitaiy pine that crowned a lofty peak. Besides
these nearest mountains, in the dim blue distance towered
numberless wooded ridges, and from a remote valley that
ran like a deep gash parting two ranges of mountains,
emerged two slender Gothic towers, looking pale and misty
48 GOLD 2LSIS.
in the distance. A small river^ a tarnpike lined by pop-
lars, and several bright little villages animated the back-
ground of the valley; in its foreground was Castle Lind-
hof, surrounded by a park laid out in grandiose style.
Beneath the castle windows stretched an expanse of grassy
lawn, dotted here and there by marvelously shaped flower-
beds, now ablaze with tulips. Elizabeth^s glance swept on
and rested with a feeling of refreshment upon the mys-
terious shadows cast by an avenue of magmficent linden-
trees with towering crowns and lower branches that almost
touched with their broad leaves the gravel of the walk.
Ever and anon a swan stretched out his white neck curious-
ly into the shade of the avenue, his wings, at the same time
snaking a flashing shower of rain at the trunks of the old
trees. A clear lakelet fondly kissed their feet, but at this
moment had rather a melancholy air in its flower-edged
border, for a clouded sky was reflected in its surface.
If Elizabeth had heretofore let her glass rove restlessly
from one object to another, she now sought a steady rest
for it, because she had made adiscovery that was of absorb-
inginterest.
u nder the last tree in the avenue stood a lounge. Upon
it lay a young lady; her beautiful head was thrown back so
that a part of her long chestnut brown tresses fell over her
pillow. Two pretty little feet in bronze morocco slippers
peeped from under the edge of a long white muslin robe,
that modestly concealed the whole of her figure up to her
throat. The lady was absent-mindedly twiriing in her
thin, almost transparent fingers a few auriculas. Her
whole face was white as a lily; the only tinge of red about
her being visible in her lips, so that one might have been
tempted to think the form inanimate but for a pair of won-
derfully expressive blue eyes. These eyes with their won-
drous expression were fixed upon the face of a man who,
sitting opposite to her, seemed to be reading aloud. Eliza-
beth could not see his face, for his back was turned to her.
He appeared to be young, tall, and slender, and had a
thick suit of dark brown hair.
" Is that charming lady over there the Baroness Les-
en?'^ asked Elizabeth, eagerly.
The chief forester took the spy-glass.
** No,^' said he, ** that is Miss von Walde, the sister of
the proprietor of Castle Lindhof. You call her charm-
t3K)LD ELsri." 47
ing, and you are right as to her head, but her body is de-
formed she goes on crutches/'
At this instant Mrs. Ferber stepped np. She too looked
through the glass and pronounced the young lady perfectly
lovely; especially she extolled that heavenly expression of
goodness " that slorifies the features/'
" Yes,*' said the chief forester, " kind and amiable she
is naturally. When she first came here the whole country
round was ringing with her praises. But there has been a
great change in their tune since the Baroness Lessen has
taken the reins in that honse. No more alms for the poor
come from that place unless they have been carefully
weighed in the scales with meanness. Woe to the poor
beggar who applies for help there. He gets not a penny,
and hard words into the bargain, if it is found out that he
would rather go to church and listen to the pastor at Lind-
hof than to the castle chapel, where a candidate a tutor
in the baronesses employ every Sunday hurls down thun-
derbolts from hell upon the heads of the godless. ''
" Such threats are a very poor means of awakening a
Christian disposition in the people,^' said Mrs. Ferber.
** They kill it perfectly dead and make hypocrites, in-
Htead, say I," cried the cliief forester. '* The more so be-
cause she herself sets the example for it. They read in
their Bibles every day about Christian humility and yet get
haughtier and more domineering all the while; yes, why,
they even want to make out that their high-born bodies are
made out of different material from those of their humbler
brothers in Christ. It is written, * If thou givest alms, let
not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.' Not
so here. Why a hen could not cackle louder over her new-
laid egg than do these people over a deed of charity. There
are colTections and lotteries for the poor without end, levy-
ing contributions upon the whole country round about; biifc
let them be asked to put their hands in their own pockets
for money the most natural place to find it then ' the
game is up,' as people say. I know people who for twenty
years have been carefully saving up tne charitable gifts of
others in order some day to found an almshouse. These
good people possess a yearly income of about six thousand
dollars. To ask that they should curtail in the very least
their luxuries to further their laudable scheme is an idea
that never enters their heads. They have so much more
A8 GOLD ELSDL
cheaply the halo of Christian zeal and devotion. Dear
me! now it does fret me to see folks flaunting their piety
in the faces of the whole world! Down in yonder house,
ever so many times a day, her little bell is a tinkling.
Then people all around say, * Now she is at prayers in the
castle.^ The closet where God said He was to be sought is
entirely too small a place for her, and not at all to her
taste. But that parade is not all' that is to be found fault
with; no, but it is just sacrilegious to be lagging in secret
things in the midst of life's commonest affairs. Now, 1
ask, if the maid who has just drawn a hot iron from the
fire, or the cook who has a delicate roast in the oven is in
much of a state to rejoice when she hears the summons of
that bell?"
" Yes, that sort of devotion is questionable, I admit, '*
said Mrs. Ferber, smiling.
"Or for the mistress herself, who is reading an interest-
ing novel for novel-reading seems quite admissible among
these devotees do you beBeve that it is possible to make
the sudden leap from the worldly to the worship of God?
Yes, yes, there these people go, rushing into the presence
of God, unshaven and unshorn, flattering themselves that
our Lord God is pleased with such service. '*
" And does Mr. von Walde agree with the baroness in
her ideas of reform?^' asked Mrs. Ferber.
**From all that I can learn about him, no; but what
good does that do? At this very moment he is most likely
nosing around among the pyramids to throw light upon
ancient times; how can he know that meanwhile his cousin,
out of Christian zeal, is doing her very best to obscure the
plain light of the present? Besides, he may have whims of
his own. The Prince of L , who is a near relation of
his, was bent in former years upon arranging an alliance
between him and a Court lady. Beport says that the
match was broken off because the young lady could not
boast of a sufficiently old ancestry."
*^ Very well; it may turn out, then, that some day he
walks in bringing with him as mistress of charming Lind-
hof a beautiful Fellah girl, who can reckon up her ancestors
as far back as the mummies of Memphis!" opined Eliza-
beth, laughing.
"I believe nothing of the sort; he is not married yet,'*
Tlied the chief forester. ^' He is no longer exactly youngs
SOLD ELSUL 49
is entirely too fond of a roving life, and never was much of
a lady's man. I'll wager my little finger upon it that yon
fellow down there with the book in his hand shares my
opinion, and in the innermost shrine of his soul considers
Lmdhof and all the other fine estates in Saxony and God
knows where else as his own inalienable heritage/'
** Has he claims to it?'' asked Mrs. Ferber.
^' Assuredly be has. He is the son of Baroness Lessen.
Outside of this family the brother and sister Von Walde
have no kindred in the wide world. The baroness first
married a Mr. von HoUfeld, and from this union sprung
that young man down there, who, through his father's
early death fell heir to a large fortune on the other side of
L . The beautiful widow then thought it her duty to
profit by her freedom as speedily as possible in order to
ascend at least one step higher on the scale of human bliss
and grandeur. Kow tnis step could, ad a matter of course,
only be a baronetcy, and therefore Mrs. von HolKeld, on a
happy day was made the spouse of Baron Lessing. His
name, it is true, was somewhat notorious, on account of
certain actions attributed to him, ^yclept in a lower sphere
* dishonorable ' but what did that matter, seeing that he
was also chamberlain, having at his button-hole the keys to
the paradise of Court, in comparison with which the keys
of St Peter are nothing in spite of the promises that they
are to make good in the future. As for the rest, after ten
years of married life the baron left his wife a widow, be-
queathing to her, besides a little daughter, an enormous
burden of debts. She may be thankf cJ now to be allowed
to play the part of undisputed mistress of Lindhof, for, as
I hear, she has neither part nor lot in her son's fortune."
Just here the conversation was broken off by the entrance
of a maid armed with bucket and scrubbing-brush, who
let it be understood by unmistakable motions that her
rights of office were about to assert themselves. The spy-
glass was speedily restored to its case, and while the chief
forester went off to free the windows looking toward the
garden from the embraces of creeping pjlants, Mrs. Ferber
and Elizabeth undertook to restore to its original bright-
ness the furniture gathered together in the middle of the
room by means of dusting-cloth and brush.
fO OOLD SL8I&
CHAPTER VL
THE VILIiA.
Whitsuntide was over. The great metal bells had
irithdrawn into retired life, and looked black and motion-
less through the apertures in the belfries as though they
were the coffins of that melodious life with which those
towers had been instinct during the holiday. The gay lit-
tle bells in the wood, though hanging loosely upon their
green stalks, fully conscious of their high office, could not
forget the festival. They had bravely chimed in when the
air had been rent by harmonious, sublime strains ringing
in the blessed season, and now they continued to ring on
unweariedly in response to every breath of wind that passed
through the underwood. It did not disturb them at all
that the wood-cutter, leaving at home his Sunday suit and
festal mien, grazed them with his roughly shod feet and
whistled a coarse song as he heedlessly passed by. Neither
was the forest led astray; solemn and mysterious whispers
were murmured in the tree-tops like a prayer whispered by
a thousand voices, and afterward, as before, the birds sung
their morning and evening hymn to the honor of God.
Up in old Castle Nordeck two spirits harmonized with
nature in giving continued praise and thanks to God, al-
though holiday time was past. Ferber had entered upon
the duties of his clerkship, and moreover had been obliged
to make several preliminary visits to L . Through
Sabine's intervention Mrs. Ferber and Elizabeth had been
able to procure quite large orders for white-work from a
manufactory in L , and moreover found work in the
garden, which was expected, even this year, to furnish its
quota toward the support of the family. In spite of this
ceaseless activity, however, a breath of Sabbath calm was
still consciously present in the Ferber abode. The whole
family were still m an exalted state of mind due to an en-
during sense of a most fortunate change having taken place
in their lives, and were thrilled at every instant by a com-
parison of the past with the present. Forest life, so strange
and novel, had an almost intoxicating effect upon their
Bpirits. Her tender parents had appomted Elizabeth Hif
GOLD SLSIB. 01
room hung with Gobelin tapestry^ because it commanded
the loveliest prospect^ and^ at the first inspection of the
middle buildings had been pronounced by their daughter
the prettiest and most pleasant. The gloomy-looking door
leading to the ruins had been walled up again; its tall oaken
panels with their brass locks and bolts were hidden by
masonry, leaving nothing to hint of the scene of desolation
lying just beyond. One of the canopied bedsteads newly
set up filled the back of the room; near the window stood
the antique desk, its lid bearing, besides some old-fashioned
porcelain perquisites and the needftd writing materials,
two pretty little vases filled with fresh flowers; and out-
side, on me broad stone window-sill, flatteringly caressed
by the crown of a syringa-bush, stood the gilt cage of
Hanschen, the canary bird, who, with all the vanity of a
spoiled prima donnay was executing his finest trills in emu-
lation with the virtuosos of the wooda
When the chamber was furnished, Mrs. Ferber was still
bringing in every minute some new object to add to the
charms of the little room; her husband came in, and point-
ing to the longest side-wall, ordered away the little divan
wmch had just been placed there, directing it to be returned
to the adjoining chamber.
" Hold! I reserve this place for myself!*' cried he,
laughing. He fetched a great rose-wood console and fast-
en^ it io the wall, which just here supported a very lar^e
bracket. " Here,'' he continued, while he placed upon it
a bust of Beethoven, ** here is the only one who is to be
enthroned on this spot. *'
"But that looks abommably,'* said Mrs. Ferber, **at
least in my opinion. *'
" Never mmd, you just wait; to-morrow or day after to-
morrow will convince you that my arrangement is not so
very despicable, and that a peculiar advantage to Elizabeth
with accrue from the furniture to be supplied. ''
On the following day ^it was Whitsuntide-eve ^he went
to town with the chief forester, and when he returned in
the evening he did not come through the gate in the walL
The great door was opened, and four strong men bore a
large shining object through the rains. For the first time
in her new home Elizabeth was busy preparing supper, and
standing near the kitchen window when the men entered
the garden with their burdeo.
S3 QOLD ELSIE.
She tittered a loud cry: for it was a piano^ and nothing
else; a beautiful square instrument that was being borne
into the middle building, to be put into the tapestried
chamber and placed beneath Beethoven^s bust. Elizabeth
wept and laughed in the same breath, and in an ecstasy of
joy flung her arms around the neck of her father, who had
devoted the whole of his little capital, viz. the proceeds of
their furniture in Berlin, to procuring for her what was the
delight of her life. But then she opened the instrument,
and immediately afterward mighty accords smote upon the
contiguous walls, so long encased in the silence of death.
The chief forester had come in, too, for he wanted to
witness Elizabeth's joy and surprise. He now leaned
silently against the wall drinking in the delicious melody
that poured forth from beneath the maiden's fingers. At
this moment he caught a glimpse for the first time of the
depth of soul resident within that lovely, youthful form.
How strangely intellectual looked that finely chiseled
thoughtful brow, how graceful that delicate figure, evi-
dently the shrine of all that is pure and maidenly! Until
now only words of pleasantry and repartee had passed be-
tween diese two. In consequence of the lightness of her
movements and quickness of wit which never left her at
loss for a bright retort, he often called her his butterfly;
but most often Gold Elsie, since he maintained that in the
thickest of the woods he could see the flashing and glitter-
ing of her golden hair, as young Eoland, in the olden dajrs
hm been lighted by the jewel in the giant's shield.
After Elizabeth had ceased playing, she laid both hands
over the piano as though she would embrace her new pos-
session, and smiled blissfully to herself; but the chief for-
ester softly approached, kissed her on the forehead, and
silently withdrew.
Prom that moment on he came to the old castle every
evening. As soon as the last rays of sunshine had disap-
peared from the mountain-tops, Elizabeth had to sit down
at the piano. The little family would all take their places
within the recess of the wide bay-window and plunge into
the sea of thought created by the master mind of him whose
image looked gravely down from the wall upon the enthu-
siasSc young performer. Then was Perber reminded of
the picture which Elizabeth had drawn of life in the forest
when that letter from her uncle had reached Berlin. Of
GOLD ELSIE. 53
lve8 and goblins there were none, but there were present
those spirits which the mighty musician had taken captive
in his melodies; unfettered thejr now came forth iu that
stream of music, and breathed into that solemn Btillness
Buch mystical life as floods the breast of every creature of
eensibility with rapture and with woe, and yet of which
only genius is ever allowed to be the interpreter.
One afternoon the Ferber family sat at coffee. The
chief forester was also present, having come up with hi
newspaper and pipe, also submitting gladly to have a cup
of the steaming beverage handed fim by Elizabeth. He
had just started to read aloud an interesting article when a
ring was heard at the gate in the wall. To the surprise of
all, after little Ernest had opened the door there entered a
servant from Castle Lindhof with a note, which he handed
to Elizabeth. It was from the Baroness Lessen. She
began by paying the young girl some compliments on ac-
count of that excellent piano-playing which she had heard
a few evenings since during a'walk through the forest, and
she wound up with the inquiry if Miss Ferber would be
willing of course under conditions to be previously agreed
upon ^to play duets with Miss von Walde once a week.
The letter was worded in a verv polite tone; nevertheless
the forester threw it down petulantly after he had read it
through the second time, and said, looking sharply at
Elizabeth:
" You will not go if you follow my advice.^*
**And why not, dear Charles?" asked Ferber, in her
stead.
" Because Elizabeth ought to have nothing to do with
those people down there, now or ever!^^ exclaimed the
chief forester, right wrathfuUy. *' If you would see what
* you have carefully cultivated destroyed by mildew or frost
well, then, do it."
** It is very true," replied Ferber, quietly, " that up to
this time I have had the sole direction of my child^s rear-
ing; and, as was my duty, have striven eagerly to stimulate
every germ of good and prune away every little shoot that
would obstruct growth. Nevertheless, nothing was farther
from my desire than to nurture a tender hot-house plant;
and woe to me and to her if what I have unweariedly tend-
ed for eighteen years should still stand unrooted in the soil,
to fall helplessly before the first keen blast of wind thai
54 eoLD zxsns.
blows upon it I have trained my daaghter for the battle
of life becanse she has to take part therein^ as well as every
other human being. You know that if my eyes were closed
to-day she would have herself to grasp the rudder that I
have hitherto handled for her. If the inhabitants of the
casfcle are really unfit associates for her^ well^ matters will
very soon adjust themselves. Either both parties will per-
ceive the want of congeniality, and drift apart naturally,
or whatever goes on there contrary to Elizabeth^s principles
will pass by without contaminating her. You yourself are
a person who never goes out of his way to avoid a danger,
but goes boldlv up to test its power/'
"What is that to the question? Why, I am a man, and
must stand up for mjrself !''
** Can you DC certain that, in later years, Elizabeth will
always have some one to lean upon, somebody to stand
sponsor for her?'*
The chief forester darted a quick look at the young girl,
whose glowing eyes were riveted upon her father. For her
he was evidently an infallible authority and the embodi-
ment of wisdom ^any one could read that upon her feat-
ures.
" Father,** said she, " you shall see that you are not de-
ceived in me, that I am not weak. I never could bear
that trite comparison of the ivy and the oak, and do not
intend that it shall find confirmation in me. Dismiss any
concern and let me go down to that castle, uncle dear,*'
said she, with a smile to the chief forester^ whose brow was
darkened by two ugly, heavy folds. " If its inmates are
hertless, why it is not to be supposed that I must forthwith
turn cannibal and crush my own heart between the mill-
stones of cruelty. Should they trample upon and insult me
through their haughtiness, then inwardly I can plant my-
self upon a pedestal so high that no arrow can reach me;
and should they be hypocrites, then I shall fix my eyes only
the more steadily upon the sunny face of truth and recog-
nize the more clearly the hideousness of such black masks.*'
" Beautifully spoken, incomparable Elsie, and wonder-
fully easy to carry out, too, if people would only have the
friendliness to wear their masks on their fa^^s. You will
be in a fine state some day when you wake up and find that
to be chaff which all along you have taken for pure gold!**
** Bat^ dear uncle, I shall not be so silly as to give my
GOLD ELSIB. M
aell wholly up to illusions. Only consider how muoh of
Badness I have experienced as a child; and I trust that I
have somewhat profited by what I have gone through. But
every creature must have a little confidence in himself and
his good star too; and so I make no doubt but that there
will be some way of escape found for me, although, upon
my entrance into the great wide world, I should fall into a
pit of Egyptian darkness and hideous monsters. You see,
uncle, what you have brought upon yourself through your
anxiety for my welfare ^j^our coffee has grown cold, and
your pipe is entirely out. ^*
The chief forester laughed, although, as it seemed,
against his will. But he remarked to Elizabeth afterward,
who had made haste to pour him out a fresh cup of coffee
and present him with a lighted match, " You need not
think that I have shot away all my powder if I say, ' Well,
^0 ahead and try it, so far as I am concerned. I shall cer
isinlj have the full satisfaction some dav of seeing this
bold little chicken come hurrying, in trembling eagerness,
to find shelter beneath the parental wings. ' '^
" Oh!'^ laughed Mrs. Ferber, " you will have long to
wait; you little know the spirit of our Elsie. But let us
come to a decision. I am of opinion that it would be
proper for the child to wait upon those ladies to-morrow.*'
The next day, toward five o^clock in the afternoon,
Elizabeth descended the mountain. A finely kept path led
through the forest, which insensibly brought one into the
park. No railing separated the first stretch of luxuriant
greensward from the woods, where the ground was covered
with the gnarled roots of trees.
Elizabeth had dressed herself in a freshly done-up light
muslin, and a round white straw hat shaded her brow.
Her father kept her company as far as the first meadow;
then she went forward courageously alone. Not a human
being did she meet on the long way through those charm-
ing grounds; yes, it did seem as if the whispering in the
shrubbery were deeper than over there in the woods, and
as if the birds themselves took care not to sing too loudly.
She was startled at the crunching of the sand beneath her
feet as she drew near the castle, and was surprised at the
sudden effect upon her own spirits produced Iby this awe-
inspiring stillness.
At USt 9hd reached the front entrance to the mansion
06 GOLD ELSIB.
and enconntered the first semblanoe of a human being. It
was a servant at work in an imposing vestibole, but mov-
ing about as noiselessly as possible. Upon her requesting
to have her name sent up to the baroness he glided up the
broad staircase lying opposite, at the feet of which stood
two lofty statues, with their white limbs partially hidden
beneath the dark foliage of several orange-trees. Very
soon returning, he announced that she was welcome, and
again led the way with fleeting foot, hardly touching the
stops with the tips of his toes.
Elizabeth followed him with beating heart. It was not
the splendor surrounding her that oppressed her, no, it was
the feeling of being alone in this new and unknown sphere.
The servant led her through a long corridor into whicii sev-
eral chambers opened that were decorated with extraordi-
nary richness and elegance, containing such thousands of
pretty trifles that an unsophisticated person would have
lancied himself in a fancy store.
The servant opened a folding-door softly and cautiously,
inviting the young girl to enter.
Near the window opposite Elizabeth lay upon a lounge a
lady apparently suffermg a good deal. BLerhead rested
upon a white pillow. A warm covering concealed almost
the whole figure, which, however, as was evident (in spite
of being wrapped up so), must have rather too much etn^
honpoint. In her hand she held a smelling-bottle.
The lady raised herself up a little, so that Elizabeth
could see her face prfectly; it was full, pale, and at this
moment did not look unpleasing. Upon closer inspection,
however, one was forced to the conclusion that there was a
frigid look in her large blue eyes, fringed by white eye-
lashes, under highly elevated eyebrows of the same pale
hue, an expression which was by no means softened by a
certain touch of pride about the lips and nostrils.
" Ah, how kind of you to come. Miss Ferber!^' ex-
claimed the baroness, with a voice weak but at the same
time hard and metallic in its ring, while, by a wave of the
hand she invited the politely bowing young lady to take a
seat in an arm-chair close at her hand. '* I have had my
cousin summoned, ''"she continued, " to my room, that you
and she may come to an understanding, since^ alas I I am
too unwell to go with you to her.'*
Thia reception was certainly courteous and f^abl^
GOLD ELSIE. 57
enough, although in the tone and gesture of the lady there
was an unmistakable admixture of condescension.
Elizabeth seated herself, and was upon the point of in-
quiry as to how she liked Thuringia, when the door was
thrown open violently. A little girl, about eight years old,
with flying locks that were tinged with red, rushed in,
squeezing up in her arms a pretty, squealing, squirming
* Aly is so bad, mamma, he won't stay with mel^' oried
the little one almost breathlessly, throwing the dog down
upon the carpet.
" Apparently you have been teasing the poor little brute
again, my child,'' said her mamma. " As for the rest, I
can not have you in here, Bella, you make too much noise,
and I have the headache. Go over to your own room."
" Ah, it is BO tiresome over there. Miss Mertens says
that I shall not play with Aly; and I just have to learn
those old fables that I can not bear."
'* Well, then, stay here, but keep quiet"
The little girl pushed past Elizabeth, looking her dress
up and down as she did so, and then mounted upon an em-
broidered footstool by the side of the mirror-console, in
order the better to reach a vase full of fresh flowers. In a
trice the beautifully arranged bouquet was reduced to a
state of the wildest confusion beneath the little hands that
busily tried to stick some flowers in the holes of the finely
embroidered curtain border. By this arrangement thick
drops of the discolored water in which the flowers had been
fell from their stems down upon Elizabeth's dress, so that
she was compelled to move back, inasmuch as there was no
likelihood that the little vandal would soon desist from this
amusement, either of her own accord or at the instance of
her mother.
Elizabeth had only just had time to effect her retreat and
answer the baroness's reiterated question, by saying that
she already felt herself perfectly at home in Thuringia, and
was delighted with everything, when the lady started rather
suddenly from her recumbent posture and with an obliging
smile upon her lips, nodded in the direction of a portiere^
which was noiselessly pushed aside. Upon its threshold
appeared the two young people whom she had recently ob*
gerved through the spy-glass; but how differently and
Btrangelj they looked side by tide. Mr. von Hollfeld,
58 OOLD mjSTB.
whose slender figure was almost too tall^ liad to bend low
on one side in order to afford any support for the little
hand that rested upon his arm. ^
That sylph-like oeing, as seen resting on her couch that
time, had quite a distorted^ childish shape. Her head^
which was really a perfectly beautiful one, was sunken be-
tween the shoulders, and the crutch in her right hand
showed that there must be some inequality iu her feet.
" Pardon me, dear Helen, for giving you the trouble of
coming over here, but you see I am once more the poor,
tortured Lazarus upon whom you are constantly expending
your angelic goodness. Miss Ferber,^' said she, politely in-
dicating the young girl who had risen blushingly to her
feet, '' has the friendliness to come herself in reply to my
note of yesterday. ^^
" And for this I return you my heartfelt thanksl^^ said
the young lady, turning to Elizabeth with a fascinating
smile. In admii-ing astonishment her eye ran over Eliza-
beth's form, and then remained fixed upon the rich braids
visible beneath her hat. " Ah, yes,'' said she, " I have
seen those beautiful golden tresses before; it was yesterday
on my walk through the forest. You were leaning over a
wall in the old castle. But by means of your being there
I lost the gratification for the sake of which I had climbed
up that high mountain ^just to hear you play once more
as you did the day before. So young and chiJd-like, and
so thorough an understanding of classical music; how is
that possible? You will make me very happy if you will
often play with me."
A shadow of disapproval crossed the baroness's brow, and
an acute observer could not have failed to perceive the
mocking smile that curled her lip; but this was" utterly lost
upon Elizabeth, for all her interest was centered in the
unfortunate young lady whose silvery voice seemed to have
its source directly in the heart.
Mr. von Hollfeld, meanwhile, had rolled up an arm-chair
near to the lounge for Miss von Walde, but then withdrew
without having spoken a word. As, however, he left the
room through the door immediately opposite Elizabeth, it
could not escape her that his last lingering look had rested
upon herself ere he slowly closed the door. She fairly
Borunk from his gaze, for there liarl been something so
(3^0U) ELSIE. fi9
peculiar m its expression that involuntarily she cast her
eyes down to see if there was something amiss in her dress.
Miss von Walde interrupted this scrutiny by asking to
what teacher Elizabeth was indebted for her skillful per-
formance, whereupon the latter informed her that she nad
been instructed solely by her mother, adding that to her
parents she was indebted for her whole education.
During this communication Bella had slipped down on
the carpet and was playing with the dog. It would have
made a lovely picture had not the whining and contortions
of the little beast shown that it was suffering pain. After
every loud cry that escaped the dog, at which Miss von
Walde always gave a nervous start, the baroness would ex-
claim, mechanically, " Let alone that nonsense, Bella P'
But finally, when the creature broke out into a piteous
howl, she lifted her finger threateningly at the bad little
thing and said: " Fll have Miss Mertens called!^'
"Pshaw!*' said the child, contemptuously, "she will
not dare to punish me; you have ordered her not to your-
self."
At that instant the portiere was softly opened and a pale,
elderly looking woman entered. At the same time that
she bowed humbly to the ladies, she said, timidly:
" Mr. Mohring is waiting for Bella.''
" I won't have any tasks to-day!" cried the child, taking
a ball of worsted from the table and pelting the lady
with it.
" Yes, my child, it must be," said the baroness. " Go
with Miss Mertens; be good now, Bella. "
Bella seated herself in an arm-chair, and stuck her feet
up, equally unconcerned about this summons and poor lit-
tle Aly, who had taken refuge behind the sofa. The gov-
erness seemed to desire to draw nearer, but a wrathful
glance from the baroness sent her back to the door.
Apparently this repulsive scene would have been pro-
longed for some while, had not the baroness called in
auxiliary forces in the shape of bonbons. The child left
her seat after she had stuffed her mouth and pockets full,
and, rejecting her governess's hand, ran out.
Elizabetli sat petrified from astonishment. Miss von
Waldo's soft features expressed unmistakable disapproba-
tion; but she spoke not a word.
The baroness sunk back upon her pillow. ** These gov*
00 GOLD ELSIE.
emesses rob me of years of lifer* siglied she. "If this
Miss MerteDS woald only learn to treat Bella as this excit-
able child with her sensitive nerves ought to be treated.
There is no acconnt taken of station in life, temperament
and physical constitution. Everything must be built upon
one model, no matter whether they are the daughters of
peers or shop-keepers, whether of finely strung nature or
of coarse, common mold. This Miss Mortens is an ob-
stinate, pedantic school-mistress. Besides, her English is
abominable; Heayen knows from what corner of England
she can have comeP*
** But I can not agree with you in this, Amelia dear,''
said Miss von Walde, speaking in an infinitely soothing
yoice.
** There, now, you are only speaking as prompted by
your angelic disposition; for although I do not understand
English myself, yet I instantly recognize the perfection of
your accent when you speak it, dear heart. ''
Elizabeth inwardly questioned the competence of this
criticism; and Miss von Walde made a gesture of dissent,
slightly blushing as she did so. The baroness, however,
continued unabashed: " Bella seems to be fully conscious
of this. She keeps obstinately silent when her governess
addresses her in English. I do not blame her for this at
all, but can not help being unspeakably provoked when this
person maintains that it is because the child is self-willed
and perverse.''
The baroness's voice, which had been so weak and com-
plaining in the beginning, had strengthened wonderfully
during this outburst of temper. She seemed suddenly to
become conscious of this herself and closed her eyes
weariedly. *' Dear me," she sighed, ** there are my un-
happy nerves playing the wild with me again. I am vehe-
ment when I should be perfectly quiet; these annoyances
are veritable poison to body and soul."
** I should advise you, at times when you are suffering,
as to-day, to commit Bella entirely to the care of Mr.
Mohring and Miss Mortens. I am convinced that with
them she is in good hands. Although I perfectly appre-
ciate your care and anxiety about the child, I must say, for
your consolation, that Miss Mertens is too gentle and re-
fined to do anything that would not be fit for the good of
the child. Tou look quite exhausted," added she, sympa^
GOLD ELSIE. 6l
fchetically. " It will be well for me to leave you alone.
Miss Perber will certainly have the goodness to lead me to
my room/'
So saying, she arose, bent over the baroness, and breathed
a kiss upon her cheek. Then she laid her hand upon
Elizabeth's arm, whom the baroness had dismissed by a
wave of the hand, meant to be civil, and lef fc the room.
Daring this long progress through different corridors she
said that it was chiefly for her brother's sake that she was
anxious to take up her music again. He used to sit in a
dark corner for hours listening to her play, until a severe
attack of nervous prostration had forced her to give up her
beloved musical studies for a long while. She felt much
stronger now; and her physician too had given his approval
of her making the effort she meant to practice diligently
now, in order to surprise her brother upon his return home.
Elizabeth hurried, as though winged, through the lonely
park and up the mountain path.
Her parents were walking up and down on the clearing
in front of the little gate in the wall; and little Ernest
sprung to meet her while she was yet far off. How pleas-
ant and home-like everything looked up here. Her &mily
saluted her as though she had been sadly missed; at the
window above Hanschen whistled and sung, so that it was
delightful to hear him, and behind the two wide open doors
of the great, shadowy halls shone the green garden more
charmingly than ever, and in the background was visible
the group of linden-trees overarching the cool fountain,
near to which stood a tea-table covered with snow-white
drapery.
All that Italian villa with its magnificence, its air of
grandeur and its almost oppressive stillness, broken only by
the noise of a spoiled, unruly child, sunk away behind her
as though it had been a dream from which she gladly
woke. And when she had imparted her impressions to
her parents, she ended with these words:
"According to your teachings, papa, I should not form
any decided opinion as to the character of my new ac-
Suaintances; for you reject first impressions as likely to be
eceptions, and apt to lead us astray. But how can I re*
strain my refractory imagination? Whenever I think of
those two ladies there comes up before me the image of r
6% K)LD ELSIE.
solitary joang wee^iug-willow^ helplessly bending befort
the fury of storm-driven cloads.^^
OHAPTBB Vn.
A SOIBEE.
Fbom this time forth Elizabeth went to Lindhof twice a
week. The baroness had settled the hoars throagh a polite
note^ and at the same time named a handsome fee to in-
demnify Elizabeth for her trouble. These hours soon be-
came for the young girl a source of high enjoyment
Helen von Walde indeed had lost a great deal in the
matter of technical dexterity by want of practice for such a
length of time^ and could not compare with Elizabeth as a
musician; but she played with deep feeling, had a thor-
oughly refined taste, and did not in the remotest degree fol-
low that ugly practice of most dilletantes, viz., that of
depreciating whatever lies beyond their horizon. The Bar-
oness Lessen was never present during these music lessons;
and so, by and by, the pauses for rest possessed a peculiar
charm for Elizabeth. At that time a servant usually
brought in some slight refreshments; then Helen would
lean back in her arm-chair, and Elizabeth would seat her-
self upon the foot-stool at her feet, Ustening with rapture
to the flute-like, melancholy voice, in which the poor mis-
shapen creature told of her past.
At these times the image of her absent brother continu-
ally came to the front. She could not praise enough his
undeviating thoughtfulness and consideration for her, nor
tire of repeating how kindly he would stoop to interest him-
self in her little fancies and pursuits, although he was so
much older and graver than herself. She told, moreover,
that he had purchased the villa of Lindhof solely because,
during a lengthened stay at L , when court was held
there, he had found out that the Thuringian air was
peculiarly beneficial to her health.
One afternoon, when their musical exercises had been
uncommonly long, a servant entered and announced a
visitor.
"Stay to tea with me this evening," said Miss von
Walde to Elizabeth. " My doctor from L has come,
and a few ladies from the neighborhood are also to spend
GOLD ELSIE* 68
the evening with us. I will send word up to your mam-
ma^ so that she will not be uneasy at your detention. My
interview with the doctor is not going to last long ^1*11 soon
be with you again/^
So saying, she left the room.
Hardly ten minutes had elapsed ere the door opened
again and Miss von Walde entered on the arm of a gentle-
man, whom she introduced to Elizabeth as Dr. Fels from
L . He was a fine-looking man, with an intellectual
face, who, when Elizabeth ^s name was called, turned to her
immediately and in a lively manner told her jocularly what
astonishment and horror had been excited throughout the
sober community of L when the report was spread that
old Kordeck was again to have inmates boasting flesh and
blood.
Suddenly there was a rustling sound heard in the ante-
chamber, and immediately afterward appeared within the
doorway two female figures of rather peculiar exterior.
One was elderly, the other young, and the striking resem-
blance they bore to one another proclaimed them to be
mother and daughter. Both wore somber robes, which,
contrary to the prevailing fashion, had long sweeping
trains, great black woolen mantillas, with round hats of
dark colored straw, which were tied under their chins in
case of the mother, with black ribbons, while the daughter
bloomed in lilac streamers.
Helen von Walde greeted these ladies as Mrs. and Miss
von Lehr; and Elizabeth learned later that while they were
residents of L they usually spent the summer in the
village of Lindhof, boarding in the family of some peasant.
Immediately after this arrival the Baroness Lessen came,
leaning on her son^s arm, and attended by a gentleman
who was addressed as Mr. Mohring, and whom she had
already heard of as a candidate for orders.
The baroness was dressed in dark colors, but with studied
elegance. The effect was imposing. She paused on the
threshold for a second, and seemed unpleasantly surprised
by Elizabeth^s presence. She gave the young girl a super-
cilious look of inquiry, and returned her bow by a hai^dly
perceptible nod of the head.
Helen had interpreted that look, and stepped up to her,
at the same time whispering in a deprecatory manner: ** I
have kept my little favorite to spend the evening with vlm,
64 GOLD ELSUL
because it was through my fault that she was detained too
late.'^
This apology did not escape Elizabeth's fine ear. She
felt indignant^ and had the impulse to jump right through
the window near which she stood; but pride forbade this,
and urged her the rather to stay and confront the haughty
baroness. Meanwhile the latter seemed pacified by her
cousin's representation. She took Helen in her arms,
stroked her hair tenderly, and addressed to her many en-
dearing epithets. ^ Then she invited those present to follow
her into the adjoining room where they were to take tea.
She did the honors of the tea-table, and in so doing dis-
played undeniable skill in keeping the ball of conversation
in motion. Besides this, she was clever enough to center
her attentions undeviatingly upon Helen, without seeming
to slight thereby any of the rest of the company.
Elizabeth sat silently between the doctor and Miss von
Lehr. On the whole, the conversation possessed but little
interest for her, since it mainly turned upon persons and
matters that she had nothing to do with.
Mrs. von Lehr talked a great deal, and seemed very
familiar with everything that had happened during the last
week in the region round about Lindhof, whether it con-
cerned the public or private individuals. She said all this
in a peculiarly whining, drawling tone, and at the close of
some sensational piece of news she would look down humbly
and meekly, as though she were the embodiment of suffer-
ing innocence. Now and then she would draw a little vial
of fennel-water out of her deep reticule, and moisten with
it her reddish eyes, which she was perpetually rolling up-
ward in the most die-away manner imaginable.
What a contrast between her dried-up, owl-like visaee
and Helen's madonna face as seen against the dark back-
ground of the crimson-plush sofa. This evening Elizabeth
more than ever likened her to a water-lily, as her exijuisite-
ly fair face and head emerged dreamily from their dark
surroundings. But this evening a strange radiance was
upon her features. Their expression of suffering had not
entirely vanished, but a fullness of joy flashed from her
eyes, and an enraptured smile played about her pale
red lips, as often as she picked up the rich bunch of
roses from her lap that Mr. von Hollfeld had pressed
into her hand when he first came into the room. He
GOLD ELSm. 65
sat down by her, and occasionally joined in the conver-
sation going on. The moment he spoke all the ladles
were silent and listened with evident eagerness and atten-
tion, dthoQ^h his mode of speaking was anything but flow-
ing, and, as it struck Elizabeth, displayed no originality of
tiiiought whatever.
He was a handsome young man of about four-and-twenty
years. There was a repose in the finely cut features that
would have seemed to imply manly firmness; but let any
one look closelj^ and searcningly into his eye, and he could
no longer be imposed upon by this plastic physiognomy.
His eyes, although large and faultlessly shaped, lacked
depth, and never show^ that meteor-like flashing which
often betrays to us the intellectual man, although he may
not have uttered a word. As for the rest this lack may be
atoned for by that mild, enduring luster that emanates
from a full soul; and while it does not transport, attracts
and holds. Those fine blue orbs of Mr. von HoUfeld be-
trayed no vestige of either of these qualities.
This observation, however, was made but by very few,
for it was an established belief, more especially at the
Court of L , that Mr. von HoUfeld was an oddity, whose
very silent lips locked up a hidden store of wisdom, and
least of all would the ladies in and about Lindhof have sub-
scribed to the above summary of his character. In proof
of this only behold Mrs. von Lehr's corpulent daugnter,
how she leans across the anxiously shrmking Elizabeth
whenever Mr. von Hollfeld opens his lips, as if every word
he speaks were gospel.
*' Were you not charmed with the glorious sermon
preached for us on the blessed holy day by Mr. Mohring,
the candidate y asked she, turning to Elizabeth.
" I regret not to have heard it, answered Elizabeth.
" Why, did you not attend worship?*'
" Oh, yesl I was at the village church in Lindhof in
company with my parents. "
" Ah!*' said the Baroness Lessen, for the first time turn-
ing her head toward Elizabeth, who was thereby made the
recipent of an extremely scornful smile, *' and very likely
it was right edifying in the village charch at Lindhof
" It was, indeed, madame,'' quietly replied Elizabeth,
looking firmly into the lady's eye, which fairly sparkled
with bitterness. '^ I was deeply moved by the simple and
66 GOLD ELSIE.
yet forcible words of the preacher who, for that matter,
held his service not in the church, but outside under the
oak-trees. When the worship of God was about to begin,
it appeared that the small church could not contain the
crowds of hearers who flocked thither. Forthwith a sort
of altar was erected under God's free sky, as has often been
done before. *'
" Yes, indeed, the fame of it has gone abroad, alas!''
interposed here Candidate Mohring, who hitherto had said
very little, satisfying himself with nodding apjproval of
Mrs. von Lehr's gossip, or accompanying it with some
token of assent. But now his broad, somewhat shining
face crimsoned as he turned to the baroness and continued,
in mocking tones:
" Yes, most gracious lady, it has come far the old idols
descend into the sacred groves, and the Druid sacrifices to
them under the oaks.'*
" I did not know about anything of the sort, and at the
time not the liveliest powers of imagination could have
persuaded me that I was present at a heathenish cere-
mony,'' replied Elizabeth. She smiled, but then con-
tinued, warmly and more gravely: " It seemed to me on
that glorious Whitsunday morning, when the tones of the
organ pealed forth from the open doors and windows of the
church, and the venerable old man raised his voice, trem-
bling with emotion, beneath the living green of the trees,
there came over my spirit precisely the same awe which I
felt the first time that I had ever in my life been permitted
to enter the house of God."
** You seem to have an excellent memory, young lady,"
remarked Mrs. von Lehr. " Pray may I ask how old you
were at that time?"
" Eleven years old,"
" Eleven years? Dear me, how can that be possible.^''
exclaimed the horrified old lady. '* Can Christian parents
have the heart? My children knew the house of the Lord
in their very earliest childhood ^yoa can bear me witness to
that, dear doctorl"
" Indeed I can, Mrs. von Lehr,'* seriously replied the
doctor. ** I remember you attributed that attack of croup,
which carried off your two-year-old little boy, to the child's
having been in a cold church."
Slizabeth looked at her neighbor shocked* The doctor
GOLD EIiSlB. 67
had taken no part in the conversation going on hitherto,
but occasionally to throvr in a dry bit of sarcasm, which
amased the young ^rl so mach the more as the baroness
each time darted at him a glance of reproof. When Eliza-
beth began to speak, however, she paid no more heed to
him than did the others, who had no eyes for au^ht bat
the heathen child; nobody remarked, then, that he was
killing himself with laughter at the frank answers given by
the young girl and their effect upon the company. Now
he cruelly strengthened Elizabeth^s position by his remark;
but he must have known his audience well, for Mrs. von
Lehr remained tranquil and unmoved, saying, pathetically:
" Yes, the Lord took the pious little angel to Himself; he
was too good for this world. And so the first eleven years
of your life you were shut out from the kingdom of God,*'
said she, turning to Elizabeth.
" Only from His temple, madame. Prom my earliest
infancy I was made acquainted with the truths of Chris-
tianity, and learned to reverence and adore an Almighty
Power, for I hardly know how I could have existed with-
out some ideas of religion. It is my father's principle not
to take children so early to the house of God; he thinks
such youthful beings are incapable of understanding the
high significance of what they hear there, weary of preach-
ing that, with the best of wishes, they can not comprehend,
and so take a disgust. My little brother is seven years old,
and has not yet been to church.''
" Oh, happy father!" exclaimed the doctor, " to con-
ceive and carry out such an idea!"
" Well, and what hinders you from letting your own
children grow up like mushrooms in a moral sense?"
" That I can explain to you in a few words, gracious
lady. I have six children, and am not rich enough to keep
a tutor for them. You can see for yourself that my calling
hinders me from educating them myself; hence I am
forced to send them to the public schools, and attendance
upon church service is one of the regulations of that estab-
lishment "
Hereupon the baroness arose with a gesture of impa
tience. Two red spots had gradually bloomed out upon her
pale, fat face, indicative of secret rage to all who knew her
ways. Seeing this. Miss von Walde stood up, who had all
this while kept aloof from the conversation, and offered an
68 GOLD elsieT
arm to her cousin, leading her to the window, while she
asked if it would be agreeable to her to have Elizabeth play
a duet with her.
This diversion of forces was agreed to by a nod of ac-
quiescence, most probably because the lady did not feel
equal to a contest with the doctor. Everybody must have
noticed her indignation; and so ifc would look well for her
to allow herself to be soothed by the influence of fine music
and thus prevented from giving the presumptuous doctor
the castigation he deserved for going counter to her known
ideas of right and wrong in her own parlor too
She withdrew into a recess of one of the windows, and
^azed out upon the forest and fields over which lay the
light shadows of swiftly falling night.
Her glance was of that cruelly cold description such as
can only be emitted from a certain sort of watery blue eye
fringed by white lashes, such as she possessed. There was
a deep-drawn line about the corner of her mouth, a token
of resentment which did not vanish either, although
Schubert^s " Erl-King *' arranged for four hands, and exe-
cuted in masterly manner by the two ladies, burst forth in
the full force of its weird and ghost-like power. Its tones
struck against this breast and died away unfeltas the waves
of song against the cliffs on the seashore.
As soon as the last chord had ceased to sound, the two
ladies rose from the piano, and the doctor, who had listened
. intently, hastened to meet them. His eye shone; he
thanked them warmly for a gratification such as he assured
them he had not experienced for many years. Hereupon
Miss von Lehr^s face flushed angrily, and her mamma shot
a really envenomed glance at the unlucky enthusiast. Had
not her daughter played in public several times during the
past winter for the benefit of certain charities at L ,
and had he not been present at these concerts.^ As for the
rest, the doctor seemed wholly unconscious of the tempest
that he had stirred up. He spoke appreciatively of Schu-
bert's glorious composition, and in so doing betrayed a fine
judgment and a thorough understanding of music.
Suddenly a chord was struck on the piano with crushing
force; it seemed as if bony fingers beat upon the keys.
Startled, the talkers turned around. The candidate sat at
the instrument with head reared back and nostrils distend-
^ and again his hands came down upon the key-board
GOLD BLSIB. 69
with a craslu He began a fine choral, bat through hii
wretched playing it became but a series of discords grating
upon every musical ear. This might have been stood; but
to Elizabeth's dismay he now struck in with a harsh, dis-
cordant voice this was too much. The doctor felt for his
hat, and made his farewell bow to Helen and the baroness.
The latter kept her face averted, and waved her hand care-
lessly as a sign of dismissal.
A droll expression was visible upon the doctor^s featurei.
He pressed Elizabeth's hand cordially as he took leave,
and then with a sweeping bow to the rest of the company
withdrew.
No sooner had the door closed behind him than the bar-
oness arose and excitedly approached Helen, who had
quietly ensconced herself in the corner of a sofa.
" It IS unbearable!" she cried, and her sharp voice had
a muflEled sound, as if choked by passion, while her pierc-
ing eye fastened malignantly upon the young girl, who
looked up at her timidly, evidently in real distress. '* And
you submit so unresistingly, Helen,'' continued she, " to
have our privileges of rank, our womanly dignity, yes, what
we deem most sacred, trodden under foot in your own par*
lor?"
** But, Amelia, dear, I do not understand.''
" You will not understand, child, in your inexhaustible
patience and long suffering, that this doctor insults me
whenever he can. Now I must submit to this because I am
not in my own house, and because, as a good Christian, I
prefer to endure wrong rather than take up the unseemly
weapon of retaliation. This long-suffering, however, must
have its limit, so soon as the prerogatives of our Divine
Master are brought in question. Is it not regularly to
blaspheme when this man picks u;^his hat unceremoniously
and noisily leaves the room, while our souls are being
deej)ly moved by the performance of a choral, that most
sabHme of all forms of musical thought?"
She had spoken ever louder and more passionately, for-
getting that at this very moment she was rendering perfectly
ineffective a whole octave of the persevering candidate's
affecting song.
" Ah, you must not think so ill of the doctor," said Miss
von Walde. "He is very much pressed for time, and
70 eOLD ELSIE.
almost certainly has another patient to visit to-night; why,
he was just about to take leave before we began to play/-
" Meanwhile the heathenish spell put upon him by the
* Erl-King ' made this excellent man forget his patient/'
interposed the baroness, scornfully. ** ]well, I bethink
myself. It is a melancholy sign of the times that the up-
holders of infidelity prevail ''
'* But, Amelia, what would you have me do? You know
only too well that Dr. Fels is indispensable to me; he is the
first and only physician who has been able to mitigate my
bodily sufferings!^' exclaimed Helen; and the tears started
to her eyes, wmle her pale cheeks glowed from excitement
" 1 should think. Miss von Walde,'' slowly and solemnly
began Mrs. von Lehr, who until now had been sitting in
her corner silent and watchful as a spider, '* the health of
the soul should be the first consideration; in my opinion,
the health of the body should come in the second place.
And as for the rest, I assure you L can boast of other
doctors fully as skillful as Doctor Fels. Believe me, dear
young lady, believers in our good town have felt much
' hurt when they have noticed their open enemy coming in
and out of your house on the most confidential footing.'*
*' Even though I should make the sacrifice of calling in
another physician, so far as I am concerned, I durst not
take this step without my brother's consent. And there I
would meet with the most vehement opposition. I know
it; for poor Eudolph thinks ever so much of Doctor Fels
and gives him his full confidence."
** Yes, the more's the pity!" said the baroness. " That
is a weak side to Eudolpn's character which I never could
comprehend I With this so-called frankness, which would
be better named impudence, that Fels imposes upon him.
Well, I wash my hands of the business; in future I shall
decline to be present when the doctor is a visitor here; and
you will excuse me from attendance upon you during his
professional calls, dear Helen."
Miss von Walde answered not a word. She arose from
her seat, while her troubled eye roved around the room, as
though she missed something. Herr von Hollfeld, Eliza-
beth thought, that searching glance was in quest of, for a
little while ago he had left the room unobserved.
The baroness looked around for her lace wrap, and Mrs.
Tou Lehr, with her daughter likewise prepared to take
GOLD BLSIE. 71
leave. Both said some complimentary things to the candi
date, who, having gotten through with his performance,
stood before the piano rubbing his hands from embarrass-
ment; they then took their leave of Helen, who said good-
night in a languid manner, and withdrew, accompanied by
the baroness.
When Elizabeth got down-stairs she saw Mr. von HoU-
feld standing in a dimly lighted corridor lying opposite.
He had been turning over the leaves of an album during
his mother^s outburst of temper, and in no way participat-
ed in her ebullitions of passion. This had struck Elizabeth
as outrageous, for she had had a lively desire that he should
stand up for Helen, and, by a brave manly word put an
end to the baroness's carrying on. But yet more it dis-
pleased her when she had to remark that looking away
from his book he was gazing fixedly at herself. It was
possible that he had already read upon her features annoy-
ance at his behavior, but at any rate she thought that he
had stared at her quite long enough. 8he felt finally that
she was reddening oeneath his gaze, and thi^ vexed her so
much the more, as this had already been the case several
times with regard to him, }uite against her will. As a
strange accident would have it, she had frequently met Mr.
von HoUfeld on her way home from the Villa Lindhof ,
whether in the corridor, on the staircase, or when he would
suddenly emerge from some thicket. Why this at last
became painful to her and embarrassed her she could not
have explained herself. She would not allow herself to
worry over it, however, and had genemlly forgotten the cir-
cumstance ere she arrived at home.
"Sow there he was standing in that dark passage. A
black slouched hat half covered his face, and the light sum-
mer coat he had worn in the parlor was excbanged for a
dark overall. He seemed to Have been waiting for some-
thing; and as soon as Elizabeth reached the fast step he
came quickly up as though he had something to say to her.
At that moment Mrs. and Miss von L^r appeared at
the top of the stairs.
" Why, Mr. von Hollfeld,'' called down the old lady,
" are you too out for a promenade?''
The young man's features, which had looked particulap-
ly aninaated and eager as he had come to meet JBlizabeth,
immediately assumed a calm, unconcerned expression.
72 GOLD ELSni,
" I am just coming in from the garden/' said he, in a
peculiarly negligent tone, ** where I nave been enjoying a
stroll in the cool evening air. Conduct Miss Ferber home!^'
was the order he gave in the same breath to a domestic
who, lantern in hand, was just coming from the servants'
hall for that purpose.
** How well it IS that to-morrow is Sunday,'* said Eliza-
beth one hour later, sitting at her mother's bedside after
she had finished her account of the occurrences of the even-
ing. There in our dear simple village church at Lindhof
will be washed away from my soul the hateful impression
left upon me by the last few hours. Never could I have
believed that I should ever experience other feelings in list-
ening to a choral than those of exaltation and reverence.
But this evening there came over me a sense of repulsion;
and I felt wounded to the quick when, in the midst of the
clatter of tea-things, and after hours of malicious gossip
about their neighbors, this sacred music struck up, which
I have been accustomed to hear only in hours consecrated
to worship. Behind this simulated religious zeal lurks a
boundless love of power this was plainly shown to-night;
but if others felt as I do the victory of this conqueror would
be a barren one; for you know, mother dear, I never had a
spark of the rebellious in my composition but this even-
ing, for the first time in my life, I felt stirring within me
an irresistible disposition to defy and contradict."
Finally she mentioned Mr. von HoUf eld's singular de-
portment in the hall, adding that she could not imagine
what he could have wanted of her.
" Well, we shall not rack our brains over that," said
Mrs. Ferber. ** But should he ever take it into his head to
offer to escort you home, mind that you refuse, under all
circumstances. Do you hear, Elizabeth?"
** But, dear mamma, what are you thinking of?" cried
the laughing girl. ''Expect the heavens to fall ere such
an offer is made. If Mrs. and Miss von Lehr, who seem
to be ladies of distinction, are allowed to tramp home by
themselves, depend upon it he will never condescend to b*
stow attention upon a simple little girl like myself.''
OOLD XUCB. 73
CHAPTEB Vm.
"the WAT OP THE WORLD. **
The chief forester had instituted a new family regulu-
tion about eight days after the arrival of the Ferber family
which, as he said, had been hailed with delight bv the
matron of his estabUshnient; and by virtue of this, obliga-
tion was imposed upon the Ferber family to dine at the
lodge regularly every Sunday.
These were days of delight for Elizabeth.
They set out on their way to church usually long before
the bells began to ring. In a fluttering white dress, her
soul overflowing with sweet conviction natural to her years
that a clear bright day contains naught but happiness,
Elizabeth preceded her parents, and anticipated with joy-
ousness the moment when the golden ball of the Lindhof
chapel should become visible low down in the valley,
emerging from the green waves of the forest If, from
the right and left church-goers came along diverse, retired
wood-paths leading from other quarters of the parish, they
would greet them cordially with shaking of hands, and join
company until they formed a numerous party, when amid
the ringing of bells they came out upon the green lawn that
lay in front of the church, where generally her uncle was
waiting. Already from the distance he would greet her
with beaming eyes and a glad waving of his hat. In every
movement of ms tall form, in his whole demeanor might
be read that unyielding thoughtfulness which knows not
fear, that expression of manly resolution and force of will
from which one would augur great purposes and bold deeds,
but never the tender sensibilities of a rich nature.
Elizabeth thought it an indescribably touching sight,
when a solitary httle star showed its mildly radiant face
from behind a mass of dark clouds; but just so seemed to
her the forester's firm, straightforward look whenever it
melted into tender feeling. And she had frequent oppor-
tunity for observing the metamorphosis; seeing that sh^
had become the apple of his eye. He had never had any
children; and now all the fatherly tenderness of which his
rid^ full heart was capable concentrated itself upon his
74 GOLD ELSIE,
brother's lovely child, who, as he felt with great pride,
possessed a disposition kindred to his own, although here
all those characteristics wore a softened and more beautiful
aspect in the person of a true woman.
she returned his loye, however, with child-like ardor and
affectionate solicitude. Soon she had found out everything
pertaining to his personal comfort, and interposed with aid
at a j)oint where Sabine^s keenness of sight, or her admin-
istrative hand even, had been at fault. Yet she did every-
thing so discreetly and with so much tact that the faithful
old servant^s feelings were never hurt, while the chief for-
ester tasted a sweetness in domestic life never felt before
since Elizabeth had learned to divine his little fancies, and
skillfully to gratify his tastes.
On the way home from church all returning on foot
together -her uncle usually led Elizabeth by the hand
" just like a little school-girl,'* said she, and exactly so it
looked. The admirable sermon which they had just been
listening to furnished them with abundant matter for con-
versation. The new thoughts and feelings suggested must
needs be discussed. Moreover, the birds sung and chirped
in the green shrubbery on either hand as though it was their
assured right to join in the talk; and through the thick
foliage of the trees overhead sporting sunbeams flashed
light down upon the heads of the passers-by.
At the furthest end of the long, dark, shady walk ^for
it was a very narrow wood-path that led from the village of
Lindhof to the hunting-lodge blinked like a golden name
the sunlit clearing, in the midst of which was the old lodge.
With every nearing step the little picture became plainer
and clearer, until they could distinguish Sabine's figure as
she stood in the doorway watching for their coming. They
could see how she had pinned up one corner of her white
kitchen apron, and holding one hand protectingly over her
eyes, peered out to catch a glimpse of the returning party,
and at sight of them darted off into the house; for it be-
hooved her, over yonder under the beech-trees, to be found
behind the smoking soup-tareen in the faithful discharge
of her duty, like the conscientious commandant of a fort-
ress about nis walls.
^ But old Sabine had a more than commonly fine meal this
time; for the sotip-dish was re-enforced by a pyramid of
scarlet strawberries, the very first of the season, which was
OLD ELSIE. ft
|p*eeted with a loud shout of joy^ not only by little Ernest
but by his big sister as well. The chief forester laughed
at the enthusiasm of the two children^ small and great, and
expressed the opinion that he durst not be behind Sabine in
riving a glad surprise; therefore his bay horse should be
harnessed up and he would give Elizabeth the ride to L
which he had been promising her so long.
At the table Elizabeth ^ave an account of the evening
she had spent the day before. Her uncle laughed most
heartily.
" The doctor was brave with a vengeance/' cried he,
laughing; '^ but he will suffer for it; he has taken bis last
cup of tea at the villa.''
