The Sign Of Flame Part 43

He saw and heard daily that Antonie and w.i.l.l.y were on the best terms, so he left them mostly to themselves.

Meanwhile in the house of the doctor at Waldhofen care and anxiety had made their appearance. The sickness of the doctor, which at first had given no cause for fear, suddenly took a dangerous turn, which was augmented greatly by the age of the patient. He had called persistently for his granddaughter, and she had been telegraphed for. She had at once obtained leave of absence--her role in Arivana was filled by another--and she hastened without delay to Waldhofen.

Antonie showed a touching fidelity to her friend at this time. Day after day found her at the home of the Volkmars to console and cheer Marietta, who clung to her grandfather with her whole soul.

Willibald seemed to be likewise necessary at these consolations, for he accompanied Toni regularly, and the Chief Forester thought it quite natural that "the poor little thing" was being consoled and helped to the best of their ability, more especially as she had suffered so unmerited an insult in his house, for which he could not to this day forgive his sister-in-law.

Finally, after three long, sorrowful days and nights, the doctor's strong const.i.tution conquered; the danger was pa.s.sed, and hopes of a full recovery were entertained.

Herr von Schonan, who was cordially attached to the doctor, was heartily glad of it, and so everything seemed to have come into the best of order.

But threatening weather arose from the north. Without a word of warning Frau von Eschenhagen suddenly appeared at Furstenstein. She had not taken time to stop in town where her brother lived, but came directly from Burgsdorf, and burst like a hurricane upon her brother-in-law, who sat in his room very comfortably reading the paper.

"All good spirits--is it you, Regine?" he cried, amazed. "This is what I call a surprise; you ought to have sent us word."

"Where is Willibald?" demanded Regine in a dangerous tone, by way of answer. "Is he at Furstenstein?"

"Of course, where else should he be? I believe he has announced his arrival here to you."

"Let him be called--immediately."

"But what is the matter?" asked Schonan, noticing now for the first time his sister-in-law's excitement. "Is there a fire at Burgsdorf, or what? I cannot call w.i.l.l.y to you this moment, for he is at Waldhofen----"

"Probably at Dr. Volkmar's--and she is probably there, too."

"Who is 'she'? Toni has, of course, gone with him. They visit that poor little thing daily--Marietta--who was quite despairing at first. I must speak a word with you on this point, Regine. How could you offend the dear girl so deeply, and in my house besides? I only heard of it afterward, or----"

A loud, angry laugh interrupted him. Frau von Eschenhagen had thrown hat and cloak upon a chair and now drew close to her brother-in-law.

"Are you to reproach me because I tried to avert the evil which you have brought upon yourself? Of course you have always been blind and would never listen to my warnings--now it is too late."

"I believe you are not in your right mind, Regine," said the Forester, who really did not know what to think of it all. "Will you be so kind as to tell me what you mean?"

Regine drew forth a newspaper and handed it to him, pointing with her finger to a paragraph.

"Read!"

Schonan obeyed, and now his face also grew red in angry surprise. The article, which was dated from the South German Residenz, read as follows:

"We have just learned that a duel with pistols took place last Monday, very early in the morning, in a remote part of our park. The opponents were a well-known resident, Count W--, and a young North German landowner, W--v. E--, who is visiting his relative here--a high and distinguished diplomat. The cause of the duel is reported to be a member of our Court Theatre, a young singer who bears the best of reputations. Count W-- was injured in the shoulder. Herr v. E-- carried off a slight wound in the hand, and departed immediately."

"Thunder and lightning!" burst forth the Chief Forester, violently.

"The betrothed of my Toni has a duel for Marietta's sake! So this is the cause of the injured hand which he brought with him! This is charming, indeed! What else do you know about it, Regine? My paper did not notice it."

"But mine did; it was copied from one of your papers, as you see. I read it yesterday and hastened here at once. I did not even stop to see Herbert, who cannot have known anything about it, or he would have notified me."

"Herbert will be here at noon," said Schonan, throwing the paper angrily upon the table. "He is at Ostwalden with Adelaide, and has written that he will return by Furstenstein and stop over a few hours.

Perhaps he is coming on this account, but that does not change anything in the matter. Has that boy--that Willibald--gone crazy?"

