Part 35 (1/2)

The young lady had already perceived the obstacle; the road leading down the descent and past the bridge was temporarily barricaded, while beyond a number of workmen were busied in blasting a large fragment of rock.

”I am in no hurry,” she said, indifferently, ”and, besides, I must wait for Herr Waltenberg, who begged me to ride on while he spoke with Herr Gronau, whom he met just now quite unexpectedly. I do not wish to be too far in advance of him.”

She let her bridle hang loose, and seemed to bestow all her attention upon the workmen. The previous night had brought an entire change in the weather,--a cold rain had obscured all the sunny, fragrant beauty of the landscape. The skies hung dark and gray above the earth, the mountains were veiled in mist, and the wind whistled in the forests,--autumn had come in a single night.

”We shall see you this evening, Herr Elmhorst?” Erna asked, after a silence of several minutes.

”I regret extremely that I cannot possibly come. I shall be very much occupied this evening.”

It was the old pretext to which he had so often had recourse; but it no longer found credence. Erna said, with evident significance, ”You are probably not aware that my uncle arrived this forenoon?”

”Oh, yes, I know it, and have excused my absence to him; I shall see him to-morrow.”

”But Alice does not seem well. She will not, it is true, admit any indisposition, nor will she allow Dr. Reinsfeld to be summoned, but she looked so pale and ill awhile ago when she came out of her father's room, that I was quite alarmed.”

She seemed to expect an answer, but Elmhorst continued to gaze towards the bridge in silence.

”Surely you ought to forsake your work for to-day and see after your betrothed.”

”I have no longer the right to call Fraulein Nordheim my betrothed,”

Wolfgang said, coldly.

”Herr Elmhorst!”

”Yes, Fraulein von Thurgau. Differences of opinion have arisen between the president and myself of so decided a character that any adjustment is impossible. We have both withdrawn from the intended connection.”

”And Alice?”

”She knows nothing of it as yet, at least through me. Possibly her father may have acquainted her with the matter; in any case, she will submit to his decision.”

The words testified clearly to the nature of the strange alliance, which had in fact existed only between Nordheim and his intended son-in-law. Alice had been betrothed since the interests of both men required that so it should be, and now when these interests no longer existed the betrothal was dissolved without even referring the matter to her; it was taken for granted that she would submit. Erna too seemed to have no doubt upon the subject, but she changed colour at the unexpected intelligence. ”It has come, then, to this,” she said, softly.

”Yes, it has come to this. I was asked to pay a price far too high for me or----, and I made my choice.”

”I knew how you would choose!” the girl exclaimed, eagerly. ”I never doubted it!”

”Ah, you did me that justice, then!” Wolfgang said, with undisguised bitterness. ”I hardly expected it of you.”

She made no reply, but there was reproach in her eyes; at last she said, with hesitation, ”And---what now?”

”Now I stand just where I did a year ago. The path which you once pointed out to me with such enthusiasm lies open before me, and I shall pursue it, but alone,--entirely alone.”

Erna s.h.i.+vered slightly at his last words, but apparently she did not choose to understand them; she interposed, hastily, ”A man like yourself is not alone. He has his talents and his future, and the future before you is so grand and----”

”And as dreary and sunless as that mountain-world,” he completed her sentence, pointing to the autumnal, cloudy landscape. ”But I have no right to complain. It came to meet me once, happiness, brilliant and sunlit, and I turned my back upon it to attain another goal. Then it spread its wings and departed, soaring to unattainable heights; and although I would give my very life for it, it never will come back to me. Those who trifle with it lose it forever.”

There was dull, aching misery in his voice as he made this confession, but Erna had no word of reply for him, and no glance for the eyes seeking her own. Pale and rigid, she gazed abroad into the misty distance. Yes, he knew now where for him lay rest and happiness,--now, when it was too late!

Wolfgang laid his hand upon the horse's mane: ”Erna, one question before we part. After my final interview with your uncle to-morrow I shall, of course, not enter his house again, and you are going far away with your husband. Do you look for happiness at his side?”

”At least I hope to confer happiness.”