The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-20

as they are-that / should be left with
the girl in this position--everybody
/ pointing nnger at henry own name
covered with infamy, while 1 stir not
a hand. That-by God in heaven.-is
| still more out of the question. Shout
/ tng-) Justice must really be done in
this world
Lauffen-Of course il must be done
OF course. But you can see yourself
that there are cases when with the
| best intentions i'm the world with the
very best Intentions. sergeant major
(Enter Clara.)
Nolkhardt lin harsh tones)-Youi
What has brought you here?
Clara followed you, father.
Northumberland? What is there
here for you to seek? Co.
clara-But all this has to do with me.
So I shall stay here.
Yolkhardt-Yes YOU are right, there
There, lieutenant, is she not standing
yonder as II she were miracle of cOur-
age and Innocence itseif2 1t is as
though she were stin my darling child,
in whom / trusted absolutely, in whom
were conferred all my hopes ever since
the little boy 1 had was put away be-
meath the ground. And now-now 1
would rather you were there with the
boy than here heaping shame upon my
head
Clara-FatherI
Volkhardt (turns his attention 20
Lauffen-And now came to the man
VINO has brought all this upon me, and
tell him that he must stand up to
me. Gle points to the revolyer.)
Lauffen-Sergeant major. | have let
you talk on without interrupting YOU
because, as you see, / am aware of the
extent of my guilt. / must also admit
that you have good reason to be some
! what aroused. But this last step can
not be taken. 1t is out of the question.
1 cannot exchange shots with a non
commissioned officer. 1 must not.
Nolkhardt (stepS bacx)-With q non
commissioner officer? Yes, to be sure
L am a non-commissioned officer 1
beg your pardon. lieutenant, had al
most forgotten that. When man has
been for SO many years singled out
from the whole regiment as its orna-
ment and it's pride-called the old Volk-
hardt, who figured SO conspicuously i'm
the great campaign and went through
the famous charge at VionviIle-why,
a man then is very apt to forget his
place, Lieutenant. But now 1 no longer
forget myself. A non-commissioned
officer is, of course, inferior by birth.
(Pointing to Clara.) She can only look
upon all that has passed as an honor
an honor she has not deserved. To be
sure, to be sure-people like ourselves
belong to the lower orders.
Lauffen sharply)-Sergeant major
say no -morei You speak like a regu-
lar red socialist. 1 give you fair warn
ing, sergeant major. You Will talk
yourself into prison and punishment.
Nolkhardt (excitedly)-Yes, lieuten-
ant, L ought to feel that you are right
What injury has been done me? What
am l but a lout-a low, common lout?
(He laughs wildly) ]. poor old fool.
thought 1 was somebody, stood for
something. How / have done my duty
here for the last thirty-three years as
m-by Godi-everything depended
acknowledgements major. do you re-
member your place at last?
Nolkhardt (soliloquizing)-Now this
thing here Che clutches his iron CROSSE
early this morning, when 1 put on this
thing. said to myself: You are the
only man in the regiment that has this
decoration-not another man has it
not even the colonel. And now Che
takes off the cross with trembling fin
gers) off with the bauble--it is nJthing
but q bit or two of metal and can lust
as we'll lie in the dirt. (He is ON the
point of throwing the cross to the floor.
but suddenly checks hiTnself) And yet
this is the very thing / valued above all
others wanted it placed on my
breast when they lowered me into the
grave. What is it to me nOw?-I can
wear it no more-I Fought not Gle
throws the cross on the table, his eyes
filled with tears) Such q man as I
Launen-Sergeant major, ] implore
you to calm yourself. All that you
have been saying is downright raving.
Volkhardt-A little while ago, when
everything was still dark and j was
standing out yonder / felt that / was
up and doing to make an end of all
this. But no. 1 said, the other must
go, too. If i go. And If he refuses 10
give you satisfaction dosing control OF
HIMSELF III take satisfaction. tHe
g1fafT Il liz. gs....
Lauffen (remains standing where he
is and looks Volkhardt calmly in the
eye.)
Clara throws herself forward with
cry)-Fatherl
Volkhardt seizes her with his left
hand by the arm and forces her to her
knees. Then he takes aim at Lauren.
Suddenly his arm begins TO tremble and
slowly and involuntarily he allows the
weapon TO lower He speaks as if 40
himself: 1 cannot do il. He Is nay
lieutenant. I am too cowardly (weep-
ing with rage). / have been obeying
orders these many years-and that mas
dried the marrow out OF my bones
cannot even take my revenge. Too
cowardly, too cowardlyl In the old
days the father saved my life and low
his son takes il away. The balance
IS even. tTeaTs roll down his cheeks.)
GoH-lny poor little girI-we two Che
assumes "A
rigid and severe attitudel. Come get
up! We must arrange to go. We must
l0ok for some hole, deep as it may he
for us TO crawl into. so that we may
not see people pointing their fingers at
US and may not hear them say ''rTEere
she is-there she is-the girl" and
There he is-the old mani Don't
look in my face like that. Don't be SO
quiet. tell you not to stand there like
that--as you did this morning when
you told your shame to all the world
TO all men-without a blush,
Clara Qets her head droop)
NoikhaFt-Gol points to the door)
Let there be an end of this. CO.
Clara will stay, father pointing to
Lauffen6. I will stay with him. Now
more especially. You wrong him. Ia
Their. Had I been firm and upright we
should have been spared this-he and
you-and j. too. 1 alone am TO blame.
For l loved him. could not do any
thing else than L did. It was 1 who
threw myself into his arms
Nolkhardt (passes his hand in dis
traction across his brow)-who-then
are you-without a word of warming
1T was You who? Is that the thing
you are? Such thingi Go on! And
when he has had enough of you. there