V 
 
 MRS. BE¥ER 
 
 FROM THE EIGHTH GERMAN EDITION OF 
 
 PAUL LINDAU, 
 
 Author op “Helen Young . 11 
 
 Translated by Mrs. D. M. Lowrey. 
 
 CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: 
 
 Rand, McNally & Company, Publishers. 
 
 1892 . 
 
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PREFACE. 
 
 A critic in the Vossiche Zeitung has given 
 his readers to understand that my story of “Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bewer” has so many points of similarity 
 with an interesting but, so far as Germany is con- 
 cerned, a little known drama of Emile Augier, 
 that I have really no right to claim my work as 
 my intellectual property. 
 
 It is always an unpleasant thing to be accused 
 of appropriating the product of another’s labor, 
 and particularly is this the case where one has 
 the consciousness that his work is the product of 
 conscientious and personal effort. 
 
 The critic did not categorically accuse me of 
 plagiarism, but his insinuations were so strongly 
 marked that many persons, including some to 
 whose opinions I could not be indifferent, have 
 been led to suppose that there might be some 
 possible justification for the aspersion — a most 
 natural result in view of the authoritative 
 position occupied by the journal in question in 
 all literary matters. 
 
 My accuser gives an outline of Augier’ s drama, 
 “Le Manage d’Olympe,” which he says coin 
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
Univ.of 111. Library 
 51 
 
 1 216 a. 
 
 6 PREFACE 
 
 cides remarkably with the plan of my story; 
 indeed, the agreement between the two works, in 
 one point at least, extends to identity of expres- 
 sion. In both we find the phrase, “The duck 
 returns to water.” Now it does seem to me that 
 our common use of a popular proverb ought not 
 to discredit my statement that in writing my story 
 I never thought of the Frenchman’s play. 
 
 Likewise, I may perhaps have written, “A clap 
 of thunder out of a clear sky,” “Poor as a church 
 mouse,” or made use of some other and similar 
 expression which a well-read critic would have 
 little difficulty in proving had already appeared 
 in the works of authors who have gone before 
 me. 
 
 In drawing a picture of that mysterious power 
 which draws a low nature from the height to 
 which it has accidentally been raised back to its 
 original baseness, it is most probable that I was 
 influenced, not by Augier’s drama, but rather by 
 the philosophy of the old German proverb, ‘ £ Set 
 a frog on a golden stool and he’ll hop straightway 
 to his slimy pool.” 
 
 Our critic, indeed, has overlooked very many 
 points of resemblance between my story and those 
 of other novelists which I am quite ready to 
 acknowledge. For example, Klaus goes walking 
 with Kathi just as Hermann did with Dorothea. 
 Then think of the substance of my tale. He sees 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 7 
 
 her! She makes a deep impression on him at 
 once! He approaches her boldly! A friend who 
 wishes to bring him into merry company makes 
 them acquainted. She is a poor, ignorant child 
 and says ‘ ‘ yes ’ ’ to everything. It’ s really impos- 
 sible to understand what he can see in her to ad- 
 mire. He is her superior in education, and after 
 the climax he yearns for solitude and gives him- 
 self over to unedifying musings. Finally he leaves 
 her. Now, when we come to think it over there is 
 in this nothing different from the well-known his- 
 tory of Doctor Faust. We have only to change 
 the names Klaus and Kathi and Leo, into Faust, 
 Gretchen, and Mephistopheles, to make the par- 
 allel perfect. 
 
 The fact that “ Le Manage d’Olympe” is 
 little known in Germany prevented the larger 
 circle of readers from detecting the untruth of the 
 calumny published against me, therefore I deter- 
 mined to justify myself by applying to the one man 
 whose judgment all must consider authoritative. 
 I informed Emile Augier of the accusation made 
 against me, and asked him if he considered my 
 work an improper appropriation of his. To my 
 letter I received the following reply: 
 
 Paris, March 22, 1882. • 
 
 My Dear Lindau: I have read your charming 
 story of “Mr. and Mrs. Bewer” with the liveliest 
 interest. When I say I have read it, I flatter my- 
 self. I ought rather to say I had it translated for 
 
8 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 me, for you know very well my ignorance of mod- 
 ern languages. I was on the point of writing you 
 a note of congratulation when I received your 
 letter. You tell me that the critics declare your 
 story to have reprehensible similarity with my 
 play ‘ ‘ Le Manage d’ Olympe. ’ ’ My astonishment 
 is not less than yours. Your whole literary 
 activity should have protected you against such a 
 suggestion. But aside from that, what possible 
 connection is there between the two works? What 
 I had in mind was the morbid notion of the eleva- 
 tion and redemption of woman through love, which 
 at that time ran riot through our French literature, 
 and indeed made its influence felt to a certain 
 extent upon our manners. I carefully defined the 
 limits of my subject in my first scene. 
 
 “Then you are of opinion, Monsieur le Marquis, 
 that there are no penitent Magdalens?” 
 
 “ Oh, yes, there are, but only in the desert.” 
 
 The whole play is but the development of this 
 idea. Olympe is homesick for dirt, she is about 
 to sell herself for a diamond necklace, and forgets 
 in so doing that she already has an income of a 
 hundred thousand francs. 
 
 She is prepared to throw off every restraint that 
 she may return to her vices, when a 'pistol ball 
 nails her fast to the threshold of the conjugal 
 chamber. 
 
 Y our subject, on the other hand, is a mesalliance , 
 not of birth nor of property, but of education. A 
 genuine, modem mesalliance , in which the differ- 
 ences are most difficult of accommodation. Your 
 Kathi is no debased nature and has no past behind 
 her which she must make good. As a married 
 woman she was respectable, just as she had prob- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 ably been a decent girl. The gulf which separated 
 her from her husband was mental and moral ine- 
 quality. This is a deep and entirely modern prob- 
 lem, upon which, I will say to you, I have myself 
 done a good deal of thinking, and which I have 
 long been intending to make the subject of an 
 original work when the opportunity offers. 
 
 You will see from what I have written how little, 
 in my opinion, there is of similarity between your 
 story and “ Le Manage d’Olympe.” 
 
 This letter ought to be a complete refutation of 
 the accusations against you. Let them say and 
 write what they will, and do you go quietly on your 
 way. 
 
 I cordially press your hand. 
 
 Emile Augier. 
 
 To these words I have only to add my hearty 
 thanks to this distinguished writer and amicable 
 correspondent. P. L. 
 
 Berlin, March, 1882. 
 
IR. AND IRS. REWER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 As he entered the back room of the famous 
 Dressel restaurant, there was a sudden hush in 
 the conversation which had been going on glibly 
 enough before he made his appearance. The 
 guests who were gathered around the “ Stamm- 
 tisch” threw surprised, questioning glances at 
 the man who had ventured to intrude upon their 
 privacy. 
 
 This little room, at the rear of a long and ele- 
 gantly appointed suite, had its usual complement 
 of guests, men who had assembled nightly within 
 its walls, and who, because they were seldom 
 annoyed by strangers in this their special sanc- 
 tum, had grown to regard all new comers as 
 interlopers. 
 
 It was simple, and comfortably furnished, and 
 in sharp contrast to the glitter and light of those 
 large rooms which either faced, or lay nearer, the 
 street. Photographs of more or less celebrated 
 actors and actresses hung on the walls, under 
 
 («) 
 
12 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 many of which Mine Host had written compli- 
 mentary dedications. On the etagere stood a 
 primitive collection of books, obviously for the 
 use of the habitues of the room. Bets were set- 
 tled now and then by a reference to this little 
 library, which consisted of “ Wolff’s Household 
 Treasury of Poetry,” “Meyer’s Smaller Lexicon 
 of Universal Knowledge,” “ Statistics of the City 
 of Berlin,” “Buchman’s Familiar Quotations,” 
 the Army and Navy List, three Grotha almanacs, 
 and a theatrical calendar. 
 
 The waiter always greeted the guests by name 
 or title, and, knowing the taste of each, catered 
 to it without waiting for any order. The regular 
 customers in turn acknowledged the man’s pres- 
 ence with a careless nod or smile, or a “Here 
 we are again, Ned!” 
 
 Any man who unwittingly strayed into this 
 room was made to feel at once that he had made 
 a mistake. There was a sudden hush and a look 
 of expectancy from the occupants, as if they were 
 waiting for the new comer to deliver his message 
 and depart. Naturally, there was no message to 
 deliver, but the stranger always retreated precipi- 
 tately, with the conscious feeling of having gone 
 far a-field of his moorings. 
 
 To-night, however, was an exception. The tall, 
 strong man who had interrupted their talk seemed 
 to suffer from no feeling of discomfort. He cast 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 13 
 
 an indifferent look toward those who were giving 
 him such marked attention, then crossed the room 
 and hung his broad straw hat on a hook, placing 
 his heavy iron-bound walking stick near it; then, 
 turning, he seated himself quietly at one of the 
 little tables and ordered a bottle of seltzer water 
 and a glass of cognac. 
 
 Ned, who was about to hand him a wine card, 
 tossed it aside with a sarcastic expression of dis- 
 illusion and disappeared to fill the modest order. 
 
 Not only in this little company would the 
 stranger’s appearance have been remarkable. He 
 was an unusually large and handsome man. He 
 must have stood fully six feet three, and his 
 figure was in proportion to his height. He was, 
 in truth, a young giant. Broad-shouldered, full- 
 chested, with strong limbs, and large, but well 
 proportioned, hands and feet. 
 
 The type of the great original of his race, with 
 thick blonde hair, which he wore closely cropped, 
 and a long, well-kept beard of like color, which 
 reached down to his breast. His forehead was 
 neither high nor prominent. His eyes were large, 
 very large, and blue, and wore a good-natured 
 expression. 
 
 The singularity about the man’s face, which, in 
 repose, reminded one of a Kaulbach head, was the 
 contrast between the deeply sunburned skin and 
 the golden hair and beard. He was past thirty, 
 
14 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 of that there could be no doubt, but it was equally 
 certain that he had not yet entered into his forties. 
 
 There was a few minutes pause in the conversa- 
 tion, and then it slowly began to flow again. But 
 it took a different channel this time, and the 
 voices were subdued almost to whispers. 
 
 It seldom happens that an intruder silences the 
 majority which have been long in possession, but 
 this young stranger, all unawares, commanded 
 the attention of the half-dozen congenial fellows 
 who were scanning him so critically. They made 
 many shrewd conjectures concerning him. What 
 might his name be? his country? his station in 
 life? A newly issued libretto of “Lohengrin ” lay 
 near, and one of the men suggested that he was 
 probably the new Wagner tenor, who was to 
 assume the title rdle, and who would soon appear 
 on the boards of the Court Theater. A second 
 said he was a Brandenburg grandee, or an officer 
 of cuirassiers minus his uniform. Another, a 
 skeptical wretch, was convinced he was a lion 
 tamer, or, at the least, the head of a menagerie. 
 
 The blonde giant could not fail to note that he 
 was the cynosure of all eyes, but evidently he was 
 accustomed to such surveillance and paid no heed 
 to it. He took a large black cigar from the side 
 pocket of his light summer coat and lit it leis- 
 urely. Then he drank his glass of cognac and selt- 
 zer at one draught, wiped his mouth slowly 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 15 
 
 with his large silk kerchief, and pulled his long 
 beard for a minute, after which he reached for an 
 evening paper and leaned back comfortably in 
 his chair to read and smoke. It happened to be 
 only an advertisement sheet, devoted to the 
 amusements of the city, but it seemed to satisfy 
 him. He glanced over all the notices on one side 
 and then on the other. Theta he threw it aside, 
 took the cigar, at which he had been puffing 
 steadily, out of his mouth and laid it on the 
 table, looked up at a clock, threw his right leg 
 over the left, clinked on his glass and ordered 
 more seltzer and cognac, and took up the dis- 
 carded paper once more. 
 
 He had resumed his reading but a minute or 
 two when a gentleman whose step and bearing 
 bespoke the actor entered the room. The con- 
 stant practice and exaggeration of mimicry had 
 lined his face with deep furrows, and these were 
 especially emphasized around the eyes and mouth. 
 His profile was sharply cut and his eyes were 
 unusually bright and sparkling. His dark, thick 
 hair, well peppered with gray, hung in heavy 
 locks on his high broad forehead. Leo Schnei- 
 der had for years delighted his audiences in the 
 role of a bon mvant, but he was now on the eve 
 of resigning such parts to younger men, while he 
 assumed the agenda of the comical father. Evi- 
 dently he was at home here, and greeted the com- 
 
16 
 
 ME. AMD MES. BEWEE. 
 
 pany around the center-table with a smile and a 
 wave of the hand as he crossed the room hastily 
 to the stranger. 
 
 “Have you been waiting long?” he asked, 
 extending his hand; and, without waiting for a 
 reply, he continued, “It beats the devil! Ber- 
 lin’s as quiet as the grave! I’ve just come from a 
 dozen doors, all bolts and bars. That you should 
 happen here in the month of August of all 
 months in the year! Well, you’ll just have to 
 take pot luck with me and my friends. There 
 isn’t even a cat at home.” 
 
