The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-17


do you know whence got the tune-the leu.
fet iied.' as they call it2"
Judging by the name, yes" said l, laugh
Thou hast said it," rejoined he, solemnly.
TT IN be muttered to himself, and l only
CO ght the words" Three games, and one
M e->-wholl play pow?" Finally, he looked
ur and said" Brother, 1 will tell you all some
de do not ask it now"
DOUBTLESS, some vision, born of his acute
far ~, lad led on this attack. He never told
M otherwise.
'ooh after this, remarked a great change
IN lis conduct and demeanor. He was become
a. se s.eady, drank nothing, and applied him
Sc clSsely to study, though still extremely fond
OF ms lpystics and his violin. He gave up the
By sch snkneips, however, withdrew from his
10 hcr-cfan associates, and did not hear him
pit ?" reufelslied any more.
Inns lily, at the end of six months, he an.
no mes to me the death of his mother, and
bs e a very affectionate farewell, having de-
tef DIN to leave the University, and finish his
stu lie, on his little property. We did not cor.
rel 'o9 !, and heard no more of him for over
ye,e.
m, him finally, however, during one of our
va ati! ps, n'the Rhine. He had very pretty,
6' shI young lady on his arm, whom he in.
trc LUG q to me as his wife, Lii BE was much
Inn ros d IN appearance-calm,h hopeful, even
gil sfu 80 that could scarce believe him to be
the ga Je morose Franz who had excited 40
mt eh smark at the University He had sold
ou evArythiDg, he told me, and now they were
e" On, ) for America, where they proposed to
est ;blS-h themselves permanently.
he had peopled their future with every i'm.
ag' ave bright thing and it rejoiced my heart
to zee my friend, of whom l had argued 80
gle I'm. 4, In the enjoyment Of so much happi.
ne's. u shook hands with both as / parted from
the N, md left them with many good wishes and
mt ~ cal hopes.
ga nothing of them, nor had any news of
FIR NJ Werner from that time until last winter,
a ! pss of more than five years. Partly it was
my fat t, but had sought them, and had only
foI Id faint clue, in place where they had
tor ime resided, but from which they had
su' de' departed, without any one knowing
VIII tbs
VS. travelling last winter in Texas on
no sch ok, and had stopped at sunset one eve
Nil e miserable tavern, in a small town i'm
me iia'sly upon the banks of Red river TRAY
elFr a. | am, though much fatigued, walked
on as 5oon as had seen my horse cared for, to
bs e aslook at the place. 1 sauntered lazily
al. og Z thoroughfare, digniGed with the name
gr lbb.-i from its muddy bed.
The sillage was built upon the bluff. and
N. de Say way down to the river by means of
ns row slippery path. l found fat boat Just
81 lved At the Handing" and already the crew
wEee M route for the whisky of the tavern
al Sve, BY the time / reached the "wharf
~ IT, G,ere was no one about except the boat.
bt per, who was as rough a customer as / ever
" N t. deal with. AS stood there, and made
ef 'rts1o draw the fellow into conversation, nv
60 ca, GIT the faint notes of violin, alternately
81 ellir and dying away on the evening breeze.
II W tie gale would bring up wild burst that
"a seird appropriateness when contrasted
viii tsse increasing darkness, the rough, un-
Ef mpteeppearance of things, aud the rush of
TO mt idy, turbulent waters then l could only
CO ch eae taintest echo of cadence, as the wind
te !, Oh 2oared beyond me though the 'eaheSs
fJ'est. Little as L could hear, however, the
roosic ! sd sstrange familiarity to my ears; and
so, turr, ng, asked the boat keeper, could he
tell me who it was that played
OcIy damned crazy Dutchman, who lives
by himself up there in the hollow of the bluff"
."Doy you know his rame?"
mo. l don't NEEDLE with nobody's bust.
ness; snd tell you, stranger, don't let no.
body gsddle with mine."
turt,ed and walked in the direction of the mu-
sic, whose 6tful strains still danced wildly down
the gale. Twas guided by the glimmer of light
that seemed to come from small window. As
aearsd the place, found myself involuntarily
Fastening, so many strange emotions did the
Daslc wake in me, 80 many half-defned recol-
leStiot,s did it stir up. Something there was in
it WHICH l could not identify, yet recognised as
Belonging to meas being engrafted upon my
cd associations. / soon found myself in front
o plank "shanty," miserable hovel, with
dSor end one window, through which the light
sreaeied. The wild music was at its widest
pitch as / nervously raped at the door, and it
id net cease nor pause, though q harsh, un-
earthly voice babe me enter. pushed the door
open, and, as the light flooded dazzlingly upon
nay eyes, stood in the threshold, trying to take
in the objects that saw. There was but one
room, having no floor save the trodden earth !;
a miserable plank bedstead, with blanket
tossed upon it, in one corner; a table, with
cfess'Soard, and the pieces arranged as if for
a game; two apologies for chairs; and, in the
CT ntre of the room, elevated upon stake, a
FL e-psn, filled with flaming pine knots, that shed
broad, red glare upon everything, smoking
q. d cfackling all the while Upon one of the
cl airs sat the fiddler, and it needed not Sec
Old glance to assure me that the tune had
bien hearing was the "Teufelslied," and the
p aver, Franz Werner
Franz Werner, indeed; but it is not likely
81 ould have recognised him at first glance but
fte the tune. He turned round towsrds me,
started, and then laid down his violin, but with
OFT rising or Offering his hand.
Welcome, fratercule; you come in good time
j thought it was my appointed visiter; but sit
dawn. We will talk and forget-till he comes"
His voice was indescribably harsh and jar
rug, and noticed that his under lip dropped,
o. it does in the maniac. That he himself was
cazed, could scarcely doubt. His hair, ap
arenty long unkempt, hung in great, dry, tar.
plshed elflocks about his brow and neck his
{ zee was emaciated and sallow in the extreme !;
bis eyes, grown larger seemingly, rolled wildly
Y. right and left, and flashed with painful
I re; his beard was long, matted, and filthy
l'espite the season, he was clad in torn check
slirt and duck trowsers only-his bare feet
sud his worn clothes limiting of great poverty.
Eszed at him silently for moment, and as
caught his wavering eye, / was inexpressibly
fiddened to see it soften little, and grow moist.
} lie came towards me, put bis hands upon nay
hop;ders, as l sat there, and looked down into
ny fsce for perhaps minute.
az see, see," murmured he, and his voice
eesed TO regain for the time its old softness
nd melody, "my brother is happy-life goes
: 'ell with him-I am content"
III, bent his face down to my head mo-
bent, and then, turning away, resumed his
eat
And why is Franz Werner not happy-why
Z % Isee him in this place, and in this wretched
condition, brother?"
"Why was Prometheus chained2 Why did
he yultures gnaw him2 / built my tower SO
ighs that it sapped at the base -
Where ia Lili?"
BE started fearfully, then leaned towards me,
md whispered
Hush they will hear you. She watches