Paul Patoff

tters over the neat, cottage-like building before which the train stopped was Teinach. Paul had never heard of the place until his mother had telegraphed that she was there, and he looked a

compared with the impenetrable shadows of the woods; and even the sky above, generally seen through the thick masses of evergreen, seems to be of a more sombre blue. In the deep gorges the black water of the Nagold foams and tumbles among the hollow rocks, or glides smoothly over the long and shallow races by which the jointed timber rafts are shot down to the Neckar, and thence to the Rhine and the ocean, many hundreds of miles away. For the chief wealth of Swabia and of the kingdom of Würtemberg lies in the splendid timber of the forest, which is carefully preserved, and in which no tree is felled without the order of the royal foresters. Indeed, Nature herself does most of the felling, for in winter fierce wind-storms gather and spread themselves in the win

undings. The broad post-road runs past the hotels and bath-houses, and a great garden, or rather an esplanade with a few scattered beds of flowers, has been cleared and smoothed for the benefit of the visitors, who take their gentle exercise in the wide walks, or sip their weak German coffee, to the accompaniment of a small ban

dured had wearied his brain. He felt, as he walked, how delicious it would be to forget all the past, to shoulder a broad axe, and to plunge forever into the silent forest; to lead the life of one of those rude woodmen, without a thought at night save of the trees to be felled to-morrow; to rise in the morning with no care

bent his head as though to shut out all pleasant thoughts, till presently he reach

the gentleman to the number he had mentioned. As Paul turned to follow the functionary in the white tie and the shabby dress-coat,

ask for Madame Patoff. Have I

y, for the man was evidently a

, interrupting him. "Madame Patoff i

him up to speak English as fluently and correctly as Russian, noticed the shade in the expression.

turning from the desk of the hotel office, and

" replied the

ly. "You tell me that you are attending my mother,

aul's sharp answer. He smiled a little, but i

t, and I devote my life to the study of mental com

ry pale. His life seemed to be no

Dr. Cutter, in a musing tone. "She has suff

ome all the way from Constantinople to see her. I could not g

hy I waited for you here. I could not have allowed you to see her witho

asked Paul, in

Come out into the garden, and

the distance a few invalids moved painfully about the garden, or rested on the benches bene

rmer years your brother Alexander came to visit her, on leave from St. Petersburg. I knew him, therefore, and was aware of her deep affection for him. This time I found her very much depressed in spirits because he had resolved to join you in Constantinople. Excuse me if I pain you by referring to him. It is unavoidable. One morning she told me that she had made up her mind to go to Turkey, traveling by easy stages through Switzerland to Italy, and thence by steamer to the East. She dreaded the long railway journey through Austria, and preferred the sea. She was in bad health, and seemed very melancholy, and I proposed to accompany her as far as the Italian frontier. We went to Lucerne, and thence to Como, where I in

ated. "What then?" he inquired rather sh

evident to me from that moment that her mind is derange

does she think?" inquired Pa

e cause of your brother's de

ed Paul, feeling that his

is gray eyes on Paul's face. "It is of no use

might fall, for he could see that he was wasted with anxiety and weak with fatigue. But he possessed great strength of will and that command of himself which is acqui

he said. "How d

frequented route. I intended to take her to England by short stages, endeavoring to avoid all places where she might, at this season, have met any of her numerous acquaintances. I chose to cross the Splügen Pass to the Lake of Constance. Thence we came here by the Nagold railway. I propose to take her to the Rhine, where we will take the

w I have left Con

receives her letters, of course, but telegrams often do h

ll other respects?" asked P

fect

e at all," said Paul,

answered the professor, sta

ell believe that I had let him lose himself in Stamboul, or even that I had killed him. You read my letter,-you can remember how strang

adame Patoff is under the influence of a delusion. I cannot think that if she were in her right mind she

have come from Constantinople to see

seek an interview," answered the professor, no l

be fatal?"

h might affec

strong impression that my mother is not in the least insane, and that I may

answered Dr.

seeing her. I may possibly persuade her. I am the only one left," he added bitterly, "and I must be a son to her in fact as well as i

se to contradi

, however unfounded, had rested on me, my chief would have allowed me to leave Constant

r her senses," answere

ith the gold spectacles and the intelligent features

egin to think that you have some other object in view besides a concern for my mother's health." His drawn and haggard

steadiness. "I admit the justice of your argument. I can only implore you to take m

y indebted to you for the assistance you have rendered to my mother in this affair. If she does not believe my story, she will certainly

any harm comes of it, remember that I protes

ietly. Both men turned in their wal

her of your presence," said Cut

utter disappeared up-stairs, and Pato

l for one of their children. He remembered how he had choked down his anger, swallowed his tears, and affected indifference to censure, until his child's heart had grown case-hardened and steely; asking nothing, doing his tasks for his own satisfaction, and finally taking a sad pleasure in that silence which was so frequently imposed upon him. Then he had grown up, and the sullen determination to outdo his brother in everything had got possession of his strong nature. He remembered how, coming home from school, he had presented his mother with the report which spoke of his final examinations as brilliant compared with Alexander's; how his mother had said a cold word of praise; and how he himself had turned silently away, able already, in his young self-dependence, to rejoice secretly over his victory, without demanding the least approbation from those who should have loved him best. He remembered, when his brother was an ensign in the

