The Second Wife. From the German of E. Marlitt, by A. Wood

Chapter I

" !^&^||IANE, look here ! Raoul's wedaBIfip ding present, worth, I have no " ' ' doubt, six thousand thalers !" cried the Countess Trachenberg, as she entered the room. This apartment was on the ground-floor, and formed a portion of the wing of the fine old castle of Rudisdorf. The entire length on one side overlooked a broad sweeping terrace and a beautiful green vol. i. lawn, interspersed with gravel paths, and ornamented here and there with statues and groups of fine marble of elegant de sign. Beyond, lay a thicket or rather copse apparently as dense as a forest, from which an avenue of overhanging trees led straight to the French windows opening on to the terrace. In the distance could be seen, sparkling in the May sunshine, the bright falling waters of a fountain. The whole building, with its beautiful grounds and surroundings, was a masterpiece of old French architecture; but alas! how terribly neglected and fallen into decay.

The grand terrace was covered with weeds, and the broad lawn in front a mass of overgrown grass, while the paths were fast becoming as green as the grass itself. Everything had an air of years ot neglect and seasons of want of care. Inside and outside the castle, and in the stables, covered with dirt and cobwebs and every other abomination, were to be found some of the beautiful bas-reliefs and figures which had once ornamented the walls of the reception salons, but which were dragged first here and then there, till they finally found a hiding-place in the stalls and mangers of these dilapidated old out houses. The beautiful old furniture had been scattered to the four winds. Rich damask curtains, costly pictures, exquisite bijou terie and rare rococo ornaments had all fallen under the hammer long ago, and only the stately building itself had been left standing because it was entailed in the family, and could not be sold when the sequestration of all the Count Trachen berg's goods and chattels became necessary 1—2 This had happened four years ago now, and was, as the Countess always in her anger observed, a " disgraceful sign of our extravagant times, and a proof of degene rate taste which a just Heaven ought not to have allowed."

In the centre of the room was a large oak table at which sat a remarkably plain lady. Her head was large, and thatched with quantities of staring red hair ; her features were ugly ; even the soft white complexion was spoilt by a mass of large and deep set freckles. Her solitary beauty was her hands — and as she moved them nimbly and gracefully, one could see their lovely shape and ex quisite colouring. In her fingers she held a sprig of syringa, so beautifully fresh and dewy in appearance that one fancied the air of the room must be filled with its sweetness and intoxicating perfume ; but around the stem she was deftly twisting a fine bit of green tissue paper, and thus putting the finishing touches to a hand made but exquisite little flower. As the Countess entered the loom the lady at the table started, and with a hasty half frightened air threw a white gauze handkerchief over the work and its mate rials, and tried to appear as if doing nothing.

" Oh, mamma, you here !" muttered to herself half aloud a girl at the other end of the room, with her back turned to the table. She had unbound her hair and let it hang in its rich glory, loose and un confined down her back, and the beautiful golden mass hung heavy hi rich shining clusters almost to the hem of her muslin dress. The Countess frowned as she caught sight of her daughter's flowing locks, and standing still a moment she said, sternly pointing to the offending head, — " What's the meaning of such untidi ness { " I brought home a bad headache, mamma, and Ulrike undid my plaits for me," answered the young lady somewhat anxiously — adding, as she threw back her head wearily and shook the golden glory of her hair, "ah, it is indeed a heavy quan tity !" " Have you been out again in the heat of the sun, gathering weeds ?" asked the Countess, with a severe and scornful ex pression.

"When will this nonsense cease, I wonder !" she added, shrugging her shoulders and casting a reproachful look over the table. On it lay a mass of plants, some blotting paper, and a little flower press, for the young lady had just been arranging a few orchids, laying them between the sheets of paper delicately and carefully. This great lady, the Countess Trachen berg, nee Princess Latowiska, knew very well indeed that her eldest daughter, the Countess Ulrike, was in the habit of making beautiful flowers, and sending them to Berlin to be sold for a high price. The business was conducted by an old servant of the family, and no one had any idea that a Countess's crown surmounted the forehead of the much sought after and renowned flower artist. The Countess knew also that her only son, the heir of Trachenberg, arranged these " weeds " with the help of his sister Juliane, and sent them to Russia where they were sold as a collection of rare native plants ; but a Princess of the house of Latowiska ought not to know such things, though the hand that so deftly shaped the flowers was caught in the act, or now and then a word was dropped which threw light on so much " weed " gathering.

