The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 22, 1900, Page 16

THE SUNDAY CALL. &P ND what & Germaine?” she = . e was set at liberty e replied Pirnitz. the news, and sald it? Well, where is . & =hive . th were ght grew strong ¢ we at R Jew = - t rose firmly in this death 2 . enly, by the merc e e hideousness and ter- r e eyes of Georg. B 3dith were no longer wr Those of e S bet Toak &r t 8 k o e drew near her. Come nearer:™ Wit ce pressed against Pirnitz's pale ge, the ing woman murmured sy 2 low tone that only Pirnitz heard her t be angry with me, Romaine! 1 ca ed n a few moments ago, and 1 id, it purposely through a cruel im- pulse re moments when 1 feel so evil: Don't condemn me! It is 0 sad. o . I could have been so happy—and nderstand me? You will al- ways e me? I w ke “to speak to Fred- pon a sign from Pirnitz, Prederique a4 Georg went and leaned his 4 against the window pane. and to the sitting room sald Lea to her sister 2 to the chalr that Georg had just ok her hands. en to me. Don't speak and don't in- much etrength terrupt me. T have mnot lert jong. half sleeping. half ewake, It t of our childhood. 1 you u wege when 1 began to tndersiand things around me—in your ® n. with your black eves - near my little bed K I dream that, or is it is quite true. When you were little a time like that. It a se that I could follow vour s they were formed.” 1 saw everything through your Fedl. You won both my the 1nd my sheart. The love that I felt u was incomparable—it was not ever be compared with the love I have for Ge it was not the same thing. and st as great, almost as strong.” sighed Frederique, “have I tirely? Do you not love me at Oh! Lea tove #ince I saw you be yot you—now—to-day—ever t night standing again e my bed in your long black apron— were so gentle with me, and you never sought for anything save my happl- ness. It is not your fault if"— She did not say what was not Fred- ue's faul The elder's tears, which Id no longer restrain, gushed forth Lea continued: I love en T was i J—and even & Some time such sufrer- I was ago ing In the with Georg a ver ard ing ne cl me. Giv in such fter after grief “I am ‘in such g remain with Ge ccupied e hospital! th ker lover and did ng! But I. Fedl, I, who am s it not terrible to go away nt that happiness beg for c F 1 implore you! vou and 1 d and became calmer ad resumed her lying on her back nst the w, she 1 were in Paris they might perhaps m't think so, t specialist liky ; but It is not is 1t replied, you he hos- fore rcap- Georg now,” setor comes." was not i Georg wers visit th his Be brave. It is the more. and he went wa tily down row wooden r Tinka seized I rique’s arm 1! Can Can you be- s er pale green eves to t er eyos young girl and cla s bruised moments week she was t th upon h fused meaning ederique, but they woke for ti n her mind that vy, death 16 of articles room a »oding the 1 said Yex. lda and a few muments upsta 1 will go for Frederique re them was struck by t featurcs, which Her pluched ar “It Is abs e thought. ich an slteration cannot hive taken e in an hour. 1 am’ terrificd by the v of and Dr. Brice ca sald r. almost harshly lid he not” t is fin stra ore he came | be have a little hope. The sunlight the iiiv thet life was recom- for me. But all is over! All is ing that Frederigue could trol herself and fell into a chair She hid her eyes with her hands. longed to hear nothing more, but could_not shut cut the sound of Lea's n mingled with Georg's gasping respirati muffled sobs. The two little girls appeared. pushed by ka. Frederique then head ida came in first. quite serious In her lit- tle check print frock, her hair tied with a ribbon, her slender nostrils quivering sed the acrid odor of the sick chamber. Cz ola followed, clinging to her mother's dress. Lea rose in bed slightly to greet ¢ kissed Ida, stroking her blond The little one, quite pale, remaindd nless, watching Lea intentl. T n ame, in her turn, and held up her s placid! “Dear little ones!” murmured the in- 1)id, contemplating them as they stood side ut the foot of the bed, Car- s downcast shyly and Ida by ola with her ey trembling and the pupils of her eyes di- lated. “‘Are they not adorable, Georg Happy Tinka!” sigh made her bosom heave. Georg, inka, Frederique, and even Edith divined her gricf at dying childless. But suddenly Ida burst into tears and piercing screams She took réfuge against her mother in a sort of