Landolin Part 27

The mother and son sat a long time together in silence; but at length she said, "Take the wagon and go to meet your father. I feel as though something would happen to him; I am so frightened."

"Very well, mother, I will do as you say. I'll go, but I don't know whether I can find him or not."

"Yes, go, for heaven's sake, and be a good boy. I will try and get a little sleep."

Peter went; but he soon turned down an alley to a tavern where they were rolling ten-pins. Here he enjoyed himself highly, winning a good sum of money from the woodcutters of the upper forest, and from some half-grown boys; for Peter was an adept at ten-pins.

CHAPTER L.

Landolin was suddenly in the midst of the crowded meadow, and the first person that he hit against was the one-handed man who had been his subst.i.tute in the army.

"Come here, I'll give you something," said Landolin, putting his hand into his pocket. The one-handed man hesitated to reach out his left hand, but at length he did it; for he couldn't bear to refuse a gift, although he was earning good wages, especially just now; for Anton had bought him some pictures of the heroes of our day, which he was hawking about, and he well understood the art of praising his wares. t.i.tus watched Landolin as he gave the man something, and their eyes met, but neither greeted the other. t.i.tus was of the opinion that Landolin should speak to him first in a very humble manner; and Landolin expected the man of unsullied honor to make the first advances.

Landolin saw Fidelis. The servant who had formerly been in his employ, pa.s.sed by as though he didn't know him; perhaps he was annoyed that his master had been acquitted notwithstanding his damaging testimony.

Landolin was inclined to speak to him and be friendly, but he heard t.i.tus call him (for Fidelis was now in his service) and say: "Enjoy yourself as much as you can--your honor is without a stain--and I will pay for what you eat."

The maids of honor with wreaths on their heads went past, walking arm in arm. Their number had evidently been increased. They were the daughters of the district forester, of t.i.tus, and of another farmer; but what would they all have been beside Thoma, had she been there?

The men shook hands and congratulated one another upon the pleasant day and the fine celebration. Landolin rubbed his cold hands--no one had touched his hand--was there blood sticking on it? Had he not been acquitted?

"What can be the matter with Anton Armbruster? What has kept him from coming?... The best part is wanting when he is away.... Thoma wouldn't let him come to the celebration.... No, their engagement is broken off.... I'll tell you; Anton is ashamed of Landolin, whose acquittal was such an atrocity. Look! There he goes now."

Such, and still more biting words Landolin heard from every group, as he went around like one risen from the dead, with whom no one would have anything to do. "I have not deserved this, not this----" said Landolin, angry and at the same time sad. His eyes burned as they sought a friendly glance. He not only felt that all the people at the celebration disliked him because of what he had done, and delighted to wound him by ignoring his presence, but he also saw plainly that they were particularly angry at him, because on his account Anton was absent. Here, at the very place where, on the day of the fair, he had vaingloriously boasted that he considered Anton of lower station than himself--here he was made to hear how universally the man whom he might have called son was beloved and honored.

Landolin turned to go. Why should he stay? But "Hus.h.!.+ Stand still!" was heard from all sides; for a trumpet sounded, and the district forester mounted the platform. He said that Anton Armbruster had been selected to welcome their friends and comrades.

Cries of "Hurrah for Anton!" arose here and there; but silence was commanded, and the forester, in simple words, welcomed the guests, and explained the significance of the celebration. He said he intended to be brief, for hungry stomachs do not like to be fed with words; and he concluded with a cheer for the Fatherland.

"To dinner! To dinner!" was now the cry. The tables were soon crowded, while the band played lively airs. t.i.tus sat at a table with the other rich farmers. Landolin took a chair, and saying, "With your leave," sat down with them.

"So, Mr. Ex-bailiff, you here too?" Landolin heard himself addressed, and turning around, saw Engelbert, the shepherd of Gerlachseck, who had wanted to hire out to him. He now wore a large white ap.r.o.n, for the hostess of the Sword had engaged him as an a.s.sistant for the day.