It was all nonsense, a mere fancy and fad which must be winked at and endured ! The Countess laid a hand on the girl's " heavy quantity " of golden hair, and with a gleam of motherly pride lighting her handsome but sharp-featured countenance — " Raoul must see this," she said. " You silly girl, you have hidden your greatest beauty from him. I will never forgive you for being so awkward as to appear before him with that thick silk net covering your head. With such hair — " "But it's red, mamma." " Hold your tongue, that is red!" she an swered quickly, inclining her head towards her daughter Ulrike. " God preserve me ! Two red heads indeed! Why so much punishment ?" Countess Ulrike, who had drawn from her pocket some wool-work, and was busy over it, sat as still as a statue and said no thing ; but she sighed.

She knew her beautiful mother was right, yet it pained her to hear her plainness alluded to in such a tone. Juliane glanced at her sister, and in a moment had the "red head" on her bosom, and began softly kissing the much offend ing pyramid of twists and plaits. " Sentimental nonsense !" murmured the Countess, evidently displeased, and put ting the packet she had brought in her hand down on the table, she took up a pair of scissors, and. snapping the fastening asunder, she soon unfolded from their wrappings a jewel-case and a piece of white silk inwoven with silver. With great eagerness the Countess opened the case, and when she saw the contents, drew her head back with a cry of involuntary admiration. " Look ! look ! my simple little maiden will go to the altar for once attired as the daughter ofthe Princess Latowiska ought to have been," she said, slowly and distinctly, holding up a superb necklace of brilliants and emeralds to the light, and watching its dazzling sparks of colour playing in the sun.

" Ah, yes ! the Mainaus know how to do things properly. Your father was then a poor enough fellow. I ought to have thought of it, but " Ulrike started as if she had been shot, and from the deep sunken, but clear blue eyes, there darted forth fiery glances of indignation, but she did not speak at once. She mechanically drew her wool again through the canvas before she said, quietly but firmly — " The Trachenbergs possessed at the time you speak of an unfettered fortune of about half a million. They were always moderate in their tastes, and a homely, loving family, and my dear father was true to the virtues of his race till his fortieth year, when he married. ... I have gone over the papers with the law yers, in order to find out and understand how things have come to this pass, and I know that papa became poor from weakness and excessive generosity."

" Impertinent girl !" exclaimed the Coun tess, raising her hand as if to strike her daughter, but evidently thinking better of her intention, she let fall her hand, and con tinued angrily : " You are always praising the Trachenbergs, and you are a true one too. /brought you into the world, and that is all you have from me. You can see that for yourself, if you will just walk into the portrait gallery and notice the likeness you bear to your ancestors — red-haired and monkey-faced from beginning to end. I have never ceased to weep over and — and curse the day, nearly thirty years ago now, when my first-born baby, a little monster, but a true Trachenberg, w*as laid in my arms. " Mamma !" cried Liane, shocked " Hush ! hush, child," softly and half smiling, interrupted the elder sister, as folding up her work she rose from her seat, but her lips trembled, and her cheeks were pale.

Both sisters were of the same height, a little taller, perhaps, than the ordinary height, but with round, elegant, and beau tifully developed figures and exquisitely formed hands and feet. The Countess laid the jewels on the table and pushed the case far from her, as Ulrike stooped for a moment to examine the costly silk destined for the bridal dress of her younger sister. It was a rare and rich fabric of the old brocade style that our grandmothers wore, and so heavy and stiff, that, as Ulrike lifted the parcel from the table, the silk slipped from the paper and fell crackling and rustling to the ground. With a horrified glance at the rumpled silver material, Liane turned to the window and stood so earnestly gazing out into the garden, one would think she must be counting the glittering drops w*hich fell from the far distant fountain.

"What a stately bride you will make, my sweet sister. How I wish papa could see you !" exclaimed Ulrike, presently. " Raoul insults us !" murmured Liane proudly. " He insults us ?" repeated the Countess, whose sharp ears had caught the angry half loud whisper. " Are you daft ? and will you be good enough to enlighten me as to how it is he has managed to insult the Trachenbergs ?" Liane pointed to the faded, worn, old arm-chair, near which the rich, pompous looking material had fallen, and said, trying to hide her fear of her angry mother — " Can you imagine a greater contrast, mamma ? Don't you think that — that — it shows want of tact, with our poverty ; and besides, it seems like condescension ?" The Countess folded her hands in despair. " How is it that I — / can have two daughters who measure the nobility of their birth by a draper's yard measure ?