tense nervous paroxysm, sobbing: “Take me away! Take me away!" Car- ola, seeing her sister in this state, ailso began to cry, and they had to be led away at once, for lda seemed about to faint. Frederique followed Tinka out of the roam “1 frighten them,” moaned the invalid. And, letting her head fall back upon the pillow, ske closed her eyes. Alo: once more with Georg and Edith she 1 ne x but appeared to sleep. Georg remalir tting motionles: t the head of the bed. KEdith was kneeling out of sight of the moribund and praying. her kindly. puffy osy face transfigured by the ardor of Afer faith. But her lips Jct no sound escape from them. The silence in the chamber was so complete that the grating sound of Lea’s every breath could be heard. The cunlight now filled the yellow sitting room. Georg li tened to Lea's respiration and the hor- rible truth seemed to stun him like a blow from a club: *She is dylng!—dying!” And it hypnotized him so strangely that he did not know whether it were his wife or himself who was dying. He looked at Tea's fingers. Iying on the counterpanh at the end of the flowing sleeve of her night dress, and thought: “Those fingers are alive néw! A mysterious power ani- mates them and stops victoriously the de. composition of the flesh!—And shertly!— shortly! Wild, loving yearnings thrilled him, like itating paroxysms of pain that the pal; shake those suffering with disease of the spinal marrow, and left him paralyzed and helpless. A confused sound, made u and whispering, e up of creaking reached Georg's ears from the landing of the staircase. The inhabitants of Dartmoor House were grouped there and upon the first few steps of the rs. Frederique and Tinka d not been able to tear themselves away when lda and Carola er to the care of Liz- two we anc lown upon rem, her sat tood beside brced em viie Jalmy sHr of ihe Junny Aterncon Caressed Their Jwo Faces. f i for ley from time i s} news cene " tnun the death of her po € r had done fo me low had she remained so firm, alme m, before the death of . i Y Ah! at that time she 1 I to construct a great work live a flame ot ¢ 1 the depthy of he € 3 the twilight whesmed srief. “Lea is dyiug!” The thoug! P- remembered the Lea of t months herein thetr » wither ecollected Lea's words a few mo- 1 by the charm that epoc - could not dis- & in her baby's =he. i‘rederique, standiy r I'ng black apron, watch- and *wi source ng it Lea, a il, in her prin ze' hair falling curious and inated at a Lea, work- z and color- studio near afternoon in May arose in her memory—wh 1ather than so many others was three o'clock. The windows wer n, admitting gusts of suitry air o is ging in the irces the vacant plot of land. Frederique saw herself sitting in her office at the factory looking at her sist roush the open d saw Lea, in otccting hes 1ve cloth before her drawing board, little to judge the fleeting Scene rep- which their “Mamma. return to- with her, n!" She imme- A time dthat r, that 1gh she and witness those whom she but don ing ¢ Fre ues ¢ A certain spring backward a I hat ppiness of pable used to to ai bending effec of a tin ! We evening know Ron s to the the she wou still prefer that her own life he wrecked, her heart Wruna, if- Romaine only said, “It is well!” “She thought, ““All these things had to be! Ro- maite knows the truth, and I will follow t truth which she s taught me in spite of mly 1 cannot go back to Paris to li n the house on the Rue de la Sot nd try to cuitivate sterile soil. T we ther go to the end of the world and expend my efforts for youth- ful civiliz . 1 will go with Edith, Romaine will approve my decision! “Pl mum! 1 beg your pardon!” in a blue apron, with a smooth, we and fl tie rou xen h . covered with d cap. clambered up the stair- » two steps at a time, carrying at_his elbow a basket covered with a napkin. An odor of milk was left in bis wake as he ascended to the second floor, greeted by the “Sh!" of Lizzie and the servant. 1t was the milk boy bringing the eggs, buter .and cream for luncheon. “Noon!" thought Frederique. She could not I said whether the day had ap- peered long or short to her. Minutes and hours no longer existed for her. She was beyond the limits of life, in a nightmare. The milk boy, in his blue apron, came down again, making an effort to appear penitent ) Dr. Bryce arrived again. He seemied gloomy and somewhat embar- rassed as he asked: “Well?” Tinka repMed: “Fhere is no change. She is sleeping, I beifeve.” 