 “I’m sure I don’t care,” answered the giant. 
 “ It doesn’t matter to me. Sit down! ” 
 
 “Hadn’t we better join the others? ” with a nod 
 toward the Stammtisch. “They are all acquaint- 
 ances of mine, and pleasant fellows.” 
 
 “ As you please.” 
 
 The two stepped over to the table and Leo 
 Schneider introduced his friend as Herr Klaus 
 Bewer from Sumatra. 
 
 “Of Liibeck,” corrected Klaus, “of Liibeck! 
 I don’t want people to think that that cursed 
 Sumatra is my home, for I haven’t the slightest 
 desire ever to see the place again.” 
 
 Schneider related with wonderful volubility 
 how much he had been surprised at receiving a 
 visit from his old friend, Klaus Bewer, that after- 
 noon. He had imagined the wild animals had 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 17 
 
 toi ft Wm to pieces long ago, or else he had suc- 
 cumbed to the fearful climate. When, lo and 
 behold, the old fellow appeared before him, just 
 as amiable as ever, not changed a whit in these 
 last ten years, “except that he’s broader should- 
 ered and more sunburned; his beard, too, has grown 
 a finger longer, but still he’s the same old Klaus, 
 for he hadn’t been talking* to me ten minutes 
 until he asked abruptly where one would be 
 likely to find a pretty wife! And here was he, 
 Leo Schneider, his true friend, who had never 
 forgotten the jolly hours they used to spend to- 
 gether in Lubeck, and now, though he had searched 
 the city over, he couldn’t get a gay party together 
 for that night. All the birds had flown; the 
 little fairy from Friedrich Wilhelm’s city, the 
 great Y. from Knoll, the heavy Z. from Wallner 
 — all away; one to the baths, another to Potsdam, 
 a third to the mountains. Klaus would form a 
 deuced fine opinion of Berlin! ” 
 
 So Leo rattled on, all in the same quick time 
 and with the same amiability and animation. 
 The gentlemen listened attentively and encour- 
 aged the speaker to continue by laughter and 
 well-timed observations. They laughed at any- 
 thing, as they called on Ned for fresh supplies of 
 sec ., and comported themselves generally as if 
 this were the jolliest evening they had ever known. 
 
 In a word, they were in the rosiest of humors. 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 ME. AND ME8. BEWEE. 
 
 Klaus was much amused. He lighted his third 
 cigar and drank his fourth glass of champagne. 
 He smiled good naturedly, and answered readily 
 all questions concerning his life in the tropics. 
 Schneider, who grew merrier and more loquacious 
 at each glass, related with much laughter and 
 many amusing interruptions the whole story of 
 his friend’s life. And so it happened that the 
 man who had entered the room a stranger and 
 unknown, at seven o’clock, and been eyed as- 
 kance by its inmates, had at nine o’ clock scarcely 
 a secret from them. They knew the whole history 
 of his life. 
 
 Klaus Bewer was the third son of an honorable 
 senator, merchant, and ship-owner, Jacob Bewer, 
 of Liibeck. He had four brothers living — in this 
 number was included the youngest, Gottlieb, nick- 
 named the Dwarf — and one sister, Elise, who was 
 married to a clergyman and lived in Holstein. 
 
 The two elder brothers, who had married during 
 his long absence from home, had succeeded to their 
 father’s business. The fourth had established 
 himself in San Francisco, and Gottlieb, who was 
 the student of the family, had recently been 
 appointed a tutor in the University of Greifswald. 
 
 With his two elder brothers, quiet, industrious 
 workers, Klaus had never been in sympathy; 
 neither had his manner of life appealed to them. 
 For Gottlieb, who, while yet a child, had with- 
 
ME. AMD MES. BEWEE. 
 
 19 
 
 drawn himself from the family circle in order to 
 pursue his studies, Klaus had a feeling of mingled 
 superiority and commiseration; the sister, too, 
 had become estranged by reason of her early 
 marriage and departure from the home circle. So 
 that the only warm relations which he had were 
 with his brother Wilhelm, who was three years 
 his junior, and who was the best-natured and most 
 thoughtless of the Bewer sons. 
 
 This brother had, while yet very young, been 
 guilty of a grave offense, and old Herr Bewer, 
 who was not a man to be trifled with, and who had 
 striven to mold his children’s characters by care- 
 ful education and severe moral training, wasted 
 no words on him. He paid all his debts, and then 
 summoning him into his august presence handed 
 him one hundred thalers in coin and a draft for 
 six hundred dollars, which sum would be paid to 
 him in monthly installments, of fifty dollars each, 
 by S. B. Sterne & Sons, bankers, of New York. 
 
 The father parted from his son on the ship with 
 the words, “ Wilhelm, you can look out for 
 yourself now! You will never receive another 
 thaler from me as long as I live; and if you do 
 not do better for the future, I will see that you 
 have nothing over which to rejoice when my will 
 is read! ” 
 
 Nevertheless things went well with Wilhelm in 
 the hard school of the new world. He did not 
 
20 
 
 MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 write home for a long time; but when he sent his 
 first letter he was already head of a branch estab- 
 lishment in the West, to which position he had 
 been assigned by the New York house with which 
 he had connected himself immediately on his 
 arrival in America. 
 
 The only one of the brothers who suffered from 
 this separation was Klaus. He had many traits 
 in common with his brother Wilhelm — the same 
 kind-heartedness, the same imprudence. 
 
 The hours which he passed in the counting- 
 room became almost unendurable after Wilhelm 
 left. He could scarcely support the sight of the 
 aggressive and aspiring clerk who sat opposite 
 him at his brother’s desk. He never breathed 
 freely until the hour for closing struck. 
 
 Then he would hasten to his room and make an 
 elegant toilet, in which to appear a little later, with 
 surprising regularity, in the same box at the 
 theater, surrounded by the same set of young men, 
 night after night. Young men who, like himself, 
 belonged to wealthy and influential families. 
 What the stage had to offer was a matter of little 
 moment to him. It had become part of his life to 
 spend his evenings at the theater. 
 
 As a regular attendant, who sometimes gave 
 wine suppers to the actors, or sent flowers or other 
 trifling gifts to the actresses, and was always 
 liberal with cigars, he stood high in favor with 
 
ME. AND MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 21 
 
 the manager. Then he was a distingue looking 
 young man, who, in his turn, attracted attention 
 to his box as well by his striking appearance as 
 by regular attendance. During the second act he 
 was permitted to go behind the scenes, and after 
 the play was over he supped regularly with the 
 play-actors in their so-called artists’ salon. 
 
 He thoroughly enjoyed the noisy gayety of these 
 nightly meetings, and his weariness of the count- 
 ing-room, especially after his brother’ s departure, 
 was more strongly emphasized in consequence. 
 It was from about this time that his acquaintance 
 with Leo Schneider dated. 
 
 When the theatrical season closed and his his- 
 trionic friends were scattered in all directions by 
 the four winds of heaven, Klaus was overwhelmed 
 with a frightful feeling of loneliness. He knew 
 not what to do with himself and his time. He 
 became sadly discontented. He grew each day 
 further and further away from his severe, taciturn 
 father, who regarded his son’ s purposeless exist- 
 ence with growing displeasure; with his broth- 
 ers he had no intercourse whatever. Wilhelm 
 had gone and Gottlieb was always shut up in his 
 own rooms with his books. There came to him 
 one day the determination to solve all doubts and 
 difficulties which beset his mind by tearing him- 
 self free from the tie which bound him to his 
 home and go out into the world, as his brother 
 
22 
 
 MB. AMD MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 had done before him, to seek his fortune for 
 himself. 
 
 He had a long and earnest conversation with his 
 father, the first in years. 
 
 He spoke with great frankness of his recent 
 life. He spared himself no reproof. In conclu- 
 sion, he said, “I am perhaps ungrateful, but I 
 dare not act the hypocrite before you; I am not 
 satisfied here; I am not happy! I have no interest 
 in the business, and what I do, I do without pleas- 
 ure, merely because it is forced upon me. Each 
 day I become more discontented and idle. Per- 
 haps it is because everything is too easy for me. 
 This passing one’s life at a desk — it doesn’t do for 
 me, father. I long for free air, and for an active 
 life. I must get away! Here I’d sleep my life 
 away. Soon there’ d be no vitality left! If we 
 were at war, I could enter the army; but now that 
 peace with Austria is assured, and the North Ger- 
 man confederation has endured for two years, 
 there is no prospect of war, and for garrison life 
 I have no fancy. I am twenty-five years old. 
 Let me go across the ocean for five years — or 
 longer, if necessary. I will work, and strive to 
 make a man of myself. Here I am neither a com- 
 fort to you nor a pleasure to myself.” 
 
 Old Jacob Bewer admitted that his son was 
 right. He furnished him liberally with all the 
 funds necessary for a long journey and a season 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 23 
 
 of idleness at its termination, and four weeks 
 after their conversation he pressed his boy’s 
 hand silently as he parted from him. The tears 
 stood in the old man’s clear blue eyes as he 
 watched the train steam out of the station, and he 
 spoke no word that day to any living soul. 
 
 Klaus took the direct route via Marseilles to 
 Singapore, in which city he remained but a short 
 time. He had made the acquaintance on ship- 
 board of a Hollander who had great possessions 
 in Sumatra, and the latter’s stories concerning 
 the hard, toilsome life there had great charms 
 for the man who was fleeing from indolence. 
 
 In February of the year 1869, Klaus settled in 
 Sumatra. A hard, toilsome life opened before 
 him. But that was just what he wanted. He 
 received a certain sensuous pleasure from the very 
 exhaustion of his laborious, active life. To be 
 weary even to sleep at times was a new and pleas- 
 ant sensation. He felt he was living at last. 
 
 He directed the work of the lowest menial in 
 his employ and he himself worked for three. He 
 defied the heat and the unpleasantness of the 
 climate. He was looked upon by the Europeans 
 as a wonder and by the natives as a being from a 
 higher sphere, whom they ventured to approach 
 only with great humility. He made a study of 
 the fundamental principles upon which many of 
 the peculiar customs of the country rested, and 
 
24 
 
 ME. AMD MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 was, in a comparatively short time, a far-sighted 
 and capable merchant, on whom all his fellows 
 looked with great and ever-increasing respect. 
 His business grew and prospered and by the end 
 of his fifth year he had amassed a considerable 
 fortune. 
 
 He was on the eve of winding up his business 
 in Sumatra in order to return home, when he 
 received a short and characteristic letter from his 
 eldest brother, announcing the death of old Jacob 
 Bewer after a short illness. 
 
 Klans was very deeply affected by this intelli- 
 gence. It came home to him now, for the first 
 time, how much he had loved the old man, and 
 that it had been nothing else than a strong, 
 unspoken desire to see his father again which was 
 urging him to turn his face homeward as soon 
 as might be. 
 
 Mingled with his grief was a bitter feeling of 
 resentment against his elder brothers, who, in the 
 settlement of his father’s estate, had indeed taken 
 great advantage of the absence of Klaus and Wil- 
 helm, and the inexperience of the scholar Gott- 
 lieb, for their own gain. While the material 
 injury which had been done him was a matter of 
 indifference to him, he felt keenly the unbrotherly 
 behavior and the want of heart as well. He 
 vouchsafed his brother no reply. The next mail 
 to Europe took with it instructions from him to his 
 
MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 25 
 
 legal adviser at Berlin, Felix Quintus, to protect 
 his interests and to divide his share of the inherit- 
 ance, in three equal parts, between his sister in 
 Holstein, Wilhelm at San Francisco, and the 
 young scholar at (xreifswald. 
 
 With all his strength, with an almost feverish 
 passion, Klaus plunged once more into business, 
 and the more he worked the stronger grew his 
 greed for gain. It became the one object of his 
 life to amass a great fortune. An unnatural joy 
 grew upon him as his possessions increased, and 
 if ever man succeeded, Klaus Bewer did. Wider 
 and yet wider grew the basis of his undertakings, 
 wider and still wider the circle of his colossal 
 business, until his fortune was immense. In a 
 few years he had far outstripped all competitors. 
 He was the head of a house with branches in all 
 the capitals of Europe. 
 
 He established a household, the pomp and mag- 
 nificence of which a prince might envy. He had 
 an army of servants, stables filled with race horses 
 of blood stock, and the best cook in the East. The 
 natives called him “the king,” and kingly indeed 
 was his magnificent residence with all its sur- 
 roundings, kingly also the hospitality which he 
 dispensed. But in the midst of all this wealth 
 and power which his own hands and brains had 
 created, the cry ever echoed in his soul, “If my 
 father had but lived! The knowledge of what I 
 
26 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 am, of what I have accomplished, would have 
 rejoiced the old man’ s heart, and my elder brothers 
 would have been compelled, at least, to witness 
 his happiness.” 
 
