Chapter VI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 30

Chapter VI.

Frank's Heturn.

Some days later, supported with cushions, and shrunk to a shadow of her former plump self, 1 Frau Biber reclined in the old Gothic window overlooking mountain and valley. A> cheerless enough prospect disclosed itself under the pale wintry sun, which struggled feebly against opposing clouds, and threw a transient glitter on wet roofs and wetter street. ! But Frau Biber was filled to overflowing with a devout thankfulness and gratitudej and no cheerlessness of weather could chill the warm glow around her heart. In the room all' was still save the crackling of a logfire. • • i ' " They are in the orchard, gathering the last winter roses," she thought ; and then a promise newly made to Louis recurred to tier mind. He had implored Frau Biber to try and influence Magda in favour of an early, almost immediate marriage. Nothing more definite since that eventful » evening had oocurred, but on the other hand there was no diminution ' of cordiality in Magda's manner — only a skilful avoidance of further' perilous tete-a-tetes.' Louis had been very effusive and explanatory with regard to his future 'prospects as a journalist, and the aid to be expected from

''influential relatives." It was refreshing; the old lady reflected, to find in these mercenary days an ambitious beginner not afraid to venture in the battle of life with a penniless girl by his side. Pity that Bettina's unaccountable aversion had never been overcome, and that the doctor remained so stolidly indifferent' to Magda's happiness, constantly evading a reasonable discussion of fros and cons when solicited for advice. jAt this stage of her reflection's, disturbed by an intrusive' ray of light, she leaned over to adjust the curtain, glancing out mechanically over the village. But what was .this ? AJI Hagedorn appeared to have concentrated itself in one busy mass around some struggling object. Presently from the thickest of the throng dashed forth two terrified horses, dragging after them an overturned postchaise in their headlong career !

* Frau Biber leaned back and closed her eyes, with a thrill of delicious fear at the idea that she too might be imbibing some of Bettina's admired yet dreaded powers of vision. For what more unlikely than that strangers should visit out-of-the-world Hagedorn in midwinter 1 And yet it looked very real. She looked again, but the crowd had dispersed, and a small knot of men were carrying something on a litter down the street.

A long pause of wondering conjecture was broken by the mingled sounds of trampling feet and subdued voices close at hand. The door^flew open, and, guided by Dr Mohr, four men passed silently up-stairs and laid their burden down.

Frau Biber had sat in paralysed fear until becoming aware of the presence of the Doctor. Where he was concerned, however, all must be in order. She tottered to the bedside, and found him engaged in an attempt to restore consciousness to the prostrate form. One by one the men slowly left, and Magda and Bettina were summoned, but before this Dr Mohr had ominously and silently ceased from his labours.

A startled cry broke the stillness ! Bettina stood by the bed, and stretched out her arms to all in wild appeal.

" Did I not say it 1 Look — he is therejust as I saw him ! And, oh, I know him twit) ! It is my poor brother Frank come home at last ! " Dr Mohr related how the horses had taken fright at some passing object, and shying violently against the market pump overturned the chaise with its occupants. The driver escaped almost unhurt ; but, mortally injured, the unfortunate stranger had only time to whisper an earnest appeal that he might be carried at once to Schloss Hagedorn before losing consciousness.

A low knock at the door interrupted Dr Mohr's recital, and startled anew his agitated audience. It was only Gregory, holding a small hand-bag which it appeared had been found in the coupe of the overturned carriage. This was labelled "F. yon Berners," and contained, besides a few necessaries, a pocket-book and a letter addressed to Mafifda.

And now another startling event was destined to crown the day's alarms.

Magda — matter -of - fact, undemonstrative Magda— had no sooner read the first few lines of this epistle than her face changed from crimson to deadly pallor all in a "moment, and, throwing the fatal document far from her, she sank back, fainting, in Otto Mohr's arms !

On recovering consciousness she ascribed her momentary weakness entirely to that day's excitement and alarm, and begged them earnestly to forget the alarming episode. Something was withheld from them all felt convinced, but nevertheless the investigation proceedtd, and one paper after another addressed to Frank yon Berners in Jamaica, and then in London, proved the identity of this unfortunate stranger with Bettina's brother. Last of all came a wellknown lawyer's address in Hanover, and then, clear and distinct, their own name and dwelling-place, with the addition ■ in pencil, " Just discovered." t Amidst all this mystery and confusion one thing remained dear— that Bettina's brother had at last returned home to find his death at her very threshold. These poor women in their dire distress found a very present' help in their trusted friend the Doctor, and readily aoquiesced in his suggestion that communication by letter should be at onoe opened with the lawyer. But when he hesitatingly proceeded to add thab, ten minutes of personal conversation being better than a month of letter-writing, they might prefer some valued friend to undertake the journey in their behalf, then Magda hotly interposed : "If Dr Mohr means by • a valued friend ' our acquaintance Herr Sands, then I beg of him to distinctly understand that we want no such interference,"

As though ashamed of her sudden heat, she added, with forced composure ; "This is only a family trouble. • Why should we drag strangers into our counsel ? "

" « A stranger ' and < interference,' " mused the Doctor that night, with a faint returning ebb of hope. " Decidedly our friend's ohanoes are waning."

