Veronica Page 8

  CHAPTER VIII.

  EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS KIND.

  In all Tannenegg and Fohrensee, nothing was talked of but the affair ofthe night before. Never was such excitement known. In every house, atevery corner, in all the roads, groups of people stood talking it over;each telling what he knew.

  Everyone asked questions, and no one listened to the answers. Such a fightat the Rehbock! It began over the card-table. The cattle-dealer fromFohrensee was on his way home with his bag full of money, when he stoppedin at the Rehbock, and joined the game. When the dispute broke out, hisbig fists took their share in the fray. Not until two of the party lay fordead on the ground, did the brawling cease and the combatants begin tocool. Then the cattle-dealer discovered that his bag full of gold wasgone, and raised a fearful alarm.

  Then the red-haired man from Fohrensee shouted into the midst of theexcited crowd,

  "Don't let any one get away. Run after them! That's the only way to findout the thief!"

  This man had not taken part in the fight, but had mixed with the crowd,trying to pacify them, and to restore quiet.

  His advice was useless. A good many had already gone. First of all,Dietrich had disappeared; then several fellows ran after him, and thenall the rest went together.

  On the way home, Jost had told his companions that Dietrich had made offwith himself, and that he, Jost, had told him when he saw him going thatthere was doubtless good reason for his wishing to be out of the way. Butin truth Jost had not said any such thing to Dietrich!

  One of the men had run at once for the doctor, and the doctor had come inthe night to the Rehbock, and had found that the two men were not deadafter all. So he had given orders that they should be let alone till theyhad slept off the effect of their carouse.

  In the morning, all those who had been at the Rehbock the night before,were called together; and every one denied stoutly having any knowledgeof the cattle-dealer's money, and all were ready to be searched in proofof their innocence. Dietrich alone was not there; he had vanished, no oneknew whither. Some one whispered, and then it was softly repeated, thenlouder and louder, that Dietrich would not have taken himself off if hehad had a clear conscience; and although nobody seriously believedDietrich capable of a disgraceful act, yet after awhile it seemed to growmore likely, especially when it became known that he had lost a great dealof money in betting and gambling, and was unable to pay back what he hadlost. And many shook their heads and said, "How easy it is for a man to bedrawn into evil ways if he once begins to go down hill!"

  Where Dietrich had gone, was now the important question. No trace of himhad been discovered from the moment of his disappearance. Thecattle-dealer left no stone unturned to find him, but he could get no clueto his whereabouts. He had entered complaints against Dietrich, and hopedthat the hands of the law would succeed in getting track of him. But itwas all in vain. Gradually, no one knew how, a report got about thatDietrich had fled to Australia, and would never come back. Little bylittle every one came to believe it.

  Except one. One single person in all Tannenegg was bold enough to swimagainst this stream of suspicion. This was Judith. Not timidly and insecret, but aloud, at all times and in all places, she declared decidedly,

  "There's not one word of truth in what you all say. It's a lie frombeginning to end. Dietrich has no more stolen than I have, and I needn'tsay more than that. I'll ferret this thing out, till I find the trueculprit, or my name's not Judith."

  The first thing to do was to get a clear account of the whole affair; foralthough she had already heard it told a dozen times, it had always beenamong other people, who were continually interrupting and askingquestions, and were too anxious to hear the end, to wait for the fullaccount of the beginning. So she decided to apply to Blasi, who, as he hadbeen on the spot, must know all about it. But she had to hunt him up; forsince that unlucky evening he had kept himself out of sight. She placedher bucket under the spout at the well, and then took a turn about thekitchen garden behind the sexton's cottage. Blasi stood in the backdoorway, just as he was in the habit of standing in the front doorway,only instead of holding his face up as if to catch any agreeable odorsthat might be floating about, he stood to-day with drooping head, gazingsadly at the uncared-for garden.

  "What's amiss, Blasi?" asked Judith, sharply, coming upon him before hewas aware of her approach.