 Wow he was rich, richer than he had ever hoped, 
 richer indeed than he even cared to be. It 
 required but a proportionally short time for him 
 to realize that his wealth brought him no real 
 pleasure. In his heart he was always asking him- 
 self the fateful question, “What joy do my pos- 
 sessions give me? and when I double them or 
 treble them, as I may do, will they make me any 
 lighter hearted? will they not add a pang to my 
 present restless pain? ” 
 
 He, whom they called king, found his jeweled 
 crown weighed as heavily as though it had come 
 to him by divine right. 
 
 He had lived among strangers in a strange 
 land for ten years; he was thirty-five years of age; 
 he had accumulated great treasure; but he was 
 alone. A melancholy longing took possession of 
 him — a longing for the old associations of home, 
 for the Lubeck beer gardens, for renewed inter- 
 course with the actors and actresses of long ago; 
 a longing for a hearty German laugh, for German 
 sounds, for German music. He was a passionate 
 lover of music. He had no specially refined taste, 
 no musical education whatever, but the VolTcs- 
 lieder of his native land and its waltzes stirred 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 27 
 
 him to his very soul. What would he not give 
 at this very moment to hear a waltz from Johann 
 Strauss or a sentimental song! And he sighed 
 deeply as he murmured, “Oh, if it were but 
 possible!” 
 
 It was a clear bright day, the first Sunday in 
 May, and the spacious room in which the mer- 
 chant sat was shaded by many draperies and 
 Venetian blinds to exclude the sun’s piercing 
 rays. In his mind’s eye he could see his towns- 
 people, at this very hour, with their wives and 
 children streaming forth from the old city gate to 
 the great beer garden to listen to the military 
 band playing the latest potpourris or the catch 
 songs from the newest operas. There they were, 
 all clad in their Sunday best, sauntering through 
 the walks in twos and threes, or chattering and 
 laughing together as they kept time to the music 
 with the clink, of their glasses. Ah! these peo- 
 ple did not realize what a pleasant life they led, 
 while he, the princely merchant, must sit alone 
 and disconsolate in semi-darkness, in order to 
 protect himself from the blinding, scorching rays 
 of a tropical sun. There was no dance music for 
 him! The meanest tradesman clutching his en- 
 trance fee to the garden was happier than he who 
 could pay for fifty bands. The artisan got some- 
 thing out of his life; he could enjoy his holiday, 
 could meet his friends, could go home, and, above 
 
28 
 
 ME. AND MKS. BEWEK. 
 
 all, could hear the sound of his beloved German 
 tongue and reply in the same language. 
 
 He started up with an exclamation. He would 
 see his own people again; he would turn his back 
 forever on these 'piebald Asiatics. What could 
 he gain by longer residence in this cursed place? 
 
 He could fulfill every desire, even though he 
 were ten times more extravagant then he really 
 was. Forthe last ten years the word “Fatherland” 
 had been no more than an empty sound in his 
 ears; now the thought of his forsaken country 
 sent the blood rushing to his heart. He was tired, 
 tired to death of his present life, tired of the rab- 
 ble with whom he associated, tired of the peddler’s 
 French which was everlastingly sounding in his 
 ears. 
 
 On the next morning, Klaus surprised his head 
 manager with the announcement that pressing 
 business called him at once to Europe, and that he 
 wished to dissolve all business ties in Sumatra, 
 no matter at what sacrifice, at the earliest possible 
 moment. 
 
 He intrusted the weary work of liquidation to 
 his conscientious and energetic clerk and the next 
 steamer which left the island carried with it 
 Sumatra’s German “King.” 
 
 Klaus made no unnecessary delay on his home- 
 ward journey, and in the last days of July he 
 landed on the pier at Marseilles. Paris detained 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 29 
 
 him but three days, and on August 1st he set 
 foot in Berlin. At Stendal, a Berlin paper had 
 been thrown into the coupe; in glancing through 
 it, Klaus read the announcement of a theatrical 
 performance which was soon to be given for the 
 benefit of the family of some deceased actor, and 
 to his great joy found that Leo Schneider, director 
 of the Court Theater, had the whole matter in 
 charge. 
 
 Surely this was his old friend, Leo Schneider — 
 in his day the pride of the Liibeck Theater! 
 Klaus laughed. He remembered suddenly that 
 Leo owed him five thalers, which he had lent him 
 at the railway station, a subvention which was 
 made necessary because Leo had imagined the 
 agent had paid for his excess of luggage, and not 
 until the last moment did he discover his error. 
 
 The memory of this trifling occurrence seemed 
 to bridge over, at one stroke, the wide chasm 
 between that far away past and the reality of the 
 present. Klaus felt suddenly as if he were a 
 German on German soil once more. He had no 
 difficulty in obtaining Schneider’s address from 
 the porter of the hotel, and as soon as he had 
 refreshed himself and made some changes in his 
 attire he started forth from the Kaiserhof in 
 search of his friend. 
 
 He found Schneider, in light and careless attire, 
 stretched out at full length on a couch, studying 
 
30 
 
 ME. AMD MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 after a dilettante fashion the role in which he was 
 to appear on the next night bnt one at the benefit. 
 The greeting on either side had been hearty and 
 noisy. Leo had found, as he had related to the 
 company around the Stammtisch, his friend alto- 
 gether unchanged, with the single exception that 
 Klaus seemed friendlier than before. Klaus 
 laughed long arid loud from very contentment, 
 and thought involuntarily of the five thalers and 
 of Leo’s painful surprise when he was in- 
 formed no payment had been made for his 
 luggage. 
 
 So the wanderer had come home to begin life 
 again. Had he come to enjoy himself? to be 
 amused? Well, he had come to the right place, 
 and Leo would be his Mentor. Berlin was no 
 longer the weary hole of former times, with its 
 gloomy interiors, high houses, and endless lengths 
 of dirty streets. Now it was a great city, with 
 the life of a little world ebbing and flowing within 
 its boundaries. Here he would find an environ- 
 ment of luxury which encircled everything! The 
 houses, the entertainments, the toilets were not 
 one whit behind those of Paris and London; the 
 dinners which were given by the great commer- 
 cial magnates had nothing to fear from compari- 
 son with those given by the Parisian millionaires; 
 and what more need be said! But why ramble 
 on; Klaus would see it all for himself! He could 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 31 
 
 form no idea of the noise and hubbub going on in 
 certain quarters all night long. The boulevards 
 of Paris could show nothing finer. Added to 
 that, the city was a wonder of cleanliness and 
 health and beauty now. The asphalt pavements, 
 the canalization, the zoological garden, the park, 
 the surface cars, the Vienna cafes! He would 
 not say too much, but Klaus would be astonished! 
 In order to properly kill the fatted calf for the 
 return of this prodigal son, he would arrange at 
 once a pleasant party for that very evening. 
 
 They would meet at Hiller’s or Dressel’s, and 
 after their supper have a drive in the park for an 
 hour, if so disposed. At any rate, Klaus was to 
 be at Dressel’s at seven sharp. 
 
 The carrying out of this program, was, as 
 we have seen, foiled by the absence of Schneider’s 
 friends from town, but as Klaus sat at the table 
 sipping his champagne and laughing at his 
 friend’s witty sallies he felt no lack in the even- 
 ing’s entertainment. 
 
 The conversation took a quieter turn after nine 
 o’clock, when, one after another, the men rose, and, 
 excusing themselves, departed. Leo had hopes of 
 keeping them together for the whole evening, but 
 it required a greater influence than he exercised 
 to counterbalance the attractions of a great city. 
 
 “Good Heavens!” he cried, starting up, “we 
 can not spend our whole evening here, drinking 
 
32 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 sec and telling stories! We must do something! 
 Ned, give me the amusement sheet.” 
 
 “How about the Walhalla?” asked Klaus. 
 “I looked over the list of amusements while I 
 was waiting for you, and their program prom- 
 ises much — acrobats, velocipede riding, ventrilo- 
 quists, and ballad singers.” 
 
 “The Walhalla! That’ll do. Why didn’t I 
 think of that before? Great exhibitions of high 
 art, fine specimens, the only really choice place 
 in the city — as well there as anywhere! ” 
 
 . He looked at his watch. “Quarter past nine, 
 we’re just in time. Ned, call a fast stepper — 
 first-class. Move lively now! Come!” 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Klaus was by no means so blase as might have 
 been expected from so old a traveler. He enjoyed 
 the neck-breaking performances of the acrobats, 
 and the sprawling and straining of the india-rub- 
 ber men, with all the naive astonishment of the 
 provincial. 
 
 The artists on the stage interested him much 
 more than the people in the boxes to whom 
 Schneider was constantly directing his attention. 
 
 “Look at that thin young man opposite us! 
 That one with the little felt hat and the gray 
 coat! More to the right — just opposite us! That 
 one, the dark one, I mean! He’s Prince Demeter 
 Strusa — a Roumanian, in our dragoons. He’s a 
 wonderful rider and the swell of his regiment. 
 At present he’s the adored or adorer, just as you 
 please, of that little actress just coming on— -at 
 least so I have been told! I don’t know her my- 
 self, but that’s no matter, I can introduce her 
 just the same if she strike your fancy.” 
 
 “Who — who is she?” asked Klaus suddenly, 
 picking up his program, which he had not con- 
 sulted until now. 
 s 
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
34 
 
 MR. AMD MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 A beautiful girl liad just come down the stage. 
 Her toilet was extravagant and bewildering in 
 the extreme. Unlike that of which any fashion, 
 any country, any season, any epoch, had ever 
 seen or heard. The young singer wore a short, 
 a very short, petticoat of pale blue satin, the skirt 
 was cut in very deep slashes and showed her su- 
 perb figure at greater advantage than was perhaps 
 in accordance with extreme modesty. The bodice 
 was trimmed and laced with blue and silver hussar 
 cord, and edged around with swan’ s-down. 
 
 A bouquet of roses of unusual size was pinned 
 upon her left breast. Her small and shapely feet 
 were incased in boots, of the same shade and mate- 
 rial as the gown, with high red heels. She wore a 
 coquettish cap, quaint in design and made of 
 scarlet velvet, and she carried a fan of dark blue 
 feathers. The whole costume was as outre and 
 outlandish as possible, and yet, notwithstanding 
 this, the girl was as lovely as a dream. She had 
 an interesting face; her eyes were deep fathom- 
 less brown, and her luxuriant hair a brown-black, 
 while her eyebrows were strongly marked, and 
 her mouth beautifully curved, with full, fresh, 
 pouting lips. Evidently she made slight use of 
 pigments. Her face had the same camellia-like 
 color as her bosom and neck and her finely 
 molded arms. Her figure was graceful and sup- 
 ple. Her carriage had a security and assurance 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 35 
 
 which almost amounted to defiance. Notwith- 
 standing her many attractions, one had but to 
 look at the program to see that “ Kathi 
 Schone — Austrian and Hungarian songs,” was 
 not one of the stars at the Walhalla — her name was 
 printed in modest letters far down the list. 
 
 “Who is it?” repeated Leo. “I don’t know 
 her name. She’s one of the soubrettes. Kathi 
 Schone!” he added, referring to the program. 
 “I am not acquainted with her, as I said before.” 
 
 “A charming girl,” said Klaus. 
 
 “Yes, she’s a stunner! ” said Leo. 
 
 While the orchestra was playing the prelude to 
 a musical Viennese street song, Kathi stood com- 
 posedly in the center of the stage near the promp- 
 ter’ s box, and fanned herself, while she cast 
 inquiring glances over the vast audience. She 
 smiled several times, whether to show her teeth, 
 or as a greeting to acquaintances, it was hard to 
 tell. When her eyes rested on the Roumanian 
 prince, however, she did not smile, but closed her 
 eyes a second as if in silent greeting. 
 
 Klaus noted it all, and that dumb show of a 
 secret understanding vexed him, he hardly knew 
 why. He waited in vain to have her look toward 
 him. 
 
 He moved uneasily in his chair, and finally 
 leaned forward over the box, resting his face on 
 his hands, while through his half-parted lips he 
 drew long, deep breaths. 
 
36 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 She sang a gay Austrian song. Klaus only 
 understood a word now and then, but from what 
 he could catch it seemed a glorification of the 
 waltz, the genuine poesy of which had the true 
 Viennese ring. She had an agreeable enough 
 voice, though entirely uncultivated, and sang 
 quite naturally, without effort, but with a certain 
 roguishness and wantonness which captivated 
 Klaus. 
 
 During the first part of her performance she 
 bore herself like hundreds of other variety sing- 
 ers, keeping time to the music with her feet, bow- 
 ing graciously in season and out, while she 
 wielded her fan with a coquettish motion; but 
 when she came to the gay refrain, new life seemed 
 to awake within her, and a good-natured drollery 
 spoke in every tone which came from her throat, 
 in every glance from her sparkling eyes, and 
 every motion of her slender figure. All of which 
 added piquancy to her beautiful and singular 
 appearance. The whole burden of the song was a 
 ringing promise of unspeakable mirth and jollity. 
 