But he only learnt all some days later. Busied with the funeral arrangements he had found time still to wonder and conjecture at Louis' conspicuous absence, and when summoned to the schloss by Frau Biber, a whole history of marvels was poured into his bewildered ears.

" Oh, my dear doctor," cried the old lady in deep agitation, "to think how it has all come round at last, and that we are worth thousands upon thousands ! and that Magda and Louis have quarrelled, and he is gone no one knows where ! Oh, doctor, doctor, we are all in the .wildest confusion ! "

Which was certainly >a nqb exaggerated description of her own mental condition, but after a few skilful inquiries Otto Mohr learnt that which sent his little flow of hope back to the heart with an icy chill. '

, It appeared that on the very evening of the 'fatal accident Louis presented himself at the schloss, as usual. Magda had insisted on receiving him alone, and after a short but stormy interview he had amazed them by dashing away with a face as black as midnight. "And not even an adieu forme!" poor Frau Biber complained. Next' morning he had disappeared from Hagedorn. ' ' • V* , . • y , ■>, T Magda would, reveal nothing but that all was over between them, and she had begged

her friends, even with tears, to question he no farther. ; On the other hand, the lawyer wrote that Herrvon Berners. had instructed him some' weeks previously to prepare a will leavinothe bulk of his large fortune to his niece Magda. This will he had signed on his arrival from the West Indies, and had then expressed his intention of rejoining his relatives. Their whereabouts, he declared, had long been withheld 'from him' through interested motives. The lawyer concluded with • a . hope that the legatees' would repair as quickly as convenient to Hanover, and thus avoid the tedious delays of correspondence, All this and more the doctor heard in silence, his face shaded by his hand, and apparently sank in reverie.

Presently Bettina and Magda joined them, and he braced himself to the task of congratulation and farewell.

" For I venture to predict," he added, iv tones meant to be jesting, but which sounded with the ring of despair to at 1 least one listener, « that Hagedorn and its delights will know you no more."

From mingled emotions all were ' silent, and so adieu was said. He avoided looking: into Magda's pale, unhappy face, or touohing her ice-cold hand for more than a moment. Bettina accompanied him to the door, and exchanged some parting words. It had grown quite dusk, but no one wished for more light. One would have said that a great misfortune instead of happiness had overtaken the little circle.

" Of course our friend is right," said Bettina, returning. "We cannot continue to live here, for Magda's sake. 'The place must be insupportable to her now that that "villain through his base desertion has well-nigh broken her heart. The Yon Berners have their pride, too " "How dare you ! " burst forfch Magda impetuously—"oh, how dare you imagine that of me, Aunt Bettina ! I heartbroken on his account! I deserted! Listen, then, and you shall hear the story of my deep humiliation. I deserve that you should know the truth, for my folly. To think that I, a plain, ignorant country girl afaould have succeeded in bringing this youthful, devoted lover to my feet ! Do you know what he valued and courted in me ? It was my future fortune— that letter told me so 1 My poor uncle wrote to his father, an old school friend, of his intended return home and disposal- of his property, and this dishonourable friend sent his no less dishonourable son to woo and wed the heiress betimes Then they had doubtless prepared some specious scheme, some lying argument to smooth their villainy over. But my uncle suspected treachery, and returned home secretly to discover and frustrate this precious plot And there you have the whole history of my devoted lover ! Laugh, laugh at me for a credulous fool, if you like, but don't believe for one instant that I am heartbroken " " My poor child," said Bettina sorrowfully " why did you listen to him at all when your love was given elsewhere 1 "

" Because, because," cried Magda • but surprised on the verge of a sudden confession, she stopped with a sudden cry. Dr Mohr stood close beside her, and seized both trembling hands with the strong grasp of affection and despair. " Are you" mad," he cried, •• that you talk of no one loving you for your own goodness ? On the contrary, who could know and not love you 7 Not I, for one. It is all over now, and you are leaving this for ever • but take with you the consolation— if it be one— that to the poor village doctor you are and always have been, the one faultless woman in the world. A few weeks ago," and he smiled sadly, "I thought that no power could drag my secret to light ; but now all is so changed that no one can misiudo'e my confession. My darling, forgive this folly and think sometimes kindly of the old days."

He turned abruptly and would have gained the door, but that Magda was quicker than he and barred the way.

And then a face so transfigured with ioy looked up into his that that man must have been more than mortal who would not have paused to drink in the sight of this happiness. *

"You never wait to learn whether your confession is a consolation," she ciied, between smiles and tears,, « i, O r to hear in return that I have no higher ambition than to be your wife." And then two clinging arms and a soft cheek laid against his own prevented his escape. The two old women's eyes grew dim. They stayed to hear no more of his broken remonstrances nor of Magda's triumphant joy. c Where such love existed the strife could have but one ending. "It was all my contriving," said Aunt Bettina softly ; " one docs not go through the fire ones-self for nothing." And in the new and brighter life whiclu soon unfolded itself for them all she saw no, visions save those of peace and happiness.

[The End.]