3 ent into the room. Then absolute silence again fell upon the staircase—a silenice so profound that they heard a fly buzzing against the imitation stained glass window. At the end of a quarter of an hour the doctor eame out again, followed by Edith, her face swollen by weeping. They questioned him. He shrugged his shoulder “She wants to be alone with her hus- band. What does it matter? No pne can do anything fér her now The curious young man went down two steps of the staircase. then stopped for a mement before continuing on his way, and d: ‘Those among you who belleve ought to begin to pray.” Lea had insisted upon being left alone pith Georg, and Bryce had made a signal to Edith to go out with him. The invalld was suffering from an ac- cess of fever. Her eyes were extraordin- arily brilliant, and the flush that marked the upper part of her cheeks like a double spot of rouge accentuated the fleshless- ness of her visage. She waited until Edith and the doctor had gone out, and when the door was closed behind them she moaned: “Georg!” He approached the bed. She raised her- gelf with an apparent energy that she had not dlsglaye for several days. Georg helped her to rise to a_sitting posturs, then with her trembling hands she gently turned her husband's face toward the window that opened upon the courtyard, end through which the sunlight was now shining. , “Let me look at you,” she sald. He stooped his tall stature a liitle. She put one of her hands upon his hair, looked at him eagerly as though she would en- grave his feafures on her memory “Let me see your eyes and lips! Smile at me! Oh! it seems as though I had not looked at you enough when I had you— when I thought I had you for a long time. And now! Now!'— She fell hack upon the bed convulsed by a fit of sobbing. With trembling, uncer- {aln movements she tried to draw him to er. “Come nearer! Come nearer!" He kneeled down against the bed. so that she could see him closely. Her quiv- ering fingers stroked his face, his very clothes, clutched at the opening of his \’E-\( and the bow of his tie, as she would have clung to him upon the ze 0f o preci ered hrokeniy: you! Don't let me keep me.” ope inspired in t implored besought his arms Hps close nging a around to her ! ST g ik A & will, Into his words, ana said: 1 will not let you die! 1 will that you Hve! 1f vou reaily love me you will live! I implore you, summon all your strength think that you will not leave me! 1 give you ail my will! Can you not feel it benetrating you? Lea, Lea, I will not let You go! Think that 1 am here—that I will never je ve you agaln—ths married—that we’ ShalloBe. with one A other all our lives—I will take you away with me—yonder—to a_country better for you-yeu know it—io Italy, of which we used to dream. together! 1 will bear you away there with me! I will not let yeu dic!” Live! Live for me! Liv §hf murmured In ecstasy: “Italy! Ttaly! You will take me there with you € unciasped his arms. The hu- man effort he had made to tense madly his will against the impossible had left him with a pain in his temples, as though gripped by a circlet of iron. Lea smiled. L feel much better,” she said. *You see what a r you have. You have Imparted your. ngth to me. Oh, if i“:' ., Teally wish it I shall never leave you. She recovered hope with the astonish- ing faith in life that voung consumptives preserve to their last breath, as it were. He already despaired again, and felt the mad belief in a miracle of the will al- ready failing. And each word of Lea, as she spoke of the future, fell upon his heart like a drop of scorching blood. “We will go to Italy together,” she sald. “My eyes must see the light when yours see it. You will take me to all the places you visited alone when I had left you, dearest. You hear me? I want my feet'to go where yours have left their trace. Do you promise me?" ~1 promise you!" She continued in a marvelously clear voice, almost her volce of former days, stroking Georg’s face as she spoke: “I ought to live so_ that our destiny may be accomplished. Tt is only now that 1 begin to understand life. And I am dying? It Is not possible! T have found the truth now. I am free, yet I belong to vou, and it does not appear contradic- tory to me, Georg, my dearest! I have freed you and you have freed me. Oh! our kiss face to face with the sea! I am sure I conceived a child of you in