All agreed to do this, except Joseph and the same in Sonnenkamp's family that she the Cooper, but were puzzled how it could had always been, and that she would rebe brought about. main Manna's friend; for wherever the The subterraneans were unanimous in Professorin was, there any one might maintheir eulogies of Pranken. He was a no-tain social intercourse without detriment to bleman whose like could not be found, who one's honor. did not desert the master for a single moment. He had ridden out with him in the broad daylight, and did not concern himself as to what his noble relatives might say of him. The tone of the conversation became kindly as Frau Weidmann gave unreserved support to Lina; she spoke of the noble character of Roland, who had been on a visit to her house, and of the solid worth of Eric, whom her husband held in very high esteem. Here, underground, they were also glad to know that men were ungrateful and base. It was even known here that Son- Thus every one in the house, as well as nenkamp had made a present of the Villa in the neighborhood, seemed to be putting to the Cabinetsrath, for what the latter had himself right, and adopting a moderate. given for it was only a trifling sum; and kindly tone towards the Sonnenkamp famnow the gardener of the Cabinetsrath had ily. But the bitter, detestable reported that the country-house and the quences of the occurrence manifested themvineyard had just been sold to the American selves in the green cottage on Sunday Consul, as a sort of gibe at Sonnenkamp; morning. for the family of the Cabinetsrath wished to have no more intercourse with Villa Eden. conse During the hour before mass, the indigent neighbors used to come for their regular weekly allowance; to-day there came only one solitary woman, in a sorry plight. She was a drunkard's wife, who was forever complaining and lamenting; she was constantly fretting about two children, one of which she held in her arms, and the other she led by her side. In just the same way, although by men of a different position in society, were Sonnenkamp's circumstances discussed in the military club-house of the capital, as well as in the beer-houses. For some time, Adams, the negro servant of the Prince, had everywhere been the topic of conversa- It was only with some difficulty that the tion. There were various wonderful sto- Professorin had brought herself to furnish ries how five men were hardly able to re-assistance to this woman, because she was strain the raving negro; that he had tried to afraid that the drunkard would only be choke Sonnenkamp, only with the great- made more shiftless by so doing; she had est difficulty had they succeeded in getting yielded to the persuasion of Fräulein Milch, him out of the capital, and removing him to though she generally cut the talkative a hunting-seat. Then the conversation woman short. But she had to listen pawould turn upon Sonnenkamp. Every-tiently to-day, now that the woman came body asked what he would do now; no one alone and no others were there. The Procould understand how it was that Pranken fessorin trembled when the woman said to stood by him, and how the family permitted her :such a thing. In the military club-house there was also an Ursel, but here she took the form of a pensioned lady of high rank, who also ate heartily, and, while eating, spoke very compassionately of the poor children of the millionaire. "Yes, yes, such is the world! It's a topsy-turvy world. My husband makes wife and children unhappy because he squanders everything, and Herr Sonnenkamp makes wife and children unhappy because he has got everything. Yes, just so! It's a world turned upside down." She assured the Professorin that she would take none of the gold of the slavetrader, if she could help herself in any other way. But the conversation took a very peculiar turn in the house of Dr. Richard, where they were to-day giving a great coffeeparty in honor of Frau Weidmann, who had come on a visit; it had been arranged several days before, and the Professorin, Aunt And out of this gold my son is to enrich Claudine, Frau Ceres, and Manna had himself, said the Professorin, to herself, been invited; of course they did not come. sitting there alone soon afterwards, as the Here and there they were earnestly discuss-bells were ringing. She sat quiet for a long ing how they should treat the Sonnenkamp time. Then Erie came in and said: family, if they had the audacity not to leave the country as soon as possible. Lina, who had returned from the trip with her betrothed, said that she would be "Ah mother, another dreadful thing has happened!" Something new? Still another dreadful thing? What has happened?" "He was bold and defiant; he went to executed with such freedom and animation. church with Pranken." "Who did?" "Herr