The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 45, 12 November 1924, Page 3

The Storyteller

NORA Translated from the German by Princess Liechtenstein (Published by arrangement with Burns, Oates, Washbourne, Ltd.) CHAPTER IV. —(Continued.) , He had nearly reached the town when he was joined by the riding-pair on their way back. The lady’s h'at was suddenly caught by the wind, and began rolling rapidly across the road. Dahnow, as a connoisseur, noticed how well the rider stopped her horse in full gallop. With more activity than we would have given the stout student credit for, he ran after the hat, and happily securing it, prevented its coming to grief in a ditch. He returned triumphantly with his booty, and delivered it to the owner. A small, gloved-hand took it, a blushing face, around which fell the dark damp hair in a state of great confusion, bowed gratefully, and a pair of blue eyes shone from beneath their dark eyelashes with such sweetness, that they went straight through his thick coat to his heart. The words of thanks were carried away by the storm, and as soon as her hat was fixed on again, the young lady sprang after the gentleman into the town, and had long disappeared when the student had reached it. “Hang it! The youth is right! That was really a beautiful girl. If I were not in such a pickle, after this odious shower, I would go to the hotel and inquire about her,” muttered the fat one to himself. “Anyhow, I must have produced a nice effect upon her,” he added, dolefully considering his dripping attire. “Well, not drowned yet?” said Count Degenthal’s cheerful voice, as, a few hours later, he met his friend Dahnow at The entrance of the X Hotel. “No, as you perceive. Indeed, I have had the good fortune of an adventure,” “Of course, fat people are always so lucky.” / “You thin ones race them out of the luck again. Now, guess -whom I saw? Quite the right beginning, too, for becoming acquainted; rendered a knight’s service to the dame concerned.” “The beautiful amazon! Did she fall from her horse? did you save her?” “I regret to say that her hat alone had a fall.” “You regret to say, you abominable creature! Well, then, who is she?” “That was not, written in the hat.” “Then your acquaintance has not made great progress. But let us go in, the others are already waiting.” The youths had given each other rendezvous at a late dinner, in order to honor a guest, who wished to taste the joys of a student’s life for a few days. Theirs was a merry corner at the table; and the laughing and talking was mingled with the popping of champagne corks. Dahnow recounted his morning adventure with the humor peculiar to him; that humor of which the Frenchman says, that it makes others laugh, but never laughs itself. Great merriment followed upon his recital, and numerous questions and suppositions were made as to the name of the beautiful rider. All at once, Degenthal nudged his friend“ Look there! there he is,” he whispered, showing him a gentleman who had taken a seat at another corner of the table. “I think I know him,” added Degenthal reflectively. “I am sure I must have seen those features somewhere. . ■ “There sits our hero, but without the heroine,” said Dahnow, addressing the others. “Probably a tyrannical father or a jealous husband, who wishes to conceal the beauty from the world’s unhallowed eyes,” The young men all directed their looks towards him. ; “I -should think so, indeed,” laughed the stranger; “he does not show his ladies for nothing. That is Karsten, the famous circus director. I know him very well; I saw him a few weeks ago at Vienna, where he gave some representations.” - ;: •, . ' - ; “Hurrah! - Karsten! Then we '-shall- also get a sight' of your beauty, Dahnow,” exclaimed; the others;' V

