New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-30

than reason, that from it arises the
anguish of the unknown
In spite of myself, in spite of my
wish to appear skeptical, / felt most
unpleasantly disturbed. Lowering
my voice. I 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,teels 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
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 BIN
seated on lounge, with fixed eyes
staring at some fearful vision. The7e
was in his contracted face an express
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 fed-Paula had
flown to the window, she had seen
him hurry toward the dollhouse,
where the lights fared 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 bypocrite that she
was, she had tried to fathom the
truth. And she had learned a
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, creature with which he was
resigned olive alonefor some scien.
tific purpose? And what was that
struggle, to which his rebellions in
the silent night bore witness?
Was he mad? That thought haC
pierced the stricken heart Of Paula
like dagger. She dared not, ques
ton him more, as she saw anguish
bring wrinkles to his face; and, too
he avoided her! He came no more
as had been his won't, to chat will
her in the intervals of his work
Sometimes, however, she saw him
haggard and bare-headed, stridins
up and down the paths, wringing hi
hands, and ever and anon casting
nervous chances towards the hot
house.
At last-and this was the last tor
ment-one night, while she slept, III
had come, with his noiseless tread
into her chamber. She had felt tina
he was there. and she had suddenl,
opened her eyes. Frederick, stand
ing there motionless, glared at hi
hands contracted as in supplication
"Frederick, Frederick! What ar
you doing here at this hour?'
He had muttered a brutal impre
cation, and again had fled!
That is what Paula told me: anC
as she spoke, I felt reassuring sens
ofrelief descend upon my heart. Wha
was it, after ALA mere state Of MOI
bidness brought on by execessiv
work. I had been Frederick's pup
and friend for years, and | had ofte
listened with wonder at the boldnes
of the hypothesis he launched int
when warmed up on one of his FAY
orite topics. Was mot a physician
and did I not recognize the madnes
of fever when was broug hit face t
face with it? So thinking, l reasone
with myself, and, sure ofmy eloquenC
and the power of reason, I went OF
into the park in search of Frederick
Night had fallen, and the pathway
were but dimly lighted by the stars
Presently I saw the dollhouse {
, which Paula had spoken. 1t wa
large and well-built, surmounte
, with a Mauresque dome. The light
. inside were not yet lit, but the sta1
: glinted brightly on the curved glas
kpanes. ....>S~ -
So therein lay the mystery. I a
most laughed aloud as thought {
! Paula's childish fears.
: 3 AS Istood taking in the details {
the structure, a hurried step CRATE
on the graveled path. Turning shar]
+ ly about, saw, or rather OWNED,
: the deep shadow Of the trees, Free
: erick WerUheim. .~
"Frederick,osaid ], boldly, &C
!. you recognize me?'' -
+ He stopped abruptly.
Frederick" / continued, cit is I
! and | held out my hand, surprise
~ ~ fool bic own