The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-16

directs that he be shown into his pres
ence. His austere nature softens I'M
der the recollection of his Heidelberg I
days He assigns Keliermann to duty |
in the palace as his ceilarer, orders the I
lackeyS to serve him with food in his |
own room, and has Kellermann, be-
tween bites. tell him of his former
comrades, now scattered, all save two
deltnquents, the doings among the |
students, the changed conditions. etc
And at last: What of-Katie?" KEEL |
hermann is surprised. -Katie?" he asks. |
1.-The one in-in-Rueder' inn.'' says |
the prince, hesitatingly. ooh, yes-she--
yes, yes-she's still there
AT Rueder's?
Yes; at Rueder's."
"And-is she doing weIl?''
quite we'll"
"Stin there7" insists the prince;
visit Rueder's-she would be sure to be
there?"
why. yes" replies KelIermann, sur
prised by the princes seriousness.
Carl has solo scene Of wonderful in
Prospective power. He is alone in his
room at night. "I must get married
now. and settle down. he says. Il
must behave Hyself-no more student
FRANKS and adventures; must live and
act according to rules and regulations
Oh, for some one to tell me, Carl Helm
rich. there is no help for it; you must
submit; some one who would console
me. Heaven! Heavenl This deadly
Stillnessi Everything is STEPPED in
sieep-tha palace. the town. the eoun-
try-eyerything and everybody. In
Heidelberg they are now sitting in
Reuder's garden under the lamps.
laughing, and looking a the watch, and
saying, Only 10 o'clock at night And
here comes Katie down the garden
walk in her white apron. yawning a
little, and rubbing her eyes with her
little fists His memory carries him
back to his old tutor, the only humanity
animated being about the court, the
dear old doctor who accompanied
him to Heidelberg. participated in all
his bOyish extrayagances, and new lies
buried in Heidelberg cemetery. He
starts suddenly to his feet in the de-
pressing darkness and silence. What
was that Who called me? FROST, Carl
Heinz'-who said that? It was the
Doctors voice FROST, Carl Heinz; your
healthP " And almost in a whisper he
says, Yes. I am leading a glorious
life" He fills glass with wine and
holds it up. Doctor All is Silent as
death. Your health" He casts him
self across the table. hiding his head
in his arms.
He determines to visit Heidelberg
once more-once more before his mar
riage. When he arouses himself, it is
with the fixed purpose of gratifying his
irresistible desire to meet Katie once
more amid her old surroundings-for a
0cIJs Vi perhaps TWO. ana so he arrives
at Heidelberg. But everything is
changed. The same faces no longer
greet him. and the few who survive. in
stead of showing the old cordiaIity, now
that he has assumed the dignity of a
felgnlng prince, are chilled thereby and
receive him in formal style with cold
repast, an address, and a student song
AT last comes Katie. She has been
absent during his arrival and the ban
quet- As she sees him, her breath al
most fails her from joyous excitement
She calls him by his old familiar stud
ent name. and he receives her in his
arms with cry of delight. They pratt
tie Ike two children or two lovers-;t
is very much the same. She looks at
his wrinkles.
Those ugly wrinkles-do laugh once
more"
And he replies: 1.-TWO years. Katie
you don't know what I have suffered
in those years. No man on earth has
been so lonely as l." She speaks to
him as a mother might to her boy:
DO laugh again." He laughs YEARLY.
That's right. Laugh again. AS you
used to laugh Laugh. Carl Heinz,
please laugh.
Old scenes revive old memories. They
chat about that interrupted driye-one
night in spring. when they were happy.
and he kissed her. He draws her to his
breast and kisses her now. And there is
a long pause of silence.
They both feel that the moments are
slipping away and, womanlike, she is
the first to confront the reality of life.
1T couldn't be otherwise between you
and me, could it? And we always
knew it. So. then-ah, this beautiful
period of youth-it's not half long
enough. Now you're. going to return
! home, Carl Heinz, and be married and
all will be we'll. 1 can't exactly make
it out, but man like you must hold
up his head. Ell? Just for examples
sake. eh?''
The interview is interrupted by the