:v. / “He has a young wife,” continued the stranger, “and I have heard that she is very pretty; probably she was ■ your heroine. 55 J UUI wviuiuv. “No! It was Nora, little Nora! exclaimed Degen--■thal. “How is it possible that I should not have recognised her at once! I must see her again!” “Nora! little Nora!” said Dahnow, surprised. , You seem to have made wonderful progress in your acquaintance! ’ V “Nora Karsten!” said Degenthal again, without noticYfig the other. “That is the reason why the features struck Thie at once. How beautiful she has grown!” ,v “Our friend seems to be on the point of falling in love. Listen, Degenthal, a toast to your newly-recovered princess! She won’t be so very prim as not to let us make her acquaintance.” The young men’s light tone displeased Degenthal. “Gentlemen,” he said seriously, “my mother, through a strange coincidence, once made the acquaintance of the Karsten family. Miss Nora Karsten was still a child, and as children we struck up a friendship. She spent some time with my mother; that is all.” The students looked at each other in wonderment. One of them, who had taken a drop too much wine, raised his glass and cried: “To our good Degenthal’s charming childhood’s friend!” . An angry light shot through Degenthal’s eye. He seemed to be on the point of answering vehemently, when Dahnow touched him, and remarked that Karsten was on the point of going. Degenthal arose and went up to him. “Director Karsten,” he said, his voice still trembling with emotion, “will you allow me to renew our acquaintance? We have not met since those days at Geneva Count Degenthal,” he added, as the director seemed not to recognise him. “Count Degenthal!” he repeated. “That is indeed a joyful surprise,” The remembrance of past times overwhelmed him, and he could only hold out his two hands, which Curt shook heartily. “I saw you this morning out riding,” continued Degenthal, “and your face struck me at once as a. well-known one,” “Sorrow has fallen upon my head since those days,” said the 'director smiling. “I should not have recognised you, Count Degenthal; but at your age that is a compliment. And the countess, your mother, how is he? I always think of her with the most heartfelt gratitude,” and his voice trembled again. “My mother is quite well, thank God. We have lived almost continually in pur Moravian home; I have only left her for a few years at the university.” “So you wanted to enjoy a little of the German students’ happy time. That was a good thought. Is your former tutor, the chaplain, still with you? He was kind enough to write to me now and then, but my travelling life makes me a bad correspondent,” “Oh yes! The chaplain is quite established at home; we cannot do without our kind friend. We have often thought of you and spoken of the days in Switzerland. It was Miss Nora, was it not, who was with you to-day?” , “It was my daughter,” said the director; “she left the convent in which she was educated about six months ago, and has returned to me. I was at last able to take my child to live with me again, as I have a second wife.” Degenthal’s face showed that he was somewhat astonished at this piece of news, and as the director noticed it, a short and awkward pause ensued. , “One requires a home and hearth to come to now and then in a restless life like mine. And I am getting old,” began the director rather uncomfortably. , r “Let me wish you joy,” said Degenthal with good nature, in order to help him over this painful moment. “But may I not be allowed to renew my- acquaintance with S Miss Nora?” r> ' “If you will do me the honor of calling upon us. At i present I am staying at this hotel, but I intend to hire a g, villa, where my wife and daughter will be able to spend a few weeks. My wife must take care of herself, and my daughter has no part in my business.” ( “May I pay you a visit here?” asked Degenthal eagerly. \ -t .■

“If you will do me the honor,” repeated the director with formality. It was easy to notice that he did not wish to move a step towards the young man. “And when is the best time for me to find you at home?” said Degenthal. “The mornings are completely taken up by my business, but in the evenings I give no representations am with my family. To-morrow, for instance, I shall be at home in the evening.” “Then I will call to-morrow. Please remember me meanwhile to Miss Nora,” added Degenthal, with a warm shake of the hand. “My daughter would never forgive me, were I to rob her of meeting you. She has not forgotten your kindness, Count Degenthal, any more than I have. Whilst this animated conversation had been taking place, the young men at the table had watched the two, and at last .Karsten also gave a look at the group . 0 “I think,” said he, “that I see there a gentleman who deserves my best thanks as well as those of my daughter—the stout gentleman at the corner of the table. May I ask you to introduce me to him?” “My friend, Dahnow? Yes, he told us of his adventure, Come with me. . . My dear fellow, Director Karsten wishes to speak with you. Director Karsten, Baron Dahnow —heavy Mecklenburg , race!” Degenthal added jestingly. “Unless I am much mistaken, Baron Dahnow, you are the person who this morning helped my daughter so kindly out of her difficulty, said the director, with the simple and easy manner of the man of the world. “My figure unfortunately forbids incognito, so that I cannot modestly disclaim the valorous exploit. Moreover, fortune favored me in allowing me to be of some use to “so lovely a lady,” answered Dahnow gallantly. The director bowed. “If you will allow me,” he then continued coolly, “I will go and fetch my thanks from the lady herself, by. availing myself of a portion of the permission you have just given my friend Degenthal. 55 “I shall be delighted to receive you, said the director; “although my wife and daughter live very retired, it will certainly give them pleasure to become acquainted with these gentlemen. It was now Dahnow’s turn.to bow. “Come, director! Do join our party, and let us drink a glass at the pleasure of having met you again,” said Degenthal. “Indeed, I should like it of all things; but my .time is up. Moreover, my grey head is not fit to be seen amongst so many young ones; it is only at one time of life that we can be so happy and careless. Pray, excuse me, Count Degenthal.” ' Degenthal once more shook hands with Karsten, who then departed, after having sent a comprehensive bow to the whole group. “What a handsome man, and how uncommonly wellbred he looks!” said one of the young men, following him! with his eyes. “No one would be able to guess what he really is.” “He was much talked of at one time. Some thought he was the illegitimate son of some nobleman or other; then it was said that he was an officer who had been compelled to leave the army on account of debts; then, that he was a wandering Jew, who had learnt American humbug. 55 * “If he is a Jew, I am one!” exclaimed a broad-shoul-dered Westphalian, with a loud voice, —and certainly his pug nose and fair hair exonerated him from any suspicion of the kind. “Have you ever seen him on horseback? The man seems made of iron, and his talent is no humbug.” “Dahnow, you’re not wanting in pluck, I must say,” said another one, “going and inviting yourself like that! At all events, you might have had the good feeling of including us in yourmool invitation of yourself; we might all have gone and paid our respects to the lovely creature.” “I thought a deputation en masse was not a bit necessary,” said Dahnow laconically. ' • - _ “Never mind! we shall see the-, beauty all the same,” cried the one whose hilarity was caused by the fruit of the vine. “Degenthal, you lucky dog! this glass to your

