Part 52 (1/2)

Here it was again--the harsh words which he had already heard once before--”fled from the colors.” It forced the blood to his brow again.

”Why did you not become an officer?” continued Egon. ”You could have become one early at your home; you could have taken your leave then at an age when life only commences. Then you would have been free--honorably.”

Hartmut was silent. His father had told him the same, but he had not wanted to wait and submit himself to rules. A barrier had stood in his way, and he simply threw it down unconcernedly. But he threw down duty and honor with it.

”You do not know all that stormed upon me at that time,” he replied, heavily. ”My mother--I do not wish to accuse her--but she has been my doom. My father had separated from her in early life. I thought her dead, when suddenly she entered my life and s.n.a.t.c.hed me to her with her burning mother love--with her promise of freedom and happiness. She alone is responsible for that unfortunate breaking of my word----”

”What word?” interrupted Egon, excitedly. ”Had you sworn to the standard?”

”No, but I had given my father my word to return when he allowed me the last conversation with my mother----”

”Instead of which you fled with her?”

”Yes.”

The answer was almost inaudible and was followed by a long pause. The Prince spoke never a word; but in his open, sunny face deep, bitter pain was depicted--the bitterest of his life, for at this moment he lost his so pa.s.sionately loved friend.

At last Hartmut resumed, but he did not raise his eyes. ”You understand now why I want to force an entrance into the army at any price. Now that war has broken out, the man can atone for the boy's sin. Therefore I left Sicily immediately after the first threatening news, and flew as in a storm to Germany. I hoped to be able to hasten to arms. I had no idea of all the difficulties and hindrances which would be put in my way. But you can put them aside, if you intercede for me.”

”No, I cannot do that,” said Egon, coldly. ”After what I have heard just now, this is impossible.”

Hartmut turned deathly white and stepped up close to Egon with a vehement gesture.

”You cannot? That means--you will not?”

The Prince was silent.

”Egon!” Wild, stormy entreaty was in the tone. ”You know I have never made a request of you--this is the first and last one. But now I beg--entreat you for this friendly service. It is the relief from the doom which has hung over me since that hour. The reconciliation with my father--the reconciliation with myself--you must help me!”

”I cannot,” repeated the Prince. ”The rejection to which you have been subjected may hurt you deeply--I believe it--but it is only just. You have broken with your fatherland--with your duties--and that cannot be mended so easily without anything further, when one has become of a different opinion. You fled from the service of our standard--you, the son of an officer! Now the army is closed to you, and you must bear it.”

”And you tell me that so calmly--so coldly!” cried Hartmut, beside himself. ”Do you not see that it is a question of life or death to me?

I saw my father again that day at Rodeck, when he hastened to the deathbed of Wallmoden. He crushed me with his contempt--with the awful words he threw into my face. It was that which drove me away from Germany, which chased me ceaselessly from place to place. His words went with me and made life a h.e.l.l to me. I have greeted the war cry as a deliverance. I want to fight for the fatherland which I once cast from me, and now the door which is open to every one is closed to me alone. Egon, you turn from me! Oh--there is only one way left for me!”

With a sudden, pa.s.sionate motion he turned to the table, where the Prince's pistols were lying; but the Prince sprang at him and tore him back.

”Hartmut, are you out of your senses?”

”Perhaps I shall be so. All of you torture me beyond endurance.”

Boundless despair lay in those words.

Egon, too, had turned pale, and his voice trembled as he said: ”Before it goes so far--I will try to find an opening in a regiment for you.”

”At last! I thank you.”

”However, I cannot promise you anything, for the Duke has to be put altogether aside now. Besides, he leaves to-morrow for the battlefield.

Should he learn later on that you serve in his corps, we shall then be in the midst of the storm of war, and one does not ask 'How' and 'Why'