  "Nothing; if you know of anything we will share it," said Blasi sullenly.

  "Well, perhaps I know something that it would not be a bad thing for youto share with me. Perhaps it's worth while for some one who has learned itby the sweat of her brow, to tell you that vegetables can be made to growin a garden, instead of nettles, which you seem to cultivate."

  "I don't care what grows anywhere; one thing is as good as another to me,now that Dietrich has gone. There's nothing to do in the evening now. I'vehalf a mind to go after him."

  "Go where? do you know where he is?"

  "I don't, myself, but Jost does, and I know that Jost is expecting to hearfrom him. Though he does call me stupid, I have my eye on him," saidBlasi, with angry emphasis. "And I know it was Jost who advised Dietrichto run away and hide, though he didn't mean to let me know. Oh, I'm nofool!"

  Judith nodded assentingly, as if Blasi's information confirmed her ownsuspicions.

  "Here, Blasi, here's a little something for you. Now I want you to tell meexactly how this thing happened, from the very beginning; and don't leaveout a single thing. I want to hear the whole story, connectedly."

  "You may be sure I will," said Blasi, weighing the silver piece whichJudith had given him affectionately in his hand. "You see they were alltogether in the little back room at first; the red-haired man and Jost andDietrich, and when I went in I noticed at once that something had happenedthat our two didn't like; for Dietrich sat with his elbows on the tableand his head in his hands, and Jost was swearing roundly. Presently Jostsaid, 'We will double our bets, Dietrich, and perhaps the luck will turn.'Dietrich, only groaned. Then the red-haired fellow said, 'Come, let's godown and play cards with the cattle-dealer, and take a glass of somethingthat will raise your spirits.'"

  "Dietrich never used to gamble; nor to drink when he was not thirsty;"cried Judith angrily.

  "Pooh! When every one is playing cards, a fellow can't hold off and say hewon't join, and as for the drink, Dietrich has washed down a good deal ofvexation with it lately, and he took it powerfully too, I can tell you.Well, the play began, and it went on fast. I noticed that the red manlooked mightily pleased, and urged them all on, and the louder thecattle-dealer scolded, the more the red man filled up his glass. When thequarrel came to blows, I heard the red-head call out to thecattle-dealer, 'Come over here, you'll soon silence them,' So he keptexciting him, and he struck out well with his great fists. The red-headmixed in the crowd, and stuck close to the cattle-dealer, but he neverstruck a blow himself; of course not, such a gentleman as he is! I did notsee Dietrich knock the Fohrensee fellow down, but just when the storm wasmost furious, I saw Dietrich run out, and Jost after him, and I thought Isaw Jost give Dietrich something. I ran out after them, and I heard Jostadvising Dietrich to make off as fast as he could, and send him word wherehe hid himself. When I came up to them, Jost pushed me back; I couldn'tget a word with Dietrich, who ran right off, and Jost pulled me into thehouse. There the noise was increasing every minute, for the cattle-dealerhad discovered that his money-bag was gone, and red-head screamed out likea mad-man, that nobody must get away, and everybody must be searched. Whenthey found that Dietrich had gone, the cattle-man started off after him,and some others too, and then they all broke up. Now you know all that Iknow. Nothing else happened; except that I went for the doctor, who saidthe two men were not dead. When Jost tells Dietrich that, why, there'snothing to prevent his coming back. That is, unless there's somethingelse."

  "What do you mean by 'something else'?" said Judith sharply. "Butthere--you're all alike. One repeats what another has said, till you allget to saying the same thing an
d then of course you believe it. A niceset of friends you are--the whole of you. I mean to stir up the groundunder you all until I find out where the truth is. Then you can begin tostare with the others, you blind mole!" and Judith suddenly walked off asif the earth were burning beneath her angry feet.

  Blasi understood neither her words nor her anger. He looked after her,shook his head rather sadly, and said to himself,

  "Women folk are a very foolish folk."