*' Impossible, uncle; that would be outrageousl" cried
Elizabeth. ** Miss von Walde can not and will not submit
to that; she will resist with all her might."
"Well," said he, "I would just like to question the
young lady on the spot as to her present feelings toward
the doctor, you would hear what would astonish you. How
should a strong mind dwell in so frail a habitation? That
domineering woman will soon get the whip-hand of her and
bring her to terms. Is it not so, Sabine? We have lived
to see strange things come to pass since the baroness has
held the reins in that house."
** Ah! that we have, master,'' replied the old woman,
who was just setting a new dish upon the table. " When-
ever I think of that poor Mrs. Taylor she was the widow
of a poor day-laborer from the next village," said she,
turning to the others " who has always worked honestly
for a fivelihood, and nobody had ever been able to accuse
her of anything wrong; but she has four little children to
feet, and is obliged to live from hand to mouth. Well,
last year she h&d a hard time to make ends meet, and
allowed herself to get somewhat in debt, which was not
right to be sure. But her children were starving, and what
could she do? She took from a gentleman's field an arm-
ful of potatoes. The steward, Linke, however, was stand-
ing benind a bush, saw her, leaped forward and fell to beat-
ing the woman at once. Yes, if he had only given her a
few strokes as a reminder nobody would have h^ anything
to say; but he would not be done, and even went so far as
to stamp upon her with his f oo^- T chanc^ to have some
76 GOLD ELSIE.
basiness in Lindhof about that time^ and as I was going
along under the cherry-trees near the village I saw some-
body lying on the ground, and it was Mrs. Taylor. She
was spitting blood violently, could not move a limb, and
not a creature was near. I had some people called, and
they helped me to get her home. The chief forester was
away on a journey at the time; but I knew that he would
not blame me, and nursed the poor woman to the very best
of my ability. The villagers were furious over the super-
intendent's action; but what could they do? It was said
that the affair would be brought into court; yes, one may
wait a pretty time for that. That Linke is one of those
pretendedly pious ones; he is the baroness's right hand,
rolls up his eyes, and does everything in the name of the
Lord. He durst not show his face among the people; for,
you see Ms kind of religion allows a pious man to do right
unmanly deeds; and so there was the baroness riding into
town daily attending to his business; in short, the tale was
hushed up, and poor Mrs. Taylor, who is not yet able to
go about, had to bear her wrongs as best she could; and to
my certain knowledge not a sup of milk or a bit of bread
has been sent from the great house to either her or her
children during all this time of her severe illness. Yes,
that steward and the baroness's old waiting-maid carry on
bad doings at the great house, I can tell you. They sit at
prayers and chapel, snuflaing, and looking out sharply for
whoever is absent, and that hag lost many a steady work-
man a job at the villa. "
" Well, but now do not let us worry ourselves any
more," said the chief forester. '* It makes every mouth-
ful I eat bitter when I think of these bad things; and our
beautiful Sunday, whose brightness I enjoy the whole week
through, shall have no other shadows than those left by
those innocent little white clouds up there."
Soon after dinner the buggy drove up to the door. The
chief forester got into it, and like a flasn Elizabeth was at
his side. As she was giving a last salutation to those left
behind, her glance took in a view of the whole house; but
she was cut to her inmost soul by the expression in a pair
of eyes that stared down upon her from the upper story.
It is true that the head vanished again instantly, but Eliza-
beth had recognized dumb Bertha, and had seen that the
look cast upon her was full of hatred and rage^ altliODgh
GOLD ELSHS, 77
she could not imagine any cause for this animosily. Up
to this time Bertha had persisted in keeping utterly aloof
from the Ferber family; and although Elizabeth had been
so frequently at the lodge, she had never once been visible.
She eat alone in her room, because she knew that her uncle
had company every Sunday, and he had given his consent
to her doing so. He probably thought it best for the two
girls not to come in contact.
Mrs. Ferber, too, had made one attempt to conciliate
the girl. Conformably to her genuine womanly wav of
looking at things, she deemed it impossible for Bertha's
singular conduct to be due to spitefulness or malice. She
suspected some secret grief which made her indifferent to
everything around her, or that being conscious of her pas-
sionate, irritable temper, she preferred to be silent alto-
gether rather than fall into perpetual disputes. Mrs. Fer-
ber had hoped that gentle persuasion and gentle intercourse
would soon break the seal upon Bertha's lips; but it had
fared no better with her than with Elizabeth; and, indeed,
the girl's demeanor had aroused her indignation to such a
degree that she sternly prohibited her daughter from mak-
ing any further advances.
After a short ride they reached their destination.
L was a genuine little provincial town, and did not
belie this modest character, although from the appearance
of the first primrose to the falling of the last leaves of
autumn the court resided here, and its inhabitants expend-
ed great zeal and diligence in acquiring the tone of a great
city in their social life as well as m their fashions. But the
rattling peasant-carts and a pinching economy were not to
be concealed, even by the rustling of the most voluminous
and elegant skirts. The goodly specimens of the poultry
tribe that left the wide-open yard gates in perfect security,
in order to look for their daily bread between the uneven
flagstones and upon the strips of grass along the sides of
the houses, were as little like proud peacocks as their duck
neighbors, disporting themselves so gayly in the little brook
that ran straight through the town, were like to the lordly
swan.
The situation of this little town was undeniably a charm-
ing one. In the midst of a not very spacious valley at the
foot of a hill, the summit of which was crowned by the im-
posing princely villa, it lay ensconced amid avenues of dark
78 ^OLD ELSI&
green old linden-trees, interspersed in spring with myriads
of fruit-trees in fall blossom.
The chief forester condacted Elizabeth to the house of an
assessor, who was a friend of his. She was to wait for him
there until he had finished attending to some matter of
business. Although heartily welcomed by the mistress of
the house, the young girl would have loved to turn right
around and follow her uncle's swiftly retreating form; for,
to her dismay, she found herself in the midst of a large cir-
cle of ladies. In a few hurried words the assessor's wife
informed her that upon the occasion of her husband's ap-
proaching birthday they were going to have tableaux'-
vivants, representing my thological characters, and that the
ladies present had assembled for rehearsal. At a coffee- -
table set out in a prettily furnished sitting-room there were
chatting, with great animation, from eight to ten ladies,
who were already dressed to personate heathen goddesses;
and now turned their eyes upon the new-comer m a man-
ner that plainly cast aspersions upon her simple attire.
All the goddesses without exception had modeled their
costumes according to their ideas of the latest French style,
and their white robes floated above crinoline; for opined
Ceres, a rather solidly built blonde, over whose flushed
forehead waved a rich harvest of grain else it would look
scandalous; and without this hold it would be impossible to
arrange on their skirts heads of wheat and bunches of red
poppies; how the original Ceres, in the times of her glory,
couid have been helped over this embarrassment, would be
an interesting problem according to this declaration.
Perhaps, as seen by the more friendly light of candles,
an illusion might be thrown over the very remarkable
arrangement of some of the costumes; but now the bright
sunshme shone inexorably, and revealed most cruelly the
true quality of every bit of gold paper, every strip of calico
simulating satin, and every long stitch of the improvised
tunics. Upon Venus's girdle shone some Rococo shoe-
buckles set with glass, and the ill-secured silver crescent
upon the top of Diana's crown, at every turn of her head
showed a reverse of blotting-paper.
The mistress of the house went busily to and fro, here
and there putting in a word where the ladies were talking.
" Here we have it," said she, coming in after quite a
long absence from the room. " Mrs. Wolf, the counselor'!
OOLD ULSIE. 79
wife^ sends regjets that her Adolphas can not join our
party this evening, because he has fever, and is confined to
bed. After getting this bad news I once more ran over to
Doctor Fels's myself; but dear me, there is more hope of
moving a mill-stone from its place than that man from any
stand he takes as to the training of his children. He re-
peated the refusal that he had given me before, and that
m so offensive a manner, that I was quite beside myself.
For half-grown youths like his son Maurice he deems asso-
ciation with ffrown-up people in such things as these wholly
inadvisable; he says they easily get to think too much of
their own small persons, have their minds diverted from
their books, and Heaven knows what all; he sagely sug-
gested that I would have done much better if I had set be-
fore my suffering husband his favorite dish suffering,
mind you, when, save for a trifle of rheumatism, he is just
as sound as a fish in water instead of tormenting him with
this mummery, which could only make him lose rest and
comfort without being of any use in the wide world.'*
" What rudeness! How common! He is always setting
himself np as critic, and knows no more about it than my
little finger !*' was echoed, in wild confusion, from lip to
lip.
" Be comforted along with me, dear Adele,'* said Ceres.
" If it were not for my husband, who can not do without
Doctor Fels as a doctor, he should never set foot into my
house. When I was arranging that children's masquerade
last winter which certainly turned out charmingly he
declined my invitation for his children; and what do you
suppose he asked me when J went, in person, to ask leave
for nis little girls to come? If I really found any pleasure
in a monkey-show! I never shall forget that, never.'*
The doctor's intellectual face suddenly arose before Eliza-
beth with that piercing, sarcastic smile of his, and the look
of independence which characterized all of his movements.
She could not help smiling inadvertently at his rough sal-
lies; but at the same time there forced itself upon her mind
the humiliating thought of how often it is made hard for a
man to act in conformity with his views.
" Ah, what can you expect, ladies?" eagerly chimed in
Flora, a very slender, frail-looking creature with a lovely,
but deadly pale face, who up to this time had had no earthly
occupation out smiling at her flower-decked image reflected
80 0OLD BLSIB.
in a mirror hanging opposite. "Did he not treat us
worse? Did he not tell my parents to their faces two years
ago that it was not only folly but sheer want of conscience
think of that if they took me to balls so early, with my
constitution. Papa and mamma were furious as if par-
ents should not know what was best for their children.
Well, it is only good to know what moved him to this solic-
itude. His youngest sister was not married at that time;
and to girls of her age the appearance of a new debutante
is never pleasant. Papa would have dismissed the doctor
there and then, but mamma can not get along without his
advice. Well, fortunately his counsel was not heeded;
and, as you see, I am alive yet!^'
The silence of all present confirmed Elizaboth^s opinion
that this triumph was a very doubtful one, and that this
delicate creature, with her narrow sunken chest and sallow
complexion would some day have to pay dearly for this dis-
regard of medical advice.
Suddenly a handsome carriage came rolling along past
the window near which the ladies were grouped. Prom
where she sat Elizabeth had a view into the street, and
also of the object eliciting universal curiosity. In that
elegant carriage sat the Baroness Lessen and Miss von
Walde. The face of the latter was turned in the direction
of the assessor's house; and it looked as if she were actually
counting all the windows on the ground-floor. Her cheeks
were slightly flushed, always with her a sign of inward dis-
turbance. The baroness, on the contrary, leaned negli-
gently back on the hind seat; for her there seemed to be
neither houses nor people in that street.
"The Lindhof ladies," said Ceres. "But, bless me,
what means that? They fairly ignore Doctor Fels's win-
dows! There stands the doctor's wife. Ha, ha, ha, only
see the long face she makes; she tried to speak to them;
but alas! the ladies have not got eyes in the back of their
heads!''
Elizabeth looked at the house opposite. There stood a
very pretty woman at the window, with a lovely child in
her arms. Most assuredly there was something strange in
the beautiful blue eyes that followed the carriage; but the
blooming oval of her face had not become at all elongated.
In consequence of a movement on the part of the child,
that stretched out his little hands toward the strangely
GOLD ZL8IV. 81
decked female heads to be seen in the assessor's house, sha
looked across and nodded pleasantly at the ladies, who re
turned her friendly greeting with kissings of the hand and
various pretty little pantomimic gestures.
" Singular/* said the assessor's wife. " What can have
come over those two ladies to induce them to drive past the
house over yonder without even a nod! They have never
before gone through this street without ordering the car-
riage to stop. Then, Mrs. Fels would stand at the car-
riage-door for a half hour at a time, and Miss von Walde
seemed deep in conversation with her. The baroness did,
manv a time, make a sour face. Really remarkable; well,
the future will show what is at the bottom of this. '*
" Mr. von Hollfeld must have stayed at Odenberg. He
was with the ladies this morning when the carriage drove
past us,*' said Diana.
" How will Miss von Walde bear the separation?*' asked
Flora, with a mocking smile.
** Why, is there anything between the two?'* asked the
assessor's wife.
" Where have you been not to know that, child?** cried
Ceres. " As to how he thinks and feels we are still in
the fog; but that she passionately loves him is beyond ques-
tion. For that matter, it may be looked upon as almost
certain that this regard is confined to one side, for how
could so dreadfully crippled a being inspire love. And in
a man of so frigid a nature as Hollfeld, who is unmoved by
the sight of the greatest beauties.**
*' Yes, that is true,** remarked Venus, with a glance at
the mirror, which Flora had all this time been engrossing,
despite her leanness. " But Miss von Walde is enormously
wealthy.'*
" Well, he can get the wealth on easier terms,** said
Flora, reflectively. " He is the presumptive heir of both
the brother and sister. **
''The sister, you mean,** amended the asses8or*s wife.
" Mr. von Walde is not yet too old to marry, is he?**
" Oh, go along with that!** exclaimed Ceres, impa-
tiently. " That woman must be just born or descended
fresh from the skies who should assent to that He i&
made up of pride, and has less heart than his cousin.
What used to vex me as a girl was to see him at court balU
leaning against the door^ arms crossed, as though they had
$2 GOLD ELSIE.
grown there, and looking down upon the assembly with
such an air of superiority! Only when he was invifced to
dance by the duchess or one of the princesses would he
budge from his place; and even then he took no pains to
conceal the fact that he did not care a stiver for the honor
bestowed upon him. Well, we all know what he requires
of her at whose feet he will lay the proud name of Mrs. von
Walde ^he has roundly declared it ancestors ancestors
she must have, and if possible date back her family-tree to
Noah's ark itself. '^
All laughed; Elizabeth alone preserving her gravity.
Miss von Walde's demeanor had made a deep impression
upon her. She was indignant, and felt her opinion of
human character lowered. Such a change in a few hoursi
Could it be possible? For some one else with less ideal per-
ception, the incomprehensible influence exercised by the
Baroness Lessen over Helen von Walde would have been
forthwith explained by that declaration of these ladies, that
she was in love with the baroness's son this did not at all
satisfy Elizabeth. That exalted feeling which the inspired
poets of all ages and zones have celebrated as the sweetest
and noblest on earth could not possibly become the source
of ignoble actions; just as little could she comprehend how
Mr. von HoUfeld could inspire such a sentiment. Here
she undertook to judge for another according to the stand-
ard of her own consciousness; but was it the instinct of
her noble, womanly nature, or indeed that keenness of per-
ception for which the lineaments of the physiognomy are
so closely inwoven with the fibers of the soul that [it can
trace them to their original source; enough, here her judg-
ment as to a man with whom she had had hardly any mter-
course was perfectly justified.
Mr. von Hollf eld was utterly unfitted to become the beau
ideal of a pure and refined woman. He possessed neither
sense nor wit. Moreover he was boundlessly vain, and
would not be satisfied to interest through his handsome fig-
ure alone. He was well aware that most women will par-
don homeliness rather than want of intellect. Nothing
else was left him, then, than to assume that roughness of
manner and reserve which, in the minds of ordinary mor-
tals, presuppose a penetrating reason, originality, and
strength of purpose. There was no man in the world who
opcld boast of being intimate with Mr. von Hollfeld. He
GOLD ELSIB. 83
xras sly enough to ward ofE any close inspection of his men-
tal resources, and persistently avoid any argumentation with
men. The ladies were perfectly satisfied with his rough
exterior, expecting to find here the exemplification of the
proverb, " the rougher the shell the sweeter the kernel/'
Mr. von Hollfeld knew how to calculate. He became
the object of many a longing sigh, the desire for conquest
being enhanced by its diliiculty. Meanwhile what Holl-
feld's spirit lacked in fire and force was fully made up for
in the domain of the lower pa^ssions, among which avarice
and sensuality had the supremacy. He was above no in-
trigue that could make his position in the world more showy
and delightful; he had the finest field for this right at hand,
being a gentleman of the bed-chamber at the Court of
L- . He lied and cheated, and was so much the more
dangerous, as behind his straightforward, dry manner, no-
body suspected the existence of such an evil nature. Men
as Lttle as women would have agreed that there, where, ac-
cording to their conviction, slept untouched the precious
pearl, love, an impure flame was destructively raging.
Elizabeth was glad when she saw her uncle turn the cor-
ner and approach the house. With a deep-drawn sigh of
relief she finally took her seat in the carriage by his side.
She had taken off her hat, and was bathing her heated brow
in a delicately fresh evening breeze that jiist now swept by.
The setting sun was shedding its last beams upon the faint-
ly trembling leaves of the poplar-trees that lined both sides
of the carriage-drive; a golden radiance still lighted up the
blooming potato-fields, but the forest that held in its arms
Elizabeth's beloved home lay there dark and solemn, as if
it had already forgotten the sunny life, which this morning
had penetrated to its very heart's core.
For some little wliile, the chief forester had been silently
observing the young girl. Suddenly he took the whip and
bridle-rems into one hand, with the other he took hold of
Elizabeth's chin, and drew her face so that he could look
into it.
" Eh, let me see, Elsiel" said he. " Why, horrors, you
have two wrinkles on your forehead as deep as the furrows
in Sabine's field! Has anybody troubled you in yonder?
Out with it. You have been vexed, is not that so?
" No, uncle; nobody has vexed me, but I have been
pained to find out how correct your opinion of Miss vob
84 GOLD ELSIE.
Walde is,'' answered Elizabeth, blashing from excitement
as she spoke.
" Pained because I was right, or because Miss von Walde
has done wrong?*'
" Well, really, because it was a bad thing that you
prophesied "
"So, properly, you should be angry with me, too, on
this account ^is ^at so? You ought to have live at a
court where that one is punishable who dares to tell the
truth about some good-for-nothing favorite. Well, and
pray what has happened to give the victory to my despised
Knowledge of human nature?' '
She described Helen's behavior to him, and told him the
impression the ladies had as to the state of her affections.
The chief forester smiled to himself.
**Yes; women, women; they always know everything
that is going on," said he. " They have people married
when they have barely been introduced. Well, m this case,
they may be right, although until now the idea of such a
thing has never entered my mind. "
"But, uncle, you do not believe that for the sake of such
a fancy a person would give up one's better dispositions?"
" For the sake of such a fancy, child, many and many a
thing has been done; and, although I do not at all approve
of Miss von Walde's weakness and vacillation, far from it!
yet I judge her less harshly. This is the power that makes
us forget father and mother for the sake of somebody else."
" Yes; that is Just what I can not understand at all,
uncle, how any one can ever love a strange man more than
one's own parents," replied Elizabeth, eagerly.
"H'm!" ejaculated the chief forester, letting his whip
fall lightly on the bay horse, in order to urge him up a
little. This " h'm " followed a slight cough, and with tnis
he let the subject drop; for he thought quite correctly:
"If the case stands so, my definition of love will not be
understood, although I spoke with the tongue of angels. "
And he himself?
The time lay far behind when he had cut the name of his
sweetheart upon the bark of a tree, and forced his rough
voice to melt into the tender strains of a love-ditty; then he
had run leagues for the chance of obtaining a single glance,
and hated as his bitterest enemy another fellow who dared
to lift Us eyes to her.
GOLD ELSIB, 85
'Now, he looked back reflectively and pleased himself
with living over those young days; bather, with her impet-
uous nature, her laughter and weeping, her hoping and fits
of despondency, her he could not picture again!
" Do you see that black streak there, over the forest?^'
asked he, after a long silence, while with his riding-whip
he pointed at the ever-nearing mountains.
*^ Yes, indeed, that is the banner-staff on Castle Nor-
deck. I discovered it awhile ago, and at this minute am
rejoicing unspeakably in the thought that it marks a little
spot of ground where we are at home, a place whence no-
body in the world has a right to exclude us. Thank God,
we have a home !'^
" And what sort of a one?*' said the chief forester, while
his brightening glance took in the whole country adjacent.
** When I was but a tiny little fellow, there awoke in me a
longing after the Thuringian forests, for which my grand-
father was to blame with his stories. He had passed his
young days in Thuringia, and was full to the brim of tales
and legends connected with his native place. Then the
whole forest that we see before us belonged to the Nordeck
family, but I could not enter their service. I had learned
too much about those people from my grandfather. From
time immemorial I was the first Ferber who had not been
in their employment; but got an appointment from the
Prince of L . The exclusive heir of the last Greswit
divided his great tracts of forest-land, because the Prince
of L wished to enlarge his preserves, and a pretty sum
of gold, too, he had to pay down for the gratification of his
whim. Thus it came to pass that a lively desire of my
youth was gratified, for I dwell now in the house that is the
actual cradle of the Perbers. You know that our family
had its origin in Thuringia?^'
** Yes, indeed, I have known that from my childhood. '*
** Do you know the story of our beginning?'*
"No.''
" Well, it was a long time ago, and I am probably the
only one who knows the story; but it shall not be entirely
lost; to hold it in remembrance is the only token of grati-
tude that we descendants can give for a generous deed;
therefore, you shall hear the tSe, and afterward carry it
further. About two hundred years ago ^you see our fam
ily-tre dates back a good bit, the only pity being that we
86 GOLD ELSIE.
do not know who our first ancestress was; should you be
questioned on this point by the Baroness von Tissen and
her set, you can say confidently that we suspect her to have
been if not that very Gussie von Blase toit^ for the date of
the history is in the Thirty Years' War a vivandiire.
Who knows but that she was a good, loyal wife, who re-
mained true to her husband in all the tribulations of war?
And yet I can not pardon her for one thing, viz., the deser-
tion of her child. To go on with my story. Well, about
two hundred years ago, when the hunter Ferber's wife went
to open the house-door early in the morning the very
same that turns the key upon all my possessions there she
found a little baby lying on the threshold. In a trice the
door was slammed to again, for in those days many gypsies
used to rove through the woods, and she supposed it must
be one of the heathenish brats. Her husband, however, was
a Christian man, and had the child taken in, which turned
out to be hardly a day old. A note was pinned on its
breast, begging that the little boy might be received, add-
ing that he was born in wedlock, had been baptized John,
and that at some future time they should learn further
J particulars about the child. In a corner of the pillow was
ound a small purse full of money. The hunter's wife was
a good woman in the main, and after she was satisfied that
the boy came of honest parents and was likely some good
soldier's child, who had put out their infant to save it from
the perils of war, she took him to her heart, and brought
him up with her own little girl as if they had been brother
and sister. And well it was for him, because not one of
his relations ever troubled themselves about him. Later
his foster-father adopted, him, and, to crown his happiness,
his sweet foster-sister was permitted to marry him. He, as
well as his son and grandson, were hunters on this estate,
and lived and died in my present dwelling.
" My grandfather was the firat to be transferred to an
estate in Silesia. When a boy, I used to be indescribably
worried because, in the course of so many years, no mother
of high rank had turned up. When I grew Ider, this
missing link in a romantic history used to pain me much,
the more deeply whenever the thought came to me that
my appearance in this fine world might have been a very
questionable one; my good name was too dear to me for me
to be willing to bear any other. But wondrously strange
GOLD BLSHE. 87
feelings I had when, for the first time, I crossed the thresh-
old where that little outcast had been obliged to spend the
most helpless instant of his life; his natural protectors had
abandoned him, and compassion had not yet taken their
place. Its much-worn door-step is without doubt the very
same on which the child lay, and so long as I live, or have
anything to say about the house, it shall not be moved from
its place. ^'
Suddenly the chief forester bent forward, and pointed
through the boughs, for already they were driving through
the woods.
** Do you see yon white speck?*' asked he.
The white speck was the cap of Sabine, who was sitting
before the front door looking out for her master's return.
As soon as she caught sight of the buggy, she got up
quickly and shook into a basket standing by her side the
contents of her apron, which proved to be a quantity of
blue forget-me-nots.
The bay horse trotted whinnying behind the house,
where the groom was already waiting in the open yard-
gate, and received the animal with a caressing slap. Hector
lay on the green sod, wagging his tail, and the pigeons and
sparrows, scared away by the noise in the first instance, by
and by came back, and boldly hopped about upon the ta-
ble and the painted green bench under the linden-tree,
where the chief forester was accustomed to take his break-
fast and supper a habit perfectly well known to the little
spongers. He only took long enough to exchange his uni-
form for a comfortable undress suit, and returned, with
pipe and newspapers, to take his seat under the linden,
where Sabine had already laid out a nice repast.
" Do not you think this is a very silly Sunday pastime
for such an old woman as I am?*' said the houscKeeper,
laughingly, to Ehzabeth, who, having seated herself upon
the door-sill, now become so interesting, had taken into her
lap the basketful of flowers, and went on weaving the
wreath which the old woman had begun. ** But I have
been used to doing this from my youth up. You see, I
have two little dark pictures in my room; they are the like-
nesses of my sainted father and mother; they have well de-
served of me that I should honor their memories, and make
for them a fresh wreath of flowers so long as a little blos-
som of any sort is to be found in th woods. A couple of
88 GOLD ELSIE,
children from the village bring me fresh ones every Sunday,
and tonday I got so many that enough are left over to mate
a crown for Gold Elsie. If yon put them in a plate full of
water, you have something pretty before your eyes the
whole week through/*
This evening Elizabeth sat a while longer with her uncle.
Hosts of memories had been revived in the chief forester's
breast. With that narrative of family history happening
two hundred years ago, many purposes, plans, and feelings
of his youth had risen before him, which he now let pass,
smiling at himself compassionately; they had all turned
into dust before the realities of life just like chafp before
the wind. He told of them calmly, like one who stands
upon safe ground, and only from afar hears the roaring of
the floods which have no power to reach him. Many a
time his talk was interspersed with some witticism or teas-
ing remark, which was parried or given back in kind by
Elizabeth or Sabine just as it had been directed.
Meanwhile, the sky grew luminous behind the tree-tops,
taking no distinct shape at first, but gradually defining it-
self in deep outlines of light upon the dark background of
the evening sky.
Single points of light quivered like silver arrows through
interlacing boughs, and for a long time remained motion-
less like little oases of light amid a field of increasing gloom,
until finally the great moon rose victoriously over the
masses of trees, and poared forth bounteously upon them
of her pale, pure beams. The light evening breeze had
long since folded its wings, and so motionless were the
leaves of the linden-tree that their individual shadows were
almost discernible upon the greensward underneath.
The more pleasantly sounded the plashing of the fountain
from the other side of the house, and a faint, indistinct
rustling heard from the direction of the forest was called
by Elizabeth "nature's lullaby.*'
** There,'* said Sabine, pressing upon Elizabeth's brow
the crown of forget-me-nots, which was just finished; ** you
can take it home uncrushed this way."
*' There it may stay, too," said the young girl, laughing,
as she arose from her seat. ** Many thanks for my nice
ride, uncle. Good-night I Good-night, Sabine 1"
So saying, she bounded away through house and yani
wA soon stood on the top of the mountain putside th^
GOLD ELSIE, 89
garden, the gate of wliich she closed. She flew up the nar-
row moonlit woodland path.
Up in their sitting-room, a lamp was burning; the glim-
mer of this light was visible from afar, because the front of
the middle building lay in deep shadow. When she stepped
out upon the clearing, a remarkable shadow fell athwart
her path; this was neither a tree nor a^ost, but the figure
of a strange man, who had been standing to one side, and
now, to her alarm, approached. The apparition politely
removed a hat, and instantly Elizabeth's fright vanished,
for she looked into the smiling good-humored face of an
oldish, finely dressed gentleman.
" I beg pardon, young lady, if I have scared you a lit-
tie,'* said he, looking into her face kindly from over a pair
of large, shining spectacles; " but I have designs neither
upon your life nor your purse, being nothing more than a
peaceable traveler returned from his lourneyings, who is
curious to know the meaning of yonder light in these ruins.
As for the rest, just at this moment, I am convinced that
it is wholly superfluous to ask. The fairies and elves are
carrying on their revels thc/e, and the fairest of them ram-
bles about in the woods to hinder any one from trespassing
upon their circle with impunitjr/'
This gallant comparison, trite as it might be, for that
matter, did not seem inappropriate just at this minute, for
the slender, girlish form clad in white raiment, the wreath
of blue flowers above her angelic countenance, and flooded
by moonlight, needed but little aid from the imagination to
personate some lovely heroine of a fairy tale, as she flew so
lightly through the bushes over that lonely mountain.
" I am grieved,^' said she, lightly, '' to have to lead you
back into the rough and homely domain of the real; but I
would not know how, of a truth, to see anything in the
light yonder more than the respectable lamp in the com-
fortable room of Prince L 's forester-clerk. ''
" Heighol'^ laughed the gentleman, " and does the man
live all alone here in these uncanny old walls?''
** He might safely adventure it, for * the uncanny ' has
no power over him who walks uprightly. However, a few
living creatures do lend him company; among others, two
well-tended goats and a darling little canary; to say noth-
ing of the owls, who, however, have retired indignantly into
private life, because the gpings on of cheerful human be-
90 GOLD ELSIE.
ings are not in keeping with the stern views of life taken
by those suave gentlemen.'*
" Or else because they shun the light and can not bear *'
" That the new arrivals dishonor the truth'*
"Possibly so; but I should say that they properly flee
from the two suns which have suddenly risen upon &o
ruing.**
" That would be too strong a tax upon the poor owl-
eyes, and would even be too much for a worshiper of fire!**
replied Elizabeth, smiling, while she hurried by him with a
slight bow, for her parents had just come out of the little
gate in the wall, and came a few steps to meet her.
They had started up solicitously when they heard Eliza-
beth*s voice and that of a stranger, and now, after she had
reported to them her little adventure, gave her a gentle re-
proof for having entered into a conversation so unre-
servedly.
" Your jesting might have had very unpleasant conse-
quences for you, my child,** said her mother. "Fortu-
nately they were men of good breeding **
" Men?** ejaculated the young girl, in astonishment.
" There was only a single one. **
" Just look around, if you please,** said her father;
" you can see for yourself.**
And, to be sure, there, where the path went abruptly
down the mountain, two men*s hats were distinctly to be
seen.
*' You can see, mamma,** said Elizabeth, ** how little
there was alarming in the rencounter. One of them did
not even venture out of the coppice, and in the good old
face of the other surely not a trace of the bandit exists. **
Up in her own room she cautiously lifted the wreath
from her brow, laid it on aplate, and placed both beneath
the bust of Beethoven. Then she kissed the forehead of
the sleeping Ernest, and bade her parents good-night.
CHAPTER IX.
ELSIE STEIKES A BAEGAIIST. LIKELY TO KINDLE A MATCH.
" Halloo, Elsie, do not run so,** called out the chief
forester, as, the next day, with his rifle thrown over his
shoulder, he came out of the forest, straight across the
meadow in the direction of his own house.
GOLD ELSIE. 91
Elizabeth flew down the mountain, her round hat on her
arm^ instead of on the plaits that glistened from afar in the
sunshine, and having reached the house, ran laughingly
into her uncle's arms, which were outstretched to receive
her.
She stuck her hand into her pocket, and drew back a
step.
" Guess what I have in my pocket, uncle?'* said she,
smiliug.
" Well, what can it be? One need not rack his brains
long to find out. Probably a little sentimental hay, such
as a few little flowers dried to perpetuate tender memories?
Or is it a sprig of arhor vitcB pressed between sheets of
gilded pasteboard?' *
" Take care! you have missed fire twice, Mr. Forester,
and for once I shall not plague myself with your guessiug,
so then only just look!"
She drew forth from her pocket a little box and lifted its
lid. There was lying idly upon green leaves a great lemon-
colored caterpillar, dotted over with black, diagonally
striped with bluish ^reen, and a crooked horn on his tail.
*^ Wonderful to behold, indeed! Why, a Sphynx Atro-
pos!'' exclaimed the chief forester, delightedly. " Yes,
little witch, where did you come up with this magnificent
specimen?'*
** Over at Lindhof, in a potato-field. Am I not right?
Isn't it a beauty? There now, we'll shut the box up nicely
again, and back into my pocket it goes."
** What, am I not to get the caterpillar?"
** Oh, yes, you can have it, to be sure; that is, if jou will
pay for it." "
" Dear me! have you turned Jew? Very well, hand it
over; here are four groats. "
" Heaven forbid! I'll not close the bargain under twelve
groats. Whv, there is many an old withered parchment-
leaf that looks so abominably that one can hardly bear to
touch it, and does it not sell for its weight in gold? Should
not, then, a fine natural specimen, alive, be worth its
twelve groats?"
" Old withered parchment-leaf, forsooth! You had bet-
ter not say that in the hearing of scientific ears; they would
hQ down upon you with a vengeance."
92 GjOLB ELSIE.
''Ah! in these free, wfld woods, there are none of the
sort.''
" Take heed!"
" Mr. von Walde sticks to the pyramids/*
'' Bat might come all of a sudden and call a certain pert
little damsel to account; he is a chief authority in the sci-
entific world/'
'* Well, so far as I am concerned, they can erect monu-
ments to him, and strew in his path as many laurels as they
choose; I can not forget that for the sake of this mad craze
he forgets the claims of the station to which Providence has
called him; that he is searching, maybe, after a perfect bill
of fare used at LucuUus's table, or certainly about it, and
whether the Eomans really fed their fish upon the flesh of
slaves; while the poor on his estates go hungry, or, under
the baronesses goad, are driven under the yoke of a modern
slavery/'
*' Heyday! I know somebody whose left ear must be
tingling! What a pity that he can not hear this confession
of faith. Here, then, are your twelve groats, if I can have
it on no other terms. I dare say you want to buy with them
a figgamaree, a feather, or some such nonsense to set off
your hat with?'*
She held her hat off at arm's length, and gazed rapt-
urously at the two fresh roses which she had stuck in its
plain black velvet band,
" And do you believe that I would voluntarily put my
young head under the shadow of somber plumes, when i
can have roses, and fresh roses too? And there is your
specimen, and you shall learn why I have levied a tax upon
you. This morning the wife of a poor weaver at Lindhof
came to my mother for help. Her husband had a fall late-
ly, injuring both his arm and foot, so that for weeks he
has not been able to work or support his family. My
mother gave her old linen and a huge loaf of bread, but to
give more, as you know, is out of her power. See, here I
have fifteen groats from my savings at the time there was
no more in my purse three of the same are from Ernest,
who would sell his darling tin soldiers in order to help the
poor woman; add to this the price of the specimen, and
altogether there is a whole dollar; and it shall be carried
right away to the weaver's hut. "
" That is something worth hearing. Here is another
GOLD ELSIE. 98
dollar, and Saoiner^ called he, into the house, *' fetch
here a good big piece of meat out of your brine-cask, and
lay it between two green leaves. Take that with you,
too/' said he, turning again to Elizabeth.
** Oh, you dear, generous uncle!*' joyously exclaimed the
girl, as she took his large hand between her slender fingers,
and tried to squeeze them heartily.
"But take care,'' continued he, " that this substantial
beef does not turn into roses; for the poor weai^er's wife
would hardly be satisfied with such food; you are going the
same road as your holy namesake. "
" Yes, but happily 1 have no grim landgrave to fear; for
that matter, if I had, in spite of fear, I should not tell him
an untruth."
** Zounds! what an heroic soul!"
** Well, I think it would take incomparably more spirit
to tell an open falsehood boldly, although it were ten tim6s
a pious one."
" You are right there, little daughter; it should not be
done either. Halloo! here comes Sabine!"
The old housekeeper came forth from the door, and while
in obedience to the chief forester's instruction she handed
Elizabeth the meat, she whispered to him that Mr. von
Walde, who had returned from his travels late yesterday
evening, had been waiting to see him for some little while.
" Where?" aeked he.
*' Down here in the sitting-room."
But they had been standing in front of this room, and its
windows were open. Elizabeth turned around in surprise, ,
but could discover nothing. Her cheeks flushed vividly.
Her uncle, however, without turning around, drew his
head down between his shoulders in the most comical man-
ner, smirked while he stroked his beard, and said, softly,
with a suppressed smile:
. " Here we have done it! You have cooked yourself a
fine mess; he has heard everything!"
"So much the better," said the young girl, throwing
back her head defiantly, " for it will be seldom enough that
he will get to hear the*^ truth."
Then she offered her hand to her uncle and Sabine, by
way of farewell, and slowly followed the path through the
woods that led to the village.
At first her feelings had been painful when she reflected
94 GOLD ELSIE.
that Mr, von Walde had thus overheard her opinion of him,
unconscioasly to herself; but then she thought she would
have spoken the same trufch to his face.
But it was not to be supposed that he would ever inquire
as to her opinion a thougnt that made her smile, in view
of his inaccessibility so really it could do no harm that
accident had given him th6 benefit of a perfectly impartial
judgment, although pronounced by a mere girl. But how
was this that he had returned so suddenly and unexpected-
ly? Miss von Walde had invariably spoken of her brother's
absence as destined to be of some years' duration, and only
day before yesterday she had been entirely unaware that
there was any likelihood of his speedy return.
Suddenly her yesterday evening's interview occurred to
her. That old gentleman had said, too, that he was a re-
turned traveler, but he, with his good-natured smiling
countenance and affable manners, could not possibly be the
grave, proud owner of Lindhof ; he was rather the one who
had tarried silently behind in the darkness of the shrub-
bery, while his companion had come forward to obtain the
desired information about the light in question.
But what could Mr. von Walde want with her uncle,
who, as she knew, had never before had any intercourse
with that gentleman?
These and similar thoughts busily occupied her mind, as
she hastened on her way to the weaver's house. Man and
wife wept for joy at the unhoped-for alms, and attended by
a thousand blessings from the poor people, Elizabeth left
their hut.
Elizabeth went through the village on her wajr to Lind-
hof, to give her usual music-lesson which, in spite of Mr.
von Walde^s arrival, had not been postponed. With the
return of its owner, the villa had assumed quite a different
aspect. All the windows on the ground-floor at the south
side which had so long remained in mysterious gloom be-
hind their white shutters were now glittering and resplend-
ent in sunshine throughout their long rows. Inside the
rooms such a hammering and bustling to and fro, such a
sweeping and dusting as was going on! A glass door which
showed the interior of a vast hall stood wide open; upon
one of the steps that led down into the garden lay a snow*
white greyhound; its slender body lying stretched motion-
less upon the warm, sunny step, and with its tail curled
GOLD ELSIE. 95
over its fore paws, ifc blinked its eyes at Elizabeth as if to
recognize an old acquaintance. At an open window the
gardener was arranging a flower-table, and Laurence, the
steward, was walking through the suite of rooms with the
look of an inspector.
It was striking that all the people in the house whom the
young girl met had assumed an entirely different expression
of countenance, as if by a stroke of magic. Had a storm-
wind burst upon the sultry atmosphere, and completely
changed the air in the rooms, so that voices sounded clearer
and bent forms straightened themselves up, and moved
with vigorous and elastic step?
Even old Laurence, the muscles of whose face usually
hung down so limp, and who looked so morose and peevish,
had to-day a veritable gleam of sunlight in his eyes, al-
though he did scold the dust-beater. ls voice also sound-
ed so loud that Elizabeth looked up surprised; for she had
only known the old man when he would come tripping
noiselessljr into the ladies' room, lisping and delivering his
message in the lowest possible whisper.
Astonished at the new life blossoming on every hand
here, Elizabeth turned to the wing of the house occupied
by the ladies. Here, however, the deepest quiet prevailed.
In the baroness's apartments all the blinds hung down,
olose and heavy, behind the shutters. Not a sound pene-
trated through the doors by which Elizabeth had to pass.
The air of the small corridor was mingled with the pungent
odors of strong valerian drops, and when finally a door at
the lowest end of the passage was opened, Elizabeth caught
a glimpse of a human he^, but in what a condition! It
was the baroness's old waiting-maid, who wanted to see, it is
to be presumed, who could be so rash as to break the sol-
emn repose of the corridor. Her cap sat awry upon her
false curls, one bunch of which was evidently about to drop
off. The features of her face looked distorted, and two
fiery-red round spots upon her prominent cheek-bones testi-
fied either to feverish heat or great agitation of spirit. She
returned Elizabeth's salutation briefly and grumpishly,
vanishing again quickly behind the door that she softly
closed.
When Elizabeth came to Miss von Walde'e chamber, no
responded to her repeated knocks.
96 GOLD ELSIE.
*' Here/' thought she, *' is being enacted the last act of
that mysterious drama, begun in the baroness's rooms/'
Not only the blinds, but the heavy silken curtains were
closely drawn. The deep silence and gloom prevented her
from entering, and she was just about to close the door and
withdraw, when Helen called to her, in a faint voice, to
come in. That young lady lay back in an arm-chair at the
further end of the room; her head was buried in a soft
cushion, and Elizabeth could hear her teeth chatter slightly.
*' Ah, dear child,'' said she, laying her cold, moist hand
upon the young girl's arm, " I have had a nervous attack.
None of them about me here observed that I was lying here
sick, and I have been so dreadfully lonely in this dark
chamber! Please open the window wide. I need air-
heaven's warm, fresh air. "
Elizabeth immediately gratified her wish, and when day-
light fell upon the patient's pale face, the young girl saw
that she had been weeping violently.
The sunbeams bursting in had awakened more life and
animation in the chamber than Elizabeth had been pre-
pared for; she was much startled when suddenly there came
a loud screeching from one corner of the room. There a
cockatoo with snow-white plumage and an aspiring yellow
crown was rocking himseK in a ring.
" Dear me, how dreadful!" sighed Helen, pressing her
small hands up to both ears. '*How that abominable
creature does shatter my nerves!"
Elizabeth's glance fastened in astonishment upon the lit-
tle foreigner, and then traversed the room, which resembled
a bazaar. IJpon all the tables and chairs were lying rich
stuffs, shawls, costly bound books, and the greatest variety
of articles for a lady's toilet. Miss von Walde caught
Elizabeth's eye, and said, briefly, with averted face:
" Nothing but presents from my brother, who came back
yesterday unexpectedly."
How cold was the nng of her voice as she made this re-
mark! Not the slightest movement of joy was to be dis-
covered in her features, distorted as they were by weeping,
and the usually dove-like eyes were full of open rancor
and bitterness.
Elizabeth silently stooped down and picked up a gorgeous
bouquet of camellias that lay half-withered on the floor.
*' Ah, yes!" said Helen, straightening herself up, while
GOLD ELSIE. 97
a faint flush suffused her face; ^' that was mybrother^s
^ood-morniDg to me; it has fallen from the table and been
forffotten. Please stick it in that vase there/'
"You poor flowers!'' murmured Elizabeth, as she ob-
served the withered brownish rims to the white petals,
" you little thought when you opened your buds, that they
would have for breath so cold an atmospherel"
Helen looked embarrassed as she cast a searching glance
upon the young girl, and her eyes for an instant seemed
ready to melt into penitence.
*' Place those flowers in the open window; there they will
get air, and it will revive them," whispered she, eagerlv.
* Oh, dear me!" she cried, sinking back among her cush-
ions, *' he is certainly an excellent man; but his appearance
breaks up the harmony of a congenial family circle. "
With an almost incredulous expression, Elizabeth looked
upon the young lady as she lay there with her clasped
hands uplifted, and her wildly staring eyes fixed upon the
ceiling, as though fate had imposed upon her the most
dreadful of trials.
If yesterday the young girl had failed to find the key to
Helen's mode of action, still more inexplicable did she find
the present phase of character displayed by this anomalous
individual.
Whither had disappeared so suddenly that vehement sense
of gratitude breathing forth from every word, whenever
Helen thought of her absent brother? Had one single mo-
ment put utterly to flight all the sisterly affection with
which her heart seemed to overflow, so that she now la-
mented what ^fromher earlier expressions should have
been to her a most happy event? And, supposing that her
brother did not sympathize with the circle in which she
found herself blessed, when alone; supposing that he did
cross her dearest wishes, was it possible, just for this, that
forthwith coldness and ill-will should arise between two be-
ings whom destiny had linked closely to one another, and
who should be so much the more strongly attached to each
other, as the one stood in need of a protector, and the
other was so utterly alone in the world?
Elizabeth suddenly felt a deej) pity for the man who had
sailed through far-off seas, and in solitude traversed many
a foreign land, and now, after his long wanderings, come
home to be regarded merely as a disturbing element at his
98 GOLD ELSIE.
own hearthstone. According to every appearance, love f oi
his sister was the only soft spot in his proud heart, and how
he must have been cut to the quick when even she gave him
a cold welcome, her affections being plainly alienated.
"While thus soliloquizing, Elizabeth was arranging the
flowers in the vase. She had replied by never a word to
Helenas passionate outbreak, being shocked at so reckless
an attack npon a brother, made in the presence of a com-
parative stranger. Eebuked, perhaps, by Elizabeth's si-
lence, the young lady evidently felt that she had gone a lit-
tle too far; for, suddenly, in an entirely altered voice, she
begged her to take a seat and converse awhile.
At that minute the door was violently pushed open, and
a female form appeared upon the threshold. Elizabeth
found some difficulty in persuading herself that this ex-
tremely ill-dressed person could be the Baroness Lessen,
bearing as she did every mark of great agitation. Her thin
hair that was usually arranged with such scrupulous nicety,
having escaped from her breakfast-cap, fell disheveled over
a brow now darkly flushed, that was ever wont to appear
as smooth and white as polished ivory. That stereotyi)ed
look of proud self-consciousness had vanished, and how in-
significant did she appear now as she shyly peeped into the
chamber I
" Ah, Helen!'* cried she, in a tone of anguish, without
noticing Elizabeth, and moving her corpulent body forward
with unusually rapid steps. " Eudolph has just sum-
moned poor Lmke to his room. He is storming and raging
against the poor man at such a rate that the noise came
across the yard into my bedroom. Oh! how wretchedly I
do feel! I am so upset by what we went through this
morning, that I can hardly keep on my feet. But I could
no longer stand the agitation, and took refuge here. And
these mean creatures, these servants, who during Rudolph's
absence hardly dared to blink their eyes, only see how im-
pudently they stand under the windows and maliciously
laugh at the misfortune which has overtaken a faithful ser-
vant! All is toppling over that I so painfully erected to the
honor of God and for the welfare of the house. And that
Emile should be at Odenberg at this particular time! How
wretched and forsaken we are, dear Helen!"
She flung her arms around the neck of the young lady,
who had risen to her feet in dismay, and stoo(^ there look'
GOLD ELSIE. 99
ing as pale as a ghost. Elizabeth took advantage of this
moment to slip out of the room.
As she entered the corridor opening out into the vesti-
bule, there met her ear a sound of loud talking. It was a
rich, deep-toned male voice, now and then lifted up indig-
nantly, but never even when feeling was at its height was
there perceptible a trace of sharpness. Although she could
not understand a word, yet she trembled at the tone of the
voice; there was something inexorable in the manner with
which the detached sentences were enunciated.
The sound in the long corridor was deceiving. Elizabeth
did not know from what direction the voice came, and
therefore ran forward, in order to reach the open air as
speedily as possible. But she had not ^one more than a
few steps before she heard, as though the speaker were
standing right beside her, these words:
** You are to leave Lindhof before to-morrow evening.''
*' Honored sir,'' was answered back.
" It is my last word ^gol" rang out dictatorially, and at
the same instant Elizabeth, to her alarm, saw herself in
front of the wide-open folding-doors. In the middle of the
room stood a tall man, his left hand crossing his back, and
the right one pointing to the door. A pair of flashing dark
eyes met hers, which she averted in painful embarrass-
ment, while she quickly hurried to the vestibule, and out
into the garden.
It seemed as if she were pursued, driven irresistibly on-
ward, by that look flashing forth from a spirit born to com-
mand.
When the Ferber familjr had met together at the supper-
table, Mr. Ferber spoke with lively interest of having made
Mr. von Waldo's acquaintance that day at the hunting-lodge,
" Well, and how did you like him?" asked his wife.
" Why, my dear, that is a question which I might an-
swer in a year's time, provided that I had opportunity for
daily intercourse with the gentleman, and even then it is
very questionable if I would be in a position to form a final
judgment. The man has become interesting to me, be-
cause one is continually stirred up to investigate whether
he actually is what he seems to be, namely, a person of
cold, unimpassioned nature. He came to my brother, in
order to get the particulars concerning that difficulty be-
tween bis steward and the poor day-laborer** widow, be*
100 GOLD ELSIE.
cause he had beea erroneoasly informed that Sabine had
been an eye-witness of the maltreatment. She was called
in^ and had to tell how she had found Mrs. Taylor. He in-
qaired into the minatest circumstances^ but always curtly^
decidedly. As to what impression Sabine's report made
upon him, one was left entirely in tlie dark, so impenetra-
ble was his glance; not the slightest movement of the feat*
ures betrayed the direction of his thoughts. He comes di-
rect from Spain. A few expressions that dropped from
him led us to infer that some friend had written to him
about the mismanagement of his property, whereupon he
had forthwith set out upon his return to Thuringia.
" And his outward appearance ?'* asked Mrs. Ferber.
" Pleases me, although I have rarely before met a man
so reserved and unapproachable, both in manners and ges-
ture. I comprehend perfectly how it is that he has gained
the reputation of being very haughty, and yet, on the other
hand, I can hardly persuade myself that one so intellectual-
looking could harbor in his mind such folly. His face has
constantly an expression of cold tranquillity, I thought;
only between the eyebrows there lies, I might say, an un-
guarded line; the casual observer would most probably call
it sinister, but I find it mournfully sad.''
Elizabeth listened thoughtfully to this description. Ex-
perience had already taught her that this cold tranquillity
at times could depart considerably from its equilibrium,
and told her father of the scene to which she had been a
witness.
*' Well, condign punishment has come quicker than I
thought it would," said Ferber. "It is possible that your
uncle, with his outspeaking, has borne his part in bringing
it to pass; he knows no reserve when his judgment is
asked. Depend upon it, he has told the land-owner many
a plain truth, and not kept back an iota of what has been
lying on his heart and chafing him for thie space of a whole
year."
CHAPTER X.
ELSIE, THE ARTISTE.
Hardly a week had elapsed since that evening. But
these few days had effected a mighty revolution in the Lind-
liof villa, as was heard. The ejected steward had been
GOLD ELSIB. 101
replaced by a new one, who, however, was restricted to nar-
row limits, inasmuch as the proprietor insisted upon super-
vising the management himself. Some of the day-laborers
who nad been arbitrarily dismissed because they were at-
tached to the parish priest, and had occasionally failed to
be present at Bible-reading in the villa, on account of press-
ing work, or because they would not receive the Word of
God from the lips of Candidate Mohring, went to work
again upon the estate now as they had done of old. Yes-
terday, as on Sunday, Mr, von Walde, accompanied by the
Baroness Lessen and little Bella, had attended divine wor-
ship in the village church at Lindhof. Mr. Candidate
Mohring, to the amazement of the congregation, had ap-
peared m the organ-loft as a listener, and at noon the
worthy village pastor had lunched at the manor-house.
Dr. Fels came every day to Lindhof; for Miss von Walde
was sick. This likewise was the reason why Elizabeth had
hitherto received no invitation to renew her music-lessons,
and also the reason (the chief forester thought) why the
baroness had not been banished to Siberia; **for,'' said
he, ** Mr. von Walde will not be such a barbarian as to
make his sick sister yet sicker by depriving her of her
dearest society, and if this is not precisely the baroness, yet
with her removal must of course cease the frequent and
long visits of her son.'* This was mischievous, but " cal-
culated with rigid accuracy, *' as he would add.
In the village it was known that there had been a terri-
ble storm at the manor-house, but the atmosphere had
grown clear again. For the first three days after his arri-
val, Mr. von Walde had taken his meals alone in his own
room, and the numberless little hillets with which the bar-
oness's old maid had besieged his door at all hours, had
been invariably sent back unopened, until finally the severe
indisposition of his sister had brought him into contact with
his cousin in her sick-chamber. Smce that day, intercourse
had apparently been resumed, although the servants re-
ported that hardly a word was exchanged while they were
at table. Mr. von HoUfeld had also come over once to pay
his respects to the returned traveler; but it had been re-
marked that after a very brief stay he had ridden away with
a face considerably lengthened.
On a dull rainy day in August, Elizabeth had been de-
sired by Miss von Walde to come to the villa for a half-
103 GOLD EL8IB.
hour. That lady was not alone when the young gu*I en-
tered.
In the window sat her brother. He was leaning back in
an arm-chair, but was so tall that his head lightly touched
the white drapery agaiast the wall, whereby the dark brown
of his hair was Drought into bold relief. His right hand,
with a cigar between its fingers, hung down negjligently
from the window-sill, while his left hand was upuf ted, as
though he had just been speaking. His neighbor, the Bar-
oness Lessen, held her body bent forward, and seemed to
be listening to his words with an extremely obliging smile,
although ms discourse was not addressed to herself, but to
Helen; she sat quite close to him, and held some embroid-
ery in her hand. On the whole, the group looked quite
pleasantly social. Upon an invalid-chair lav Miss von
Walde. An ample dressing-gown enveloped her small
figure, and her beautiful brown tresses were confined be-
neath a little breakfast-cap, trimmed with rose-colored rib-
bons that only made more conspicuous the sickly pallor of
her complexion. Upon her outstretched finger perched the
cockatoo; from time to time she held him caressingly up to
her cheek. That '* abominable beast '^ was now called by
pet names, and let it scream as much as it would, she only
sought to soothe it by a compassionate " What ails my
darungf Here, too, then, were reconciliation and per-
fect peace.
Upon Elizabeth's entrance, Helen beckoned to her in
friendly fashion; yet it did not escape the young girl that
she had to overcome a slight embarrassment.
" Dear Rudolph,^' said she, as she took Elizabeth by the
hand, " you see here the charming artiste to whom 1 am
indebted for many delightful hours ^Miss Ferber called
by her uncle and the people hereabouts * Gold Elsie;' plays
in such fascinating style that I want to entreat her to make
us oblivions to-day of the gray and lowering sky. You
see, my dear," said she, turning to Elizabeth, " that I am
still incapable of joining you at the piano; will you be so
friendly as to play something alone?*'
"With pleasure," replied Elizabeth; *'but I shall be
very uneasy, for you have yourself opposed to me two un-
conuqerable forces, namely, the clouds out of doors and the
favorable prejudice which you have aroused in favor of my
playing."
GOLD SLSIB. 103
** May I now ask to be excused for an hourf " inquired
the baroness, as she folded up her work and arose from her
seat. " I should like to take Bella out for a little drive; it
has been long since the poor thing has tasted fresh air/'
" Well, I think she can have that freely, if she will only
take the trouble to stick her head out of the window,'' said
Mr. von Walde, dryly, while he shook the ashes from his
cigar.
" Bless me, if it is unpleasant to you, Rudolph, for me
to drive, I'll stay in the house of course, if "
" I am sure I do not know why I should wish to detain
you. Drive as often and as much as you choose," was the
careless reply.
The baroness pressed her lips together and turned to
Helen.
'^ The agreement stands, then, that coffee is to be drunk
in my room, does it not? I shall not stay out long, on ac-
count of the showers of rain; I shall be back in an hour
punctually, and shall not be denied the privilege, dearest
Helen, of escorting you to my room myself."
** You will have to be denied it, though," said Mr. von
Walde. " For many years that has been my office, and I
would not have my sister believe that I have become un-
skillful during my absence."
** Certainly not, dear Rudolph; I shall be very grateful
if you will be so kind!" exclaimed Helen, warmly, while
her glance flitted uneasily from one to the other. The
baroness, however, had already bravely choked back her
choler with the most obliging of smiles upon her lips; she
offered her hand to Mr. von Walde, kissed Helen on the
cheek, and swept out of the room with a " Well, then, au
During this brief negotiation, Elizabeth was observing
the physiognomy of the man whose glance and voice had
recently made upon her so deep an impression. Had that
fright been repeated just now for undoubtedly the feeling
that had shaken her so powerfully that time was pure
frij^t, and nothing else.
How tranquil now were the same eyes whence sparks had
seemed to flash when she saw them before; why, yes, this
lance became even frigid when it rested upon the face of
lie baroness.
The upper part of his head, which had something nn
104 GOLD ELSIE.
commonly severe In its lineaments at any time^ through
this expression grew even forbidding. A flowing beard
concealed the lower part of his face, and added dignity to
his mien.
Mr. von Walde did not look young, and although his
slender figure had preserved a great deal of elasticity, there
was an indescribable weight attaching itself to its every
look and movement, such as only emanates from the ma-
ture man.
After the baroness had left the room, Elizabeth opened
the piano.
**lfo, no; not any notes!'' called out Helen, when she
saw that the young girl was searching among the music and
making a selection. '^ We want to hear your own thoughts,
please. Play impromptu. ''
Elizabeth seated herself without delay.
Soon she had indeed forgotten the outer world. A wealth
of melody had its source within her that bore her soul
aloft. At such moments she felt herself blessed in that she
was favored above thousands of other mortals, for she had
the power of giving musical expression to the most delicate
emotions of the heart. The whole of her inner being found
voice through the medium of sound; never yet had she
been at a loss for melody in which to incorporate her sen-
sations; it issued from her soul as spontaneously as the feel-
ing itself.
But to-day something blended with the tones that she
could not comprehend; it had no properly distinct voice;
she would have liked to follow it up, and catch it at any
price, for the waves of sound were vibrating as under the
breath of a new and unfamiliar influence.
It seemed to her as though pain and joy no longer walked
side by side, but flowed together.
The search after the nature of that intangible element
carried her down even deeper into the world of her own
sensibilities. The whole sweet secret of a pure, virgin soul
was gradually unfolded before her auditors; they had a
vision of a magical fountain from whose depth emerged the
young girl's outward form in enhanced beauty, for there
was indeed an indissoluble harmony between her outer and
iier inner man.
