Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-23

bed ready in the room Nicolas used to occupy. Be-
fore she returned the warmth Of the room and the
hot wine succeeded in making the poor creature
drink-and / have ne doubt, the mothers love
which had sustained her in her weary iourney-re
stored Lou!sa Brand to consciousness. She opened
her ewes, and they fell upon me. All, what state
NJ poyeIty she was in Her clothes were in rags
her boots we're worn off her feet her face was
p.nched with cold, and hunger, and suffering Nv
heart bled for her. Recognizing me, she pushed me
feebly from her with exclamations of horror. and
struggled to her feet.
"My son ~ she CRED in terrible voice, so hoarse
was it, so charged with the most exquisite agony,
that 1t was scarcely human. "My sou /"
"Res. yourself first" said compassionately; it
evident she did not know that Nicolas had left
my employment. Crest yourself, and take some
food. Then We will talk"
"I want no rest" she cried, '' nor will eat food
in your house. 1t would choke me Give me back
my son-you shall no longer keep him from ME
have walked fifty miles through the snow to see
him, hoping to be here last night; but the cruel
storm KEEP: me back. o my God, what have suf-
fered Ny sonny son-give me my son Do you
hear me--giv my son Nicolas Nicolas !" she
screamed, "your old mother is here. Come to me-
for Gods sake, come TO me !" Her screams brought
Anna quickly into the room. "Ah !" cried Louisa
Brand, running TO Anna, putting her convul-
sivey about her, "y0u are woman. You have
human heart beating IN your breast-not like that
monster standing there"
STOP" exclaimed Anna. "You are crazY-you
don't know what you are saying. Master Fink is Q
Just and good man, and any who says otherwise
cannot be in her right senses"
'A Anna said sadly, " do not waste time by de-
Tending me. We stand in the presence of sorrow
so Overwhelming that all other considerations are as
naught. recognize it, and forgive Louisa Brand
for any words she may speak against me. The great
Lord OF all, who rules the storm and the tempest
not iercer is it, Anna than the storm which racks
and tears this poor woman's soul-has seen my ac.
tons, and will judge me-" Anna came to my side
and kissed my hand 1t was simple action, aud it
conforted me. " Louisa Brand I" | said "your son
is not here"
''Where then can he be-? she cried, and she
looked about the really as If she were bereft
of reason. "Merciful Gcd Do not tell me he is
dead :"
:" He lives" said but know nothing more of
him. He left my house four months ago. and from
that hour We have spoken word to each other"
-Four mouths ago = she muttered. That must
be about the time you came TO the old village Why
did he not tell newly did you not You are
speaking the TRUTH Gustave Fink? Swear it, by
your mothers spirit ~
. am speaking the truth, Louisa Brand, /" / re-
piled. al swear it, b, the memory OF my mother
Then have no business here" she said, bewil-
dered and dazed al came to this house to find
him--to press him in my arms-to embrace him,
and receive his kisses. o, my dear one, my baby.
boy, where, then, art thou? Tell me, you two-rny
enemies tell me where shall find my SON."
He lives in the Temple" said, &" a mile from
this SPOT. That is all | know and all can tell
you"
ain the Temple" she muttered ga mile from
this spot. sacred place. / hear the holy music
Ny dear one nay dear one ~ She raised her hands,
and there vas look Of ecstasy on her face Sud.
denly she recovered herself and shuddering at the
sight Of me, said, CLAY never be afflicted again
with the sight OF your face The Temple The
Temple - and she staggered to the door.
You will never dream Of going there tonight !"
cried and Anna stood in her way.
NO. she said, al will not dream Of going-I
-; i'll 60 Stand away. Do you not hear the music
All, how sweet, how sweet /"
"Think moment, l said, hurriedly. "Listen 10
the storm. 1t increases IN ferceness There is not
soul in the street"
"GJd is there" she answered, "and all his
angels. You cannot prevent me from going-they-
will not permit you. l coming, Nicolas, am
coming, my dear one The very sto-m is singing
to guide me to thee -
Give my cloak, Arna," said " l will 20
with Louisa Brand-otherwise she will perish in the
snow"
al will accompany you, Master Fink" said Anna
" l will not leave ycu tonight"
In moment my COAX was on my shoulders and
my fur cap my head. Anna, also, was almost as
quickly equipped. She would have wrapped a thick
shawl around Louisa Brand, but the kindly service
rejected, and the shawl fell to the ground l
picked it up and carried it my arm.
We vent out into the storm So thick was the
falling that could scarcely see yard before
me. It swirled into faces and the sharp wind
cut us bitterly. But Louisa Brand lid not feel it
soft look in her eyes her lips an ecstatic smile.
Dear angels, lead me - she whispered, as she
stepped from my house. Not light was to be
seen not human being but ourselves was abroad !;
our feet sank into the more than ankle-deep
andwe heard no sound but the raging wind--not the
futter of leaf. Engulfed in awful white
sileDce-for the wind did not to belong to the
world of sound-we were like three spirits moving
noiselessly through dead streets.
We made but slow progress the difficulties in our
way were so great Louisa Brand resisted all offers
of assistance she would not touch our hands
Surely some superhuman poSermust have sustained
her in the terrible fatigue che had endured. We
were more than an hour in walking from my house
TO the Temple, and if Anna SPOKE to or | to her
it was in a whisper. At length we were within
hundred yards of mser Pretzels residence, and
then there appeared to me to be an unusual move
ment in the air. could not define it, ascribe it
to any definite cause for the impression more
spiritual than real. But it was prophetic of what
followed.
We entered the narrow streets Of the Temple; we
trayersed the tortuous thoroughfare in which Nco-
las Brand resided we stopped before the house, i'm
ediately opposite the house of miser Pretze
High up in the air, the beam which kept these
twohouses fromfallipg upon each other indicated
by thick band OF snow, stretching from garret
window to garnet window.
Your son lives here, | said to Louisa Brand.
Here - she sighed; yes,syes, see the lights
hear the angel mucic. Hush my dear ones voice
is among them. Nicolas Nicolas my darling 1
am waiting for thee p and she slid from my sup.
porting arms which she had not the power to thrust
from her-indeed, she was not conscious that they
were about her foIm-and sank upon the white steps
of the door which, open, would have led her to her
sons chamber. Her back to Yards the door, her
face towards the house occupied by Pretze
Suddenly the upper window of Pretzers house,
Immediately above the beam, was thrust violently
open, and issued tberefrom, and sliding eau
tiously upon the wooden support, embriced it with
his arms and legs. At the same moment glare Of
light made itself visible in the from which he
emerged grlsped Annals arm, and her eyes fol-
lowed the direction of mine Entrsnced we watched
the man winding bis way, inch by inch, along the
beam to the opposite w!ad0w, which gave light to
the room in which Nicolas Brand slept. So perious
this enterprise that held our breaths in very
fear; stood like stone, transfxed. The glare in
the room the man hal left grew stronger and
stronger, and like great dark snake the man,
whose body was stretched lengthways upon the
beam, tlid slowly onwards till it reached Nicolas
Brands window Then with one hani CAUTIOUSLY