  Home sped the "foolish" Judith; put on her Sunday garments and started onher journey. If ever she had a project in her head, she did not wait tillto-morrow to put it into execution. And to-day she was bent on giving thecattle dealer a piece of her mind. She paused a moment when she came toGertrude's house, then went on her way, saying half aloud,

  "No, I'll say nothing to her, since she says nothing to me. If 'mum's' theword I can use it as well as she."

  Judith was pained that Gertrude had not from the beginning talked with herof her troubles, for Judith was one who liked to give and receivesympathy. Veronica too was much too reticent to please her kind-heartedneighbor who could never get a word with her about what was going on.Veronica and Gertrude were both very silent by nature, about anything thattouched them deeply, especially in sorrow. On the first day after theterrible blow that had befallen them, they talked it all over, and wepttogether, to ease their hearts of the first misery. Then Gertrude said,

  "Dietrich has sinned and he must make atonement, but he has not stolen; Iam sure that my son is not a thief." And Veronica had responded promptly,

  "If every one in the whole world said that he had stolen that money, Ishould not listen; for I know he is no thief."

  As soon as it became known that Dietrich was gone, letters and bills camepouring in upon the poor widow. Her son had borrowed large sums of moneyand had lost even more at play. She soon found that not only all herhusband's savings, but also the house and the business were deeplyencumbered. She talked things over with the workman who had been so manyyears in her employ and asked if he would help her carry on the businessas he had done after her husband's death while Dietrich was still a child.The man was very angry with Dietrich for having thrown away the result ofall those years of labor, and at first refused to have anything more to dowith the business. He yielded at last, however, to Gertrude's urgentrequest, and consented to remain with her at least till the futureprospects of the business could be decided upon; and Gertrude agreed thatif it should prosper she would hand it over to him, in case Dietrichshould not return within a certain time.

  And so the mother set herself again to her task. She worked early andlate; she seemed to have gained new strength and courage instead of beingcrushed down by this new burden.

  It was curious to see how differently the two women nearest to Dietrichwere affected by this trouble. Gertrude's countenance gradually resumedits customary look of cheerfulness and peace, while on Veronica's handsomefeatures rested a heavy scowl which now seldom left her clouded brow. Yetshe was almost an object of envy to all the young girls of theneighborhood, and no wonder; for she was an attractive sight to all eyes,with her neat, well-fitting clothes, that always looked new and fresh, andher air of strength and activity. Not a few of the strangers who came toFohrensee, made inquiries about her, wondering where she could have comefrom; for they noticed the marked difference between her and the otherwomen of the place. The work which passed through her hands, even if itwere most elaborately embroidered, was never crumpled nor soiled, butlooked as fresh as if it had not been handled at all. She could obtain anyprice she chose to set upon her work, and everything she did found readysale. Moreover, she had been appointed to the place of which Sabina hadspoken to her. She was at the head of the great Industrial School forwomen, where she received so handsome a salary, that she was in a fair wayto the accumulation of a nice little fortune. It was common to hear itsaid of her, "She is really a lady! she can have whatever she pleases,"and it was often added, "If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't go about witha face like a thirty days' storm, as she does, when she can be agentleman's wife whenever she chooses!" It had been proposed thatVeronica should go to live in the school-buildings at Fohrensee. But shedid not accept the offer; she could not leave her mother alone in thistime of trouble. Every evening after her work she returned to Gertrude'scottage.

  During the long summer days it was easy for Veronica to get home beforethe twilight was over. But when the days grew shorter, dusk came on evenbefore she could reach the wood. One bright Saturday afternoon, late inAugust, Veronica had delayed longer than usual in the work-room, to clearall away and leave things in perfect order for Sunday.

