THE STORYTELLER

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 8, 4 March 1925, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER

.The train is , once ■ more, moving rapidly away. . : . A group of students,, who-.*have been• enjoying -the • summer,..night, .raise a loud cheer after it, and now "the merry university town is left behind ill the far disnee. The. two .in the carriage .are still motionless; their eyes no longer seek one another; : on tho- contrary, they both look fixedly out of their', respective'-windows; as if they were staring at a. ■ world of dreams.

Gone by! gone by! - lias their. happiness also whirled by them, and dwindled "into nought, : as the landscape ''they are passing, as the smoke .which vanishes before their eyes? • They are incapable of thought, there is a chads in their heads, and a beating. in their hearts, as if they would turn mad, and their hearts break for this great and immeasurable woe. ' ' . The tepid air of night enters and refreshes, their burning foreheads The.moon has risen in the heavens, .sharply delineating the distant mountains, and causing the broad river to sparkle with' a thousand 'gems. Is it then" so long ago .since they stood side by side upon these mountains, or wore rocked together upon this river, for ever seeking and meeting e'.ieh other, these-two who now- turn away the one from the other so sadly and so coldly? And was it not herein this lovely land of'the vine that- they had told each other, of „ their love ?.-;•■ ,-:>-' : ' " '

At the remembrance a : tear starts .to. her eyes, and suddenly, as .if,- overpowered'-by ,an intense longing, she turns towards him, ;iiid looks at'liim imploringly; but-he hasi'turiicd his head away, '1 and is looking out", with a fixed 'gaze end a marble;.coldness upon his i -. . -■. - --- - / - face, ay' if he. completely ignores who ' that woman is sitting in the same carriage with him. , •' • ' . ~ . : ':'-'•:;:.".. Then the softer feeling in her breast is also frpzep -11)), she remembers her..'• letter disdainfully returned to .her.•/u it hop t.' even'.haying been opened, and if now rises as a wall between hem. '<.' ! ■ And he what is. lie thinking ; .of,? .'illc is thinking that- once before a rushing and rattling train also led him day and night, every moment seeming, too long which kept him .from her; be remembers, how he had thoughjt r-othing of distance, and had laughed at,, impossibilities in order to .look at her, and to hold, her rejoicing, in his arms— if only for a lew -minutes. . . And that is the woman who now sits there opposite to him. Tie can hear the soft rustle of her dress at every movement she makes, lid the heavy breathing which passes across her lips. What vorild he not have given in old times for such hours spent with her? And now that lovely form has lost all charm for him. Almost unwillingly he turns] his eyes upon her .

• •;:;'':;-":;/ r _s/N0RA.-,r ' :^:\:.:-:-ym^. I Translated from the German by Pjrincess Liechtenstein -•";*,*'">. (Published I by arrangement with Burns; Oafes, Washbourno, Ltd.) '.;. "f ■'-..'./. -CHAPTER XVll— (Cdhtinued.) . " "'/'■ -J

Yes, those are the same admirably chiselled features, the same long black eyelashes shadowing her cheek. Those are tit/: samered and full lips, and on her brow- those same locks of dark hair which had been" his delight. ; Beautiful, , more ' beautiful ■- than ever, . ... and yet he- turns -.away suddenly and indignantly. •-. _.'/. ..''-j .: "-v Where did he last see that face portrayed? Ah, yes; lie remembers now, he saw it in a

newspaper as -the likeness of the 'most admired aml'sought-after beauty of a'.circus. Ho closes his eyes so that lie may see her no longer. Perhaps his heart would have melted had lie found her pale and; worn; but he finds her fresher ami more■ blooming than ever. The fact is, we can bear any amount 6: sot-row in the exuberant days of our youth: and it is-only later on that• it leaves 'narks on our brow and poisons the blood which flows in our veins. f The train .puffs on farther and farther:. They, are in the plain now, and the romance (if that mountainous country . is Irs. .far away from them as the. romance of 'their own lives. _ God -help them! Will all.:now be with them as Hat. as devoid of charm, as this landscape drawn .out in so'-.melancholy a. fashion by.the-grey morning dawn-' Farther, farther, hour after hour. The night'is over, and the train still moving on. together with their thoughts. Id their^niinds-ari^