"Yes, that he has," a.s.sented Frau von Eschenhagen in like anger. "You made fun of me, Moritz, when I exhorted you not to let your child a.s.sociate with an actress. Indeed, I had no idea that matters could take such a turn until the moment I discovered that w.i.l.l.y--that my son--was in love with Marietta Volkmar. I s.n.a.t.c.hed him instantly from the danger and returned to Burgsdorf. This was the reason of our sudden departure, which I kept from you, because I considered w.i.l.l.y's condition as a pa.s.sing fancy. The boy seemed to have returned to his senses completely. I would not otherwise have permitted him this journey; and to be surer still, I placed him under the protection of my brother. He cannot have been more than three or four days in town, and now we must live to see this!"

Quite exhausted, she threw herself into an arm-chair. The Chief Forester began to stride about the room vehemently. "And this is not the worst yet," he cried. "The worst is the farce which the boy is playing with his betrothed here. My child goes to Waldhofen day after day, consoling and helping wherever she can, and the Herr w.i.l.l.y always runs along, and uses the opportunity as a rendezvous. That is too outrageous! You have raised something nice in that son, Regine."

"Do you think I make excuses for him?" demanded Regine. "He shall answer to us both--I have come for that. He shall learn to know me."

She lifted her hand as if making a vow, and Schonan, who was still racing through the room, repeated angrily: "Yes, he shall learn to know us."

Then and there the door opened, and the betrayed bride-elect entered into this wild excitement--calm and serene as usual, and saying in the most innocent way: "I have just heard of your arrival, dear aunt; you are very welcome."

She received no answer, but from both sides instead sounded the question: "Where is Willibald?"

"He will be here directly; he has gone to the castle gardener for a few moments, as he did not know of his mother's arrival."

"To the gardener! Perhaps to get roses as before," burst forth Frau von Eschenhagen; but the Chief Forester opened his arms and cried in pathetic tones:

"My child! my poor betrayed child! Come to me come into your father's arms."

He attempted to draw his daughter to his heart, but Regine came upon the other side and also attempted to draw her to her breast, crying out in just as pathetic tones: "Compose yourself, Toni. An awful blow confronts you, but you must bear it. You must show your betrothed that he and his betrayal are an abomination to your deepest soul."

This stormy sympathy was rather startling, but fortunately Antonie had strong nerves. So she freed herself from the double embrace, stepped back, and said with calm decision: "I do not think it so. I begin only now to really like w.i.l.l.y."

"So much the worse," said Schonan. "Poor child, you do not know yet; you have no idea of anything! Your betrothed has had a duel for another's sake."

"I know that, papa."

"For Marietta's sake," explained Frau von Eschenhagen.

"I know it, dear aunt."

"But he loves Marietta!" cried both in accord.

"I know that, too," replied Toni, with superior mien. "I have known it for a week."

The effect of this explanation was so crus.h.i.+ng that the two furious people became silent and looked at each other in consternation. Toni continued with imperturbable composure:

"w.i.l.l.y told me everything directly upon his arrival. He spoke so beautifully and truly that I wept with emotion. At the same time a letter arrived from Marietta, in which she begged my pardon, and that was still more touching. So nothing was left to me but to give back to w.i.l.l.y his promise and freedom."

"Without asking us?" exclaimed Regine.

"The asking would not have been of any use here," said Toni, calmly, "for I could not marry a man who tells me that he loves another. We have therefore quietly dissolved our engagement."

"So? And I learn it only now? You have become very independent suddenly," cried her father angrily.

"w.i.l.l.y intended to speak to you the next day, papa, but he could not have remained here any longer after such an explanation, and just then occurred the serious illness of Dr. Volkmar and Marietta's arrival. She was in despair poor Marietta! and w.i.l.l.y's heart almost broke at the thought of leaving her alone in this anxiety and of going away without knowing what turn the illness would take; so I proposed to him to keep quiet for the present, until the danger should be past; but I went with him to Waldhofen daily, so that he could see and console Marietta. They have been so grateful to me--those two. They have called me the guardian angel of their love."

The young lady seemed to find this very touching, too, for she carried her handkerchief to her eyes.

Frau von Eschenhagen stood stiff and rigid as a statue, but Schonan folded his hands and said with a resigned sigh: "May G.o.d bless your kindness, my child! but such a thing has never happened before. And you have arranged the affair very smoothly, I must confess. You have sat and looked quietly on while your betrothed made love to another girl."