The last low chord had died away. Upon Helen's eye
GOLD ELSm 105
lashes hnng two heavy tears^ and the pallor of her face had
become almost ghost-like.
She looked toward her brother^ bat he had averted his
face, and was looking out into the garden. When at last
he turned around, his features were as composed as ever,
only a slight flush tinted his brow, but his cigar had
dropped from his fingers, and lay upon the floor. He did
not say a word to Elizabeth about her playing, who, mean-
while, had risen from the instrument. Helen, to whom
this silence was manifestly painful, exhausted herself in
lavish encomiums, in order to make the young girl forget
her brother's coldness and indifference, or, at least, render
it less noticeable.
" There was geniality once againl** cried she. " Surely
the people in Berlin could have had no idea of the golden
fountain of song in Elsie^s breast, else they would never
have permitted her to wander off into the Thuringian for-
ests."
** Have you lived in Berlin until now?" asked Mr. von
Walde, fixing his eyes upon Elizabeth.
In an instant she saw that the ice had melted, and a
strange light glowed there instead.
** Yes,*' answered she, simpljr.
*' From a great, beautiful city, offering all manner of
pleasures and attractions, to be suddenly transported to the
still forest, and set down on a solitary mountain ^that is a
disagreeable exchange. You were, of course, inconsolable
at this move?"
** I considered it undeserved good fortune," was her can-
did answer.
" How? Wondrous strange ! My opinion is that nobody
reaches out after the thistle when he can have the rose."
** I am in no position to form a judgment as to your
opinions.'*
" Quite right, because you do not know me. That view,
however, is quite a general one."
" It is one-sided in its application."
" Well, then, I shall not further attack the direction of
your taste, with which I am confident you will hardly find
a single sympathizer among those of your own sex and age.
In your own interest, however, I must believe that it has
not been so easy a matter for you to leave your friends."
" Even that was very easy, for 1 had none."
106 GOLD ELSIE.
** Is that possible?** cried Miss von Walde. " Did joa
associafce with nobody?**
" Oh, yes; but they were people who paid me.*'
" Did you teach?** asked Mr. von Walde.
''Yes.'*
* ' But did you never feel the necessity for an intimate
friend?** cried Helen,in lively tones.
** Never, for I have a mother,** replied Elizabeth, with
deep feeling.
H/ippy child!** murmured the other girl, and her head
sunk.
Elizabeth felt that she had touched a sore spot in Helen*s
heart. It mortified her, and her ardent wish was to remove
the impression. Mr. von Walde seemed to read this thought
upon her face; for, without paying any attention to HeJen*s
mournf ulness, he asked :
''And was it in the Thuringian forest particularly in
which you wished to live?**
"Yes.**
" And wherefore?**
" Because from my earliest childhood it has been told me
that our family had its origin in the Thuringian mount-
ains.**
" Ah! from the Greswit family?**
" That was my mother*s maiden name. lam a Perber,*'
answered Elizabeth.
" You say that with an emphasis as much as to declare
that you are thankful not to have to bear the other name.**
"I am glad of it.**
" Ahem! it had a considerable reputation in its day."
" But not a pure one.**
" Hey! what would you have? At all events, it passed
current as standard coin; for it was very old, and especially
the last of the name were, on that account, continually
loaded with the highest dignities.**
" I beg pardon, bat I can not see at all why that is any
reason that '^
She paused, blushing.
*' Well! You have begun the sentence, and I insist upon
your going on to the end. **
"Well, that sins should be rewarded because they ar9
old,'* answered she, hesitatingly.
\
GOLD ELSIE. 107
** Softly; they say that seyeral of the Greswits showed
themselves to be brave, true men/* , , , ,
" That may be, but there lies also injustice in the thought
that this merit is allowed to outweigh centuries of sudi as
were not brave and true.'*
'^ Ought not the effects of such great deeds to be contin-
uous?*'
*' Certainly, but if we scorn to emulate them, then aro
we not worthy either to enjoy their good consequences,"
replied Elizabeth, with decision.
A carriage thundered ujp to the front entrance. Mr. von
Walde frowned and drew his hand across his eyes, as though
he had been rudely awakened from a dream. Immediately
afterward the door opened, and the baroness entered. She
had not laid off her bonnet and mantilla like Bella, who
this afternoon, with the air of a grown lady, stepped along
by her mother's side.
'* Oh, but we were glad to get home again! The
weather is dreadful to-day. I have repented a thousand
times of having ventured out, and apparently shall be paid
for my motherly solicitude by a terrible cold. Bella would
like to see for herself how you are getting along, dear
Helen; so I have taken the liberty of bringing her in with
me."
The child walked straightway up to the invalid-chair.
She seemed not to observe Elizabeth, who sat close beside
it, and rubbed up against her so rudely as she stooped to
kiss Helen's hand, that one of her cloak-buttons caught in
the light trimming upon Elizabeth's dress, and tore it.
Bella lifted up her head, and glanced sideways at the
mischief which she had done; then turned around and went
across to Mr. von Walde, offering him her hand.
*' Well," said he, as he rejected her hand, " have you no
apology to make for your awkwardness?"
She answered not a word, and retired to her mother's
side, upon whose cheeks were visible the same two signifi-
cant red spots. The look which she darted at Elizabeth
diowed, meanwhile, that her indignation was not directed
against her ill-bred little daughter.
*' Well, child, can you not talk?*' asked Mr. von Walde,
once more, while he stood up.
*^ But Miss Ferber sat so near," apologized the barones%
instead of the obstinately silent Bella.
108 GOLD BLSIB.
** Indeed, I ought to have moved back. The mischief
done is not much/^ said Elizabeth, ^nxioasly, offering to
take Bella's hand with a pleasant smile.
But the little girl affected not to see this moyement,
and stuck both hands under her cloak.
Without saying a word, Mr. von Walde walked up to her,
caught her by the arm, and led her directly to ttie door,
which he opened.
" You go instantly across to your own room,*' was his
order, " and do not let me set eyes on you again imtil I ask
for you. '^
The baroness was inwardly beside herself. Her features
worked violently for a moment; but what could she do?
She had no weapons against the strong will and barbarity
of this man, who was commander here, and now took his
place again with such provoking coolness, as if he were not
m the remotest degree conscious of the cruelty of his mode
of action. Finally the lady^s prudence conquered.
"I hope, dear Eudolph,^* said she, her voice quivering a
little, " that you will not bear any grudge against Bella on
account of this little act of heedlessness. I beg you to take
into consideration the poor manners of her governess. '^
" Miss Mortens? Why, with her inborn gentleness and
fine tact, it must try her unspeakably for a pupil of hers to
make such an exhibition of herself as Bella did just now!*'
Again the baroness's brow darkened perceptibly. But
she restrained herself.
" Dear me!'' cried she, to give another turn to the con-
versation, " here have I, on account of the stunid affair,
forgotten to say that Emile has come over from Odenberg.
He was on horseback, got very wet, and is changing his
clothes. May he pay his respects?"
A bright glow suffused Helen's cheeks, and her eyes ex-
pressed radiant joy.
But she uttered not a word, and buried her face in the
cushion, so as to hide the tokens of her inward emotion.
" Certainly,'* replied Mr. von Walde. " Does he intend
to remain here any time?"
** A few days, if agreeable to you."
" Quite right. Well, we shall see him in your room,
when we come to coffee.'*
" He will esteem himself very happy. As for the rest,
if it so please you, we can move over mrectly, for my maid
OLD ILSIE. lOd
gnnoanced to me, as I alighted from the carriage^ that all
was in readiness for the reception of my dear guest.''
Hereupon, Elizabeth rose up and prepared to depart
Mr. von Walde directed a look of inquiry at the baroness.
Undoubtedly he expected that the young girl would be in-
vited to accompany them; the lady, however, just at this
' instant, found out that the gardener had arranged the
flower-table in the window " too exquisitely,'' and became
fairly absorbed in the contemplation of a group of azaleas,
whereby she turned her back upon the young girl.
Elizabeth took her leave with a low bow after she had
been thanked by Helen with an unsteady voice, but in a
cordial manner.
In the corridor outside, Mr. von HoUfeld advanced to
meet her.
When he caught sight of her, he doubled his speed; at
the same time, like a flash, he darted a glance all around,
as if he would assure himself that no spy lurked near. Be-
fore she was aware of it, he had seized Elizabeth's hand,
imprinted a glowing kiss upon it, and whispered:
How rejoiced i am to see you again!"
Elizabeth's alarm was so great that at the first instant
she could find no words. But quickly, as though she had
been stung, she drew her hand oack, and he seemed very
well agreed to this, for Helen's chamber was opened at this
minute, and Mr. von Walde stepped out. Hollfeld behaved
as if he had only just caught sight of Elizabeth, lightly
raising his hat, in doing which it was shown that his feat-
ures had resumed a perfectly cold expression, as he went to
meet his relative.
: Elizabeth was beside herself at this by-play. In the fiist
Slace, his conceited presumption, which made her blood
oil with indignation, and then his dissembling thus before
a third person. Her maidenly pride was deeply wounded.
She blamed herself for not having severely reprimanded
him on the spot, and resented his impertinence. It seemed
to her that the spot still burned upon which the hot lips had
rested; she ran as fast as she could to a fountain in the
park, and let its ]et splash water over her hand, in order to
wash away the imaginary stain.
In great excitement, she reached home, and amijd tears
of anger, lamented to her mother the insult which had been
put upon her.
110 GOLD ELSIBT
Mrs. Ferber was yery intelligent^ and took a calm and
rational view of the matter. She recognized immediately
from Elizabeth^s angered state of mind that here was not
to be apprehended the least danger for the heart of her
child^ and was satisfied. Ag^ssion from without conld
be arerted^ but not that wre^edness which resnits from
an unfortunate attachment.
" You now know, child, of what majnner of spirit Mr.
von Hollfeld is/* said she. " It will not be at all difficult
for you henceforth to avoid him scrupulously, and if in
fl|)ite of this he should again be intrusive, to force him back
within proper bounds. His behavior testified to aristocratic
self-conceit and cowardice, two qualities which will most
probably prevent his going further so soon as he discovers
that you scorn his attentions. But whatever happens,
make yourself familiar with the thought that by this rejec-
tion you have aroused an enemy who will most likely here-
after break up your relations with Miss von Walde. This
can not for a moment put you in any doubt as to how you
shall deport yourself. Go on your way, then, calmly and
discreetly; for the present, however, I do not advise you to
abandon your visits to Villa Idndhof.'*
" Heaven forbidl That I will not, indeed!'* cried Eliz-
abeth, with animation. " What would my uncle say to it,
if the little scared chicken should indeed come flying home
to the shelter of her mother's wings!'* she added, smiling
in the midst of her tears. ** It were indeed bad if with aU
the strength of which I boasted, I did not have enough to
treat an impudent man in such a manner as to render im*
possible the repetition of his bold act."
She thought over her yesterday's conversation with Mr.
von Walde, and to her great satisfaction found that she had
been really right brave, for, verily, in the face of that stern
brow and those penetrating eyes, it had been no such easy
thing to express a conviction that dared boldly to strike at
the proud edifice of his pride of ancestry. Every minute
she had expected to be met by a glance as icy as the one
with which he had transfixed the baroness; but, instead,
the peculiar brightness of the expression cast upon her aa
soon as she took ground against him. had not altered, nay,
sometimes it had even seemed to her that the lips beneath
that overshadowing beard had expanded into a hardly per-
ceptible smile* Perhaps ho was disporting himself in tb
dOIiD EIStB. Ill
character of the lion as regards the mouse. He had mag-
nanimously suffered a little girl to lay her naive views at
his feet; there indeed they were to stay, for so noble a
creature could not be expected to stoop and pick them up;
or they might have afforded him a moment s amasement,
as a proof that the proverb of the little dog laaghiDg at the
moon finds verification/'
She said this to herself earnestly in order to impress her
treacherous memory forcibly again with the universally re-
ceived opinion that he was immensely haughty.
She knew not herself whence the thought came to her,
but she suddenly grew conscious that she must suffer un-
speakably under Mr. von Walde's haughtiness, if he should
show any of it toward her; therefore, she had to be doubly
on her guard, in order not to allow herself to be led astray,
through the forms of common politeness. That he carefully
and consistently sought to vindicate these, she had the most
striking proof tbQ very next day.
OHAPTEB XL
AK ABVBKTUBB TS THE FOBEST, FOLLOWED BT A BE
TROTHAL.
AccoEBiisrGLY, in the afternoon, she was in the act of
going with her work-basket into the garden, when there
was a ringing at the wicket-door in the wall.
In view of yesterday's scene, her surprise was well found-
ed when on opening she found Bella standing before the
door. Behind the little girl stood Miss Mertens, and the
elderly gentlemen whom she had recently met in the even-
ing. At the entrance, Bella immediately held out her hand
to her, bat with a shy, embarrassed face, and uttering not
a word. In great astonishment, Elizabeth now guessed the
cause for his coming, and sought to cover over what wa
painful in the situation, while she expressed her pleasure
m being able to welcome the little girl to her own home,
and invited her to come with her into the garden. But
Miss Mertens interfered.
" Do not make it so easy for Bella, Miss Perber,*' said
she. " She has been expressly ordered to apologize to vou
for her rude behavior yesterday. I must msist upon hex
speaking. '^
IIS eOLD ELSIK.
These words^ pronounced with great decision^ but majbe
more yet the protecting darkness of the hall, into which
Elizabeth's hand had guided her, finally loosened Bella's
tongue.
She softly begged pardon, and promised neyer to be so
. impolite again.
" Good for that!'' exclaimed the gentleman, planting
hismelf at Miss Mertens's side, and Elizabeth, now roguish*
ly Smiling, made him a low bow.
'*It may perhaps seem strange to you,'' he began,
*' that I should become an annex to this deputation of pen-
itence and atonement, having nothing to do with it; but I
am of opinion that at an act of that nature one is inclined
to shut their eyes, and this seems to me the fittest momoDt
for a stranger to smuggle himself in.
" My name is Ernest Eeinhard. I am the traveling-com-
panion and secretary of Mr. von Walde, and for the past
eight days have known no livelier desire than to become
acQuainted with the interesting family in Castle Nordeck."
Elizabeth offered him her hand in friendly fashion
These old walls have already been witnesses to the evildeedb
of outlawry," replied she; " we have therefore no reason
whatever to condemn smuggling. I can assure you of a
welcome from my parents."
She took the lead, and pushed open the tall oaken door,
which led into the garden.
Her parents and uncle, who were sitting with little Ernest
under the linden-tree, arose at sight of the approaching
party, and came forward to greet them.
Elizabeth introduced them all around, and then, in re-
sponse to a hint from her mother, vanished again within
doors, in order to provide some refreshments for their
guests.
When she came back, Bella had already laid aside her
mantilla and parasol. With radiant face she sat in a swing
that Mr. Ferber had suspended between two trees. Ernest
was swinging her, and seemed not a little proud of being
with his new playmate.
Eeinhard pointed to Bella, who was just giving a cry of
joy as she flew through the air, and said:
** In truth, anybody who had seen that little thing this
morning, with what unchild-like deportment she enter^ Mr.
voo Waldo's apartment to beg his pardon for her unman*
GOLD ELSIB. 113
nerly condact ihe day before^ and the angry^ defiant look
Bhe gave him when he declared that he would have noth-
ing to do with her until she had asked pardon of Miss Fer-
ber in person " here Elizabeth turned very red in the face,
and moved about as briskly and busUy as possible, spread-
ing with honey two huge slices of bread for Bella and
Ernest *' would hardly recognize her again in yon little
girl, who carries in her face all the harmless joyousness of
childhood/'
The hour that followed was one rich in enjo3rment. Miss
Mortens showed herself to be very well informed and accom-
plished, and Beinhard told, in a most attractive manner,
of his travels and researches.
He concluded an interesting series of entertaining facts
about Spain with the remark that *^ A return home would
not apparently have been thought of for a very long while,
but for various very unfavorable tidings from Thuringia,
which, following upon the heels of one another, induced
Mr. von Walde to give up a new tour which had barely been
planned. It often happens that overweening desire to gov-
ern blinds the ambitions. The incautiously expressed wish
dropped from the pen in a soft female hand that Mr. von
Walde would pension off the good but now superannuated
parish priest at Lindhof, because he has grown dull and
mcapable of edifying spirits, put the finishing touch to the
unpleasant news, and was the immediate occasion of his
setting out for home. When, late in the evening, leaving
carriage and turnpike at the village, we determin^ to take
that last bit of our journey on foot through the woods, we
stumbled upon a charming adventure. 'Semarkable!
Look, Reinhard, for what do you take that glimmer up
there on old Nordeck?' askeid Mr. von Walae. * For a
light,' ^vas my answer. * We must look more closely into
tms,' opined he, climbing upward. The point grew ever
larger, and, to our astonishment, at last turned out to be
two tall, brightly illumined windows. Then there came a
light step tripping up the mountain behind us, a fiuttering
of white through the bushes, and suddenly there stood upon
the moonlit lawn a something that I took for a supernat-
ural being. I, being the more daring one, stepped near,
ever fearing that the light shape would dissolve before the
breath of mv mouth. Woe I then the lips parted, and told
of two well-kept goats and a precious canary-bird."
114 GOLD EL8IS.
A general langh followed this description.
"As we went down the mountain again/' continued
fteinhard, " my companion spoke not a syllable; but cer-
tain tokens led me to fear that you were not the only per-
son to whom I had appeared ndiculous. It would have
been no bad thing if you could have attended us^ as a good
fairy; but all the moonlight, all the loveliness stayed be-
hind on top of the mountain, while we had to wander down
into the dark lap of the valley, where brooded an oppress-
ive suUenness, and where nobody brought us a welcome
home, not even a lively breeze. In the villa Lindhof num-
berless lights flitted past the windows like will-o'-the-wisps.
The carriage with the luggage had arrived before us, and,
by the rolling of its wheels, must have produced an effect
similar to what is ascribed to the thunder of the coming
judgment day, for such a commotion was raised in that
house when we entered, that I would have much preferred
turning right around, and laying my tired head to rest
under the first quiet shade-tree I came to.
" In the midst of this disturbed swarm of ants, the only
one who showed an admirable eguanimity was Mr. Candi-
date Mohring. He had as speedily as possible gotten him-
self up in a white neck-cloth, and received the master of the
house with an oily, well-set speech at the foot of the stair-
case. ^*
" I suppose the rule of that severe gentleman is well at
an end now?'' asked the chief forester.
" Yes, indeed, thank God!" replied Miss Mortens. " He
will shortly leave Lindhof for good and all. Baroness Les-
sen has procured him a good preaching appointment
through her influence. He could not bear to sink back into
utter nothingness so suddenly in the place where he had so
long held undivided sway. I believe it of him, too, for
how he had lorded it, with all the rage for persecution of
the tyrant who seeks to put everything under his heel.
Not a thought should be conceived within his reach without
his approv^, and while he smiled fawningly upon his mis-
tress he held his iron fist upon her neck. All in the house,
without exception, had, of an evening, to write down the
thoughts and feelings which they had had while in the dis-
charge of their duties. I can still see the poor house-maids,
for whom a little letter to their families was incomparably
harder than a hard day's washing, how they sat on cold
GOLD ELSIE. 115
winter evenings in a room where the fire had died out, hold-
ing their pens between clumsy, tired out fingers, racking
their poor brains in order to string together a few phrases.
Then here and there one would whisper timidly, but with
deepest resentment:
" * Yes, if the Candidate had worked as hard as I have
done the whole day long, he would lose his fancy for writ-
ing, too.**'
** Yes, and that is mv opinion, too!'* exclaimed the chief
forester. " I would like anybody to tell me if that is not a
vile imposition upon people, instituted under the cloak of
eadeavoring to please God. "
" The worst of it is,*' said Ferber, " that a man, if he
does not stand high morally, nor possess a right good fund
of amiability, not only bears a grudge against his tor-
mentors, but at last against the cause as well, for the sake
of which he must suffer. Thus he inwardly departs ever
further from the faith, while outwardly he must appear the
contrary; for bis daily sustenance depends upon the mask
this 18 what I call a death-blow to religion among the
people. '*
" Ah! but it is well that one has come at last who has
had power and manliness enough to speak the word
* Thus far and no further.' Hurrah! it came rushing along
like a mighty torrent!" said the chief forester.
** But Mr. von Walde also has an energy, a moral force,
such as is rarely met with," replied Miss Merteus, with an-
imation. " He has a closed mouth, but an open eye before
the glance of which tale-bearing slinks awaym affright and
villainy and hypocrisy lose courage and drop their masks."
Meanwhile Keinhard had been attentively considering the
walls of the old ruinous wing of the castle, which formed
the boundary of the garden to the south. It was a most ir-
regularly constructed building. Three immense pointed
bow-windows of faultless shape began about six feet from
the ground, and rose to the height of the second story.
Close beside them was a sort of balcony, pro^'ecting far over
the garden and forming a deep recess; a nughty evergreen
oak had sprung up between the two walls, and stretched
single branches through the two nearest shutterless win-
dows, far into the cool, airy space which had once served as
the castle chapel, and they must hav9 calcal4^ted upon a
116 GOLD ELSIE.
considerable congregation^ for it extended through the
whole depth of the wing.
Three windows exactly sunilar to those jnst described
stood opposite; they had been less exposed to wind and
weather, and had preserved a few panes of painted glass in
the finely carved stone rosettes at their summits. Behind
them appeared the gloomy court, with its sinking together,
ghost-Uke walls like a picture painted in gray. The garden
side of the wing looked motley enough.
Unbounded caprice had thrown together windows and
ornaments of all sorts; according to this exterior, the huge
building must inclose within its limits a very labyrinth of
chambers, passages, and stairways. The balcony was the
chief thing that made the building look unsafe. It leaned
considerably to the side, and seemed this very minute to be
watching for the opportunity to bury the oak's blooming
life beneath its masses of stone. As for the rest, it had
coquettishly spread over its crazy limbs an impenetrable
matting of ivy, which veiled it from the ground to the
broken props of its roof, and allowed to be visible neither
window nor the gaping fissures in its masonry. Some of
its tendrils had slipped past and beyond the oak, clambered
up to the loosened stone- work of the main front, and boldly
embraced the escutcheons brought hither from all quar-
ters that peeped forth morosely enough from beneath its
enforced adornment.
" Soon after my arrival here,'' said Ferber, " I sought
to explore this portion of the building as far as possible,
because it interests me on account of its peculiar style of
architecture; but I did not get any further than the chapel,
and even here it struck me as perilous to tarry. Yon see
that the whole upper story has fallen in; the weight of the
debris has sunk down the chapel ceiling so low that one
can not help thinking that the first rude puff of wind will
topple it over. The balcony has just become so weak
dunng the last few weeks, and that in consequence of sev-
eral severe storms. It must be removed, else a part of the
garden remains inaccessible. If I could have got work-
men, it should have been taken away before now."
After this description, Eeinhard lost, as he expressed it,
any further appetite for roving around among the ruins.
But he was all the more interested in the mid(Ue building
GOLD .ELSIE. 117
and hearing this, in order to obUge his guests, Perber got
up to show them over the dwelling.
But, in the first place, they had to ascend the rampart
behind them.
Ferber was very dexterous and industrious, profiting by
every spare hour to improve his new property. The steps
which led up to the top of this terrace, he had improved
with his own hand, so that they now stood forth white and
smooth in pretty contrast with the closely shaven green-
sward which covered the steep side of the earthen embank-
ment. The tolerably broad plateau on top was strewn with
fresh gravel, and in the middle of it, close to the branches
of the linden-tree, that arched over the fountain below, was
a set of white garden furniture of his own manufacture.
While the company leaned against the parapet, and en-
joyed the very limited but lovely view over tne steep de-
clivity of the mountain into the valley beyond, Elizabeth
told the story of Sabine's great-grandmother; for beyond
doubt this terrace had been the theater of that tragedy.
** Defend me from such a leap through the air!'' said
Eeinhard, shuddering. ** The wall is high, and if I pict-
ure to myself, instead of the green moss down there, the
dark, slimy waters of a castle-moat teeming with frogs and
toads, the resolution to jump down is simply incomprehen-
sible to me."
" Well," said Miss Mertens, " despair has many a time
led people to seek death in a yet more hideous form than
that."
At that instant it seemed to Elizabeth as if once more
there was fastened upon her that passionate look with
which Hollfeld had hastened toward her the day before; she '
thought of the abhorrence she had felt at his touch, and in-
wardly was of the opinion that it was not so hard to imag-
ine the dreadful feelings of one pursued by a person whom
she hated.
" Why, child," said her uncle, answering her from hei
reverie, " are. you listening to hear the grass grow down
there, standing there so still and silent?"
Before his clear eyes and strong, cheerful voice that
phantom of her imagination vanished in a trice.
" Not exactly, uncle,' ' answered she, laughing. " I wiU
forego such an attempt, although I do believe that both mj
118 eOLD ELSIB.
eyes and ears are rather peculiarly sensitive to the sights
and sounds of nature/'
He took her by the hand and led her after the others^
who had just entered the house. At the head of the steps
Bella came running to meet Miss Mertens; in one hand sne
held several picture-books, and with the other she drew her
governess into Elizabeth's room.
" Only think. Miss Mertens, you can see our villa from
here!'' she cried.
The idea of right in the property over there was evident-
ly rooted in her little head, and no wonder; for the man-
ner in which her mamma had swayed the scepter over there
had left no doubt upon the minds of grown observers but
that she considered nerself undisputed mistress of Lindhof.
" Look down yonder path," continued Bella, in lively
tones. " Uncle Kudolph has just ridden along there. He
knew me, too, and waved his hand to me. Mamma will
be glad that he is friends with me again. "
Miss Mertens exhorted her to behave prettily all the time,
but to run now for her hat and mantle, because it was
time to go.
Elizabeth and Ernest accompanied them as far as the
park.
" We have stayed too long," remarked Miss Mertens,
with an anxious face, when she had taken leave of Mr. and
Mrs. Ferber at the wicket-gate, and stepped out upon the
forest clearing.
*^ Why, do you think that the baroness will be displeased
at your long stay?"
^' I know she will."
" Well, do not repent of it anyhow. At all events we
have passed a delightful afternoon," said Eeinhard, cheer-
fully.
The children had gone forward, hand in hand, and every
now and then disappeared among the bushes on either
hand, looking for flowers. Hector, who had been untrue to
his master and joined the party, bounded merrily hither
and thither, not failing, however,' now and then to sidle up
to Elizabeth, " the queen of his heart," her uncle always
said, in order that she might stroke his head.
Suddenly he stopped and stood still in the middle of the
road. They were already in the neighborhood of the park;
through the openings in the trees they caught glimpses of
GOLD ELSIB. 119
the bright stretch of green lawn, and the splashing of the
nearest fountain was audible. Hector had discovered some-
thing, and it proved to be a female figure that came, with
hasty steps, to meet the party coming dow^n the mountain,
Elizabeth recognized her immediately as dumb Bertha, al-
though her appearance had altered strangely.
The young girl could have had no suspicion that specta-
tors were in the neighborhood, for she was gesticulating
violently with her arms, as she walked along; her cheeks
were glowing red and her brows contracted as if from in-
tense mental suffering, and her lips were moving as though
she were talking to herself. Her white hat, trimmed with
flowers, had fallen off her head and hung from her neck by
its ribbons. In consequence of her violent movements,
however, these loosened by degrees, and it fell to the
ground without its owner perceiving her loss.
She ran forward, and did not lift up her eyes until just
as she came close up to Elizabeth.
Horrified, she started back, as if she had trodden upon
an adder. At the same instant the pained expression upon
her face changed to one of deepest bitterness. Her eyes
flashed forth hatred, her hands were doubled up convul-
sively, while a hissing sound was emitted from her lips; it
looked as though she were about to pounce upon the young
girl like a tiger-cat.
Beinhard advanced immediately to Elizabeth's side, and
drew her back a step. When Bertha caught sight of
him, die uttered a low cry, and ran into the thicket
through which she blindly broke her way, although bits of
her clothing remained hanging on the thorns, and low-
hanging boughs beat against her forehead; in a few min-
utes she had disappeared in the thicket.
" That was Bertha, from the hunting-lodge!'* cried Miss
Mortens, astonished. ** What can have happened to herf"
**Yes; what in the world has befallen her?'' repeated
Eeinhard. " That young person was in a terrible state of
excitement, but seemed at sight of you to fall into the most
violent rage," said he, turning to Elizabeth. " Is she re-
lated to you?''
** No, mdeed," answered the young girl, **for she is not
even a blood relation of my uncle's. Just as little is she
acquainted with me. She has consistently avoided my com-
pany from the beginning, although for a longtime I wished
130 GOLD ELSIE.
to be on friendly terms with her. It is clear that she hatee
me, but I know not why; I can not help feeling troubled
at it, but her character pleases me so litue, that I can not
attach any particular value to her disposition toward me.*'
" Good gracious, chQdl The talk here is not of disposi-
tion! Why, the little fury looked as if she would have torn
you to pieces, if she could. "
Miss '.
iacal in her appearance: where could she have come
from?^'
"According to every appearance, from the villa,* ^ re-
marked Elizabeth, while she picked vto Bertha's hat, and
brushed off a few dry leaves and moss from its red poppies.
" I do not believe so,** returned Miss Mertens. ** Since
she has been dumb, strangely enough, she has also discon-
tinued her visits to Lindhof . She used to come there every
day, was a regular attendant upon the Bible readings, and
was in high favor with the baroness. All this came to a
sudden end, without any one being able to giv^e a reason
for it. Only occasionally in the course of my solitary ram-
bles, I have seen her gliding through the park, as swiftly
as a snake, and as repiusive to me as all reptiles,**
The speakers had already entered the first gravel walk in
the park, and found that the time for leave-taking had
come. Cordial greetinffs were exchanged on both sides.
" Do you hear, Elsie r* said Ernest, after the other three
had disappeared behind the nearest clump of trees. " Let*s
see which one of us will get to that corner there first 1**
This corner was the opening of a narrow road that led
down to the foot of the mountam.
"All right, my boy I** laaghed Elizabeth, and began to
run.
In the beginning, she kept pace with the little legs that
bravely tripped at her side, struggling to win precedence;
however, as they neared the goal, she flew forward in order
to tease the little fellow,, as straight as an arrow, and with
one step stood in the middle of the wood-path, but to her
alarm also close in front of the head of a horse that snorted
at her fiercely.
Hector, who h^ joined in the race, now barked loudly.
GOLD EL8IB. 131
The horse made a fearful leap backward^ and in a trice
stood almost erect on his hind legs.
'' Back!^* called out a powerful voice.
Elizabeth embraced the boy, who, meanwhile, had come
up, and jumped aside with him; almost at the same min-
ute, the horse rushed out of the woods, and hardly touch-
ing his hoofs to the ground, darted straight into the field.
Mr. von Walde rode the frightened animal that made
frantic efforts to throw his rider; but he sat firm as a rock,
only stooping down once and shaking his switch at Hector,
who bounded backward and forward making the horse ever
wilder through his barking. For awhile the highly met-
tled creature tramped about over the grass, but then sud-
denljr turned aside and disappeared in the forest beyond.
Elizabeth felt how her teeth chattered from excessive
agitation, for she did not doubt a moment but that there
must be an accident. She took Ernest by the hand, and
started to run to the villa for help, but she had not taken
many steps before she saw the rider coming back.
The animal was more quiet, foam flowed from the bit,
and Elizabeth saw how the horse^s legs trembled. Mr. von
Walde tapped him caressingly on his neck, sprung to the
f round, tied him to a tree, and then stepped up to Eliza-
eth.
'' I beg pardon,'* said the young girl, with quivering
voice, as he stood before her.
" What for. Miss Ferber?^* answered he, mildly. ** Ton
were not in fault. Come, sit down here awhile on this
bench. You have been frightened, and look very pale.^'
He made a movement as though he would like to take
her by the hand and lead her, but his arm sunk down again
immediately.-
Elizabeth mechanically followed his direction, and, with-
out further ceremony, he took his seat beside her. Little
Ernest pressed up close to his sister, and looked fixedly
into Mr. von Walde^s face, with his beautiful big eyes. The
little fellow had only been frightened for one minute, when
the horse came so unexpectedly out of the woods; his racing
around in the meadow had only amused him, for he had
no idea of the danger.
*' What were you running so eagerly into the woods for,
if I may ask?'* inquired Mr. von Walde, of Elizabeth,
after a short pause.
123 OOID ELSIE.
A playfal smile hovered about the still/ pale lips of th
young girl.
" I was being pursued/' answered she.
" By whom?^'
" By this young gentleman here/' said she, pointing to
Ernest; *' we were running a race/'
" Is this little fellow your brother?"
"Yes."
She looked tenderly into the boy's face, and stroked back
his curly locks with her hand.
"And she is my only sister," observed the boy, with
great emphasis.
" Ah, indeed! "Well, as it seems, you are on very good
terms with this only sister?" said Mr. von Walde.
" Oh, yes; I love her very dearly; she plays with me
just like a boy."
" Eeally?" asked the gentleman.
" When I want to drill, she puts on a paper cajp exactly
like one she makes for me, and marches and beats the
drum as long as ever I like to. Before going to sleep she
tells me stories, and besides, she puts the butter on my
bread ever so much thicker than mamma does."
A merry smile lighted up Mr. von Walde 's face. Eliza-
beth saw it for the first time, and discovered that it made
his features indescribably attractive, the deep gravity of
which she had deemed unalterable; it struck her like the
sunshine that breaks out unexpectedly from under masses
of black clouds.
"You are right, my boy," said he, drawing the little
boy toward himself; " undoubtedly those are splendid qual-
ities to possess, but is she never angry?" asked he, further,
while he pointed at Elizabeth, who laughed like a child, for
Ernest's communications seemed to her highly comical.
" No, never angry," answered the boy, " only often sol-
emn, and then she is always playing the piano.'
" But, Ernest!"
" Oh, yes, now, Elsie," interrupted the little fellow,
eagerly, " you know you used to in Berlin, when we were
so poor?"
" Well, as to that you may be right," replied the young
girl, with an unclouded brow, " but that was only when
Jjapa and mamma were struggling alone, and had to work
or our daily bread; afterward it was better,"
GOLD ELSIB. 133
*' But you stin play the piano, do you not?'*
"Yes/* replied Elizabeth, smiling; "yet no longer in
the sense that Ernest means my parents are provided for/'
'* And you?^* Mr. von Walde proceeded to inquire.
" Why, I! I have the spirit to do battle with life, and
wrest from it what is needful for an independent support. "
" How will you set about it?*'
" Next year I shall accept a situation as governess.''
" Does not Miss Mertens's example frghten you back?"
" Not at all. I am not so weak as to expect to earn my
bread without a struggle, when I see thousands in my cir-
cumstances courageously taking up the burden of servi-
tude?'^
" But here the question is not one of mere work, but
also of patience and endurance. You are proud. I know
that not only from your face at this instant, but also from
the views you expressed yesterday."
" Well, whether it be pride or no, I do rank human dig-
nity higher than those mere externals which selfishness has
imposed and tries to enforce; but just so I also believe that
one man can only humiliate another in so far as he stands
on a higher intellectual and spiritual platform that to him-
self seems unattainable, but never through derogatory
treatment."
"And through this view do you feel yourself steeled
against all those great and pretty trials which a capricious,
heartless mistress can impose upon you?"
" Oh, no; but I shall not suffer her to break my spirit.'^
There ensued a little pause, during which Ernest drew
near to the horse, and considered him with great attention.
" From what you said yesterday, I gathered that you
love your present home," began Mr. von Walde again.
" Yes, dearly."
" Well, I understand how that is; for we have here the
fairest portion of Thuringia. But how in the world cao
you take it so easily that you have to go away again?^'
" It is not easy for me at all; quite the reverse; but my
father has taught me that duty must go before pleasure,
and I comprehend this perfectly. On the other hand, it
is less easy for me to understand how one can give up what
is delightful, save at the bidding of necessity. "
. " Ah! that applies to me. You can not understand how
124 GOLD ELSIE.
a man gropes about m the musty pyramids, while he might
be breathing the air of cool, sunny Thuringia?'^
Elizabeth felt the hot blood mount to her face. Mr. von
Walde was evidently referring, with slight humor, to that
jocular conversation between herself and her uncle at
which he had been an involuntary listener.
*' Although I should like to explain to you, yet you would
not understand me; for, as it seems to me, you are con-
scious of no lack in the circle of your family, are you?^*
asked he, after a brief silence.
He had stooped forward, and was mechanically striking
with his riding-switch upon the gravel at his feet.
He spoke in those deep tones that somehow always
touched Elizabeth^s sensibilities.
" But there comes a time,'* he continued, " when one
flees into the world, in order to forget that happiness is
lacking at home. A painfully felt void in his existence a
man can force into the background at least, if it can not be
filled up, when he becomes absorbed in science.**
Here, then, was laid bare the sore place in his heart He
deeply felt that he did not get at home the love that he so
ardently longed for, and which he had a perfect right to
claim, too, since he continually showed his sister the purest,
most unselfish devotion. Elizabeth had apprehended this
source of pain before she had ever become acquainted with
Mr. von Walde. But the minute that he so unequivocally
cave utterance to it there welled up in her heart, the lively
desire to console him. Words of sympathy almost forced
themselves to her lips; but at the same time she felt an in-
explicable shyness that hindered her from expressing what
she felt, and at a sideward glance, taking in the strong
lines of his profile, and his brow that remained proud and
commanding, while his voice sounded soft and mournful,
there suddenly came to her the harrowing supposition that
he might have forgotten for a moment who sat beside him,
and that, later, his aristocratic feeling would lead him bit-
terly to repent of the blunder whereby an insignificant girl
had been allowed a glimpse into his closely locked up inner
life.
This thought sent the blood tingling through her veins;
she arose qmckly, and called Ernest to come to her. Mr.
von Walde turned his head toward her in surprise, and for
econd his eye rested searchingly upon her lace; then he,
GOLD ELSIE, 1,25
too, forsook his seat, and, as though to confirm his impres-
sion, suddenly stood before the young girl in all his proud
composure and sedateness; but that line of deep melan-
choly between the eyebrows, which her father had already
observed, now strncK her for the first time, and made upon
her the same impression as had done his voice awhile ago.
" Your thoughts commonly fly very fast,'* said he, evi-
dently trying to assume a lighter tone, and slowly moving
along at Ehzabeth^s side she was going for Ernest, who
had not heard her call *' before one has perfectly finished
a sentence, one sees by your eyes that the answer is already
upon your lips. Your silence at this moment tells me,
then, that I was right when I assumed that you would not
understand me, because you have experienced no lack your-
self.**
" The idea of happiness is so very different that, indeed,
I can not know **
"We all have the idea in common," interposed he.
** In you it only slumbers yet awhile. **
" Oh, no!** cried she, with animation, forgetting her re-
serve through astonishment; '*I love my family with all
my heart, and have the blissful consciousness that my love
is returned.**
"Ahl then you have not entirely misunderstood me.
Well, and your family that includes a very large circle to
be taken into your heart, does it not.^**
" No,** cried she, laughing; " they are quickly counted.
My parents, uncle, and this little body here,** said she,
catching by the hand little Ernest, who now came running
up, " who makes great demands, and every year conquers
more territory. But now we must be gone, my boy,** said
she, " else mamma will be uneasy. **
She bowed slightly to Mr. von Walde, and it struck her
that the cloud upon his brow had again suddenly vanished.
He politely took off his hat to her, and offered to shake
hands with Ernest; then slowly moved over to the horse
that was pawing the ground impatiently, seized the reins,
and led it away.
"Do you know, Elsie,** said Ernest, as they were climb-
ing the mountain, " how Mr. von Walde looks?*
^*Well?**
** Like the Knight St. George, who killed the dragon."
126 GOLD ELSIE.
" Eh?^' laughed the young girl. " You have seen no
picture of that orave knight, have you?''
" Well, no; I just think so."
And she had thought the same when she had seen him
flying away, mastering that unruly horse.
But at this instant, too, she recalled the torture which
she had experienced at the thought that he might be killed,
and the unspeakable joy felt when she had seen him emerge
from the forest unharmed.
She stood still, and, smiling in bewQderment, laid her
hand upon her beating heart.
"You see,'' suggested Ernest, "you have run up the
mountain too fast again. I could not keep up with you at
all. If uncle knew about it, he would give you a fine
scolding."
Slowly and dreamily she moved forward; she had hardly
heard her little brother's reproaches.
What could be that strange sensation which the day be-
fore had intruded itself into her musical iniprovisation,
causing her to weep and rejoice simultaneouslyr
At this very mmufce it was coursing again through her
soul, far more powerfully and ravishingly than on the day
before; but just as enigmatically and mysteriously.
*^ But, Elsie," cried Ernest, impatiently, " what in the
world is the matter with you? Now you are going the
other way, so slowly, that it will certainly be dark before
we reach the top. "
He caught hold of her dress and tried to pull her on.
This reminder, however, of the outer world was too ener-
getic to be any longer withstood; she roused herself up,
and, to the little boy's satisfaction, moved forward, Keep-
ing step with him vigorously.
When they reached home, Elizabeth laid Bertha's hat on
the buffet in the hall. All this time it had been hanging
on her arm.
For the present she did not care to mention to the par-
ents her rencounter with that girl, because she rightly sup-
posed that it would cause them uneasiness, and that they
would report it to her uncle. Lately, however, the latter
had been very testy and bitter when he happened to speak
on that point, so that Elizabeth was confident that if such
a communication was made to him, he would proceed to ex-
tremities, and banish from his house the disturber of its
GOLD ELSIE. 127
peace. Ernest had not noticed either the hat upon her
arm, nor the pains she took to hide it; therefore he could
betray nothing.
After saj)per Elizabeth went down to the lodge. She
met Sabine in the garden, and heard with satisfaction that
her uncle had walked to Lindhof. As she intrusted the
hat to the care of the old housekeeper, she told her about
Bertha^s strange behavior, and finally asked if she had come
homa. Sabine was beside herself.
" I tell you what, you may believe me, child,*' said she,
** had you been alone, she would have scratched your eyes
out. 1 do not know what will come of it; lately she has
been especially bad. She no longer sleeps of a night, but
runs up and down, talking again, too, but only to herself.
If I could only make up my mind some time to open the
door, I know I should see sights; but I can not; no, not
though I were to get heaps of gold for it. You laugh at
me, 1 know; but there is something wrong about her! Only
loofc into her eyes; how they sparkle and flash as if she had
in them all the fire of the Brocken. Well, I keep mum,
and say nothing. Your uncle gets sound sleep, and so do
the others; but I am up and about, if a little mouse does
but stir, and so I know right well that Bertha rambles about
of a night, and every time, too, the watch-dog is missing
from his kennel. That is the only creature in the house
that she cares for, and, bad as he is, he never hurts her/'
"Does my uncle know that:^' asked Elizabeth, aston-
ished.
" No, indeed, not he! I shall take good care not to say
anything that could get me into trouble. -*'
'*' But, Sabine, only consider, may you not be exposing
my uncle to great risk by your silence? The house is in
such a lonely situation if there is no dog in the yard. *'
" Then I "stay up at the window and watch, until at last
I see her coming over the mountain, and then she chains
up the dog again. "
" This is a superhuman sacrifice offered to your super-
Btition! One would rather have Bertha*"
" Hush! not so loud; see, there she sits!*'
Sabine pointed through the palings to the pear-tree in
theyard. Elizabeth softly drew nearer.
Xfnder the tree, upon a stone bench, gat Bertha, appar-
ency composed, and stringing beans. The glowing flush
138 GOLD SLSIE.
of excitement upon her brow and cheeks had changed to a
sickly pallor. Elizabeth now saw that the young girl had
become much thinner than she used to be.
Her small nose stood out more prominently, and her
cheeks had lost their lovely roundness of contour. Dark
rings encircled her eyes, and between her brows were two
deep furrows that gave a sinister, brooding expression to
the whole face, but also, in conjunction with certain lines
about the mouth, an unspeakably painful look. This look
cut Elizabeth to the quick. Upon the shoulders of that
lonely being misery must press all the harder because she
bore it in silence.
Elizabeth forgot all the animosity which Bertha had dis-
played toward her up to this time, and rapidly moved a
few steps closer to her, in order to lay that aching head
upon her breast, and say:
" Eest here, pour out all your sorrows into my heart,
and I will faithfully help you to bear them all.^'
But Sabine clutched her firmly by the arm.
"You are not to go there !^* she whispered, earnestly.
** ni not suffer it, she points that knife toward you, and is
capable of mischief
^* But she is inconceivably wretched. I may succeed in
convincing her that nothing but the sincerest sympathy
leads me to her. *'
" No, no! Well, you^ll soon see how far one can go with
her.'*
Sabine descended the stairs leading into the yard. Ber-
tha let her come on without lifting up her eyes.
" Miss Elizabeth has found it," said Sabine, holding out
her hat to Bertha; then she laid her hand upon the girl's
shoulder, and continued, in friendly fashion, *' she would
like to say a few words to you.'*
Bertha flared up, as if she had received a deadly insult.
She fiercely shook off Sabine's hand, and directed her eye
wrathf uUy toward the sjpot where Elizabeth stood a proof
that she had all along been conscious of that young lady's
presence. She threw the knife upon the table, with one of
her violent movements, overturned the basket at her feet,
so that the beans were scattered over the ground in every
direction, and rushed into the house. They could hear,
through the open window, how she slammed the door of
her room, and drew the bolt.
GOLD ELSIE. 129
Elizabeth was dumb from surprise, bufc also from pain.
She would so gladly have done something for the relief of
this poor, unhappy creature, but now saw that she must
give up all thoughts of the kind.
For a week past she had gone down to the villa daily.
Miss von Walde had improved with marvelous rapidity
when, as the baroness remarked, with a tender intonation,
she had found health in that cup of coffee prepared for her
bj her own hand, the same evening that her son had ar-
rived. Helen was practicing some duets with all her might,
and finally confided to Elizabeth that her brother^s birth-
day would be the last of August, and that this time she
wanted to celebrate it with especial honor, because she
would thus give some token of delight at his return after
such a long journey. On that day he was to hear her play,
for the first time, since ever so long ago, and she knew that
she should give him a joyful surprise by her improvement.
Elizabeth met her engagement for these lessons with
mingled emotions of joy, anxiety, and reluctance.
She did not herself know why, but both the villa and the
park had suddenly become sweet and dear to her; yes, she
even felt a sort of affection for that bench upon which she
had sat in company with Mr. von Walde, such as one feels
for an old friend, so that she constantly went a little way
around, in order to pass by it. Mr. von Hollfeld^s de-
meanor, on the contrary, inspared her with anxiety and dis-
gust. After she had several times thwarted his attempts to
join her on the way, by quickly turning aside, one after-
noon he came into Miss von "Walde's room, and, without
further ceremony, asked her permission to be present dur-
ing the lessons. To Elizabeth^s alarm, Helen assured him
with beaming eyes that she bade him doubly welcome as a
convert who nad hitherto had no taste at all for music.
He now persistently made his appearance every time at
her coming,' silently placed before her a few freshly gathered
flowers, in consequence of which she was sure to strike some
false chords, and then he would seat himself in a corner of
the window, whence he could look directly into the face of
the players. So long as the music was going on he held
his hand over his eyes, as though he would withdraw wholly
from all impressions of the outr world, in order to dwell
undisturbedly in the realm of melody. Very soon, how-
ever, Elizabeth remarked, to her disgust, thatli only cov-
5
130 GOLD ELSIE.
ered his face in so far as it could be seen by Helen; behind
the screening hand he stared incessantly at herself, and
followed every one of her movements.
She trembled beneath those eyes that, otherwise so shal-
low and void of expression, facing her, continually glowed
with a peculiar fire, so that she had often need of the great-
est self-control to enable her to go on with her playing un-
bewildered.
Helen evidently had no suspicion of the cunning with
which Hollfeld sought to attain his end. She made fre-
quent pauses, and would converse with him in an animated
manner, although, truth to tell, the talking was chiefly on
her side, and for the most part very sweet. Each of his
monosyllabic answers, namby-pamby and commonplace as
they were, was received by her as a favor, an oracular
opinion, the sense of which was worth diving into.
A few minutes before the hour was over, he invariablv
absented himself. The very first time, however, Elizabeth
had observed, as she was prepanng to go home, how he
stood watching before the path that she was obliged to
take, for she could easily see this through one of the cor-
ridor windows on the first-floor, whence one could overlook
a considerable part of the park. She traversed his plana,
not without a secret laugh, by visiting Miss Mortens and
staying with her for more than an hour. There she was
constantly received with open arms, and gradually became
80 fond of the governess that at last she could never pass
her door without going in for a pleasant little chat.
Miss Mortens, for the most part, was melancholj and
cast down. She felt that for her to remain at Lindhof
grew ever more intolerable.
The baroness, suddenly deprived of supreme power and
the activity linked to it, was now often wearied to death.
Before her relations she had to assume the mask of harm-
lessness and contentment, however heartily she was dis-
gusted with things; she was compelled to hide her ill-humor
behind the locked doors of her apartments; but there she
was simply unbearable. She did not show her spite to
Bella, for in that child she already saw the baroness rather
than her daughter, and was ever careful not to overstep the
boundaries prescribed for a lady; for her old waiting-maid
she had, one knew not why, *' an unbounded respect,^' as
Laurence, the old steward, expressed it, ^nd she durst not
GOLD ELSIE, 131
Btep upon the lower servants' toes for fear of calling oat
the master of the house; hence all the pent-up venom dis-
charged itself against the poor, defenseless governess.
In order adequately to torment her victim, the lady gave
orders that henceforth lessons should only go on in her
high and mighty presence.
From beginning to end, the teacher's method was found
fault with before her pupil. No more was it to be won-
dered at that the child made no progress in her studies; the
nerves of the little girl, too, must be in a perpetual state of
excitement ^for Miss Mertens had the most disagreeable
voice in the world and how should Bella ever be gracef cd,
when she had to have before her eyes the awkward way in
which her governess held the book, turned over the leaves,
etc., etc. In history. Miss Mertens showed herself here too
sentimental, there almost absurdly democratic in her views,
and at times was shameless enough to show herself a trifle
strong-minded. In such cases the duties of the hour were
interfered with; the baroness took the chair, and the gov-
erness had to listen meekly to a lecture full of aristocratio
pride, envy, and malice.
If the lady did not feel herself quite firmly enough seat-
ed in the saddle, Mr. Candidate Mohring was called into
council. But the needle pricks of her own discourse were
as nothing beside this cruelty which brought down upon
the much-to-be-pitied governess all the sermons hitherto
not preached, all the secretly suppressed venom of the sup-
posititious martyr. ^ The baroness knew that the Candidate
spoke French abominably; but never mind, he was implored,
so long as he stayed at the Villa Lindhof, to be present at
the hour for conversation, in order to correct the teacher's
expressions. How Bella feared meanwhile, came not into
the calculations of malice.
Eight often Miss Mertens would say, with tears, that
nothing but love for her widowed mother could induce her
to subject herself to a like martyrdom.
The old lady was almost entirely dependent upon what
her daughter sent her, and therefore she was compelled to
avoid a frequent change of place, on account of the pe-
cuniary loss it involved. Sad, however, as she was now for
the most part, her soft features were certain to brighten up
whenever Elizabeth stuck her head in at the door, and
sked, in her clear, fresh voice, if she might come in. With
132 GOLD ELSIE.
her entrance vexations and annoyances fled into the back*
ground, and as they sat together on the little sofa near the
window, there took place an exchange of thought between
the two, in which the governess renewed her youth, and
Elizabeth gaiaed many a new idea from her older friend's
rich treasury of knowledge and experience.
These little afternoon visits, however, had another charm
for the young girl, which she would not have acknowledged
to herself for anything in the world; although in conse-
S[uence of it her heart would beat violently as she stood be-
ore the door, and there would come over her an inexplic-
able commingling of joy and timidity.
The windows of Miss Mertens's abode looked out upon a
large court-yard, that Elizabeth used to call the convent-
earaen, because it lay so quiet and seq^uestered between four
high walls. A few far-spreading Imden-trees effectually
shaded a green lawn that was only here and there inter-
sected by a paved walk. In the middle of the court was a
fountain that supplied the house with delicious water; upon
the brim of the mighty basin reposed the white limbs of a
few stone figures, toned down by the shadows cast upon
them from the tree-tops. Upon the shrubbery and gravel
walks outside the afternoon sun might be pouring down
heat that hissed and glowed like molten leail, but here in
the shade of the trees it was deliciously cool. A door in
the ground-floor that led immediately into the court from
Mr. von Walde's study stood therefore almost always open.
He himself now and then stepped out and would walk up
and down with his arms crossed.
What thoughts could be working behind that pale and
noble brow, when, after walking along for awhile with his
head sunk upon his breast, suddenly he would draw him-
seK up erect, as though startled out of a delightful dream?
Miss Mortens often said that she thought he had come
back much altered.
Before his journey. Miss Mertens's account was that to
her Mr. von Walde's face resembled that of a statue, so
Srave was it and impassive, and although even then she
ad known that he must be a thoroughly fine man, she had
somehow always felt chilled in his presence. ^ Kow, it
seemed to her as if some transforming, electrifying power
had been at work upon him, inwardly and outwardly. Even
bis step had grown brisker and more elaatio^ and sto
GOLD ELSIB. 188
would almost be willing to sWear that in his solitary stiolls
through the court she had often seen a smile play upon
his features, as though some being had risen up before him
whose appearance made him happy. At this remark. Miss
Mertens herself smiled, and mysteriously suggested that at
all events he had brought home with him very pleasant
memories, and she could not suppress the quiet conviction
that in a short while all would be different at Lindhot But
she never saw that her young friend at this summing up of
the matter always put her hand to her heart, and she her-
self was still less conscious of it, foi* the cutting pang that
penetrated her inmost being made her forget entirely to
control her outward movements.
Those quiet strolls beneath the linden-trees were often in-
terrupted, and that by people who generally had a petition
to present. Workmen and men of business came, out the
unfortunate and needy as well.
The latter came hesitatingly forward, shown in by the
servant; they came down the steps and generally stood with
bowed heads before the commanding form of the gentleman
who, in a mild voice, invited them to speak, and graciously
stooped down to them, in order not to lose one of their
whispered words. They continually left him cheered and
comforted; for those who were not worthy of his help did
not venture into his presence.
To-day Elizabeth set out for the villa a half hour earlier
than usual.
The occasion for this was that at noon when her father
has returned from his office at the lodge he had met Miss
Mertens in the forest. She seemed to have been weeping
bitterly, and at the moment was not in a condition to
speak; for she had merely nodded to him, and passed on
ramdly.
This news left Elizabeth no peace. She could not possi-
bly postpone her visit to the governess until the music hour
was over; the poor, lonely thing assuredly needed consola-
tion, and a friend to sympathize with her.
On the other side of the great meadow that skirted the
woods stood a charming little pavilion. A dense shrubbery
inclosed the pretty building on three sides, causing the
open front to look only the more cheerful. Hitherto thid
retreat had remained closed; the shutters, however, had
been fastened back, for the most part, and through a drawn
134 GOLD ELSIE.
blind; Elizabeth had seen that the interior was very ele
gantly famished. As she emerged from the forest to-day,
she saw directly that the door of the pavilion stood open. A
servant; with an empty tray^ came out and beckoned to her
to come across.
On drawing nearer she soon recognized Miss von Walde,
the bareness^ and Hollfeld, who were drinking coffee in the
only room of which the pavilion boasted.
" You come a little too early, my dear,^' said Helen, as
the young girl crossed the threshold.
Elizabeth said to her that she wanted to pay Miss Mer-
tens a visit in the first instance.
** Oh, give that up for this afternoon,^' said Helen,
eagerly, but with a good deal of embarrassment, while the
baroness looked up from her embroidery with an indescrib-
ably malicious smile. '^ Do you know, a great packet of
music has arrived from Leipsic this morning!'* continued
Miss von Walde. " I have already rummaged through it a
little, and most of ihem are splendid things. Perhaps we'll
find another brilliant piece for our concert Come, sit
down, and presently we shall go together to the villa."
She handed a basket of cakes to Elizabeth, and laid a
beautiful pear upon a plate for her.
At this instant, Mr. von Waldo's dog bounded over the
threshold.
Immediately the two ladies straightened themselves up.
Helen looked expectantly toward the door, and evidently
save herself the greatest trouble to look as innocent and
friendly as possible. But the baroness threw her work into
a basket, examined the silver coffee-urn, to see if it was
hot, placed a cup and saucer conveniently to the sugar-dish,
and pulled out a chair from the corner, and set it up to the
table. Her impertinent smile had vanished, to give place
to a certain senousness, and she evidently laid herself out
to make a dignified and pleasing impression.
At sight of the dog, Hollfeld hurried out upon the lawn,
and in a few minutes afterward came back with Mr. von
Walde, who, as it seemed, had just returned from a trip,
for he wore a light overcoat and felt hat.
** We feared, dear Eudolph," cried Helen, as she got up
and offered him her hand, ** that we would be deprived of
your society all day long." .
" I found more business to attend to in L than I had
GOLD ELSIE. 13S
expected,'* replied he, not sitting upon the chair offered
him, but dropping down on the sofa at his sister's side,
thus forcing Elizabeth to look him full in the face, if she
lifted her eyes, as she was immediately opposite to him.