  She hurried up the hill road, not so much from fear of going through thewood alone, as from desire to spare Gertrude the anxiety of watching forher. Just before she reached the wood, she met Jost coming towards her. Heheld out his hand with a friendly smile, saying,

  "I came to meet you; I thought it would be getting too dark for you to goalone through the forest; I can't let you go unprotected."

  "You may spare yourself the pains," said Veronica shortly and crossed overto the other side of the road. Jost crossed too.

  "Veronica," he began after a little while, "it is not nice of you to treatme as you have done since Dietrich went off. I know as well as you do,that he did wrong in running away from you without letting you know wherehe went to; but he may write yet, and meantime--"

  "Don't say another word," interrupted Veronica; so decidedly that Jost wassilent for awhile. She crossed the road again, and presently Jost did thesame, and as he came up to her, he began again in a soft insinuating tone,

  "Don't you see Veronica, that it isn't my fault that things have takenthis turn? I often thought of you when Dietrich was risking so much money,and I used to say to him "think of her," for I knew how you would feelabout it."

  "Oh, you Judas!" cried Veronica, swelling with rage, and she sprangforward and ran on with all her might. Jost followed close at her heels.When she had passed through the wood, and had come out on the Tanneneggside, he said, in a flattering voice,

  "Veronica, do you see how precious you are to me? I will protect you andtake care of you even if you do not speak one kind word to me. I shallcome to meet you every day, for I will not allow you to go through thewood alone. You may meet all sorts of people there and may sometimes beglad of my company. Bye-and-bye you will be convinced how much I care foryou."

  Veronica was now near the house. She hurried on and without once lookingback, she sprang through the door and shut it fast behind her.

  "You shall be tame enough before I have done with you," muttered Jost, andhe bit his lips until the blood came.

  Veronica stood still on the other side of the door until she heard hisretreating footsteps; then she opened it and went out again. She wentover to the sexton's house. Blasi stood in the doorway, in a despondentattitude, with his hands in his pockets. He was brooding over themelancholy reflection that he had paid away the last penny of the cointhat Judith had given him, for last evening's glass at the Rehbock, andthat he had no credit. He saw no glimmer of hope in the prospect beforehim, and looked disconsolately at the ground. Suddenly Veronica stoodbefore him. He stared at her with surprise.

  "Blasi, will you do me a favor?" she asked in a friendly tone, "I willreturn it sometime when you need help."

  Here was an unexpected chance. He opened his eyes yet wider with delight.

  "Tell me what it is, Veronica," he said; "I will go through fire andwater for you."

  "It is only to go through the wood for me, to-morrow evening, and everyevening till the days grow longer again. Will you? You can have yourevening glass afterwards at my expense."

  Blasi stood speechless; staring at Veronica, who waited for his answer.

  "Why; do you want two of us?" he said presently, "I don't see why. Jost isgoing too, for you told him to go and meet you every evening."

  Veronica's dark eyes flashed forth a fire that dazzled poor Blasi.

  "So!
I told him to go, did I? Who told you such a thing as that?"

  "Jost said so himself at the Rehbock last evening, before a room full ofpeople; and some of them said that you were going to prove that you couldget along very well without the fellow that ran away."

  Veronica flushed burning red.

  "Tell Jost," she said, scornfully, "that if he is clever in nothing elsehe is a master liar. I would tell him myself, but I will never speak tohim again. Will you come for me tomorrow or not, Blasi?" she had turned toleave him.

  "Why of course, if that's the way it is about Jost, I'll come. You maycount on me," he replied gleefully. She held out her hand to him, and wasgone.

  The next evening, as Blasi was walking at his ease, towards the wood, hemet Jost hurrying along from another direction.

  "Where may you be going?" asked Jost peremptorily.

  "I am going to meet Veronica; she engaged me to," answered Blasi, not atall unwilling to make known his errand.

  "Well, you are a dunderhead to take a joke like that for sober earnest,"said Jost, bursting into a loud laugh. "Hadn't you sense enough to seethat she was making a fool of you? We had a good laugh together about itlast night, she and I, and she said she had a mind to make you go allwinter long to Fohrensee, to fetch her; and that you would never find outthat she was making sport of you. She seems to have made a goodbeginning."

