The National tribune., 1882-09-23

mean the woman-what its name is" an
swered my wife. "She intended to CONF
again. But she does not come, she is Ger
tainly sick. Now, l call it Max Max is
! pretty short name; is it not?n Hem re
! turned /, between two draughts of my cigar
Fritz would also be quite pretty name
"One cannot change the name now, on ac
count of the domestics," answered she
/ shortly, and then called out loudly: !:
Max up already?" Never mind, was it moi
/ our child?
Once, though, played my justifable part
towards our child. At dinner it was always
served at little table in an adjoining room
At such times we could hear between the
scantily dropping phrases ofour conversation
It's merry prattling, accompanied by the
/ Gathering Of its spoon. My wife had no
rest; there was a continual going and COM
ing between us and him; the soup might be
TOO hot, and perhaps he might eat too much
WIFE said |, very quietly but very
decidedly, from tomorrow it shall eat
with Us al our table. 1t is old enough now,
with its two years."
From that time on TT ate with us. He
sat there in his high chair like a Prince,
close to my wife; both opposite to me like
declared enemies, as it were. The yellowish
paleness of poverty had yielded to fine
aristocratic pink in his little cheeks, which,
now becoming quite chubby, sat comfortable
on the stiff folds Of the napkin. 1t worked
powerfully at its soup; ard now that it had
finished, set up the spoon like sCepter in
Its little round fist on the table. My wife
and | had exchanged q few words, and now
again we sat silent. Apparently on ac-
count Of this silence, its large eyes began to
open wider and wider. They stared on me-
stared at my wife-with surprised, almost
frightened expression, as if they had a pre-
sentiment that all vas not right between us.
| confess that these eyes embarrassed me,
and that 1 had feeling Of relief when
Frederick entered with dish. And think
that my wife felt the same.
And the following days, there were the
same large, wondering eyes, like an appeal
ing question, staring into the pauses of our
conversation. II sounds ridiculous, but it
is nevertheless true we were culprits before
the child, we two grown persons! And by
degrees our conversation became more ami
mated. The occasional prattlings Of the
little one were noticed and spoken about;
indeed, sometimes there was mutual laugh
ter at his attempts to speak.
All! how light, how bell-like pure her
laughter sounded? Had never then heard
that before? and what was the matter with
me, that l sometimes bent over my writing
desk listening as though l heard from
distance these same siIvery tones?
With the first sunny spring days, at"
began to play in the garden, which l could
overlook from my seat in my Office. She
was generally with him. l could hear the
sound of his little feet on the pebbles, and
then her footsteps. Now she would play
fully chase him. and a chorus of twittering
sparrows would join their merry notes with
the merry laughter. Now she would catch
him and kiss his cheeks over and over.
Once 1 opened my window; warm, bal
samic air streamed around me and butterfly
futtered in and lit on my inkstand. Just
then she came out of green, yine-grown
bower, she was dressed in a dazzling white
negiigee, trimmed with costly lace; all over
her streamed the golden sunshine, except
hat her face was overshadowed by the
pink Of her parasol.
How slim she appeared! how graceful in
ler movements! Had been blind? Truly
he aunt and cousins were right; she was in
eality beautiful! A sweet smile transformed
Ter features; she was happy-certainly in
his moment she was-and her happiness
,ame from her child Then voice made it. |
elf heard in my breast, which said very
3lainly: You are monster." I got I'D
md walked to the window. at is beauti- |
III day." called I. I know how cold and |
orosaic it must have sounded to her 1t |
anne like heavy cloud-shadOw over a sunny |
andscape. She answered something that / |
lid not understand; but the brightness was
zone from her little face. Then she took up |
he child, who was stretching out his arms
o her, and kissed and caressed him before
ny eyes.
There it was when the first feeling of
ealousy was aroused in me; jealousy truly
)ut what strange jealousy, which could
lOt make clear to itself who was It's object!
ut" said mamma" TO her, there came a
,ain in the heart; and the caresses with
which she overwhelmed him almost drove
ne wild. l was jealous of both! 1t panied
ne that l had no part in this weaving of
owe; that was not a third in the union. |
xerted myself to gain part of their love
did it very clumsily. The child persevered
n a certain shyness, and she-had / not
,ept myself forcibly away from her during
hese long, long years?
One day at the dinner-table, after skir-
nish of words, came great stiffness be-
ween us, n stiffness more painful than it
ad ever been. ! glanced down at the flow
rs On my plate of Saxon porcelain, my dis
leasure showing in my face; but | felt
lainly that II" " had its eyes fixed on me,
nd also her eyes! 1t was rs if those four
yes burned on my forehead. Then sounded
uddenly in the stiffness: "Papa!" and,
gain, louder and more courageous: "Papam
shuddered. at" sat there and stared,
ow very much frightened over at me,
perhaps, whether a storm would
e raised by its Papa" But her face now
'as sufTused with glowing redness, and her
alf-open lips trembled slightly.
There came flood Of gladness over my