THE STORYTELLER

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 2, 14 January 1925, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER

■■.■•; As he once more. mounted his horse, Legentiial had a toiigh combat ; with . himself. It seemed cowardly ■ not .lo visit the man ito whom ■■'■ he would ; eventually he,. so ilearly related, 'and whose guest he had so oh en been. Moreover, Lily's chatter had brought Nora's .iiliage so vividly before" him, that be felt "a. great longing ' to hear something about her. lie made up. ids mind l at last, ami filmed bis horse 1 ;-; head Tiii; tho direction of/; the hole) where the director was slaying. ■: lie did not notice that Iheidark .fellow had followed biiii.. -Arrived at the-hotel, he"Renl lip his card lo the director. A'JLo^--was.;., shown into a room, and the V.ailer politely asked him '(., s.il down until he returned with .the answer.. A lady was standing by -the window, and Curt, supposing it lo be the wife, quickly advanced ardsjibr. ,She turned, and a, m-y of joy broke froin'-'her lips. .'". ■ "Curt! Curl !" nod- .two arms were thrown round his neck, -whilst a. pretty'head pressed itself on hi.-; '.shoulder. '' .• "Norn, you here ?".* Curt .answered very coldly in return; and his Face .'betrayed sympturns'- of strong displeasured *>'': .11. is kiss must also have be-em cold, for Nora raised her he-ad. in. surprise. "".-...' I ""Are you sorry Unit we'should meet? It was not our fault !y We did. not arrange it beforehand ! ;Ik way;> (juite ■ |, v chance, von know." : ' •:i,.'-..; r .;_ ... -■■, ■:; • ; v . "Why are. yob here;?" ..he asked again angrily. ' "You i hate your being -where the company is, and bow 1. wish you to remain in the villa."' : , ' Her amis fell hopelessly at her side, as-ho made her tins reproof// - ' : .;• . "My father fell suddenly ill,"- lie said, "and we wore, sent for by-itelegram." "Wouldn't "wife? have -been siiflieienf P." be. asked, still more put- out. '.'■"'' ,/ •>:.' "0 Curt,!; you're -surely not: thinking ; of what you're saving,'"'she 'sadly Cried! "Ts : it then .so vory'-disngreoableHo' you' to find me here?" '"* ' '-. i "Disagreeahle.-! No," : ; lie said, somewhat S(!l'teiic'd;by-thn"sallness of her tone. ' "But 1 do.; think . it: so unpar-donably imprudent. Here, of ail places,'it is so desirable that you should, pot; be- mixed up with these j>(M;p'le.;.;>&id then.,'-you knovvv -law earnestly my mother" ashes' me to abide by the -conditions madi/- a-ii how''a'm >• 1 : ' to-do ; so - when you are near?" . ' '.• '-"■''''.' ~ '■'•.. ■-V" ~ 'f he. list,-. vvo.rds.made .u;toe "all, parfcio.ll- - as'yhe flimi drew.d.icr tenderly towards him. ~-', ..1. • •-■... - -'i,;, - - - .... .* ■ : ' ~. - . ■ "I will, go a Way again as soon -as I ■ can," she said, gently, v ; ■ ./ ( *» -■' • A-.-.VJ shall also lie 'going. lie id: "If is so far good that we .should have met, as I can tell you thus, that I am going far a"ay. and -for soipe tkne. loo.;'

' ' ' \ * * NORA . ' ' .'.; ;;Translated ~ from; tho ■"-German by PitiNcisss Liuoiitenstein;; (Published by arrangement > with; ? Burns, Oatcs, Washbourno, Ltd.) ° . -;- - , CUALTEII XL—(Continued.) - '