Landolin did not answer.

His companions at table ate and drank heartily, and talked loudly, but no one spoke a word to Landolin, until at length t.i.tus said: "Well, how is it, Landolin? I hear you're going to sell your farm. If that's so, I'm a purchaser. I'll pay a good price. You can have a valuation put on it."

"Who said that I was going to sell?"

"Oh, it's generally reported that you're going to leave the neighborhood."

"If I knew who started that story, I'd pull his tongue out of his throat."

"I wouldn't do that," laughed t.i.tus; "you certainly ought to know that that isn't a good plan."

"'Twas you," cried Landolin, "that started it--you!"

t.i.tus gave no answer, but got up and walked away; the others soon followed him, and Landolin was left alone at the table.

Music filled the air. There was dancing; and during the intervals people laughed and sang, and made merry, while Landolin struggled with rage and sorrow. Are these people here all snow-white innocents? Are there not dozens of them who have much worse things on their conscience?

He wished that he had power to rush in and crush everything under foot.

At other times a sadness came over him, and he thought: "Were I only in prison, or, better still, not in the world at all."

But lest he should show his emotion, he leaned back, lighted his pipe, and smoked with a defiant look on his face. "They shall not succeed in making me eat humble pie."

At that moment merry laughter arose from the table where the people of rank were sitting. "What does that mean? Are the great folks rejoicing over my misfortune? No, that cannot be, for there sits the judge's wife, with her son, the lieutenant."

CHAPTER LI.

At this table, which was spread with a white linen cloth, and decorated with vases of flowers, the school-teacher was just saying:

"Yes, Madam Pfann, that is the hardest riddle hidden in the whole history of man. Why can nothing but a myth or a people's war move the souls of the ma.s.ses? In a war the souls of nations see one another, if one may say so, face to face."

He paused in the midst of his dissertation; for the lieutenant said in a clear voice:

"The Frenchmen literally took us for cannibals. In a village near Orleans, I went to a house and called; there was no answer. Presently I saw a woman, sitting on top of the brick oven; I spoke to her pleasantly, but she remained dumb, until, at last, I asked where the children were. She looked at me in terror; and I said, laughing: 'Bring me one, and roast it well. I want to eat it.' Then the woman laughed too, and let the children out of the oven, where she had really hidden them."

It was at this they had laughed so loud, at the great folk's table.

They were all pleased with the lieutenant, whose former wild boyishness had changed to dignified composure. The eyes of the judge's wife danced with a mother's pride; and if she was always thoughtful of comforting and helping others, to-day she would have been glad to have poured joy upon every one. But to-day no one needed her, for there was joy and happiness everywhere. Just then she saw Landolin, and said:

"There sits the farmer of Reutershofen all alone."

"It is well," said the district forester, "that the people are still strong-hearted and straight-forward enough to cast out a man who was unjustly acquitted."

"Wolfgang, come with me," said the judge's wife, rising; and taking her son's arm, she went to Landolin's table. She said to her son that she would remain there, and that he might join his comrades; and giving her hand to Landolin, she sat down beside him, asked after his wife and daughter--people never asked after Peter--and promised to visit them soon. She also intimated that she hoped to be able to straighten out the difficulty with Anton. Landolin told her, composedly, that Anton had visited them the evening before, but that Thoma had refused him, and that was probably the cause of his staying away from the celebration.

"Had I known that, I should not have come either," he concluded; and the lady discovered what suffering he must that day have undergone; and with the most sympathetic expression of voice and countenance, she said:

"Ex-bailiff, I have some good advice for you."

"Good advice? that is always useful."

"I think you ought to go away with Thoma for a few weeks. Go to a bathing place. It will do you good."

"I'm not sick. There is nothing the matter with me. I didn't know that our judge's wife was a doctor, too."

"You understand what I mean."

"I'm sorry I'm so stupid, but I don't understand you."

"Then I must speak plainly. Do you think that I desire your welfare?"