that kiss! He will be born! You see that I cannot be going to dfe! She looked at her husband with the eyes of ore in the grip of a hallucination; and in that enfevered atmosphere the ballucination gradually overcame Georg himself. Then she slipped down upon the piilow. “1am so feeble!” she moaned. A veil seemed to steal over her face, a veil of suffering that changed its entire expression, made it anxious So feeble, so feeble!” she repeated. Her tongue issued from between her lips, which opened and shut several times vith a dry, stick Are you' thirsty < He stretched out his he little table where stood a glass cooling drink. § of negation, and for a little while re- mained perfectly motionless. Georg, who watched her with @li the power of his attention, could not have said if she were or asleen. She mutterad detached phrases of delirfum or nightmare: “Later—later—when he is born. Yes— I see jt—I see the truth—I see—I see. sea—with the City—the City rising up —Georg!” Fier breathing became hoarse. her hands and a o made an abrupt sign fluttered gently upon the counterpane. Georg could no longer distinguish in her respiration. mingled with the sound of a voice, anvthing save his name, seorg!" She called the name like an appeal of distress, and each time Georg replied by A preesure of the hand that seemed to calm her * How 'ons hir lasted he could not have told. He heard the whispering of people awaliting anxiously around the room, upon the landing, on the staircase, Suddenly he saw that Lea was looking him.” Her regard was gloomy, over- flowing with indignant despair. She spoke to him, now perfectly luctd. “When I am dead, she said, I want ¥ou to return yonder, to the light"— Yes." said Georg, without grasping what she meant. . You undersiand me? I want you to 80 back to Italy—when you returned from there you wanted to take me away with you. T ought to have gone with you. Now I cannot—yvou must go back to Italy, and at everything you see you will remember that my thoughts are always with you and in u. And no woman will ever make you forgetsme? Do you swear {t?'" “Yes, T swear it.” With her che low she wa pressed against the pil- s calm for a few moments, without speaking. Then she continued bruptly. without explaining the thread of her thoughts: ‘1 believe at this moment that there Is another life. . I have often doubted it since I fell ill. T did not believe it yes- terday, and this morning. even, I was sure 1 was going to disappear completely: but now I belfeve that my thoughts Wfll remain near you—if you really wish it. What Is the truth? Do you know?" The moment was so solemn that Georg had not the courage to lie. He felt the passionate desire for a hereafter, for a continuance of individuality, that will al- ways torment humanity, and at the same time, before the dying girl, the mechan- ism of death appeared so simple to him, 80 simple that the most commonplace simile described it—a lamp that was ex- tinguished. “What is the truth?’ repeated “Don’t you know?" 5 - His eyellds drooped as he replied. “No, I don't know." He added after a short pause: “But so long as 1 lfve your thoughts will live In me, I promise you. I will Fo back to Italy again since vou desire t. And in every step that I take, before everything that my. eyes mav see, your thoughts will accompany me.” “place. “1 love “You are so good!” she said. ou yThelr lips met. In spite of thelr grief, in spite of the deadly shadow already gathering in Lea's eyes, it was agaln the Kkiss of lovers. When thelr lips separated Lea sald: “Give me some strength again, as you did_a few moments ago!™ At first he did not understand her. She showed a little. impatience and insisted. Take me in your arms again—speak to 2 my ear! lmpart your strength to me He obeyed her, and sald again: “] want you to live—you must live—take my strength—all my strength—I want you live 94nd he hypnotized himself, began to be- lieve again and to hope in the accom- plishment of the impossible. 