The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-20
TRANSLATED BY Ebert PIERCE.

BY EMILE +. CARLEN,
,s, q, One Year of W,oek,"" The Bride Of 0oburg,'
&c. &c
TRANSLATED BY EBERT PIERCE.
CHAP. XIV.
Tto0 Disclosures.
Il was striking half past ten, on the forenoon
ofthe lst of January, when Burgomaster B.
seated himself upon the massive judgment seat,
IN the hall of Justice. The different counsel
.ors had likewise taken their places, and
considerable number Of listeners had assembled
about the hall in groups, when the great spec
ul,tor. Widen, with downcast looks, and defect
Cd and agtated demeanor, approached the Ia
ble where the first authority of the town presi-
led. lie made a respectful bow, and laid
large. businesS-like bundle of papers, which he
carried under his arm, thereupon. And what
did those papers contain? Well, it was the
petition of the speculator for a cession of his
property, with the appendages and documents
appertaining thereto. SO capricious and change
iul is the CLEAN of fortune, especially in the
mercantile horizon! When the great Merchant
Widen. that proud and stately man, before
whom. up to this moment, the entire town of
IL had stood hat in hand, now turned to
leave the hall of justice, to return to his house,
he scarcely found above one or two clerks who
showed him this civility. His family he was
umoiliing to see; so, as soon as he reached
home he shut himself up in his own apart
hiO ol,w baauy of h., nod
the room, sent their dull echoes through the
house.
And now let us look into Madame Widen's
room. All there was dark and lonely; the cur
ians had been drawn, so that no inquisitive
looks, either of neighbors or passing acquaint-
ances could pry into what was passing there.
Every trace of that lady's self-imagined forti-
tude had utterly vanished, as their misfortune
stood in its cold, hard truth before her eyes !;
and during the long fainting fits, which dulled
for time her painful feelings, the ominous
words Of evil sounded in her ears
la! have you heard, then, that the Mer-
chant Widen has stopped payment"
She was a heartily good and sensible wo-
man. in times of prosperity but she had one
Of those weak, inferior natures, which are in
capable of raising themselves above the triding
demands Of everyday life, and are even devoid
Of the will to attempt it.
She was sitting upon a sofa, her dress in dis
order, her hair unbound, and her forehead and
her pale cheeks bound up with wrappings satu-
rated with water and eau-de-cologne, and intend
ed to recall her to life and consciousness. The
smaller children were standing weeping around
her, fearing lest she, whom they had already
seen so often in one hour, die off before their
eyes, might expire in real earnest, and beyond
the power Of recall of drops and water.
However, to their excessive happiness. these
always seemed to perform their office. Every
thing seemed strange to them too. No visiters
appeared, papa had gone out, Rosa was crying,
and mamma dying.
AT last, Dame Bern came in, and, speaking
an mere decided tone than usual, said
What are these children all standing here
and staring at? Go into the servants hall and
eat your dinner; it has been put down for you
there and then the boys will go quietly and
orderly to school, as usual and Caroline and
Josephine will take their dolls, and amuse
themselves; but, quick now! Do what l tell
you. Mamma must 90 to sleep, and the boys
vail miss their school hour, if they don't make
haste
" Dear Dame Bern," said one of the little
glris. only tell us, please, why we are to have
our dinner to-day in the servants hall instead
OF the dining-room? And where is papa, and
Rosa, and the clerks, and every one ?"
" Everybody is busy" answered Dame Bern,
ry2Slvely land, so come along and make haste
now"
" But Dame Bern, You might tell us where
papa Is y asked the eldest boy.
fapa Is in his own room, and has given or
ders that Linus, and all the rest of YOU, are to
be obedlent, and mind what / tell you and
mo-" 20 TO your dinner; have made you some
mOerry cream, and cooked some pancakes"
oh, dear, good Dame Bern; bilberry cream
i|d pancakes. Oh, we'll go directly. Oh, how
good Dame Bern is thank you, dear Dame
Bern. Give dear mamma some when she
a~akes, and Rosa, too, when she comes back"
ANA all traces of sorrow soon vanished from
The little fat, rosy faces, and the whole band
ran OIL, Joyousy, to the servants hall.
Meanwhile, Rosa, in deadly anxiety, was
standing at her fathers door, and listening; he
had locked 1t, and taken the key inside, and
hiS steps had ceased to be audible; all was still
ana silent within. ROsa's heart beat violently,
- II It's pulSatOns would have burst her bosom,
~ 'hey increased IN vehemence every instant.
Shail knock?" whispered she to herself
oh uod, If there should be no answer!
must nave assurance can bear this suspense
no longer"
She tapped softly at the door thrice-she was
incapable OF uttering even the single word, papa.
nol al once rough, harsh tone from within
demanded
no IS there? Who is disturbing me?"
Rosa started back at once, with terror and
Joy; but, quickly recovering herself she said,
al tone OF entreaty-
My own dear papa, it is | let me in, be-
aeeeh you; l cannot rest until | have seen you"
lis Ii you, my child?" replied her father,
"llh an altered voice.
kosa was his darling he had not the heart
70 repulSe her, painful as it was to him to show
himself, at this moment, to any of his family
he had thrown himself upon the sofa, to try
anu Fepose, having passed sleepless night. He
no" arose and opened the door.
Their"
Rosa could say no more; but never had she
eisSed her fathers hand with more profound
i,eeNh6 than at this instant-never had she fell
uie sweet sensation of being daughter so com
ile'ely as now; he pushed her golden curls
''sA rom her brow, and kissed away her tears
o., ana how is your mother, dear child ?" he
ASKED, after pause
=, Deter than | had ventured to hope" re
i pugu Rosa, who could not bear to pain him by
.eihng HIM the real state of the case; "and
'uS' mamma will be perfectly well again, al
ION ma as she has only come to herself properly
N9' my love" returned her father. 81
NOW her better" he added. "When she comes
nefSeii, things will be far worse, PARTICULAR,
,T We should ever, by an event very easily pos
R Re- chance to be separated, and my poor