The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-31
than reason, that from it arises the
anguish of the unknoWn?0

IN spite OImySelI, IN spite OF my
wish to appear skeptical, felt mos,
unpleasantly disturbed. Lowering
my voice. interrogated her in a gen
tier tone. This is what she told me
! For six months past, that is to say
since the birth of her child, Frederick
who until then had held his head high
like a soldier who feels his victory
near. mad all at once grown nervous
| OF what problem was he seeking the
solution? What combat had he
dared to undertake? He became NOR,
bidly silent, and replied to his wife S
questions only with haggard looks,
as if he begged her not to arouse
some distressing memory. For days
and nights he remained shut up in a
dollhouse which he had constructed
at great expense in the park.
Weeks passed without his
appearing at the chateau.
Sometimes, in the night, he would
creep silently into his wife's chamber.
She had watched him while he believed
her to be sleeping. She had seen him
seated on a lounge, with fixed eyes
staring at some fearful vision. Thel Q
was in his contracted face an expires :
sion of indescribable horror. His
frame shook, and his hands, agitated
in convulsive movement, seemed to
repulse some invisible enemy. Then
oh, she had studied him carefully
in those brief moments-he had
looked up with an imperious, trium-
plant resolution. Springing sud
denly up he had fled-Paula had
flown to the window, she had seen
him hurry toward the dollhouse,
where the lights f1ared always from
dusk to dawn like lighthouse.
Frankly and boldly she had ques-
toned him. What was going on
down there in the park? Why did he
so obstinately refuse to let any one
enter the dollhouse?
With a shudder he had coldly put
her aside unanswered.
Then, brave hypocrite that she
was, she had tried to fathom the
truth. And she had learned
strange thing. Each day Frederick
made the Gardner buy many pounds
of fresh meat, and himself carried
them in the evening to the hot
house. What could he be nourishing
there? Was it some dangerous, I'M
known animal that he was compelled
to feed, a creature with which he was
resigned tolive alone for some scien-
tific purpose? And what was that
struggle, to which his rebellions in
the silent night bore witness?
Was he mad? That thought had
pierced the stricken heart Of Paula
like a dagger. She dared not ques-
ton him more, as she saw anguish
bring wrinkles to his face; and, too,
ne avoided her! He came no more,
as had been his won't, to chat with
her in the intervals of his work.
Sometimes, however, she saw him,
haggard and bare-headed, striding
up and down the paths, wringing his
hands, and ever and anon casting
nervous glances towards the hot
house.
At last-and this was the last tor
ment-one night, while she slept, he
had come, with his noiseless tread,
into her chamber. She had felt that
ne was there, and she had suddenly
opened her eyes. Frederick, stand
ing there motionless, glared at his
hands contracted as in duplication.
"Frederick, Frederick! What are
you doing here at this hour?''
lie had muttered a brutal impre-
cation, and again had fed!
That is what Paula told me. and.
as she spoke, I felt a reassuring sense
otrellef descend upon my heart. What
was it, after ALA mere state of NOR
bidness brought on by excessive
work. 1 had been Frederick's pupil
and friend for years, and had often
listened with wonder at the boldness
OF the hypothesis he launched into
when warmed up on one of his fav-
orite topics. Was not a physician,
and did | not recognize the madness
of fever when was brought face to
face with it? So thinking, reasoned
with myself, and, sure ofmy eloquenoe
and the power of reason, T went out
into the park in search of Frederick.
Night had fallen, and the pathways
were but dimly lighted by the stars. |
PRESENTLY | saw the dollhouse of
which Paula had spoken. 1t was
large and well-built, surmounted
with Mauresque dome. The lights
inside were not yet lit, but the stars
gllnted brightly on the curved glass
panes. s..l. -
SO therein lay the mystery. I al
most laughed aloud as I thought of
Paula's childish fears.
AS l stood taking in the details of
the structure, hurried step grated
on the graveled path. Turning sharp
y about, | saw, or rather OWNED, in
the deep shadow of the trees, Fred
erick Wer1heim.
FREDERICK" said I, boldly, edo
you recognize me?''
He stopped abruptly.
FREDERICK" I continued, cit is ~
and l held out my hand, surprised
not to feel his own.
Then guided, as it seemed to me.
rather by the sound of my voice than
by his eyes, he leaned forward, and.
IN a harsh, cracked voice, which
sounded like the breaking off branch.
he said:
"You! What do you want? Leave