', /"You -are going to travel she asked, and her blue, eyes looked 'anxiously - up lriiii. .- "0 Cult! /don't -' r bo so. dreadfully /Hi hroasour/; able!" . , . ( ~ . •'•'lt.is much boiler .. r 1 should, it is necessary 1 should," be said, with (tie obstinacy young men like to -.'.e-iupltry against women's ■arguments perhaps in order to assert their manly superiority'..; "It, is belter thai 1 should not spend the/time of trial here. ' L shall' soon go-as, attache to the embassy.'at -Constantinople., I, daily realise (.lit: wisdom of my. mother's advice, in that particular." I, / ~ Nora was silent during a few minutes, r as if she were trying to realise the sense of those words.' All of a sudden she 'threw her .arms round his neck: nod cried out wildly;; ''Curt, Curt, they /only want, to separate "us. for ever! 'They want'yen to" break your men IJ. J t does not auffi.ee .to, them,, that ;tf o. should not correspond; they want.to put'.a great distance between ■an}.-" " : ";if'\ ;';;'; Curt drew her still, closer to him. '( -'• ■'-As if the heart: hue- anything about distahee!" he sjticl tenderly, .pressing his lips to her forehead. " • ■ • . "Yes, it does?" she cried passionately. [ 'So long as wo. breathe Ihe same .air, I feel, that I; have something in common with yon. So lung, as we are amongst the same, people, and in the same country; there • is; o'fy'e link between us. But;" farther.' you are jaway/ from me, the tubfe you aiavsiirtoiiiided-vby) strangers, the more difficult';,, it .is for" our thoughts to meet.! -Curt,.. even the .{tree's change their., foliage upon foreign soil, aud. hearts win also -change..- Alas! Believe me, dear, that is what: they reckon upon!'' "II was of my own free ''will that I made up- iny mind lo go," he said,,somewhat offended at lids suspicion thrown.-up . his : manly independence.,-."! have* considered, the matte.!' we'd, and have seen, bow-much better it is for us that, should, take this/course./' Are, .you, ■then,;, so •afraid-that your love should not be able ,lo resist ab.seiic.ei?" ■ | /// "My love?- Oh no! : / To us : women it is the principal part of our 1 life—to you it is only //part,: and, a. secondary one too.. Oh, toll your 'mother that, yon will die faithful- lo the conditions, hut don't go "away { ..' Curt bent 'oyer her, and smooth eel back the masses of her black hair from :; her burning: temples. "He kissed her/eyelashes too—ii/ tear was/trembling upon , fheni. ; .'v ■' ;. ■■" I . "Loud, be childish, Nora,; a few miles farther cannot make, any difference. Lid your poor Toggenbiirger also forge f/iii;. the 'East : ; : he at Wet) jokingly. Nora. ;»va,s f iusti^going to ; .answer, hut at... the csaiuejuOmeiit Curt started,, and.letting go of her, looked proudly impatiently-up. Nora also 'raised.'- her 'eyes; "- and her forehead/ and. ; cheeks became purple. : Lu the opposite do-or- ; 1 - ........

way stood: the 'dark man of the : Circus, a sarcastic : .smile playing upon his lips. '""' ''Tlie director begs Miss Nora to come lo rhini at once," he said,'and" disappeared. ~-^Cur t bit bis lips. % "Who is that in ppor t--4b& creature?'' he-said angrily. "Quite the .face of a. spy. Did not 1 fell you bow inrpru,,dent it was that -you should have come here?" ; ■ '.'That "is Landclfo, my father's man of ■ -busJbss," she said depressed. "Ho is also m to me, and forces himself so upon us.' He thinks himself so'much more -than other people. But my father praises .his -cleverness, and-we must not bo difficult •if we want to have the necessary forces." -■;--"We!" said Curt again angrily. v ''For Heaven's' sake, don't identify yourself with V those people!" // // "O-Curt! you take everything the wrong way to-day!" she said sadly. "Yon knew be/■;fore; what my father's business was!'" This 'i time she moved not a step towards him. and the .handsome head was erect and proud. "I. -y must ( goto my father," she added. "Do you wish to see him? ' lie is a. little better since : -f yesterday." ../ "I had rather, not see him to-day," raid . : Curt. "I do not feel in the proper mood, i nor do wish to knock against that fellow 'again: but I shall call another day to see % him; It is not our fault that chance should have brought us together. I shall also know >.y more about .my journey. Ilemcmber. me to yf your father." '-•'-. ;/ ; He wanted to kiss her, but wuh a proud ,'l gesture she moved a step back, and only J ; allowed her hand to< rest a moment in Ids. Curt went away displeased with her, with v-himself, and with the whole meeting. . The ■ fact that some one else was aware of their /paying/met, and the parting in which Nora I ikttl shown herself so much hurt, ■ere equally if'unpleasant thoughts to him. He would have :[ grieved more had he seen, the scalding tears 1 which rolled down Nora's cheeks as she sat by her father's bed' and thought the scene / over again. He would have fab more un- :> comfortable still had ho seen the malignant ■| black eyes which followed him down the stairs. ~:■■": ■'-. .: .'-... . .. - t>.'H say, -pretty one," ; asked Lamloho of Ihe chambermaid, who was just coming; it is way. /"how was. the gentleman called who was heie // just now?" •''There's his card, please, sir," said the girl. "The waiter said 1 ought to have given j it to the young lady, .but the, gentleman was H already in the room.". , ,• J§ } "Ah!. ah!" said lie, grinding his teeth. //"That's : why the Bella Donna is so precious fine! , She only thinks; a count good enough to make up. to her!. He's,got just the right X name.;'for tofferingthat : ■■■ sort" of thing to his stuck 7 up ; family!" : . . "''> 1/ -The ,same ! evening ■; Countess Degentllal v/found amongst her .letters one written in an '- unknown, hand. 'lts contents/ ran thus: "A v : ;.friend' warns you that your sou called to-day .;•>upon ( Miss Nora. Ka.rsi.eii, the daughter of «the circus-rider. Should you wish to prevent tL-ther intrigue,- it, is high time. .Everything _ "done in order to bind . him and" 'to make the matter public. I cannot warn .'you other- ■ wisej» ""3| . Tnll^.tfmtess. was dumfounded on , ding