" As for the rest," continued he, " I have already been
back a half hour; but Eeinhard had something \erj partic-
ular to communicate to me, and wanted me to decide upon
it forthwith; so I came very near losing the pleasure of
drinking coffee with you, Helen dear/'
"That bad Eeinhard!" pouted Miss von Walde; "he
might just as well have waited a little while longer, the
world would not have ceased to move in consequence, I
fancy,"
" Ah, dear child," sighed the baroness, " there are some
things that never alter. We are iust sentenced for our
whole lives to be the slaves of our subordinates."
Mr. von Walde quietly turned his head, and slowly took
her measure with his eyes.
" Well, why do you fix your eyes upon me so steadily,
dear Rudolph?" asked the baroness, not without a touch
of embarrassment.
" I only wanted to convince myself whether you were in-
deed fitted to enact one of those tragic rdles in ^ Uncle
Tom's Cabin'?''
" Forever jeering where I expect sympathy," replied the
lady, endeavoring to give a soft melancholy intonation to
her coarse voice. "I would just like to know; but ^"
she sighed again. " For that matter, it is not everybody
who has your enviable equanimity, and can let pass un-
noticed the little disagreeables and necessary ills of uf e. We
poor ladies, alas! have our unhappy nerves that make us
doubly sensitive to any rude shock to the mind. You should
have seen in what a pitiable state I was this morning. I
have had a dreadful vexation. Well, this Miss Mertens will
have to answer for it some day!"
" Has she insulted you?"
"What an expression, dearest Eudolph! How could a
Srson in her position insult me? Irritated, provoked me
the utmost, she did. "
** Well, I perceive, with ereat satisfaction, that you will
not so easily bend beneath the yoke of slavery."
" Of late I have had unspeakably much to endure from
this silly person," continued the baroness, without heeding
136 GOLD ELSIE,
the ton of her cousin's remark. " My motherly dutiet
are sacred to me^ and for this reason I deem it impera-
tively necessary to supervise the instruction that my child
receives; for fche direction given to the young mind can not
be a matter of indifference to me. This morning I heard
this silly Mertens telling the child that nobility of soul is
far above nobility of birth, as if the things could be sepa-
rated; she ranks the beggar who has a pure heart higher
than the crowned head of a sinful man, and more to the
same effect. When I tell you that Bella is one day to reside
at court, for so it is decreed, I have the post of maid of
honor for her in nay pocket, as it were; then you will com-
prehend that I cut short the entirely too free teachings of
this pert governess. You must admit, dear Eudolph, that,
with such views, Bella would play but a wretched part at
court, and very soon have to 'give up altogether. '^
*' Nothing is to be said against that. '^
" Well, God be thanked!^^ cried the baroness, drawing a
deep breath of relief. " I really was a little uneasy as to
how you would take my dismissal of Miss Mertens, since
you have esteemed her far beyond her deserts. That per-
son was so impertinent when 1 interrupted her dissertation,
that there was nothing left for mo but to s^nd her away. '*
" I have no right whatever to prescribe for you with ref-
erence to your employ6s,'^ coldly replied Mr. von Walde.
" But I seek to consult your wishes in the matter, as far
as possible, dear Eudolph. As for the rest, I can not tell
you how glad I am that I need not see again that hateful
English face!''
*' I regret it, but you can not be entirely rid of such a
necessity; for Eeinhard, my secretary, has just entered into
a matrimonial engagement with Miss Mertens a half hour
The baroness dropped her embroidery. This time not
only the familiar red spots were seen upon her cheeks in
magnified proportions; but a dark flush suffused her brow
as well.
" Has the man lost his reason?'* she cried, finallyc
awakening from her stupor.
" I believe not, for he has just proved it," answered Mr.
von Walde, composedly.
** Well, I must say he shows himself the antiquarian
herel What a youthful blooming bride I" cried the lady.
.iiL*fc
SOLD ELSIE. ' 137
Bcornfully, making as though she would kill herself laugh-
ing, Hollfeld chimed in with this laughter, thus giving
the first sign that he had been taking interest in the con-
versation going on.
Helen cast a troubled glance at him, but this laughter
wounded Elizabeth deeply, and she felt within a boiling up
of indignation.
" Well, I hope, dear cousin,'' resumed the baroness,
" you will not expect me ''
'* To do what?^'
** To live any longer with this person.'*
" I can not force you to, indeed, Amelie, any more than
I can forbid my secretary to marry."
" But you can dismiss him when he makes a choice that
renders a stay in your house disagreeable to your nearest
relations."
" Neither can I do that, for hi& appointment with me is
for life, and I have just secured a pension to his future
wife in case of his death. As for the rest, you are a little
mistaken, dear cousin, if you believe anything in the world
could induce me to let a man leave me whom I have once
discovered to be reliable and true. I approve entirely of
Reinhard's choice, and have allotted to him, for all time,
those pretty apartments on the ground-floor of the north
wing; he will also receive his mother-in-law into his fam-
ily.^'
" Well, I congratulate him upon this charming acquisi-
tion," answered the baroness, and her sharp voice quav-
ered from restrained passi6n. " Only one thing I take the
liberty of remarking. I can not conquer my feelings so far
as to endure to have that person about me a single day
longer; let her look out for an abode until the time comes
for ner marriage, I hope you will see to it, dear Rudolph,
that this interesting engaged couple do not remain under
one roof in existing circumstances."
" If you will allow me,'' said Elizabeth, turning to
Helen, " I should like to ask my parents to receive Miss
Mortens for the time being. We have plenty of room."
" Ah, yes; do so; there could be no better solution found
for the difficulty," answered Miss von Walde, holding out
her hand to Elizabeth.
The baroness darted a withering glance at the latter.
** 'Well, since the affair has now been arranged to th
138 GOLD ELSIE.
general satisfaction/' said she, with difficulty retaining
her self-command, " I acquiesce, and shall humbly wait
and see whether the future Mrs. Secretary will leave me
some little spot where I shall be freed from the horrid
sight of her. Apropos, Miss Ferber,*' continued she, after
awhile, in a flippant tone, " it just occurs to me that your
fee for music lessons has already been in the hands of my
maid for some days; please knock at her door in passing,
and she will give you the money, together with the bill,
which I shall be glad for you to receipt. '^
" But, AmalieT*^ exclaimed Helen, greatly shocked.
** I shall comply with your directions, madame,'* quietly
replied Elizabeth.
She had observed how angrily Mr. von Walde's eyes had
flashed at the baroness's words; it had seemed as if a dark
cloud were about to settle upon his brow, but the next
minute these signs of inward commotion had turned to an
indescribably sarcastic expression.
'' If I may be allowed to advise. Miss Ferber,*' said he,
turning to that young lady, " I counsel you not to venture
rashly into the baroness's apartments; evil spirits in the
broad daylight haunt them, and much mischief do they
brew there. You need not laugh; I know this quite posi-
tively. I beg of you not to concern yourself about the
matter referred to, my steward is to arrange all that; he is
trusty, and handles such matters with a tact that might put
ladies themselves to the blush.''
The baroness hastily bundled her work together, and
stood up.
** It will be well for me to spend the rest of the day in
my own room," remarked she, with quivering lips, wnile
she turned to Helen. ** There are moments when one
ofiFends by the most harmless opinions and words, and sees
herself misunderstood to her mortification. I beg, then,
that my non-appearance at tea will be pardoned. "
She made a ceremonious bow to the brother and sister,
then grasped the arm of her son, who looked excessively
embarrasssed, and swept out of the room.
Helen arose with tears in her eyes, and was about to fol-
low; but her brother caught hold of her hand with gentle
earnestness and drew her down by him on the sofa.
" Will you not, at least, keep me company until I have
finished my cup of coflEee?" asked he, affectionately, and
QOU) ELSIE. 139
as coolly as if not the least thing had happened to discern^
pose him.
" Oh, yes, if you wish 5t/' answered she, hesitatingly,
and with averted eyes; " but sorry as I am to hurry you,
please make a little haste, for Miss f^erber has come to give
me my hour, and we have already kept her waiting uncon-
scionably/'
" Why, then, well go directly; but I make one condi-
tion, Helen/'
'* What is that?"
** That I may be a listener."
" No, no; that will never do. I am too far behind-hand;
your ears could never stand my miserable strumming.'*
" Poor Emilel Surely he does not suspect that he is in-
debted to his uncultivated ears for his privilege of being
allowed to listen!"
Helen crimsoned. She had hitherto said nothing to her
brother about Hollfeld's visits, for obvious reasons. For
that matter she had been of opinion that he would be in-
different, and now it seemed that he attached significance
to them.
She seemed to herself to have been caught in a deception,
and was speechless. Elizabeth suspected what was the nat-
ure of her emotion; she shared her embarrassment, and
felt the hot blood mount to her cheeks.
At this moment Mr. von Walde turned his head toward
her, and a keen, searching look scanned her face, while
simultaneously his brows were knitted.
** Does Miss Perber play her fantasies in these so-called
practicing hours?" asked he of his sister, speaking more
quickly than usual.
" Oh, no," answered she, glad to have regained her com-
posure; " then, indeed, I would not have spoken of strum-
ming. I have only allowed Emile to be present, because I
thought one ought to nourish a newly awakened love for
music wherever found. "
A slight smile flitted across Mr. von Waldo's face, but it
was not the same smile which had recently had so peculiar
a charm for Elizabeth. The frown did not vanish, and
there was a sinister look in his eye as he again gazed
searchingly upon the younff girl.
*' You are right, Helen, ' said he, at last, coldly and not
without a touch of raillery. [[ But what a magnet must
140 GOLD ELSIE.
lurk in these mnsical exercises to perform such wonden.
But Sk short while ago, Emile would have much rather list-
ened to the barking of his Diana than hear the grandest
sonatas of Beethoven/'
Helen was silent, and cast down her eyes.
** There, I have just thought again of poor Miss Mertens,'*
suddenly resumed her brother, in an entirely altered tone.
** Would it not be judicious for Miss Ferber to arrange that
affair first of all?''
" Yes, indeed," returned Helen, eagerly catching at the
idea, since it gave a different turn to the painful conversa-
tion. " We would rather postpone our lesson, my dear,"
said she, turning to Elizabeth, " in order that you may
take the needful steps. Go, then, to your parents now,
please, and in my name, ask if they will be so good as to
entertain the poor lady."
Elizabeth arose. Helen stood up at the same time.
When her brother observed that she wanted to leave the
Svilion, he quietly flung his arm around the little form,
ted her like a feather from the ground, and carried her
until he had placed her in a chair upon rollers that stood
outside the door. After he had arranged the pillows so that
they supported her back, and had tenderly covered up her
tiny feet in a shawl, he lifted his hat lightly to Elizabeth,
when she saw that his brow was still clouded, as he pushed
the rolling-chair up the path that led to the villa.
"She must occupy all his thoughts," mused Elizabeth,
as she was climbing the mountain, " and Miss Mertens is
much mistaken, if she believes that he will ever place an-
other woman alongside of his sister, much less above her.
He is jealous of his cousin, and, alas! he is fully justified in
this. But how is it possible?" here she paused, for the two
men stood out before the inner eye of sense, " that a man
like Hollfeld could have attraction for Helen, compared
with Mr. von Walde? The one who screens himself behind
a seemingly wise silence, because, in fact, he has nothing
to say, and the other, through whose nobly calm exterior
flashes a spirit of fire, an inexhaustible spring of thought,
which, however, is held in check and guided by a powerful
will. Hence that outwardly reserved demeanor which will
be always incomprehensible to ordinary people."
Again it occurred to her that Mr. von Walde had looked
at her quite peculiarly^ after bis suspicion had been aroused*
GOLD ELSIE. 141
Did he blame her, too, looking upon her as his sister's con-
fidante! And did he bear resentment against her, whose
most ardent wish was that Mr. von Hollfeld might lose his
passion for music as speedily as it had been acquired?
This indeed she could say to nobody, but least of all to
Mr. von Walde, and so must just submit to do penance for
that unlucky blush, which had suffused her face at the most
inopportune moment and without any rational motive
whatever.
CHAPTEE XIL
MB. VOK WALDB GETS ANGET, AND GOLD ELSIB PALLS
IN LOVE.
The parents, delighted with the proposal, at once gave
their consent to Elizabeth's request, and she hastened to
return to the castle, to extend to Miss Mortens the invita-
tion in her parents' name.
When she entered the governess's room, the latter was
leaning against the wall with folded hands. At her feet
stood a trunk half packed, wardrobes and bureaus were
open wide, and the chairs full of books and clothes of every
description. The young girl rushed up to the governess,
and throwing her arms around her, raised up her tear-
stained face, but beneath the tears she saw a ray of joy.
" I am so overcome by the sudden change in my fate,"
said Miss Mortens, after Elizabeth had congratulated her,
" that I must shut my eyes for a few moments to collect
my thoughts. This morning everything was dark before
me, and I literally did not know whither I should turn;
the ground seemed to be sinking beneath my feet, and now,
in the midst of such distress, a home is suddenly given me.
A heart, that I greatly respect, but of whose affection for
this poor governess I had not had up to the present mo-
ment even the faintest suspicion, now longs to stand
bravely at my side; and the most intense desire of my life
will be fulfilled, for I am to be permitted to cherish and
Erotect my dear old mother. What will she say when she
ears the news? she who, with that painful anxiety which
only a mother can feel, knew that I was exposed to wind
and storm, and still c^uld not call me back to her heart."
She told Elizabeth their plans^ In a few weeks Bein
14S GOLD ELBA
hard was himself going to England to bring her mothef
back. His employer h^ so ordered, and intended bearing
the expenses of the joamej.
Whenever Miss Mertens mentioned Mr. von Walde's
name, her eyes wonld fill with tears, and she repeatedly
declared that all the wrong and injustice that she had sof-
fered at the hands of the baroness had been compensated by
the kindness of him who could never bear any act of in-
justice in his house to go unpunished.
Elizabeth's invitation made her joy complete. Miss
Mertens had intended going into the little inn at Lindhof
until she could find employment in the village.
"' But now we must make all possible haste to go up the
mountain,^' she exclaimed, beaming with joy. The
baroness has already sent me my salary, and has positively
forbidden my coming into her presence. Bella passed
through mv room without even honoring me with a glance;
that wounded me severely, for I have cherished the child,
and treated her like the apple of my eye. She used to be
very sickly, and while her mother was engaged in festivi-
ties at court, I would remain here at home and watch the
feverish dreams of the child night after night. But now all
that must be forgotten. In fact, I only meant to say that
I have been excused from taking leave of both.*'
While Miss Mertens went to take leave of Miss von
Walde and a few people in the house, to whom she had be-
come attached, Euzabeth continued to pack her trunk. The
new guest at Nordeck took with her only what was most
necessary, and all the rest was stored away in the house of
the future married couple.
Elizabeth amused herself by arranging all Miss Mer-
tens's books in a glass book-case, for Mr. von Walde had
left all the furniture in the apartments for the use of the
future occupants; all the books, however, were works that
aroused her liveliest interest; she would not stop with the
title-page, but with doors and windows wide open, would
hastilv glance over whole chapters, not once even thinking
of taking a seat. All thought of the governess and her
preparations for moving had vanished, as if they had never
existed, and the young girl's thoughts, engrossed with
Goethe's powerful description, were just rambling through
the throng and tumult at the coronation of Joseph the
Second, when suddenly a fresh rose fell over her shoulder
GOLD ELSIE. 143
on the book. Elizabeth was startled, but immediately
smiled, and quietly continued to read, making only a slight
motion to snake the rose off. She was determined not to
let Miss Mortens, who doubtless was standing behind her,
enjoy the triumph of her joke.
Suddenly, however, she uttered a gentle scream; the
shapely white hand of a man was extended and laid upon
hers. She turned around. Not Miss Mortens, but HoU-
feld, stood behind her, and with a smile extended his arms,
as if he were going to seize the terrified girl.
Forthwith, her terror was transformed into anger and
indignation; but before she could utter a word, a harsh-
sounding voice near her exclaimed, in a commanding tone:
*' Emile, they have been searching for you all through
the house. Your overseer from Oldenberg has something
most important to tell you. Go see him. *'
Near by Elizabeth was the window; it was open. Mr.
von Walde was standing outside, with both arms resting
upon the sill, looking into the room. He it was who had
spoken the words which had wafted the terrified Hollfeld
away like a handful of chaff. What an expression of fierce-
ness was at this moment written upon that bare brow, on
those compressed lips, and in those glistening eyes, that for
awhile remained fixed upon the door through which Holl-
feld had disappeared!
At last, his eyes again rested upon Elizabeth, who, up to
that moment, had stood motionless; but now, recovering
from her twofold terror, made a motion as if she was going
to retire across the room.
" What are you doing here?*' he asked, gruffly.
His voice had exactly the same rough sound as before.
The young girl felt deeply insulted at his manner of ad-
dressing her, and was on the point of making an angry re-
ply, when she bethought herself that she was in his house.
She therefore quietly replied:
" I am arranging Miss Mertens's books.**
" You had another answer on the end of your tongue. I
saw it, and desire to know what it was.''
"Very well. I was about to say that I had no answer
to give when I was interrogated in such an unosnal man*
ner."
" And why did you suppress this reprimandP"
144 aOIJ ELSDL
** Becaase it oocarred to me that in jonr own boaae jfw
had the right to command.'^
^' It us praise vrortb J in yon to rea^nize this^ foj I am
strongly inclined at this moment to exercise to its f oll^
extent this my indisputable right Cmsh that rose whidi
lies there langnidiing at your feef
*^ That I shall not do^ for the rose has been guilty of no
faultr'
She picked np the rose sk beautiful, half-blown oenti-
folia, and laid it on the window-silL
Mr. Ton Walde seized the flower, and^ without further
formality, threw it on the lawn.
^^ There it will die a poetic death P' said he, ironically;
** the grass will make a shroud for it, and in the evening
the sympathetic dew will come and weep bitter tears oyer
the noor martyr/'
Tne strained expression of his features had relaxed, but
his eye still retained its inquisitorial glance, and eyen his
Toiee sounded little less harsh than before, when he asked:
^' What were you reading when I had the misfortune to
disturb you?''
'' Goethe's ' Truth and Poetry/ "
" Have you ever read that book?"
"Onlvpartsof it."
" Well, now do you like the touching story of Gretchen?"
'^ I have never read it"
^' You held the book in your hands open just at that
place."
'^ No; I was reading the coronation of Joseph the Second
in Frankfort"
" Let me see the book a moment? I was right I Just
see how atrocious that looksl Just where Goethe is de-
scribing the emperor ascending the Boman steps is an ugly
green stain. Yon doubtless pressed the rose-leaves too hard
on it; the emperor, Goethe, and Miss Mortens will certain-*
ly never forgive you for thati"
** The stain is an old one. I didn't touch the rose."
" But you smiled when you saw it first. "
** Because I thought Miss Mortens had thrown it"
" Such friendship is really very touching 1 It must have
been a great disappointment to you when, instead of your
friend, you saw oehind you the handsome face of my
cousin?'^
GOLD EL8IB. l45
"Yes.'*
" * Yesl' How odd that sounds! I like becoming brev.
Jfcy; but you must not leave me in doubt. What am I to
understand by this * yes?' It sounds neither sweet nor bit-
ter, and, besides, your facel Why that sudden frown?*'
" Because I think every right has its bounds."
*' I was not aware that I was at this moment making use
of my rights. '*
" That will certainly become clear to you when I inquire
whether you would treat me so rudely in my father's
house?''
Mr. von Waldo's face became deathly pale. He bit his
lips, and retreated a step. Elizabeth took the book, which
he had laid on the wmdow-sill, and stepped toward the
book-case to close it.
" Under similar circumstances, I would have spoken in
precisely the same manner in your father's house," he
said, after a few moments, somewhat more composedly,
again approaching the window. " You have made me im-
Satient. Why do you give me such indefinite answers?
low am I to tell from one single syllable whether that sur-
prise was an agreeable or a disagreeble one? Well?"
He leaned forward in the window as far as possible, and
stared into her face, as if he wanted to read the answer off
her lips. But she turned indignantly away. Disgustinff !
How was it possible for any one to think that Hollfeld s
presence could ever be agreeable to her? Did not her ex-
pression, her whole manner toward the detestable man al-
ways show how she despised him?
Just at this moment. Miss Mortens returned to get Eliza-
beth; she had arranged everything, and was in complete
readiness to leave the house.
Elizabeth, much relieved, hesitated to meet her, while
Mr. von Walde left the window and walked up and down
in front of it a few times. As he approached again. Miss
Mertens made a deep courtesy, and went toward him with
a smile on her face. She told him that she had several
times, in the course of the day, attempted to see him, but
in vain; and that she was now delighted to have the oppor-
tunity of thanking him for all his kindness to her.
He made a deprecatory motion with his hand, and then
congratulated her on her engagement. He spoke very
146 GOLD ELSDS.
composedly. As if by magic, his whole manner had agaiL
assumed an sir of hantenr and coldness, and Elizabeth coola
scarcely understand how she had summoned up courage to
call the attention of this man to the most ordinary rules of
politeness.
The eyes that a short time before were flaming with pas-
sion now rested earnestly on Miss Mertens's face. The
soft, deep sound of his voice showed no trace of the biting
irony that had rendered it so sharp, that every word seemed
to be an expression of the deepest irritation, and sounded as
if intended to give pain and to afford vengeance.
Mr. von Walde was filled with bitter hatred against his
cousin; that Elizabeth had several times to-day clearly seen.
Bat why should she have to be punished every time the
hateful man came into her presence? Had she not been
sufficiently insulted by Hollfeld's second rude importunity?
And now, in addition to all this, she must be the victim
of an indignation for which Helen was chiefly to blame.
An acute feeling of pain took possession of her when she
recalled how tenderly and forgivingly Mr. von Walde had
taken his sister in his arms, and hl not even given her a
look of reproach, when he heard how HoUfeld attended the
music-lessons. She, the poor piano-player, who was com-
pelled patiently to endure Hollfeld's presence, now served
as an escape-valve for the brother^s anger; or had he seen
Hollfeld throw the rose on the book, and so felt that his
^Aristocratic pride was deeply insulted by his cousin's con-
descending to honor in such a manner a girl in her station
of life?
This thought came to Elizabeth like a ray of light in the
darkness. Yes, of course, that was the explanation; for in
no other way could she explain his behavior. She must
crush the poor flower, and with it destroy the only proof
that Mr. von Hollfeld had for a moment forgot ms high
and noble origin. For this reason he had spoken to her
suddenly in such a harsh and commanding tone ^in a tone
that certainly none had ever heard from him, save those
that had some misdemeanor to atone for; for this reason,
too, he had commanded her so positively to tell what im-
pression HolKeld's sudden appearance had had upon her.
At this moment, if she could only go to him and tell him
without reserve how she detested his high-born cousin, and
that she did not feel one particle honored by his attentions^
GOLD ELSIE. 147
but rather considered them as a disgrace and ignominy to
her, how relieved she would feel!
But it was too late. Mr. von Walde was talkinff with
Miss Mertens so quietly and in such detail about Beinhai*d'8
trip to England, that it would have been perfectly ridicu-
lous to have taken up again the thread of their former
stormy conversation. Furthermore, not another glance of
his eye fell upon her, although she was standing quite near
to Miss Mertens.
" I have almost decided to take the trip, too,'^ he finally
said to the governess. " Eeinhard will return with your
mother; for from now on I propose to place Lindhof entirely
under his charge. I shall, however, spend the winter in
London, and in the spring make a trip to Scotland. "
" And not return home for years? said Miss Mertens,
interrupting him in a tone sad and at the same tilne
startled. " Has Thuringia no attraction for you whatever?'^
" Oh, yes; but I suffer a great deal here, and you doubt-
less know that often a bold cut will make a speedy and
complete cure of a wound when under a too prudent and
cowardly treatment it will become dangerous. Jt have great
expectation that the Scotch air will prove beneficial tome.'*
These last words he spoke in a tone intended to be jocu-
lar, but a certain twitoning of his eyebrows became more
apparent than ever, which caused Elizabeth to doubt that
his jocular mood was natural.
He extended his hand to Miss Mertens, and then walked
slowly up the gravel walk, where in a short time he disap-
peared behind the shrubbery.
" Here it is again, '^ said the governess, sadly. ** Instead
of bringing us, as I fondly hoped, a pretty young wife to
Lindhof, he is going to start off again into tne wide, wide
world; and for days and years not let us hear one word
from him. There is something restless about him, and no
wonder, when one contemplates the unfortunate combina-
tion of circumstances here. The Baroness Lessen is his
abomination, and still here, in his own house, he is com-
Selled to come in contact with her almost every hour of the
ay; for his sister, whom he tenderly loves, has declared
to him that it is only in intercourse with this lady that she
can forget the bitterness and joylessness of her existence.
His cousin, too, is an uninvited guest. Mr. von Walde is
entirely too straightforward a person to conceal his difik
148 GOLD ELSIE.
pleasure, and still these people act as if they were made of
steel and iron; the utter neglect of their host has absolutely
no effect upon them; they have neither eyes nor ears when
he hints at a separation. And Mr. von Hollfeld well, in
my eyes he is a perfectly detestable person; and I can
never comprehend how he ever managed to gain such influ-
ence over Miss von Walde's hearf
** So you have heard that report, too?'* asked Elizabeth.
" Ah, child, that has been an open secret for the longest
time. She loves him with that deep, devoted love that only
a woman can feel. This unfortunate affection, however,
in which she now lives and breathes as in the sunshine, will
some day cast the darkest shadow over this already sorely
afflicted life. Mr. von Walde is already aware of this sad
relation, and its future oppresses him; but as he can not
open his sister's eyes to the fact without mortally wounding
her, he prefers to sacrifice his brotherly tenderness and
suffer himself, and so he is going away, as the stay in his
own house is insufferable.*^
During the course of this conversation. Miss Mortens and
Elizabeth had long since left the villa and were ascending
the hill. Soon Eeinhard, who had just returned from the
village, met them unexpectedly. Miss Mortens narrated to
him her conversation with Mr. von Walde and his recent
remarks about the trip to England.
" He has not yet told me one word of all this,'^ said
Eeinhard; *' but he looked just now as if he would like
nothing better than to leave Lindhof forthwith. This is a
pretty state of things! The master of the house is the
fifth wheel to the coach in the circle of his relatives; he is
forced to support the whole crew of them, and the only
thanks they give him is to estrange his sister^s heart from
him. My soul! just let me stand two days in his shoes, and
I would exorcise the unclean spirit so that no trace of it
would be left! I certainly hope that Mr. von Hollfeld will
return to Odenberg for a few days at least. His manger
has just brought the news that his housekeeper suddenly
took a notion and left; no woman will remam with him;
he is too mean and stingy. Many other unpleasant things
are said to have occurred besides. ^'
At last they reached Castle Nordeck, and the guest was
most cordially received by the Perbers. How home-like and
cozy the little room appeared to its new occupant! It was
GOLD ELSIE. 149
the very picture of neatness; the bed and table were cov-
ered with fresh white linen, a handsome clock of the best
make stood near by the neatly arranged writing-table, qui-
etly ticking away, and on the window-sill stood flower-pots
full of roses and mignonettes that spread their fragrance
through the little room. Through the open door could be
seen the family chamber, and on the nicely fixed table Eliz-
abeth was arranging the tea-pot over the spirit-lamp, while
Miss Mertens quickly put away her few little articles in the
press and bureau drawers.
in the meantime, the forester had appeared upon the
scene, accompanied by Hector and his long pipe. Eeinhard
also remained; so in a short time a happy little company
was assembled together.
The forester was in a very good humor. Elizabeth took
her seat near him, and made every effort in her power to
enter heart and soul into his teasing and jesting; but she
had never in her life found it so difficult, and he who had
a most sensitive ear for the slightest modulation of her
voice soon discovered this.
" Well, now. Gold Elsie, what is the matter with you?*'
he suddenly exclaimed. " Something has happened. "
He caught her by the chin and looked into her eyes.
" Yes, I knew it; you have got a veil over both your
eyes and your heart. Goodness gracious! you have suddenly
entirely changed. What right have yoir got to that woe-
begone nun^s countenance?^'
Elizabeth turned crimson under his searching glance.
She made the most desperate effort to escape a confession
by gay iests, but failed completely, and nothing remained
for her out to take refuge at the piano; for there he never
teased nor disturbed her.
How it relieved her pent-up feelings to give expression to
them in full, sweeping harmonies! The melancholy notes
rang out in the evening twilight, an echo of that inexpressi-
ble woe which filled her heart, since she had heard that Mr.
von Waldo intended to leave Thuringia again. The time
for speculation and for vain reflections, for grasping after
that strange, indefinite something which had suddenly made
its appearance in her life like a charming enigma, and to
which she gave expression in her unpremeditated notes was
passed! That something was now speaking to her in its
150 GOLD ELSIE.
own firm voice, and in such powerful tones that the once
harmless melody of her soul sunk to a mere whisper.
A fairy-land full of golden promises suddenly opened be-
fore her; her eye wandered, intoxicated with delight, over
it; but never, never could she tread its glorious paths, for
across the dark abyss that lay at her feet there was no
bridge.
The veil beneath which her soul thus far had reposed in
happy uncertainty was rent asunder; she discovered with
joy and ineffable pain that she loved!
How long she had been playing, she did not know. But
she awoke suddenly from her total forgetfulness of the ex-
ternal world, as a stream of light from the next room burst
in and illuminated with dazzling brilliancy the pale bust of
Beethoven.
Her mother had lighted the large lamp, and Elizabeth
saw that her uncle was now sitting in the window near her;
he must have entered the room very noiselessly. As she
raised her hands from the notes, he gently smoothed her
hair.
" See, child,'' he finally said, with trembling voice, after
the last vibrations of the strings had ceased, '* if I had not
already observed that something very strange was the mat-
ter with you, I would now be certain of it from the way in
which you played; those were tears, nothing but tears.'*
CHAPTER XHL
HOLLFBLD BEOEIVES A BLOW, AND GOLD ELSIE BECOMES
A HEEOIIOI.
With Miss Mertens's appearance in the old castle, the
family life of the Perbers became brighter and more joyous
than ever, if such a thing were possible.
The governess felt now, for the first time after a long,
comfortless period, as if she were in her own home, sur-
rounded by loved ones. Her warm impulsive feelings, thus
far anxiously watched and repressed, now broke forth, and
this, in conjunction with her extensive information, made
her most charming and attractive. She tried to make her-
self useful wherever she could, and devoted herself
especially to little Ernest, who, under her guidance and
instruction, diligently studied French and English. Eliza-
GOLD ELSIE. 151
beth tried^ too^ to reap as much benefit as possible fron:
Miss Mertens's stay at Kordeck. She studied with great
assiduity^ for that was the best way to fight ofl unpleasant
thoughts.
She had continued to give Miss von Walde lessons in
music regularly. HoUfeld, who had gone to Odenberg only
for a day, became again a regular attendant upon the mu-
sic-lessons, and made every ejffort to get one moment with
Elizabeth alone. He had several times arranged matters
so slyly that Helen had gotten up during a pause, and gone
into the next room to fetch some object which he expressed
a desire to have; but he never gained his end, for Elizabeth
had each time gotten up at the same time, and gone out to
get one of the servants to bring her a glass of water. There
was also no chance of meeting her. on her way home, for
Miss Mertens and Ernest came every day to walk home
with her. This constant baffling of his wishes made him at
last impatient and careless.
The curtain was removed and he made no longer any at-
tempt to conceal his passion; and Helen had only her short-
sightedness to thank that she was still spared a most pain-
- ful discovery. In this way, Elizabeth ^s visits to the castle
became daily more distressing; and she was very thankful
that the proposed celebration was approaching, for then the
daily exercises would at least have to cease.
It was the day before the birthday celebration of Mr. von
Walde, when, one afternoon, Reinhard, during one of his
visits at Nordeck, remarked that one of the guests had al-
ready arrived at the castle.
*' The vixen is there !^' he said, evincing his displeasure.
" Who is that, pray?'* asked Mrs. Ferber and Miss Mer-
tens, smiling with one accord.
" Oh, a so-called friend of Miss von Walde, a court lady
from L . She proposes to help with the arrangements
for the celebration; but may Providence spare the poor
people! she will certainly turn everything upside down.^^
Ah, Miss von Quittelsdorf!^' exclaimed Miss Mertens,
still laughing. " Well, she certainly has got mercury in
her veins; she is frightfully superficial, but at heart she is
not bad.''
Somewhat later Eeinhard escorted Elizabeth to Lindhof.
Just as they came near the castle, Mr. von Walde's horse
was being led up to the large front stejps on the south side
ISZ GOLD ELSIE.
of the castle. A few momeDts later^ he himself stepped
oat of the front door with his riding-whip in his hand and
descended the steps.
Elizabeth had not seen him since that afternoon when he
had treafced her so rudely and inconsiderately; he looked
yeiT pale and snllen.
tfust as he threw himself into the saddle, a young lady
dressed in white appeared on the steps.
She was very pretty, and gracefully ran down the steps
to pat the horse on his neck and give him a lump of sugar.
Miss von Walde, who supported VonHollfeld's arm, had
stepped out of the door at the same time, remained stand-
ing at the top of the steps, and made a sign to her brother
with her hand.
" Is that Miss von Quittelsdorf?*' inquired Elizabeth.
Beinhard replied that it was, with an expression of dis-
pleasure in his face.
'* I like her looks very much,*' said Elizabeth. "Mr.
von Walde seems to like to talk to her,'* she added, gently.
At this moment the rider was bending down from the
horse, and seemed to be listening attentively to what the
young lady was gayly saying to him.
" He simply doesn't care to be rude, and consequently
Jmts up with her chattering/' said Eeinhard, as he moved
orward. " She will talk you to death in five minutes, and
is perfectly capable now of seizing the bridle when he at-
tempts to leave, in order to finish ner chapter of airy noth-
ings."
In the meanwhile, she had returned into the house.
Elizabeth here took leave of Eeinhard, and betook her-
self to the studio, where Miss von Walde and HoUfeld soon
appeared. The former retired a few moments to her room
to fix her hair, which had become slightly disarranged.
HolKeld took advantage of this opportunity, and has-
tened toward Elizabeth, who had withdrawn into a niche by
the window and was looking through some notes.
" We were, a few days ago, interrupted in the most atro-
cious manner," he said, in a whisper.
}fe?^' she said, inquiringly, and with strong emphasis,
and stepped back a little. 1 certainly had good grounds
to complain of being disturbed, and I must confess I was
Very indignant at having my reading interrupted."
** Ah, every inch a princessl" he exclaimed, jocularly,
GOLD ELSIE. 163
but in an under-tone. **I had, however, no intention
whatever of offending yoa; on the contrary, do yon not
know what the rose said?'^
" It doubtless thought that it would have been a thou-
sand times better to die on its stem than to have been
plucked for such a useless purpose/'
** You are cruel as hard and cold as marble! Have you
no idea what it is that brings me here day after day?*'
" Doubtless your admiration for our great composers,"
** You are greatly mistaken. '^
" To your advantage, at any rate.''
*'0h, no! for in that case I would make no progress.
Music is for me merely the bridge "
** Prom which you may very easily fall into the cold
water."
*' And would you suffer me to drown?"
** Yes, certainly. I am not so ambitious as to desire to
win the medal in the life-saving service," she replied, dryly.
Miss von Walde returned. She seemed surprised to find
the two engaged in conversation, because so far not one
word had been interchanged between them. Her eyes gazed
inquisitively at HoUf eld's face, from which an expression
of vexation had not altogether disappeared; then she took
her seat at the piano and played a prelude, while Elizabeth
arranged the notes.
Hollfeld took his usual place, and rested his head on his
hand, the picture of melancholy. Never before had he
stared at Elizabeth so ardently and so beseechingly. She
regretted that she had permitted herself to converse with
him at all; her efforts to repel him by coldness and rude-
ness seemed to have exactly the opposite effect.
Under the influence of his conspicuously excited expres-
sion, she conceived the strongest aversion for him, and al-
though her uncle's triumphant smile came before her, she
determined, rather than to expose herself longer to such
impudent staring, to forego the pleasure of giving music-
lessons.
And this determination continued to gain strength every
moment.
The music-lesson was almost done when Miss von Quit-
telsdorf hastily entered the room. She carried in her
fums a small object all dressed in white^ and pressed its
little head gently against her bosom.
154 GOLD ELSIE.
" Mrs. von Falkenberg, chief mistress of ceremonies,
presents her respects/^ said she^ in the mosfc ceremonions
manner possible, " and expresses the greatest regret that
she will not be able, by reason of a severe attack of the
gout, to take part in the festivities of the morrow. She
has the honor, however, of sending in her stead her beloved
and blooming grandchild "
Just at this moment, the little creature began to make
the most desperate motions in her arms, and suddenly, with
a loud squeak, sprung down upon the floor, where it im-
mediately disappeared under a chair, dragging its long
clothes behind it.
*' Ah, Cornelia! you are too childish for anything,'' ex-
claimed Helen, laughing, and at the same time displeased,
as Ali's anxious face, all bundled up in a baby's hood, shy-
ly peeped out from under the chair. *' The good old lady
oaght to hear about this, for if she did, you would certainly
play no more of your pranks and tricks at court."
Bella, who had come in at the same time, was almost
choking with laughter, and could not control herself until
her mamma came in, wondering what all the noise was
about, and reproved her for indulging in such boisterous
merriment. The baroness smiled, and shook her finger in
a threatening manner at Cornelia, as Helen related the
prank she had played, and then approached Elizabeth.
*' Miss von Walde may not have told you, perhaps, that
all the guests for the celebration on the morrow are ex-
pected to be in the large parlor at four o'clock. "
This she said in quite a pleasant tone to the young girl,
and continued:
** I hope you will not omit the music-lesson. The con-
cert will doubtless be over at about six o'clock. I make
this remark simply that your parents may not expect you
home at an earlier hour.''
At these words, Helen, in great embarrassment, kept her
eyes fixed on the key-board, and Cornelia took her position
at the side of the baroness, and began to stare at Eliza-
2eth, the picture of curiosity.
However pretty the black eyes were that were fixed upon
her, Elizabeth felt offended at the young girl's uninterrupt-
ed gaze.
She bowed gracefully to the baroness, and assured her
that she would be punctual, and then cast a firm and eap
eOLD ELSIE. 155
nest glance at the pretty but officious yotmg creature at her
side. The effect was instantaneous.
Miss von Quittelsdorf turned her head away, and then,
embarrassed Uke a misbehaved child, turned on her heel,
and, as she did so, discovered HoUfeld in the window niche.
" How, now, HoUfeld,'' she exclaimed, " is it really you
or your shadow? What in the world are you doing here?"
As you see, I am listening to the music.''
** You listening to the music? Ha! hal hal and en-
joying indigestion like Mozart and Beethoven? Don't yoa
remember that at the last court concert vou assured me
that you always suffered from indigestion after listening to
classic music?"
She was almost overcome with laughter.
** Ah! stop joking now, dear Cornelia," said the baron-
ess, " and help me with your inventive genius to arrange
the programme for the party. And you, too, dear Emile,
would do me a great favor if you would come with me.
You are aware that I am now under the sad necessity of
having masculine assistance^ if I desire to have my orders
obeyed."
HoUfeld arose with an evident struggle.
** Aren't you going to take me, too? Would you be so
mean as to leave me all alone until tea-tim^?" exclaimed
Helen, reproachfully, and got up from her seat.
She seemed to be in a very bad humor, and for the first
time Elizabeth thought she observed her cast an envious
glance at Cornelia's hurrying feet; for she had, without
further formality, taken HoUfeld's arm and was marching
out of the door. Elizabeth closed the piano, and hastily
took her leave.
In the passages of the castle everything seemed to be
alive as Elizabeth passed through. The servants were car-
rying baskets full of silver and china into the room adjoin-
ing the large parlor, and streams of air ladened with the
fragrance of all sorts of ^ood things came forth from the
windows of the kitchen in the cellar, and in one of the
servants' rooms, the door of which was standing open,
could be seen whole piles of green wreaths and garlands all
ready for use.
And he, in honor of whom all hands were to-day in busy
activity, was lonesomely riding around, dismally devising
158 GOLD ELSIE.
a load report^ and the ball went whizzing in the branches
of the trees, while the miserable wretch fell to the ground
in terror.
At the same moment, the voice of a woman was heard
through the forest, screaming for help. The assassin hasti-
ly arose and fled through the undergrowth.
On the other side of the opening, the horse was rearing
and pitching with fright; but in a moment dashed forward,
urged on by ifcs master, and in a few bounds stood at Eliz-
abeth's side, who was leaning, deathly pale, against the
beech-tree; for now that all danger was passed, the wom-
an's nature began to assert itself, and the young girl trem-
bled from head to foot, but a smile of joy lighted up her
face when she saw Mr. von Walde standing before her,
safe and sound.
When he saw her, he sprung impetuously from his horse;
but she who had just evinced such extraordinary self-con-
trol, uttered a loud cry and turned around, frightened al-
most to death, as two arms were thrown around her
shoulders.
" For gracious' sake, Elizabeth!" exclaimed the govern-
ess, breathlessly, " what have young done? He might
have kUled your'
Mr. von Walde pressed forward through the bushes that
separated him from the two young ladies.
** Are you hurt?" he inquired, hastily and abruptly of
Elizabeth.
She shook her head; without saying one word iaore, he
raised her up from the ground, and carried her over to the
trunk of a tree lying near by, and gently placed her upon it
Miss Mortens took a seat by her, and supported the
young girl's head on her shoulder.
" Now, tell me, what has happened?" said Mr. von
Walde, to the governess.
"No, no!" cried Elizabeth; "not here; we must go;
the murderer has escaped; he is perhaps hiding and crouch-
ing in the bushes near by, and may yet accomplish his
fiendish purpose. ' '
" Linke tried to assassinate you, Mr. von Walde," said
the governess, in a trembling voice.
" The miserable wretch! That shot was intended for
me, was it?" he replied, quietly, without showing the
lightest sign of excitement.
GOLD ELSIB. 159
He then started into the thicket in the direction in which^
according to Miss Mertens, Linke had fled. Elizabeth
trembled as he disappeared in the undergrowth, and was
t*ast on the point of losing all self-control and rushing after
im, when he returned.
'* You may rest perfectly at ease/' he said, tathe young
girl; " not a single trace can be seen of him. He will cer-
tainly not shoot a second time to-day. Now, tell me. Miss
Mortens, exactly what has happened. '^
Knowing that Elizabeth was going to return by way of
the village to-day, she had gone to meet her; and for that
purpose had taken the narrow unfrequented path. As she
was glowly descending the mountain, she had made the
same discovery as Elizabeth. The intention of the wretch
was immediately discovered by her, but she was, during
the first few seconds, so overcome with fright that she was
unable to move either tongue or foot.
Thus she was standing in deathly anxiety, as it were,
stupefied from fright, when Elizabeth, whom she had not
yet seen, suddenly appeared behind the murderer.
Horrified at the danger the young girl was in, she had
uttered the cry for help which they h^ heard at the mo-
ment of the shot. All this she related in winged words.
"How in the world did you find courage, '' she ex-
claimed, " to seize the man? I trembled at the mere
thought of touching the brute, and am certain that I should
only have been able to scream. "
If I had screamed, '' said Elizabeth, dryly, " an invol-
untary motion on Linkers part, caused by surprise, might
have had exactly the effect which I wished to avoid.''
Mr. von Walde listened to the narrative with great com-
posure and rapt attention.
It was only when Miss Mertens described how Elizabeth,
as quick as lightning, had seized the assassin by the arm,
that he suddenly changed color, and cast a long, searching
glance at the young girl, as if he wished to be perfectly cer-
tain that she had escaped from the great danger without
harm or injury.
He then bent down, took her hand and touched it gently
to his lips. She perceived a slight tremor in his hand.
Miss Mertens, who observed that this expression of grati-
tude embarrassed Elizabeth very much, and caused a deep
bluieh to appear in her cheeks, left her seat, picked up the
160 GOO) SLSIB.
pistol, which Linke had thrown away in his flight, and
naadeia it to Mr. von Walde.
*' Atrociously he muttered. " The rascal used one of my
own pistols. '^
Ehzabeth arose, and, in reply to Miss Mertens's interro-
gation, declared that she felt absolutely no trace of the
effects of the fright, and that she could now, with perfect
ease, start home. They both wished to take leave of Mr.
von Walde, but he tied his horse to the fatal beech-tree,
and said, in a Jesting tone: " Linke is, as we have to-day
clearly seen, of a very revengeful nature; it is highly prob-
able tnat he hates the person who has saved niy life with
even a more desperate hatred than he hates me. I can
not, therefore, consent to your meeting him without the
protection of a man.*'
They began to ascend the hill. Miss Mortens hastened
on ahead, in order to force Mr. von Walde to walk faster,
for steps had to be taken to pursue the felon, but her efforts
were in vain. He walked slowly at Elizabeth's side with-
out opening his lips; and she, after a long inward struggle,
begged him in a gentle, timid voice, not to return alone
for his horse, but to send a servant for it.
He smiled. ** My Belisarius is a wild and willful ani-
mal; you know him well,'* he said. ** He allows no one
to ride him but me, and would be deeply offended if any
one but me were to try to bring him home. Furthermore,
that cowardly fellow, as I have already said, will not make a
second attempt against my life to-day. And what if he
did? Am I not protected by a guardian angel? Has not
a lucky star risen over me to-dayl"
He stopped short. "What do you think,'' he asked,
suddenly, lowering his voice, while his eye became bright
and anxiously watched hers, " shall I hold to the entranc-
ing fancy, that this same star will follow me through my
whole life?"
** If you propose to execute many such rash acts, trust-
ing in this delusion, then, of course, it is better that your
beUef in it should not be such an unlimited one."
" The rashest act of my life is doubtless the very fancy
of this moment," he murmured to himself, while a dark
cloud passed over his face.
" I don't understand you," said Elizabeth, astonished.
" That is quite natural," he replied, bitterly; " your
GOLD ELSIB. 161
thoughts and desires have an entirely different direction.
In spite of the strongest efforts^ it often happens that one
allows himself to be influenced by a fond dream. No, no,
say nothing morel I am already punished, for my eyes are
open.*'
He now hastened his steps and joined Miss Mortens, while
Elizabeth followed silently, racking her brain to know why
he had so suddenly fallen again into that harsh manner of
talking which always wounded her feelings so deeply. He
did not speak another word, and when at last the walls of
the old castle could be seen through the trees, he took his
leave in a sudden and abrupt manner, and hastily descend-
ed the hill again.
Miss Mertens followed him with her eyes, in perfect
amazement.
"Strange man 1'' she said, finally, shaking her head.
" And even if life really has so little value for him, as I
must at this moment assume, I still think that a few
simple words of gratitude would not have been altogether
superfluous when he left us, especially when one reflects
that you, for the sake of saving nis life, risked your own.^'
" 1 can not see the slightest necessity for this,'' replied
Elizabeth. ** You place entirely too much importance
upon the part I played in this occurrence. I have simply
performed my duty toward my neighbor, and I would,^'
she added, with a peculiar scorn in her voice and gestures,
" have acted in precisely the same manner if things had
been just reversed and Linke had been the one whose life
was threatened. I am veiy anxious that he, too, shall look
at the affair in the same light; for, considering his pride,
the feeling of being under an obligation to another human
being that you can not repay must, to sajr the least, be
extremely painful to him, and, above all things, I am de-
sirous of not being that human being. ''
At this moment a struggle between tender anxiety and
bitterness was going on within her. In thought she fol-
lowed him, as he was descending the hill, step by step, and
shuddered when she thought that perhaps at that very
moment he was just at the place where the murderer,
thirsting for revenge, was lying in wait for liim. And
then she thought that it was very foolish to spend one's
thought and feeling on a man who never showed her any
but the roughest side of his nature. Even where tb9
16S GOLD EliStS.
baroness was concerned^ whom he in the depths of his soul
cordially hated, he never for a moment lost his composure
nor forgot the ordinary rules of politeness, although he
would constantly contradict her flatly to her face. He was
universally knovfn as a man of dignity and wonderful com-
posure; only in conversation with her did he appear to
think it not worth his wlaile to control himself. How im-
patient he would become, and how his eyes would flash and
hang with burning eagerness upon her lips when she would
not answer him quickly or definitely enough. And, fur-
ther, he seemed to demand of her that she should under-
stand him before he had opened his mouth, and still he
was totally incomprehensible to her, even when he thought
he had finished. Perhaps other people were more clever
than she, and could more easily accustom themselves to his
way of thinking and expressing himself, which for her were,
ana would remain, an insoluble enigma.
Could any one blame her for determining to avoid such
conflicts in the future? Of course not. Fortunately, he
was soon going off on a trip!
Fortunately? At this thought the structure of self-de-
ception that scorn and pride had united to build up, sud-
denly collapsed and disappeared so completely that no trace
was left of it, and, to Miss Mertens's astonishment, she
turned into the path hastily that led from the forest down
to the villa. She must find out whether Mr. von Walde
had returned safely. Miss Mortens willingly followed her
up to the point near which he was accustomed to dismount,
and a great weight was lifted from her heart, too, when he,
a few moments thereafter^ galloped out of the forest.
OHAPTEE XIV.
GOLD BLSIB^S HEROISM IN THE FAMILY OIBCLB.
In the evening Mr. Ferber, surrounded by his family,
was sitting in the garden under the linden-trees by the
spring. Mrs. Ferber and Miss Mortens were sewing upon
a warm rug, which they were making out of countless oadi
and ends of cloth, and which they proposed to lay under
the piano in the winter.
To-day Mrs. Ferber had lost a great deal of that equani-
mity which 80 well suited her still handsome appearance.
GOLD EL8IJL 163
Sbd was BtQI unable to recover from tbe nervons excite-
meat produced by the events of the afternoon, for althoagh
her child was standing before her perfectly safe and un-
harmed, still she waa almost beside herself with horror
during the course of Miss Merfcens's narrative of the occur-
rence. Her eyes rested constantly on her daughter, and
the slightest change of color in Elizabeth^s cheeks made
her uneasy, and caused her to fear that she would be ill in
consequence of the nervous excitement. The father^s
thoughts were quite different "Bravo I my couraeeoui
little daughter!'' he had said, his eyes beaming witn de-
light; " cool blood, and theu a firm hand and a fleet foot
in action, that's what I like to seel"
Mrs. Terber saw in her husband's every word and action
her beau ideal of a man. And still, though so many years
of married life had elapsed, she received his opinions
blindly, as if they were in the nature of things infallible.
To-day, however, when he expressed his paternal approval
of his daughter's action, a gentle si^h had escaped from
her, . and she said that a mother's love for her children
must be infinitely greater than a father's love.
** Greater it certainly is not, onlv of a different kind,"
was Mr. Perber's quiet reply. Because I love her so
fondly, for this very reason I am educating her to act and
think Uke those people who are self-dependent and coura-
geous, in order that in after years she shall not be one of that
class of people who, from a lack of energy and determina-
tion, are thrust hither and thither, and are always the
sufferers."
Elizabeth had brought her work with her, too, into the
little garden, but little Ernest made a very ungracious face
when she began to take out her sewing materials.
** Now you Just wait, Elsie," he said, anffrily. ** Mr.
von Walde may ask me a thousand times whether I love
you and I'll never tell him * yes ' again. You won't play
with me any more, and you think you are as big as Miss
Mortens. I wish you would stop it, because it isn't so."
Evrery one roared with laughter at the confusion of age and
size. Elizabeth, however, hastily arose to meet the accu-
sations of the little boy, pinned up her long dress, and be-
gan to count off who should be fox first, then off they went
as quick as lightning, up and down the embankment.
m the meantime there was a ring at the garden gata
164 GOLD ELSIE.
Mr. Ferber opened the gate, and immediately there ap-
peared in the open door of the hall Dr. Fels, Reinhard and
the forester. Just at this moment Elizabeth rushed, like
one pursued, across the main walk, and did not observe
that the gentlemen had entered.
** Well, I must say!'' said the doctor. " This is a won-
derful transformation. In the afternoon a Walkyra, and
in the evening a butterflyl'*
The forester, however, went forward, seized the young
girl in his arms, and turned her around several times in
enthusiasm and exultation.
** Splendid girl!'' he exclaimed finally, and held her out
in his arms while he surveyed her finely cut form. " Just
look at her! She looks as if she were made of ivory so
slender and frail ^and yet she has the strength of a man in
her heart and hands. It is a pity she isn't a boy, and then
she should have worn the forester's green coat." In the
meantime Doctor Fels had come up. He extended his
hand to Eliabeth and said:
*' Mr. von Walde was in town to-day, and requested me
to return with him, as he was very anxious to know
whether your excitement and fright had had any evil con-
sequences. "
Absolutely none," she replied, blushing deeply. *' As
you see," she jocularly added, "I am perfectly able to
fulfill my duties as a sister, and Ernest has jast assured me
that I am very hard to catch. "
*' Very well; I shall carry this answer, word for word^
to Mr. von Walde," said Doctor Fels, with a knowing
smile. ** He shall himself be the judge whether it is cal-
culated to excite uneasiness or to allay his fears. "
Mr. Ferber invited the gentlemen to be seated, which
they did at once. The doctor lighted his dgar and soon
appeared to feel perfectly at ease. They tdked a great
deal about Linke s attempt upon Mr. von Waldo's life.
Shortly after his dismissal they had discovered innumerable
acts of rascality of which he had been guilty during his
master's absence. The fact had become extensively known,
although Mr. von Walde had taken no steps to bring the
offender to account, and was the cause of Linke's losmg a
new engagement as overseer. This disappointment had
evidently filled the measure of his revenge and had driven
bim to the commission of the crime. Every effort wa5i
BOLD ELSIE. 165
made to have the felon arrested; the forester, too, as soon
as he had heard the news, had had the forest searched by
his men, but so far all eJBEorts had been in vain. Eeinhard
told them that Mr. von Walde had strictly forbidden his
servants to tell his sister a word of all that had happened,
since it might cause nervous prostration. Besides, the
Baroness HoUfeld and the old housekeeper were not to be
told a breath of it. " At Mr. von Walde's express wish,
they are going to try to keep the whole matter for the pres-
ent a profound secret,'^ continued Eeinhard; " for he Imowi
that half the town is invited to-morrow.^'
" That is to say, everything that creeps and crawls on
four feet, with wings extended aloft, on a background of
silver and gold,'^ said the doctor, sarcastically, interrupting
Eeinhard, that is all who have coats of arms, and then,
all officers from a counselor up. They have made a very
careful selection, strictly according to the form of court
society. I have, therefore, impressed it upon my wife, that
she must be very humble, like the crow at the hawk's feast.
To our great astonishment, we, too, have been * com-
manded ' by the baroness for she is at the head of the
whole affair. "
" Apropos, doctor!*' said Eeinhard, smiling, ** they told
me to-day in L that old Princess Catharine wished to
make you her physician in ordinary, and that you had re-
fused the gracious offer; is it true? The whole city is in a
state of surprise. ''
" Oh, that is nothing new; the little city has just such an
experience every few days; on this account intelligence is
always underneath, and the divine light of knowledge
seems to shine in vain upon such sluggish soil. However,
what you heard is true; I did take the liberty of refusing
go great an honor. ''
*' But why?''
** Because, in the first place, I haven't time to be dress-
ing day after day the hysterical caprices of that high-born
head ^I beg the ladies' pardon and then, I have a holy
respect for court etiquette."
" Yes, indeed," exclaimed the forester, laughing, '* it is
just on this account that I always make three crosses when-
ever my back is turned on the castle. The prince and
princess, and especially our beautiful princess, always make
it easy for you, for they shut their eyes when you do not
166 GOLD EI^SIE.
make exactly the bow that court etiqaette demands. But
that crowd of hangers-on they have bowing, scraping and
mincing aroond them, my soul! they cry murder if they
hear the firm step of a man, and give the cramp to a voice
that issues free aad fall from the chest, as God intended it
should.''
It had already grown dark. The Ferbers and Miss
Mortens accompanied the guests to the little wicket gate,
and just as they all stepped out into the forest, festive
sounds rang out through the quiet woods, where not a bird
was stirring among the twigs, and even the evening breeze
had fallen asleep among the branches, while it narrated to
the leaves the wondrous stories it had brought from foreign
lands. The city band from L-- was serenading Mr. von
Walde.
CHAPTER XV.
BBETHA APPEARS OS THE SCENE. THE BIRTHDAY CELE-
BRATION AKD THE CONCERT, AND HOW THEY AFFECT
GOLD ELSIE.
The next morning, about five o'clock, the occupants of
Nordeck were awakened by the reports of small cannon.
*' Aha,'' said Mr. Ferber to his wife, ** the glorification has
already commenced." Elizabeth, on the other hand, sud-
denly awoke from a frightful dream. In it the catastrophe
which she had been the means of preventing yesterday had
assumed the form of a terrible reality, and she saw Mr. von
Walde fall dead just at the moment the report of the can-
non had awakened her. It took her a long time to collect
her thoughts. In one single moment indescribable horrors
had overwhelmed her. ISne had fancied that heaven and
earth must collapse when that tall form was broken to
pieces, and that she, too, would be buried beneath the ruins;
and yet, even after she became convinced that the rays of
the golden morning sun were shining in upon her little
chamber, and not upon the blood-stained meadow, her vio
lent feelings still shook her whole frame; yesterday, when
she risked her life for his she had never realized so vividly
as she now did that at such a moment she must die with
him. Again and again the thundering reports pealed up
GOLD ELSIE. 167
from the valley below. The window-panes rattled gently^
and Hansehen, the canary, flattered in terror around his
cage and perched upon its sides. At every report Elizabeth
trembled violently, and when her mother, who was still un-
able to oniet herself about the occurrence of yesterdaj,
though me knew her child was entirely uninjured ^ by it,
came to her bedside to inquire whether she had slept well,
she threw her arms around her mother's neck, and burst
into a perfect flood of tears.