endless cuestions, prayers, and : accents of indignation, -but none pass their lips.. When wilt he get- -tint? : Is,she not arrived at the end; of ' her journey:-' X-ow, again, 'firshrill whistle is heard, and the name..of.. a large south German town is called out. She raises herself as if with sonic great - alarm ;: the journey lias-lasted so long, and yet, if scents : s(>;hborl. ;:; ,;.,"::•'';; ~..:..;.;.-■ - -.: - .".'"' i ■ ■:'. •"■ The old. .abigail now., awakes and arranges the parcels in order' to get out. J )' Nora also lakes her small -bag in a:niechaiiical- way. She is obliged to p,iss : in front of Curt, and for one nipineui her eyes rest upon his face; m. longer with, a -terrified look as before, but, full of a silent despair-!, ■ v'. - ' Now, indeed, he may .be'satisfied ; with the wan and sorrowing expression lie bad missed; her lovely face is'deadly pale mid completely upset, with grief. . . A.mist suddenly rises before his eyes at that moment, ami he holds oil his hand, but only from pure courtesy. *' ' A gentleman, who has evidently been awaiting her on the nbillonn, is already oil the carriage-steps and helos her down. Only a dumb and (-old bow, and she is gone. She is met with zealous offers of service, but she refuses them with a haughty, gesture: the gentleman, however, takes possession of her things, as if it were his right to do so, and. leads her to the carriage waiting for her.

'j\ Curt stares at 'them as if he had seen two 'ghosts. • The guard passes by, and, rememI p?ring him as the traveller who hail given him so generous a. present, feels drawn to a little conversation. . "Handsome lady that, sir, ain't she? She's quite a celebrity, too, at the Karsten Circus. Her father arrived yesterday by an extra, train; but perhaps your Excellency Mould take a cup of coffee, as the morning is uncommon fresh?".he added, looking at Curt's pale face. t ( • The man is right, Curt is shivering from head to foot, but he refuses to take anything and sinks back in his seat, as if decidedly disinclined to carrying on the conversation. The guard, who feels particularly chatty and amiable this morning, -is obliged to look out for some more cheerfully-disposed traveller. , At last Curt is alone. She is gone, after haying spent these long hours with him. The moment God had perhaps sent them in which to clear up every doubt is now irretrievably past. One word might have saved them, and neither spoko it. , "Nora! Nora!" be now cries in wild despair, covering his face with his hands. "Oh, why. did you not give me that look a second earlier?" and in the agony of his grief, remembering that it is too late, all his buried love lives in him again and tortures him. The day is advanced when the train stops at the station C.urt is to get out at. Lily's smart footman is already awaiting the traveller on the platform, hat in hand, and leads him at once to the carriage. \. she sun is shining on the neatest possible equipage, so bright and clean, that it quite dazzles one, and the little ponies toss about their heads with a coquettish wagging, as mudi as to say: "If there is taste left in the world, people must think us remarkably pretty!" " But Curt is in no mood for admiring anything, and he throws himself, tired and exhausted, into the vehicle with as little ado as if it Mere a common fly, and closing his eyes, he does not even bestow a. look at the green meadows or upon the fine house which now rises* in so stately a manner before him, amidst the luxurious trees of its beautiful park. ..-""" v Lily has already asked herself ten times, the same two questions to-day: "Will he! come? Will he hot come?" She had often peeped out of the window opening upon the pathway which leads up to the house, like Sister Ann, to see whether anyone is coming. Now, at last, the rolling sound of wheels upon the bridge announces that her guest has at last arrived. She hastens to her draw-ing-room in order to receive him with all the dignity of, the mistress of the house. The mixture of reserve and of intense joy Jspicted on her face are really very becoming; jit, alas, it is.only the footman who enters. The count's compliments, and he begs to be excused from appearing to-night. He has been obliged to go to his room, feeling too' exhausted to .present his homage at once, after the . fatigue of a long journey. He hopes,to be able to come" down to-morrow." Lily's face sinks : to zero, for hope deferred Imaketh- : heart sick. But - what is to bo done? ' f

