Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-03

Her young. sweet mouth had not been
more red when I mistook 1t for a ras2-
berry. In her gentian blue eyes there
shone cloudless summer heaven.
Now she smiled at me with eyes and with
mouth, At last we got so far that we
could call each other by name, but softly,
as if our names were the most dangerous
Of secrets And then we had to laugh at
it and kiss again, and in the kissing we
forgot God and the world.
Yes we forgot even the shining spring
da,- in the glow of our joy. We knew only
the one thing. that we were together again
And that we would remain together
through all eternity.
'Judica, Judica, Where are YOU?
II was the clear voice of Miss Fritz tina:
dragged us from our heaven to the rough
world But even on earth it was heavenly,
in the May, under the blossoming tree with
the loved one at my side.
'Judica! Judica"'
We cried as with one mouth Nay, we
shouted it. Then we went toward her hand
in hand. Hand in hand we stepped from
behind the white hawthorn hedge
The good creature was frightened at the
sight, as If she saw lying together on
the bier.
Hand in hand we stood before her in the
sunshine by the hawthorn. We laughed at
her for the fright that made her motlonless
and speeches.. / said:
Here l am again. and now be happy
with me, for you see that am HAPPY,
blessed. Are we not. Judlca, dear MUS
Judica?"
AS a lovely echo came the reply: That
we are
Miss Fritz saw 1t, but she was not happy
with us She did not ask this time what
would come from it. She saw Whae Hao
come from it.
AS she remained silent, Judica took her
hand out of mine. looked with SHINING
light into her clear. wise eyes, and salo,
without the least tremOr in her sweet voice:
You know how 1t is with me. You know
that / would have had to die II ne htd not
returned to take me into his arms. See, ne
is herel Now l Will live, and l care not,
even if our life is that which the world VIII
call sin and Shame,
l stepped up to her who had been
mother to the orphan, and l SAID SO 10"
that only she could hear me:
Since the day when you talked with the
count about the good prince nave pc
come an evil man, with depths and dark
nesses in my soul of which you can know
nothing. 1t is in your power to make me
again into what l was-a good man. WIN
you. that believed in me- let me become lost
forever?'
In a voice equally low and full of emotion
came the reply: What are you saying
How can you have become other than you
We're? How different? And how So sud
denly? And how is 1t In my power 10 save
YOU"
by giving me this pure one to be at my
side, to make her dear soul my GUARDIAN
spirit
.'How can give you that which you have
already taken? And if it We're 'still for me
to give Judica to you how could da!e uehy
you?'
"You do not understand me. 1 want her
for my wfe.
The word was spoken. The great. Won
der working, liberating word that parted
the wild waters that separated us IKE
rod of Moses. And we stepped through
them dry footed to joyous shore.
But Miss Fritz would not give us he
permission She would not listen The
strong Miss Fritz was lost and helpless De-
fore the reckoning of fate
| begged her at last to step aside with
me And under the apple tree l said to
You know that my father had malady,
but you do not know that L am sald 10 De
my fathers true SON. therefore may
need a guardian some day such as my
mother was to my father out of duty. But
/ want a wife who will do 1t for me from
love l want Judica to save me through
her love Do you Stlll say thdt you cdiihoe
give me your chld?'
She stood as if she had seen the head of
the Gorgon. Her glance was as if she saw
fearful fate fulfill itself before her.
/ cried:
AT least I act with you as an honest
man. If l were already that which they
say am, could have cheated you and the
beloved one Go to her! Tell her! FER
ne, Then what you see in spirit Will wreak
itself on me- me alone!
She looked at me full of deep pity, full of
pure mercy and answered:
Il will speak with Judica.
Then she went away. She went slowly,
slowly. as if the short way over the fiowery
pasture We're a thorny road that tore her
feet as if she We're going the most agoniz-
ing way of her life.
Now l was alone and could have, should
have. reflected. What did call my broth
er's bride? A sacrifice What must L
call my dear. beautiful child? ''sacri-
fee" 1t was to be brought to me, and
permitted it TO be brought to me. Worse.
l demanded it for myself. Was that not
moral degeneration, even now?
l was able to perceive it, to reflect about
it. but | was not able to restrain myself.
My longing for the sweet child was
stronger than my moral will Yet if l de-
manded Judica for my wife il was only the
basest selfishness; according to ancient
myths. the sacrifice of a pure virgin filled
with holy. spotless love, can save a lost
soul. Judica's life, forged fast to mine,
would drive away the demons of darkness,
would save me for the light.
And besides my spirit was just
about to dive into this cursed thought when
Miss Fritz returned with Judica.
l knew she would be the sacrifice. And
she smiled still.
Judica's leaning, triumphant smile, like a
victory over all earthly sorrow, filed me
with a sensation that acted like drink of
the glory that would I'LL my whole life
hencefOrth.
We met Gebhardt on our return to the
house He at once that something
great, something decisive, had happened
He became pale, stepped swiftly toward me
and tried to speak. But l stopped him and
asked him to let speak. Then Miss
Fritz took Judica by the hand and walked
away and | told him
l told him that l had won my beloved
wife and that within few days | should
go TO the king to ask for his permission to
marry. to demand il If necessary But [
was sure | would receive it graciously for
who and what was [? Somebody who need
not be reckOned at all in the state The
less l was known. the more / was retired
the better for me and all. This marriage
to CIe of unequal birth would be equal to
exile. voluntary disappearance into a
dark private life. OF course, there would
be a little trouble. They would have to
give my wife 50 rank. some name; they
would have 10 decide where l was to dwell
as far as possible from the court They
would have To settle on my manner of life
and then we could sink out of sight
What the count answered, with a pale
face, 1 VIII write another time. Ii was-no
today l will not write it,
Later Judica and | went to the lonely pine
tree. II was only a charred stump now