Con descension ! and you, a Trachenberg, say it ! Why," she continued, growing excited, and raising her voice, " why, you stoop in marrying a Mainau — know that. Must I really relate to you again that your mother is descended in direct line from the old Polish kings, and that your father's ancestors were masters of the soil long before the crusades ? And if Ptaoul were to lay at your feet all the treasures of the world, he could not barter from you the higher rank of your birth. He has not a dozen generations to boast of compared with yours. I can assure you it — it is half a mesalliance that you are going to make : and if it were not for the humiliating thought of having two unmarried daughters in the house, I should have refused his pro posals. He knows it, too, or he would not take you as he is doing, only having seen you once.

The young girl stood still during this tirade, with her hands hanging listless by her side, and with part of her beautiful hair falling over her cheek. But the elder sister, though she said nothing, walked quickly and uneasily up and down the long room. At this moment the door leading to the corridor was opened, and the old nurse, who was now the cook, put her head inside the room and said apologetically, — " I beg pardon, but the post boy is out side, and he says he can wait no longer." " Ah, yes ! I had quite forgotten him ; tell him to wait till I come, and give him a cup of coffee in the kitchen, Lena." The old woman withdrew, and the Countess, taking a bill from her pocket said, " The man must have his beer money, and this is a bill sent through the post for forty thalers which we must pay.

The wine merchant is impertinent enough to desire his bill for the champagne I ordered for the wedding, to be attended to at once ; so pay it," she added sharply, handing the bill to Ulrike. A sudden flush dyed the plain face of her daughter, as she hastily and in an anxious tone cried, " Ordered champagne, mamma ! good heavens ! and for such a sum too !" The Countess Trachenberg showed her vol. i. glittering but false white teeth, and replied scornfully, — " Did you intend offering the gentlemen at the wedding breakfast your home-made currant wine ? Besides, I had no idea, to confess the truth, that we should be obliged to pay through the post so quickly." She shrugged her shoulders and added, " we must make the best of it now, and pay." Silently Ulrike opened her secretaire and drew from it two rolls of notes.

"Here is the whole money for house keeping," she said shortly and firmly. "It is only thirty-five thalers. On it we have to live. It is not only in Rheims that we are refused credit, but the neighbourhood around here will not sell us a pound of meat unless we pay ready money for it. Of that you cannot be in ignorance." " No, unfortunately I cannot, for my amiable daughter, Ulrike, is everlastingly harping on the subject." " I am obliged to do so, mamma, simply because you so often forget — and I wonder at it too — that our rent roll has dwindled down from nearly four thousand pounds a year to barely one hundred." The Countess Trachenberg placed her hands over her ears, and ran to the glass door, away from her daughter's words, as if she had been a scolded spoilt child. She turned the handle quickly and angrily to leave the room, but hesitated, and slam ming it to again, she said quietly but mali ciously — " Barely a hundred a year, and I ask once for all what is done with it ?

Our food is mere peasant's food. Lena gives us day after day rice and eggs, and such like things only. You put a mere homœopathic 2—2 dose of tea into the teapot, and I am obliged to wear this dress," (and she touched the black silk she had on) — "this dress you were good enough to present me as a Christmas present, day after day. Every thing that in my dead-alive life, I have been accustomed to look upon as neces saries — French books — perfumes — bonbons — have all long ago disappeared, and I say now, what I have often thought, that you must have more money than you choose to tell me of." " Ulrike never tells a falsehood, mamma,'' exclaimed Liane warmly. " Well, I can't send the bill back to the post unpaid," continued the Countess un moved. " So you may as well make an end of this comedy, and bring out the j» necessary sum. ' Can I coin money out of the earth ?

The wine must go back," uttered Ulrike, beside herself. Her mother uttered a loud cry, and throwing herself on the sofa went off into hysterics. Silently, and with a bitter expression of pain on her face, Ulrike stood near her mother, and watched her spasms of temper. '• Poor Magnus !" whispered Liane, going to the door which led into the next room, and then drawing closer to her sister. " He is in there, and will be horrified at this noise. Mamma, please try to be quiet. Magnus ought not to see you like this. What will he think ?" she said en treatingly, and bending over her mother. This distressing climax which the daughters had feared for some time past was not to be ended by a few coaxing words ; but the younger girl feared no longer. Although her voice was entreating, as she begged her mother to calm herself, there was a certain amount of involuntary supe riority, almost contempt, in her manner, as she took the hand nearest to her, and began chafing it.