CHAPTER XVIII. "That was an uncommonly silent companion, upon my word!'' muttered old Hannah, rubbing her sleepy eyes, as she sat down in the carriage by the side of her young mistress. Dear old Hannah! she had remained faithful to the director, and accompanied Nora everywhere; taking care of her as devotedly now as she had done in the days of her childhood. "Nora dear! I'm sure you're shivering/' she added anxiously, pulling up the carriage-rug in order to cover her completely with it. "That all. comes of racing about the world, and travelling day and night as we do. Thank Cod! we. shall stay here some lime at least! My old bones can hardly put up with it, and I'm sure your young ones cannot do so either," she went on to herself, as she now with some difficulty got down from the carriage which had slopped at one of the best hoi els. , The gentleman who bad met Nora at the station was likewise there Lo receive her. "The director arrived last night," he reported. ''Everything is fixed for the day after to-morrow, unless you are too tired, Miss Mora." Mora did not seem to hear him, ami only nodded silently, without taking any further notice of him. ■' "She's ungracious!" muttered Landed'.,. "J suspect you're a little too much spoilt, young lady! You'll have to get out of the way of that, if I am not much mistaken. Hut. now 1 think of it, the young gentleman who looked out of the carriage window Lore n great resemblance to the count.-. . J hope no rendezvous \- However, it doesn't much matter, she may do what she likes, our belhidonna, but she won't get him back again in a hurry! So that's the reason why "our young duchess was so ungracious! Well! Never mind! We can wait, and settle our accounts a little later on," he added, laughing sardonically, and entering the diningroom in order to drown his rage in spirits. Old Hannah had already arranged Nora's room as comfortably as she used to do her mother's in days gone by; and now, smoothing out the white pillows, she drew the win-dow-curtains, and brought her a comfortable dressing-gown in which to rest after her fatiguing journey. Nora had submitted to everything passively, and lay extended speechless upon the sofa. Old Hannah looked at her, and shook her head deprecatingly. "This restless life will kill her, just as it did her mother," she muttered as she went out, "Yes, yes, kill her. I say, were she ten times as strong! Poor, .handsome missy!" Nora was alone, and complete rest had followed the well-nigh endless-motion. But she hardly realised the difference; everything seemed still to be puffing and blowing, rushing and roaring in her brain, and to be hunting her to death. She saw him still before her, so cold, so mute, so. inanimate! It had'been a dreadful night, ami the storm of those . hours appeared to have annihilated her poor, suffering heart. Three years had passed by since that first appearance in the eir"u^after which she had lain thus broken, down, then, as now, by great physical and moral exertion. Since then her reputation had spread far and wide in all the towns the ••■ Continent, and.Landolfo's calculations, had

so far. (been ' crowned by complete' successi' Her beauty arid her talent had WorKoi'%ciiUers, and the director might well bo pleased. In her soul, meanwhile, a. .react!on hail gradually taken place, for we poor mortal^

are alike unable to remain for ever in the depths of woe or - on the pinnacle of-!, jojr;'. In the place of an irrevocable fact, we drib generally visited by a certain , inward tranquil I ify— the mure so when this fact brings with it an active ,and busy life' which requires continual bodily fatigue. The'latter is indeed the best remedy against the mind’s sickness. Nora’s Occupation in itself was one which she liked, ami as she did it well she could not help feeling some, pleasure in it. She had gradually become used, to the public, and its apnlause, did not move her more, than the sudden cessation of ,it would have astonished her. She was accustomed to such homage, and accepted it as; an -understood tiling. . * -• o-N

Her lather had tried to spare her feelings' as much as lie possibly could. B ho was nevef forced to mix with the rest of;.the- company; and never took part in any combined of theatrical representation. She always "appeared at his side, displaying her skill in riding, or showing oil the paces of some new horse. ’ ;;

She certainly had thought, when first she. appeared in public, that site would never bit able to bear it—that she would die from the l>ain..«)f humiliation and of lost love—hut' one dees not die so easily. There was steel in her blood, steel in her mind, which caused Hoi unwittingly to raise her head once more, feeling how great was the sacrifice she had made, ioeling at peace, for she had been unselfish. It had been until now her great object ‘to remain upon this pedestal of selfrespect and of conviction that she was worthy of Curt’s esteem.