1t was Lea o gently pushed him away. _isten to me,” she said. “You see my white dressing robe—there—hanging on the hook near the door? “Yes. He went to the door and touched the flannel robe trimmed with lace. “Bring it to me.” \\Bhoz*.gsno bad it in her hands she sat up in bed with an effort that made her face contract. Then, looking at Georg, she said: 2 “I want to get up. He thought she was delirious. repeated: But she “Yes, I want to get up. Oh, don’t refuse me, 1 pray you! You will regret having refused me afterward! Heip me! Dont call for any one, 1 pray you! I can do it with you, I am sure.” She freed herself from the sheets with a sort of despairing emergy and thr back the counterpane. He helped her ut on the loose white garment above her ong night dress. He placed her slippers ready for her little naked feet. g “How thin my feet have become murmured. ‘‘They were so strong, were they not? How they walked to fo low you! Don't you remember?—in the London parks. and even here in the country and among the rocks.” She spoke with an awful air of resigna- tlon. Leaning upon Georg's shoulder, she raised herself, but immediately fell back to she ward, exhausted, half-lying down agaln. But she gasped: > g “Don’t call any one! Don't call. I be- seech you! Let us remain alone together— if you love me.” : He acceded to her desire again. At the end of a few seconds she recovered her strength and clung desperately to Georg's coat. He sustained her, half carried her. With her right arm stretched out she pointed to the windows of the drawing- room. 'ake me there, there!" want to.see it again; I want t« and the city Was she wandering in her speech? Géorg did not know, but, as if his body had been animated by the will of the dy- ing woman, he did what she asked. S walked, leaning the whole of her light weight upon him. When they arrived at the window she placed her forehead against the panes. Her hair, hang Joose, fell over her shoulders, and ¢ felt its odor awake in him the insatia longing. She tirned her anxious eyes tows and said: she said. “I see the sea rd hi “Open the window, open the window! I want—the City!” 2 She clasped her fingers se”spasmodica upon the window catch without succeed- ing in opening it that he o eq her, RAr ing to see her fall to the grodnd struck down with the effort. The baim he sunny afternoon caressed their two faces pressed one against the = “Oh, it is aencious!” said Lea. Bhe smiled, enchanted with the view. The sea strefched before them, calm and gmooth as upon ¢he day when they had gone to Giider Rock ng silve white under the sunlignt. A w sails were outlined near the horizon, and th little boat for Pa.gnton, flying along in a ray of light, shone liké 2 big star upoa the surfa of th Lea became anxiou: “The City’—where js the City Georg showed her Torquay, sieeping in the sunlight. with its villas, verdures, ho- tels and m umental causewa “Why, no!” she said p child to whom a plaything b fused. “I want the City—where we together—where I loved you—" he bent over the balcony scrutinizing the sea upon the side opposite Gilder Rock stood up tlood like der boundary mark it the line of the went E horizon was drawn in b ith absolute distinctness against the paler sky, un- broken by a single cloud “The City?" repeated Lea in a plaintive voice. “Where is the City?" Then, as if she understood at last the vanity of her desire. she turned abruptly toward Geors and t a profound spairing glance at him. A deep 'sigh shook her frame, then two more rather febleer ones. She put her hand to her mouth. made a gesture as though suf- focating. “Lea: cried Georg. i He percelved that he was supporting a rigid form in his arms: blood was trick- ling between her lips ward him. In a sort of mist Georg saw around him the big, blue eyes of Hoedel encircled in_their gold rimmed spectacles, the terrified faces of Frederique, Tinka, Edith— CHAPTER VIIL Lea had been dead a week, slee he to face it she had selected her 1 where it had been her desti a woman in_a superhum: tain the conjugal equality She wa sleept 3 Teclining as at the initiation. A reddish stone rocks she had elimbed with Georg, ¢ her bod) horizontal tablet, bearing cross cut into it Below th Cro=s were graved in the Finnish tongue the simpie Words: R A Y S e ) ; HERE SLEEPS 1 LEA OR1TSEN, \ IN EXPECTANCY OF | THE NEW CITY. | ¥ SET R NAAEA. Tinka had arranged all the details of the tuneral, had ootalned ine necessary authorizauons, and had deciaed about tue stone and the epitabh to be eagraved Upon it. As tor' Georg, perfectly incapable aiding her, he remained snut up in room, living with the memory of Lea one save ‘tinka had seen lum since aay the cofin had Lurtmoor House. Neverthetess, the life of the had resumed its inevitable soot been burhe awa household ing course around the vacant piace left by Lea. Tinka had begun to write