Felix Lanzberg's Expiation

rted, legions of dry leaves whirl on the sand, and exchange cutting remarks with the autumn wind u

e to tell the severe Elsa of his betrothal is past, and when he at length resolved upon it, he received only a sad glan

d expectation. He had no time to tell himself that Linda's happy coquetries proved a very flippant conception of the serious situation--he himself had forgotten the gravity of the situation. He did not think, he only felt and saw a white, ever-changing face, a fac

of October, Felix La

possession, and in a white circular chapel, with small windows shad

ir fortunes acquired by their own ability, and others also less honest, who, after t

r a quiet wedding, for the contact with so much industry of which a considerable part had not yet become "finance," littl

ratic ministry thus titled--Mrs. von Harfink, then, composes a toast for her husband to deliver at the wedding dinner. Raimund stands beside the piano--to sing while

ge lies thick on the lawn, and between the leaves shines the grass, bright and fresh

se their feathers. Many flower-beds are already empty, only a couple of stiff georginias a

e also afraid to expose their complexions to the morning air. Linda feels no anxiety about her complexion, it is too beautiful for that. With her loosen

ide and not at

nces, foreign entertainments of which she will be queen. In mind, she already sees herself on the arm of one and another pr

ly, swim round a yellow bath-house. Then a hand is laid lightly on her shoulder. "Felix!"

dsome, with clothes a trifle too modern, and a too pronounced per

eally come?" sa

ew forlorn chamois I would stay away from your wedding?" Rhoeden has co

Emma was afraid," said Linda, coquettish

s seated himself upon a low iron garden chair, from which, with elbows on his knees, his face between

ows a pebble between the swans, who dip th

he groans. "The Trauns did not wish to let me go from them--but rather than no

shining eyes and glowing lips. He seizes her hand and draws her to

"Yes, I

d y

sk indiscreet qu

nterests me so much,

nly, most unfortunately, had not been born a Grau," he continue

er shoulders, and coquetting with him over he

ur bridal wreath, Lin! You will drive people mad with your beauty. You are the most beautiful p

is unconscionable aplomb, and his denial from principle of all

he understands him; they are fairly made for each other, and for one moment, one very brief moment, Linda thinks almost with repugnance of the black raven in the red f

ooking for

, mi

e! There is something tiresome about a wedding-day!" then she break

, exhilarating fragrance mingles with the odor of wax candles, and that of perfumery and cosmetics, which is always noticeable in select assemblies. The wind creeps cu

starts when a white rose falls from the wall. Mr. von Harfink looks as if his collar were too tight for him. Eugene von Rhoeden, his bridesmaid's wrap on his arm, a sceptical smile on his lips, his hand at his mustache, his glance resting now on his uncle, now on the priest, now on the

d. The moment is here; his feveris

Proud? Felix Lanzberg's bride proud? It is impossible--it cannot be. A suspicion which, however he may deny it to his conscience, has occurred to him a

Linda looks at him in surprise; two large, greenish eyes shine at him

rfink, who studies the menu with the tenderest pleasure, and with a small pencil mark

l of sunset, there are thirty-four figures in the picture--he has counted them--and in the background something else, he does not know whether it is a buffalo or ruins. "They almost persuaded me to buy a Daubigny, a Frenchman, I think--a green sauce--what a s

the table with its stiff floral decorations and its heavy si

, on the lookout for profit, shoots from their small eyes. The past generation breathe loudly, pick their teeth continually, w

ed, and have something of the jockey and so

blond good-for-nothing, who has as many debts as a cavalier, who was

e are pleasing; they have all good

begins to flush feverishly; without eating a mouthfu

kes a desperate attempt to do justice to the salmon. "Strange," remarks Von Harfink, "my mo

e. "I still am frightened by a telegram, and always feel nervous at a we

d that every one had not eaten some of his salmi. Pate à la Kotschubey, he calls it. Only to-day, this Galatin said to me: 'Ah, Monsieur le Chevalier, w

angerous cook

he is a splendid fellow, talks politics like a deputy. He formerly served only with the highest nobility. I took him with the castle from Count Sylvani. A peculiar

ssistance of her distressed husband. "Ha! ha! ha!" says she, with her shrill laugh. "My husban

wife before people laughs so energetically at one of his "jokes," of which he

ary of pulling the lion-skin aga

tingly, the glass trembles in his hand. Fear and champagne have made

et down his glass, and twists his napkin like a conscientious washerwoman. Susanna rises, she is fairly Roman. "As my husband, overcome with emotion, cannot speak," she begins. "I will say, this is for----" for a moment she hesitates, then for the first time in her life, she resolutely den

eden to his neighbor, a gay, more than audacious brunette. "Something betwee

bleman and citizen. The older Rhoeden hopes that his beautif

milar f

too long, murmurs: "Shall we not soon have paid sufficien

his neighbor, its bitterness was only

t young man. The latter says good-naturedly and thoughtlessly: "Yes, Lanzberg, I will jeer at myself. Par

nzberg" lowers his eyes to the