Sonnenkamp. And when he came out of the church, there stood all the people in a row, looking at him. He went up to a poor man and handed him a gold piece; the poor man took the money, and then threw it away, exclaiming: I will have nothing from you!' And they all cried out : We want nothing more from you! Take yourself out of the country.' Sonnenkamp went away, the piece of gold is still lying there before the church door, and no one will pick it up. O mother, the people are great and horrible at the same time." "Did you see it too? Where did you hear about it? Were you too at the church?" "No; Manna and Roland told me, and now they are sitting in the garden together, and weeping. I have hastened to you, for you only can help us. Comfort them, strengthen them." "I have done all I can," said the Mother; "I am too weak, and I am afraid I shall be ill." Eric called his aunt to remain with his mother, and returned to Roland and Manna. The Doctor was sent for that very afterThe Professorin was sick. noon. CHAPTER XV. A WHOLESOME ILLNESS. SHE whom all depended upon, to whom every one repaired, sure of care and assistance, she was now unexpectedly in want of assistance herself, and was in a dangerous condition. The remarkable events and vicissitudes some had begun to overcome by means of their youthful strength, by stern defiance, and others by indifference; the Professorin alone felt a constant gnawing at her heart day and night. Eric had remarked several days before, although he ascribed it to the sudden shock she had received, that his mother, when he was walking before her hand in hand with Manna, took everything cordially and kindly, but still dully, and as if weighed down by some feeling of depression. His mother was in the habit of seeking help from no one, she had always the power of assisting others, and in this doing for others she always found renewed strength. From the day on which Fräulein Milch made that communication to her, it had been different; she performed only mechanically the duties, which had previously been From that day forth, she had determined to keep clear of every luxurious indulgence which this ostentatious man might feel like putting in her way, and this she would do in a modest and retiring manner; from that day forth she looked upon herself as a traveller receiving temporary hospitalities, for all the home feeling of comfort had been taken away from her. She was prepared at any hour to pack up all that she possessed, and all that was arranged in such a quiet way about her, and remove to some other place. She had never in her life been troubled by regret, she had done nothing for which she could reproach herself, or the memory of which was to be effaced; but now she was beset by a constant feeling of regret. Why had she been so thoughtless as to connect herself with such a mysterious and disintegrated family? Joy and grief affected her by turns, like one suffering under the delirium of fever. Eric's happiness in loving Manna and being so deeply loved, which before had excited within her such a blissful pleasure, she now listened to and looked upon with an almost forced interest; and when Bella had so deeply mortified her, she could scarcely make any resistance, for it seemed to her as if it concerned someone else, and had no relation to herself. Thus she lived estranged from herself, but made no complaint, hoping that everything would right itself. She had no idea that there was an inward disturbance and distraction which would show itself on the first favorable opportunity. Now, when the needy declined charity at her hands, that inexpressible sadness, so long hidden and repressed, broke forth. It seemed to her inexplicable that her only son, her all in this world, was to be engrafted into this family. The Doctor had found the Mother in a state of febrile excitement; he gave her a composing draught; but the opinion which he expressed before Eric, Manna, and Roland, had a still more quieting effect. The Mother complained that she had never known how much people could be at variance with themselves and with others. The Doctor replied, with a smile, that people were not generally so nice in their housekeeping as she was, and, referring to Sonnenkamp, said that there is such a thing as a zone of mind, or whatever else you may choose to call it, which furnishes organizations entirely exotic, but which nevertheless have their natural conditions, as our customary, everyday ones have. The constant solitary speculation and refining of thought, the recur ring to her life with her husband, there thor-| oughly deep-seated melancholy of the noble woman showed itself in an increased sensitiveness and irritability; and it had reached such a point that fears were entertained for her life; something might occur which would be the