But she spoke to deaf ears ; the cries broke forth louder than before. At this moment a door opened at the far end of the salon. Liane rushed across the room, and trying to prevent the out sider from entering, earnestly said, " Don't come in, Magnus — stay away." But her arms were put gently aside, and the efforts she made to bar his entrance had very little effect on the tall boyish-looking young man standing on the sill. " Let me come, dear Famulus," he said kindly, as his face lit up with a smile. " I have heard it all, and I bring a remedy for the evil." But for a moment he stood still in the doorway, and gazed at the lady lying on the sofa sobbing ; then going over to her, his voice trembled as he said, " You can have the wine. Look ; here is the money, dear mother, five hundred thalers;" and he showed her the bank notes in his hand.

Ulrike looked up anxiously and question ingly in his face — as the deep colour flew into her own — but he did not notice either her look or heightened colour. He flung the notes on the sofa by his mother, and taking a book from under his arm he said in a thick voice, as he handed it to Liane, — " There, darling, there it is !" The Countess began to get calmer. She pressed her hands over her eyes, and after a little she darted a sharp, quick, somewhat haughty glance at the book in her son's hand. " Don't be too proud, you dear little Famulus," he continued ; " our manuscript has returned to us in pomp and splendour. It has survived the glance of all powerful science, has come victorious through the fiery ordeal of the critics. Ah, Liane! see, read what the publishers " " Hush, Magnus, hush !" interrupted Liane, hurriedly and imperiously.

The Countess sat up. "What is that about a book?" she asked, not a trace of suffering or weakness in the sharp, commanding voice, or in the movement of the outstretched hand. With a sudden unexpected movement Ulrike snatched the book from her brother's grasp, and holding it tight to her bosom, answered her mother's question with— "It is a work on fossil plants ; Magnus wrote it, and Liane illustrated it." " Give it to me ; I want to see it." With a hesitating look at her brother, Ulrike handed her the volume, but Liane, turning pale to the lips, clenched her taper ing fingers, and hid her face in her hands, for from a child, she had always dreaded the fierce, calm expression now settled on her mother's face. " ' Fossil Plants, by Magnus von Trachen berg,' " read the Countess aloud. She opened the fly leaf, and casting a glance at it, she looked up at her son with a cold, ironical smile playing around her inward drawn lips as she asked, "And where is the name of the illustrator ?"

" Liane refused to be known," he an swered calmly. " Ah ! so there is in one of your heads a slight glimmering of reason, a small notion of decency !" and with a scornful sound in her throat, meant for laughter, she whirled the heavy book out of her hand with such violence, that it flew through the window* of the glass door, and fell on the stone pavement of the terrace. " That's the place for such rubbish," she cried, pointing to the book with its crum pled leaves and the beautiful coloured plates all torn and disfigured. " Oh, what a miserable mother I am to have given birth to such a son ! Too cowardly to be a soldier, too senseless to be a diplomat, the descendant of the noble Prince Latow iska, the last Count of Trachenberg, prefers being under the orders of a publisher, and accepts — wages. ' ' Liane threw her arms round her bro ther's neck to help him keep in check the indignation that was fast welling up at these bitter words.

" Mamma, how can you have the heart to speak in such a way to Magnus ?" cried the girl, passionately. " You call him a coward ! You know that seven years ago he risked his own life to save me when I fell into the lake. You know why he would not be a soldier — simply because he does not think bloodshed is right ; and you say that he is not clever enough for a diplomat — he who has the deepest and profoundest thoughts, and who never wearies of work. You know he hates the finesse and double-dealing necessary for diplomacy, and will not steep his noble soul in the littleness unavoid able in such a career. I am as proud as you of our own noble birth, our grand old ancestors, but I cannot understand why the nobleman only with the sword or with the diplomat's portfolio, can honourablyfulfil is " And I ask," broke in Ulrike, who had picked up the destroyed book, and was tenderly folding and smoothing the torn and crumpled leaves, " I ask, which is the more honourable for the name of Trachen berg, to take a high stand among literary men, or to be found in the ranks of those who never pay their debts ?"

" Oh ! you- — yon, the bane of my exist ence !" hissed the Countess from between her teeth, as she paced up and down the room with impatient and angry steps ; then, suddenly stopping in front of her daughter, she cried, " one blessing is, I need not have you to live with me any longer ; you are long ago of age, and long passed the time when a child is obliged by law to remain in her mother's home. I have borne with you long enough, and now I freely give you leave — nay, I wish it — that you take yourself off. Pay visits, do as you will, go through the whole world, only free me of your presence and leave my house in peace." Count Magnus seized the hand that was raised, he feared, to strike his sister, and drawing near both the girls — " Mother," he said quietly and firmly, but with the agitation of his heart visible in his trembling voice and heightened colour, " mother, you oblige me to assert my right and authority in this castle for the first time.