I he sight of her unopened letter had indeed smitten her as with a dagger, but at that time she was almost incapable of .fueling anything very acutely—her feelings being quite benumbed by all the anguish she-had gone through. She did not even recognise his handwriting, so changed was it, arid the envelope was , s o covered, by stamps and postmarks that she-fancied, perhaps, the letter had never reached him. She put it Carefully away just- as it was, so that she might one day let him read therein of all the deep sorrow which alone could justify her. in his eyes. Her life, too, would be a justification —she lived quietly and gravely, away from the noisy pastimes, even from the innocent ones, of i the people who surrounded her. Wherever she went, she was pursued by the obnoxious admiration of young men. She found admirers in every rank, and her stepother assured her over and over again that she need only raise her little finger in order to have ton counts at her feet, instead of the faithless one she chose to pine for. But Nora only shook’her head silently when such speeches were made- to her ’she rifever leeched any ul their tokens of admiration, nor did ever tin encouraging look fall Upon any aspirant. •. S, - The young men ‘ asserted that the proud Amazon never touched -any of the bouquets hr of the-wreaths which' fell at her feet. The clowns generally, picked them up, and, with

kcemical looks' and gestures,"oi'thcr "bombarded Itfreppublic/with them, or used them as adoniInn* 1 for,their own ridiculous selves, to the fdisuimfiture of- those, who had offered them., and to the rejoicing of fife general public. It was;dreadful to think of all the '•mass, of flowers and of money which - had thus been ■ uselessly thrown' a way for 1 the prudish beauty. ! ; Some of the most daring bad rat last : sent- ;, their bouquets directly to .her bouse, and if had required all her step-mother's eloquence ■to ,prevent' Nora returning them. It was 'only the thought that to make herself eneJ mies might injure her father's. career, which 'induced her to keep the flowery messages; r but they, .bloomed away and at- last withered s without her casting one look noon them, .' or -.without her deigning to read one of the /declarations which lay concealed amongst the ' blossoms. She never -assisted'at any of the ; : suppers arranged by gentlemen, /under the J pretext of amusing her father, but in reality : with a- faint' hope of enticing his daughter I out of her retirement. >r Tier warmest admirers had only been able to 'steal a few short moments at the nt<i>)r<ir, r or, when she was out walking; but always • at her father's side. ;' It soon" went from mouth to month thai, the

beautiful Amazon" could he'icen, early in the morning, attired in the darkest and 'most simple 5 of, garitienjs, . on her. way to ehureli at an hour when 'all (lie lu'aii 'nUnUl't was si ill" lying in profoitnd - ; -- -,. ? ; , ~; \ r .: y\ . I lercliarins had induced some particularly energetic young men to try and ."effect ameeting there ;' but", as -soon •as she noticed - his, she no longer Went to- the Same: ; church. Moreover, the s-fresh -•morning air had .somer what cooled down the warmth of their feel- : ings, and made them lose their taste -for'' the' object of' these expeditions. Such, had been Nora's life until now, but last night had cruelly /torn| ,a.way the veil: from her eyes, had extinguished the last ray ~- , . "■■" ■ '■<> ;: , ■' ,' or-nope 111 her breast, \*-- ■ i • Despised! :, despised! oxpulsod;, from the heart, which had. ljetjiy all in. ajl'tto her! - So, he had found no extenuating circumstances; not a ray of sympathy or compassion had lie bestowed upon I'Up'/'in the hours of her dark ■depsairj For desMir it was. ■ She, clutched. ■'her head convulsively-and-pressediidiO l " hands. •'i;assi(;iiately •upon-her,bhick'liair, 'hiding her face amidst tile cushions', as if she could not support oven the faintest ray"or light--fathomless was her; shame, so deep her .sorrow. (To .be continued.)