按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
until the dawning of another spring。
It will be supposed that communications were made to the supreme
government of the land as soon as the murders in our city were
understood to be no casual occurrences； but links in a systematic
series。 Perhaps it might happen from some other business； of a
higher kind； just then engaging the attention of our governors；
that our representations did not make the impression we had
expected。 We could not； indeed； complain of absolute neglect from
the government。 They sent down one or two of their most
accomplished police officers； and they suggested some counsels；
especially that we should examine more strictly into the quality of
the miscellaneous population who occupied our large suburb。 But
they more than hinted that no necessity was seen either for
quartering troops upon us； or for arming our local magistracy with
ampler powers。
This correspondence with the central government occupied the month
of March； and； before that time； the bloody system had ceased as
abruptly as it began。 The new police officer flattered himself
that the terror of his name had wrought this effect； but judicious
people thought otherwise。 All； however； was quiet until the depth
of summer； when； by way of hinting to us； perhaps； that the
dreadful power which clothed itself with darkness had not expired；
but was only reposing from its labors； all at once the chief jailer
of the city was missing。 He had been in the habit of taking long
rides in the forest； his present situation being much of a
sinecure。 It was on the first of July that he was missed。 In
riding through the city gates that morning； he had mentioned the
direction which he meant to pursue； and the last time he was seen
alive was in one of the forest avenues； about eight miles from the
city； leading toward the point he had indicated。 This jailer was
not a man to be regretted on his own account； his life had been a
tissue of cruelty and brutal abuse of his powers； in which he had
been too much supported by the magistrates； partly on the plea that
it was their duty to back their own officers against all
complainers； partly also from the necessities created by the
turbulent times for a more summary exercise of their magisterial
authority。 No man； therefore； on his own separate account； could
more willingly have been spared than this brutal jailer； and it was
a general remark that； had the murderous band within our walls
swept away this man only； they would have merited the public
gratitude as purifiers from a public nuisance。 But was it certain
that the jailer had died by the same hands as had so deeply
afflicted the peace of our city during the winteror； indeed； that
he had been murdered at all？ The forest was too extensive to be
searched； and it was possible that he might have met with some
fatal accident。 His horse had returned to the city gates in the
night； and was found there in the morning。 Nobody； however； for
months could give information about his rider； and it seemed
probable that he would not be discovered until the autumn and the
winter should again carry the sportsman into every thicket and
dingle of this sylvan tract。 One person only seemed to have more
knowledge on this subject than others； and that was poor Ferdinand
von Harrelstein。 He was now a mere ruin of what he had once been；
both as to intellect and moral feeling； and I observed him
frequently smile when the jailer was mentioned。 〃Wait；〃 he would
say； 〃till the leaves begin to drop； then you will see what fine
fruit our forest bears。〃 I did not repeat these expressions to
anybody except one friend； who agreed with me that the jailer had
probably been hanged in some recess of the forest； which summer
veiled with its luxuriant umbrage； and that Ferdinand； constantly
wandering in the forest； had discovered the body； but we both
acquitted him of having been an accomplice in the murder。
Meantime the marriage between Margaret Liebenheim and Maximilian
was understood to be drawing near。 Yet one thing struck everybody
with astonishment。 As far as the young people were concerned；
nobody could doubt that all was arranged； for never was happiness
more perfect than that which seemed to unite them。 Margaret was
the impersonation of May…time and youthful rapture； even Maximilian
in her presence seemed to forget his gloom； and the worm which
gnawed at his heart was charmed asleep by the music of her voice；
and the paradise of her smiles。 But； until the autumn came；
Margaret's grandfather had never ceased to frown upon this
connection； and to support the pretensions of Ferdinand。 The
dislike； indeed； seemed reciprocal between him and Maximilian。
Each avoided the other's company and as to the old man； he went so
far as to speak sneeringly of Maximilian。 Maximilian despised him
too heartily to speak of him at all。 When he could not avoid
meeting him； he treated him with a stern courtesy； which distressed
Margaret as often as she witnessed it。 She felt that her
grandfather had been the aggressor； and she felt also that he did
injustice to the merits of her lover。 But she had a filial
tenderness for the old man； as the father of her sainted mother；
and on his own account； continually making more claims on her pity；
as the decay of his memory； and a childish fretfulness growing upon
him from day to day； marked his increasing imbecility。
Equally mysterious it seemed； that about this time Miss Liebenheim
began to receive anonymous letters； written in the darkest and most
menacing terms。 Some of them she showed to me。 I could not guess
at their drift。 Evidently they glanced at Maximilian； and bade her
beware of connection with him； and dreadful things were insinuated
about him。 Could these letters be written by Ferdinand？ Written
they were not； but could they be dictated by him？ Much I feared
that they were； and the more so for one reason。
All at once； and most inexplicably； Margaret's grandfather showed a
total change of opinion in his views as to her marriage。 Instead
of favoring Harrelstein's pretensions； as he had hitherto done； he
now threw the feeble weight of his encouragement into Maximilian's
scale； though； from the situation of all the parties； nobody
attached any PRACTICAL importance to the change in Mr。 Liebenheim's
way of thinking。 Nobody？ Is that true？ No； one person DID attach
the greatest weight to the changepoor； ruined Ferdinand。 He； so
long as there was one person to take his part； so long as the
grandfather of Margaret showed countenance to himself； had still
felt his situation not utterly desperate。
Thus were things situated； when in November； all the leaves daily
blowing off from the woods； and leaving bare the most secret haunts
of the thickets； the body of the jailer was left exposed in the
forest； but not； as I and my friend had conjectured； hanged。 No；
he had died apparently by a more horrid deathby that of