Felix Lanzberg's Expiation

rode

d green paint, such, as painted in oil, endanger all German art societies; the objects did not fl

l, and the dark rows of crosses and monuments--all could be seen plainly, only with somewhat faded colors, and over all was a misty veil like thin smoke, and a white light shone on the poplar leaves, rustling and turning in the night wind. The reapers were still working. Through the mild air sounde

f all their burdens in exchange for the one he bore. He could have wished that the night had been less beautiful

the strangest longing in his heart. His head grew heated; the allurements with

d not wholly lose the consciousness of motion; the open road, the trees, the wheat-fields, with everything, was mingled a light form; two lar

swing of the scythes have long sounded only like a vague murmur of waters to h

m, a solemn, far-distant murmur breaks the stillness, an

in the distance something low and black hurrying away in great leaps, sees th

en's sake is he still dreamin

rg, you here? Tha

re," says Felix confusedly, coughs and springs f

t on foot, my brother and I, to the burned mill, to have the great enjoyment of seeing charred beams and skeletons of hens, and devou

ot exa

saddle like an arm-chair. Raimund must hire them. I left him no peace! His donkey goes splendidly, but mine! I cannot move him from the spot. I call to my brother, but he does not hear, he is singing college songs, thunders like a whole chorus and has ears for his

ditch along the road, lights up Linda's face, the beautiful white face with the large dark eyes. Her hair is tumbled,

e, "and what will mamma think wh

m helping her. "If you will trust yourself to my guidance and will take this path across the fields, you can rea

ce you so; if you will o

e, in the pitch-dark night? No." He smiles at her encou

e air becomes more and more sultry, an enervating damp odor ris

her in the great, silent, lonely woods. Then he becomes alarmed, quicke

omplainingly: "How you hurry--do not make fun

ed eyes and half-opened mouth, her hair loosened by the

. Shall he offer her

passion in one moment drowns everything, annihila

ch withholds one from a wrong deed, but only that malicious, accusing one which p

, we must hurry," says Felix, with the las

curiously looking down into it, bending deeply down to it, grows a bush of wild roses, covered thickly with white blossoms, trembling slightly, like a living being; with outstretched

nd tottering. Felix strides across it q

g, her teeth set in her lip, stands Linda,

ve things in the world than

holds her closely to him, his lips lose themselves in her loosened hair, burn on her fore

ies he. Whereupon she replies wit

I knew that y

seen," murmurs he bitterly. "But, Li

murmurs with tender rog

te of m

aret and mabille, of a brilliantly squandered fortune, of ballet-dancers and

mine, what does your past m

are an angel," whispers he, and sile

mbitious singer, Raimund, reach

tands there, her arms resting on the balustrade when Raimund and his donkey emerge from the shadows of the street. His red cap pushed back, h

augh gr

where

er

or you for an hour," says he

ave no wish to go. Do not stare at me so, please, as if I w

but the secret with which she has enticed

clapping her hands, leaning far

word from his prett

u home then?" h

st it, ha-ha-ha

rg--he has declared himself

t?" replies she, l

o the farewell performance of a famous

d mamma!" without leaving her arm-chair. "I am frightfully fond of you, for, if

ink asks, "What is it?" and all her cameos

" begins

he old-fashioned arms of the easy-chair, her head thrown t

saw in the country register. He has s

od old nobility, is

ip in the form of an iron crown

says mamma. "They are the younger line of the Coun

her's maiden name?" Linda

a Count

ittle with people, and is s

and capricious little dimples pl

w of his past?"

o like to know something abo

m--hm--was deceived"--murmurs Mr

d, if all does not deceive me, he wi

her little feet dance a merry

you lo

he first man with a faultless profile and good manne

rd the bold malice of his daughter. Raimund, on the contrary, says emphatically,

onless his face buried in the pillows, he lies

he approaching thunder-storm. A massive wall of clouds tower