 The audience clapped as they had done for 
 every other actress, but Klaus struck his broad 
 palms together with such violence and continu- 
 ance as to make his neighbors smile; and even 
 Kathi, noticing the energetic demonstrations of 
 the yellow-haired giant, directed a special and 
 gracious courtesy toward his box. Klaus’s inde- 
 
MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 37 
 
 fatigability, aided by the applause of the people 
 in the pit, was rewarded by the singer’s coming 
 forward once more and giving them another song. 
 Her face, which had hitherto been all smiles and 
 sunshine, suddenly assumed a woful, melancholy 
 expression, and in a trembling pianissimo she 
 began the charming melody from Koschat’s 
 “Lamentation”: 
 
 Forsaken, forsaken, 
 
 Forsaken, am I. 
 
 Like a flower sear and withered, 
 
 Deserted I lie. 
 
 My true love has broken 
 The oath which he swore; 
 
 And I am left weeping 
 With heart fraught and sore. 
 
 There was no note of applause now. Some- 
 thing in the words, or in the pleading voice, 
 appealed to the hearts of the honest towns-people, 
 who listened with bated breath. 
 
 Leo turned to whisper some careless word to 
 Klaus, but the latter made a hasty movement to 
 silence him as he did so. Leo gave him a sur- 
 prised look, and then resigned himself with a sigh. 
 
 Kathi began her second verse now: 
 
 There’s a tree in the green wood 
 Which blooms all the year. 
 
 There he promised to wed me, 
 
 Ere the winter was here. 
 
 There, heartsick and lonely, 
 
 I hide from the day. 
 
 And the mocking wind whistles. 
 
 Forsaken! for aye. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 Kathi looked deeply unhappy, and lier final 
 words were almost a sob. 
 
 But as soon as the song was ended, she assumed 
 her usual gladsome expression, and, bowing right 
 and left, tripped lightly off the stage. 
 
 And now the audience applauded loud and 
 long; she was recalled once, twice, thrice. She 
 bowed and smiled with a deprecatory air, as if to 
 say, “All this honor is quite undeserved” ; and 
 when the audience once more recalled her, she 
 gave the orchestra leader a glance as much as to 
 say, “I am not prepared to do anything more to- 
 night.” Klaus applauded still longer, but other 
 performers came on and he had to resign himself. 
 
 “I’d have given a great deal to hear her sing 
 that song again,” he said to Leo. “What was it 
 like? Forsaken — like a flower sear and withered 
 — forsaken I lie * * * What a charming person 
 she is, this Fraulein Schone. I wonder if there 
 would be any possibility of making her acquaint- 
 ance? ” 
 
 “ Nothing easier,” answered Leo. “I’ll invite 
 her to supper with us to-night.” 
 
 “But will she accept such an off-hand invita- 
 tion?” 
 
 “Why not?” 
 
 “It’s too off hand. Still it would be a great 
 pleasure to meet her. ” 
 
 Leo wrote a few words on his card, got an 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 39 
 
 envelope from an usher, and addressed it to 
 “Fraulein Kathi Schone. In haste,” and sent it 
 around to the dressing-rooms with an order to 
 wait for a reply. The usher returned in a mo- 
 ment with the reply. Klaus bent curiously over 
 his friend’s shoulder to read the answer: 
 
 ‘ ‘ Uterly impossible. Have made an engage- 
 ment for to-night.” Utterly was spelt with 
 one ‘t.’ 
 
 Klaus was greatly put out. A moment ago he 
 had rejoiced, now his hopes amounted to nothing. 
 There was no reliance on these soubrettes. They 
 were all the same. He grumbled over his disap- 
 pointment quite pathetically, and was passing a 
 severe judgment on all womenkind, when Leo 
 interrupted him with the remark: 
 
 “It is not impossible that Fraulein Kathi 
 Schone would have sent a different answer had 
 she known Herr Klaus Bewer of Sumatra.” 
 
 “That is true,” Klaus responded, in a changed 
 tone; and after a slight pause, he added, “Let’s 
 get out of here, if you don’t object. This per- 
 formance is a great bore.” 
 
 As the two men stepped into the foyer, Klaus 
 said: 
 
 “I’d like to know with whom the lady is going 
 to sup to-night.” 
 
 “We can ask her.” 
 
 “ What do you mean? ” 
 
 Leo looked up in surprise. “What do I 
 
40 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 mean?” lie repeated. “I mean what I say, we 
 can ask her.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ To-morrow? ’ ’ 
 
 “No, immediately. Come along! ” 
 
 Leo took a little pride in showing his friend 
 what he, as the manager of the Court Theater, 
 could do. 
 
 He turned to the left and went on, as if sure of 
 his way, to a little door, through which he passed 
 on to a second, over which were the words “No 
 Admittance”; this he also opened unhesitatingly 
 and with his friend stepped on to the back of the 
 stage. Here the heat was almost unbearable, 
 and the air was filled with unpleasant odors of 
 paint, machinery, and gas. Near them stood a 
 family of acrobats waiting for their cue to go on 
 the stage. One of them, a little fellow, scarce 
 six years old, was attired in clown’s dress, and 
 looked out upon the world with his little zebra- 
 painted face peering from under a purple cap. 
 Klaus patted him kindly on the head. The child 
 looked up surprised. But in the next second the 
 whole family sprang out before the public with a 
 loud howl, and were greeted with vociferous 
 applause. Leo was recognized at once by the 
 manager, Herr Fechter, who greeted him with a 
 certain respectful familiarity, after which he lead 
 the way for his colleague of the Court Theater up 
 a dozen neckbreaking steps to the dressing-room. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 41 
 
 The prima donna of the Walhalla, who shared 
 her dressing-room with Kathi Schone, had already 
 gone, and the soubrette was alone. 
 
 “Fraulein Schone,” called Fechter, as he 
 knocked on the door, “will yon soon be 
 ready?” 
 
 “Immediately,” answered a voice from within. 
 ‘ ‘ What’ s wanted? ’ ’ 
 
 Klaus experienced a curious sensation as he 
 heard that full-toned, rich voice again. 
 
 “A gentleman, one of my colleagues, wishes 
 a word with you.” 
 
 The three men waited a short time at the door. 
 Leo inquired politely concerning the receipts, and 
 Fechter answered, with pride, that of late— since 
 he had charge of the theater, and reduced 
 everything to system and discipline — the pros- 
 perity of the Walhalla had been almost phenom- 
 enal. He went on to say, casually, as if it were 
 apparent to the merest observer that this was not 
 the right place for him — however, he had just 
 entered into negotiations with the owner of a very 
 prominent theater, which would probably end in 
 his becoming its manager, and there he would 
 have a chance to display his talents, and, he 
 might say, his knowledge of really classical work. 
 Klaus did not hear a syllable of this conversation; 
 all he heard was the light, quick step in the 
 dressing-room. The bolt was drawn back, the 
 
42 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 door-knob turned with a click and Kathi stood 
 before them. She looked even lovelier now in 
 her simple burgher’s dress than when on the stage. 
 The dark summer gown, made sailor fashion, 
 with its fantastic white braidings, was especially 
 becoming. 
 
 She had carefully removed all false coloring 
 from her face, and her wonderful complexion 
 showed itself in all its glory. 
 
 “ I thought that it was you,” she said to Klaus. 
 “Heavens! you know how to applaud. I must 
 certainly have you at my benefit. Do you gen- 
 tlemen care to walk in?” she added, seating 
 herself. 
 
 Kathi spoke the pure Viennese dialect. Klaus 
 had difficulty in understanding what she said; 
 but her natural manner, her clear, bell-like tones, 
 were all so harmonious with her simple, girlish 
 appearance that he was bewitched. He smiled 
 from very content and happiness. He thought 
 nothing of the disorder and discomfort of the lit- 
 tle room, into which he had stepped with the 
 others; he forgot the heat, which had driven thick 
 drops of perspiration out on his face, and the 
 immense flaming gas jets seemed to bring to light 
 hitherto undreamed-of pleasures. 
 
 “Do you know, my dear child,” began Leo, 
 with an easy familiarity, which grated on his 
 friend’ s ear, ‘ ‘ that your answer has left us utterly 
 disconsolate? ” 
 
ME. AND MES. BBVEE. 
 
 43 
 
 “ I was just as sorry myself,” answered Kathi, 
 “but it is one of the things which can’t be helped. 
 Levini has already set off with Baron von Albers- 
 dorff (Levini was the prima donna, who was 
 known among her friends as Levi), and Prince 
 Strusa is waiting for me at this very moment. 
 We are going to drive to the Flora; they have an 
 Italian feast there to-night. I’m bound for this 
 evening, but I’ll keep myself free for to-morrow.” 
 
 “ Set yourself free for to-night, too,” said 
 Klaus, with comical persistency. “Don’t go 
 with them. Let your friend go to the feast with 
 the baron. We’ll go off and have a pleasant lit- 
 tle party of our own. My dear Fraulein, grant 
 my request, I beseech you. I just arrived from 
 Sumatra this afternoon, and start to-morrow, by 
 the first train, on my return trip. I have no 
 time to lose, and your Roumanian prince can wait. 
 We’ll sup together to-night at any place you 
 choose, and amuse ourselves laughing at the 
 others who are waiting for you at the Flora. 
 Come — ” 
 
 “ It would be a good joke,” said Kathi, with a 
 comical expression, feeling that she might as well 
 do it. She liked the idea of leaving the others in 
 the lurch. 
 
 “You must come!” repeated Klaus impres- 
 sively. 
 
 Leo skillfully seconded his friend’s appeal, and 
 
44 
 
 ME. AND MKS. BEWEE. 
 
 as the manager also advised her to throw over 
 her friends for this one occasion, she finally con- 
 cluded to follow his advice. It would shake the 
 prince’s belief in his own irresistibility, she said, 
 good-naturedly, as she snapped her fingers in the 
 air. 
 
 “I’ll do it! I’ll come with you! It’ll be a 
 great lark! ” 
 
 She lifted some articles of apparel which lay 
 on a chair, and, tossing them on the dusty floor, 
 sat down at the toilet table, pushing brushes and 
 paints aside to make room for a sheet of paper, 
 on which she quickly and carelessly wrote: 
 
 Youe Highness: I can not go. My aunt will 
 not allow me. Always yours. 
 
 K. S. 
 
 “Please send this to the prince’s box in ten 
 minutes, Herr Fechter,” she said, laughing, as 
 she handed the note to the manager. She puffed 
 a little rice powder on her neck, set her hat firmly 
 on her head, and put her arm gently within that 
 of the giant’s, who, at that moment, felt happier 
 than he had perhaps ever felt before in his whole 
 life. 
 
 “ Now, let’s be quick! ” cried Kathi. 
 
 The manager bowed a farewell to the pair and 
 Leo reached out his hand to him, and then fol- 
 lowed the others, who were descending the steep 
 stairs. Kathi went to one of the wings and 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEK. 
 
 45 
 
 peered out to assure herself that Prince Strusa 
 had not yet left his box. Then, while the audi- 
 ence were recalling the acrobats with loud and 
 prolonged applause, the three left the theater 
 stealthily, through a dark, narrow exit. Klaus 
 bashfully pressed the little arm which lay so 
 lightly on his own, and thought what a charming, 
 good-natured creature she was. Kathi took no 
 notice of this slight attention, or, if she did, made 
 no sign. 
 
 The evening air was clear and fresh, almost 
 cold in contrast with the suffocating atmosphere 
 of the theater. It made Kathi shiver for a 
 moment as she encountered it, and instinctively 
 she drew closer to the broad-shouldered man at 
 her side. Klaus again pressed the little arm. 
 
 “That’ll do!” said Kathi now, quite amiably, 
 without any affectation, as she tapped her escort’s 
 arm playfully with her fan. “Now, where shall 
 we go?” she asked, in the same breath. 
 
 “Wherever you decide!” answered Klaus. 
 “ I am here to obey your behests.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ Let’ s go to Thiel’ s on the Charlotteburg road!’ ’ 
 suggested Leo. 
 
 “That’ll suit me,” echoed the singer. 
 
 “To Thiel’s on the Charlotteburg road,” 
 repeated Klaus to the driver. 
 
 During their drive over the streets of the city 
 and through the sand of the pike road there was 
 
46 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 little talk. Klaus never took liis eyes off the 
 lovely maiden, who sat back comfortably in her 
 corner pressing her feet carelessly against the 
 opposite seat. 
 
 He waited expectantly for one gaslight after 
 another, and rejoiced when the bright light fell 
 on her pretty face, or even on the tips of her 
 small, half-hidden shoes. 
 
 The carriage halted before a large gate, and 
 they alighted and went in, threading their way 
 between the beer tables at which the groups of 
 towns-people were chatting as they sipped, on 
 up to the house, where an obsequious waiter led 
 them at once into a little comfortable room on the 
 first floor, in which a table was laid for four. 
 Klaus attempted to assist Kathi in removing her 
 hat, and watched her intently while she arranged 
 her hair before the little mirror. 
 
 The waiter gave a rapid resume of a very elabo- 
 rate menu, which, with slight variations, was 
 ordered en bloc , and then disappeared . 
 