" What on earth is the matter, my child!'' exclaimed
Mrs. Ferber. " Are you ill? I knew that the strain upon
your nerves yesterday would have its effect; and now they
nave begun that childish cannonading down there."
Elizabeth had great trouble in persuading her. mother
that she was perfectly well, and under no circumstances
would remain m bed, and insisted that she must eat break-
fast with the rest of the family.
In order to anticipate all further objections, she washed
her tear-stained face in cool fresh water, and hastily drew
on her clothes, and then took her place at the stove, in
order to put the last touch to the breakfast, which Mrs.
Ferber had already prepared.
The cannonading soon ceased, and it was not long before
every trace of tears disappeared from Elizabeth's face.
She soon took a brighter view of things^ for even if she saw
before her nothing but a life full of disappointment and
sorrow, still she had the consolation of knowing that he was
still alive. This thought, by reason of her horrible dream,
had a soothing effect upon her troubled heart, and though
he was going far, far away, and she must live years and
years without seeing him, yet the time must come when he
would return. And, besides, she could love him and keep
him in her thoughts, for he belonged to no other.
Later she accompanied her parents and Miss Mortens to
the forester's house, where they were invited to dinner, as
was usual on Sunday.
On the brow of the forester, who had come out to meet
them, ominous clouds were visible. Elizabeth soon saw
that Bertha had been giving him trouble.
^* I can and will not stand this thing around me any
longerl*' he exclaimed, impetuously. " Must I in my old
age be forced to act the part of a jailer^ and stand watch
168 eOLD BLSXB.
day and night in my own house, solely to keep a young,
obstinate creatore, who has reallj no claim upon me on
earth from committing insane indiscretions?'^
" Bat, uncle, remember that she is very unfortunater'
exclaimed Elizabeth, astonished.
^' Unfortunate? She is a perfect little actress. I am no
cannibal, and when I really thought her unfortunate,
namely, when she lost both her parents, then I tried to
comfort and protect her as far as I could. But her mis-
fortune is not found in that; for scarcely two months had
jjassed after her parents^ death and she was singing all day
like a nightingale, so that it pained me to see so much levity
and heartlessness. What is she unhappy about, pray? I
have no desire to know this great secret of state, and if she
hasn^t confidence enough in me to tell me, she can let it
alone. As far as I am concerned, she may weep the whole
year around if she prefers to; but to pretend that she is
dumb, and spend the nights roaming around through the
woods like a maniac, and one of these fine days set my house
on fire over my head, all these are things which concern me
intimately, and about which I propose to have my say.''
" Did you take the advice Igave you recently?'' inquired
Mrs. Ferber.
" Yes, indeed. I immediately put her in another room;
she now sleeps in the room above mine, so that I can hear
every step. At night the doors are not only barred, as was
alwajs done, but they are locked, and I take the keys with
me into my chamber. But woman's cunniAg well, that
is an old story. By these measures of precaution we had,
at least, a short period of rest. Last night, however, I
could not sleep ^this matter about Linke kept my mind
excited and suddenly I heard steps upstairs, as soft as if a
cat was walking across the roof. * Aha,' thought I, * now
begins this night perambulation again,' and got up out of
bed; but when I got upstairs, the cage was already empty;
on a table by the open window stood a candle, and, as I
opened the door, the curtain blew over the flame, and if I
had not sprung forward immediately, we would have had a
display of firo-works, in which the old beams of the Forest
House would have willingly taken pari And how do you
suppose she got out? Through the kitchen window.
Well, I would rather watch a swarm of ants than such a
riy, ingenious person."
GOLD ELSIB. 169
*' I am convinced that the girl has some love affair^'' said
Mrs. Ferber.
** Yes; yon have already suggested that once, sister/*
said the forester, somewhat vexed, ** but if you would only
be kind enough to explain to me with whom, I would be
very grateful. Look around you and see whether there is
a single person that could turn the girl^s head in this man-
ner. My assistants are far too humble for her. She dis-
missed them all at the very start, and the rascal Linke, it
is scarcely likely that it could be he, with his crooked legs
and his old faded wig; that's the whole list of them. ''
** You have forgotten one, '^ said Mrs. Ferber, significant-
ly, and looked around for Elizabeth, who had remained a
few paces behind to cut a switch for Ernest.
" Whom?" asked the forester.
"Mr. vonHollfeld.''
The forester stopped short
" Humph,' ' he growled after a moment, ** I should never
in my life have thought of that. No, no,'* he continued,
in an animated tone, **I can't believe that; for, in the
first place, the girl could not be so hopelessly stupid as to
think he would ever marry her."
" Still she might have hoped so, and has now discovered
her mistake," suggested Mrs. Ferber.
"Proud and vain enough she certainly is to have had
such a notion," said the forester, reflectively; *' but he ^he
is said to care nothing about women at all. "
" He is a miserable old egotist," said Miss Mortens.
** The latter I thoroughly believe but not the former,"
replied Mrs. Ferber; " and this very view of the matter ex-
plains to my mind Bertha's whole manner and action."
"Ay, that would be a dreadful thing!" exclaimed the
forester, angrily. " And I have, in my innocence and for-
bearance, allowed myself to be led around by the nose, like
an old fool in a comedy. I shall now examine into the
whole matter inexorably, and woe to the vile girl if she has
really dared to commence under my roof a love intrigue
that can only bring dishonor upon herself and me."
Dinner passed quietly away. The forester remained out
of humor, and would have called Bertha to account mi-
mediately had not Mrs. Ferber requested him to remember
that it was Sunday. After drinking cofiee the guests took
their leave. The forester threw his gun over his shooldei^
170 GOLD ELSIE,
and walked with them as far as the wicket gate^ and then
disappeared in the forest, for, as he explained, this always
calmed his feelings and brought him to himself a^ain.
Elizabeth began to dress for the concert, that is, she put
on a plain white mall dress, and, as an anusual ornament,
pinned a bouquet of fresh wild flowers on her bosom. Her
mother brought a little locket tied on a narrow black vel-
vet ribbon, and put it around her neck; this was her cos-
tume for the concert, one which any other young girl wonld
have contemplated with feelings of distress in anticipation
of appearing at a brilliant entertaiument. Elizabeth, on
the contrary, saw with much satisfaction that her dress,
though it had been so repeatedly washed, had never yet
been so beautifully ironed, and she would have preferred
to have laid aside her mother's little gold locket; for she
was of the opinion that she was to play the part of a
musician at the concert, and was not expected to take part
in the entertainment, and that the chief thing was her fin-
gers. She felt a little uncomfortable, too, because her arms
were bare, and her dress allowed her shoulders to be seen.
She had never before worn low neck and short sleeves, and
she could not understand why people in high society con-
sidered it more appropriate to wear such dresses on festive
occasions. She had never observed that her arms and
shoulders were beautifully shaped, and of a brilliant white;
nor had she ever noticed that her pretty head, full of heavy,
flaxen tresses, formed, with her slender neck, an inde-
scribably graceful line. Her mother had herself arranged
her hair to-day, and the curly locks on Elizabeth's fore-
head, by their bright glimmer, caused the delicate but firm
arches of her eyebrows to appear wonderfully striking and
lent them a peculiar charm.
Mrs. Ferber was forced to agree with Miss Mortens, wno,
after Elizabeth had set out for the villa, remarked with en-
thusiasm, that there was something supernatural in the
young girl's appearance, for she had herself remarked in
amazement to-day that her child had blossomed forth into
striking beauty.
When Elizabeth entered the vestibule of the Lindhof villa
she saw Doctor Fels, who, escorting his wife on his arm,
was about to turn aside into a passage. She hastened up
to him and greeted him joyously, for her heart had been
beating violently the whole way to the villa at the thooght
GOLD ELSIB. 171
of haying to enter alone that large parlor^ where^ donbt-
lessy most of the guesfcs were already assembled.
The doctor extended his hand to her and introduced her
to his Vfite in a whisper as the *^ heroine of yesterday. '*
They both willingly took the young girl tmder their
charge.
The lar^ folding-doors of the parlor opened* At this
moment Elizabeth thanked her stars that she was com-
pletely hidden behind the imposing figure of the doctor's
wife^ for the impression made upon her by the large, brill-
iantly decorated salon^ with its mirror-like floor, over which
the gorgeous dresses of the ladies rustled, and the fine
patent-leather boots of the gentlemen glided noiselessly, was
almost overwhelming. In the middle of the room stood
the baroness, arrays! in a gorgeous dark-brown moir6
antique, and did the honors of the evening. She received
the doctor and his wife very politely, but with stiffness,
and, in reply to the doctor's inquiry after Mr. von Walde,
pointed to a group of persons standing near a window, from
whom proceeded a comusion of sounds as incomprehensible
as the conf asion of tongues at the Tower of BabeL
While the doctor with his wife proceeded in the direction
of the group, Elizabeth joyfully responded to a sign from
Helen, who was sitting in another window. Helen told
Elizabeth in great haste and excitement that she had sud-
denly been seized with the so-called stage fright, and that
she would be terribly frightened to play before all these
people, and felt as if she would like to sink through the
floor; and flnally requested Elizabeth, instead of playing a
four-handed piece, as they had intended, to open the con-
cert with one of Beethoven's sonatas, a request which Eliza-
beth willingly granted. Her embarrassment had complete-
ly disappeared
She stepped up to the table where the music was lying,
and selected the sonata she proposed to play. AU this time
carriage after carriage was rollmg up to the door, and the
folding-doors opened incessantly, and admitted snch oc6ans
of tulle, lace, velvet and silk that Elizabeth, with a sad
smile looked down at her beautifully ironed mall dress, and
thought to herself that, if it once ^ot caught in this mass of
heavy material, its spotless smootnness would be sacrificed.
She could easily tell from the manner in which the baron-
ess received the newly arrived^uests to what rank of society
172 GOLD ELSIE.
each belonged. With a single turn of her bead^ all adorned
with ostrich tips, she would cross over the channel of
friendly intercourse, whenever any one of civil rank ap-
proached her, and this element did all in its power to recog-
nize and respect this high and unapproachable position as-
sumed by the baroness.
At firat all the guests at the direction of the baroness
streamed over toward the window, where Mr. von Walde
was standing of him Elizabeth could see no trace, for the
circle formed around him by persons congratulating him
was the entire time impenetrable then they separated into
single groups, either quietly waiting to see what was going,
to happen, or beginning inaependent subjects of conversa-
tion.
At this moment the door again turned upon its hinges,
and a corpulent old laiy entered the room, leaning upon
the arm of an old gentleman, whose breast was covered
with decorations and orders. Miss yon Quittelsdorf en-
tered behind this couple.
The baroness moved hastily over to meet the new arrivals.
Miss von Walde slowly arose from her seat, and, escorted
by Hollfeld, went to pay her compliments likewise, while
the ladies, who had collected around them, followed them
like the tail of a comet. The group around Mr. von Walde
gradually dissolved, and he became, for the first time, visi-
ble.
" One must come to your own house if one wishes to see
you, you impolite fellow!^' exclaimed the old lady, shaking
her finger at him. " Has beautiful Spain obliterated all
recollection of your friends? You see that, in spite of my
poor feet, and although I felt very much slighted, I too
am come to-day to add my congratulations to those of your
other friends. ^^
He bowed and said a few words, at which she smiled and
struck him gently on the shoulder; then he led her to a
ftofa, upon which she took a seat with the air of a queen.
*' Baroness von Falkenberg, chief lady-in-waiting at the
Court of L ,'* said Mrs. Fels, in reply to Elizabeth's
question who the old lady was.
Miss von Quittelsdorf looked beautiful to-day in her long
white trail and with a brilliant red mallow-wreath on her
dark hair, while in the most respectful manner she per*
^ormed her duties as attendant upon the old baroness; from
GOLD ELSIE. 173
time to time, however, she would cast a sly comical glance
at Miss voii Walde.
The arrival of the guests from court was the signal for
the concert to begin. Elizabeth could almost hear her heart
beat. She was still standing behind Mrs. Fels's chair, and
could as yet hide her face from the host of eyes that the
next moment would be fixed upon her, noticing critically
her every movement. An indescribable feeling of shyness
took possession of her, and she now bitterly repented that
she had ever consented to play alone. She trembled when
Helen motioned to her to begin; but it was too late to hesi-
tate now. She drew a long breath, took her music-book,
and, with downcast eyes, slowly walked up to the piano,
and made a modest little courtesy.
At first there was breathless silence, and then a soft whis-
per passed from mouth to mouth, but forthwith silence
reigned again when the young girl touched the keys.
Elizabeth's embarrassment disappeared also with the first
chord. She was no longer alone, for he was near her, he
by whose side she had wandered over sunny hills and along
the brink of dark abysses, through wind and storm, who
had awakened glorious thoughts within her soul, and had
united all the holy aspirations of her heart into one infinite
harmony; he, who was as dear and familiar to her as her
own mother's face, although she often had to bow her head
before that dazzling glory which formed a halo about his
mighty head.
The brilliant head-dresses of the ladies that encircled her,
the opera-glasses and eyeglasses that, sparkling in the sun,
were fixed steadfastly upon the lonely performer in the
midst of the large room, had lost all effect; she was alone
with the ^reat master of harmonies, and followed entranced
every variation of his creative mind.
A veritable storm of applause aroused her when she had
completed the piece. She bowed, and almost flew to her
protectress, Mrs. Fels, who, speechless from emotion,
stretched out both hands to receive her.
The concert did not last long. Four young men from the
city sung a veiy pretty quartet, then followed a very fine
solo on the violm. Miss von Quittelsdorf, who had a very
sweet voice, sung two songs, but so incorrectly that the
guests either involuntarily and uneasily twisted about on
their scats, or cast thejit ^es down in painful embarrasfiK
174 GOLD SL8IE.
ment. Then came one of the f oar-handed pieces, that they
had practiced so long and so caretally. Helen had regained
her composure and executed her part excellently. When
the concert ended, Elizabeth stepped into the adjoining
room to get her cloak. There followed close upon her
heels an elderly gentleman, who had sat opposite her and
iad observed her with the closest ^attention, Mrs. Fels,
who was with Elizabeth, at the request of the gentleman in-
troduced him to Elizabeth as Mr. Bush, the President of the
Circuit Court. He complimented her performance in the
highest terms, and added that it was a great pleasure to
him to meet the brave young woman who had saved tte
life of their host; that he had all the more willingly taken
advantage of this opportunity of meeting her, as in the
coarse of the last few hours he had been deprived of the
hope of discussing the occurrence with her at the trial of
the murderer.
Elizabeth drew back in horror^ but the judge laughed
aloud.
" Now don^t be frightened so late in the day. Miss
Ferber!^' he at length exclaimed. " As I have just said,
we have no further ground for summoning you before our
bar. Linke has settled the whole matter by one single
leap. His body was to-day fished out of the lake near
Lindhof,'^ he added, in a subdued tone. "They notified
me of the fact at the hotel where I am staying. I immedi-
ately went, in company with a doctor from W ahlheim, who
happened to be at the hotel, to the scene of the suicide,
and convinced myself with my own eves that that hand
would never be raised against the life of another. The
condition of the body proves that Linke took his own life
immediately after the failure of his criminal design. '*
Elizabetn shuddered.
" Does Mr. von Walde know of this terrible tragedy?''
she asked, in trembling tones.
" No, I have not yet had an opportunity to speak with
him alone.'*
" None of the guests seem to have heard a word of all
that happened yesterday, '' remarked Mrs. Fels.
** Fortunately not, thanks to our prudence and discreet-
ness,*' replied the judge, ironically. " Poor Mr. von Walde
has without that been scarcely able to protect himself from
the flood of congratulations; alas for him, had there been
^OLD ELgfE.* 175
Aoable grounds for congratulating him upon his exist-
ence T*
At this moment the steward approached Elizabeth, and
presented to her a silver plate, upon which several en-
velopes lay. When Elizabeth looked at him in surprise, he
said, respectfully:
" Be kind enough to take one, miss/*
Elizabeth hesitated.
** I expect it is a joke,'* said Mrs. Pels. *' Take one
quickly, and don't keep the steward waiting.*'
The young girl took one of the little envelopes almost
mechanically, but was frightened when the baroness sud-
denly appeared in the door and looked anxiously around
the room.
** Well,*' she abruptly said, walking up to the steward,
" what are you doing here, Lawrence? You certamlj
couldn't have imagined that the doctor's wife would go
with any one but the doctor!"
" I was handing the envelopes to Miss Ferber, my gra-
cious lady," replied the old servant. The baroness cast^ a
furious glance at him, and then surveyed Elizabeth from
head to foot.
" Ah, Miss Ferber," she said, in cutting tones, ** are you
still here? I thought you would long since be at home,
resting upon your laurels."
Without a word more she left the room, not without
again turning toward the old steward, who stood in his
tracks stupefied, a wrathful glance, as she shook her head
ominously. ** You were again very absent-minded, Law-
rence; a weakness which you have recently exhibited pain-
fullv often."
With these words she moved in a stately manner out of
the room, while the old man noiselessly followed her. He
had not uttered a syllable in reply to her malicious reproof,
but there appeared in his pale face a slight tinge of red,
and his bushy white eyebrows contracted in such a manner
as to hide his good-natured eyes almost entirely.
The three others remained standing in the side parlor,
and were looking at each other in amazement, when the
doctor entered. He made a deep, comical bow to his wife,
and said, in the most formal manner: "Whereas it has
pleased Miss von Quittelsdorf to join us toffether again, in
the same manner as we were joined by uie handS of the
178 OOLD EL8IE.
clergy fifteen years ago, I hare determined patiently to
drag on to the end this easy yoke of matrimony^ and to-day
exclasively at yonr side, most faithful spouse, to enjoy the
pleasures of the day, nourished and cared for by your ten
der hand. ''
" What in the world has hapjjened to you, my dear hus-
band?'' exclaimed his wife, smiling. " I beg your pardon,
but this is no notion of mine. On, I see, you didn't hear
Miss von Quittelsdorf's handsome speech. What a pity!
I find myself compelled to explain to yon that every married
couple, whether at open war or not is a matter of indiffer-
ence, are expected to settle within the next fifteen minutes
all their differences, and to betake themselves to the Tower
uf the Nuns in the forest. There it will be your duty, when
the fete champetre commences, to wait upon me that is,
to supply me with all I desire to eat or drink, and in
feneral to have an eye to my comfort, as the celebrated
^enelope did. In order that the bachelors, who are largely
in the majority, should not be left in the lurch by this
arrangement ^that is to say, of course, if they consider it a
desirable thing to have the mouth stopped they have in-
stituted, in a highly ingenious manner, a kind of lottery.
Each unmarried lady is required to draw an envelope with
the name of a bachelor written within, and it is left to fort-
une and love to decide whether they will favor or malig-
nantly separate two tender hearts." Elizabeth during the
course of this explanation became greatly disturbed. She
had never once thought of the plan of having another en-
tertainment after the concert. Now it suddenly became
clear to her why the baroness had in so queer a manner
emphasized the close of the concert, and spoken of her
going home soon after it was over. Her cheeks burned
with mortification, for, by taking the little envelope that
the steward had by mistake handed her, and which now
seemed almost to bum her fingers, she had appeared to the
baroness to be guilty of the rudest obtrusiveness. She at
once decided to explain the mistake to the baroness, and,
for this purpose, entered the parlor, where the ladies and
gentlemen were just opening the little envelopes amid
storms of laughter and mutual congratulations.
" What a stupid notion this was of Miss von Qmttels-
dorf 1'' said a young registrar of noble blood to his neigh-
bor, just as Elizabeth was passing. '' Through her fol]^ I
CKJLD Biisra. 177
am saddled now with that pious and fat Miss Lehr. Fi
done!''
The young ^rl did not hare to search for the baronesa
long; siie stood quite apart from the rest, near one of the
windows. Miss voa Quittelsdorf, the chief lady-in-waiting,
Mr. von Falkenberg and Helen were standing near her in
an animated but apparently not very pleasant conversation.
The chief lady-in-waiting was addressing her excited re-
marks to Miss von Quittelsdorf, who from time to time
shrugged her shoulders. An expression of intense vexation
played upon the couutenance of the baroness, and it did
not require the red spots to convince you that she was in a
very bad humor. Not far from this group stood Mr. von
Walde, with his arms folded, leaning against a pillar. He
seemed to be paying little attention to the conversation of
the prominent old gentleman, who had accompanied Mrs.
von Falkenberg, but his eyes rested fixedly upon the ges-
ticulations of the ladies. *
Elizabeth stepped hastily up to the baroness, but did not
fail to notice how Miss von Quittelsdorf touched Baroness
von Falkenberg as she approached, and how the latter
turned and Qast a malevolent glance at her. She saw from
this that she had been the subject of their conversation, and
hastened her steps in order to rebut as quickly as possible
their unjust suspicion.
*^ Baroness,'' she said, with a graceful bow, addressing
Baroness von Lessen, " without knowing what it meant,
and by reason of a misapprehension, I took this envelope
and have just learned that it imposes an obligation which I
can not assume, as my parents are expecting me at home. ''
She handed the little envelope to the baroness, who seized
it with nervous haste, and in an instant a smile of joy lit
up her face.
** I think you are mistaken. Miss Ferber!'' exclaimed
Mr. von Walde, in a quiet, musical voice. " First of all,
you must present your excuses to the gentleman whose
name is written upon that little piece of paper; it rests with
him to say whether he will liberate you or not.'' His eye
passed rapidly, while he smiled complacently, over the
assembled company, which had already formed, itself into
CGuples and was ready to start out for the Tower; even the
old cavalier was approaching the chief lady-in-waiting and
ftboat to offer her his arm in the most gallant fashion po&-
178 BOLD BLSIB.
Bible. Mr. von Walde continued, slowly moving nearer to
Elizabeth: ''As host of the day, who can not permit the
rights of his guests to be denied, I must request you. Miss
Perber, to read the name in that envelope. "
Elizabeth silently obeyed, and handed him the little card,
turninff perfectly crimson. " Ah!'* he exclaimed, *' I see
that I have defended my own rights. You will now grant.
Miss Perber, that it rests entirely with me whether I will
accept your excuses or not. I prefer not to do so, and must
therefore request you to strictly fulfill the duty that this
little card imposes upon yon.*' The baroness approached
him, and, laying her hand upon his arm, said, apparently
struggling to Keep back her tears: ** Pardon, dear Kudolph,
but it was really not my fault!'*
*' I can not conceive what fault you refer to, Amalie,**
he replied, with icy coldness; " but you have selected the
right moment to ask my pardon, for at this moment I can
forcet manv evils that have happened to me.**
Se seized the hat that a servant had brought him, offered
his arm to Elizabeth, and gave the signal to start
" But my parents!** faltered Elizabeth.
** Are they ill, or do they intend leaving the neighbor-
hood at once?** he stopped short and asked.
"Neither of the two.**
*' Well, then, leave it to me to see that they at once hear
the ground of your remaining out later than they expected.
He called a servant and dispatched him forthwith to Nor-
deck. While the parlor was gradually becoming empty the
group, which had now been ioined by the old cavalier and
HoUield, the latter with ill-humored expression, remained
standing by the window.
" It has turned out just as you deserved, Cornelia,**
scolded the chief lady-m- waiting. *'You have certainly
made an enviable reputation to-day! What an incorrigibly
stupid notion, this lottery business! How often have 1 not
resisted your farcical chimeras, to which, alas! our gracious
f)rinces8 too often lends a willing ear. Now they want to
ay the blame on the old steward; but why didn*t you cau-
tion him properly against such a mistake? You consider
yourself, par excellence, a court-lady, and have not yet
learned that such people never ought to be allowed to think
for themselves. I would willingly forgive you for the mis-
take, if any other person on earth except Mr. von Walde
GOLD ELSIE. 179
were the Tictim of your thoughtlessness. Just seer there!
he has got that little fair goose on his arm ^he, who, in his
proud, aristocratic consciousness, has often been guilty of
the mistake of not observing when distinguished ladies
wished to be escorted by him. I wonder how he likes being
with this little music-teache'\ the daughter of a forest
derhr
" Why should he so willingly make a sacrifice of him-
self?' ' responded Miss von Quittelsdorf; *'it was entirely
unnecessary for him to mix himself up in the trouble. The
young girl was just on the point of leaving, and what
should he do but step forward, like the knight * sans peur
et sans reproche/ and voluntorily take the burden upon
himself. ^^
" Well, this burden is at any rate strikingly beautiful,'^
said the old cavalier, with a frivolous smile.
*' What do you mean, count! That is an idea quite
worthy of you," exclaimed the baroness. **Tougo into
ecstasies over every plump, round-faced peasant girl you
see; but I can not deny that the little girl is very pretty;
but was not poor Eosa von Bergen a perfect angel of beauty?
Hundreds lay prostrate at her feet, but Von Walde, for
whom she showed a decided preference, passed her like a
glacier. No, I tell you, he hasn't the first notion of female
beauty and attractions. I have long ago stricken him from
,the list I keep of young men that I consider desirable
matches for my prot6g6es. Why he so willingly made a
martyr of himself just now he has made plain enough. He
is inwardly greatly pleased with all the attentions we have
shown him to-day, and is anxious for every one, even this
little girl who, moreover, played excellently to have a
bright and lively time. I advise you, my dear Baroness
Lessen, in the luture not to trust too implicitly to Miss
von Quittelsdorfs tact and talent in arranging matters of
this description.^' Miss von Quittelsdorf bit her lip and
angrily drew her lace shawl around her shoulders. The
carriage, which was to take the chief lady-in-waiting, the
Baroness von Lessen, Helen and the count to the Tower,
rolled up before the door.
"The old spit-fire I*^ exclaimed Miss von , Quittelsdorf ,
after she had helped the old lady into the carriage and seen
that she was comfortable. " She is in a rage because w
did not ask her most exalted advice about the arrange-
180 GOLD ELSIE.
ments. Dida*k you notice, Hollfeld, that her excellency's
false wig almost tumbled off her head when she was shak-
ing it so vigorously. It would have take me a fortnight to
recover from the laughter if suddenly from beneath her
flower-adorned cap her bald head had peeped forth !'^
She now seemed about to be overcome with laughter at
the idea. Her escort, however, walked silently by her side,
as if he had not heard one word of the entire speech, but
seemed only to quicken his pace. In his whole manner
haste and restlessness were noticeable. He seemed bent
upon joining the others at the Tower as soon as possible.
He kept his eyes fixed straight in front of him, and stared
incessantly into the uMergrowth on either side of the path.
It was only when he caught a glimpse of a white dress in
the distance that he would stop, as if he were bent on mak-
ing some observation.
^ Well, I declare, Hollfeld, you are too boring for any-
thing stupid to a degree!' she exclaimed fretfully.
" Tou have, it is true, the privilege of remaining as dumb
as a fish for the purpose of getting the reputation of being
wise. Where I am to search for your mina at this moment
I haven't the remotest idea. Why on earth are you racing
in this fashion? I beg you to remember my brand-new
dress, that every moment is catching in the briers and
bushes through which you are dragging me here like a sac-
rificial lamb.'^'
The so-called " Tower of the Nuns,'' the sole remnant of
a former convent, lay deeply hid in a forest of oak and
beech-trees belonging to the forest district of Lindhof , and
extending miles toward the east. A Miss von Greswit, the
sister of that ancestor, upon whose coat of arms appeared a
wheel as the sign of a judicial death, had built tbe convent
for the purpose of praying, with twelve other virgins, for
the soul of her brother, who had suffered such a disgraceful
death. For many years the mighty branches of the oaks
had beat upon the cell-windows and reached over the walls
down into the narrow garden. They had seen many a
fresh young girl hastily ascend the narrow forest path and
ring with feverish impatience the shrill little bell of the
convent gate, as if the coveted peace of the interior could
not be deferred another moment. They had seen, too, how
the silent mouth of the nun had soon grown wan and pale
behintj the bolts and bars that could never be opened; how
GOLD ELSIE. 181
her waxen hands had grasped convulsively the crucifix,
how her bruised knees had again and again sunk upon the
stone pavement, while her eyes anxiously wandered along
the ground ^because the bright blue sky above, which was
shinmg so joyously down upon the happy children of the
world, might awaken happy memories of the past, and iii-
iect a new love for life and \/orldly longings into that
bosom which was now irrevocably buried within those dis-
mal walls.
The Eeformation, which overthrew the cloisters, like so
many block-houses, had passed through this quiet forest
also, and had laid its heavy hand upon the walls of this
gloomy house, which, in order to atone for crime and mis-
ery, in consequence of the curse of its origin, itself was full
of misery. And lo! even this semblance of life was scat-
tered to the four winds of heaven, and one stone after
another rolled down near the trunks of the old oak-trees,
whose tops had once touched them as parts of finely carved
window-sills or as stately members of its solid walls, and
which now shed their leaves upon them, year after year,
until they sunk more softly imbedded than the bodies of
the nuns beneath, who, according to tradition, were sleeping
all together in a subterranean vault.
The four-sided tower, mounted on high, unwieldy and
unadorned. Above on the flat roof, which was surrounded
by a stone gallery, the stairway ended in a quadrilateral
space, which was shut in by a heavy oaken door. Prom
tnis terrace there was the most enchanting view. To this
attraction the Tower doubtless owed its continued existence.
It had been repaired; strong iron bands secured the
corners, and numberless veins of fresh mortar might be seen
in the old walls, so that the old building from a distance
looked like a gigantic agate.
To-day the old fellow had dressed up like a giddy young
man about to commence a journey. Fresh plumes ^that
is, four strong cedars ^adorned his hat. Above huge flags
waved and swam like swans over the green waves of the
tree-tops. He, who, of course, had always carried on, day
and night, a neighborly conversation with liis old comrades
the oak-trees, but had never moved a finger's breadth from
his dignified position to approach them, to-day extended his
green arms toward them. Long garlands were fastened to
the walls, and their othor ends attached to the trunks of
18S GOLD ElfiDB.
the trees. A handkerchief even hung out of the pocket of
the thoughtless, rejuvenated old fellow. The two free ends
of the cloth were firmly attached to the trunks of two
cedars, which were also adorned with evergreens. Be-
neath this tent were numerous little kegs, dustj bottles
with red seals, and also bottles with silver corks m vessels
full of ice, and near by all these luxuries stood a beautiful
girl in the costume of a sutler-woman.
Elizabeth had left the room on Mr. von Waldo's arm
without exercising her own will at all, and in silence. In
spite of the conviction that she ought to go, she had not
had the courage to resist Mr. von Walde and tell him she
must abide by her conviction. He had spoken in such a
commanding tone, and what had especially kept her from
opening her mouth ^had taken her part and had evidently
desired to help her out of her embarrassing position; any
resistance under these circumstances would have appeared
like mere spite, and, furthermore, any discussion would
simply have made her position more painful and conspicu-
ous.
Behind her rustled the silk dresses of the ladies, and the
stream of guests followed Mr. von Walde as far as the- main
entrance to the grounds, laughing and chatting. But from
this point they all separated and followed the various roads
leading to the Nun's Tower. Many of the ladies, to pro-
tect their dresses, kept to the broad, much-used carriage-
road. Mr. von Walde certainly had no idea that Elizabeth
thought just as much of her plain mull dress, which she
herself had washed and ironed, as the other ladies thought
of their more expensive outfits, otherwise he would never
have taken her by the narrow, unfrequented path into
which he suddenly turned.
" It is usually very damp on this path,'' said Elizabeth,
breaking the silence in a timid voice,_for until now not a
word had passed between them. She walked as if she
would much rather go back than go forward. It may be
that she was not thinking either of her dress or of her thin
ihoes, and that she only saw before her the narrow, green
pathway along which she must now go absolutely alone
with him, and heard alreadjr in her imagination his voice,
harsh, impatient and imperious ^for such was always the
case when he found himself alone with her.
*' It hasn't rained for a long time; look at the fissured
GOLD ELSIE* 183
and chinks in the dry ground/^ he said, moving on, and
now and then breaking off a branch that threatened Eliza-
beth's cheek. " We will by this path reach the Tower
sooner, and have besides the advantage of escaping for a
quarter of an hour that jabbering which my relatives have
procured in honor of my thirty-seventh birthday. Or are
you afraid of meeting Linke in this narrow path?''
A shudder passed through the young girl's veins. She
thought of the horrible death of the murderer, but could
not summon courage enough to tell Mr. von Walde about
it
" I am no longer afraid of him," she said, in a serioug
tone.
" He has most likely left the country; but, if he hasn't,
he would certainly not be so impolite as to destroy the
pleasure of these ladies and gentlemen, who now desire,
after the fatigue of congratulations, to have some amuse-
ment. Apropos, it may not have escaped you that every
one has bestowed some special attention upon me to-day
even the youngest little creature, the one in the light gauze
dress, did not fail to make me a nice little courtesy, and to
repeat to me some congratulatory words which she had got
by heart. You do not consider me old enough yet, I pre-
sume, to wish me a still longer life?"
" I should think that one could express this wish to the
young and strong as well as to the old and weak, for the
former have no more a monopoly of life than the latter. "
" Exactly. Then why didn't you congratulate me, too?
Yesterday you saved my life, and to-day it isfi matter of
such indmerence to you that jrou will not even open your
lips to say, * God protect it still longb*,
" I was not one of the invited guests, and, therefore, had
no right to congratulate you." She spoke hastily, for his
voice already began to sound harsh, and he made an impa-
tient motion with the arm upon which her hand lay.
" You were invited "
" To amuse others that were invited."
" Was this modest idea the only reason you had for not
wishing to come with me?"
" Yes; my refusal had nothing to do with the gentle*
man, for I had no idea whose name I had drawn. "
" That is very strange; you must have seen at the first
|[lance that all the gentlemen, with the exception of myself,
184 GOLD ELSIS.
were ei
ingj^ed; yoa knew^ besides, that my sister had re-
1 nollfeld to escort her, as she walks with greater
security with him. Isn't that so?'*
** I neither saw nor knew anything. I was entirely too
excited when I entered the room to return the envelope to
the baroness; for I had been told yesterday with mach em-
phasis the exact hour when I would be permitted to go
home. That any other entertainment would take place
after the concert had never crossed my mind. And, when
I took the little envelope, I was guilty of a piece of absent-
mindedness for which I shall never forgive myself/' He
suddenly stopped short. " Look me straight in the
face!" said he, in a commanding tone.
She raised her eyes, and although she felt that a deep
color rose in her face, she kept her eyes fixed upon his,
which at first had rested with a scorching look upon her
features, but then melted away into an indescribaole ex-
pression.
** 2^0, no/' he whispered in a low tone, as it were to
himself; ** it would be a sin to harbor the thought at this
moment of that atrocious vice a lie. Yes, a double sin,"
he continued, in an altered and now sarcastic tone. It
sounded as if he wished his mother his momentary gentle-
ness. " Did I not once involuntarily hear you make use
of the expression, ' One requires more courage coolly to tell
an evident lie than to acknowledge a mistake' ?"
" That is my conviction, and I repeat it."
" Ah I there is something exalted in firmness of charac-
ter; but it is my opinion when one is too truthful to soil
one's lips with a falsehood one ought not to permit one's
eye to tell an untruth. I know, however, a moment in
your life when you appeared in a difiEerent light from that
m which you now appear. "
The young girl withdrew her hand from his arm, deeply
insidted.
** Oh, no; you can not escape me so easily now," he ex-
claimed, holding her fast. " You must either now affirm
or deny. You seemed recently to be indifferent when 1
threw away that tender souvenir of mv cousin the rose."
Blizabeth now knew why he had come by this lonesome path
she must confess what she thought of Hollfeld; her sup-
position recently was correct. Mr. von Walde was vert
mpoh afraid that she would value too hi|;hly his cousin^
GOLD ELSIE. 185
recent attentions, and might imagine that he had forgotten
her rank in society. The moment had come when she
could express her opinion. By a quick motion she with-
drew her hand from his arm and made one step aside.
"I must acknowledge,^' she said, **that if, at that
moment, my appearance was one of indifference, it wholly
belied my feelings. '^
"SeeK'he exclaimed. "I was right!'' but this excla-
mation sounded little like one of triumph.
** 1 was, on the contrary, indignant.''
"At me?"
" First at the impertinent joke of Mr. von Hollfeld.'*
** He frightened you, of course."
" No; insulted me. How dared he obtrude himself
upon me in that manner? I detest him!"
She was right in her supposition, but that he would lay
such weight upon what sne would say had never entered
her head. It seemed as if a great burden had been lifted
from his heart. There was an exultant gleam in those eyes
that were a moment before fixed upon her with an expres-
sion in which was mingled mistrust, scorn and bitterness.
He drew a deep breath and suddenly extended his arms.
Elizabeth looked about her to discover that unknown s^^me-
thing after which his flashing eye was searching, to draw it
doubtless to his heart. She saw nothiug, but felt that his
hand was trembling violently when he took hers and drew
it again through ms arm. They walked on a few steps
f urSier, but he did not open his lips.
" We are now entirely alone," he said, in an indescrib-
ably soft tone. " You see, only one very small little piece
of blue sky is looking down upon us, no strange face ob-
truies itself upon us. I can not and will not be deprived
of my congratulation. Eepeat one to me now, where no
one can hear it save me, me alone."
She remained silent and embarrassed.
" Well, don't you know how to do it?" he persisted.
" Oh, yes," she replied, with a rougish smile. ** I have
had some practice in it. My parents, uncle and Ernest "
** All have their birthdays," he interrupted her, with a
good-humored smile; " but you will certainly not think it
strange if I wish to have my congratulation all to myself,
and request you to make it sound quite differentlj from all
that you have hitherto expressed; for I am neither your
186 GOLD ELSIE.
father nor your grnff old uncle least of all do I lay any
claims to the rights of your brother, with whom you play
games. Well, are you going to speak?*'
She again remained silent. What was she to say? She
had long ago cast her eyes down, for she could not stand
the look with which he, in so searching a manner, seemed
to penetrate the deepest recesses of her soul. He waited in
impatient and anxious expectation.
Come, let us go!*' he said, in a harsh tone, after wait-
ing in vain for a sound from her lips, and started to move
on. "It was a foolish request to make. I know well
enough that you always remain silent with me, or employ
your time in heaping reproofs upon me, though to other
people.you always have something kind and affectionate to
say.'*
At these words she grew pale, and involuntarily stopped
short
" Will you do it?'* he asked, in a milder tone. ** Is it
so awfully difficult?'* he continued, shaking his head, while
she still kept silence but looked at him beseechingly.
*' Now, then, 1*11 make a proposition. I shall tell you
about what I should have likod to hear from your lips, but
under the express condition that you will repeat it after
me, woini for word.**
Again a smile lit up Elizabeth*s face, and she nodded as-
sent.
** In the first place, you must extend your hand to your
friend,'* he began, and took her hand in his. She trem-
bled, but did not draw her hand back, " and then say,
* Hitherto you have been a poor, unhappy wanderer; it was
high time that the clouds should break asunder and at last
permit to shine through that divine ray of. light which has
changed your whole life. It is my own irreversible wish
and will that it may never forsake you again. Here is my
hand as a pledge of an inexpressible Joy * **
Up to this point she had repeated this queer-sounding
congratulation, word for word; at the last sentence she,
however, drew back amazed, and hesitated. He, however,
impetuously seized both her hands and insisted: "Go on;
speak!"
" Here is nty ^" she at last began.
" This is nice, Mr. von Walde,*' a voice was suddenly
beard to exclaim through the bushes; " to have met you
GOLD ELSIE. 187
here! So I have the great triumph of being received at
your side with musicl"
Elizabeth had never in her life seen such a terrible
change suddenly take place in a human face as now took
place in Mr. von Walde's. On his pale brow a large blue
vein suddenly appeared, his eyes sparkled and his nostrils
became dilated. He stamped his foot violently, and it
seemed as if his impulse was to thrust the unwelcome dis-
turber, who now was approaching through the under-
growth, holding her skirts up, back in the direction from
which she came. He did not succeed this time in so sud-
denly mastering his feelings, and perhaps he did not care
to; for his eyebrows contracted in a still fiercer manner,
when Hollfeld suddenly appeared behind Cornelia. As
soon as Mr. von Walde saw Hollfeld he seized Elizabeth's
arm and drew it through his own, pressing it to his side as
if he feared she would be snatched away from him.
" How oddly you look, Mr. von Walde!'' exclaimed Cor-
nelia, springing into the path, " You look at us as if you
thought we were robbers, who had intentions against your
person, or at least against your valuable property!"
Without replying one word to these remarks, he turned
to his cousin and said, abruptly:
" Where is Helen?"
" She suddenly became afraid to attempt to walk along
the rough road, and decided to ride," he replied.
'' Ipresume you are not going to leave it to old Count
von Wildeman to help her out of the carriage. I can not
comprehend how you, as a gallant knight, could leave the
main road. A few quick steps will rectify the neglect. I
shall place ho hinderance in your way, said Mr. von
Walde, in a very sharp tone, wnile a sarcastic smile played
on his lips. He drew Elizabeth a little aside to give them
room to pass.
" And why didn't you keep in the main road, pray?" in-
quired Cornelia, in a spicy and pert manner. At this mo-
ment she was much more of a little kitten than a maid of
honor.
*' That you shall learn at once: simply because I hoped
by this means to escape the great loquacity of certain
ladies," replied Mr. von Walde.
" IJmphl how rude! May Heaven protect us from such
A sour-tempered child on his birthday!'' exclaimed Cornelia,
188 GOLD ELSIE.
tossing her head and assuming a comical attitude of amaze*
ment. " It was assuredly a mistake on your part not ap-
{)earing to-day in crape dresses, downcast eyes and with
emons in our hands.
She took HoUfeld's arm again and sullenly urged him
forward; but it seemed, strange to say, as if he, for the
first time in his life, perhaps, wished to bid defiance to his
cousin. Slowly, like one tired of life, he moved forward,
staring first to the right and then to the left into the
bushes, as if each stone, each little lizard that whisked by,
had some special interest for him. He commenced a con-
versation with Cornelia; her answers seemed to be extreme-
ly interesting, for once he even stopped in order to hear
every word she said.
Mr. von Walde muttered something between his teeth
which Elizabeth could not understand; but she saw from
the furious look he gave his cousin that he was extremely
vexed at his behavior. He did not speak to her again.
Once he turned his head slowly toward her, and she felt
that his eyes rested fixedly upon her; but she could not, to
save her life, turn her eyes toward him. Must he not have
seen that her whole mind was in a state of excitement
about that enigmatical congratulation which he had whis-
pered to her in a deeply moved voice?. He might have seen
by one glance the storm that was going on within her, and
she did not like to have such a thought might repent
by reason of such discovery of what he had said and done,
all which was innocently meant. It was a natural conse-
quence of this fear that the young girl^s eyelids should sink
deeper and deeper, and for this reason she did not observe
that a slight, inaudible sigh escaped the lips of her escort,
while all trace of resentment disappeared from his face to
five place to a certain expression of melancholy in his eyes.
. short, weak blast from a trumpet, which doubtless was
sent forth as a sign of the impatience of the band in the
gallery of the Tower, betrayed the nearness of the festive
grounds.
The road became broader, behind the bushes just in
front waved a variegated throng, and suddenly a perfect
thunder of trumpet-blasts greeted the on-commg guests.
Elizabeth took advantage of this moment to withdraw
her arm from Mr. von Walde, and to join the crowd that
formed a dense ring around the master of the castle, whil^
GOLD ELSIB. 189
a young girl dressed as a dryad and surrounded by four
other forest nymphs arrayed in a similar manner, welcomed
him to the forest in stately hexameters.
*' Well, Mr. von Walde has at least had the good sense
to rid himself at the proper moment of his obtrusive Dal-
cinea. I don't see the little girl any longer," whispered
Baroness von Falkenberg to Count von Wildeman, who was
seated near her on a raised seat under an oak. ** He will
never forgive Baroness von Lessen and our maid of honor
for having compelled him, by their stupid arrangement, to
plav the part of a knight toward this little creature My
child,*' she said, turning to Helen, who was sitting on her
right, and whose eye wandered anxiously over the throng
of people, as if she were searching for some one, *' we must
take him into our circle after awhile, when they release him
over there, and do everything to make him forget the vexa-
tious beginning of the evening/'
Helen nodded assent in a mechanical manner. She had
evidently not understood the half of what the old lady had
said. Her little crippled frame, clothed in a heavy blue
silk, lay helpless and wearied in the large arm-chair, and
her cheeks were paler than the wreath of white roses that
adorned her brow.
In the meanwhile Elizabeth had joined Dr. Fels and his
wife. Mrs. Fels took the young girl by the hand, in order
that they might not be separated again.
" Stay until the dancing begins," said she, in reply to
Elizabeth's remark that it was, perhaps, now the proper
moment for her to withdraw without being observed and
go home. " I am not at all surprised that you want to
leave as soon as possible," she added, smiling; " we shall
not stay much longer; I can't have any peace when I think
of my little ones at home; the fact that I am here at all is
a sacrifice that my husband's position imposes upon me.
Mr. von Walde, whom the goddess of fortune has bestowed
upon you to-day, doesn't dance, so I have no doubt he will
excuse you."
The crowd suddenly began to disperse. Prom the battle-
ment of the tower sound^ forth an imposing march, and
while the gentlemen went in search of shady seats the ladies
hastened up fx) the buffets, according to the regulations, to
bring the best and daintiest articles to the lords of creation.
Mr, von Walde walked slowly across the lawn with his
190 GOLD ELSIE.
hands behind him., engrossed in conyersation with the Pred-
doat of the Circuit Court.
* My dear Mr. von Walde, do come and join usl*' cried
the Baroness von Falkenberg, and stretched out her hands
toward him in an almost tender manner. " I have reserved
for you the most charming little seat. Best yourself here
on the well-deserved laurels which have been bestowed
upon you to-day. The young ladies, it is true, have all
been disposed of by the lottery, but here are our pretty and
attractive forest nymphs, who are ready to pour out your
wine, and to bring you from the luffets whatever your heart
may desire.*^
"Your kindness and consideration, your excellency,
touches me deeply,** he replied, " but I am confident that
Miss Ferber does not intend to leave me dependent upon
general sympathy for attention.**
He spoke in a loud tone, and turned toward Elizabeth,
who was not standing very far from him. She had heard
every word. She came hastily up, and placed herself at his
side, with a quiet look of determination that showed she had
no intention of departing one hair's breadth from the line
of her duty. At tms moment something like a jo^ul look
of surprise flew across his face. His eye, brightening, met
hers, which, undisturbed by her surroundings, looked up
into his with a look of keen enjoyment. Strange to say he
seemed entirely to forget that tbe chief lady-in-waiting had
reserved such a * charming little seat * for him, for, after
making a formal bow to her excellency and to the obliging
young ladies around her, he offered Elizabeth his arm, and
escorted her across the lawn to a gigantic oak-tree, under
the shadow of which Dr. Eels had just selected a place for
himself and wife.
" Well, this revenge is berinning to be really too much
of a good thing,** said the old court lady to Count Wilde-
man and to the five forest nymphs who stood by in blank
amazement " He seems to want to show his contempt for
all the rest by noticing in such a conspicuous manner the
{)resence of this little creature. Now I am going to begin
be vexed. No one sees better than I do that he is per-
fectly right to get angry; but I think he ought not to carry
it so far as to so entirely forget the respect he owes to the
rest of the guests, who are absolutely innocent of any par-
ticipation in that stupid work of the baroness and Cornelia.
GOLD ELSIE. 191
I wager that this HtUe creature will think that he Is doing
it all because of her pretty eyes/*
The eyes of all five pretty young dryads simultaneously
cast a withering glance at Elizabeth, who forthwith set out
for the sutler's tent, and returned with a bottle of cham-
pagne and four glasses to the oak, beneath which Mr. von
Walde, the doctor and his wife had already sociably taken
their seats.
" All the yonn^ ladies to-day have perfect flower-gardens
in their hair/' said Mrs. Fels as Elizabeth approached,
** while Miss Perber alone goes as unadorned as a little ash-
cake; I shall not permit that. ''
She drew out of the large bouquet she held in her hand
two roses, and was about to arrange them in Elizabeth's
hair, when Mr. von Walde seized her hand, and exclaimed:
" Wait, I do not care to see any other flower but an orange-
blossom in that hair!"
*' They are becoming to brides only," said 'Mrs. Fels,
naively,
" Certainly, and precisely for that reason I insist," he
replied as quietly as if he had said something that was per-
fectly self-evident. He then filled all the glasses and
turned to Fels.
" Touch your glass to mine, doctor," he said. " I drink
to the health of the girl that saved my lifel Gold Elsie of
Castle JNordeckl"
The doctor smiled, and touched glasses with Mr. von
Walde in the heartiest manner possible. At this signal,
quite a crowd of gentlemen approached with glasses in their
hands.
" It is fortunate that you have come, gentlemen," said
von Walde. " Come drink with me to the fulfillment of
my highest wishl"
A hearty " Long life and happiness " was heard, and the
merry ring of the glasses rang out through the air.
** Perfectly outrageous!" exclaimed her excellency, as she
let her fork fall with a juicy piece of pickled eel attached to
it, " Those gentlemen over there are acting like students
at a club meeting. I am perfectly amazed. What a dis-
graceful noise. Why, the common people on the streets
behave more decently than that when they cheer our gra-
doafl prince and princess. Apropos, Helen," she said.
192 GOID SLSIX.
taming to Miss von Walde, " T notice of late that your
brother seems to be very intimate with Doctor Fels. ''
"He has a great respect for him and considers him a
man of great integrity and extensive informiation/^ replied
Helen.
" That is all very well, but he certainly is not aware that
his name is not held in high esteem at our court just now.
Just think, he had the incon(5eivable boldness to refuse
the offer of our beloved Princess Catharine to ^'
" Yes, I have heard that story,'' said Helen, interrupt-
ing the indignant old ladv. " My brother himself told me
about it a few days ago/'
*^ What, he knows it, and yet pays so little attention to
the opinions of a court that has always honored him in so
distinguished a manner! It is incredible. I assure you,
my dear child, my conscience already begins to prick me,
and, when our prince and princess arrive I shall certainly
not be able to raise my eyes to them in the guilty conscious-
ness of having been here with these rude people. "
Helen shrugged her shoulders, and left the old baroness
to her panes of conscience and to the consolation of a full
glass of champagne, with wMch she doubtless desired to
strengthen herself for the trying ordeal of meeting her lord
and mistress.
Miss von Walde was suffering in the midst of all this
gayety all those pangs which the formalities of society of teij
impose upon us. She had to listen with strict attention to
a thousand nothings that were said, and make polite answers,
while her heart was torn by racking pains. And it was only
such a woman as the chief lady-in-waiting, who sought and
found the highest earthly bliss in one gracious glance from
princely eyes, a person whose whole soul was engrossed with
standing guard at the gate leading into the empire of
etiquette, and with protecting the dignity of her " ex-
cellency, " a title to which she had only attained by the most
stupendous efforts; she alone could have failed to observe
in this poor girl's face signs of the terrible struggle that
was going on within her heart.
HoUfeld had not only been so impolite as to leave her
upon her arrival at the tower entirely to the kind attentions
of Count Wildeman, but had also, when he did finally ap-
pear, failed to say one word by way of excuse for his neglect.
GOLD ELSnL 193
And had eventaallj^ in an ill-humored and absent-minded
manner, taken his seat by her side. She found him
strangely changed, and her uneasy heart and aching head
almost split with anxious suppositions. At first her jealous
eye followed Cornelia, who, according to her mercurial dis-
position, flitted about like a butterfly from group to group,
chatting and laughing incessantly. On this point her heart
was soon at ease, because she did not succeed a single time
in catching Hollfeld^s eyes wandering toward the coquettish
but attractive maid of honor. Her anxious questions were
answered in monosyllables. She made a waiter bring some
delicacies, and herself placed them before Hollfeldj but he
did not touch a morsel, and only drank in quick succession
several glasses of strong wine. This indifferent treatment,
which she had never before received at his hands, caused
her the most intense pain. She Anally became silent, and
her eyelids weariedly drooped. No one observed the tears
that moistened her eyes.
In the midst of this festive gayety, which for the moment
was greatly increased by the fact tiiat the host himself was
taking so prominent a part in it all, a cloud suddenly ap-
peared; at least it seemed to Elizabeth as if the face of the
old steward, who suddenly made his appearance among the
trees, forebode no good.
The old man m^e the most vigorous efforts to catch the
eye of his master without attracting the attention of the
rest of the company. At length he succeeded, Mr. von
Walde looked anxious, arose and stepped aside into the un-
dergrowth with the old steward, while the other gentlemen
severally returned to their seats. He suddenly returned
with a deathly pale face.
" I have just received a terrible piece of news, by reason
of which I must at once leave the castle, ^^ he said, in a
subdued tone to the doctor. " Mr. von Hartwig in Thalle-
bin, an old friend of mine, has met with an accident while
driving; the injury will be fatal; they write me that he can
not possibly live more than a day. He has summoned me
to take charge, as guardian, of his little children. Will
you kindly tell Baroness von Lessen of my departure, and
the cause of the same, and request her to see that the en-
tertainment is not interrupted. Let my sister and the
guests continue to think that I have been called off on a
matter of business, and will possibly soon join the company
194 GOLD ELSIE.
again. They will not miss me so soon as the danoe be*
gms.'*
The doctor started off to look up the baroness. His wife
had a few moments before gone to the iuffety and so Eliza-
beth at this moment stood alone with Mrl von Walde. He
approached her rapidly.
** I had hoped that we would hot separate to-day without
completing that congratulation/^ said he, while he tried to
catch her wandering eye. " I belong to that unfortunate
class of fortune's favorites whom at the last moment some
unlucky star excludes from the promised land.^' He tried
hard to give these last words a humorous sound, but they
sounded all the more bitter. " This time I shall show my-
self refractory/' he said in a determined tone. '* Go I
must, but this painful duty can be made much lighter for
me by a promise from you. Do you remember the words
that you repeated after me a little while ago?"
" I don't forget so quickly."
" Ah, that sounds already far more encouraging for me!
There is an old story, according to which one single word
contained a kingdom full of invaluable treasures and mar-
velous grandeur. Will you lend me your assistance in hav-
ing that word spoken?"
How could I assist you in attaining treasures and
wealth?'^
" That is my affair. I beg you earnestly to make no
further attempt to evade me; for time presses, I ask you,
will you during the days of my absence try hard to keep in
mind the beginning of that congratulation?"
"Yes."
" And you'll consent when I return to hear the end of
it?"
" Yes.*'
** Very well, then, amid tribulation and sorrow I shall
have above me a small piece of bright blue sky, and to you
oh, may my guardian angel whisper that enchanted word!
Farewell!"
He extended his hand to her, and stepped behind the
tower into the road that led quickest to the castle.
Elizabeth remained standing where he had left her for a
few moments, in a kind of sweet entrancement, from which
she was awakened by the doctor's wife, who was returnintf
h^^n with plates and dishes, and Wf^ amazed not to fiua
GOLD ELSIB. 195
Any of the gentlemen. The young giri related what had
happened. A few moments later the doctor returned and
narrated how hurt the baroness was^ ijiat her cousin had
not taken the trouble to personally tell her of the occur-
rence. The unfortunate doctor was forced to listen to the
lady^s bitter remarks^ but he was so impolite as not to per-
mit the even course of his temper to be at all disturbed
thereby. He took his seat behind the well-filled dishes, and
eat with an excellent appetite.
In the meantime Elizabeth had gone across to take leave
of Miss von Walde. She had no desire to stay longer. She
had the most intense longing to be alone with her thoughts^
and to recall each word that he had spoken, and reflect
upon ^ts meaning.
" ^re you going so soon?^* inquired Helen, as the young
firl stepped up behind the chair to take leave. " What
oes my brother say to that?*'
^' Budolph has been summoned on a pressing matter of
business to the castle,*' answered the baroness, who sud-
denly appeared at Elizabeth's side, ** Miss Perber is there-
fore released from all obligation of remaining.'*
Helen east a glance of disapprobation at the speaker.
** I don't see that at all," she said, " the business will cer-
tainly not be so important that he would not be able to re-
turn after a short while."
" I think not," replied the baroness, hesitating, " but
his return may possibly be very late. Miss Ferber would
be dreadfully bored in the meantime, I presume, in a crowd
of perfect strangers and "
Has my brother consented to your going?" said Miss
von Walde, turning to Elizabeth, without permitting the
baroness to finish her sentence.
" Yes," replied the young girl, ** and I beg you, too, to
permit me to take my leave."
During this short conversation the Baroness von Falken-
berg leaned back, and surveyed Elizabeth from head to foot
with her cold, piercing eyes; HoUfeld, however, arose, and
without saying a word, withdrew. Miss von Walde looked
after him with a painful look of displeasure, and at first
made no answer to Elizabeth's request; at length she ex-
tended her hand, evidently not attending to what she wa9
doing, and said:
196 GOLD ELSIE.
"Well, then, you may go, my dear, and accept my
heartiest thanke for your kind assistance to-day/^
Elizabeth then took leave of the doctor and his wife, and
with a light heart started ofiE into the forest.
