The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-09-29

sed, and lost such a husband, and
lost him as | did, her love must
be stronger than DEATH" her pas
sion for vengeance can never cool.
But whom does this anger threat
en-? On whom would 1 execute
vengeanee7 The men who did
the deed were not in fault. The
only guilty party is the spirit of
war, and IT is on this that my
work of persecution. all too weak
as II is, must be exercised.
My son Rudolf agrees with my
views, though this of course does
not prevent him from going
through his military exercises ev-
cry year, and could not prevent
him, either, from marching to the
frontier, IL the European war,
which is always hanging over our
heads, should break out. And
then, perhaps, I shall have once
more to see how all that is dear
est to me in the world has to be
sacrificed on the altar of Moloch,
how a hearth blessed with love.
and which IL the sign to my old
age of all its rest and peace, has
to be laid in ruins. Shall | have
to see all this once more, and
then once more to fall into ire
eoverable madness, or shall 4 vet
behold the triumph of justice and
humanity, which now, at this very
moment, is striving for accom-
plishment in widely extended as
sociations and in all starata of
society?
Mother. will you not put your
mourning off for the day after
tomorroy7"
these words today. For the
christening of hiE first-born son
is fixed for the day after tomor-
row.
mo, my dear" 1 replied.
But think; at such a festival
you surely will not be mournful.
Why then keep the outer signs of
mourning?"
And you will not be supersti-
tious, and fear that the black
dress of the grandmother will
bring bad luck to the chfld?"
"Oh. no; but IL does not har-
monte with the surrounding
gaiety. Have you then sworn an
OATH"
mo; It is only a firm resolu-
ton. But a resolution linked to
such a memory-you know my
meaning-that 1t partakes OF the
inviolability of an OATH"
My son bowed his head, and did
not urge me further.
Il have interrupted you in
what you we're about-you were
writing7"
"Yes-my autobiography. God
be praised. II is at an end. That
was the last chapter"
But how can you bring your
history to an end7 For you are
still alive, and will live many
years yet-many happy years =
amongst as, mother. Surely with
the birth of my little Frederick,
whom l will bring up to adore his
grandmamma, a new chapter must
be opened for you"
You are a good child, dear
Rudolf. 1 should be unthankful
IL did not take pride and Joy in
tyou; and Just as much Joy does
my-and HIS-beautiful Sylvia
give me. Oh, yes, I am reserved
for blessed old age. A quiet
EVENING" But still, the history OF
the day is over when the sun has
set. is Il not7"
He coneurred with a silent Iook
of compassion.
| Yes, the word 'Finfs' at the
end of biography is correct. When
| made the resolve to write &c.
also determined TO break off al
February !, 1871. Only in the
case of your being torn from me
also by war, which might indeed
so easily have happened; but bs
good luck you were not OF age
for service at the time Of the Bos.
nfan campafgn-only I'm that case
would have been forced to pro
long my book. still, even as II
is. u was plain enough to write
It."
And possibly. too. Il may be
painful to read #" remarked Ru-
dolf, turning over the leaves OF
the Ms.
Il hope 50. If that pain should
only awake In a few hearts an en-
ergetfc hatred against the soures
Of all the misery here described
! shall not have put myself to ths
torture IN vain. .
DO you not fear one thing
| It's purpose may be seen. and PEG.
/ PIE 20 BE put cut of humor viii
+