 Leo opened the time-honored piano which had 
 done duty for so many years and suffered so much 
 that there was a tone of appeal in its discordant 
 notes. He played a harmonious little gavotte by 
 Louis XIII., and played it well, too, but his pur- 
 pose was not to exhibit his musical skill, but 
 rather to give the couple at table an undisturbed 
 opportunity for conversation. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWEE, 
 
 47 
 
 Their conversation was not exciting, however. 
 Klaus sat with folded arms, resting his elbows on 
 the table, while he drank in the beauty of the 
 little woman opposite, who still fussed over her 
 toilet, and seemed to have nothing to say. He 
 desired nothing more, and was quite contented to 
 sit and gaze; but then, conversation was not 
 Klaus’s strong point at any time. All at once he 
 stretched out his two broad palms and looked at 
 her with a warm, earnest smile. 
 
 Kathi responded to the silent summons without 
 any mincing, and placed her hands unhesitatingly 
 in his. 
 
 The giant closed his fingers upon them and 
 held them fast; then, when he made a motion to 
 rise and bend over her, Kathi drew them back 
 from his strong grasp, but kept time with her 
 fingers, to Leo’s music, on the back of his broad 
 hand. She played, also, with the great diamond 
 which he wore on the little finger of his left hand, 
 and seemed delighted with its sparkle and brill- 
 iancy. Then when Klaus drew it off his finger 
 and placed it on hers, they both laughed at the 
 size of the ring and the smallness of the finger. 
 Kathi pulled it off at once and handed it back. 
 Klaus shook his head. 
 
 “Keep it,” he said softly, “just as a remem- 
 brance! That you may sometimes think of me. I 
 am so anxious to have you accept it. Please keep 
 it!” 
 
48 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 Kathi was for the moment really embarrassed. 
 She looked at the ring, and had enough experience 
 to know that it was a very costly gift he was offer- 
 ing her. She glanced np at the man. His eyes 
 had an expression of quiet truth and honest 
 pleading. 
 
 “Ah, but it would never do! ” she said softly, 
 but not quite heartily. 
 
 “I beg you to take it,” he entreated tenderly. 
 “You cannot know how happy it would make 
 me.” 
 
 Kathi felt that it was necessary to raise some 
 further objection. 
 
 “But I really dare not accept so expensive a 
 gift from you. We don’t know one another at 
 all.” 
 
 “ True enough, we don’t know one another; but 
 you please me, Fraulein Kathi, and I want to give 
 you something. Do not raise any objection 
 to such a trifle. You gave me great pleasure by 
 accepting my invitation to-night; now grant me 
 the further joy of showing my appreciation.” 
 
 “Well, if you really insist and are sure you 
 won’t regret it. I thank you heartily. The stone 
 is wonderful! I am delighted to own such a 
 one! I never dreamed of such a charming sur- 
 prise to-night! It is really magnificent.” 
 
 She stepped over to the mirror and fastened it 
 on the dark-blue sailor cravat at her throat, where 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 49 
 
 the great stone seemed to glisten and sparkle with 
 more fire than ever. 
 
 “ Are you really going away to-morrow?” she 
 asked, as she again took her seat and pulled down 
 her cravat, setting her chin in her neck, that she 
 might watch the scintillations of her new posses- 
 sion. 
 
 “That will depend upon you.” 
 
 “ Upon me?” 
 
 “ Entirely upon you. I am coming home from 
 a foreign land, but for all that I have no home, 
 I have no definite plans; consequently, I can 
 travel or moor my bark at pleasure. Berlin would 
 satisfy me if I could count upon your society. If 
 you decide against me, I go to-morrow.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ How can you speak so? You are jesting with 
 me.” 
 
 “Most positively not. How can I make it clear 
 to you without making myself ridiculous? I am 
 awkward and crude in my expressions, and cer- 
 tain modes of speech are beyond me. But you 
 surely can understand me, if you only will. You 
 please me! It is a joy for me to sit and look at 
 you, and I dare not think of the time when I shall 
 be alone again. Need I say more? ” 
 
 The waiter entered at this moment with the 
 supper, thus saving Kathi any reply, and Leo, who 
 had just played the gavotte for the fifth time, 
 rose from the piano with a sigh of relief. 
 
 4 
 
60 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 “At last! ” lie cried. “The Lord be thanked! 
 Now, I’ll give you an example of what a good 
 appetite means,” and seating himself, he shook 
 out his napkin. 
 
 He kept his word, too. He helped himself to a 
 liberal portion of every dish and ate heartily, but 
 Kathi ate little, and Klaus nothing at all. Before 
 the meal was half over, Leo observed the transfer 
 of the diamond from his friend’s finger to Kathi’ s 
 throat, and, as he put a fresh morsel on his fork, he 
 gave a significant wink and said, “Have a care! ” 
 He had the talk all to himself. He chatted and 
 joked and told stories without number, while he 
 ate his meal with evident relish and emptied one 
 glass after another. 
 
 Kathi was speechless through embarrassment 
 and confusion. She did not know what to make 
 of the great sunburned man opposite, who spoke 
 to her in such an unwonted tone. A tone of so 
 much respect and so much earnestness; so differ- 
 ent, for example, from the Roumanian prince, 
 who, true enough, never attempted any liberties 
 with her, but who talked with her in a free and 
 easy manner, and who never had anything to say 
 which was worth a moment’s reflection. It sud- 
 denly occurred to her that she had never given the 
 prince any serious thought, either while he was 
 chatting to her or after he had left her. Now the 
 consciousness came to her that she was racking 
 
ME. AND MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 51 
 
 her brains about this foreigner, as she considered 
 him. He was a riddle, and his honest, direct 
 manner, his hearty admiration of herself, troubled 
 the shallow waters of her soul. How suddenly it 
 had all come about! Such a frame of mind as 
 she was now in was very unusual, too — a mixture 
 of uncomfortable curiosity and pleasant astonish- 
 ment. She was beginning to suspect that she was 
 not quite so foolish, after all, as she had thought 
 herself until now! 
 
 There were, perhaps, depths within her which 
 had not been sounded, and which, to this hour, 
 no one had sought to fathom. 
 
 How did it happen that this strange man should 
 come into her life, now, to-night, to touch the 
 unknown strings? 
 
 She gave Klaus a long and searching look. 
 Now, for the first time, she was pleased with his 
 handsome, manly appearance; she felt a sudden 
 pride in the tall, broad-shouldered fellow, to 
 whom the little woman opposite seemed so demure 
 and defenseless a creature, and, touching her 
 glass abruptly against his, she said, as she raised 
 it to her lips, “You shall stay with us! ” 
 
 “I will remain if you wish it,” said Klaus, 
 looking searchingly into her eyes, and then he 
 emptied his glass without a word. 
 
 The Court Theater manager was a discreet man, 
 and after he had appeased his appetite he rose 
 
52 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 quietly and turned his attention once more to 
 music. This time it was “The Beautiful Blue 
 Danube” with which he chose to express his con- 
 tentment with life. 
 
 Klaus seated himself on a sofa near Kathi and 
 took her hand. 
 
 “I will stay,” he repeated, “as long as you 
 wish. I do not wish to seem pathetic,” he con- 
 tinued, in a low tone, “but I must tell you that I 
 have not been so happy and light-hearted for 
 years as I am to-night by your side. It is true we 
 do not know one another, but what does that 
 signify? I need know nothing more of you than 
 I already do. I have longed for something un- 
 known, and now I have found it. That is all that 
 I feel now, and that is all I can say to you. 
 It has all come upon me at one stroke — but how, I 
 can not tell. Is it your glance, your form? is it 
 the bewitching tones of your voice, or is it, per- 
 haps, the wonderful charm of your dialect? I 
 ask myself in vain, and can find no answer. 
 I only know that you make me happy by your 
 very presence, and that I dread the day in which 
 I must part from you.” 
 
 Kathi listened with growing pleasure, but she 
 could think of nothing else to say than the words, 
 “How remarkable? ” 
 
 She withdrew her hand slowly from his, rose, 
 and went to Leo, who was giving the keys a few 
 
ME. AND ME8. BEWEB. 
 
 53 
 
 unmerciful blows. She gave him a tap on the 
 shoulder and suggested that she take his place. 
 
 Kathi was no finished performer, but she played 
 with taste, and without waiting to be solicited. 
 She sang one Austrian song after another. Klaus 
 was enchanted. He thought of that hot Sunday 
 in Sumatra when he had sat in the darkened 
 room, revolving in his mind a return to his native 
 land, and now here he was, blessed beyond all his 
 deserts. And when Kathi concluded with the 
 melancholy madrigal of the forsaken maiden, the 
 tears were welling up in his eyes, and he felt 
 relieved that Schneider was at the moment finish- 
 ing another bottle of wine. The simple, homely 
 picture of the unhappy girl, forgotten, “ like the 
 flower, sear and withered,” made for the second 
 time a wonderful impression upon him and moved 
 .dm deeply. The last words, 
 
 Beneath it I feel 
 I’m forsaken for aye, 
 
 had scarcely been sung when loud voices and 
 laughter announced the arrival of other guests in 
 the adjoining room. 
 
 The walls were thin, and, after listening at- 
 tentively for a moment, Kathi said in a half- 
 whisper: 
 
 “It’s the prince and Albersdorff and Levini. 
 They’ve come from the Flora. We must go.” 
 
 While Klaus called for and settled the reckon- 
 
54 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 ing, Kathi went to the mirror once more and set- 
 tled her hat upon head, enjoying, while she did 
 so, the glitter of her newly acquired jewel. Then 
 the three tiptoed out in silence, listening, as they 
 retreated, to the laughter and jollity of the recent 
 arrivals. 
 
 “They are amusing themselves,” said Kathi, 
 not without a certain false pathos, as she emerged 
 into the night air; “amusing themselves after a 
 fashion, just as I have often done. We have not 
 laughed, but yet I am contented with my 
 evening.” 
 
 Yes, she was certainly contented with her even- 
 ing; but had she been asked the question whether 
 she would not have been better entertained with 
 Levini, and had she answered honestly, who 
 knows what the answer would have been? 
 
 They entered their carriage, and were driven 
 back rapidly to town. Before the house, at 99 
 Zimmerstrasse, Klaus took leave of Kathi. She 
 gave him permission, at parting, to visit her on 
 the following day. 
 
 As the door closed with a bang, and the key 
 turned in the lock, Klaus stood still to catch the 
 sound of her retreating footsteps on the stair, 
 until Leo said impatiently, “Come! there’s 
 nothing to be gained by lingering here. I have 
 been greatly deceived in that young woman. I 
 thought we’d have a few hearty laughs, at any 
 
ME. AND ME8. BEWEB. 
 
 55 
 
 rate. But she hasn’t an idea in that pretty head 
 of hers. She sat there like a deaconess by a sick- 
 bed. And that’s what she calls a lark. I am 
 very sorry yon had such a stupid evening, all 
 through me, too.” 
 
 “Don’t say a word more,” said Klaus, in a 
 kindly tone, as he linked arms with his friend. 
 “You did your best, and I am very well con- 
 tented, my son.” 
 
 “Then your demands are very modest. She’s 
 pretty, there’s no denying, but she’s too tiresome 
 to endure.” 
 
 “Listen to me, Leo,” began Klaus, after a 
 moment’s pause, as they slowly paced the de- 
 serted street — it was after one o’ clock. “You will 
 laugh at me, but I do not care about that. It’s 
 quite clear to me that I’ m over head and ears in 
 love with Fraulein Schone, and as I’m no child, 
 I know what I have to do. I have known girls 
 and women in all conditions of life, and of all 
 countries, yet no other woman has ever made 
 such an impression upon me. No use to tell me 
 it is all nonsense. I know better. I would be 
 contented to sit on her door-step, and feel happy 
 in the knowledge that I was near her. That 
 sounds childish and foolish to you, but it is not 
 so to me. I have decided to do all in my power 
 to make this lovely creature mine. For the past 
 ten years I have lived a life of solitude and drudg- 
 
56 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 ery, away from my kind, without knowing what 
 it meant to enjoy life. Now I shall follow my 
 own inclinations. I have no human being in the 
 whole world to care for. I am free and inde- 
 pendent. No soul has any right to dictate to me. 
 More than that is unnecessary, you’ll acknowl- 
 edge, Leo.” 
 
 His companion was speechless from astonish- 
 ment. He could only gasp: 
 
 “ God help ns! ” 
 
 “Do not discuss it with me. If you are my 
 friend, Leo, you will help me. Find out for me 
 if Fraulein Sch one’s former life is all it should 
 be.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ But Klaus, you are taking leave of your 
 senses. What do you mean? ” 
 
 ‘ ‘ I am determined to make Fraulein Kathi 
 Schone my wife, if she is reputable.” 
 
 “And if she isn’t?” 
 
 “I’ll marry her under any circumstance! If 
 her character is aspersed, I’ll take her across the 
 ocean — back to Sumatra; as well there as any- 
 where. But she shall belong to me — to me and 
 to no other! ” 
 
 His voice trembled at the last words, and he 
 pressed Leo’s arm with such force that the latter 
 shrank bank with pain. 
 
