Danira

t stay in Trieste the train conveyed the regiment to its nativ

ers who had endured so many a hard fight on the farthest frontier of the empire,

ally had flocked there in crowds. There was scarcely a peasant family in the neighborhood that did not have son,

loud cheers and waving banners, ran into the station. The cars were opened and the whole regiment poured out u

empted to make his way through the throng, he too had seen many a familiar face, pressed many a hand, and received numerous congratula

t outstretched to him on his return; no mother waited to welcome him home, and

forever. Much as he strove to conceal his depression he could not entirely banish the cloud that rested on his brow, and Danira guessed what he was missing; she best knew what his choice of a wife had cost him. She ins

who, though obliged to ride with his comrades, had shot through the crowd like a r

ty. Her shining black hair was carefully arranged in braids, and her large black eyes gazed curiously and joyously at the throng. But he

o his lieutenant in vain, the latter's advocacy proved very effective. Gerald and Danir

e pupil; but he still shook his head doubtfully at the idea of seeing the "little pagan" the mistress of the Moosbach

y some ecclesiastical brothers who had also been pre

em. The dainty, graceful figure in the elegant travelling dress, the fair hair whose curls escaped from beneath the little hat, the sparkling blue eyes--the whole vision was so familiar and so dear

naway! So I am to find

he young wife, in half-joyous, half

g," replied Edith. She hesitated a few seconds, then hastily turned and held out h

ps pressed it. He only saw Edith's blooming face, her smile, and a deep sigh of relief escaped him. Thank

a, with eager joy. "Oh, you do not suspect what t

k a step, with a comic

dor. Castle Steinach sends a greeting to its young master and mistress, and is ready to receive them. They will find open heart

?" cried Gerald, still doubting as he took

for both aunt and papa were united against me. But now you must let me have Danira to myself for ha

urely you wil

our mother expects you at Steinach this very day, and you ought not to

e now handed to his wife. It really contained only a few lines, but they confi

, taking advantage of the momentary pause to introduce hims

ered round the young lady's l

ar the medal for courage. Listen, George, you make a great impression upon me as a returning conqueror! What of the offer with w

George, intensely confused. "I'm ve

forward and presented her; but E

se girls. I think you are very inconsistent, George. You protested that day, by everything you held dear, that you would marry nobody but a Tyrole

in this world, so bad that it has not one good thing. The only goo

nira, that we may have at least half an hour's chat. Gerald must give you up

Father Leonhard coming hastily went to him

h, perfectly empty; every one was pr

dopted sister in the old familiar way, and was laughing and chatting contin

n root in the heart cannot be so speedily forgotten. She sa

xpression that told of secret sorrow; and any one gazing deep into the blue eyes could see the shadow in them. The vivacious gaiety still remained, but it was no longer the mir

enly clasped both the young

t help doing so; but, believe me, I have myself suffered

y about it? I

nswer then--I ought

ith's face, and she tried to avoid th

s form. True, my courage fell when we accepted Baroness von Steinach's pressing invitation to spend a few days with her, for matters looked very badly at the castle. Gerald was under a ban, and

ou interced

he baroness tried to console me for my lost lover, but I turned the tables by energetically taking her to task for her hard

Edi

ouldn't do, you are a Christian--or to Saint George himself. I told her so much about your father's heroic deeds that she became filled with reverence, and then I gave her your letter to me and made her admire your own courage and Gerald's rescue at the Vila

lt the generosity of this conduct and at the same time

passionate fervor. "You want to escape our grat

pects me. Don't prevent me

ly quivered and she was obliged to turn away to force back the rising te

at your brave championship of our happiness has cost you,

hid her face on Danira's shoulder, bu

nothing more. Don't tell Gerald I have been crying--prom

s enough for me to endure the grief of

st moment that he did not love me, and knew it the instant he flamed into such passionate defence of you. He never had that lo

a, softly, but the o

astily away to

nd don't grieve about me. I have no intention of going into a convent or sorrowing all my life. It must be delightful to devote y