beauty ! Don’t be so cruel- as to conceal her from our sight! . ; Three cheers for Nora Karsten!” • • '. Degenthal sprang up. His eyes shot fire, his forehead V glowed, and his voice trembled with emotion, as he cried j out, “Sir, you have not the right of using thus the name c. ; of a lady whom” < . But whatever he may have intended to say remained unheard, although every: one had turned to him with astonishment, for at the same instant two freshly brought bottles fell upon the table with a great clatter. They wrought destruction amongst the glasses, and their conk ' tents flowed like a stream upon the table-cloth. There followed a moment of great confusion; every one inquired \he cause of the event, and every one attempted to save [[ his own glasses. Waiters hastened to clear away the shattered bits, and the sitting was interrupted. . Dahnow caught Degenthal by the arm;. “Come with me,” he said gravely; “we have had enough of it. A little fresh air and a glass of beer will do no harm after all this : stuff. Come, before the others notice us.” Degenthal hesitated a moment, and then made up his , mind to follow his friend. "The bottles and the glasses you shall pay for,” said Dahnow, in his dry short way, as they left the diningroom. “I have done enough by the friendly service of having broken them.” "You did it on purpose?” asked Degenthal astounded. , “How could I otherwise have put a stop to your display of oratory? A good cause is worth a few pieces of broken glass.” "Why did you .interrupt me?” continued Degenthal v eagerly. “It is too bad to make such public ill-use of a lady’s name. I really cannot understand your reason for preventing my giving these people a piece of my mind.” "Firstly, because words thus spoken miss their aim secondly, because I have too great a respect for any lady, in whatever position she may be, to bring her into a students’ quarrel. Do you suppose that a duel between you and the 1 Courlander ’ on her account would be of much advantage to her?” \ ' Degenthal was silent; he could not but admit to himJ self that his friend as right. But he felt put out, and • asked again : "Why do you lay such a stress upon the words, f in whatever position she may be placed?’ ” - "Simply because her father’s position exposes her to being treated lightly.” “But she has nothing to do with his business, and has been kept away from it ever since her early childhood. She was brought up in one of the best convents in Belgium. Her mother was a very refined and well-educated woman, ' who expired in my mother’s arms. Our acquaintanceship also dates from that time. Her father was rich enough to give her a good education, you know.” _ "For all that, my dear Degenthal, it is a' difficult position for the poor girl,” said Dahnow again. “And are you really going there to-morrow?” “Of course,” answered Degenthal; “nothing is more natural. My mother also will be delighted to have news of the little Nora, in whom we all took such an interest.” '' Dahnow seemed rather doubtful of the countess’s great delight on hearing this news, but he wisely held his peace. “Anyhow, it is a complicated case, upon which I would certainly consult my mother, if I had one,” he said in the half-ironical tone he often assumed when talking with his young friend. - (To be continued.)