again with in- creased fervor, 4s after cvery crisis thuc stirred the depihs of her sensitive natur She wrote in the yellow «Wing room, haunted by the image of the dead girl, and careless little [da again took her piuce at her feet, imitating her mother's move- ments of reflection or industry, while Carola again went with her father in his excursions about the neighborhood. The captain, Mrs. Morley and Lizzie performed théir accustomed tasks. Everything be- ame as befgre except for the presence of Pirnitz, Edith and Frederique. But on the seventh day after Lea’s death Fred- erique and Edith were to take the train for Portsmouth, where they were to em- bark upon the Steamer Nimrod for Aus- tralia, and Pirnitz herself was to leave the following morning for Par It was five o'clock in the afternoon. The day, like all those that had succeeded that frightful day. was bri and warm. The sun was setling behind the low hilis of >aignton, in front of Dartmoor House. Leaning upon the balcony, Tinka, dressed in black, which accentuated strangely the paleness of her face and fairness of her short hair, was contemplating the mother- of-pearl sky, the deep blue sea and the distance in which the purple evening mist was already gathering. And, abov : she gazed at the red rock, Leas tomb. which was very distinct then, at the approach of evening. a black belt confining her white dress a black velvet ribbon binding ber ha was standing beside her mother watching the swallows wheeling around near the end of the neighboring pier. Before the door the captain, in his shirt sleeves, puffing and blowing and perspir- ing, was fastened two trunks and sever: portmanteaus upon a handeart that had been brought from the station by a port- er. The captain entered the house, snort- ing and glancing up at the balcony with his'air of perpetual anger. Then the pale, insipid features of Lizazie appeared in his She gave some directions to the orter and put a littie money in his hand. hen she also entered the house, and the porter, with the handcart. went away along the quay with the luggage of Fred- erique and Edith. Tinka again became absorbed In the view of the horizon, more and more em- purpled and enshrouded with mist. She was dreaming so profoundly that she di not hear Lizzie enter the yellow drawing room and quietly and actively begin to lay the white cloth upon the round table and arrange upon it the teacups, butter, cake, cream and honey. Ida tugged at the skirt of her mother’s dress and said: “Mamma! Tea is ready.” The young woman turned away from the window and entered the room. Pirnitz was there already. She wds holding lit- tle Carola by the hand and conversing ju Littie Ida, with d with Professor Hoedel. Tinka remalned for a moment watching the apostie’s cour tenance, of which the habitual serer was accentuated to-da: a strang ka. w ood Pt dy, su ng that added 2 terribie i by the pproved of & Liz estde pr a m speak word the [ ed without speaki pe her *Old human s¢ verted? ¢ be fro prosperou also the indestruc I know! T know that you said Frederique. “But s faith,” contin it matter if her | am. ng us w ? Lea was t_water ned ment, gazing f a marty »eak on. 1. Killed rederique zie brought promised not to wait for me down before A Frederique d over t last tr memory are righ by wha Edith list which stirred ! she expressed her ¢ “I will go_ be sald, “smootk stroying tha gates of e tron bars n_pieces rhe “future evoked by Pirnitz radiated before them. Even Hoedel's stolid soul felt its beauty. ' was forgotten. A time to go." and saw Georg He was dress mplex rea an air of caim table. The gola- issed each other. been deci Frederique m:”v.“ should tation a e, so as t to mingle rewells with the trivia noise of th w Geors k Edith’s cheek. Then Fre erique drew near. All were Silent around them The melancholy of a m departure a ired to be coneentrate. the farewell of these two Their rezards met. 1o o never told him. Her heart longed § absence and the expanse of seas betwe him and her. Kissed. ewell! sald Georg. “Do you ex pect to return? She replied so faintly that he alone heard her response, “I don’t think so.” Then, still in low tone. e asked: “And you, Georg? What you goin to do?’Are you goimg back to Larms with Tinka?"” Georg shook his h ““No, h‘P 5’7\)\'!. P wishes. 1 shaul leave her body I shall carry her soul away toward the Light!” (THE END) “I shall carry out Le: here; b with me—