She breathed with greater ease when she felt that that tur-
moil and confusion lay behind her, and when the waltz, the
gleeful sounds of which had accompanied her for some time,
closed with a mighty accord. Now she could give herself
completely up to that ecstasy of joy that had placed its
magic spell upon her thoughts and feelings, that compelled
her ever and anon to hear again that voice which had long
ago died away, and with its impressive, sound had captivated
her heart, and before which all the principles of her girlish
Eride, all the measures of precaution suggested by reason,
ad disappeared like chaff oef ore the wind. She thought
of how at first she had followed him without resistance,
although her deeply wounded pride urged her to leave at
once a circle in \vhich she seemed to be so unwelcome; she
felt again that bliss, with which she had walked by his side,
when he had emphasized it in the presence of them all that
filhe belonged to him for the evening, and that he did not
wish to have any one else in her place. He could have
carried her to the end of the world, and she would have fol-
lowed him blindly and with unwavering confidence and with
all the devotion of her nature. And her parents? Now
she could comprehend how a young girl could leave her fa-
ther's house to devote herself to a man whose life had been
widely separated from her's until then, and had perhaps
lain in exactly an opposite direction! who knew nothing of
all those affections, relations, and little events, with which
every fiber of her past life and that of her family was inter-
woven. Two months before that had been an insoluble
riddle to her. She had taken a path that she and Miss
Mertens had often trodden together. After many narrow
twistings and turnings, it led into the public highway that
traversed the forest, and for some distance formed the
boundary line between the forest lands of the prince and
Mr. von Walde; on the opposite side of the hignway, just
opposite the end of this path, was the broad carriage-road
leading to the forester's house.
Buried in her dreams, Elizabeth had not observed that
for a long time she had been followed by hurried steps; for
this leoaon her terror w^ doubled^ when suddenly just be
GOLD ELSIE. 19?
hind her she heard her name called by the voice of a man.
HoUfeld stood behind her. She suspected what had brought
him there, and felt her heart beat heavily, but she re-
covered herself quickly, and quietly stepped aside to let
him pass, as the path was very narrow at that point.
** No, I had no intention of passing yon. Miss Ferber,^*
he said, smiling, and in a tone of familiarity that offended
her very much. " I wanted to have the pleasure of escort-
ing you home."
** I am very much obliged,^' replied the young girl, com-
posedly, but plainly rejecting his offer, " it would be a use-
less sacrifice on your part, as I much prefer to go alone
through the forest. ''
" And are you not at all afraid?" he asked, approaching
so near to her that she could feel his hot breath on her
cheeks.
" Only of protection, which is entirely unsolicited,^' she
replied, repressing her indignation with great difficulty.
*' Alas! there is again that exalted exterior behind which
you always attempt to conceal yourself when I am near;
and why, I should like to know.^ Well, I know now how
to manage that! To-day I shall not be so considerate and
patient as I usually am-^I must speak to you."
" And is the matter so very important that you must
leave your friends and the festivities to tell me at once?''
** Yes, it is a wish, upon which my life depends, which
pursues me day and night. I have been ill and wretched
since I have feared that it could not be realized I "
In the meantime Elizabeth had walked on, quickening
her pace at every step. She experienced an ineffable feel-
ing of disgust in the presence of this man, from whose eyes
now flamed forth unconcealed that passion which had in-
spired in her the deepest aversion, even when it was still
concealed. She felt, however, that self-possession was her
only means of defense at this moment, and consequently
she interrupted him, while she made a weak attempt to ap-
pear unconcerned.
" Ah," said she, " our piano exercises have had the best
effect, and, if I am not mistaken, you have come to ask my
assistance in your musical studies?"
" You purposely misunderstand me," he exclaimed,
angrily.
* Take that as if meant as a kind of forbearance on my
198 GOLD ELSIE.
part, otherwise I would have to tell you things which you
might prefer a great deal not to hear/' she said, in a seri-
ous tone.
" Talk on. I know women well enough to know that
they like to hold up at first a mask of indifference and dis-
dain, but then the rapture that follows is all the more sweet.
I shall not deny you the pleasure of this coquetry, which,
to say the least, is harmless, but then '^
For a moment Elizabeth stood motionless and speechless
at such bold effrontery; she had never heard such loath-
some words in her life. Shame and indignation caused the
blood to surge in her cheeks, and she in vain strove to find
words to punish such unparalleled impudence. He inter-
preted her silence differently.
" See,'* he exclaimed, triumphantly, " how clearly I saw
through yonr actions. The blush of surprise is most becom-
ing to you! you are as lovely as an angel, and never in my
life have I seen such a nymph-like form as yours. "You
know very well that the first glimpse I caught of you made
me your slave, and that I now languish at j^our feet What
a neck! what arms! and these you have hitherto jealously
concealed. *'
An exclamation of the most intense agitation escaped
from Elizabeth's lips.
" How can you dare,'' she cried, ** to insult me in this
manner! If you didn't understand me before, I repeat now
with scorn that your company, which you have forced upon
me against my will, is repulsive to me, and I wish to be left
alone."
** Bravo! this commanding tone suits you well!" he said,
in a jeering tone. ** One can see at once that you have in-
herited from your mother a little drop of noble blood.
What have I done that you now so suddenly attempt to
play the part of an indignant young lady. I told you you
were pretty, but you allow your looking-glass to tell you
that numberless times every day, and I doubt very much
whether you break it to pieces for it "
Elizabeth turned her back upon him contemptuously, and
hastily walked on. He, however, kept close by her side,
and seemed to have no intention of giving up the idea of a
final conquest.
They had just reached the highway when a carriage
GOLD ELSIE. 199
rattled by. The head of a gentleman appeared at the win-
dow of the carriage, but immediately disappeared, as if
frightened; it was Mr. von Walde. Again he looked back
down the road, as if he desired to convince himself that he
had ma:le no mistake, and then the carriage disappeared
around a sharp bend in the road. Elizabeth had involun-
tarily stretched out her arms toward the carriage, as though
she wanted to hold it back; he who sat within knew how
she detested HoUfeld; after what she had a short while
before told him he could not for a moment suppose that she
was with him by her own consent. Could he not delay his
journey a few moments to release her from this shameless
man?
Hollfeld had observed her motion.
" Ah," he said, with a malicious smile, " that looked
almost tender! If I did not remember my cousin's thirty-
seven summers, I might almost be jealous. You thought
he would forthwith descend from the carriage and gallantly
offer you his arm to escort you home? You see he is virtu-
ous, and denies himself so great a pleasure in order to ful-
fill a so-called sacred duty. He is a block of ice, for which
the charms of the female sex exist in vain. That he made
an exception to-day and acted so gallantly toward you was
not at all due to your enchanting eyes, pretty Gold Elsie,
but merely to his desire to worry my mother a little bif
" And are you not ashamed,'^ she exclaimed, indignant-
ly, **to attribute such an ignoble thought to the man
whose hospitality you so uninterruptedly enjoy?"
She had intended not to say another word to him in the
hope that he would become wearied by her silence, and
finally leave her; but his manner of speaking of Mr. von
Walde had caused her to forget her determination com-
pletely.
'' Ignoble? '^ he repeated. '* You use very strong expres-
wons. I caU it a small revenge, in which he was complete-
ly justified. And as far as his hospitality is concerned, I
am for the present enjoying simply what will eventually be
my property; and I can not see why 1 should change my
opinion of my cousin on that ground. Besides, I am the
one who is making a sacrifice, and deserve to be thanked
for it. Don't you consider my devotion and attention tc
Miss von Walde worthy of notice?"
"It may, indeed, be a very difficult task," said Eliza-
200 GOLD EL8IB.
beth, ironically, '^ to pick a few flowers occasionally, and
bring to a poor, sick young girl/^
" Oh, you are displeased at these little attentions, as I
perceive to my great satisfaction,^' he said, triumphantly.
** Did you really think that I could have tender feelings
where my sense of the beautiful was so grossly offendedr'
he continued. *' I like my little cousin, but, nevertheless,
I never for a moment forget that she is a year older than
I, and is a cripple with a deformed hip, and '*
" Atrocious! said Elizabeth, interrupting him, beside
herself with indignation, and sprung into the highway. He
still followed her.
" * Atrocious,' I say, too,'* he continued, keeping pace
with her, " especially when I see your Venus-like form near
hers. And now don't race so, but make peace with me,
and don't defer any longer the joy of which I have been
dreaming day and night. "
He suddenly threw his arm around her waist, and com-
pelled her to stand still; his burning face and glistening
eyes approached hers.
For a moment she stared at him, as if she were paralyzed
and unconscious, and then a shudder passed through her
body, and by a sudden gesture of the most intense disgust,
she freed herself from him.
** Don't you dare to touch me again!*' she cried, in a
voice powerful with rage. At this moment the loud bark
of a dog was heard not far off. Elizabeth, jojrf ully sur-
prised, turned her head in the direction of the noise.
*'Here, Hector; here, here!" she screamed into the
forest. A moment later the forester's deer-hound rushed
out of the thicket, and with a bark of delight jumped up
on the young girl.
*' My uncle is coming," she said, coolly, turning to the
suprised and stupefied man standing near her. "He may
be here any moment; you certainly do not desire me to re-
quest him to rid me of your company, and so I advise you
to return home of your own free will."
Strange to say, he did remain standing like a coward
while Elizabeth walked off with the dog; but he stamped
his foot in ra^e, and cursed his mad passion for having
made him so imprudent.
That he could in reality be repulsive to the young girl
lever once suggested itseli to the man ^he, who by a single
GOLD ELSIE. 301
word or by a request for a dance could cause a sensation
among all the ladies in L , and often spread discord
among them. Such a thought was simply impossible for
him. It was far more probable that the daugiiter of the
forester's clerk was a coquette, who was determined to
make the conquest seem as dlMcult as possible. In the
girlish purity of soul which made Elizabeth^s whole ap-
pearance so irresistible, and whose enchantment, although
completely misunderstood by him, was precisely what had
attracted him so powerfully; in that pure and unsul-
lied inner life he had no belief, nor could he appreciate it,
and, therefore, he could never convince himself that the
young girl instinctively shrunk back from his corrapt and
disordered affection. He censured himself vehemently for
having been so impetuous and impulsive, and for having
thus postponed for an indefinite length of time the end
which he so ardently pined for. He wandered about in the
forest for more than an hour, in order to master his feel-
ings, for those who were engaged in the joyous dances at
the Tower must never know that, behind that cold and in-
different exterior, such a veritable furnace was ablaze.
Elizabeth had hastened forward with an apparently firm
step. She dared not look to the right nor to the left for
fear that she would see Hollfeld's disgusting face. At
length she dared to look back, and saw that he had disap-
peared. Breathing now more freely, she sat down near a
tree in order to collect her thoughts, while Hector stood in
front of her with a cunning look, as if he well knew that
he had to-day played the part of her protector. He had
evidently gone out, of his own accord, to take a walk
through the forest, for there was no sign of his master to
be seen. Elizabeth now felt for the first time how her
knees were trembling. Her fright, when Hollfeld dared to
put his arm around her, was indescribable. In her inno-
cent heart she had never once thought that such roughness
was possible, and for this reason his sudden attack had
momentarily paralyzed her. She shed tears of bitter shame
when Mr. von Waldo's face rose before her mind, not with
the gentle expression of the last hour, but in all its former
harshness and coldness. She thought she could never again
look into his gentle eyes, because that repulsive man had
touched her. All her happiness lay now crushed at her
feet. This unfortunate meeting with Hollfeld had in an
GOLD ELSIE.
nasparmg manner brought her back to the present; his re-
marks about Mr. von Walde, although low and slanderous,
had awakened many things that she had once used as a
helm against her growing passion. She thought of his re-
sistless pride in his ancestrjr, of his unselfish love for his
sister, and of the general opinion that his heart was abso-
lutely indifferent to the other sex. All the joyous, happy
dreams she had had while coming through the quiet forest
now folded their wings, and lay down to die before the try-
ing glance of this awakened eye. She could not now tell
in what that happiness had consisted. The fact that he
had to-day used toward her a strangely gentle voice, and
had magnanimously protected her against the pride of his
relatives, might not all this have arisen from a very strict
sense of justice and right? Had he not protected Miss Mor-
tens, and generously attempted to compensate her for an
act of injustice that had been inflicted upon her under his
roof? And that congratulation about it and what its end
would be, she, of course, dared not think, unless all the
ghosts of her dream were to celebrate a joyful resurrection.
As she entered the door of the f orester^s house Sabina
met her with a face pale from anxiety. She pointed silent-
ly to the door of the forester's chamber, and one could hear
him, as he walked to and fro, speaking in loud and excited
tones.
"Alas! alasr* whispered Sabina; "terrible times are
going oh in there. Bertha has for the past few weeks
cleverly avoided the forester; just now, however, she was
standing here in the hall, and did not notice that the fores-
ter had entered at the back door. That was his chance.
He didn't stand on ceremony, so walked up behind her,
took her by the hand, and led her into his chamber. She
looked as white as a sheet from fright, but all her pulling
and tugging was in vain, and she had to go along. My
soul and body! I would hate to have to give an account to
the forester!''
A loud sobbing, that sounded almost like the cry of one
choking, interrupted Sabina's whispering,
" Quite right!" the forester was heard to say, in a voice
that was now much gentler, " that is at least a sign that
you are not altogether hardened and ruined. And now
speak out. Eemember that I am here in the place of your
noble parents. If you have some great grief, then come
GOLD ELSIS 20B
out wiih it bravely; if it lias come moxi you without your
fault, then you may be certain thai i viU be kind and for-
giving to you. '*
Again the sound of gentle weeping' was heard.
" Can't you speakr' asked the &M?8ster, after a short
pause. ** I know perfectly weU that yoa are suffering from
no physical infirmity that prevents ycyu from using your
tongue, for you can talk well enough when you think no one
can hear you; it is, then, a moral compulsion to which you
involuntarily subject yourself; it may be perhaps some
vow?''
A silent motion of the head must now have answered his
question in the affirmative, for he continued, in a more ex-
cited tone of voice:
" Insane idea! Do you think that you are pleasing our
heavenly Father by treading under foot His gracious gift
of speech? And do you intend to keep silence all your
life.'* You do not, then? You propose to speak again,
even if that is not accomplished which you expect to ac-
complish by your vow? All right, then; I can't compel
you to speak; bear alone, then, that which oppresses you
and mates you unhappy ^for that you are unhappy is
plainly written in your face. But I tell you, child, you will
have in me an inexorable judge, if it shall ever be made
plain that you have done anything that can not stand the
light of day nor be mentioned in the hearing of honest
people, for, from the very beginning, in your immeasurable
pride, you have rejected all well-meant advice and all good
instruction, and have made it impossible for me to protect
you and assist you as I ought to have done, and as I wanted
to do, as the representative of your parents. I will make
a few more attempts with you, but as soon as I catch you
again leaving the house at night, you may pack your trunk.
One thing more to-morrow I shall send for the doctor and
request him to tell me what is the matter with you, for in
the last few weeks you have become totally changed. Now
gor
The door opened, and Bertha staggered out. She did
not observe Sabina and Elizabeth, and, as she heard the
door close heavily behind her, she extended her arms
toward heaven and wrung her hands in speechless despair,
and then rushed down the steps as though she were pursued
by the Furies.
204 GOLD ELSIE.
'^ She has some load upon her conscience; there is no
telling' what ifc is/' said Sabina, shaking her head. Eliza-
beth, nowever, went into her uncle's room. He was lean-
ing against the window, drumming upon the window-panes
with his fingers, a peculiarity he indulged in whenever he
was agitated. He looked very sullen, but as soon as he saw
Elizabeth a bright smile came over his face.
" Fm glad you have come. Gold Elsie!'' he exclaimed.
" I am bound to see a clear, pure face. The black eyes of
that girl that has jusfc gone oufe are frightful to me. Well,
I have taken up my family affliction, to bear it yet a little
while. I can't stand seeing even such a creature as she
weep, even if I know a thousand times that I am simply
being duped by this show of contrition."
EHzabeth was heartily glad that the much-feared meeting
between her uncle and Bertha had passed off so well. She
made haste to draw his thoughts away from the unhappy
girl by telling him what had occurred at the villa, and,
although in a hasty and cursory manner, of the departure
of Mr. von Walde. She told him likewise of Linke's hor-
rible end, a piece of news that did not surprise him very
much, for he had anticipated some such result.
He accompanied the young girl as far as the upper gar-
den gate.
" Be careful, and don't ring too loud at the gate," he
said as he took leave of her, *'your mamma has had an
attack of nervous headache to-day, and is confined to her
bed. I was up there just now."
Elizabeth in terror hastened up the hill. She did not
have to ring; Miss Mortens had come out to the glade with
Ernest to meet her, and at once quieted her fears. The
attack was over, and her mother was enjoying a refreshing
slumber when Elizabeth stepped up to the bed. It was
already growing quite dark, and the deepest quiet reigned
in the house. The clocks had been stopped, the whisper of
the leaves died away at the closed windows, not even the
humming of a saucy fly was to be heard, for Mr. Ferber
had inexorably removed everything that could possibly dis-
turb the rest of the patient.
Had Mrs. Perber now been sitting in the niche of the
chamber-window in her easy-chair, between the protecting
curtain and the green coppice before the window, upon
which the evening sky, ever growing darker, looked silently
GOLD ELSIE. 305
down, then to-day tbe familiar corner would have been
turned into a confessional; Elizabeth, kneeling at her
motber^s feet, would have laid her head upon her lap and
disclosed to her maternal eye her overflowing heart. jN"ow,
however, that sweet secret was again imprisoned within the
innermost shrine of her soul; and who can tell whether she
will ever find courage to tell what must inevitably under
the circumstances frighten her mother, and cause her great
anxiety about her child.
CHAPTEE XVI.
THE FEEBEBS FIND THE CLEW TO THEIB ANCESTBT.
The ruins of Nordeck must have listened in blank
astonishment at the strange sounds that, since the early
dawn, with only short interruptions, had been heard among
its tottering walls. It sounded so entirely different from
the noise made by the floods of rain in their work of de-
struction, or by the sliding masses of snow as they melted
under the warm rays of the spring sun. Then the water
would gently carve out little trenches within the walls, and
raise, first, one block of granite and then another, out of
its place, without its knowing it; it would look for still a
short time down into the world, proud and threatening,
and then its fall would take place as noiselessly as the fall
of a royal favorite, or of a displeasing ministry. Then, at
night a stormy wind would come howling upon it and a
fearful crash would be heard, and the rays of the morning
sun would penetrate recesses which until then they had
never touched. There would then lie down below on the
stone pavement a mighty piece of masonry, and all day
lonff, at every little breeze or the touch of a bird^s v/ing,
broken pieces of mortar or little streams of sand would rip-
ple down out of the wound; but in a short time little green
blades of grass would spring forth out of the fissures,
and then many years would again elapse before the insidi-
ous gnawing of the water beneath this green covering would
prepare another victim for the storms and winds. That
was a slow, imperceptible death the ruins could console
themselves, like one who suffers from an incurable disease,
in spite of which he may often reach an extreme old age.
To-iaay, however, it was the hand of man that was carrying
206 OOLD ELSHfi.
on the work of destruction. With incredible rapidity they
were removing stone after stone.
The balcony that so boldly extended its foot and which
had for centuries stood an immovable guard before the
wing, now had a lamentable appearance. Quite a lar^e
portion of its height had already been sacrificed, and its
robe of ivy had been torn to shreds; now dark window
apertures and green-covered masonry made its appearance,
the stone decorations of which, though now indeed broken
and mutilated, must once have been beautiful and artistic.
The workmen were very industrious. It was of interest
to them, even, although so dangerous a task, to be able to
peer down into the dark angles and corners of the old nest,
which the superstition of the country folk peopled with
numerous ghosts and terrifying apparitions.
In the afternoon Mrs. Ferber was sitting with Elizabeth
and Miss Mertens on the green embankment when Eein-
hard, who always came at a certain hour in the afternoon,
interrupted their conversation. He told them that Miss
von Walde, through the imprudence of one of the servants,
had learned of the attempt on ner brother's life. With
some bitterness the speaker added that Mr. von Waldo's
anxiety lest the fright might have a deleterious effect upon
his sister^s nerves, was quite unnecessary, for the young
girl had received the news with great indifference; even the
accident that Mr. von Hartwig had met with, whose wife
was a friend of hers, had not affected her as one would have
thought it must.
" But, if her fair-haired prot6g6 had lost his life, you
may be sure she would have pulled her beautiful chestnut-
brown locks out one by one. This Mr. von HoUfeld is to
me simply insufferable. To-day he is roaming around the
house with an expression on his face as if he would like to
Eoison the whole world. I'U bet that this rose-colored
umor is the sole cause of Miss von Walde's countenance
being so stained with tears. She tried to avoid meeting ma
in the garden just now.''
Elizabeth sunk her head deeper into her work at the
mention of this disgusting name. The blood rushed to her
face at the thought of Hollfeld's impudence of the day be-
fore, about which, however, she had not yet told her
mother one word, for fear slie might have a relapse from
it. It may be, too, that this v/as not the sole ground; at
tJOLD BLSIfi. aOff
leasts she avoided discassing the incontroyertible fact^ of
which she really had great fear, that her parents might
forbid her farther visits to the villa on account of HolKeld's
rudeness, and then she would be deprived of her only hope
of seeing Mr. von Walde again. In the meantime the roll-
ing and crashing of the workmen on the balcony kept up
incessantly. A few moments later Mr. Perber entered the
garden. He had been over to the f orester^s house, and was
now returning with the forester to take coffee at Nordeck.
Ernest ran to meet them. The little fellow, although he
strictly respected the line beyond which his father had, for
safety s sake, told him not to venture, had stood up to that
time in the main path and watched with the greatest inter-
est and without interruption the removal of the balcony.
" Papal papa!^' he cried, " the workman wants to speak
to yon; you must come up there, he says, he has seen some-
thing.*'
In fact, one of the workmen was beckoning to the two
gentlemen with all his might to come up to the ruins.
** We have come to a chamber, or whatever you may call
it,' ^ cried out the workman; **and if my eyes do not de-
ceive me, there is a coffin in it. Will you not bo kind
enough to come and see what it is, before we continue our
work? You need not be afraid to come up here; we are
now standing on a very secure ledge. ''
Reinhard had heard the workman, and came running
down the terrace steps a room with a coffin in it sounded
almost intoxicating to his weakness for investigating
antiquities.
Tne three men carefully climbed up the ladder.
The workmen were standing just vmere the balcony pro-
jected forth from the main building, and pointed, as the
gentlemen arrived, to quite a large opening at their feet.
This was the first closed space that they had hit upon. A
part of the roof of the mam building was wanting. Stand-
mg on the balcony, one could see in all directions through
a labyrinth of open rooms^ half-ruined passages, and
through broad cracks in the floor down into the chapel.
The balcony itself did not look half so weird on the inside
as it did from the outside; the blue sky could be seen in all
directions, and the fresh air could sweep through as much
as it pleased. And now there suddenly appeared below a
ipaoe, surrounded by apparently solid walls^ and protected
208 GOLD ELSIE.
by quite a well-preserved ceiling. As far as one could
judge by looking down from above, this room seemed to be
inserted like a wedge between the chapel and the room be-
low the balcony. At any rate, in the extreme angle
formed by the walls, in which the corner of the balcony
and the main building terminated, there must be a window,
for from that direction somber rays of light entered through
the colored glass, and fell upon the object, which was only
partially visible, and which the workmen thought was a
coffin.
They forthwith let down a long ladder, for the room was
very high, and in the intense expectation of suspense, they
descended one after another.
The first object that met the eye in descending was the
old wainscoting, black with age. The eye was astonished
at the wonderful flourishes that had been executed by the
hand of the wood-carver. On the ceiling there was a
wooden border of much later date, and quite inartistic, to
which were attached long black curtains of cloth, that hung
down in folds; the other half of the funereal drapery lay
upon the floor, a moldering, shapeless mass. There was no
doubt that from the beginning this room was intended as a
place of concealment, for not the slightest respect had been
paid to the shape of it. An irregular triangle, in one
somewhat obtuse angle of which the supposed window was
found, was so closely built upon the chapel that Eeinhard^s
supposition that the place had once served as a store-room
for the costly treasures of the chapel in remote Catholic
times, assumed the force of extreme probability, and espe-
cially as several much-worn steps led to a bricked-up door
in the chapel wall. The window lay behind the old holly-
tree, that just here pressed heavily against it with its thick
branches; some ivy vines also wve a fine web over the win- "
dow-panes, but in spite of this the rays of the sun stole
through the elegant and gorgeously colored glass rosettes,
which also showed no sign of the surrounding destruction.
It was, indeed, a coffin, a small, narrow metal-casket,
which, contrasting strongly with the black yel vet drapery of
the pedestal upon which it rested, stood in the middle of
the room, lonely and forgotten. At the head stood a heavy
candelabrum, upon the arms of which remains of wax
candles were still visible; at the foot stood a foot-stool; a
mandolin lay thereon, the strings of which, rent asunder,
OOLD ELSIB. 209
hung down at its sides. It had been an old instrument^
even in the life-time of its last owner, for the black finger-
board showed many bright spots, worn so by use, and the
sounding-board was somewhat bent in where the performer
was wont to rest her little finger. The last atoms of flowers
were dispersed upon the approach of the strangers, and on
the lid of the casket was written in letters of gold,
** Lila."
Near by the lattice, and at the sanie time the longest
wall, stood a large black wardrobe made of oak, used, as
Keinhard suggested, to keep the vestments employed in
celebrating mass. He opened the doors of the wardrobe,
which were merely shut to, and, in consequence of the dis-
turbance, little clouds of dust arose from the folds of nu-
merous dresses that were hanging therein. It was the most
fantastic collection of dresses; variegated in color and of an
almost coquettish cut, these masquerade costumes con-
trasted strangely with their solemn surroundings.
It must have been an extraordinarily small and tender
creature that wore these dresses, for the silk jackets, for
the most part embroidered with gold, were small enough
for a child, and the shape of the bodices, made of purple or
violet-blue velvet, with bows of silk ribbons and waistcoats
of gold cloth, showed that their owner must have had a
wonderfully graceful and well-proportioned figure. Many,
many years must have passed since the sound of a human
voice had been heard in mis secret place, or since hands, in
which warm blood was coursing, had touched these obiects.
The hooks in the wardrobe had gradually worn through the
rotten materials, and the threads, which had once held beads
and gold spangles fast, now hung down in shreds.
Against one of the side walls leaned a little table with a
marble top. It seemed scarcely able to stand upon its aged
feet, and stood in such an oblique position that a box rest-
ing upon it seemed to be in momentary danger of falling.
This Dox was a veritable masterpiece of inlaid work in
metal and ivory. The lid did not appear to be locked, but
merely lightly closed, for the purpose of protecting a sheet
of paper, which projected from the box, and had apparent-
ly with great care been arranged in this position for the
purpose of attracting attention. It was black with age,
and, like everything else, covered with dust, but the large,
tiff, black letters were visible beneath, as if indestructible,
210 GOLD ELSIE.
and the Jiame '^ Jost yon Greswit ^^ stood out in bold re*
lief.
^^ Bless my sonl^ what on earth is that I' ^ exclaimed the
forester, so surprised he could hardly speak. " Jost von
Greswit? that's the name of the hero in Sabina's story
about the ancestors of the Greswits.'^
Ferber approached and raised the lid. On velvet cushions
lay costly ornaments of antique style, bracelets, pins, a gold
chain, and several strings of real pearls. The paper fell
on the floor, and Beinhard picked it up, and asked per-
mission to read it aloud; it was even for that time two
centuries before very incorrectly written and badly spelled;
the composer had doubtless known much better now to
wield a sword than a pen. Still there breathed through
the lines a poetical spirit. They read as follows:
*' Whoever thou mayst be that treadest this sacred spot,
by all that to thee is holy, by all that thou lovest, or that
moves thy heart, disturb not its peace! She lies there,
slumbering like a child. That sweet face, beneath those
dark locks, smiles again, though Death's cruel hand has
touched it!
*' Again, whoever thou art, whether prince or beggar,
whether thou hast a claim upon the dead or not, let mine
eye be the last that i-ests upon her.
" I could not lay her beneath the cold, heartless earth
here the golden rays of light can play around her, and with-
out, the little bird perches upon the tree; upon its wings
still rests the breath of the forest, and from its little throat
issue forth the songs that were her lullaby. Golden rays
sunk also into the forest thicket, and the birds in the
branches above were singing their merry songs, when this
slender deer parted the bushes, and in terror fixed her shy
eyes upon the young huntsman, who was resting beneath
the bushes. Suddenly his heart was greatly stirred, he
threw his gun away, and restlessly pursued this maiden
form, that ever fled before him. She, the child of the
forest, a daughter of those hordes which a curse drives
abroad over the face of the earth, that ne'er have a horn
nor a foot of earth beneath their feet they may call their
fatherland, and upon which they may lay their dying heads,
she conquered the heart of that wild youth. Begging for
ber lovej he wandered day and night around the tents of
GOLD ELsne. 311
her tribe^ pursued her steps like a dog, and^ raving from
passion, clung to her knees, till she, moved with pity, con-
sented to forsake her own, and follow him home,
" In the stillness of the night he carried her up to hiM
castle alas and became her murderer. He attended not
to her tears and prayers, when suddenly an irresistible
longing for the freedom of her native forests seized her;
like as an imprisoned bird flutters about in its cage, and
strikes its tender head against the wires, so she wandered
about within these walls in the sorrow of despair, these
walls, that once had resounded with her enchanting voice,
and the wonderful notes of her mandolin, and now echoed
only with her sighs and lamentations.
" He saw her cheeks grow pale, saw how her eyes turned
away from him with a look of hate; his heart suffered ten
thousand deaths when she repelled him from her and
shuddered at his touch; he grew desperate, but barred the
castle gates ever tighter and tighter, and watched them
with a deathTlike anxiety; for he well knew that she was
lost to him if once again her feet should gain the forest in
their wild flight. Then at length a time came when she
grew more calm; she would, indeed, glide by him as if she
were a shadow, a spirit; she would not raise a murmur
when he approached her, and spoke to her in beseeching,
consoling tones; for a long time she had not spoken a word
to him, and now, too, no sound escaped her lips, but she
had ceased to beat upon the windows, and so smite her
tender bosom till it was black and blue, crying in piteous
tones for those who were wandering around in the freedom
of the forest without these walls; she raced no more, like
one pursued, through the halls and passages, nor clambered
upon the walls, to bury her beautiful body in the turbid
water of the moat. Beneath the oak near the balcony she
would patiently sit with her lily-white face, and stare fixed-
ly into space; she knew that she was soon to become a
mother. And when night came on, he would take her in
his arms, and carry her upstairs; she suffered it, but would
turn her face away from him, that his breath might not
even touch her, nor a glance of his eye fall upon her.
" One day the pastor from Lindhof knocked at the castle
gate. The rumor was abroad among the people that his
godchild, Jost von Greswit, was having intercourse with
the devil, and he was come to save him. He was admitted.
313 GOLD ELSIE.
and found that lovely creature, for whose sake the Mrfld
hoQtsman had given up the joyous life of the forest, and
had forgotten the blue sky. Her loveliness and purity
touched him deeply; he spoke to her in a tender voice, and
her heart, overflowing with sorrow, opened itself to him.
For the sake of her cMd she allowed herself to be baptized,
and suffered that unholy alliance to be made holy by priest-
ly hands. When her hour of travail was over, she pressed
her Ups with diflOiculty upon the forehead of her babe, and
her soul took its flight; at last she was free, free! and even
from the soulless body, the radiance of this triumph beams
forth still. The unhappy man saw her beautiful eyes grow
dim in death; in the pam of remorse and despair he threw
himself at her feet, and implored hfer in tears to give him
one last look of love.
" The boy was baptized in his father's name in my
name I shuddered when I looked into his eyes ^he had
my eyes ^he and I had murdered her. My old servant,
Simon, carried the little one away; I can not live for him.
Simon says, and the pastor agrees, that no woman will con-
sent to give suck to my chud, because in the eyes of the
people I am a lost man, a son of hell. The wife of my
chief forester, Perber, now nurses the poor little child,
without knowing whose child it is '*
The reader stopped and stared over the paper he held in
his hand in blauK amazement. The forester, who tUl then
had been leaning against the wall listening attentively, sud-
denly sprung to his side, and seized his arm convulsively.
His brown face had become pale, as if some powerful in-
ternal shock had for a moment made his pulse stand still.
Mr. Ferber had also, with all the signs of the deepest emo-
tion, approached nearer. " Go on, go on!'' at length the
forester exclaimed, in an almost choking voice.
" Simon laid him near the threshold of the forest,' '
Reiahard continued to read, *^ and saw to-day that Ferber's
wife nursed and cherished it, as she did her own Httle girl.
" According to the laws of my family he can have no
claim to the inheritance of the Von Greswits, but my
maternal portion will protect him from want. In the city
hall at L are recorded my papers, in which I confirm
him in the right to this portion, and acknowledge him a-s my
QOIiD ELSIE. ;S13
cliild and heir. May he, as Hans von Greswit, found a
new race. May the Almighty provide pitying hearts to
protect his youth! I can not.
" All that has adorned that lovely body in these days of
our happiness shall surround her in death, and with her
decay. To these treasures her child has the right, but my
soul is stirred within me, when I think that what has
touched her radiant brow, her pure and spotless neck, will
be profaned and torn asunder by faithless hands; sooner
ehau they lose their luster and perish here.
" Again I turn to thee, that chance may bring, perhaps
after the lapse of centuries, into this holy place. I charge
thee: honor the dead and pray for me!
" JosT Yoi^ Greswit.'*
The brothers in silence extended their hands to each
other and approached the casket. In their veins flowed
the blood of this wonderful being, who had once inflamed
that groud, wild huntsman into a passion of love; the blood
of this woman, whose burning soul, pining for freedom,
had escaped from her deified Dody with a cry of triumph,
which now lay there, a mere heap of dust within a casket
of metal. There stood those two strong figures, the de-
scendants of him who, with the consecrated kiss of his
dying mother still warm upon his brow, was carried forth
into the forest and laid at the humble door of a servant,
while his high and noble-born father sunk down in despair
to die.
" She was the mother of our family,'' said Ferber, deep-
ly moved, to Reinhard. " We are the descendants of that
foundling, whose origin has remained an enigma until this
hour; for the papers, which were to restore the child to
his rights, were destroyed by the fire in the city hall, with-
out being perused. We must stop the work for a few
days,'' he said, turning to a workman, who, with pardona-
ble curiosity, had descended h^lf-way down the ladder, and,
from this exalted position, had, in speechless surprise, list-
ened to the explanation of a story that still played a
prominent part among the spinsters in Lindhof.
** To-morrow you must prepare a grave in the grave-
yard in Lindhof for this coffin," called out the forester.
*' I will speak to the pastor about it at once. "
He once more approached the v'ardrobe and examined
31/L GOLD EIIE.
tLd dresses which had once covered the slender limbs of th^
gTpgj maidy and had evidently been caref ally arranged, as
tuc enraptured eye of the loTer had been wont to see them
oa the beantif al lala. In the bottom of the wardrobe stood
her shoes. The forester took up a pair they just covered
his broad hand they must have been veritable Cinderella
feet that could get into these.
" I am going to take these to Gold Elsie/' he said, smil-
ing, and caught the little shoes between his thumb and first
finger. " She wiH be very much surprised to see that her
ancestress was such a Lillipatian.^'
Mr. Ferber had in the meantime taken up the mandolin,
and, after wiping off the dust carefully, had stuck it under
his arm, while Beinhard shut the jewel-casket, and raised
it from the table by its beautiful ornamented handle at-
tached to the lid. The three men then ascended the lad-
der. They collected all the planks they could find as a
temporary protection for the opening in the ceiling against
wind and rain, and then they started for the house.
The ladies, who in the meantime had been waiting in
great suspense at the foot of the balcony, were not a little
astonished at the strange procession that moved down the
ladder. They did not learn one word of aU that had hap-
Sined until they had again arrived under the lindens,
ere Beinhard placed the casket on the table, described
accurately the hidden chamber and its contents, and
finally drew the mysterious paper from his pocket, and
again read it aloud, this time, however, far more fluently.
Breathless and in silence the ladies listened to the out-
bursts of that wild^ passionate heart. Elizabeth sat, pale
and motionless, until Beinhard reached the part that cast
such a dazzling light upon the dark past of her family, and
then she sprung up suddenly and cast a look of ineffable
surprise upon the smiling countenance of her uncle, who
had been watching her movements in anxious expectancy.
Mrs. Ferber likewise remained, as it were, stupefied for a
short time after Beinhard had completed the reading of the
Eaper. This romantic solution of a family mystery that
ad remained an enigma for so many centuries, was to her
quiet and emotionless mind at first incomprehensible.
Miss Mertens, on the other hand, to whom Mr. Ferber had
to explain the comprehensiveness of the discovery^ as she
GOLD ELSIE. 215
had never heard the story of the foundling, raised her handa
in amazement at the wonderful dispensation of Providence.
"And have you then really, on the strength of this
paper, claims upon the inheritance?*' she inquired, eagerly,
** Without any doubt,'' replied Mr. Ferber, *'but how
are we to know in what that maternal iportion consisted?
The family has died out, and the name of Von Greswit has
completely disappeared. Everything has passed into the
hands of strangers; who can tell upon what and against
whom we can prosecute our claims?
" No, we shall take no steps in that direction," said the
forester; " such matters cost money, and, it may be, that
after the matter has been decided, our fortune will consist
in the sum of a few dollars. No, we must let that pass!
We haven't starved yet, have we?"
Elizabeth dreamily took up the little shoes that her uncle
had placed before her. The faded and torn silk material
still snowed the graceful form of the foot. They had been
much used, but apparently not to walk about the forest in,
for the soles were clean those fleet little feet must have
been incased in these shoes at that time when she ** raced
through the halls and passages hke one pursued, smiting
her tender breast, till it was black and blue."
" Look, Elsie, now we know where you got that slender
waist of yours, and those feet that speed away over the
tender grass without bruising or bending it," said her un-
cle. " You are just such a forest butterfly as your an-
cestress; and you, too, would beat your forehead against
the walls if one were to imprison you. You have got gypsy
blood in your veins, even though you were ten times over
little Gold Elsie, and have a skin as white as snow. Just
Sut on these shoes once, and you will see that you can
ance.
9}
He handed her the shoes.
" Oh, no, uncle!" she said, objecting. " Those things
are to me sacred relics. I could never treat them in that
manner without being afraid that the angry black eyes of
Jost would rise up before me."
Mrs, Ferber and Miss Mortens were of the same opinion,
and the former declared that the wardrobe with its contents
ought to be moved with the greatest care into some dry,
quiet place, where it might remain undisturbed, as a family
1816 GOLD ELSIE.
relic^ until its fate, the fate of perishing from old agei
should be fulfilled.
" Well, in that point I shall make no opposition to the
feeling that is prompted by respect for your ancestors/*
said Keinhard, but I think differently about these ob-
jects/'
He opened the jewel-case. The ray of sunlight that shot
into the casket was reflected back in manifold sparkles and
dazzled their eyes. Beinhard took out a necklace; it was
yery heavy and of wonderful workmanship.
" These are diamonds of the purest water/' he explained
to them the necklace was set with the most costly stones
~" and these rubies must have sparkled beautifully from
among the dark locks of the pretty gypsy maid/' he con-
tinued, picking up two pins irom the velvet cushion, the
heads of which were flowers made of red stones. Out of
the cups fell pretty little chains, each link of which con-
tained a little ruby, giving it the appearance of a rainbow.
Elizabeth smiled and held a magnificent clasp up to her
brow.
** You are of the opinion, then, Mr. Beinhard," she
said, " that we must in respect to these lay aside respect
for ancestors, and, without any hesitancy whatever, adorn
ourselves with these treasures? What will my white muU
dress say when I propose to it some day to appear in such
fine society."
" The jewels are extremely becoming to you/' replied
Beinhard, with a smile, " but for a mull dress a bouquet
of flowers would please me better; and, therefore, I advise
you to convert these jewels into jingling coin."
Ferber nodded assent.
" What, Beinhard," said Miss Mortens, *' you advise
them to sell these family mementoes?"
" Yes, of course," he said. ** It would be a sin and a
hame to allow such an amount of capital to remain unpro-
ductive. The stones alone are worth about seven thousand
dollars; then there are the pearls besides and the gold to be
added, and that makes quite a pretty little sum. '
" Bless my soull" exclaimed the forester, surprised, " we
mustn't have any trifling. Of course, sell them. Away
with theml Look, Adolph," he continued in a milder
tone of voice, throwing his arm around his brother, *''and
has not Providence dealt kindly with you? Did I not t^
GOLD ELSIE, 317
rou that you would fare better in Thuringia, although I
nad no idea then that a sum of eight thousand dollars
would so suddenly fall to your lot?^'
**Mylot alone?*' exclaimed Mr. Perber, "Have you
not first of all claim to the treasures^ being the eldest of
the family?'*
" Nothing of the kind. What on earth could I do with
the mammon? I suppose you expect me in my old age to
commence investing capital! Not much. I have no chil-
dren, no one dependent upon me; draw a handsome salary,
and, when my old bones give way, I shall have a pension
that I can not possibly consume, even, if I try my best. I
renounce, therefore, my rights ot primogeniture, and, of
course, in favor of that girl with the golden locks, and of
the future head of our family, that little rascal, Ernest. I
don't even want a mess of porridge for mjr birthright, be-
cause Sabina says it doesn't taste well with venison pie.
Keep off of my neck!" he exclaimed, in a droll manner,
puttmg his hands behind him, as Mrs. Ferber, with tears
of gratitude in her eyes, extended her hand to him, and his
brother, deeply touched, was about to make further pro-
tests. '* You would do much better, sister, to attend to
making the coffee. It is a crying shame! already four
o'clock, and still not a drop of that nice beverage, for the
sake of which alone I crawled up the mountain.'
He gained his end and escaped all outbursts of gratitude;
for Mrs. Perber, accompanied by Elizabeth, hastened into
the house, and the rest all burst out laaghing.
Soon they were all collected around the fragrant beverage
on the terrace. ** Yes, indeed," said the forester, as he
leaned back in his chair the picture of contentment, *f I
had no idea this morning, when I awoke, that I would re-
tire to-night as Mr. von Greswit. Well, I can not get rid
of the * forester.' Can that little brown piece of paper in
a few moments make me clever at doing what thirty long
years of service have not been able to dor Shall I be able
to make a court bow when his highness returns, and I in-
troduce myself under my new name. Bless my soul, what
eyes they will make at the villa; they will tear their hair
out by the roots."
He cast a queer side glance at Elizabeth, but took, at the
same moment, several mighty puffs from his pipe, and hid
bis face in a cloud of smoke.
218 GOLD EL8IE.
"Uncle!*' exclaimed the young girl, "say what yon
please, but I know you do not intend to piece togeOier
again the broken coat of arms of the Von Greswits. *'
** I can^t see why not; it is a very pretty coat of arms,
with bars aud stars *'
" And with a wheel full of spots of blood,'' said Eliza-
beth, interrupting him. " God protect us from doing what
those do who uncover the sins of their ancestors to prove
to how old a race they belong, and who thereby make
nobility ignoble. A greater piece of nonsense can not be
found in the whole world! It seems to me that the shades
of all those whom this proud and merciless family tor-
mented and persecuted through life would rise up and pro-
te^, if that name, under cover of which every conceivable
kind of wickedness was perpetrated, were to be resurrected.
When I contrast the two fathers, that natural one, who in
a cowardly manner gave up his life, not once reflecting that
his poor child had the most sacred claims upon him, and
that poor servant, who mercifully received the poor, help-
less, deserted child to his heart, and bestowed upon it his
own honorable name, then I know which of the two was
noble, and which of the two names deserves to survive.
And how much sorrow has that haughty family inflicted
upon my poor mother. "
" Yes, indeed; too true!'' said Mrs. Ferber, with a sigh.
" In the first place, I owe to it a stormy, joyless childhood,
and then my mother was a beautiful, charming woman,
but not of noble rank, whom my father married against the
will of his family. This so-called mesalliance was the
source of endless insults and sorrows to my poor mother.
My father was not strong enough in will to sever his inter-
course with that proud branch of our family to which he
belonged and live wholly for his wife. By reason of this
weakness, numerous difficulties arose between my parents,
which they could not altogether conceal from me. And
then she gave her hand to her husband. What tribulations
have we not had to pass through! I haven't the slightest
desire to re-enter that caste, which, for the sake of external
show and form, so often crushes beneath its feet unmerci-
fully all true human feeling."
" And you shall not, Mary," said Mr. Ferber, in consol-
g tones, as he gently pressed her hand. He threw a sly
GOLD ELSIE. S19
glance at his brother, who continued to emit great clouds
of smoke, and in vain attempted to frown.
"Alas! my bright prospects are fading away/^ he at
length sighed, in comical grief. " Elsie, you are cruel and
silly. You do not consider what a grand life I could pre*
pare for you, when I am master of all the foresters, and you
are addressed as ^ gracious miss.' Has all that no attrac-
tion for you?*'
Elizabeth laughed, but shook her head most energetically.
" And who can tell,'' said Miss Mortens, " some fine
day, before we know it, some noble knight of spotless fame
will knock at the gate of Nordeck and carry on our pretty
Gold Elsie to be his bride.''
" And do you think I would go with him!'' exclaimed
Elizabeth quickly, and her cheeks became suddenly crim-
son.
" Yes; why not, if you loved him?"
** Never, never!" she replied, in a voice almost choking.
** Never, even if I loved him. I would then be all the
more unhappy at the thought that the glory of my name
weighed heavier in the scale than my heart, that in the
eyes of that man all striving for what is intellectually or
morally great sank into msignificance before a mere
shadow, which the laws of men clothe with a deceptive
glory and dignity!"
Mrs. Eerber looked at her daughter in blank amazement,
for in her face were visible every sign of the deepest mental
agitation. The forester, however, clinched his pipe be-
tween his teeth and clapped his brawny hands.
** Elsie, brave child!' he cried; '* come, give me your
hand; you are a fearless little champion through and
through. Yes, I say so, too! God forbid that. I should
swell the ranks of those who, for the sake of private gain,
would give up an honorable name. Very well, Adolph,
we will not cast reproach upon the pecords of that little
village church in Silesia where we were baptized; we will
continue to unite our name forever, as it is registered in
that little church. "
** And as, for the half of a long century, it has accom-
panied us through joy and through sorrow," added Mr.
f'erber, with a gentle smile. "/This document I shall pre-
serve for this little one here," he laid his hand on Ernest's
head, " the future head of our family, until he has a
220 GOLD ELSIE.
mature opinion of his own. I can not and ought not to de
cide for mm, but I shall trj to teach him to prefer to work
out his own lifers course by his own strength rather than
lazily resting uj^on the couch of old tradition and acts of
injustice, to enjoy privileges that should properly crown
noble efforts alone. The Greswits have during the long
life of the name given the world nothing, but have re-
ceived, rather, a great deal from it Let them decay in
their graves, and with them their undeservedly famous
namer'
" Amen!" said the forester, as he cleaned his pipe. He
arose. '* Let us go now and talk with the pastor. The
spot under the pretty lindens in the village grave-yard
pleases me a thousand times better than those murky walls
up there, within which our ancestress has had to rest long
years. And, in order that the ' cold, heartless earth ' may
not touch her coflBn, we will have the grave walled up and
closed with a stone. ''
He started off, accompanied by his brother and Bein-
hard, and while Mrs. Ferber and Miss Mertens put the
jewel-box safely away, Elizabeth ascended the ladder, re-
moved the planks and climbed down into the concealed
chamber. A ray of the evening sun entered through the
ruby-red pane of glass, and cast a weird light upon the
name, " Lila. ** The young girl stood a long time, with
her arms folded and her head sunk upon her bosom, gazing
upon the lonesome casket in which that warm heart had
been sleeping since the moment that her grief had ended in
the stillness of death. Centuries had passed away; they
had obliterated all the irresistible enchantment of that short
existence, the stormy feelings through which it entered the
gates of death, as though they had never existed; and yet
that young heart that was beating so sorrowfully, so un-
easily in the midst of this chamber of death, felt as though
its own storms and tempests could never cease.
OHAPTEE XVn.
IN" WHICH HELEN AND HOLLFELD HAVE A VEBY SEEI0U8
CONVERSATION.
The rumor of the events that had transpired at Nordeck
had reached the castle long before Heinhard had returned
home.
GOLD ELSI^ 681
The workmen on their way home had narrated the woo-
derf ul story to one of the servants, and with the speed of
lightning passing from mouth to mouth, it soon reached the
ears of the ladies, upon whom it had had the effect almost
of an explosion.
It had always been one of the favorite themes of the
baroness to prove the infallibility of blue blood. She
claimed that she could, by means of her very refined and
sensitive organization, detect at once the presence of this
favored vital principle, to perceive it in people whose names
she did not even know. It was, consequently, very natural
that she could by means of ter sharp-sightedness detect each
drop of noble blood in plebeian veins. On this ground she
haa always willingly conceded that little Miss Ferber had
something distinguished-looking in her appearance, the un
deniable inheritance of her mother, who was of noble ex-
traction.
As regards the forester, that infallible voice had main-
tained such an absolute silence that she never dreamed of
recognizing his salutation by anything more than a nod of
the head, which she reserved usually for the humblest
people. Aye, in her noble rage that this coarse man, this
impious man had forbidden his niece. Bertha, to attend
Sunday-school at the villa any longer, she had often gone
so far as to say one could see his ignoble descent at a dis-
tance of a hundred paces. And that he should now be the
one of all others to bring her iufallible judgment to shamel
He was the descendant of a famous race, the bearer of a
name around which hovered the halo of feudal glory back
into the most remote times. Of course she found great
consolation in the reflection that this noble blood hsd for
two centuries been so infused with common blood by civil
marriages that it had become indistinguishable. She spoke
of this in a very excited manner to Miss von Walde, who
was lying upon her lounge, observing the agitation of the
baroness with a gentle but scornful smile. Whether it was
due to a personal interest in the Ferber family or to the
unprejudiced nature of her mind would be difficult to say,
but at any rate she raised up and said to the baroness, in a
tone not altogether devoid of sharpness: " Pardon, Amalie,
but you make a slight error. I am perfectly certain that
the wife of Mr. Perber is not the only lady of noble blood
that has married into the Ferber family. They have
222 GOLD ELSIE.
always been a refined and intellectual family, whose
personal attractions have several times carried off the vic-
tory over the prejudices of birth. It is quite possible that
as many marriages with burghers might be counted on the
familv-tree of the noble Lessens as have ever taken place in
that family, and I know you are not prepared to say that
the blood in Bella's veins is not noble?'*
A slight tinge of red appeared in the pale cheeks of the
baroness, and the look which she gave the young girl from
beneath her half -closed eyelids was anything but gentle and
affectionate. But there appeared almost immediately a
smile of forgiveness upon her lips. To her dismay she had
felt several times since yesterday that the ground was grow-
ing unsteady beneath her feet. It was for her a terrifyiug
discovery suddenly to meet with opposition and contradic-
tion, where she had for years found only the blindest sub-
mission and devotion.
Furthermore, she was quite right to attribute the cause
of this sudden change in Helen's behavior not entirely to
the " unfortunate " influence of the brother, but partially
also to her son, who, for the last few days, had been be-
having in such a queer manner. Helen was at heart a
thoroughly noble girl, capable of the greatest enthusiasm
for all that was good and noble, and always disposed to
good; but from her childhood up she had been accustomed
to consider herself as the center of universal care and con-
sideration. In spite of her physical infirmity, she had
never been allowed to suffer a slight. To enable her to
forget the abridgment of her natural rights, every one
took the greatest pains to pay her double attention.
Though she well knew that she could never be a wife, she
had opened her tender heart to the impressions of first love,
and though, with secret tears, she had often complained of
Nature's injustice to her and of the consequent destruction
of her life's happiness, still she had the blissful certainty of
knowing that her affection was returned. The constant
attentions of HoUfeld, his long visits at Lindhof, and his
occasional tender words, all had the tendency to confirm
their belief. And now of a sudden he became insultingly
absent-minded in her presence, and neglected her in the
most unheard-of manner. Her suffering was beyond the
power of description, her whole soul was stirred up; her
womanly dignity, anger such as she had never known^ and
GOLD ELSIS. fi2S
her love all warred with one another; she was still far from
that stage which noble natures sooner or later always reach,
that of resignation and forgiveness. She became bitter and
irascible, and these feeliugs showed themselves less to him
who aroused them than to her whose tyranny the young girl
had endured up to this time merely for the sake of her
love.
HoUfeld had just been reading aloud to the ladies when
the baronesses maid came into the room for the purpose of
delivering an unimportant message, and then at once com-
menced to narrate, with a fluent tongue, the story of what
had occurred at Nordeck. Had not Helen been listening
in amazement at the story of the maid, the sudden change
in the face of her cousin would certainly not have escaped
her. Breathless, he listened with an expression of the most
intense satisfaction to the narrative. As the story had
passed from mouth to mouth the value of the treasures that
had been found had become *' immeasurable,'* and the
plain casket of the lovely Lila was made of pure silver.
The striking change in her son's ill-natured face had
escaped the baroness likewise, and she cast at him, by rea-
son of that painful reproof from Helen and in the most
logical manner, an angry glance, which Helen had not seen.
She was, however, very much surprised to see him all at
once approach Helen. He arranged the embroidered
neckerchief around her neck, and moved the bouquet of
flowers in the vase nearer to her, in order that she might
more comfortably inhale that delightful odor.
" Helen is entirely right, mamma,''* he said, looking very
tenderly at the young girl, who returned his look with a
tender glance and a smile of joy; " it becomes you least of
all to attack the noble blood of the family." Although it
was, to her, a most painful thought that those who till now
had been so far beneath her were equal to her, and, in fact,
in point of wealth far outstripped her, still the baroness
was wise enough to repress the bitter reply she had upon
her lips, and to content herself with the remark that the
story sounded too incredible and exaggerated for one to
give it yet unconditional credence. She must hear it from
more competent witnesses than two workmen before she
would believe it.
This witness was just passing under the window, as if he
bad been summoned. Seinhard had just returned from
224 GOLD ELSIE.
Nordeck, and he smiled when he was summoned by Mia
von Walde, for he saw from the questions of the servant
that the events at Nordeck were already known in the
villa, and that he had only been called to make a report
As soon as he entered he was met b^ a storm of questions
from Helen. He told the story in his quiet manner, and
was much amused to notice, oehind the careless and in-
different interrogatories of the baroness, the greatest curi-
osity and vexation.
*' And do the Ferbers intend to lay claim to that old
name on the ground of this document?" she inquired,
drawing a flower out of the vase and smelling it.
"I should like to know who would dispute that right
with them,'' said Eeinhard. '^ It only remains for them to
prove that they are the descendants of that Hans von Gres-
wit who was exposed in the forest, and that they can do at
anytime.''
She sunk her head back upon her chair, and let her eye-
lids droop, as if she were tired or bored.
" Well, are those treasures of Golconda of such immeas-
urable value as report declares?" she inquired. Her tone
was intended for an ironical one, but Eeinhard 's fine ear
detected in it, to his great satisfaction, inexpresible sus-
pense and anxiety. He smiled.
" Immeasurable!" he repeated. " Well, in such matters
it depends upon the view that the interested party takes of
it I can form no opinion about it. "
He could, as we know, easily have formed an opinion,
but he thought, quite ungallantly, to say the least, that the
excitement of uncertainty might be quite beneficial to the
baroness.
The examination would, most probably, not have reached
its end so soon had not little Bella rushed into the room in
her impetuous and excited manner.
" Mamma, the new governess has come!" she exclaimed
breathlessly, and by a toss of her head threw back her locks,
which had fallen down upon her forehead. " I don't like
her, she is uglier than Miss Mortens!" she continued, with-
out the slightest consideration for the feelings of lieinhard,
who was still standing near by. " She has got a bright red
ribbon on her hat, and her cloak is. more old-fashioned than
Mrs. Lehr's. You may be sure, mamma, that I shall not
OOLD XLSIB. 2)25
go out walking with her I'' The haroness put both hands
over her ears.
" My child 1' ' she stormed, " I beseech you not to be so
boisterous. Your voice simply pierces my marrow and
bones. And what kind of talk was that?^' she added, in a
severe tone. " You will certainly go out walking with
Mademoiselle Jamin, if I wish you to. "
This reproof, spoken in quite a sharp tone and on ac-
count of which Bella stuck out her lower lip, pouted angrily,
and secretly tore a piece of fringe off the chair, was caused
by the experiences of the so-called period of martyrdom
that followed upon Miss Mertens^s departure from the villa.
In the interim the baroness had been compelled to take
charge of Bella, and that was, as she declared, a veritable
death-stroke to her nerves. She had always declared to
Miss von Walde that she was simply reaping the benefit of
the education the child had received from Miss Mertens;
but, in the depths of her heart, she saw that the child had
inherited, in the most conspicuous manner, the chief char^
acteristics of the lamented Von Lessen, among which the
most prominent had been an unbending stubbornness and
an irresistible tendency to the dolce far niente. She was,
however, far from thinking that an injustice had been done
to Miss Mertens. This person had assumed the duties and
emoluments of a governess, and of course cured, as was
right and to be expected, the faults of this bad child, with-
out ever going contrary to the wishes or views of the mother
or punishing, on her own responsibility, her protegee.
This maternal insight into Belial character had, therefore,
absolutely no advantage for the new governess. The j^oor
Frenchwoman, with the color of joy in her hat, certainly
had no conception of the joyless days upon which she was
about to enter.
At the present moment, however, her arrival lifted a
great weight from the baroness's heart, and she was very
anxious that there should be, at the very beginning, no
conflict between the teacher and pupil, and for this reason
she had reproved Bella's impertinent remarks.