 “Take your time, my boy; take your time! 
 Keep yourself in check and be prepared for reve- 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 57 
 
 lations,” said Leo earnestly. “Amuse yourself 
 with Kathi, but when you are ready to marry, 
 marry some one else. One would not care to 
 marry a girl whose chosen companions are Prince 
 Strusa and the Signora Levini; and even these 
 she discards for an evening to gratify a mere 
 whim.” 
 
 Leo was unquestionably right, but that very fact 
 vexed Klaus. 
 
 “It’s a bad fashion people have of telling all 
 they know and more, too, just because it’s un- 
 pleasant, in order to annoy their fellow-men,” he 
 responded angrily. “I have not troubled myself 
 about Prince Strusa. Made no allusion to him 
 whatever, if I remember correctly, and I never 
 heed the condemnatory speeches of narrow-minded 
 men. But you, as an actor, should understand 
 that the same code of manners does not apply to 
 all men alike. I have often pictured to myself a 
 well-bred, gentle housewife, with soft, white 
 hands and a white apron and a bunch of keys. 
 A woman who, while you spoke of love, would be 
 thinking of the monthly accounts, or the great 
 washing, and I felt that while I should always 
 have the greatest respect for such an one, I could 
 never endure the thought of having her by my 
 side for life.” 
 
 They had reached the end of the long street 
 now, and Leo directed their way toward the 
 
58 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 Linden; but Klans was the leader to-night, and 
 turned him around in order to retrace their 
 steps once more through the Zimmerstrasse. 
 
 “Now,” he continued, “let us look at the pos- 
 sibility of a fireside of one’s own, from a brighter 
 point of view. I don’t care a bit for this quiet 
 respectability, this so-called order. I want to see 
 the bright side of life. I don’ t want a wife who’ll 
 sit sewing buttons on my shirts. I want a bright, 
 animated creature, who will be gay and lively; 
 who will sing me sweet songs; who will be such a 
 joy as I can not describe to you; who will be the 
 delight of my eyes from early morning to late at 
 night; whose very glance will bring comfort to my 
 soul; who will have an artistic nature and be — 
 my love, my companion, my wife! ” 
 
 Klaus sighed deeply and went on less impetu- 
 ously: 
 
 “With intervals of gall and wormwood! Then 
 a man must needs be a philosopher and say to 
 himself: ‘No one has the power to change the 
 unalterable past.’ ” 
 
 His voice had lost its confident tone now. Sud- 
 denly he stopped. They were just opposite the 
 house where Kathi lodged. The street was silent. 
 Two policemen on the next corner were discussing 
 their night’s work. All the windows were dark 
 except two corner ones in the opposite house, 
 where a narrow ray of light streamed through the 
 half-drawn curtain. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 59 
 
 “All with which I need concern myself is the 
 present and the future; they alone belong to me. 
 I will be answerable for them, believe me,” con- 
 tinued Klaus, as he stood and looked solemnly at 
 the lighted windows opposite. “Can yon not 
 understand what a happiness it will be for me to 
 cheer and sustain so lovely a girl, to train and 
 guide her, to shield her with my love, and to lead 
 her into a higher, brighter life? Be assured I shall 
 think much of duty in this marriage and shall 
 strive to fulfill my every obligation. The good 
 God alone knows through what kind of a child- 
 hood she has passed and what examples were ever 
 before her eyes. At least she has not a bad or 
 depraved nature. 
 
 “Those clear, kind eyes look at you so hon- 
 estly that no man need fear to take by the hand 
 the girl who owns them. There may be some 
 annoyances, and, now and then, a fault, but we 
 will not trouble about them until they come. No 
 man living is better fitted to form a clear, fair 
 judgment in such a matter than I, for no man 
 living cares less for the trammels and narrow 
 prejudices of what is called society. If the worst 
 comes to the worst, I shall only be marrying a 
 widow who has never been married.” 
 
 The expressions to which Klaus gave vent were 
 much more down-hearted than his real opinion of 
 the matter. But he was decided, and he felt that 
 
60 
 
 ME. AND MBS. B1VEE. 
 
 it was necessary for him to appear reasonable, 
 and justify himself, not only in his friend’s eyes, 
 but in his own. 
 
 Still, he knew that he had not convinced Leo 
 that he was a rational being; his friend’s only 
 condemnation was utter silence, and Klaus felt 
 himself growing indignant once more over the 
 total lack of sympathy. The light was extin- 
 guished in the house, and, as Klaus turned away 
 after one farewell glance at the narrow, dark 
 windows opposite, he said, with a sigh: 
 
 “What more can I say to you? Only this: I 
 am in love! ” 
 
 As they retraced their steps he turned back 
 repeatedly to the gloomy house, and when they 
 reached the corner and Herr Schneider strove once 
 more to direct his companion’s footsteps toward 
 the Linden, Klaus was too much for him, and 
 turned once more to pace the weary lengths of 
 the Zimmerstrasse. 
 
 Leo was very tired, not only of the walking, 
 but of the talking, and only listened with half 
 an ear to the other’s incessant conversation on the 
 subject. The street-cleaners, plying their nightly 
 vocation by this time, looked curiously at the 
 pair; but Klaus heeded neither dust nor men. 
 The night-watchman, pacing his lonely beat at 
 3 o’clock, came across the two men still walk- 
 ing arm in arm with measured tread, and specu- 
 
MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 61 
 
 lated on what they might be up to in these chilly 
 morning hours. It grew lighter and lighter in 
 the east. The day broke quickly. The first 
 beams of the sun glistened like gold on the win- 
 dow panes. The lights in the streets were extin- 
 guished. The man who kept the drosky stand at 
 the corner took down his cellar shutters. The 
 city began to awaken slowly. 
 
 “Well, good-night,” said Leo, who had come 
 to the conclusion that he couldn’t stand it any 
 longer, even for a friend from Sumatra. “I’m 
 dead tired, and can’t go another step. Your love 
 may keep you awake, but it don’ t affect me that 
 way. We’ll see each other to-morrow, or, more 
 correctly speaking, to-day. You know where to 
 find me, and if I learn anything which will inter- 
 est you, I’ll let you know. Good-by, you’d bet- 
 ter take some rest yourself. Here, you! ” to 
 the man at the drosky stand, “to 65 Markgrafen- 
 strasse. Be lively, now! ” 
 
 The driver yawned, stretched himself slowly, 
 as he leaned against the railing, removed the 
 long-emptied fodder pail from beneath the horse’s 
 stiff legs, and then climbed slowly into his place, 
 and, with a touch of the whip to the old ani- 
 mal’s back, and a sleepy “Hey!” his drosky 
 went rattling down the echoing street. 
 
 Klaus walked past Kathi’s windows once more, 
 and then turned his steps toward the Kaiserhof. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 His sleep was heavy and dreamless; but Kathi’s 
 was disturbed by many and fanciful dreams. 
 Toward morning, she dreamed of the Brazilian in 
 the play of “ Parisian Life,” and when she 
 awoke, her first drowsy thought was of the ring, 
 which she had placed on the little table beside 
 her bed. She reached for it at once. That was 
 no dream, at any rate. The jewel was there. 
 How it sparkled and blazed as it caught the rays 
 of the morning sun. As she turned it on her fin- 
 ger she hummed, unconsciously, the gay air, 
 
 He comes from the new world, 
 
 This Brazilian with gold. 
 
 Kathi gave unusual time and attention to her 
 toilet to-day. She enjoined her landlady, Frau 
 Milcke, to make the room as attractive as possi- 
 ble, and to waste no time about it either, for she 
 expected a visitor at 1 o’clock. She, herself, 
 emptied the withered flowers from the ugly por- 
 celain vases, and displayed a great photograph 
 album on the little oval table with its florid 
 embroidered cover. The few photographs which 
 the album contained were of actors or actresses, 
 
 (6>J) 
 
MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 68 
 
 and under each, one was an amusing exhibition of 
 sentiment or chirography. One assured Kathi 
 that “she was dearer, far dearer, than aught 
 beside,” while “yours for life” held her ever and 
 always in highest esteem. In fact, all the senti- 
 ments expressed spoke well for the hearts of 
 Kathi’ s admirers, even though less might be said 
 for their orthography. 
 
 Klaus left his room a little before 12 o’clock. 
 He had bathed and breakfasted, and now a 
 weary hour hung on his hands. He stopped 
 in the hotel office and picked up a morning 
 paper. Unwittingly he turned to the amuse- 
 ment column. The programme at the Walhalla 
 was the same as on the previous evening. It was 
 very disagreeable to him to see Kathi Schone’s 
 name. It even provoked him to notice that the 
 printer had put it in small type, while the family 
 of acrobats and Victoria Levini occupied such 
 conspicuous places. He felt ashamed of himself 
 for allowing such a trifle to annoy him, and threw 
 down his paper in disgust. He looked about him 
 for a minute or two, and then sallied forth into 
 the busy street. 
 
 He sauntered down Wilhelmstrasse, and soon 
 turned haphazard into the Linden, and then went 
 on to the right in the direction of Friederich- 
 strasse. It was oppressively hot. He halted 
 before a large advertisement board, and read 
 
64 
 
 MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 again the programme of the evening’s amusement 
 at the Walhalla. Then he went on again. It 
 must surely be nearly 1 o’ clock now. He looked 
 at his watch; it was ten minutes past 12. He 
 stopped before a jeweler's great plate-glass win- 
 dow. It struck him it would be a nice little 
 attention to show to Fraulein Schone to buy her 
 some trinket — the little thing had been so pleased 
 with the ring; she seemed to have a fancy for 
 jewelry. He went into the shop, and had various 
 jewels which caught his eye laid out before him. 
 He selected a rare necklace, of great value, paid 
 for it, and sallied forth once more. 
 
 He wondered if she would like some flowers. 
 He was back in Wilhelms trasse again, and 
 caught a glimpse of a florist’s shop, fairly over- 
 crowded with flowers. Why had he not thought 
 of it before? But, thank goodness, there was 
 time yet. He turned into the florist’s, and a min- 
 ute later was buying the largest, finest bouquet 
 which the vender could offer. He couldn’t dawdle 
 along the streets now with this large bunch of 
 blossoms, but he would not have them sent on 
 any account; that would deprive him of the grati- 
 fication of presenting them himself. He hailed a 
 drosky. Alas! it wasn’t 1 o’clock yet. Perhaps 
 Fraulein Kathi had a sweet tooth and was fond 
 of dainties. He told the driver to drive slowly 
 through the Linden, and when his eye caught a 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 65 
 
 confectioner’s he made the man stop while he got 
 out and entered the place. He bought a fancy 
 basket of fruit, a box of chocolates, another of 
 bonbons, and a third of glaces. The confectioner 
 could hardly restrain a smile as he put the large, 
 grotesque-looking package, with its red ribbons, 
 in the drosky beside the garden of flowers. But 
 Klaus was contented; the long hour was at an 
 end now, and he could hasten to 99 Zimmerstrasse. 
 
 When the carriage finally stopped at that num- 
 ber, Klaus had to smile at himself as he gathered 
 together his various purchases. Kathi, who had 
 been waiting at the window, and had heard the 
 carriage draw up, peeped out from behind the 
 curtain, and laughed aloud when she saw the 
 enormous bouquet and the parcel with its red 
 streamers. 
 
 Klaus looked up at the window, but Kathi was 
 hidden from view. She sprang back now, and 
 seized Schiller’s poems — a book she always read 
 when visitors were expected — and sank down on 
 the hard sofa. The door-bell rang. She could 
 hear the landlady shuffle along the passage, then 
 a blow like a sledge-hammer on her own door. 
 
 “Come in!” she cried, in an indifferent tone, 
 without rising, and not seeming in the least dis- 
 turbed by the pounding, and Klaus entered. 
 
 The landlady shut the door behind him. He 
 came with the flowers in his right hand, the 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 sweets and fruit in his left, and the jewels in his 
 coat pocket; altogether, he presented a most com- 
 ical appearance. 
 
 “Ah, Herr von Bewer! ” exclaimed the little 
 singer in joyful surprise, while she rose to receive 
 him, “how good of you to come!” and, bend- 
 ing over the flowers, she buried her little nose in 
 them, and exclaimed: 
 
 “These are not for me? ” 
 
 “For you! All for you!” said Klaus, laying 
 both package and bouquet upon the table. 
 
 “But how could you?” said Kathi, with a 
 desire to be polite rather than truthful. She was 
 very enthusiastic over the beauty and rarity of 
 the flowers, and grew quite childish at the sight 
 of the sweets. She nibbled at several different 
 kinds, and was so surprised that Herr von Bewer 
 should know just what she liked. How fond she 
 was of chocolates! of glaces! and, above all else, 
 of bonbons! 
 
 “ And this belongs to you, too,” said Klaus, as 
 he drew, not without a certain diffidence, the 
 morocco case from his pocket. 
 