this; What " til dreadful' blow "to her ricivlyborn hopes;- Had his conduct only changed, in. order lb throw dust in her eves? Had it oniy; been/a- base .calculation? Slav was indignant with tier son.; indignant with "those people,": although, indeed, she added,' that nothing,else could be expected of them., ~: It--"went against hereto act upon an anonymous 'letter; but intrigue for intrigue; she must, at every cost, detach her sou from such, unworthy dinks. - ; '•-•'. ,; -. .. .' • Her mind was soon mn-de r up; a .letter was 'sent; off at once to the old Excellency, who must have- found she had made progress in the virtue lie had. .praised her for a day earlier. .She besought him to manage that her son should be sent away at onceevery hour was precious. She said nothing, but the tone, of the letter was such that the experienced man of' I lie world guessed the reason of her entreaties.. "So, so!; Is that ihe way the wind blows?" said the old gentleman, applying a pinch of snuff to his nose. "Who would have thought (he steady young man given to such freaks? Still, waters run deep! .In that ease if will certainly he good for him to he sent away. So hat's the reason why the mamma- did not mind his being sent to Constantinople, and looked so dissatisfied with him! She is a wise woman in her generation! Well, we must see what can ho -dene." The old gentleman liked to show all that ho Was capable of. Notwithstanding the late hour, his carriage rolled to the door'of one of his omnipotent friends. The countess might well he satisfied with Ids zeal. . ' > ■ ICarly the next ■morning Count Curt received a missive, staling that he was begged to go to .the Foreign Office, where be was given despatches, and was at once ordered off to Pera. Curt, who had expected this for some time, as not in the least surprised. Had he not been 'so busy lie might have noticed that hi-; mother showed hardly .any signs of em:;! at this sudden and distant separation. July's face was the sadder and the more surprised of the two. >-.'.":_ Of course, there was a great deal too much to be done- at the last moment, for him to think even of bidding Mora, a .'-last farewell, or of making "her any explanation. Before the short winter/day had been brought lo -a close, Curt sat in Ihe express .train, which carried him farther and farther away from her. ■ . .;■ CHAPTER. XII.. '.•'"'■•'■ ■•' ; Curt had 'been established a month at Constantinople. He had been so busy, so .taken up by new impressions, that he had' not had much time left for past memories. After ail the various' emotions of the foregoing year, it did him good'to find himself amongst a fresh set of people. A constant state of agitation is wen ring in the long run, notwithstanding any amount of love. _ Moreover, he was dissatisfied with Nora and. with himself "since their' last meeting, and he was glad' to' chase away,.-these '.- though Is and. those attached, to" them, if only for a wit lie '■ .- A month 1 passes, quickly,- vyhen.we.are surrounded/by/fresh interests and. associations. But'a.month passes slowly when we are hang-