I am master here — for it belongs to me, as you know — and /, I alone, have the right to say who shall live here and who shall not. You cannot take Ulrike's home from her, for she remains with me." The Countess turned her back on her son as he uttered these manly words, and walked to the door by which she had entered. Her son was so indisputably in the right, that even she had not a word to say in opposition to his declared intention. She laid her hand on the creaking door handle, and then turning towards her chil dren, again said, in a menacing and com manding manner to her eldest daughter, pointing to the notes on the sofa — " You dare to use a farthing of that Judas money for housekeeping purposes ! I will die of hunger rather than touch the food bought with it. As to the wine, I will arrange that.

Thank God I have still a few bits of silver left from the general wreck ; and if I am obliged to melt the last silver goblet from which my fore fathers drank, the pain for its loss will be fully compensated in the knowledge that I feasted my guests in a regal fashion, and not from the proceeds of a workman's wages. But you will be punished," she added, looking full at Liane in the face, " you will be punished, my dear, that you, too, choose to oppose your mother. Once in your husband's place, once in Schon werth, and Raoul, to say nothing of his heartless old uncle, will soon knock all that sentimental learned stuff out of your head." And opening the door, she went out and slammed it with such force that every win dow shook, and the sound reverberated all throughout the castle to the furthermost corridor.

Chapter II

N the left bank of a large spreading lake stood a little fishing village, composed of a few straggling cottages, so lowly built, that the straw roofs were no higher than the lowest branches of the forest of linden trees, wThich half buried the httle hamlet under it wide leafy foliage. But we must not expect to see robust strong figures of fishermen moving about, for there wrere none, and but for the beautiful park through which a glimpse of a large town was visible, one might be tempted to dream of pure country life and peace in this spot, till one of the doors opened and showed a peep of its costly interior. Perhaps if the German Prince had known that the exquisite Petit Trianon would have eventually cost the Queen of France her head, he would not have built this little village ; but he was no prophet, and so for nearly a hundred years this charm ing imitation of the French Trianon had stood a perfectly simple Idyl from without, but inside replete with every luxury money could buy.

As the foot left the pebbly shore of the lake, it stepped at once on thick costly carpet ; rich silk and damask stuffs covered the furniture and walls, which latter were partly hidden be- VOL. I. hind massive gilded mirrors. Even outside, this luxury coquetted with the poor and simple appearance of the cottages, for no one could eat rare and dainty fruits on white deal tables, nor rest from some amusing game on a hard wooden bank or chair. Near by was the palace of the reigning family, and it was a time-honoured custom for the heir to the ducal throne on his eighth birthday to plant a fresh young linden tree in the grove, which had now become an historical wonder, and for generations had been called the " royal lindens." It was the month of May, and to-day the young hereditary prince Frederic was to perform the ceremony, as his forefathers had done before him, and place a young plant in the ground with his own hands, and thus add one more to the number of those far-famed royal lindens.

Of course it was a grand affair, and all the children of the nobles in the neighbour hood had been invited to attend the cere mony, and watch how a little prince of eight years old could handle a spade. The capital town was far too loyal not to turn out in a body to witness this time honoured act, and by their presence do honour to their prince and sovereign. The forest was crowded with young and old, every available spot from whence the ce remony could be seen was occupied, and all the pathways were filled to overflow ing, whilst the air resounded with the laughter of childhood and the hum of many voices. This special day there was a larger crowd than usual ; for it was the first time since 3—2 IHE SECOND WIFE. the death of her husband, the sovereign of the land, fhat the young duchess was to lay aside her deep mourning, and appear again in public.

There she stands, very close to the spot where the little tree has been planted by her son, the hereditary prince. Not for a moment would any one doubt that she is the highest born lady present. She is dressed in pure white, her only ornament a beautiful wild rose fastened at her waist. On her head she has no hat ; but the red silk lining of her open parasol throws a rosy tint over a face many call beautiful, with its fine straight nose, and well-turned, short, but rather colourless upper lip. Her features are not quite re gular, and the thick, lustrous black hair, and slight shadows under the eyes, con trasted with the beautifully clear but pale complexion, make one involuntarily think of a Spanish Creole, although it is known she has not a drop of the blood of the dark race running in her veins.