 “Oh, no, nothing else!” she exclaimed, in a 
 changed and embarrassed tone, which added 
 greatly to her charm, Klaus thought, as she 
 turned the little box, with its tissue-paper cover- 
 ing, over and over again in her hand. Then, with 
 coquettish hesitation, she untied the silken cord. 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWER. 
 
 67 
 
 When she saw the morocco case, her cheeks 
 flushed slightly, and she pressed her finger hastily 
 on the spring, and her new possession lay revealed 
 to her eager eyes. 
 
 “ How magnificent! How lovely!” she cried, 
 in genuine surprise and delight now. “ What 
 can I say, how can I thank you, for all the pleas- 
 ure you are giving me! It is too beautiful! ” 
 
 Levini had a necklace not unlike this. How 
 Kathi had envied the prima donna her possession! 
 
 Kathi took it for granted that this was a Paris- 
 ian imitation, also; but it was costly enough even 
 at that. But when she read the name of the firm 
 on the white satin lining, she was stupefied. 
 She took up the necklace carefully, and pressed 
 the golden clasp with beating heart. She under- 
 stood little about precious stones, but her in- 
 stinct did not fail her. The whole thing bore 
 the impress of genuineness. She tripped lightly 
 across the room, two or three times, like an over- 
 joyed child. 
 
 “ Oh, it is too beautiful, much too beautiful! ” 
 
 She fastened it on before her mirror, over the 
 simple summer morning-gown, bending her grace- 
 ful neck forward as she did so, in order to clasp it 
 securely. Then she unbuttoned her linen collar, 
 and took it off, in order that the necklace might 
 rest against her neck; and after this, she studied 
 the effect carefully and critically in the glass. 
 
68 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “Why are you so good to me?” she asked, 
 turning toward Klaus, and stretching out her 
 hands impulsively. > 
 
 “Why am I?” responded Klaus, as he drew 
 her toward him. She did not resist any more. 
 He took the little head between his hands, and 
 gave her a first kiss, an earnest, almost devo- 
 tional kiss upon her forehead. As he clasped 
 her tender figure in his arms, and she laid her 
 arm trustingly on his shoulder, he felt as if his 
 heart would break for very joy. He pressed his 
 lips long and tenderly upon the brow of this 
 beloved maiden, and his breath came thick and 
 fast. 
 
 “I like you so very, very much,” whispered 
 Kathi. She spoke sincerely enough, too. No 
 one else had ever treated her with such kindness 
 and such respect. She felt that his manner was 
 so entirely different from that of any of the 
 others. 
 
 “ If that is so — if you are in earnest — then we 
 will never part,” cried Klaus. “Listen tome, 
 Kathi. I am not a man to reflect or ponder 
 much, but, for all that, I do not act precipitately, 
 and know full well what I say and do. I love 
 you with all my heart! You have taken me cap- 
 tive. You alone can make me happy. If you 
 have not already given your promise to some one 
 else, and can, with a clear conscience, give your 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 69 
 
 hand to a simple, upright man, who loves you 
 with his whole heart, then I am more than 
 blessed.” 
 
 Kathi only understood half — the declaration of 
 love. The proposal of marriage she did not 
 understand. 
 
 “Don’t be so impetuous! ” she said, laughing. 
 “ I have no other love, and you are to remain 
 here. We’ll learn to know one another better, 
 and see how we’ll agree. I’ll wear this lovely 
 necklace to-night in your honor.” She felt it 
 necessary to say something polite. 
 
 “You mean at the Walhalla?” asked Klaus. 
 
 “Of course; where else? Won’t the others be 
 green with envy, though! ” 
 
 “You must never go there again,” said Klaus, 
 very earnestly. “You must not go out to-day 
 under any circumstances.” 
 
 “Don’t get cross! ” laughed Kathi. “ I’d lose 
 half my month’s pay if I were not there.” 
 
 “I don’t care if you lose a whole month’s, and 
 are fined into the bargain. You must not go 
 again. Never again do I want to see you in that 
 blue costume with the swan’s-down trimming. I 
 never want another man to send his card to your 
 dressing-room and take you out to supper. You 
 have done with all that. Your contract is dis- 
 solved. I’ll take care of everything. And you 
 must not remain here any longer, either,” he con- 
 
70 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 tinued, looking around the stuffy, ill-furnished 
 room, “it’s too gloomy for you! You must 
 have a bright, well-furnished suite of rooms in 
 one of the hotels in Unter den Linden, where 
 you can be comfortable and at hast be able to 
 receive people. You shall have beautiful apart- 
 ments, such as you deserve. Why do you look so 
 astonished and incredulous? And you must en- 
 gage a companion, in order that it may be possi- 
 ble for me to be with you a part of each day. Of 
 course, you will not desire any intercourse with 
 your old acquaintances of the Walhalla; they are 
 not desirable fiiends for you. You can not know 
 how happy it will make me to open a new world 
 before your eyes, to change your whole existence, 
 and to give you all I have to give to brighten your 
 life! ” He stopped a moment, and then went on, 
 almost bashfully: 
 
 “We need not bother about ways and means. 
 I have plenty for us both! ” 
 
 Kathi listened to all this with growing aston- 
 ishment, like one in a dream. It was a very enter- 
 taining programme which this blonde stranger 
 unrolled in such a simple, matter-of-fact manner, 
 as he sat opposite her. Apartments in Unter den 
 Linden, and a companion! All this meant a life 
 of gaiety and riot, money galore for fine gowns, 
 with endless possibilities such as had never en- 
 tered her mind, even in her wildest dreams. And 
 
ME. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 71 
 
 should all these become realities, not in a year 
 and a day, but upon the spot? For one moment 
 she thought it was all a hoax — for only one mo- 
 ment. Suddenly the seriousness of the whole 
 affair presented itself to her. She looked with 
 clear glance at what had seemed so confused and 
 hazy until now. She saw before her the future 
 which depended on her decision, and her first 
 excitement was over. How long would this ideal 
 existence last? There must be some definite prom- 
 ise; something beyond this play of the hour. 
 This feeling was so strong within her that she 
 could no longer rejoice. 
 
 “Dear friend,” she said, very earnestly, “let 
 us talk to one another like rational beings. Do 
 you really mean that I shall give up my position 
 at the theater — my career, in fact? And do you 
 know what that signifies? It is true, I do not 
 occupy a very exalted position now, but better 
 days are before me. I have an engagement in 
 view now which promises better things. And 
 when you are tired of me, are disgusted with me, I 
 can begin all over again, I suppose? The change 
 from this dark room in the Zimmerstrasse to 
 apartments in Unter den Linden is easily accom- 
 plished, but the change back from Unter den Lin- 
 den to Zimmerstrasse — that would cost many a 
 tear.” 
 
 “You are a child,” responded Klaus, with a 
 
72 
 
 MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 good-natured laugh. “ You do not know me yet, 
 but you will learn to know me when I win your 
 love.” He put his arm around her, and, laying 
 her head gently on his breast, kissed her tenderly. 
 
 “You will be part of myself, you know; you 
 will be mine for life— for life,” he repeated 
 softly, and the strong man trembled like a timid 
 child. 
 
 Kathi was appeased. This was neither the lan- 
 guage nor the manner of an unprincipled man. It 
 had the ring of a true lover. She felt that she, 
 for her part, must make Klaus understand that 
 he had placed his affections on no unworthy 
 object, and she related to him, with simple 
 straightforwardness, and in that charming dia- 
 lect of hers, the story of her early life. How 
 she had been forced, by the unhappiness of her 
 home life, to seek her fortune before the foot- 
 lights. She lost her mother when she was a little 
 child. Her father, a well-to-do leather dealer, 
 had been ruined on the exchange. A friend of 
 the family, recognizing in her some histrionic tal- 
 ent, had had her educated, to a certain extent, at 
 least, for the stage, and afterward had secured for 
 her a position with an opera company at Klaus- 
 enburg; after that, through the means of a Berlin 
 agent, she had been enticed to the Walhalla with- 
 out knowing she was to be degraded into a mere 
 music-hall singer. That was bad, but she felt 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 73 
 
 certain she would receive a financial promotion 
 when her present three months’ engagement was 
 over. But her mind was made up to return to the 
 opera whenever an opportunity should offer. But 
 now, thank Gtod, she would be free from it all. 
 The idea of a companion pleased her most of 
 all. She had always felt so much alone! 
 
 Klaus listened enraptured to all her simple 
 chatter, and believed it as though it were gospel. 
 He had the proud feeling of a conqueror. Had 
 not Kathi bent her will to his, unhesitatingly? 
 She would leave the stage at his bidding. She 
 would take up her residence on the street he 
 chose. Best of all, she would love him. 
 
 “If you have really decided that I must not 
 sing to-night, it is high time that I inform the 
 management. Fortunately, I am in the good 
 books of the physician of the theater.” 
 
 “ Don’ t trouble yourself about all that!” said 
 Klaus. “I’ll manage it through Schneider. He’ 11 
 be breakfasting at Topfer’s about now. I’ll 
 engage the rooms for you, and you pack your 
 traps and be ready by 3 o’clock, then we’ll 
 make a few purchases together and you can enter 
 into your new kingdom before night. ‘ What can 
 be done to-day need not be delayed until to-mor- 
 row.’ Isn’t that so, my sweetheart?” 
 
 He smoothed her black hair caressingly, and 
 leaned over and whispered in her ear, “And 
 
74 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 now that we understand one another we can talk 
 like rational people. That’s what you said, you 
 know. Even though one makes a radical change 
 in position, a salary day is a necessity as much as 
 ever. My purse is on the table; do not hesitate 
 to use it, my dear child. Pay all you owe. 
 Good-by. I’ll be back in a couple of hours! ” 
 
 He kissed her on the cheek, took his hat, turned 
 back for a second greeting at the door, and went 
 off with a happy smile. 
 
 Kathi stood for a short time in the middle of 
 the room where he had left her. She had a 
 troubled look on her face. Then she shook her 
 head slowly and walked to the table and sat down. 
 She opened the pocket-book and counted the 
 money. Two thousand marks, in hundred, and 
 fifty, mark notes. Klaus, in his anxiety to put 
 the purse on the table in an unobserved moment, 
 had neglected to remove certain business papers 
 and a letter from his brother Wilhelm, in San 
 Francisco, in which the latter stated he intended 
 visiting his native land the beginning of the 
 ensuing year. 
 
 The business papers were all Greek to Kathi, 
 but she opened the California letter and read it 
 eagerly. Then she sat musing, with a discour- 
 aged look on her face, for some minutes longer. 
 
 Suddenly she arose with a jerk and drew out a 
 large willow hamper, which stood in an alcove. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 75 
 
 and opened her closet and the drawers of her 
 bureau. She took out one article of clothing 
 after another, and scanned them critically, ask- 
 ing herself the question whether it were worth 
 her while to take them or not. What would she 
 do in Unter den Linden with all this cheap finery? 
 One was out of date, another soiled and worn. 
 The landlady’s heart would rejoice at them; she 
 could make them over for her daughter. Almost 
 the only thing which stood the test was the sailor 
 suit she had worn the previous evening. When 
 Kathi came to her underwear, she had a feeling of 
 real shame that it was so meager in quantity and 
 poor in quality. She wondered for the moment 
 if she couldn’t run out and buy herself a new out- 
 fit — she had the means now — but gave up the idea 
 with a sigh, for there was no time. But what did 
 it matter? Klaus must know she had but a 
 limited wardrobe; he wouldn’t have provided her 
 so liberally with money, if he had not understood 
 that. She pushed the hamper back into the 
 alcove with a kick, locked the wardrobe door 
 again, and pushed in the shoe drawer. 
 
 She called the landlady, who usually performed 
 the services of dressing-maid, as well. While the 
 woman was fastening on her one presentable 
 frock, Kathi told her she would be obliged to 
 leave her to-day, but she would pay her a full 
 month’s rent and also give her for her little Hilda 
 
76 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 — she had always liked the little thing — all her 
 clothes, which were there in a heap on the floor. 
 Frau Milcke was overjoyed, and showed her 
 appreciation of the favors showered upon her; 
 had she not always said that Fraulein Schone had 
 great things in store for her; she, who was so kind, 
 so amiable, so beautiful, would get the reward she 
 deserved. Ah, she was a good prophet, if she 
 was poverty-stricken and took lodgers; she could 
 see beyond her nose as well as another. 
 
 Kathi gathered up her trifles, the volume of 
 Schiller, some music, her album, her newly ac- 
 quired jewels, and her toilet articles, and thrust 
 them in a satchel. She gave the trunk, with her 
 theatrical costumes, into Frau Milcke’ s keeping 
 for the present. Then she put on her hat and 
 her veil, put the satchel on the sofa beside her, and 
 took her bouquet in her hand. She was ready for 
 her journey now — for her journey into a new 
 world, into a new life. She left little behind, not 
 even a fleeting regret. 
 
 So she sat and waited for Klaus. 
 