The baroness arose and went with her fretting child into
her chamber, for the purpose of taking a look at the new
governess. At the same time Eeinhara bowed and took
his leave of Miss Von Walde.
** Do you wish me to read any more,.HeIen?'' asked HoU-
9
226 GOLD ELSnS.
feld^ in the most obliging manner, after the three had
withdrawn, again taking up tie newspajjer.
" After awhile/' she replied, hesitatingly, but with a
kind of shy glance in her eyes.
" I wanted to ask you, now that we are alone for a mo-
ment, to tell me what has put you into such a bad humor.
You know, Emile, that it causes me the greatest pain when
yon refuse to let me share with you all that causes you pain
or pleasure. You know, too, that it is no idle curiosity on
my part, but the most sincere interest in your weal or woe.
You see, that I suffer intensely under your cold reserve;
tell me candidly, have I consciously done anything to cause
you to consider me no longer worthy of your confidence?*'
ohe stretched her arms out to him beseechingly; a stone
would have melted under the influence of that tender, sad
voice.
Hollfeld drew the rustling paper to and fro through his
fingers. His head sunk upon his breast, and he thus
escaped the necessity of looking into the open honest eyes
of the young girl. Any one familiar with human nature
would have recognized at once in this behavior and in the
nervous, twitching eyes, that Hollfeld was an arch-hypo-
crite, who was merely taking time to consider how he could
best proceed. But to an artless, affectionate girl he looked
far more like a meditative Apollo, with his body bent
slightly forward, and his handsome face hidden beneath a
splendid mass of light hair.
" You still have my confidence, Helen,'* he said, at
length breaking the painful silence. " You are the only
one on earth in whom I do confide.*' Helen's eyes lit up
at these words, the poor girl was so proud of this distinc-
tion. " But there are often bitter necessities which we dis-
like even to acknowledge to ourselves, much less have we
the courage to speak of them to others.** The young rirl,
deeply touched, and in the greatest expectancy, raised her-
self up from her reclining position.
**I am compelled,** continued Hollfeld, in faltering
tones, " to take a step which will be very hard for me, and
which has been weigning upon me for some days past.*'
He now raised his eyes to see what effect his words were
having.
Helen seemed to have no idea of what he was about to
say, for she did not change her position one iota, an4 seemed
"gold ELSIE. J27
ftnxious to read the words from his lips. He saw that he
mast go a little further if he expected to have her assist-
ance.
" You know, Helen,'' he continued, calmly, " that for a
year I have been having endless difficulties with my house-
keepers. They leave me almost before I have laid eyes
upon them, and I find myself unable to check this disorder.
Day before yesterday tbe last one, who has been with me
scarcely two weeks, gave me notice that she was going to
leave. I am beside myself, for I suffer the greatest losses
by this incessant changing; my property is injured by it
beyond the power of estimation/*
" Oh, you are going to sell Odenberg?^' she said, inter-
rupting him.
^* No, that would be folly, for it is one of the handsomest
estates in Thuringia, but I am forced to seek another way
of escape; I have no other recourse but to marry.''
If a sudden force had seized the young girl to cast her
into a bottomless abyss, her face could not have exhibited
an expression of more terrible surprise and horror than it
did at that moment. She opened her pale lips, but no
sound came forth, and, unable to control her feelings, she
suddenly put her hands over her face, and with a cry of
pain sunk back into her chair.
Hollfeld hastened to her side and took both her hands in
his.
** Helen," he whispered, softly, but tenderly the tone
suited him well ** do you wish me to speak, and disclose
to you a sore place in my heart. You know, too well,
that I love you, and that this love will be my first and only
love as long as I live.'' His tongue did not wither at this
atrocious lie, but assumed a tender, soft tone, otherwise
unknown to it, a tone which stirred the young girl's feel-
ings to the core, and caused her to experience an ecstatic
sensation. Had a good angel only whispered to her to
open her eyes suddenly, the frightful pain of a discovery of
his base deceit would have been unavoidable, for the ex-
pression in his face as he surveyed her crippled form was a
thoroughly mocking one; but, in her rage she would per-
haps have had the strength to withdraw herself from the
cous of this venomous reptile. However, her eyes remained
closed, as though she wanted to forget the existence of
everything else, and revel in the sound of that voice, which
228 GOLD ELSIE.
now, for the first time^ was breathing in her ear the words
of love.
"Would to God/' he continued, **that I could follow
. the impulse of this heart of mine, and live for this love
alone, for, although my highest wishes might remain un-
faithful, still I would be happy near thee, in thy presence,
Helen. But you know that I am the last Hollield, and
for this cause alone 1 would be compelled to marry. There
remains, therefore, for me only one thing to alleviate this
sacrifice; I must select a wife who knows you '^
" Oh, say it quickly!^' cried the young girl, in convulsive
pain, while floods of tears streamed from her eyes, **you
have already chosen; my suspicion did not deceive me; it is
Cornelia^'
'* Miss von Quittlesdorf ?'' he said, laughing; " this little
will-o'-the-wisp! I beg to be excused. I should much pre-
fer to have my goods and chattels in the hands of refractory
housekeepers. Where would I be, with my small income,
tacked to such a vain and frivolous wife? Moreover, I
tell you expressly, and repeat it emphatically, that I have
not yet selected my wife. Let me finish, then, my precious
Helen, and do not weep so terribly, it almost breaks my
heart. I must have a wife who knows you and is fond of
you; who is simple-minded and so reasonable that I can
say: ^ Mv heart belongs to another whom I can not possess,
be therefore to me and to her a friend.' "
" And do you believe that you could find a woman who
would consent to such an arrangement?''
**' Certainly, if she loved me. '
" I never, never could. No, never!" She buried her
face in the cushions, sobbing convulsively.
Upon HoUfeld's pale, smooth brow there suddenly ap
peared two deep furrows. His lips became compressed, and
lor a moment the color disappeared from his cheeks. He
was evidently very angry. An expression of hatred
gleamed in his eye as it was fixed upon the young girl, who,
contrary to his expectation, was making his game so diffi-
cult for him. He controlled himself, and raised her face
toward him with a gentle, caressing hand. The poor girl
trembled beneath his hypocritical touch, and let her tender
head fall resistlessly upon his arm.
*' Would you forsake me, Helen?" he inquired in a sad
voice, '' if I were compelled to t^e this painful step?
GOLD ELSIE. 239
Would you turn away from me, and leave me alone with a
wife I could not lovef
She raised her eyes, now red from weeping, and a look of
ineffable love beamed forth. He had played his part well,
and saw from this one glance that he now had conquered
the ground beneath his feet.
" You are now fighting the same battle that I have been
fighting for some days before I could come to this conclu-
sion. At the moment it may seem to you a terrible
thought that a third person should interfere with our bliss-
ful relation, but I give you my word, that it shall not dis-
turb this relation. Eemember, Helen, that I can then do
a great deal more for you, can live more for you, than I
now can. You may come and live at Odenberg, and I will
support your every step, will protect you, and cherish you
as the apple of my eye. '^
Hollfeld was not clever, but had an inexhaustible amount
of cunning, with which he could accomplish much more
perhaps than another with great ideas. His victim, with
bleeding, broken heart, and conquered will, fell into his
net.
" I will try to bear the thought,'^ whispered Helen in a
voice that was scarcely audible. " What kind of a person
will that be that could thus endure me, and whom I am to
learn to love as a sister? Do you know a woman that is so
self-sacrificing, of such exalted character?^'
*' I have an idea it just struck me a moment ago ^it is,
however, quite intangible and undeveloped. I intend to
disclose it to you after mature consideration, but you must
quiet yourself first, dear Helen. Eemember, I place the .
choice of my future wife entirely in your hands; it depends
upon you to reject or to accept what I shall proprose to
you."
" But do you feel strong enough to live with a wife to
whom your heart does not belong?^'
" I can do whatever I will,'* he replied, *' and your pres-
ence will give me strength.^' He suppressed a jeering smile
that played about his lips, for Helen's eye was fixed upon
him. ** One request nimake of you; do not speak of this
important matter to my mother quite yet. She always
wants to have her hands in everything, as you well know,
and in this matter I shall not submit to her authority; sh^
280 GOLD ELSIE.
will hear of the matter soon enough when I present to her
mj betrothed. ^'
At any other time this heartless, unfilial expression would
have made Helen indignant, but at this moment she
scarcely heard a word he said; for all her thoughts and
feelings were again set into a perfect uproar and confusion
by the mention of this single word " betrothed/* which now
conveyed the notion although there have been many name-
lessly unhappy " betrothed '* women of the ecstasy of love
and blissful devotion.
"Alas!** she sighed, and wrung her clasped hancls in
speechless misery, " I had hoped never to live through
this! Kot that I was so selfish as to expect you for my sake
to pass your life in solitude, but I thought that the probably
very short duration of my life would influence you to let
this cup of bitterness pass from me, that you would wait
till my eyes could no longer behold what causes me such
infinite pain."
" But, Helen, what are you talking about?'*^ exclaimed
Hollfeld, with difficulty suppressing his impatience. *' "Who
ever thinks of death at your age! Live, we will live, and in
time be right happy yet, I certainly hope. I shall now
leave you alone. JBeflect upon this matter, and you will
come to the same conclusion as I did.**
He pressed her hands tenderly to his lips, kissed her
gently upon her brow a thing he had never oefore done
took his nat, and left the room.
Outside, with only the door between the poor cruelly de-
ceived girl and himself, he smiled in an artful manner, and
snapped his fingers; how low and knavish he looked at that
moment! He was beyond measure pleased with himself.
Just an hour before his heart was full of rage. His passion
for Elizabeth, inflamed by the opposition of the young girl
into a raving, had broken out into bright flames over his
own head, and had since yesterday deprived him of all his
much-praised self-control. In the midst of this passion of
love ther thought had never entered his head of offering the
young girl his hand, as a means of overcoming her opposi-
tion; he would have considered himself as mad had such an
idea passed through his brain. Instead he nearly cracked
his brain in devising ignoble plans and proposals to break
down the resistance of the daughter of the forester's clerk.
The occurrence at Nord^ck turned his thoughts sudden*-
GOLD ELSIE. 231
ly into a different channel. The young girl had now become
a most desirable match; she was of ancient family and
wealthy. No wonder that his heart leaped with joy when
he heard the news, and that he at once formed the noble
conclusion to honor the lovely, attractive flower of Nordeck
with a proposal of marriage. That she would accept the
honor without hesitating, was, of course, beyond all doubt;
for, although she resisted for some time his attentions
merely out of coquetry, it was still not conceivable that she
could resist a chance of becoming much envied Lady HoU-
feld. lie was so absolutely certain of this that he did not
fiermit the shadow of a doubt to disturb his peace of mind,
t was not solely his ardent desire of possessing Elizabeth
that urged hira to take steps to attain his end at once; it
was clear to him that if the report got abroad of the great
treasures that had been found at Nordeck, other suitors for
the hand of Gold Elsie, already famous far and near for her
beauty, would be knocking at the gates of Nordeck the
very thought made his blood boil.
The execution of his plan met with another obstacle,
and that was Helen. Not because he felt any sympathy
for the poor girl, who, he knew, loved him ardently and
must suffer deeply, if he took such a step, for of mercy and
pity he had no conception but he reflected that, by a sud-
den marriage, he mignt possibly lose the legacy he expected
from Helen. He must, therefore, be prudent and cunning.
We have seen how in cold blood he utilized the deep,
blind love of the unhappy girl, and, by apparently submit-
ting the most important question of his life to her decision,
bound her to him indissolubly.
As soon as he left the room, Helen crawled over to the
door and bolted it. And now she, for the first time, gave
up to her hopeless despair.
He who does not know by experience those hours of tor-
ment, that follow upon a sudden, unexpected, crushing
piece of news, those hours in which a man feels like pro-
claiming to the world his pain, and when, although the
support and consolation of others is so necessary to him, he
seeks out a place of darkness and solitude, as though sound
and light were a deadly poison to his wound; he who has
been spared those torments that suddenly drag out of its
accustomed groove a life that is harmoniously constituted,
he will of course not be able to comprehend why Helen sunk
338 G0I2) ELS/S.
upon the rug, and pulled her hair convulsively, while her
small fragile body trembled as if it were in a fever. She
had lived and breathed in this affection alone. Had not a
few dark glances and a little reticence of this man she so
tenderly levied been sufficient to throw her into the deepest
gloom, and to cause her to listen with passive indifference
to the narrative of an event which, a few years before,
would have shocked her sisterly heart; then how much
more' bitterly she must suffer now, knowing that she was
going to lose him?
Although a perfect chaos of thoughts was rushing through
Lev head, still she was utterly incapable of laying hold upon
one single, clear, discriminating thought. The humiliating
consciousness of her physical infirmity, by reason of which
he had been aroused from her dream of paradise, the dec-
laration of love Hollfeld had made to her to-day, which
had contained for her at the same moment both heaven and
hell, an insane jealousy of the woman, whom she did not
yet even know, but who was soon to stand at his side with
all the rights of a wife, all this heaved and stormed within
her until the slender thread that bound her soul to her
weak body threatened to snap.
It had already grown late, when she at length opened the
door to the anxious chamber-maid, and, after much coax-
ing, allowed herself to be put to bed. She refused posi-
tively to receive the visit or the doctor,, whom the maid
proposed to call, sent word to the baroness, who desired to
say good-night to her in person, that she now required the
most absolute quiet, and did not care to be disturbed, and
then spent the most frightful night of her life in solitude.
She had become a little more composed, or rather her
nervousness began to abate, when the morning light peeped
into the room through a crack in the blinds. It seemed as
if this thin, golden ray shone into her benighted soul, and
shed a flood of light upon that which her thonghts had left
in a state of tumult and turmoil. She commenced to re-
flect that Hollfeld was acting in a very unselfish manner.
Even though the necessity of his marrying constantly rose
before her eyes like a frightful monster, she had never been
able to deny the fact; and must she not acknowledge that
her idea of his waiting until she was dead seemed to horrify
him? Was he not making a great sacrifice too? For he
loved her, her alone, and was forced to give himself to an*
GOLD ELSIB. 233
other; ought she to make the performance of a sacred duty
more difficult for him by her complaints? He had asked
her to tread with him a rough road; should she prove her-
self to be cowardly and weak, when he was displaying such
strength of will? And if he found a wife who would be
content with friendship, where she would have the best
right to love, how could she allow herself to be so far sur-
passed in self-denial?
In feverish haste she grasped the bell, and called her
maid to dress her. Yes, she would be submissive, she
would be strong; but she concluded that only positive cer-
tainty could give her this strength and courage, and, there-
fore, she must know, first of all, the name of the woman
whom HoUfeld considered suitable to undertake so hard a
task. She had caused to file before her mintl 's eye all the
ladies of her acquaintance, but she did not find one whom
she did not impetuouslv and impatiently reject. It was
not yet the hour at whicn she was accustomed to breakfast
with the Baroness von Hollfeld her brother was never
{ present at these meetings but she could not endure it any
onger in her awfully lonesome room, so she had her chair
rolled into the dining-room. To her amazement she heard
from a servant, that breakfast was over, and that the baron-
ess had gone to walk a half hour ago. It was a-trange ac-
cident, but most welcome to the young lady, for at the mo-
ment that she was rolled into the window-niche, she saw
Hollfeld promenading up and down the gravel-walk in front
of the villa. He seemea to have no idea that he was being
observed. He walked with a light, elastic step, swaying
his well-formed body to and fro. Now and then he would
put his cigar in his mouth with a look of evident self-satis'
faction. Helen was painfully surprised, and at first would
not acknowledge to herself that her lover's appearance was
strikingly fresh, and that he seemed to be m the best of
humors, out it was impossible for her not to see in his whole
manner, in his slightest motion, ay, even in his smile that
slightly parted his lips and showed his beautiful teeth, an
expression of healthy, active spirits, of pleasure, and per-
fect contentment There was no trace in his face of those
terrible struggles, in which she had spent the whole night.
He certainly did not look as if he were the victim of cruel
and imperious circumstances. Or was it merely the effect
of a rmghiy mental f oroe, the strong, unbending will of a
S34 GOLD KLSIB.
man? If so, it mast have reached a height that bordered
upon the supernatural.
The young girl, with a dark frown, contracted her brow*
"Emill" She called to him in a voice that sounded
almost harsh.
Hollfeld was evidently startled, but at one bound he stood
under the window, and waved to her with his hat
** What,'^ he exclaimed, ** are you already there? May
I come up?^'
" Yes,^^ was the reply, and it already sounded milder.
A few moments after, he stepped into the salon. Helen
had now reason to be more content with his look, for there
now lay a deep earnestness in his brow. He threw his hat
on the table, and drew a chair near the young girl. He
took her hands in his, and looked her tenderly in the face;
even he seemed to be touched by her ashy pale cheeks and
the faded look in her eyes. " And are you surprised.^'* she
inquired, unable longer to suppress her bitterness. " That
happy gift of indifference has been denied me, for those who
possess it, seem able, a few hours after the most severe
trials, to look again into the future, joyous and bright. I
envy you very much.^^
Her eye surveyed reproachfully his bright and happy
face. He inwardly cursed his morning walk, or rather the
imprudence with w^hich he had allowed his actions to show
his thoughts of Elizabeth and of the victory he was going
to celebrate over the cold girl.
" You are unjust to me, Helen,'* he replied, excitedly,
**if you judge me by my outward appearance. Must a
man weep and complain when he has to submit to the
inevitable?'*
*' You seemed, indeed, to be very far from it just now.**
An inexpressible feeling of vexation took possession of
him. This poor creature, who ought to thank God that,
with her body misshapen and deformed, a man could be
even kind and friendly to her, and who in fact used to re-
ceive with ineffable gratitude the slightest attention this
poor creature had suddenly become so arrogant as to cast
reproaches at him. Although he had calculated a great
deal upon making her believe in his ardent love for her,
still he thought to himself that it was superlatively vain
in the little hunchback to imagine that he really felt such
an affection; besides, he saw with much chagrin that he had
GOLD ELSIB. 235
HOW to deal with ** the most stabborn obstinacy and the
most perverse sentimentality/'
ft cost him the greatest effort to control himself, but he
did so, and he succeeded in smiling in quite a melancholy
manner, that made him look rather interesting.
" When you hear why I looked so happy just now, you
will certainly regret your harsh reprooi, he said. "I
was picturing to myself the moment when I could go to
irour brother and say: * Helen has decided henceforth to
ive in my family,* and I can not deny that I received
much satisfaction from this thought; for he has always
looked suspiciously upon my love for you."
Beader, we are told that love is blind; but in most cases
it closes its eyes voluntarily, for it knows that to know the
truth would be its death, and against annihilation love
fights with greater desperation than life itself,
Helen strove to harmonize what he said with his appear-
ance a few minutes before, and the harmony was excellent.
She extended her hand to him.
** I believe you,^' she said, tenderly, " the loss of this
belief would be my death sentence. Emile, you must never
deceive me, even if you believe it would be best for me I
should much prefer to hear painful truth than to carry
with me the tormenting suspicion that you had told me an
untruth. I have spent a most wretched nighty but feel
much better now, and I beg you to speak to me further
about that plan of which you -spoke yesterday. I feel that
I can not find peace again until I know the face in the fut-
ure is to stand oet ween us. Thus far this person has been
to me only a phantom, and I believe that just in this uncer-
tainty lies the tormenting anxiety that is consuming me. I
beg you, then, earnestly to tell me her name at once!'*
Hollfeld^s eyes fell to the floor. There seemed to be
trouble brewing again.
"I feel great hesitancy, Helen," he at length began,
** in discussing this matter with you to-day. You are very
weak, and I am afraid that a thorough discussion of it
might make you ill. And then again, the more I think of
it, the more I am persuaded that my idea is a thoroughly
practical one; I should, therefore, be very sorry, if in your
excitement you were to overlook its advantageous points. **
" That I shall certainly not dol'^ exclaimed Helen, rais-
ing herself excitedly, while her_eye sparkled feverishly.
236 GOLD ELsns.
ii
I have conquered myself and am prepared to meet the
inevitable. I promise you to be as completely impartial as
if I did not love you/' She blushed, for it was the first
time she had used that word.
** Well, then/' said he, falteringly, ** what do you think
of the young girl at Nordeck?''
" Elizabeth Ferberf '* she exclaimed, perfectly amazed.
** Elizabeth von Greswit,'* said Hollfeld, promptly cor-
recting her. ** Precisely this change in her condition drew
my attention to the young girl. Until then I had paid
little attention to the girl. I had only observed her modest
behavior, and the restfulness of her features.''
" Do you mean to say that you had never observed in
this lovely, clever girl anything but her modesty and quiet-
ness?"
"Well, yes," he replied, with a show of indifference.
** I remember several times, when you became impatient
about your fingers in playing, she never changed her ex-
pression, but would patiently begin over again. I was
much pleased with that at the time. However, I consider
her a very quiet, good-natured person, and these two char-
acteristics my future wife must have. We must not forget,
too, that she honors you, and that is the chief condition, the
sine qua non. Further, she has been brought up in an un-
pretending manner, and will consequently not make great
pretensions and will easily adapt herself to the position she
must occupy toward you and me. I believe she has tact,
has domestic inclinations which is a great advantage,
and"
Helen sunk back on her pillow and put her hands over
her eyes.
** No, no!" she cried, again raising herself up in her
agitation and interrupting the rapid flow of his words.
" Not that poor, dear cMd! Elizabeth deserves to be
loved."
The sudden howl of a dog interrupted her, arid she ut-
tered a scream of terror. Hollfeld had stepped on Diana's
paw; she had come into the room with her master, and had
lain down at his feet. This accident happened opportune-
ly for him, for Helen's last words had sounded so funny,
when he thought of his own ardent desire in that direction,
that he was forced to laugh. He opened the door and
chased the poor limping animal out. When he returned to
GOLD ELSIE. 237
Ihe young girl, he had again resumed complete control
over his features.
'* But we intend to love her, Helen," he said, with seem-
ing indifference, as he took his seat again. Helen was too
much excited and perhaps too pure and honest to notice
the slightest suggestion of frivolity in the tone of his voice.
** She must only give you the first place in my heart, and
she will certainly do that. She possesses a great deal of
deliberateness and cold-bloodedness; that she proved con-
clusively day before yesterday, when she saved Rudolph's
" What do you mean?'* exclaimed Helen, opening her
eyes wide in inexpressible surprise. The servant who had
committed the blunder of disclosing the occurrence, fright-
ened at his mistake, had left the particulars of the affair
un mentioned, and stated simply that the intended shot had
fortunately not hit Mr. von Walde. Hollfeld himself *had
not heard the particulars until about an hour before from
the gardener. The brave behavior of Elizabeth gave her a
new charm, as one may well suppose, in his eyes, and in-
creased his desire to win her to the utmost extent. He
now told Helen all he had heard of the affair, and conclud-
ed with the words: " You now have an additional ground
for loving this young girl, and her behavior strengthens me
in the conviction that she is the only woman that will suit
our plans." He had used his last powder. With his long,
thin hand he began to smooth back his thick hair from
his brow, and in so doing narrowly watched the young girl
from behind his arm. She had buried her head so deeply
in the cushions that he could only see her profile. Tears
were gushing from her eyes. She did not utter another
word; perhaps she was struggling with herself for the last
time.
Why she never once thought of asking the question
whether Elizabeth in fact would bestow her affection upon
Hollfeld seems strange. But most of my female readers
will be able to answer the question as soon as they reflect
that a loving heart usually considers the object of its pas-
sion irresistible, and can with difficulty comprehend why it
is not as attractive to other people as to itself.
The silence, which had now begun to be painful, was
broken by the appearance of the baroness, who was return-
ing from her morning wa^k. Helen arose and quickly
138 HOLD tJlBIST
dried her tears. She endured with evident impatience th#
caresses with which she was overwhelmed by the baroness,
and answered rather abruptly her questions about her
health.
" Poohl'^ exclaimed the baroness, shaking herself and
letting her cloak fall into her son's hands, as she heavily-
sunk into her chair. " I am awfully warm. Isn't that a
fearful path across the mountain! No power on earth
could ever get nie up there again. '*
" Have you been on the mountain, mamma?'' inquired
Hollfeld, incredulously.
" Yes you know that the doctor has always prescribed
such morning walks for me."
" Oh, that was years ago, and since then you have always
said that your heart trouble rendered such walks impossible
for you."
"One must try everything in the world more than
once," replied his mother; " and as I could not sleep at all
last night, I determined to make one more experiment, but
this is the last. Besides, I have just had another great
vexation. Just think, Helen, I met Bella with her new
governess on the gravel walk, and, will you believe me,
that this person had the impertinence to let the child walk
on her left side. I was enraged, and immediately made it
very clear to her what her position is. But, tell me, don't
you think it is vexatious that I can't even take a little rec-
reation without something's happening to make me ill and
wretched?" She was on the point of resting her head sadly
upon her arm, but at that moment felt that her cleverly
arranged false hair had assumed an awkward position un-
der the weight of her hat. She arose quickly, and asked
to be excused a few moments, for the purpose of having
her disarranged morning toilet put in order. *' Apropos,"
she said, in a careless manner, turning to Helen, while she
pressed her hat more firmly upon her rebellious locks,
^ that stupid Reinhard threw dust in our eyes yesterday.
I accidentally met the forester's clerk, Ferber, up there by
the ruins. I congratulated him "
" Ah I now I understand your pilgrimage up the mount-
ain," said Hollfeld, ironically, interrupting nis mother.
" And you conversed with that man, mamma?"
** Yes, of course; and one can easily I was especially
interested in the jewels.''
GOLD ELSlir S39
** Did you propose to purchase them?'' her sou inquhed,
aroastically he wanted to remiud her of her constantly
decreasing fortune, which was already at a very low ebb.
** Not so much that/' she replied, with a look of anger.
" But I have always had a passion for precious stones; and
had your father not died so suddenly I would have had most
gorgeous diamonds, for he had promised them to me; but
you would have been poorer by about six thousand dollars.
But, referring again to the treasures found at Nordeck,
Ferber told me in reply to my questions exactly what they
were, and said that the value of them was about eight
thousand dollars, and that is what that man that Bein-
hard calls an immeasurable value. For the present now,
adieu. I shall be back in a few moments."
The jeering smile with which he had listened to his
mother's remarks had disappeared from Hollfeld's face,
and had given place to the most unmistakable expression of
disappointment; he looked as if he had suddenly been
plunged into a cold bath. The door had scarcely closed
behind the baroness when Helen aroused herself from the
apparent apathy into which she had sunk and stretched
both hands out to Hollfeld.
**Emil," she said, quickly, though in a subdued voice
and with trembling lips, " if you succeed in winning Eliza-
beth's heart, as I nave no doubt you will, I shall consent to
your plan, but on the condition that I am to live with
you.'^
** Of course; that is understood," he replied, though
somewhat hesitatingly; his tone no longer had the same
firmness as before; but you must remember that you will
find a very humble little kitchen. My income is quite
small, and you have just heard that Ehzabeth has almost
nothing."
" She shall not enter your house without a dowry, Emil,
you may iepend upon that," replied the young girl, in a
mild voice and with her eyes sparkling. " From the mo-
ment she declares her willingness to be yo^rs ^f rom that
moment she becomes my sister. I shall divide justly with
her. For the present, I shall give her the income from my
estate, Neuborn, in Saxony, and I shall discuss the mat-
ter with Kudolph as soon as he returns. And as soon as I
die, all that I possess shall belong to you two. Are you
satLsfied with me?"
240 OOLD ELSIE.
^* Helen/* he exclaimed, "yon are an angel! Never
ghall you regret yoar magnanimity and your unselfish
lover'
This time his fire, his ecstasy, were sincere, for the in-
come from Neuborn would make Elizabeth a wealthy
heiress.
CHAPTER XVm.
MB. VOK WAIiDE RETUBNS, AKD HELE2S" HAS A CONTER-
SATION WITH HIM.
Two days had passed since that eventful morning when
Helen, as she vainly imagined, had gained a complete vic-
tory over herself, when she thought that, in the face of ir-
resistible certainty, the heaving and storming of her excited
feelings would abate. How little had she known how to
measure the depths of her passion! She had grasped at a
straw in the raging flood, and it had faithlessly sunk with
her. Only two days! and yet in so short a time she had
suffered a greater load of sorrow than during the whole
period of her previous life. She kept assuring her troubled
heart that the goal of rest for which it longed was not far
off, and yet she shuddered at the few remaining days of
earthly existence that lay before her, as only an unbelieving
soul shudders at the grave. She felt more and more plainly
that her promise td live at Odenberg made her sacrifice one
that was superhuman; but at no price would she have
changed one iota in that which Hollfeld had praised her
for. She wished to be worthy of his love, to deserve his
res{)ect and admiration by an act of the most exalted self-
denial. Poor, infatuated girl!
Her weak nerves suffer^ indescribably under the effect
of this continued struggle. She suffered from fever with-
out intermission, and was almost completely worn out by a
torturing restlessness. Again and again she had it on the
end of her tongue to disclose that with which her thoughts
and imagination were constantly occupied, but she dutifully
kept silent for Hollfeld's sake. For the first few days after
their conversation he had forbidden Helen to let Elizabeth
call upon her, because he was afraid, and perhaps justly so,
that in her excitement she might by some injudicious word
9poil his whole game. He himself had already taken the
.^JL,
QOLD ELSIB. S41
first steps toward approaching Elizabeth again. He had
already twice appeared at the gate of Nordeck to pay his
respects to the Von Greswits/' but even if he had palled
the bell off, the door would never have been opened to him.
The first time there had, in fact, been nobody at home;
yesterday, however, Elizabeth had seen him coming. Her
parents, with Ernest, had gone down to the forester's house,
and Miss Mortens agreed with her fully that they ought not
to let him in. They both sat upstairs, laughing heartily,
while the poor bell continued to ring until it was almost
lioarse. Of course the visitor had no suspicion of the con-
spiracy. It was seven o'clock in the morning. Helen lay
upon her lounge, already dressed; she had again passed a
sleepless night. The baroness was still asleep, and Hollfeld
had also not yet made his appearance. Helen would and
could, under no circumstances, stand being alone; and so
her maid had to take some work and sit by her. The chat-
tering of the maid left no impression on her mind, but
nevertheless even the sound of a human voice exercised a
soothing effect upon her, after her lonesome, feverish night.
The noise of a carriage approaching caused the maid sud-
denly to stop talking. Helen opened the window and
looked out. Her brother's carriage had just turned in
from the chaussee, and its wheels sunk deep into the
grating gravel of the road through the park. The carriage
was empty.
*' Where is your master?" Helen called out to the coach-
man as he drove by.
** My master got out of the carriage on the main road,'*
replied the old man, takiLg off his hat, " and is coming on
foot across the hill by the Castle of Nordeck. "
The young girl shut the window and shuddered, as if she
had a chill. That single word, " Nordeck," had had the
effect of an electric shock. She could never again hear the
name of Elizabeth or anything that reminded her of her
without feeling a sudden fright, such as is often caused by
some terrible creation of the imagination.
She arose, and, supported by her maid, went down into
her brother's apartments. She ordered breakfast to be
served in the room, the glass doors of which opened on the
front steps, and then took a seat in an arm-chair to await
the arrival of her brother. She picked up one of the beau-
tiful albums that were lying on the table; her hand turned
1249 GOLD BLSIE.
the leaves mechanically, and her eyes perhaps rested npon
the fine engraving, but she could not have possibly told
whether she had been looking at a portrait or a landscape.
After about a half hour of expectation the tall form of her
brother appeared in the door. She let the book fall from
her lap, and extended her hand to him. He seemed some-
what surprised at the reception, but he was evidently very
deeply touched to see his sister alone after so long an ab-
sence, and to find her so much concerned about his com-
fort. He hastened toward her, but a second glance at her
face made him stagger.
'* Do you feel worse, Helen?^' he inquired anxiously,
taking his seat near her. He put his arm behind her back
and raised her tenderly up that he might see into her face
more easily. There was such a tender look of anxiety in
his face, such a tone of sympathy in his voice, that she felt
as if a cooling spring breeze was breathing upon her heart,
inflamed with pain. Two large tears rolled down her
cheeks, and she pressed her face heavily against her
brother's shoulder.
" Hasn't Dr. Fels been to see you at all during the last
few days?'' he inquired, anxiously. The appearance of the
young girl caused him evidently great concern.
"No; and I expressly refused to have him see me. I
take the medicine he gave me for my nervous attacks; more
could neither I nor he do. Do not be uneasy, Eudolph,
111 soon be better again. You had a sad time in Thalleben,
hadn't you?'^
** Yes," he said, while his eye rested still anxiously upon
the wonderfully altered features of his sister. " I found
Hartwjg already dead a stroke of apoplexy had soon put
au end to his fearful suffering. He was buried yesterday
afternoon. You would no longer recognize his poor wife.
Helen, in one night she has grown old and feeble." He
then told her all the particulars of the sad event, and passed
his hand over his eyes, as if he wanted to erase from his
memory all recollection of the sorrow he had witnessed dur-
ing the past few days.
" Well, is everything here as I left it?" he inquired, after
u brief silence,
'-Not exactly," she replied, with some hesitation.
" Mohrinff left us yesterday. "
* Ahl God speed him on his journey! He very cleverJj
\i&".
GOLD ELSm 343.
avoided meeting me again. Now I have another enemy at
large in the world. It could scarcely be otherwise, for he
belongs to that race of night-birds that I despise with all
my heart. ^'
" And at Nordeck, with the Ferbers, a great piece of
good fortune has happened,*' continued Helen with her re-
port, in an altered tone, and turned her face away. The
chair upon which she was sitting received a sudden impulse
on the side where her brother's arm was resting. She did
not look up, and, therefore, did not observe how his face
for a moment became ashy pale, and how he labored twice,
with trembling lips, to utter one word, and finally succeed-
ed in saying: Well?" Helen told him of the discovery
among the ruins, while he listened in breathless suspense.
With each additional word it seemed as if a great load was
lifted from his heart. He had, of course, no idea that
every word she spoke cut into her heart like a two-edged
sword, and that this story had already been the beginnmg
of a horrible trial that she was called upon to undergo.
*' That is, indeed, a strMige solution to an old enigma,''
he remarked, after Helen had finished. ** Whether the
family considers it a great piece of good fortune to belong
to the family of ' Von Greswits ' I nave grave doubts."
"Ah, you mean," Helen interrupted him abruptly,
** because the young girl once had a great many harsh
things to say against the name. I can not help it, but I
always think, in matters of this nature, of the story of the
fox and the sour grapes." She uttered these last words
with a bitter sharpness. Her passionate excitement and
bitterness went so far as to cause her to forget her better
judgment, and to cast reflections upon the sincerity of a
person who had never done her a wrong, and whom she had
once before, when her view was unclouded, designated as one
of the truest and purest. An expression of the greatest
astonishment appeared in Mr. von Waldo's face. He bent
down and looked inquisitively into the downcast face of his
sister, as if he wanted to convince himself that it was really
her mouth that had spoken these words.
At this moment HoUfeld's deer-hound sprung up the
steps and made a few clumsy leaps around the room, and
forthwith disappeared again in answer to a shrill whistle
that sounded across the broad grave] bed. His master was
passing by, but seemed not to be aware that Mr. von Walde
244 GOLD ELSIE.
had returned, otherwise he would, of course, have come
over to welcome him back. He walked rapidly by, and
turned into the road that led toward Nordeck. Helen's
eyes followed him till he had disappeared, then she sunk
back into her chair with her hands convulsively closed; it
seemed for the moment as if her strength had deserted her.
Mr. von Walde poured out a glass of claret and held it
to her lips. She looked up at him gratefully, and tried to
smile.
" I have not yet completed my report,*' she began again,
raising herself from her half -reclining position. "lam
proceeding like a writer of romances, and have left the
chief effect for the last." It was evident that, during this
preface, which was intended to be jocular, she was striving
with might and main to summon strength enough to say
what she had to say. She fixed her eyes upon a bed of
flowers that lay opposite to her, while she continued: ** A
happy event is ahout to happen in our family Emil is
going to be engaged.'*
She had confidently expected that her brother would at
once express his great surprise at this news; for, after a
moment's silence, she turned toward him, perfectly
amazed. He had pressed his hands to his forehead and
over his eyes, but the portion of his face that was still visi-
ble was as pale as a sheet. When Helen moved he had let
her hand fall, and quickly arose from his seat. He moved
toward the window to catch a breath of fresh air.
" Are you ill, Eudolph?" she called to him anxiously,
'* A mere fit of dizzmess, nothing serious," he replied,
and again approached Helen. His features were greatly
altered. He walked up and down the room several times,
and then again took his seat.
" I told you, Rudolph, that Emil was going to be en-
gaged," began Helen again, emphasizing every word.
^* You said that once," he replied, mechanically and
monotonously.
" Do you approve of the step?"
** I have nothing to do with him. He is his own master,
and can do what he pleases. "
" I believe he has made his choice. If you will permit
Hie, I would like to tell you the name of the young girl."
" It is not necessary. I shall hear it soon enough when
it is proclaimed from the pulpit."
.,'ilL4&L.
GOLD ELSIE. 245
The expression of his face was icy cold, his voice sounded
harsh and repelling, and the last drop of blood seemed to
have vanished from his cheeks.
" Eudolph, I beseech you not to be so terribly gruff!''
said Helen, suppliantly. " I know very well how you dis-
like many words, and I am accustomed to your laconic
answers; but at the present moment you are simply repul-
sive, and just when I wanted to make a request of you. ''
" Speak. Am I perhaps to have the honor of being Mr.
von HoUfeld's best man?''
Helen shuddered at the cutting scorn with which these
words were spoken.
" You are not fond of poor Emil, and this aversion of
?ours is having its full effect to-day," she said, reproach-
uUy, after a Siort pause, during which Mr. von Walde had
got up and was walking rapidly up and down the room.
I beg you, then, earnestly, Rudolph, to listen to me
quietly. I must speak to you to-day about this matter."
He leaned with folded arms against the window, and said
curtly: " You see, I am ready to listen."
"The young girl," she oegan, in faltering tones, this
time not so much from any mental agitation as from the
effect of the icy cold look of her brother, " the young girl
whom Emil has selected is poor."
" Very unselfish in him, indeed! Further!"
" Emil's income is not large. "
" The poor man has only six thousand dollars a year,
and with that he must really starve!"
She kept silence, evidently perplexed. Her brother
never exaggerated, so the amount he stated must certainly
be correct even to the cent.
* Well, he may be better off than I thought," she began,
after a short pause; " and, besides, that has nothing to do
with the question. I like the young lady very much "
with what diifficulty she spoke! "she did something for
which my sisterly heart can never cease to be grateful. "
Mr. von Walde's folded arms fell apart, he began to drum
against the window-pane so hard that Helen thought the
glass would certainly break.
" She is to be my sister," she continued; " I do not wish
her to enter Emil's house poor, and I would like to give
her the revenues from my estate, K^euborn. Will you let
246 Sold elsie.
" The estate belongs to you; you are of age. I have ab-
solutely no right to forbid or allow in this matter. ''
" Oh, yes, Eadolph, inasmuch as you have tbe first
claims upon me and my property. Have I your permis-
sion, then?*'
" Unconditionally, if you persist in saying that it is
necessary "
''Thanks a thousand thanks!" she exclaimed, inter-
rupting him and offering him her hand; but he seemed not
to notice it, although his eyes were fixed upon her. " Do
you blame me for it?'' she asked after a short pause, some-
what anxiously.
" I never blame jrou, when you desire to make othe^
people happy; you will remember that I have always, with-
out nesitation, assisted you in such matters. I can blame
you, however, for being overhasty; you are too ready and
willing to make that poor young girl unhappy."
She started up as if she had been bitten by a viper.
" That is a strong expression!" she exclaimed, excitedly.
" God only knows upon what your prejudice against poor
Emil is founded, and you go too far. You are entirely too
slightly acquainted with the poor man "
" I know him entirely too well to want to know anything
more about him. He is a dishonorable sponger, a miser-
able scoundrel, without character, at whose side a woman,
even were she to lay the smallest claim to womanly upright-
ness, must inevitably be wretched. Alas for the poor creat-
ure that marries him, and finds out what he is !''^ His voice
trembled with repressed pain. Helen detected in it, how-
ever, only rancor and hatred.
'*^Heavens, how unjust!" she exclaimed, turning her
eyes, lled with tears, toward the ceiling. " Rudolph, you
are committing a great and awful sin. What has Emil
ever done to you that you pursue him with such implacable
hatred?"
" Must one needs be personally wronged before one
knows what to think of the character of another?" he in
turn inquired. " My child, you are the one who has been
grossly maltreated, but you are blind and infatuated. A
time will come when, in the deepest humility, you will be
forced to recognize this fact. Though I would so willingly
take this cup of sorrow from your lips, it is no use; it would
GOLD ELSIE. 247
be all in vsitl Yoa now offer desperate resistance, and see
in me only a barbarian who wounds your tenderest feelings.
You yourself compel me to let you go your own way alone,
until your hour of need comes, when you will fly to my
heart for refuge. It will be possible for you then to turn
and fly, but what means of escape will there be for the poor
woman who is indissolubly tied to this man?''
He went into the next room, and shut the door behind
him. Helen remained seated a short while, as though sh
were paralyzed; she then raised herself from her chair, and
left the room as fast as she could by supporting herself
against the walls.
She was filled with an inexpressible bitterness ay,
almost hatred against her brother, who had to-day for the
first time touched in such a harsh and inconsiderate man-
ner all that her heart held dear and sacred. Her heart
almost broke with sorrow when she recalled all the supposed
self-sacrifice of her lover; ay, she felt as if she had already
committed the most unpardonable sin against him by per-
mitting those shameful insults to touch her ears. He
should never learn what cruel accusations her brother had
made against him. No sacrifice, not even the greatest,
should now be too hard for her to bear in order to atone for
the injury that had been done him, although he was igno-
rant of it. Of course, after her brother had expressed such
an opinion of Hollfeld, and so openly, she could not permit
him to trespass any longer upon his hospitality. She deter-
mined of course, without giving any grounds to advise
him to return to Odenberg; but he must first arrange his
affair with Elizabeth. With these thoughts in her mind,
she entered the dining-room, and a few moments afterward,
when Hollfeld appeared, she received him with a calm,
friendly smile, and told him that her brother, without hear-
ing the name of his betrothed, had approved of her plan
relative to the young bride's dowry. She demanded, how-
ever, permission to have Elizabeth call on her to-day, and
Hollfeld, delighted at the calm manner in which she spoke,
immediately gave his consent. It was agreed that she
should receive Elizabeth in the pavilion, at four o'clock if
the afternoon, and Hollfeld withdrew at once to send a serv-
ant to Elizabeth with Helen's message. How astonished the
young girl would have been to hear him expressly charge
the servant to invite Miss Ferber at three o'clock^ while the
Hi GOLD ELSHE.
gardener received instractions to be sare to have the pavilion
ready at foar o'clock, and not a moment later!
CHAPTER XIX.
nr WHICH GOLD ELSIE BECEIVES TWO PBOPOSALS OF
MAEBIAGB, AWO MAKES HEB CHOICE.
Whek Helenas messenger rang the bell, Elizabeth was
seated in the large front hall, twining a garland of ever-
greens and ivy, while Miss Mertens, who was sitting by her
side, held a half-finished wreath of asters in her hands.
The grave in the church-yard at Lindhof had been finished,
and this afternoon, between five and six o'clock, the mortal
remains of the beautiful Lila were laid at rest. Had Jost's
dreaded eyes suddenly risen up near the young girl, they
would certainly have rested with tender emotion upon his
lovely descendant, who was twining into a garland leaves
freshly gathered from the forest, to lay upon the grave of
his beloved Lila. After consul tiog with her mother, Eliza-
beth accepted Helen's invitation, the more willingly as it
was only^ for an hour's chat. Shortly after the servant had
left, Eeinhard arrived. He looked very much troubled,
and in reply to Miss Mertens's inquiry, said that Mr. von
Walde had returned, but was in a humor that was simply
indescribable. " The experiences that he had had in the
house of mourning must have been of a lamentable nature,"
he remarked, " for 1 scarcely recognized Mr. von Walde.
I had several important business reports to make to him,
but I observed while I was talking that my words were in
vain. He sat before me like one completely broken, as if
buried in the most torturing thoughts. Strange to say, he
jumped up in a violent manner when I was on the point of
telling him of what occurred here at Nordeck, and ex-
claimed impatiently and angrily: * I have heard already
enough of this matter: be kind enough to leave me to my^
Belfnowl'"
Miss Mertens did not fail to observe that Eeinhard was
offended at the manner in which his patron had spoken to
him.
" My dear friend," she said, in a consoling tone, " at the
moment when a great sorrow has possession of our hearts
we either do not feel the existence of the outer world at all^
GOLD ELSIE. M9
or it is palatal to ub; we feel repelled when we see all
around us going on as before, unchanged and unmoved,
while our own hearts are drowned in sorrow. Mr. von
Walde was doubtless devoted to that friend of his But,
heavens! Elizabeth, what are you doing? Do you tjiiuk
that looks pretty.?^'
She pointed to the garland. While Eeinhard had been
talking Elizabeth had, with trembling hands, taken some
tremendous dahlias^ and had twined them into the garland,
which up fco that point was quite narrow and of solid green.
It was, m fact, a oad mistake, at which she herself stared
with astonished eyes and blushing cheeks. The poor
dahlias were torn from the tender green garland with as
much severity as if they themselves had been guilty of a
willful fault. The clock at Lindhof had already long ago
struck three when Elizabeth hastened down the mountain.
Her uncle had detained her, because he was much put out
at her accepting the invitation. '* For,^^ said he, and not
without good show of reason, *' that poor creature who is
to be laid away to-day is certainly worthy of having one
day, at least, devoted to her memory!'^ He, of course, had
no idea of what was going on in the young girrs heart. He
did not know that for days his little darling had been
counting the hours and minutes, each second of which
brought the moment nearer when she would hear that he
had returned; and he was forced to see his precious child,
who had heretofore been so obedient, slip out of his grasp
and disappear through the gate like a whirlwind. Her feet
scarcely touched the ground. She hoped by walking fast
to retrieve some of her lost time, and she almost shed tears
of impatience when her dress caught in a wild rose-bush,
and had to be loosened with the greatest pains and diffi-
culty. She was almost breathless when she reached the
pavilion. Both wings of the folding-doors stood open, and
the parlor was empty. A collation had been set out on the
table, and a corner of the sofa had been fixed for Helen.
Elizabeth stepped in, and with her heart much relieved,
was leaning against the window before which the ivy hung
in thick tresses, when she heard a slight noise behind her.
Hollfeld had been standing behind one of the doors, and
was now approaching her. She was about to leave the
Savilion immediately, without even honoring the contempt-
le man with a glance; but he placed himself in her way,
250 GOLD ELSIE.
not at all in an impertinent style, for there lay rather in
his manner something that seemed like respect and humil-
ity. He assured her that the ladies would appear in a mo-
ment.
Elizabeth looked up in amazement, as there was not the
slightest trace in his voice of that impertinent tone which
had recently made her so indignant
" I give you my word that Miss von Walde may come
at any moment!^' he asseverated again, when she made
another effort to reach the door. " Is my presence here so
insufferable to you?" he added, in a subdued tone, sound-
ing even a little sorrowful.
" Naturally,'' Elizabeth replied, coldly and without hesi-
tation. ** If you recall your recent behavior toward me,
you will readily understand that it is unsufferable to me to
De alone with you for a single moment. *'
" How hard and implacable that sounds! Must I really
atone so terribly for a small, unpremeditated jest?''
" I advise you to be more prudent in the future in your
choice of people with whom you intend to joke."
*' Heavens. I see plainly that it was a mistake, and I am
ashamed of my impulsiveness. How could I have anv idea
that"
^' That respect is due to me!" Elizabeth interrupted,
with flaming eyes.
" No, no; I had no doubt of that. My soul, how excited
you can get! But I had no idea that you had a right to
aemand so much, much more."
EHzabeth looked at him ipiquisitively; she evidently
failed to catch his meaning. " Can I do more than beg
your pardon upon my knees?" he continued.
** I will grant it, but only on condition that you leave me
rione at once."
" Stubborn person that you are! I would be a fool to let
this precious moment pass. Elizabeth, I have already told
you that Hove you aevotedly, ardently; love you until I
am ready to die for you!"
" And I am well aware that I have already told you that
this fact is a matter of absolute indifference to me." She
commenced to tremble, nevertheless she remained firm and
calm.
" Elizabeth, do not drive me to an extreme!" he ex-
claimed^ in the most intense a^tation.
GOLD ELSIE. f^l
*^ First of all, I must request you to observe the simplest
rule of politeness, which is not to address strangers by
their first names. '^
" You are a perfect Satan of coldness and malice/' he
exclaimed, trembling with rage. " I grant you have the
shadow of justification in torturing me,'' he added, with
difficulty controlling himself. " I have been guilty of a
fault toward you, but I will make it all up. Listen to me
just one moment patiently, and you will certainly beg my
pardon for your coldness. I now offer you my hand. You
are aware that I can offer, in point of rank and fortune, a
brilliant life to my future wife. " He looked down upon
her with a triumphant smile. It was natural ^his pretty
antagonist having never thought of this brilliant change in
affairs that she would be paralyzed with joy, but, wonder-
ful to relate, such was not the case. On the contrary,
Elizabeth drew herself up to her full height, and stepped
slightly back.
" I regret this, Mr. von Hollfeld," she replied with calm
dignity; " you might have spared yourself a painful mo-
ment. After all that I have already told you, I can with
difficulty comprehend why you should have made such an
offer. As you insist upon forcing me to speak, I must in-
form you that our paths must indefinitely separate "
" What?"
" And that I could never consent to share your life."
He stared at her for a moment as if his mind had deserted
him, or as if it was impossible for him to comprehend her
words. His face assumed a greenish tinge, and he sunk
his white teeth into his lips.
" And you really carry the comedy so far as to give me
such an answer?" he at length inquired, in an uncertain,
almost hoarse voice.
Elizabeth smiled contemptuously and turned away. This
movement threw him into an uncontrollable rage.
** The reasons I must know the reasons I" he stammered
out, again throwing himself between her and the door,
toward which she strove to go. He snatched at her dress
for the purpose of holding her back. She was terrified at
this motion, and stepped further back into the room.
'* Leave me!" she cried, in breathless anxiety; her voice
was almost suffocated by terror, but in spite of this she
262 GOLD ELSIE.
again summoned up all her courage and raised her head in
a commanding manner. *' If you have not one spark of
honor left to which I can appeal, then I am forced to make
use of my onljr weapon, by telling you that I despise you
despise you with all my heart; that I hate the very sight
of you. The hiss of a serpent could not inspire in me a
deeper disgust and revulsion than the words by which you
hoped to win my affection. I have never once felt toward
you even the slightest favor; but, if I had, it must have
been forthwith smothered by your ignoble, despicable be-
havior toward me. Let me go now quietly and ^^
He did not permit her to finish her sentence.
" Do you suppose that I'll stand that,'' he said, gnash-
ing his teeth in rage. His face, hitherto so pale, began to
glow, his eyes began to roll violently, he was beside him-
self with passion, and rushed at her like a bird of prey.
She flew to the window, because she was unable to reach t&e
door, and attempted to throw up the sash, intending to
spring out over tne low parapet, but her foot suddenly re-
mained fastened to the floor, as if paralyzed from fright
On the outside, between the shrubbery and the window, she
beheld a most terrific face, close against the window-panes.
The deathly pale features were distorted with a fiendish
grin, and from the eye, which seemed to pierce her throueh
and through, the look of a raving maniac beamed forth.
Elizabeth recognized in this creature dumb Bertha* She
trembled with terror and fell back. Hollf eld's arms re-
ceived her, and clasped her with iron force; blind with agi-
tation, he had not seen the apparition at the window.
Elizabeth pressed her icy cold hands before her eyes to hide
from them that horrible face before her; she felt the hot
breath of her persecutor pass over her fingers, and his hair
touched her cheeks; she shuddered, but she had literally
lost all physical strength; this two-fold terror had paralyzed
her, and not a sound escaped from her lips.
When she saw Hollf eld. Bertha raised her clinched fists
against the window-panes, and was on the point of smash-
ing the glass; but suddenly she turned her head sideways,
as if she were listening to some noise; she let her hands
fall, uttered a maniacal laugh, and fled into the shrubbery.
This was all the work of a few moments. At the sound of
that fiendish laughter Hollfeld looked up in terror. For a
moment his eye tried to penetrate the thicket into which
L- ^--^sjAM
GOLD ELSIE. 253
Bertha had fled, but it immediately returned and fixed it
gaae upon the form that he held in his arms, and which h
now all the more firmly pressed to his bosom. His uneasy
prudence, his deceitful efforts, his mean passions all came
to the surface now, and he no longer attempted to conceal
them from the world; through the open door the gardener
or some one of the servants might at any moment have
looked in, he now lay completely under control of his pas-
sion and therefore did not notice that in fact Miss v on
Walde, supported on the arm of her brother, was standing
in the door; behind them appeared the baroness with her
long neck and an expression of ill-humor that was evident
to me most careless observer.
" Emil!'* she cried, in a voice that was tremulous with
rage. He suddenly arose and looked around in wild con-
fusion; he involuntarily opened his arms; Elizabeth let her
hands fall from her eyes, staggered, and grasped at the
nearest chair. This time the harsh, repulsive voice of the
baroness sounded to her like sweet music, for from it came
her deliverance. And there stood that tall and manly form,
at the mere sight of which her languishing pulse began to
beat again. She could have thrown herself at his feet, and
besought him to protect her from this creature, whom die
hated and despised with all her heart, mind, and solil! But
what a look met her eye. Did this crushing glance really
proceed from his eye, which only a few days before had
looked into hers with such a wonderfully loving expression.
Was this person, with his head haughtily thrown back
and with his adiy pale brow, the same man that had
recently bent over her, and in such an ineffably tender
voice said, "May my guardian angel in the meantime
whisper into your ear that enchanted word. ** He himself
stood there like an angel of darkness, who had come to
wreak vengeance upon, to destroy, and to tread under foot
the heart of the poor, trembling girl. Helen, who had
looked at the scene that was being transacted in the center
of the room, as though she were lifeless or made of stone,
suddenly withdrew her arm from her brother^ and tottered
toward Elizabeth; she did not doubt for a moment that
HoUfeld had pleaded his cause with success, and that the
contract had been made.
" Welcome, dear Elizabeth, a thousand times!'' she ex-
claimed in an agitated manner, while, floods of tears start-
354 GOLD ELSIE.
ing from her eyes, she took the young girl's trembling
hands into hers.
** Emil has in you presented me with a dear sister; if you
will love me as such, I will never cease to be grateful.
Do not be so sullen, Amalie/' she said, turning to the
baroness, who was still standing like a statue outside the
Eivilion. " Upon this depends EmiFs happiness for life,
ook at Elizabeth. Does she not fulfill all claims which
you can justly make upon her who is to stand so near to
you in the future? Young, blessed by nature, of an old
family of famous name '^ She stopped from sheer amaze-
ment It seemed as if now for the first time life was again
entering into Elizabeth^s numb lijnbs, and that she could
comprehend what was being said. By a quick motion
she withdrew both hands from Helen, and suddenly stood
by her side, raising her figure to its full height.
" You are mistaken. Miss von Walde,' she said, in a
voice strangely tremulous. " I am of humble birtih and
position/'
** What, have you not a well established right to the
name ' Von Greswit '?"
" Yes, undoubtedly, but we have renounced this right."
" Would you really tread under foot such a piece of good
fortune?''
" I can not conceive how true good fortune and hiappi-
ness can depend upon a mere sound, a word." It was ap-
parent how she strove to give firmness to her hollow voice.
In the meantime the baroness had approached. She now
began to comprehend what was going on. In her heart she
was furious; because her son h^ made his choice without
in the slightest respect asking her advice or her approval;
moreover, the object of his choice was and remained cordially
despised by her. But she well knew that any interference on
her part would at most call forth from her son a look of pity
or perhaps of scorn, and that he would be only the more deter-
mined in his plans; it was, furthermore, a matter of prime im-
portance for her and her private interests that Helen had
taken the matter into her own hands, and seemed bent upon
carrying it through in the spirit of enthusiastic self-sacrifice.
Although she was completely in the dark as to the motive
of this most remarkable fact, still she felt instinctively that
in this point she had no disadvantage to fear, and so
she quickly concluded, although with a spiteful heart, to
GOLD ELSIE. 256
Assame a smiling expression in a losing game^ and to play
the part of a pardoning and forgiving mother, EUzabeth's
answer, however, suddenly closed her mouth again. The
hope, then, arose that the young girl would herself ruin
the whole thing by means of her obstinacy, and therefore
she determined to pour oil on the fire.
" There we come in contact with a very narrow-minded
conception, my dear,' ^ she said to Helen, whom Elizabeth's
answer had almost staggered. ** You may, however, have
forcible reasons for avoiding the light of higher regions,'^
she continued, turning to Elizabeth.
" I have absolutely no cause for avoiding the light,'' she
replied, speaking in a far calmer and firmer voice than be-
fore; " it would have to disclose to me suddenly unsus-
Sected, ugly flaws in my character, as it brings out, inti
azzling prominence, the spots upon that coat-of-arms.
But we love our name, because it is pure and honorable,
and do not wish to exchange this spotless legacy for a fort-
une that was amassed through the tears and laoor of other
people.''
Heavens, how exalted!" exclaimed the baroness.
"You can not be in earnest, Elizabeth," said Helen.