occasion of suddenly extinguishing this flickering flame of life. Eric, Manna, and Roland, trembling and apprehensive, surrounded the Mother with constant care, and in this anxiety for another, there was a great deliverance for themselves. The Doctor once said in the library to Eric: 66 If your mother had become sick on purpose, it would have been one of the wisest things she could have done; for it helps you all to get possession of yourselves." Sonnenkamp also expressed profound sympathy, but he felf provoked; it is not now the time for sickness, every one must now stand erect so as to bear up under the storm. After some days, however, he found the Professorin's illness very opportune; it took some time to get accustomed to the new order of things; he even admitted to himself directly, that he would not regret it much if the Professorin should die; that would produce a change of feeling, and in the mean while everything was getting better very fast. Fräulein Milch did not suffer Manna to devote herself entirely to the Professorin as she wished to do, and she herself was the best of nurses. The Major went about in utter desolation. More than any one else, not even excepting the children, he was the most deeply affected, perhaps, by the disclosure of Sonnenkamp's past life. "The world is right; that is, Fräulein Milch is right," he was all the time saying. "She has told me all along that I don't know men, and she's right." In the mean while, he found a good place of refuge; he went to see Weidmann, at Mattenheim, for a couple of days. So then it was all over, the hard thinking and everything! Nevertheless he stepped back again, and sat upon the flat roof until nightfall. Suddenly his ear was struck by howls, cat-calls, hootings, rattling and clashing, as though hell itself had been let loose. He sprang to his feet. Are these sounds within him? Is this all imagination? He hears them distinctly; the noise comes from beneath. It rises from the road, and he descries by the torchlight fantastic figures with black faces. Is that, too, only imagination? Have they come hither from the other world, those creatures with human forms? "You must leave the country!" 'Begone to your blacks! "We'll fetch him out, and paint him black too!" "And we'll tie him on his black nag, and lead him through the country, shouting: Look at him!"" ་ Then followed more whistling, bawling, crashing, rattling, and a sharp, jangling sound, produced by banging pots and kettles together. It was a most infernal din. Then arose in Sonnenkamp's memory a vision of the past, the image of a man accused of having incited slaves to revolt, driven through the streets, naked, tarred and feathered, pelted with rotten apples and cabbage stumps. The scene changed, and on the gallows hung John Brown. The report of a gun was heard, and the voice of Pranken, crying: 66 Shoot the dogs down! I'll take the responsibility!" Only one more shot resounded; then the raging mob came surging against the gate, which gave way with a crash, and in rushed the frantic rabble, all with black faces, and the cry arose: "We'll choke the whole of 'em!" "Where is he?" 66 Give him up, or we'll smash everything to pieces! Sonnenkamp hastened down from the roof through the house, and, standing on the open balcony, heard Eric's voice, warning the crowd in powerful tones: "Are you men ? Are you Germans ? Who has made judges of you? Speak! I will answer you. You are bringing misery upon yourselves. You will be recognized and detected, in spite of your blackened faces. To-morrow will come the appointed judge; for we live in a well-governed country, and you are all of you amenable to the law." 66 We don't want to touch the Captain!" I cried a voice from the crowd. 66 Herr Sonnenkamp, and you, Captain," said Claus, hastily addressing them both, "I only joined this savage troop, because I saw it was no use trying to hold them back, but I've caught them by the halter, and if you'll just leave everything to me, we'll make a carnival sport out of the whole conYou speak first, Captain, and I beg you to keep still, Herr Sonnenkamp." My men," began Eric, "let the stones Do you know the great word, cern. 66 alone. Again the tumult seemed increasing, the rioters pushing one another forward. All at once they recoiled, even those upon the steps shrinking back. Beneath the great door-way a white-robed form appeared, and her hair was gray. The noisy wretches in the court were struck dumb, gazing upward with glances of amazement. Those assembled on the steps, turning round, saw the Professorin, standing there like a being from another world, from the boundless space of Eternity. Stepping quietly to the balustrade, she first raised and then lowered her hands as in blessing, as if calming the stormy waves. Profound silence reigned, and