y gay, cordial parting words. A few minutes after, Edith was seated in the car, nodding one more farewell thr

ica to take her to his lieutenant's lod

her relatives among the returning soldiers. Everywhere were joyous meetings, shouts of delight, clasping of hands, and embracing, and who

his equally corpulent wife, worked their way through the throng str

really take the long journey here? Yes, here I am, alive and kicking, and have brought m

reetings, had remained behind him, now suddenly appeared. She had been frightened by the noise and crowd that surrounded her on all si

irl who clung so confidingly to their son. Luckily Jovica's extremely childi

and his wife said slowly

rge, who saw a storm rising which he wished for the present to avoid. Yet

by the child?" cried the farmer a

y! Where did you pick her u

er were George's parents, but she also perceived their unkind reception. Tears filled her dark eyes, and she timidly r

riously. "That's a pretty thing! Do you mea

"We want no foreign gipsies in the house. Let t

ca in the lurch. He only drew her closer to

arm I'll never return home. You must not scold me about Jovica, my

ir wits in Krivoscia. Then a storm burst forth on both sides; it was fortunate that, in the general rejoicing, each person was absorbed in his own friend

his powerful lungs, succe

d. "You don't know Jovica at all; she's a spl

xpedient. His mother fairly shrieked aloud in horror at the fatal word,

o bring a pagan into the house. Geor

ly that she was the object of this aversion and began to weep

longed to knock the "dear parents" down, "I've always been an ob

ously seizing his uplifted a

soothed, and the quarrel was just kindling anew when Father Leonhard appeared, the crowd reverently making way for him. He hurriedly answered the

oubtless rejoicing to have your son back again. He has done well and

sly. "Our boy is bewitched. He has brought home a

chimed in with a wrathful laugh. "That's the future mistress of the Moos

ther Leonhard with marked emphasis, laying his hand kindly with a protecting gesture, on the head of the weeping girl. "You

perceived that, if George had such praiseworthy designs, he certainly could not

ter! But the girl doesn

ther keep goats with her all my life than live at Moosbach Farm without her. True, they'll cut off my nose up there and both ears

errible custom for the first time. She clasped her hands in horror and looked at h

You'll stay here in Tyro

at the first moment of meeting to irritate your parents against you? Let me talk with them. Come, Farmer Moosbach,

terror. Father Leonhard now drew the parents aside with him and thus the dispute ended, but the report ran like wildfire from lip to lip that George Moosbach had br

this, for Jovica was still weeping, and

"Don't cry, Jovica; you see Father Leonhard has taken the matter in hand,

nduce them to permit his mediation at all, but he knew how to strike the right chord at once. He explained to them that the object here was to save a soul for heaven, that it was reall

was really in mortal terror lest her son might fa

se, and the priest's interposition in behalf o

ce he desired at the same time to convert a pagan to Christianity and save a soul for heaven, the whole affair assumed

ng silence about her previous opposition--both his hearers became very thoughtful. If the proud Baroness v

nally sent for their refractory son and heir

must prove yourself to be a capable farmer. Meanwhile Jovica will stay with young Frau von Steinach in order to learn German and become familiar with the

nd affair, so that it will be talked of throughout th

s in the neighborho

as sadly opposed to dignity and respect;

live! I said that a priest could set everything strai

nd his wife set out on thei

course found time, before his departure, to come to her and tell the successful result of the dispute

ht, one vast vineyard, which was surrounded by a chain of villages like a garland, stretching upward even to the castles everywhere visible on the heights. The river, sparkling and glittering, also rippled a welcome, mountains towered al

asked Gerald, with sparkling eyes

you," said the young wife, l

a secret dread that the old conflict may be renewed. You made me realize s

subdue was vanquished on that night of storm when I went from the Vila spring to the fort. The hardest choice was placed

e and our happiness to an illusion. You would have been lost had

of my people had been shed by you--I had summoned the enemy, the guilt would have been mine. That blood would have separated us forever. I could not have lived with such a mem

TNO

e and price, the play upon the wo

E