rug for news, and one day after another goes, by -without our receiving any. -The ■ parallel had evidently not -struck Curt, but a' letter from 1 )ah now. scon -'brought it home to him,. and; awoke him from the sort of trance .lie had l been living' in. " . ' ' : ':. "You may think what you like about my' meddling," wrote the •Mecdvlenbiirger dryly ami; categorically, ''but ■,. I cannot' see" what right you have to make-any girl;so,nViserable, •particularly oho to whom you have vowed fidelity, and.love. Of. course, I. cannot judge of the validity ■ of. those reasons ■[ which made ; you take so sudden and so .distant a flight'; but it strikes me that ought not to have concealed, them from her to whom you'have. given a right over your life. I, need' hardly tell you the name of her who has been Waiting in vain all these long weeks for, news of you, for one explanatory word. You ought to know better than I how so sensitive a nature must have suffered during this trial;-/T very much question whether she derived; any great comfort from the: fact that I—having accidentally heard she was here—r-called upon her, and told her -'you had 'arrived safely at Pern. Perhaps it would have been better, had she been able to think that'an indisposition had prevented your writing to her, rather than to know that you had no reason isoever for such rdonable -"'conduct. Forgive me this phrase; hut ' l can find- no other when I think of her grief. You seem uncommonly particular jji keeping the conditions, notwithstanding the change in your "plans, which made an explanation duo -to her. Love's logic is rather different to yours, it strikes me! Karsten's wife and daughter leave this town to-morrow; until/now they were kept here by the director's illness. Vl shall also start to-morrow oil my "way home. Should you feel inclined to send me a sample of your epistolary."''-style, pray address to rpe ,there." -.•• •- ' /|/ This letter was clear enough. Curt did not require a. long examination of conscience^' order, to recognise, his fault.- What had,he been about? What was lie thinking of to have left her thus, after so cold a- parting? As he now thought; over the. last four weeks, they fell with a,-'' heavy weight of remorse upon bis heart. Once more the words she had said resounded in his ears: "6 Curt! Curt! don't go away! They only want 'to separate "us for ever." And instead of answering her, he bad left her without due explanatory or ? conciliatory word. . And, after 'why - had/he started off so hurriedly? The scales'; now fell from his eyes, and he saw that .the matter must have been arranged by his mother.' Why had she been so pleased when he told' her that ho was to start at once. And how; calm she-.; was 'when he • took laeve ; of her! His chief at Constantinople,' too, hail also manifested a- passing surprise' when he pje,c.entcd himself before him. ; Now, -. every'; .ring was clear "to him; -Nora-was right—they had. wanted to separate him : from- her, and'ihW ;.liad succeeded". His mother had takjimeas- ■ ures id -■ order to hasten his departure, with the hope ho : would thus forget his iove.' : He understood now what her intention had . been, ■ and it. pained him all the more, because : -he felt that she had von the day. ' ' /; With his love, his .feeling of independence

iatfpk.e in him once more. Did they, perhaps, ■ ' th"ink ! they could conquer him thus ?s Would " .they* try to 'bend his resistance because they : had Irfot been able to break it? / -And Nora, his beloved Nora, whom he had Vofsaken in-so- cruel''-'a manner! He painted ■her' anger, to himself in darker colors even than the reality, for he did not know how niariy; excuses a'; woman's heart can * find- for ; . il^o.; -'conduct of tho man she loves. And !;,'PgjJrto.w,-too, who had been to see her, and. to Whom she had poured out her sorrows-' Dahnow spoke, about her sensitive nature. ' "Would everything conspire against him? -•^]Sever v mind," he thought, "and .if the wJvol'O' world were against me, I would not provided .Nora's heart be not {changed. But what can I do to obtain her forgiveness? I must give her some 1 ndeni-.a-bib; 'proof that I regret my past conduct, . j-anStli.ih.'vtshe is as dear. to 1116 as ever." '. - ; C ; Thus ran. his thoughts, and he stamped his''; Tb'oVw.ith impatience at the distance which fspparatod them. What good was a letter y'nb'w? And then, perhaps, she would not get once taken : in, "he saw intrigue at . : %v>ry turn. '"■' T' '.- .• ; - .H At. last he sprang up with a sudden joy, :^ and'began, a; sort of triumphant march across > his. room, as if the. battle were already won. ;][||!|.was young, he was in love—two good

reasolis for many- a/'wild determination —he was r jealoiisUnt6>the bargain, and .that spurred him on'w-He, threw Dahnow's letter onone side /a'nd. took ('up time-table and a map. fj Distances hardly . exist in. our cent and, 'in love as 'in war, many • a thing is both allowed and possible., ' Would Dahnow have beeft.satisfied at'ihfit with this; piece of logic ? The next morning, Degenthal's • servant brought the ambassadors a/ note' containing the news that liis'iter was ill;, and would not be • able to leave:'his bed ■' for.some -days: the doctor 'having.' ordered' complete repose. "Dear! dear thought .the /old gentleman as. he.; read, the. letter;. / "It's the old story ! He will have committed/ some imprudence, as all our''Germans 1 do, who will not be careful in'this 'climate. VI shall have to look after tho youth /.' ' ''. '" ' a; .', j '.,.■ A few days 1 later,'tbe'siln' was shining upon a. castle rose proudly amidst the villas surrounding it." This castle, of. small dimensions ; it is'true', situated .in the vicinity of a. town in Central Germany. \ It .was always pointed 'i'ofltrtp;.-strangers as havi been bought _ by- a'. European, celebrity, director Ivarstem Guides expatiated upon the beauty of 'the.castle and of its large park, and also mentioned the enormous sum the director had given 'for it. >" ■ ... L ;-,,: (To-, be-continued.) ■■■ v