she spoke in tones which might be heard a great way off: "No man can expiate his brother's sin by wrong-doing. Do not sin yourselves. Restrain yourselves, lest to-morrow you weep over to-day.' Her voice grew more powerful, as she said: 66 Conquer yourselves! " Laying her hand on Sonnenkamp's shoulder, she said, in sonorous tones: "I promise you that this man, who has already done good, shall perform a deed so great as to reconcile you all to him. Do you believe me?" 66 Yes, we believe the Professorin!" "Hurrah for the Professorin! Huzza! Huzza!" "Come along home! It's enough! A man carrying a drum struck up a march, when, just as the mob was about to depart, something came rattling along, helmets gleamed, the fire-engine came up, and a jet of water suddenly spurted over them all. A like shower came from the other side; for Sonnenkamp, taking off his cloak, wrapped the Professorin in it, and they led the old lady, whose eyes shone wonderfully, into the great hall, where she sat down, while they all stood around her as about a saint. Manna, kneeling before her, took her hands, and wept copious tears upon them. "Now I only beg for quiet," said the Professorin. "I am calm; give me no further excitement now. I heard it, I know not how; I came hither, I know not how. Something called and impelled me, and it has ended well. Oh, believe that everything will yet turn out for the best. Herr Sonnenkamp, give me your hand. I have something to say to you." "I will fulfil whatever you may command." ! "You must do something, although I do not yet know what, in order to pacify the minds of these people." "I will. I will summon a jury, in the choice of which you must assist me. To them I will unfold my life, and into their hands I will leave the decision of what is to be done." "That is a happy idea. To-morrow we will carry it out. Now it is enough," said the Professorin, in a tone soothing to the others and to herself. Manna, go to your mother," added she. Manna left the room. 66 It was late before those assembled in the Villa separated. The Professorin must spend the night there. Sonnenkamp would not have it otherwise. He gave her the best room in the house, and Eric sat by his mother's bed until she fell asleep. But without, on the banks of the Rhine, stood a multitude, washing their black faces clean again, and recovering from the effects of the new wine. In the night a black wave rolled past the Villa, and down the river to the sea. Oh! If the black deed could only be thus wiped off, and sunk in the ocean of Eternity! FREEDOM FROM CONSUMPTION IN THE HEB- disease will be determined from a consideration RIDES. - Dr. M'Nab has opportunely produced of such local peculiarities. It is the opinion of a pamphlet on "Immunity from Consumption Dr. M'Nab that the absence of pulmonary conin the Hebrides." Very recently, a controversy sumption in the Hebrides is ascribable to the has been carried on in the British Medical great abundance of marine algæ. He thinks Journal between Dr. MacCormac and Dr. Leared that a great evolution of oxygen occurs from this about the cause of phthisic. Dr. MacCormac vegetation which renders the atmosphere unassumes to have proved that the exciting cause usually oxygenated. Admitting this to be a of the disease is invariably rebreathed air; fact, which we are by no means prepared to do, while Dr. Leared adduced, in opposition, the we cannot agree in the explanation given. The case of Iceland, in which country people live in carbon theory of the production of phthisic must the worst ventilated houses possible, and are yet, be first assumed, to make this view tenable; on good authority, stated to enjoy a remarkable and the theory in question, as already hinted, exemption from the disease. Dr. M'Nab writes, we hold to be "not proven." We must neverwith the authority, the British Medical Jour-theless congratulate Dr. M'Nab on having pronal observes, of one to whom the facts of the duced an essay valuable for the facts which it case are well known, that the Hebrides are also has put before the profession. all but free from the scourge. He is borne out in this by the previous researches of Dr. Morgan, and by the statements made by Dr. Christison in the address delivered by him in 1863 as President of the Public Health Department of the Social Science Association. Dr. Buchanan has lately asserted that, even in this country, the prevalence of phthisis is notably affected by the nature of the soil upon which people dwell. It may yet turn out that the true etiology of the Public Opinion. By the following operation, says the Rural World, a fowl will be dead at once and the flesh white:-Open the bill and insert a sharp, narrow blade into the back part of the roof, severing the vertebræ; then hang up by the legs and let it bleed clean. |