ery side; and not that only, but the mother who had borne them both had put the crowning touch to her life-long injustice, and had accused him of

ophe he knew from Count Ananoff; but surely he might expect his mother to be more merciful. A mother should hope against hope for her child's innocence, even when every one else has forsaken him; how was it possible that this mother of his

ter entered, admitting a stream of light from the corri

door behind him. Then he struck a match, and lit the two candles

Paul. The scientist

of your appearance. You have traveled for th

watching him, as though still studying his character; for he was a student of men, and prided himself on his ability to detect people's peculiarities from their unconscious movements. Paul dressed rapidly, with the neatness of a

her, if you go at once

. The quiet and solitude of his room had strengthened Paul's nerves, and he walked more erect

ssage room. Knock at the door opposite

door within. A voice which he hardly recognized as his mother

now in her fifty-second year. Her features were high and noble, and her rich dark hair was only lightly streaked with gray. Her eyes were brown, but of that brown which easily looks black when not exposed directly to the light. Her face was now very pale, but there was a slight flus

om her seat as he came forward, as though to draw back. He came nearer, and bending low would hav

me your hand?" he asked,

d sternly. "Why h

he room he had felt sorrow and pity for her, in spite of Cutter's account, and he would willingly

"Have you found him, that you come here? Do you think I

Be calm. I am going to-morrow. Had I supposed that you would meet me

ly. "Have you come here to tell me how you

y face of my brother's death, as your doctor says you do behind my back? And

ands to her forehead, she staggered across the room, and hid

have seen your dear face once more-to close your eyes-and kiss yo

moaning, and tossing herself upon the sofa, and wringing her hands as the tears streamed

said softly. "He may yet come back." He di

ome back, when you are standing there with his blood on your hands! You mur

in her senses. But he had heard the words she had spoken, and the wound

idently ins

" cried the frantic woman, rising to her feet,

hands held them in his firm grip, without pre

are not, God forgive you, and grant that you may forget what you have said. I

his manner, and s

en? Paul, where

e to tell you the story with my own lips. If you do not care to hear it, I will go, and you shall have your w

coldness which Paul had inherited so abundantly. She now drew herself up, and retired to the other side of th

can bring Alexis with you, and show him to me alive, I will always believe tha

her?" asked Paul, controllin

o you," she answered,

found Professor Cutter, calmly walking up and down.

ight?" h

rig

e professor. "Do you me

ietly. "I must eat some

nd caught himself by it. The professor held him

out," he said.

of wine from a bottle which stood on a table set ready for dinner. Paul drank it slowly

trouble with your hea

ul. "I have n

on your journey," replied the professo

could not account for it on the ground of his having begun to eat something. He was indeed exhausted, for he had hardly thought of taking any nourishment during his long journey, and the dinner revived him. But the odd consciousness that he was not exactly the same man he had been before had

ead but a strong sense of duty to his nearest relations. It was this sense which had prompted him to receive Alexander kindly, and to take the utmost care of him during his visit; and it was the same feeling which had impelled him to come to his mother, in order to give the best account he could of the terrible catastrophe. But the frightful accusation she had put upon him, and her stubborn determination to abide by it, had destroyed even that lingering sense of duty which he had so long obeyed. He knew now that he experienced no more pain at Alexander's loss than he would naturally have felt at the death of an ordinary acquaintance, and that his

is the most destructive form of lie imaginable. Paul had borne much, had cherished to the last his feeling of duty and his outward rendering of respect, but his mother had gone too far. He felt that she was no

urther thought for her who had cast him off. He was not a boy, to grow sulky at an unkind word, or to resent a fancied insult. He was a grown man, more than thirty years of age, and he fully rea

ou have a good appetite,

long time," answered Paul. "I suppose I

ny longer?" inquired D

hed the journey, I have seen my mother, I have heard

ompanion. "However, I am sure you can be of no u

knew my poor brother, you are intimate with my uncle by marriage, Mr. John Carvel. I am sure that, since you are good enough to accompany m

inion," replied the pro

tist and a student of diseases of the mind, you are over-ready to suspect

hing. I know how very little science knows, and in due time I shall be quite

ry to think that you felt yourself bound not to leave her. She is fifty-two years old, I believe, but she is very strong, though she used to fancy herself in bad health, for some reason or other

e and my position procure me the advantage of studying the state of her mind by trav

ould go with her myself, and I repeat that I am sincerely obliged to you. Only, I do

have changed your mind about her. I confess that y

alm now, but I have not had a mom

rsonal feelings, but I should say that you cared very little for your mother, and less for your brother, and that hitherto you h

was rather incisive, considering how little he had seen of Paul. Perhaps he in

ure," answered Patoff, coolly. But he

I take the liberty of being plain, and of telling you what I think, you may believe t

ve. Time will show. Meanwhile, I am going to Teheran to reflect upon it.

Constantinople?" asked t

t servant, and must go whither I am sent. I dare say I shall not be there very long. The climat

ts will still be made

ever be given up while

be upon Madame Patoff, if Alexan

to our former relations with each other. Perhaps the shock might drive her m

answer. I am afraid i

aid not," sai

e early the next morning, and was anxious to go to bed. He felt tha

am really grateful to you for your kindness, and I hope you will let me know that you have reached England safely. If my mother r

hand warmly. "The world is a little place, a

o," answe

other, and yet each feeling that he should like to meet his new acquaintance again. But Pe