Nine days had passed, since the ground under the Swedish gallows had
drunk the blood of the worthy German. The evening was closing in, all
the bells of the capital were tolling, and the thunder of cannon was
heard from the Ritterholm, in honor of the royal hero who at this hour
was committed to the tomb of his fathers. Arwed entered Georgina's
room. He found her with Magdalena and her only maid, (whom she still
retained,) in their traveling dresses.
'I thank you for coming so punctually,' said Georgina. 'You are now to
render me the last service. It is not without danger, but I know you,
and therefore demand it without hesitation.'
'Every thing for thee!' cried Arwed passionately.
'Then accompany me,' said she, 'upon my way to the performance of a
difficult duty, in which I need a man's aid. Have every thing ready,'
said she to her maid servant. 'If heaven favor our attempt, we shall
soon return, directly to leave this horrible country!'
She took Arwed's arm and proceeded with him to the bank of the
Norderstrom. There a boat was in waiting, in which were Goertz'
Holstein servants. The oars moved and the boat soon floated forth upon
the peaceful lake. Georgina, wrapped in her cloak, sat upon the deck
observing the stars which here and there discovered themselves in the
deepening gloom of the evening.
'What project have you in hand, Georgina?' at length asked Arwed
anxiously.
'I will now make it known to you,' answered she. 'I am going for my
father's corpse. Ungrateful Sweden shall not hold his bones.'
'My God, you risk your life!' cried Arwed with alarm.
'I think not,' she calmly answered. 'Public duty and curiosity have
drawn all Stockholm to witness the funeral solemnities of the king, and
I hope to find the place deserted. And of what consequence would be my
life? I risk it joyfully in the performance of my filial duty! If you
fear the service, say where I shall land you.'
'You afflict me undeservedly!' complained Arwed. 'Sooner should the
royal council affix my name to the gallows from which you are about to
tear its prey, than I would desert your side. Only for you was I
anxious. Even if every thing succeed, this undertaking is unsuited to
your years and sex.'
'Ah, dear Arwed!' said Georgina, 'I have lived long in a short time,
and great afflictions give new strength to the heart. Seek not to
dissuade me.'
Both remained silent while the convoy moved rapidly and undisturbedly
onward. At length the boat landed, and they got out. Two of the
servants drew a litter from beneath the deck, and bore it ashore. The
others followed with cords, shovels and pick-axes.
'Remain here,' said Arwed to Georgina. 'I will superintend the labor
and spare you at least that pain.'
'No,' answered she, 'it must all be fulfilled. But you may accompany
me, that I may have a friend to lean upon if the body should prove
weaker than the will.'
The melancholy company moved silently forward through the stillness of
the night. At length the gallows arose awfully before them in huge and
undefined outline.
'It was here,' whispered one of the servants, stopping.
'Here?' sobbed Georgina, falling down and kissing the holy ground.
'Now to the work, faithful friends,' said she, rising up.
With restless zeal the labor was commenced with pick-axe and shovel,
and soon the silver clamps upon the black coffin glistened from the
depth. Two of the servants sprang into the grave and made room for
themselves on each side until they succeeded in passing the cords under
the coffin. It was slowly drawn up and placed upon the litter.
During the time which had thus elapsed, Georgina had stood by with
folded hands, engaged in prayer. The litter was quickly raised, and the
little train moved silently back to the shore with its sad burden.
Georgina followed, requiring all of Arwed's strength to sustain her
tottering steps. The coffin was placed in the boat, which immediately
put off.
'It is done!' cried Georgina, convulsively clasping Arwed's hand. 'I
thank thee.'
'And now?' asked the faithful youth.
'You will soon learn,' answered Georgina, remaining buried in
reflection until they landed at the Blasiusholm. A merchant ship lay at
anchor near by. The maiden now arose, as in the golden times of her
happy love, and throwing her arms about Arwed's neck, pressed her
ice-cold lips to his. 'Farewell forever, dear Arwed!' breathed she in a
scarcely articulate tone.
'What say you?' cried Arwed in alarm, encircling her with his arms.
'It cannot be otherwise,' answered she, extricating herself from his
embrace. 'This ship takes me and my father's corpse to Hamburg.'
'Not without me, faithless one!' angrily exclaimed Arwed. 'Fly to the
new world--fly from life, if you will--and still I will accompany you!'
'Let us not revive our former sad strife,' said she sorrowfully. 'I
must not become yours. You may pain me, but you cannot shake my
determination, which is as unmovable as are my misfortunes.'
'Georgina!' implored Arwed, clasping her knees. 'You have always
conducted towards me with such a knightly delicacy, my Arwed,' said
Georgina, laying her cold hand upon his heated brow, 'that I may safely
compare you with any of the lofty exemplars of former times. My love
for you is, indeed, yet stronger than in the moments of its first
confession,--but the blot which rests upon my name forbids my uniting
myself with the son of him who sentenced my innocent father to a
criminal's death. Believe me, even were I weak enough to yield to your
request, we could not be happy together. The remembrance of all that
has occurred would, like a fearful spectre, stand between us, and
self-contempt would follow me even to your arms. Now, the consciousness
of having offered up my love upon the altar of duty, will raise me
above myself and give me strength worthily to bear the afflictions laid
upon me by my God. Wherefore, my friend, I demand of you our separation
as your last love-service, and a true knight must obey his mistress,
when with tearful eyes and broken accents she says to him, _Let us
part!_'
'I go!' exclaimed Arwed, clasping Georgina once more to his bosom and
to his lips, and rushing forth.
'That was the death of the heart!' cried the unhappy maiden, pressing
her clasped hands upon her bosom.--' What may hereafter come is not
worth consideration. Let me but satisfy the world of my father's
innocence, just God, and then take me to thyself and to him in thy
heavenly kingdom.'