** Do not forget that upon this the life-long happiness of
two individuals depends. "
She cast a glance at the young girl that was full of mean-
ing, but which, of course, she could not comprehend.
"Into the sphere to which you are from now going to
belong, you must bring with you a noble name; that you
know as well as I do, and so you will not, for the sake of a
caprice, destroy your own hopes and the hopes of others
besides."
" But I am totally unable to catch yonr meaning!" ex-
claimed Elizabeth, in great agitation. " I have no idea of
connecting any hope with that name; and least of all can I
perceive how the wishes or the fate of others can depend
upon the decision of such a poor, insignificant girl as I
am. "
"You are not poor, my dear child," she continued,
deeply^ moved, " from to-dav on, you and I are true sisters!
Isn t it BO, dear Eudolph, she said, not without some
hesitation, turning to her brother, "you, too, welcome
Emil's betrothed into oar family, and will permit me t%
diare with her like a sister all I have?"
J256 GOLD ELSIS.
*' YeB," was the hoUow-sounding, bat firm reply.
Elizabeth pressed her hands to her head, it seemed so in-
credible, what she had just teard. Had Miss von Walde
really said, " Emil's betrothedr' She, Emil's betrothed.
It was impossible that she could have heard that!
Had these people formed a conspiracy to frighten her to
death? And he, he knew that she detested HoUfeld, and
still he too took sides against her; he stood before her with
his arms folded, the picture of imbittered severity and
coldness. He had stood there the whole time motionless,
and now only moved his lips to utter that word yes, which
almost crushed the poor girl. Had he not before attempted
in the harshest manner to prevent his cousin from even ap-
proaching her. At this thought a flash of light illumined
her soul. She was now of noble name and family. HoU-
feld's family-tree would not now be dishonored by a woman
of low degree; and hence the willingness of his relatives to
assist him in the execution of his plans; and hence also
Helenas embarrassment, when she declared her aversion to
her new name. How they all could, with one accord, how-
ever, assume such a relation between HoUfeld and herself
was to her still incomprehensible; for her thoughts reeled
in wild confusion. Only one thing was clear to her; she
must forthwith, without further hesitation, repel such a sus-
picion.
** I see that I am the object of a misapprehension, the
origin of which still remains an enigma to me,^^ she began
in nervous haste. " It would naturally be Mr. von HoU-
feld's duty to explain this matter; as he, however, prefers
to keep silence, I find myself compelled to declare that he
never has had the slightest promise from me!^'
** But, my dear child,'' said Helen, faltering and embar-
rassed, " didn't we see with our own eyes as we entered,
that *' She stopped abruptly.
Like a stroke of lightning was the effect of these words
upon Elizabeth. It had never suggested itself to her pure
and innocent mind that that terrible moment of fright and
helplessness could have been misconstrued, and now she
i)erceived to her great pain that he had cast upon her a
oathsome suspicion. She turned suddenly again to HoU-
feld; but she saw at a glance that she could hope for no
satisfaction, no vindication from him. He had half turned
his back upon the rest, and was leaning Uke a sulky school-
GOLD ELSIE. 25?
boy against the window. If the ladies had been alone he
would certainly have tried to save himself by a- web of
skillful lies; but Mr. von Waldo's presence completely
paralyzed him. He contented himself by keeping a pro-
lound silence, which authorized the most varied inferences.
" Oh, my God, how terrible !'' cried the young girl, be-
side herself, wringing her hands. " You saw,'^ she con-
tinued, with downcast eyes, after drawing a deep breath,
" how a defenseless woman was making the most desperate
efforts to repel the advances of a dishonorable man. The
assurance of my deepest hatred, of my absolute aversion
were not sufficient to repel him. I have always openly de-
clared to Mr. von Hollfeld these same opinions, but in
sj)ite of this ^^
A loud noise behind her caused her suddenly to break
off. Helen had sunk back on the sofa, her right hand held
in its convulsive grasp the table-cloth, and trembled so
violently that the porcelain ornaments on the table rattled
against one another. Her face had become deathly pale;
her fading eyes turned uncertainly toward Hollfeld. In
vain she strove to master her overwhelming consternation,
the light that was suddenly cast upon a great net of ugly
intrigues was too dazzling; its glare had somewhat of the
effect of the annihilating violence of lightning upon the poor
young ffirl who had been so trustful, so unsuspecting.
Although so agitated herself, and about to give further ex-
pression to her indignation, Elizabeth felt, however, her
heart melt with sympathy for the poor girl. She had torn
the scales from the eyes of the unfortunate woman, and,
though she had done it in defense of her own honor, it,
nevertheless, caused her great pain, and still it must have
been done sooner or later. She stepped up to her quickly
and seized her icy hands, which had fallen down from the
table.
'* Oh, pardon me for having terrified you hj my violent
words,*^ she said, beseechingly, but in a firm voice. " You
can easily put yourself in my place. A few explanatory
words from Mr. von Hollfeld would have been sufficient to
have relieved me of that dishonorable suspicion. I would
not, then, have been compelled to express so openly nay
opinion of his character, and of his behavior. I regret bit-
terly that it was necessary, but I can not retract one iota
of what I said. '^
258 GOLD ELSIE.
She kissed Helen's hand and silently withdrew from the
pavilion. It seemed to her that Mr. von Walde had hastily
extended to her his hand, as she passed him, but she did
not look up.
Her mind was in an indescribable agitation.
On leaving the pavilion she had turned into the narrow
tortuous path that led through the thicket to the lake; she
crossed the large gravel area in front of the villa, and fol-
lowed the narrow forest road leading to the " Tower of the
Nuns/^ without knowing where she was, without thinking
that every step carried her further from home.
Her brain was in tempestuous confusion. HoUfeld^s
proposal of marriage, his uncontrollable passion, Bertha's
sudden appearance at the window, the mcomprehensible
fact that Helen had joyfully greeted her as the betrothed of
the man whom she herself passionately loved; all this kept
passing through her mind, and ever and anon the sound of
tiiat yes ''of Mr. von Walde reverberated amid it all.
He would have welcomed her as Hollfeld's betrothed, it
would not have cost him then the slightest pain to have
seen her at the side of his cousin, as his future wife! This
marriage had evidentlv been fixed upon in full family
council. Mr. von Walde had with calm and prudent
thoughtf ulness weighed the pros and cons, and had finally
agreed with his sister that Emil's choice would no longer be
a disgrace to the Von HoUfelds; they proposed to accept her
gracefully, and to provide a remedy for her poverty mag-
nanimously out of their own means.
At the thoaght of this, Elizabeth clinched her teeth, as
if she were in violent pain. An ineffable bitterness filled
her heart, whose deepest and truest affection had not been
appreciate, bat trampled under foot by that cold, calcula-
ting aristocrat How could she have hoped that he would
ever feel a sympathy for the warm pulsating heart of a
woman, for a young soul, which, in its striving for free-
dom, had no place for those selfish, often ridiculous laws of
men ^he, who sought for the glory and attractions of
woman amid the rubbish and decay of old families.
She would stop now and then, sunk in deep thought, and
would then hasten onward as though driven by her thoughts,
without noticing that she was following nearly the same
road she had trodden a few days before at his side, full of
modesty and fear. The branches of the bushes strjack her
GOLD ELSn. S59
In the f ace^ but she did not remember how caref nlly he had
held them back when they threatened her that day. The
bashes were still broken and the leaves lay withering on the
ground where Miss von Quittlesdorf and HoUfeld had
cleared a path for themselves to reach the lonesome wan-
derers. This was the place also, where the half-finished
congratulation had been whispered into her ear; Elizabeth
passed inattentively by, and it was well that it was so, for
there were no tears m her burning eyes, and here she
would assuredly have broken her poor heart weeping.
At last she began to look around her in amazement. She
was standing before the " Tower of the Nuns/' She was
perhaps the first human being that had visited the festive
grounds since the last guests, or the wearied servants had
left it that night. It looked deserted and disorderly; there
was not an untrodden blade of grass to be seen; everything
had been crushed by the dance, which had evidently not
been a dance of the fairies. The two cedars that had sup-
ported the sutler's tent lay on the ground amid the remains
of broken bottles and charred fire-works; and above, the
withered garlands were still hanging suspended between
the oaks and the tower; a gentle breeze passed over the
lauguishing flowers which had been compelled to wither and
die in the presence of so many enjoyments. A gentle
twilight was already hovering beneath the oaks, although
their tops were gilded with golden sunbeams.
Elizabeth suddenly became conscious of her loneliness in
the heart of the forest, and shuddered; nevertheless she was
irresistibly drawn toward that place in the forest where Mr.
von Walde had taken leave of ner. She crossed the much-
trodden grass lawn^; but suddenly remained stock still, as
though rooted to the ground, for the evening breeze bore
with it the solitary broken cries of a human voice. At first
it sounded like a distant lonely cry for help, but gradually
the sounds became connected, and seemed to be approach-
ing rapidly. It was the sharp, ringing voice of a woman,
shrieking rather than singing a hymn. ^ Elizabeth distinct-
ly perceived that the person was running rapidly forward,
wlule continuing to smg. Suddenly the tane ceased, and
in its place was heard an outburst of terrific laughter, or
rather a yell that formed a scale of defiance, triumph and
of distressing sorrows. A horrible suspicion arose in Eliza-
beth's mind. Terrified, she stared in the direction from
360 GOLD ELSIE.
which the noise came. At this moment it again ceased,
and the voice again commenced the hymn; now however
it was approaching at double-quick pace.
Elizabeth stepped into the open door of the tower, as she
was not anxious to get in the way of the wandering musician,
who was evidently a very weird individual; she had, how-
ever, scarcely crossed the threshold when the laughter again
burst forth, and this time very near at hand. On the other
side of the lawn Bertha suddenly plunged out of the under-
growth, with Wolf, the fierce watch-dog of the forester, at
her side.
" Oatch her. Wolf !'* she snarled, stretching out both
hands toward Elizabeth. The animal dashed across the
lawn, with a fierce howl.
Elizabeth slammed the door and ran up the steps. She
had gained an advantage, but before she had reached the
battlement of the tower the door below had been forced
open, the furious animal rushed up the steps, and behind
him the maniac, urging him on by her uninterrupted cries
of encouragement. Breathless she reached the last step.
She could hear the snarling of the mad animal behind her;
he was right at her heels. She slammed to the oaken door
leading to the terrace with her last strength, and threw her
body against it
One moment iater and Bertha was rattling against the
lock, but it remained fast. She raved and threw herself
with all the weight of her body against the oaken panels,
while Wolf alternately howled and snarled at the thresh-
old.
** You yellow witch, out there!^' she cried. ** FU wring
your neck for you. I'll drag you by your flaxen hair
through the forest. You stole his heart from me. You
E ale-faced wench, you virtuous one, you hypocrite! Catch
er. Wolf, catch her!''
The dog whined and scratched at the door with his paws.
" Tear ner in pieces. Wolf. Strike your teeth into her
white fingers that bewitched him with music that came
from the devil! Woe, woe! Damned may you be, and
damned be the harmonies which your fingers made; may
they become daggers that will pierce and tear your own
heart!''
A^ain she threw herself against the door* The old fram^
GOLD ELSIE. 261
creaked and groaned^ bat remained unmoved by the blow9
of that small, powerless foot.
All this while Elizabeth was leaning against the door
with her lips tightly closed and her face as white as a sheet
She had seized a billet of wood that was lying at her feet
for the purpose of defending herself against the dog in
case of necessity. Her whole body trembled, while Bertha
was uttering her oaths and imprecations, but she stood all
the more brave and determined. Had she examined the
door, she would have seen that the pressure of her slight
body was totally unnecessary, for a powerful bolt had
sprung, against which the weak force of the mad girl could
accomplish nothing.
" Do you intend to open the door?*' she commenced to
rave again from the inside. **You transparent, fragile
creature! Ha, ha, ha! Gold Elsie he calls you, that old
bear whom 1 hate like poison; the old man will not be
pious under any circumstances; he^ll certainly go to hell,
but I shall be saved and happy! He calls you Gold Elsie,
because you have golden hair. Fy, how ugly you are, you
fox! My hair is olack like the wing of a raven. I am
pretty, a thousand times prettier than you! Do you hear
me, you ape out there ?^' She ceased from sheer exhaus-
tion, and Wolf likewise ceased his work of destruction on
the threshold. At this moment the distant sound of bells
was heard through the quiet evening air. Prom the ruins
of the old Castle of Nordeck a funeral procession com-
menced to move down the mountain. The mortal remains
of Lila were being conveyed from the house, against the
walls of which the lovely gypsy child had once beat its
tender forehead. She was bemff borne through the green
forest, for the love of which her heart had been broken two
centuries before.
Bertha also seemed to hear the sound of the bells. She
remained perfectly still.
** The bells are ringing!** she cried, suddenly. " Come,
Wolf, let us go to church. She must remain up here amid
the clouds, which will gather around her to-night; the
storm wQl rend her hair, and the ravens will pluck out her
eyes, for she is accursed, accursed!**
Forthwith she began to sing that hymn f^n.
Her frightful voice reverberated against the narrow walla
of the stairway in the most horrible manner. She ran do wo
GOLD EL8IB)
the stops^ railing in the most f urioas manner^ and rasbed
oat of flie door. She hastened across the lawn in the same
direction whence she had come, with the dog bounding at
her heels. Not once did she turn around to look back at
the tower; now that she had her back turned to it she
seemed to have forgotten already that up there behind the
gray stone balustrade the object of her implacable hatred
stood trembling with terror. Once more the bright red
dress emerged from- the dark undergrowth, and then the
form disappeared, together with its terrible companion.
Gradually the sound of her song died away, and the even-
ing breeze brought no other noise to the lone girl on the
battlement of the tower but the tolling of the church-bells.
Breathing more freely, she at length relinquished her
position of defense, which she had mechanically retained
the whole time, and seized the door-latch, but the old lock
remained as immovable for her as it had done for Bertha.
She discovered with some fright that the bolt had sprung;
it had, indeed, protected her bravely, but it now h^ld her
prisoner. It would not move one inch in spite of all her
efforts and attempts; wearied and discouraged, the young
girl let her hands fall helpless at her sides.
What was she to do? Sne began to think anxiously about
her parents, who at that very moment perhaps were
troubled about her staying oat so late, because she had of
course intended to be present at the burial.
Around her waved the tops of the giant forest trees,
which here and there were still tinged with the last rays of
the setting sun. Far away in the distance could be seen
on the edge of the forest one bright streak; there lay L
with its proud villa; and its lonff rows of windows reflected
once more a brilliant light, whidi almost immediately died
away. And there the ruins of Nordeck loomed up, but
the forest concealed her beloved home; not even the flag-
staff, which was usually visible at such a great distance,
could be seen from this point. Elizabeth at once gave up
all hope of being seen, and she said to herself that her feeble
cries for help must also die away without being heard, for
the tower was situated so deep in the forest that no fre-
quented public highway led near it, and it was not likely
tnat any one would be traveling at dusk along those quiet
roads, that led nowhere else but to the ifuns* Tower,
Nevertheless she determined to try, and uttered one cry.
GOLD ELSIE. 263
How weak ifc sounSedl It seemed to her as if the nearest
trees had absorbed it; it had only frightened up a few
ravens that cawed and flew away over the young girl's head,
and again all was still, fearfully still. The church-bells ot
Lindhof had also ceased. ^ There was still a reddish glow
in the west, tenderly fringing a few small clouds, but the
forest already lay in the deep shadows of evening. Eliza-
beth walked up and down the terrace of the tower, not
knowing what to do. Now and then she would stop on the
corner nearest to the villa at Lindhof, and^ utter nelpless
cries for assistance. At last she gave up in despair, and
sat down on the bench, which was built into the exterior
wall of the stairway, and was protected by the tile-roof
from wind and weather.
She was not afraid of having to spend the night up there,
because it was evident that they would search the forest
for her. But until she was discovered in her prison, what
hours of tormenting uncertainty and dread ner parents
would suffer! This thought made her inexpressibly un-
easy, and increased her nervous excitement All the im-
Eressions she had received to-day had been of such a terri-
le nature, and she was forced to bear it all without any
support whatever, except that of her own moral strength.
Her knees were still trembling from the effects of these last
moments of fright What could have caused Bertha's in-
sanity to break forth all at once? She had spoken of a
heart of which she had robbed her; could it be really true,
as her mother had recently upon several occasions suggested,
that HoUfeld had some connection with the dark story?
At this thought of his name, all the painful impressions
which had overwhelmed her to-day arose before her mind
again. Now, however, that she was sitting quiet and un-
disturbed, close against the strong wall, brought nearer to
the dark sky, and feeling no sign of life around her, except
the moan of the damp night wind, which passed its cooling
touch over her burmng cheeks, now that sallen defiance,
with which she had tned to arm her crushed heart gave
way, and her eyes began to grow moist. It was now all
over. She had to-day broken off all intercourse with the
Eeo^le at Lindhof villa forever. She had robbed Helen of
er idea. Though Mr. von Walde thought that he was be-
stowing a valued gift upo\ her by ^ving his consent when
asked by Helen^ ^ hii last his j(ift at her feet; she had
S64 GOLD ELSIX.
certainly wounded his pride deeply. Perhaps she would
never see him again; he would set out on his journey and
would be happy to be able to forget the disagreeable im-
pression which the ungrateful behavior of the poor little
musician of Kordeck had made upon him.
She covered her face with her hands, and the tears welled
up between her slender white fingers.
In the meantime night was coming on; it did not be-
come^ however, completely dark. The narrow crescent of
the new moon already stood high in the heavens, and the
shining planets had issued forth from their hiding places
and commenced their wanderings, not knowing that that
other planet, the Earth, their companion in all their jour-
neyings, contained within it millions of lesser worlds, each
of which contained its heights and depths, its tempestuous
oceans, with their tidal ebbs and flows, their mighty
storms, but rarely the sacred calm of peace.
There was busy life in the tower. Groans of anxiety and
gentle sighs of lamentation were heard. Heavy blows re-
sounded against the steps, grating noises came forth from
the inner walls of the tower, and knocks were heard at the
door; the owls and bats were anxious to make their nightly
calls, but in vain sought to find their wonted exits. Kust-
ling and crashing sounds rose up from the forest, and the
deer broke fort from the woods, in perfect security, and
wandered through the cleared spaces. From the remote
distance eastwai^, where the forest, in almost primeval
luxuriance and wildness sloped down into deep valleys
and rose up a^ain on the other side, a gentle noise fell
upon Elizabeth s ear. Each time she drew closer to the
wall beneath the protecting roof, gently trembling, as if
some gloomy pair of eyes might peer at her even from that
distance.
Still no help came. Her anxiety that her parents would
become uneasy about her was well founded. They, of
course, supposed that she was still at the villa, and were per-
haps quite angry at her staying away so long. They would
probably wait for her until ten o'clock, and so it might be
midnight before she could be released.
It began to grow very cool. She drew her light wrap
over her breast, tied her handkerchief around her neck,
nd still she was chilly. She saw herself compelled ta
60LD Blidtfir 265
Iralk up and down the terrace^ to keep warm. Kow and
then she would lean over the balustrade, and look down.
White strips floated and waved over the clear space,
whirled together, and were again torn apart; the mists
were rising from the damp ground. Elizabeth no longer
thought, as she had done before, of the magnificence, of
the pride and vanity, that a few days ago had spread itself
like a proud peacock down there, no longer of those empty
words which had been spoken and had caused such a
buzzing amid this solitude, as though the Tower of the
Nuns were not standinff upon venerable Thuringian soil,
but raised its lofty head on the banks of the Euphrates.
From amid the mist arose the shadows of the nuns witii
their rigid, nassionless features, the warm hearts beneath
their long, Sowing gowns, and the waxen brows beneath
their dismal fillets, free from all the restless, tormenting
thoughts which had beset their paths between heaven and
earth, and which had ever persistently returned to this nar-
row life full of sin and evil passions. Elizabeth thought
of those dark times when these frowning walls were being
built to atone for the crime of a noble murderer. Gold,
unyielding stones to appease the anger of Him who gave
us the livmg Word, who Himself is the original source of
all love that is pure and eternal! Could all the prayers of
the living dead, all their masses and grand -sounding music
wipe out those blood spots which the murderer carried with
, him up to the throne of the Eternal One? No; a thousand
times no I He does not suffer one in the service of Baal to
burn incense to Him, and He does not change His eternal
decrees according to the undisceming prayers of His creat-
ures.
What a horrible piece of the history of the ' Von Gres-
wit ' family did these crumbling walls proclaim! And yet
it was thought that a person who was conscious of an earnest
and sincere striving after virtue and spiritual progress
could only gain respect and esteem by rejecting an unsullied
name to assume this name. A pure life was of no avail in
the eye of this code, which was in fact the mere creature of
a human brain, and a nullity in effect. Was the supersti-
tion that tied witches to the stake more barbarous than the
delusion of birth privileges, which crushes out many a
noble and beautiful human soul and produces consequences
iven more disastrous than the flames of the stake? That
GOLD ELSIE.
delusion^ whicli stubbornly opposes the design of the All^^
wise Being, in accordance witn which all His children leave
His hand alike, alike in outward form, in their construe-,
tion, m the equipment of their minds, with which the king
as well as the beggar suffers or enjoys in like manner, alike
in the construction of that spark of light that gives life to
this external frame; or where can a soul be found, even
though it be on the apex of human perfection, that has not
its weaknesses, or where the most degraded man in whom
can not be found beneath the mass of imperfections at least
one good quality? And he, who bore upon his brow the
mark of a thinkmg man, whose look and voice could melt,
however rarely, into a tenderness such as could proceed
only from a mind capable of deep emotions, he, too, was
under the influence of this baneful prejudice? He placed
perishable form above that immortal right we have of
thinking and acting without restraint. And was not love,
the most exalted and most sacred feeling of the human
heart, exactly the feeling that was most often disregarded
and abused by that code of laws? If Elizabeth had loved
Hollfeld, what would have been her lot, without that dis-
covery in the old castle? And if a feeling of affection
the young girl^s lips trembled had ever ansen in Mr. von
Waldo's breast toward her, and he would now come and
offer her his hand? Terrible thought! Never, never could
she live near him with the consciousness that her infinite
love was returned only in so far as " convenances* or the
antiquated and callous laws of his class would permit. The
pain of renunciation lost a great deal of its terror at the
thought of this.
Elizabeth walked to the corner of the balustrade with
a dark frown on het brow, and looked in the direction
of the Lindhof villa. There the deepest^ silence reigned.
The same stars were sending their rays impartially down
upon the most wretched hut of the village as well as upon
the proud castle; or was there really a single ray of red light
over there at the place where the forest ended and the
park began. No, the light arose from the ground, and,
(][uickly penetrating the thick forest, tinged with a reddish
light the tops of the trees. There was now no longer a
doubt, it was a torch that was being borne along the nar-
row forest road, by which Elizabeth had come to the Nun's
Tower. For a moment the light stood still, and at the
GOLD ELSIE. 267
Bame moment Elizabeth heard a cry. She felt with jo;
that help was near, that she was being searched for, ani
raised her voice to answer, although she Knew that the feeble
gound could not reach so far. For a moment longer the
torch remained still, and then in flying haste came nearer
and nearer. She was soon able to distinguish the torch,
and saw a shower of sparks, as though it were being beaten
ftgainst the ground.
" Elizabethr^ suddenly resounded through the forest.
The voice seemed to pierce her inmost being, for it waa
his voice; Mr. von Walde was calling her in tones of inde-
scribable anguish.
** Here/' she cried, ** here I am up on the Towerl**
The torch-carrier dashed through the thicket and across
the opening. In a few moments he was standing at the top
of the steps, and rattling against the door. There quickly
followed several mighty kicks, and the old frame fell into
Eieces. Mr. von Walde stepped out upon the terrace. In
is left hand he held the torch, and with his right he drew
Elizabeth beneath the flame. He wore no hat, his dark
hair fell disorderly over his forehead and his face was ashy
pale; His eye ran like a flash over her form, as if he
wished to convince himself that she was really unharmed.
He seemed to be in the most indescribable agitation; the
hand with which he held her arm trembled violently, and
at first he could not speak a word.
" Elizabeth, poor child !^' he said at length, with a deep
sigh. '* Did that insult which was inflicted upon you in
my house drive you here among these deserted walls?'*
Elizabeth explained to him that her remaining up there
had not been voluntary, as the bolted door proved, and, in
hasty words, related the whole course of events. She then
started down the steps. He led the way, and offered her
his hand to support her; but she seized the rope that served
as a baluster, and turned her eyes away for the purpose of
disregarding his movements. At that moment the torch
went out in a strong draught; it was already burning very
feebly.
" &ive me your hand now,'* he said, relapsing into his
old imperious tones.
" I can hold on to the baluster, and do not need any
other support," she said, refusing to do so. The words
iad scarcely passed her lips, when she felt herself seized by
368 OOLD ELSIB.
two strong arms^ lifted like a feather and carried down Hbm
^' Foolish child/' he said, gently setting her down on the
lawn, " I have no idea of letting you break your neck on
these hard stones !'*
She sfcarfced to follow the road that led directly to the
Lindhof villa; it was the shortest way. Mr. von Walde
walked silently at her side.
** You intend to leave me to-day without saying a forgiv-
ing word?'* he asked, suddenly stopping. The tone of his
voice showed that pain and repressed bitterness were con-
tending for the mastery. *' Have I had the misfortune to
insult you?''
" Yes, you hurt my feelings."
^' Because I did not call my cousin to an immediate ac*
count?"
" You couldn't do that, because you approved of his be-
havior. You, as well as the rest, wished to compel me to
bestow my hand on Mr. von Hollfeld."
" I compel you! Child, how little you know about the
heart of a man: I was laboring under a fatal delusion, or
rather, I wanted to free myself completely from a delusion.
I wanted to test you when I said yes.' On the contrary
you shall see that I shall dismiss everything that can remind
?ou of this unfortunate occurrence of to-day. Are you
ond of Lindhof?"
"Yes."
*' Baroness von Lessen is going to leave, and I am going
to ask you to visit my sister and comfort her when when
I again set forth into the wide and dismal world. Will
you?"
" I can not promise you that*'
"And why not?"
" Miss von Walde will not desire my company, and even
if she did, I have already told you once to-day that I do
not intend to assume that new name."
" Strange answer! It has no place here Ah, now I
understandl At last it is clear to my eyes! You think that
I approved Hollfeld 's choice, because you had suddenly
acquired a noble name. What, isn't it soP"
^' Yes, I do think so."
" And you further infer that, for this reason, too, I now
ask you to be my sister's companion? In general yoa be
.^^.
GOLD ELSUS. 269
lieve that the aristocrat plays the chief part in all I do and
think?^'
" Yes, indeed!^'
" And now I ask you what name did you bear, when here
in this very road I begged you for a congratulation?' '
" At that time we did not know what secrets were con-
cealed in the old castle, '^ whispered Elizabeth, so that it
could scarcely be heard.
" Have you forgotten the words which you repeated after
me that day?*'
" No. I remember every syllable clearly and accurate-
ly/^ replied the young girl, promptly.
" Well, and do you suppose that such a congratulation
could end with ' a happy new year,' or any other similar
expression?"
The young girl did not answer, but blushed deeply and
looked up at him.
" Listen to me quietly, Elizabeth," he continued, but he
himself was so agitated that one could hear his heart beat-
ing in the tremulous and excited tone in which he spoke.
" A man whom from his cradle fortune had favored with
rank and wealth mistrusted these very advantages when he
began to think for himself. He feared that through these
very privileges he would lose all that to him seemed happi-
ness. He created for himself, therefore, with respect to
the choice of his companion in life an ideal; not that he
demanded extraordinary mental and physical attractions;
he sought merely a woman who possessed a rich and pure
heart, who had no desire for the advantages of rank and
wealth, and who would devote herself to him, to him alone,
without any other consideration. He gradually came to
the conclusion that his ideal would remain only an ideal;
for during the course of his searches he had become exactly
thirty-seven years old. When hope has already folded her
wings, and it begins to grow dark, then in the twelfth hour
the glowing red of dawn has in it something that is over-
powering for a human soul. It is violently torn from the
beaten track in which it has been moving, and the very de-
lay and long waiting plunge it into a sea of doubt, and do
not permit it to believe positively in its sudden good fort-
une. Elizabeth, he found such a heart, one that, sup-
ported by a discerning, richly endowed mind, stood high
above those paltry interests; but it beat in a bosom trat
270 GOLD ELSIE.
was young and endowed with every attraction. Was it
strange "then that this mature man, who well knew that he
possessed no special outward attraction, should look with
mistrust and anxiety upon another, who could throw into
the scales both youth and a handsome person? Was it
strange that by a look, a word, an act, of the young girl
he could one moment be lifted up to the highest hopes, only
in the next to be plunged into the deepest despair, when he
saw that other person paying her devoted attention? Was
it not quite comprehensible if he feared that youth would
attract youth? Never, perhaps, has a man's heart more
ardently longed for the fulfilling of his wishes'than did his,
and never, perhaps, have such tormenting doubts as to his
success seized a man's heart as took possession of his.
And when he was told that his little idolized darling was
going to belong to another, then he drank the cup of woe
to its dregs, and said, * yes,' because he thought he was do-
ing as she would like. Elizabeth, I stood to-day on that
threshold, annihilated and in despair. You do not know
what it means when a boatman has put all his treasures
and jewels into one boat and sees that boat sink before his
eyes. Shall I describe to you what my sensations were
when you with such determination spumed that new
name, and thereby made your union with Hollfeld impossi-
ble? Must I tell you that only the condition of -my sister,
and consideration for her kept me from punishing that dis-
honorable scoundrel before her eyes? He has already left
Lindhof and will never cross your path again. Will you
forget the insult to which you were subjected to-day in my
house?*'
He had long ago grasped both her hands and held them
to his breast. She made no resistance, and with trembling
lips said, *^ Yes."
" And shall we not forget everything, my sweet little
Gold Elsie, that has intervened between the beginning and
the end of that congratulation? My beloved, fair-haired
girl, the joy of my eyes, my little Elizabeth Perber will
again stand before me, and submissively repeat word for
word, will she not? The last sentence, that was so cruelly
interrupted, is '*
" Here is my hand, as a pledge of an inexpreisible joy,''
faltered Elizabeth.
" Z will be yours in life and death, through all eternity I''
..;^it&;'.
QOLD ELSIB. 27\
Bat she in vain tried to open her lips to repeat the words,
which be solemnly uttered, with the deepest emotion.
Tears burst from her eyes, and she threw her arms around
his neck; he pressed her to his breast in ecstasy.
** My heavenly dream is again flying from me,*' he said,
with a sigh, as Elizabeth gently released herself from his
arms. " Let me at least hold your hand, Elizabeth; I
must first learn to believe in my happiness. When you
leave me to-day, I shall again relapse into the night of
doubt. You have irrevocaoly determined to be mine?
You know that you must now leave your father and your
mother and your beloved home on the mountain for my
** Yes, I know it, and I will, Eudolph,'* she said, smil-
ing, but without hesitation.
" God bless you, my darling, for those words. But now
you shall learn the full force of my doubts. Was it not
merely your pity for my infinite love that prevailed upon
you to yield to my impetuous suit?^*
** No, Eudolph, it was love that love which has been
burning within my heart since I looked into your angry
eyes, smce I heard your voice pass inexorable judgment
upon human barbarity and harshness. And since that time
this love has never left me, but has increased and grown
more mighty in spite of all my efforts to smother it, in
spite of all the rough words that so often mortally wounded
me.''
" Who wounded you?*'
"You, yourself. You were harsh and inconsiderate
toward me.''
" Oh, child, that was the outburst of mad jealousy! I
had exercised myself during my whole life in the art of self-
control, but that most terrible of all tortures would not be
controlled. And, on that account, my little girl wanted to
destroy the heaven she has just opened to me?"
" No, not on that account; for it would have been need-
less trouble. One warm look from you made every tlung all
right again; but another obstinate enemy appeared in the
field my reason. It had persisted in giving ear to the
general belief in your incredible aristocratic pride, and re-
peated to me energetically whenever my heart began to be-
come agitated the ground upon which it was said vou had
vejected the hand of one of the princesses maids of honor. "
272 GOLD ELSIB.
" Ahl the sixteen ancestors," exclaimed Mr. von Walde,
smiling. ^^ Don't you see, little Gold Elsie, that is the de-
cree of Fate!" he continued, in a more serious tone. ^' In
order to escape what was intensely disagreeable to me, I
seized without further consideration upon the first means
that suggested itself; and, as I now see, came within one
hairVbreadth of losing my whole happiness in this life. I
am very much attach^ to Prince von L , but my visits
to bid court were for a long time made absolutely insuffer-
able by reason of the many marriage schemes with which
they all, and especially Princess Catharine, persecuted me.
She had set her mind upon making a matcn between one
of her ladies and me. It was considered perfectly impossi-
ble that I could feel indifferent toward the young lady, be-
cause she wa? recognized as the chief beauty at court, and
had made a conquest of many hearts. All my protests
were of no avail, and they continued to spin out tne little
intrigue further and further, until one day I cut the whole
matter short by declaring to her highness that a choice of
that kind would cost me one of my handsomest estates;
because the will of my uncle provided that this estate
should Bevert to the State if I were to inarry a wife who
could not count sixteen ancestors. With this declaration,
all my torments ceased. In the whole length and breadth
of this little principality no such ancient family could be
found, and tJiey ail knew that I would not give up my
estate."
" And for nay sake you now propose to endure so great
a loss?" cried Elizabeth, much moved.
** It \b no loss, Elizabeth; it is only an exchange by
which I gain an invaluable treasure, the highest happiness
in life." Suddenly a torch loomed up in the thicket.
" Stop here!'* exclaimed Mr. von Walde.
Forthwith one of his servants stood before him. He
ordered him to hasten as quickly as possible to iN'ordeck,
and announce that Miss Ferber would soon be there.
** I have been very selfish, Elizabeth," he said, placing
her arm within his, and hastening forward. ^^ I knew that
?onr people were in the greatest anxiety about you; your
ather and uncle are searching for youin the prince's forest,
and all mv servants, and all the peasants from Lindhof are
ranging throuffh the whole region in every direction; bat
I forgot everything at the moment when I found you."
GOLD ELSIE. 273
" My poor parents!*' sighed Elizabeth, not without some
pangs 01 conscience; she, too, had forgotten the whole
world when he came to release her.
" Frederick can run very rapidly/' he said, consoling
her; " he will be at Nordecfe long before we get there, and
your parents will be easy/'
They stepped into the park, and passed by the villa.
All was dark and silent. Only in Helen's chamber a dull
light was burning.
" There a battle of life and death is being fought,'* mur-
mured Mr. von Walde, looking in that direction. " She
loved that miserable fellow fanatically. How terrible must
her awakening be!*'
" Go up there, and comfort her,'* said Elizabeth, be-
seechingly.
" Comfort? At such a moment! Child, could any one
have spoken comfort to me at the time when I thought I
was going to lose you? Helen has shut herself up, since I
gave the order that Mr. von HoUfeld's horse should be
saddled; but the nurse is near her. It will be a long time
before she will send for me or will wish to see me, for she
tore herself loose from me, for the sake of that ignominious
scoundrel. A woman, however, who has been so cruelly
deceived seldom turns immediately for relief to one who
warned her of her danger. And, besides, I shall not enter
my house again to-day, until I am certain that your parents
will not tear you away from me. '*
The path branched off to one side, where the familiar
rural bench stood.
" Do you remember that bench?" inquired Elizabeth,
smiling, as she pointed toward it.
" Yes, indeed. There you expressed that brave deter-
mination to start out in the world as a governess, and I took
the liberty, then, of silently determining never to allow
you to do it. It required all my seK^control not to im-
petuously seize into my arms the ventursome httle bird of
passage, and press its little golden head, so full of proud
and daring thoughts, to my bosom. There I entrapped
you into making the naive confession that your parents still
held the first place in your heart. But you assumed a re-
pellent air when I began to speak confidentially.*'
^^ That was shyness; and 1 am not now quite oertaiii
274 GOLD ELSIE.
that; I shall not relapse into my timidity, when I see yonr
stern brow by the light of the morrow. *'
^^ It will never Jook stern again, my child; happiness has
passed its soothing hand across if
Shortly afterward the old beech-trees that could peer
across the opening into the well-lighted home of the Per-
bers witnessed a strange sight. A tall man, whose pale
face exhibited the signs of deep emotion, led the daagnter
to her parents, only to receive her back again, as his future
bride, his second self. The old beech-ti*ees saw him take
his young bride into his arms, and receive the blessing of
the agitated parents; they saw how the mother raised lier
tear-stained face in joyful gratitude toward heaven, and
how little Ernest rattled on Uanschen's cage to wake the
sleepy little yellow songster, and tell him that, strange to
say, Elsie was betroth^.
OHAPTEB XX.
THE FATE OF BBBTHA. BABONESS VOK LESSBK LEAVES
LIKDHOP.
"While all was joy and happiness within the little home
at Nordeck, a sad event was transpiring in the valley below.
Two peasants from Lindhof, who were searching with
their torches for Elizabeth, as they were setting out from
the village for the forest suddenly heard a violent growl,
like that of any angry dog. Not far off there lay stretched
across the path a human form; a large dog was standing
near it, and had placed his front paws upon the body, as 3
to defend it. At the approach of the men the animal be-
came furious, gnashed its teeth and made a motion as if
about to spring upon them. They did not dare to go
nearer, but turned and ran back to the village, where, at
the same moment, several other torch-bearers had assem-
bled, and amon^ them the forester, who had just learned
from Mr. von Walde^s servant that Elizabeth had been
found.
They all forthwith hastened toward the designated spot.
This time the dog did not growl, but whined and crawled
to the feet of the forester, wagging his tail; it was Wolf,
his watch-dog, and there lay, apparently lifeless. Bertha
tretched upon the ground. The Wood was flowing freely
GOLD ELSIE. 276
from a wound upon her head, and her face had the white-
ness of death in it. The forester did not speak a word, and
avoided the sympathetic glances of the peasants; rancor and
pain were written plainly in his features. He raised Bertha
up, and carried her to the nearest house in the village. It
was the weaver's cottage. He sent a messenger at once
for Sabina. Fortunately, the doctor from Wahlheim was
still in the village, visiting a patient. He was called in,
and soon revived the unconscious Bertha. She recognized
him, and asked for a glass of water. Her, wound was not
serious; but the doctor shook his head and cast a peculiar
glance at the forester, who followed the doctor's manipula-
tions with a troubled look. The doctor was a straightfor-
ward man, with manners somewhat rough and uncultivated.
He suddenly stepped up to the forester, and said a few
words to him in rather a loud voice. The old man stag-
gered back, as though he had been shot, stared blankly at
the doctor, and without answering a word or casting a
glance at the sick girl left the house.
** Uncle, uncle, forgive me!'' the young girl cried, in
heart-rending tones; but he had already disappeared into
the dark night.
Instead, Sabina appeared upon the threshold, out of
breath. She was followed by a servant-girl, who carried a
large basket full of bandages, medicines, refreshments, and
all sorts of necessary articles for the poor girl, and bed-
clothing besides.
" Great heavens! what have you done, my poor child?'^
cried the old woman, with tears streaming from her eyes^
as she looked upon the colorless face all bound up in band-
ages. " It was just this morning when you left me that I
thought you looked so bright; you had such pretty rosy
cheeks."
The poor girl buried her head in the pillow, and began
to sob convulsively.
The doctor gave Sabina some directions, strictly forbade
the sick girl to talk, and left the room.
" I must not talk!" exclaimed Bertha, raising herself
up in the bed. " It may be very easy for such an old man,
with cool blood in his veins and calm thoughts beneath hi|
white hair, to keep silent. But I, alas! I must talk, Sabinai
laid if it brings death to me, then io much the betterl"
276 GOLD EIiSIE.
She drew the old woman more close to her bed, and then
with bitter tears confessed her guilt
She had had a love-affair with Hollfeld. He had prom-
ised to marry her; she, on her part, had to solemnly swear
that she would keep their engagement secret, and would
not try to claim her rights until he authorized her; for he
had to respect, as he explained, his mother and relatives at
Lindhof villa, but that he would gradually win them over
to his wishes. The foolish girl swore, and flattered as she
was she added a solemn vow that she would never speak a
word to any one until she could make known her proud
secret The meetings between the two took place usually
either in the Tower of the Nuns or in the pavilion in the
Lindhof park. No one discovered their secret Only the
baroness, one day, conceived a grave suspicion, in conse-
quence of which she flew into a rage and forbade Bertha to
visit the Castle.
This, however, did not shake Bertha's aspiring hope,
and Hollfeld consoled her by pointing to the future. But
soon Elizabeth Ferber came, and from that moment he
changed completely. He avoided her, and when she at last,
by means of threats, compelled him to see her, he exhibited
a scornful coldness, a contempt which changed her heart
and aroused her passionate spirit into a mad fury. When
she had, at length, discovered that she had to deal with a
man completely devoid of honor, all the horrors of her po-
sition became clear to her. She became desperate, and then
she began her nightly wanderings. No sleep visited her
weary eyes, and only out in the lonesome f oi*est, in the stDl-
ness of the night, could she pour out her hot grief, the
pangs of her soul, in bitter lamentation; then she became
more peaceful.
And Anally came the close of the drama, as love dramas
of the same kind have closed numberless times, and still
will close, for the warning has, indeed, great power for the
understanding, but none for the innocent, lovmg heart of a
woman. Hollfeld offered the injured girl a sum of money
if she would renounce her claims and retire to some distant
city. He declared that his mother and relatives* had com-
pelled him to marry that " new-fangled Miss von Greswif
She called him a dishonorable liar, and in a towering fury
rushed away from him. In mad rage and thirsting for re-
GOLD ELSIE. 377
renge^ she had forced her way into his mother's room^ and
told her alL
Up to this point Bertha had, in logical order, narrated
the story, interrupted now and then by her sobbing and
crying. Now, however, she remained silent for a moment,
and an expression of inextinguishable hatred distorted her
face, flushed wiiii feverish heat.
" That detestable woman,^^ she exclaimed, gasping for
breath, " is always quoting verses from the Sible. She
darns and sews, and collects money, day and night, to sup-
port missionaries who are to carry the Word of God to
the heathen, in order that they may become human. More
inhuman and barbarous, however, they could not be in their
ignorance than this Christian woman in her pride. She
proposes to help to extirpate the worship of idols, this high-
born creature! But she constitutes herself an idol, and
surrounds herself with sycophants, flatterers and fawners,
who must constantly repeat to her that she belongs to the
elect, who are made of an entirely different material from
that of the rest of the children of men. Woe be to him
who does not share this belief! His sin is no less than that
of a blasphemer. She thrust me from her doors and
threatened to set the dogs upon me, and chase me from the
mansion if I ever showed myself again. From that mo-
ment I do not know what became of me,'* she said, falling
back on the pillow, exhausted, while she pressed her hand
to her aching forehead. " 1 only know that I awoke and
saw the doctor leaning over me. He has told my uncle of
my disgrace. I heard him. Oh, what is to become of me V *
Sabina listened to her confession in horror and amazement.
She had very strict views, and was an inexorable judge of
errors such as Bertha had committed. But she, too, had
a heart rich in love and sympathy, and therefore she now
looked down upon the poor eiring girl with tears in her eyes,
and pressed her head to her bosom, to soothe and cousole
her. She had the satisfaction of seeing her fall to sleep in
her arms like a child that has cried itself tired.
Soon nothing was to be heard but the quiet breathing of
the sick girl and the ticking of the old clock. Sabina put
on her snectacles and drew from the basket an old torn
copy of tne New Testament, and faithfully kept watch un-
til the bright morning light shone in at the window.
Bertha did not die, as she had hoped, by reason of her
278 GOLD ELSIE.
shocking confessions. She rapidly grew better, under the
care of Mrs. Ferber and Sabina. She did not have a recur-
rence of her mental disturbance. The wound in the head,
which had been caused by her falling on a sharp stone, had
proven an advantage by reason of the great loss of blood.
The forester was almost beside himself at the disgrace that
Bertha had brought upon his honest and respected name.
During the first few days he would not listen even to the
consoling words of his brother. When Sabina told him
JBertha^s story of sorrow, he had at once mounted his horse
and set out for Odenberg to call that " dishonorable ras-
cal *' to account, but the servants shrugged their shoulders,
and said that their master had gone away, and that they
did not know when he would return. No one knew whither
he had gone, and Mr. von Walde^s efforts were also unsuc-
cessful.
Bertha declared that she never wanted to hear his name
again, for she hated him now far more intensely than she
had ever loved him. A few weeks after her ^recovery she
left the weaver's cottage she dared not enter 1;he forester's
house again to emigrate to America. But she did not go
alone. One of her uncle's employes, a brave young fellow,
rei^uested his dismissal one day, because he had always
qmetly loved Bertha, and now could not stand seeing her
start out into the wide world alone. She had promi^ to
be his wife, and he proposed to marry her in Bremen, and
then try farming in America. Mr. von Walde gave them
a large sum of money, and at the request of Mrs* Ferber
and Elizabeth the forester permitted Sabina to plunder the
stores of linen that had belonged to his wife, and thus pro-
vide for Bertha in a becoming manner.
It was a gloomy, cloudy day in autumn when a carriage,
prepared for a long journey, left the villa of Lindhof and
followed the road to L . Baroness von Lessen sat in
one corner of the carriage, completely broken down and
undone. Her brilliant rdle at Lindhof was at an end, and
she was now involuntarily retiring into narrower circum-
stances.
"Mamma," said Bella, in her sharp, piercing voice,
while she uninterruptedly tugged at the carriage window
and drummed with her feet, "does the villa belong to
Elizabeth Ferber now? "Will she now ride in our pretty
carriage, with the damask silk cushions? Can she now go
GOLD ELSIE. 279
into your room and sit on your nice embroidered arm-chair?
Old Lawrence says she is going to be his mistress now; and
that they will have to do whatever she says. '^
" Child, don't torture me with your chattering!^' groaned
the baroness, and hid her face in her handkercmef.
" It is so mean in Uncle Eudolph to send us away/' con-
tinued the child, inexorably. Just think, mamma, in
Berlin we have no silver plates to eat out of! I remember
how it was before. And we have no cook. Will we have
to eat in a restaurant, mamma? Will you have to fix your
own hair, when Caroline has to wash and iron? Why ''
" Hush, this minute!'' said her mother, interrupting her
flood of questions, each word of which was like a dagger at
her heart. Bella crouched down in a corner, terrified, and
did not appear again until the carriage was rattling over
the paved streets of L . The baroness cast a timid
glance up at the castle; then hastily drew her yeil over her
face and Droke into violent weeping.
By reason of Bertha's confessions, a violent scene had
taken place between the baroness and Mr. von Walde, the
result of which was that the baroness was ordered to pre-
pare for her departure. Helen repelled her with disgust
when she sought help and assistance from her, and so she
saw herself compelled to enter the carriage for L ,
which appeared before the door punctually at the hour des-
ignated hy the master of the house. However, in her cup
of bitterness there was one drop of sweetness. Mr. von
Walde had provided a sum for tne education of Bella, on
condition that she should be brought up in a more sensible
manner than heretofore.
Almost at the same hour at which Baroness von Lessen
had left Lindhof forever the Baroness von Falkenberg,
chief lady in waiting, appeared in the boudoir of the
princess, who, in company with the prince, had returned
from the Springs a few days before. The chief lady in
waiting made a deep courtesy, such only as she, with her
uncertain supports, could make, but it was done in the
greatest haste, such as she would have reproved in another
as in the highest degree violative of court etiquette. She
held between her fingers an open letter, which had evidently
lost a great deal of its original smoothness in her trembling
hands.
^ ** I am very unhappy at the idea of having to report to
880 aOLD ELSIS. I
yoar highnesses a piece of the most scandaloas news. Oh,
7mn Dieu ! who would have thought that! Well, if even |
in our sphere shame and lofty pnde cease to exist, if every |
one follows his lower inclinations and casts his most sacred I
privileges beneath the feet of the people, then is it, indeed,
no wonder that we can no longer uphold its glory, and that I
the people will shake the throne itself!- ' I
"Do not be vexed, my dear baroness,'^ said the prince,
who was present, evidently amused. " Your introduction I
has something of the majestic style of Cassandra. But I
see no trace yet of the earthquake you have foretold, and to ]
my great satisfaction I observe also,^' casting his eye with
a smile down upon the quiet market-place, " that my
faithful subjects are very quiet and well behaved. What
have you to report?*'
She looked at him, perplexed; his sarcastic tone made
her feel uneaefy.
" Oh, but if your highness only knew!** she at length
continued. " The very man npon whose proud blocd I
would have founded noble families! Mr. von Walde has {
just officially announced to me that he is engaged, and to |
whom to whom does your highness imagine ' ^
" To Miss Ferber, the niece of my brave old forester,'* |
the prince supplied, witli a smile. " Von Walde knew i
what he was about, I see. She is, I am told, a perfect j
miracle of beauty and loveliness. I hope he wiU not post- ]
pone too long a time her presentation at our court.'* \
" Your highness!" exclaimed the baroness, in amaze-
ment, * ' she is the daughter of your highuess's f orest-clerik. ' *
'* Yes, my dear baroness," added the princess, in a con-
soling tone, "we know that quite well. But do not be
unhappy about that, for we are told that Ae is really of
noble birth."
" Your highness will most gracioudy pardon me," re-
plied the old lady, turning crimson in the face and pointing
to the crumpled note in her hand; " here it is in black and
white ^this engagement with a woman of the commonalty;
here stands the name, Ferber, and no other; and thus it
will appear upon the family tree of the von Waldes for all
time. It almost seems as if the gentleman emphasizes the
fact with a kind of ostentation! That these people have
nothing in common with the noble race of von Greswit,
they prove in the moftt convincing manner by tiieir refusal
GOLD ELSIE. 281
to assnme the grand old name and bear it with pride.
The small drop of noble blood has in the coarse of years
disappeared from their veins, and according to my ideas of
noble blood this young girl is, and will continue to be,
without it. I sincerely sympathize with poor Mr. von Holl-
feld, who, as your highnesses will certainly graciously con-
cede, is a knight of the purest water. He will lose by this
mesalliance at least half a million, and poor Baroness von
Lessen, from whom I received by the same post with the
engagement-card a few sad lines of farewell, has to-daj
left Lindhof, doubtless to avoid this scandalous affair.'^
" Those are considerations that appeal more especially
to your friendly sympathies, and consequently I shall not
reason with you as to your views of the matter,^ 'replied the
prince, not without some sharpness in his tone of voice.
** I shall further request you to report at once to the
princess and myself when Mr. von Walde desires to present
his bride tous.^'
In the next room, the door of which was standing open
Cornelia wiEW whirling around on her heels, clapping her
hands.
" Ah, that was the reason why the old polar bear wanted
to escape certain loquacious ladies!^' she exclaimed, with
suppressed laughter. " Cornelia, where were your eyes,
usually so sharp at ferreting out love matters, on that
eventful day? The whole affair amuses me beyond meas-
ure, on account of old Falkenberg/^ she said, in a whisper,
turning to her companion, who was crocheting in the win-
dow. " We shall now have the pleasure, for fifteen days
at least, of seeing the faithful old royalist looking daggers
at their highnesses whenever their backs are accidentally
turned, while she will pour from her withered lips rivers of
honey over this beloved land, when the sunshine of the
princely eyes falls upon her. One mi^ht really wish that
all the gentleman throughout our principality would make
such fools of themselves, if so much enjoyment were the
result of it. '*
" Great heavens, Cornelia, are you perfectly crazy?^* ex-
claimed her companion, letting her work fall on her lap.
And again, at the same hour, when all the aristocratic
blood in the veins of the Baroness von Falkenberg was in a
turmoil of indignation. Dr. Fels returned home and entered
the nursery, where his wife was just engaged in bathing the
283 GOLD ELSIE.
baby and saperintending the knitting of her two littlt
daaghters.
"My darling, rejoice with mel'* he exclaimed, with
beaming eyes, almost before he had entered the door.
" Lindhof has found a mistress, and a noble one! Gold
Elsie, pretty little Gold Elsie! Do you hear, my love?
Now it begins to grow bright again, and the sun is break-
ing forth. Sound thought has gained a glorious victory,
and the spirit of darkness, which has cast a blight upon the
hearts of men, is fleeing away. I have just seen it pass by
in Mr. von Walde's carriage. An hour ago in Lindhof, I
venture to say, there were numerous invisible crosses flyiuj
around. The notice of the engagement fell like a boml
into our noble town. I tell you it is a great pleasure to see
the long, the incredulous and the envious faces on all
hands. This news, however, did not surprise me at all.
I knew very well what was going to happen after that at-
tempt of Linke's. As I was driving on tne same afternoon
at Mr. von Walde's side, returning to Lindhof to see
whether the excitement had produced any deleterious effects
upon the brave little girl, 1 suddenly discovered that at
last Yon Walde^s hour had come, and that he, too, had a
heart one full of deep, passionate love.^'
CHAPTER XXL
OOlirOLUSIOK. TWO TBABS LATEE.
If the reader vrill skip over a period of two years, and
again visit the ruins of ifordeck under our guidance, we
will conduct him along the tortuous windings of a broad
and beautiful drive leading up the mountwn to the gate of
the castle, which has been recently repaired and newly
{)ainted, and has exchanged its rusty old locks and bolts
or brightly polished new ones. We recall with a shudder
the cold, damp court behind this large gate, which was in-
closed on three sides by dismal colonnades, while the upper
stories showed the murderous intention of falling down
upon us. We remember the lonesome basin in the middle
of the court, guarded by its lions of stone, which for years
had been in vain londng for the- silvery floods that were to
fill it to the rim. With these recollections fresh in our
minds we pull the beU. Li response to the deep sound of.
QOLD ELSIE.
the bell a neat-looking maid opens the ponderous gate and
invites us to walk in. We, however, start back, dazzled,
for a brilliant stream of light and colors meets our eyes.
The ruins have disappeared, only the high solid walls are
still standing, and a glance shows us what an immense
space it incloses.
We do not walk upon the hard, reverberating stones of
fche court, but upon soft and yielding gravel. In front of
us a gorgeous and weU-kept lawn spreads itself out. In
the middle of this lawn is seen the large granite basin, and
from the mouths of the savage lions issue forth four mighty
streams of water. The chestnut-tree^ like faithful senti-
nels, are still standing around; but since they have been
bathing their tops in free and unsullied streams of air they
have recuperated, and are, now adorned with countless
white blossoms. We turn into one of the gravel walks that
surround the lawn, wander among the tastefully arranged
beds, and feast our eyes upon the blooming shrubbery and
tenderly nursed flowers that lend to the lawn all the colors
of the rainbow.
Over on the other side stands the dwelling house. The
air bathes its four walls, which have put on a clean, bright
garment, but its face has assumed a more stately expression.
^Qw windows flash on all sides. Mr. Ferber has added four
new rooms to the house; for, as soon as the forester with-
draws from active life, he intends to bring Sabine and take
possession of the new apartments that have been provided
for him.
In Mrs. Ferber's chamber, the two tall windows of which
still command the same view they formerly did, with the
exception of the bay-window in Elizabeth's little room,
Mr. von Walde has had the limbs of the trees trimmed, so
that Mr. and Mrs. Ferber can always have the home of
their child before their eyes. In Mrs. Ferber's chamber is
now standing the young Mrs. von Walde. She has been
confined to her room for several weeks, and her first visit
carries her up the mountain to present her first-born to its
grandparents. He is lying in her arms. Miss Mertens, or
rather Mrs. Eeinhard ^for she has long been happily mar-
ried has taken the little fellow into her arms, and is
gently removing the veil that covers its dear little face. It
has the features of the von Waldes, and from beneath the
little lace hood a fine dark lock of hair falls upon his fore^
S84 GOLD ELSIE.
head. Ernest is almost killing himself with laughter at
the clumsy motions of his funny little red fist^ that is wildly
stretching and reaching in all directions. The forester^ in
the greatest anxiety^ has taken the precaution to place his
own powerful hands behind his back, as though he was
afraid he might hurt the little fellow by some accidental
leg
sture with his mighty arms. He is no less charmed with
His grandnephew than the grandparents with their grand-
child. He has forgetfeen for the time being his grief over
Bertha's disgrace, and consoles himself with Elizabeth's
happiness, which at first seemed very extraordinary, and
which he has to persuade himself to believe in afresh every
morning, as he declares. Not because he thought such
good fortune undeserved by his darling on the contrary,
he would have thought the highest crown on earth in its
proper place upon Ehzabeth's brow it was only very won-
derful to him to see the young girl, " with her nimble feet
and sunny face,'' give herself up, with such devotion, to
this sedate, mature man.
Elizabeth is happy in the highest sense of the word. Her
husband adores her, and his declaration has proven true;
for that expression of melancholy and seventy has dis-
appeared from his brow forever.
At this moment she rapturously gazes upon the tender
little creature in her arms, and then casts her eyes down
into the valley, whence he will presently appear, coming to
carry home herself and baby.
For a moment an expression of sadness appears upon
her face, and her eye grows moist, as it rests upon a tall,
gilded cross that flashes from among the trees on the lake.
There, beneath their moaning branches, in a handsome
mausoleum, Helen has been slumbering for a year. She
died in Elizabeth's arms, with the prayer upon her lips
that God would bless her her, who had faithfully borne
with her her burden of sorrow, and had supported and
comforted her until her broken heart had burst loose from
its perishable prison. HoUfeld had caused Odenberg to
be sold, and no one knows in what corner of the earth he is
now mourning over the failure of all his aims and plans.