  Jost laughed again immoderately, and Blasi began to waver.

  "If I only knew which of you was telling a lie;" he said, and stood stillto think it over. Suddenly he started forward on the full run, for itoccured to him that he could decide by Veronica's air when he met her,whether she had cheated him or not. Jost saw that Blasi was determined notto give up his enterprise so he turned about, and disappeared among thebushes; for he had no desire to have Blasi see how Veronica treated him.

  When Blasi met Veronica, her face had so pleasant and bright a look, thatthe lad was struck with her beauty. It was not the look of one who wasmaking a fool of him. Veronica was sincere. She talked kindly with him allthe way home, more kindly than he had ever thought she could talk, andwhen they parted, she said persuasively,

  "You'll come tomorrow, and every day, won't you Blasi?"

  Then she pressed a piece of money into his hand, and thanked him for hiskindness so gratefully, that it seemed as if he had conferred a greatfavor on her, instead of having received payment for service rendered.

  As the young man turned away, a new set of ideas took possession of hismind. For the first time in his life, he felt a desire to use the moneythat he held in his hand, for something better than drink. He recollectedthat he had no necktie on, and he was conscious of looking slovenly anddirty. That was not the way for a fellow to look who was going to be seenwalking with the pretty Veronica along the high-road. He would buy aneck-tie in the morning; he had money enough for that. Then his thoughtsran on still farther. Veronica had not spoken to him in this friendly wayfor many a long year. It was not to make fun of him, Jost was a liar asshe had said; else why did he run away instead of going with him to meether? No, he wouldn't be taken in by that fellow, any longer. As theywalked along she had asked him all sorts of questions about himself; whathis business was, and how he succeeded in it and so on. He had not beenable to answer very satisfactorily about his business, for sinceConfirmation, three years before, he had only been waiting for somethingto turn up. He had had nothing to do except to ring the bell at eleveno'clock, and then stand in the door-way of his house until it was time toring it again at four. Then towards evening he always went to the Rehbockto hear the news. All this appeared in a new light before his eyes, nowthat Veronica had inquired about his occupation. Then she had encouragedhim so sympathetically to try to get something to do, and promised to beof service to him if she could. It was exactly as if she had an especialinterest in his welfare. Why did she concern herself about him? Suddenly alight broke through his darkness.

  "Dietrich is gone, and is not likely to come back," he said to himself,"she detests Jost; and women always do the very thing you least expectthem to; I've heard that a hundred times. She is after me! Good heavens!"he called out in his surprise as this idea seized him. "A fellow mustspruce up! I will take the first step this very day."

  The idea which had seized Blasi's mind that he was to take Dietrich'splace with Veronica, suggested a farther plan. He decided immediately tobecome a saddler too, and before he went into his own house, he turnedback and sought Gertrude's garden.

  Gertrude's workman was walking up and down, for recreation; for he neverwent to the tavern. Blasi went to him and opened his mind; he wanted to bea saddler, and to learn the trade from him.

  The man was quite willing; he bethought himself that it would be rather anagreeable change to have a young fellow to talk to, instead of merelysitting all day by the side of the silent widow. He said he would speak tohis employer, and Blasi could come on the morrow. He was sure she wouldagree, for she generally took his opinion about the business.

  "You see, Blasi," said he pompously, "if I were not there to look afterthings, they would all go to ruin. In fact there are only two ways to savethis business; either Dietrich must come back and quickly too, and takehold of the business better than he ever did before, or else it must fallinto my hands entirely, and I will take all the risks and all theprofits."

  "There may be yet a third way; who knows?" said Blasi, significantly, andhe winked so mysteriously first with one eye and then with the other, thatthe saddler said to himself, "I guess he's been at the Rehbock."