Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Certainly I am, Trude, as he has returned to his former habits, frequenting the society of drinking-houses and gamblers. Imagine the general played yesterday, lost all his ready money, and that was not enough, but signed away the year's pension from Herr von Ebenstreit, during which time we have nothing but the miserable army annuity to live upon."
"You may be sure that I shall use them, dear father," laughed Ebenstreit. "I would beg my respected mother to release me a half-hour from my oath to-day, that I may indulge the first expressed wish that my future wife favors me with." "It is impossible, my son. I never deviate from my principles. You will not speak with my daughter before marriage, except in the presence of her parents."
A gentleman of slight proportions, in an elegant fashionable dress, appeared and remained standing in the doorway, his large black eyes wandering searchingly through the drawing-room. Herr von Ebenstreit approached, extending him his hand, uttering a few unintelligible words, which his guest appeared not to notice, but, slightly inclining, asked if he would present him to the lady of the house.
"My dear Marie, I come as the ambassador of your parents, and am fully empowered to lead your back to your father's house." She answered not, but sat immovable and benumbed with terror, the tears rolling down her cheeks. "You arrest me in the name of the king," cried Moritz; "I bow to the law. I beg only to speak to that man," pointing to Ebenstreit, with contempt.
Just then Ebenstreit von Leuthen drove up in the handsome travelling-carriage, which was a wedding-gift to his wife, and excited the admiration of the numerous street public. Old Trude, in her simple dark Sunday dress, had awaited the appearance of the bridegroom, and went to announce his arrival to the bride.
The anteroom led into the reception-room by wide folding-doors, where the names were given to the usher, who announced them in a stentorian voice in the drawing-room. There stood the Baron von Ebenstreit to receive the guests, all smiles, and with bustling assiduity accompany them to the adjoining drawing-room to present them to the baroness.
Ebenstreit, overruled by the solemn earnestness, obeyed against his will. "Would you like me to leave also, sir?" said Marie, with a calm, haughty manner. "You have only to ask it and the baron will, undoubtedly, accord your request." "On the contrary, I beg you to remain," quietly replied Splittgerber, "for what I have to say concerns you and your husband equally."
I am a man who has an important secret to sell, and you are the man who would buy it." "What strange, unheard-of language is this?" said Ebenstreit, astonished. "The language of a man who cannot only deprive the rich banker Ebenstreit of a lovely wife, but of his title also.
Trude depicted the anger of her father and the threats of her mother to send her to prison. But before she could execute her purpose, Ebenstreit had brought home the unconscious child, and she herself had lifted her from the carriage and borne her, with the aid of her mistress, to her own little attic room. Marie listened to these relations with a gloomy calmness and a defiant sorrow.
"Such wealth as yours is never-ending, and the banking business, which you are still engaged in under another name, is an inexhaustible source of wealth. I beg you to accept these conditions, that we may at last be at peace." "Very well," said Ebenstreit, to whom the words of Marie sounded as the sweetest music.
Word Of The Day