On a bleak November day, when all nature wore its most dreary aspect,
the carriage of Herr von Trautenau, now well known in the village, drew
up before Brother Mauer's door. The horses had scarcely stopped, when
the door opened and Alexander sprang out, followed by Carmen, whose
face bore traces of recent tears.
"Be brave, dear heart!" he said.
"I have you and our darling boy left," she answered with emotion; and
turning back to the carriage, took a little child from the nurse's
arms. She kissed him fondly, and the little fellow clapped his hands
and crowed merrily at his mother as she held him in her arms. Then
from beneath the flaxen ringlets which covered the infantile head a
pair of large black eyes looked around with wonder at the strange place
and the dark figure, with the white cap, that stood in the doorway.
Carmen was surprised to see Sister Agatha.
"Have I come too late?" she asked in a tone of anguish.
"No, dear Carmen, he still lives," said the faithful nurse, soothingly.
"But he is failing rapidly since the attack this morning. He has been
so weak of late that we have felt prepared for the end to come at any
time. He has been asking anxiously for you since consciousness has
returned, and Sister Ursula sent at once for me, that I might be with
him while she went for another doctor, as Brother Jonathan has just
been summoned to the country to visit the miller."
"How good you are, dear Sister Agatha!" said Carmen, pressing her hand
affectionately.
They had now entered the house, and Alexander remained in an adjoining
room, while Carmen went at once to her father. The bed had been drawn
close to the window to give him more air, and he was now resting
quietly, as if asleep, his hands crossed on his breast, and the shadow
of death on his brow. Carmen was greatly shocked at the change.
"My darling father, I am here with you; do you know me, your own
Carmen?" she asked, kneeling by the couch.
At the sound of her voice, he opened his eyes, and a faint, happy smile
broke over his stiffening features.
"My child--are you here? Now I am ready to go."
"Father, let us hope God will spare you to us!"
"No, my precious child, let us hope He will, at last, set me free; for
I long, oh so earnestly! to be at rest. Carmen, a guilty conscience is
a scorpion which never ceases to torment, and deals a death-blow to all
peace and happiness; therefore keep your heart pure, my darling, and
ever have God's commandments before your mind, so as to avoid sinning
against them. Let me persuade you to come back into the bosom of our
faith, and draw your husband with you. He could enter the Brotherhood,
even though he lived elsewhere. Oh, ensure the safety of your soul,
under the shelter of our holy religion, so that your life be not
poisoned with remorse, as mine has been!"
She kissed her father's hand with love and reverence; then raising her
head, looked in his eyes, which rested on her so anxiously. "Father I
promise you I will remain faithful to my God, and endeavor to keep His
laws."
Mauer sank back on his pillows. "Brother Jonathan," he whispered,
after a pause, "has kept my fearful secret; and even though he always
involuntarily reminds me of it, he has maintained his friendship and
brotherly love for me until now; but he has never allowed me to forget
that my wealth must go to the community, as an atonement for my crime;
so I have specified in my will that, in expiation of a great sin, I
have left all my money to the commonwealth of the Brotherhood and their
missions: thus, in benefiting all, to make amends for sinning against
one."
Carmen silently kissed his pale lips; then, rising, went into the next
room and brought back with her Alexander and the child. They kneeled
beside the dying man, and Carmen asked with tears "Father, bless your
children!"
"Do you value the blessing of such as I?" he said humbly.
"Yes, my father, I cannot live without it."
Then the old man laid his hands on the three heads and murmured words
of benediction.