 Klaus, in the mean time, had seen Leo, and the 
 latter had gone at once, at his friend’s behest, to 
 inform the manager that Kathi Schone was done 
 with (hem all forever. The news created neither 
 excitement nor much comment at the Walhalla. 
 Kathi Schone was far down the list, as Klaus had 
 noticed, and the management took it easily. She 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 77 
 
 was the daughter of a shoemaker in Vienna, the 
 manager told Leo; ’had been employed herself in a 
 shoe shop, but had not liked if, so had sought 
 some kind of a position on the stage. She had 
 been engaged as a chorus singer at Klausenburg, 
 from that she had gone into a music-hall at Prague, 
 and from there had come to the Walhalla. Noth- 
 ing was known to her discredit, but, with a shrug, 
 she had brought no certificate of virtue with her. 
 In fact, Herr Fechter had nothing definite to tell 
 about her. Of late, Prince Strusa had been 
 amusing himself with her; whether it amounted 
 to anything or not, he could not say. 
 
 As soon as Leo had heard all this, he was ready 
 with his programme. Why should he thrust his 
 hand into the hornet’s nest? Klaus was of age, 
 and ought to know his own mind. What would 
 he gain by telling Klaus the plain truth? Noth- 
 ing but curses. There was little to tell, at best. 
 He had warned him the night before, all to no 
 purpose, so he would let it rest now. 
 
 So he only told Klaus the agreeable things and 
 refrained from repeating Herr Fechter’ s question- 
 able reflections. 
 
 Klaus pressed his friend’s hand warmly. Leo 
 had indeed proven himself true and leal. 
 
 The two went together to the Hotel de Rome, 
 where Klaus engaged rooms for Katlii. A salon, 
 dining-room, dressing-room, and bedchamber, 
 
78 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 with a small room above for the companion. 
 After that Leo left him to attend to some final 
 matters concerning the annulment of Kathi’s con- 
 tract, and Klaus sprang into liis carriage and was 
 driven back to 99 Zimmerstrasse. 
 
 His heart beat high with joy when he saw Kathi 
 sitting on the sofa, with her bouquet in her hand, 
 awaiting his return. And when she said, in her 
 comical manner, “I have decided to leave all the 
 trash behind; I don’t lose much; you must take 
 me as I am now, without any finery,” Klaus 
 thought no other woman could be so simple and 
 innocent, and he held- her in his arms and kissed 
 her and called her the most bewitching of maidens. 
 
 Kathi summoned the landlady and bade her 
 good-by after a civil, friendly fashion; then she 
 took the arm of her happy and beaming lover, 
 and the two sallied forth into the new and undis- 
 covered country. 
 
 Frau Milcke stood watching the carriage until 
 it turned the corner. She shook her head 
 thoughtfully, while she fastened the notice, 
 “ Handsomely Furnished Rooms to Let,” in her 
 front window. Then, turning away with a sigh, 
 she murmured, “Yes, yes, all the world is seek- 
 ing for happiness, and must have it.” Then she 
 added philosophically, as she fastened the door, 
 “Well, it’s the main thing, after all.” 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Kathi accommodated herself to her new sur- 
 roundings with a rapidity that was truly aston- 
 ishing. Her first few purchases quite took away 
 her breath, everything she saw was so lovely and 
 expensive. It scarcely took an hour for her to 
 discover how unsophisticated her new lover was 
 concerning the value of money. After making 
 this discovery she assumed control, and squan- 
 dered money with the assurance of one who had 
 had years of experience. She ceased exclaiming 
 and admiring, and grew as fussy and particular 
 as the oldest shopper in Berlin. She gave the 
 shopmen her orders with the calm indifference of 
 a great lady, while Klaus stood passive and 
 admiring by her side. 
 
 It only required one afternoon to metamor- 
 phose this shoemaker’s daughter of Vienna, this 
 music-hall singer, this soubrette of the Walhalla, 
 who had haggled over the price of her breakfast 
 not twenty hours before, into an easy, confident 
 girl, who spent thousands of marks during a few 
 hours with all the aplomb of a woman of the 
 world. 
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
80 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 When they arrived at the hotel, the porter 
 informed the “ gnadiges Fraulein ” that a num- 
 ber of parcels had been sent to her rooms. Kathi 
 was soon at work opening them, and now indeed 
 she showed her delight. She made an occasional 
 derogatory remark concerning the stupidity of 
 some shop-keeper or other, who had mistaken 
 her order, but, on the whole, she was very pleas- 
 ant. The two dined together in Kathi’ s little 
 dining-room, and afterward took a long walk. 
 Seven o’clock struck from a church tower near 
 by while they were sauntering through the Thier- 
 garten. When Kathi heard it, she exclaimed: 
 
 “You can not know how happy I am that I 
 have escaped forever from that dressing-room, 
 where I was sweltering last night at this hour.” 
 
 Klaus was too rejoiced to hear her thus express 
 herself to do more than press her little band. 
 
 He parted from her early, for the day had been 
 a tiresome one for Kathi, he said, and she needed 
 rest. 
 
 Kathi refused the services of a maid, who vol- 
 unteered to assist her in undressing, explaining, 
 at length, that she was a little particular, and one 
 had to grow accustomed to her ways. Her last 
 maid had just left her, but another was engaged, 
 who would be with her early on the morrow, and 
 then she would be all right again. 
 
 She ordered her bath tp be prepared for 9 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 81 
 
 o’ clock, her breakfast for 10, and her hairdresser 
 for 11; but no visitors were to be admitted 
 before noon. Afler which the serving maid 
 departed, with many courtesies and wishes that 
 the “ gnadiges Fraulein ” might pass a comforta- 
 ble night. 
 
 Kathi put on one new article of attire after 
 another to see how becoming they were. On the 
 whole, she was well satisfied with her afternoon’s 
 work, though she decided to add a feather here, 
 or a bit of lace there, to give the finishing touch 
 to a bonnet or some other bit of finery. Then she 
 put them away in her capacious wardrobes and 
 drawers, and went to her bed, the first really 
 comfortable bed, she reflected, upon which she 
 had ever lain. She soon fell asleep, and as she 
 dozed off her last thoughts were of the purchases 
 which were yet to arrive in the morning. 
 
 Klaus walked slowly down Unter den Linden. 
 Before Dressel’s he met several of Schneider’s 
 friends, with whom he had supped on the previous 
 evening. They shook hands with him and 
 invited him to again make one around the Stamm- 
 tisch. He declined their invitations politely, and 
 went on his course alone, feeling secretly annoyed 
 that his meditations had been interrupted even 
 for a moment. His head and heart were both 
 full. He had much to consider, much to over- 
 come, before he could bring all his hopes and 
 6 
 
82 
 
 ME. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 plans to full maturity. But his head was buzz- 
 ing, and he could not get his brain in working 
 order. He stood at the entrance of the park and 
 looked dreamily into the distance. Finally he 
 entered by the Brandenburg gate and struck into 
 a gloomy side path, which, for that very reason, 
 was avoided by tire Berliners at night as danger- 
 ous. For the past twenty -four hours, since he 
 had seen the Viennese singer, Klaus had been in 
 a state of intoxication. He could think of noth- 
 ing else but Kathi — her manner, her voice, her 
 eyes. 
 
 The evening was -close and sultry. A storm lay 
 in the air. Not a star gleamed in tbe heavens, 
 not a breath of air stirred the old towering trees. 
 Klaus went deeper and deeper into the lonely, 
 desolate wood. No sound but the crunch of his 
 own boots upon the gravel, and the distant hum 
 of a great city, fell on his ear. Once or twice he 
 met an equivocal pair of lovers loitering along, 
 but he paid them no heed. What interest had 
 they for him? What interest had any one for 
 him but Kathi? He had no other wish than to be 
 unmolested and unobserved. He breathed so 
 heavily at times that it almost amounted to a sob. 
 He reviewed his whole life — he thought of his 
 home, of his father, of the liquidation of his busi- 
 ness at Sumatra, of Prince Strusa, of the smiling 
 face of a certain shop-keeper who had served 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 83 
 
 Kathi that day; what business had the man to 
 smile? confound him! 
 
 This oppressive air, with its lack of ozone, was 
 making him sleepy. A gloomy, brooding mood 
 came over him, the reaction from his recent state of 
 intense excitement. Every now and then the ques- 
 tion would force itself upon him, through all his 
 confusion of brain, whether he was doing right; 
 whether he was acting with discretion, with pru- 
 dence? 
 
 This question made him angry each time it 
 intruded itself upon his confused brain. He 
 would not ask himself such questions and he 
 would not answer. 
 
 “It is my own affair and nothing to any one 
 else! ” And this seemed to him the conclusion of 
 the whole matter. 
 
 Through the trees to his left he could see the 
 lamp-lights gleaming. A violent wind blew sud- 
 denly from the north with great force, telling 
 that the brewing storm was about to burst. Klaus 
 hurried toward the entrance now, to avoid it, and 
 had reached the corner of Hohenzollernstrasse 
 before the heavy drops began to fall. Here he 
 took a drosky and was driven rapidly to the Kais- 
 erhof. 
 
 When he reached his own room, he threw open 
 the windows. The rain was falling in torrents 
 now, clattering against the tin roofs and fairly 
 
84 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 flooding the asphalt pavements. The black 
 heavens were ablaze at every moment with fierce 
 lightning flashes, which zigzagged across the fir- 
 mament. 
 
 Klaus stood at the window in his shirt sleeves, 
 watching the row of droskies beneath him. The 
 coachmen had taken refuge in their vehicles, but 
 the lightning’s gleam played across the backs of 
 the poor, patient horses, who hung their heads 
 lower than usual to-night. 
 
 His spirits began to revive. He called to a 
 waiter to light a candle and place it on his writing- 
 table, to put fresh, ink in the dry well, to bring 
 him pen, paper and envelopes, tea and rum, and 
 some cigars. He paced up and down the room 
 until his orders were obeyed. When the man had 
 done his bidding, and he was alone again, he threw 
 off his collar, unbuttoned his shirt bosom, and 
 drew a deep sigh of relief as the cool air struck 
 his breast. 
 
 Then, while the window-blinds rattled and the 
 light flickered with every gust of wind, and the 
 rain splashed on the hard pavement below, he 
 seated himself and wrote as follows to: 
 
 Herr Dr. Gottlieb Bewer, Tutor , Greifswald 
 University. 
 
 Berlin Kaiserhof, August 29, 1878. 
 
 My Dear Gottlieb: As you will see from the 
 heading of this letter, I am once again in your 
 vicinity. We must see one another soon. You 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 85 
 
 know liow poor a correspondent I am. I will tell 
 you everything in a few words. All has gone well 
 with me and I am a rich man. But you have 
 something better than that upon which to con- 
 gratulate me. I am engaged to be married. 
 Engaged to a charming girl from Vienna, who 
 speaks German with the most delightful accent I 
 ever heard. Fraulein Kathi Schone was, before 
 our engagement, a singer, but she has given up 
 the stage forever, now. She comes from a plain, 
 but honest, worthy family. I will not describe 
 my fiancee to you, for you will see her. As we 
 have no one’s pleasure but our own to consult, 
 our marriage will take place as soon as the nec- 
 essary formalities are concluded. 
 
 I write by this mail to Elise at Husum, and 
 Wilhelm in San Francisco. You can communicate 
 with the Lubeck people, if you desire, as I hold 
 no intercourse whatever with them. 
 
 I shall expect a visit from you very soon, or will 
 go to you if you prefer. I am very happy. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 Klaus. 
 
 The letters to the pastor’s wife and to Wilhelm 
 were, almost word for word, copies of that which 
 he had written to his younger brother. He sealed 
 and addressed them, blew out the candle on the 
 table, threw his cigar out of the window, and 
 closed the casement. After that he prepared for 
 rest slowly, very slowly, and sat for full fifteen 
 minutes on the edge of his bed watching the dim 
 flare from the solitary candle on the bureau as it 
 fell on the brass claw of the table; then, with a 
 
86 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEVEB. 
 
 sigh, he put out the light and threw himself on the 
 bed with the words, “It’s my business and no 
 one’s else! ” 
 
 He lay awake for a long time staring with wide- 
 open eyes into the darkness, until the weary lids 
 finally closed in sleep. 
 
 At half -past 11 the next morning, the por- 
 ter of the Hotel de Rome explained to Klaus that 
 Fraulein Schone would receive no guests until 
 12 o’clock. 
 
 Klaus was staggered for a moment, but when 
 he thought it over he discovered that that was 
 very proper. Indeed, he was much pleased that 
 Kathi had entered into her new position with such 
 dignity and propriety. He took advantage of the 
 interval to secure a box for the benefit that night, 
 and dispatched a line to Leo making an appoint- 
 ment for supper afterward. 
 
 Kathi looked bewitching in a simple, but ele- 
 gant, morning gown, with her hair most becom- 
 ingly dressed by the artistic friseur. 
 
 Klaus took her in his arms and kissed her as 
 though they had not met for years. She was in 
 the gayest of spirits, and showed him how beau- 
 tifully she had arranged everything, and scolded 
 a little over the tardiness of one or two shopmen. 
 
 “Will you not lunch with me?” she asked, 
 without any appearance of jesting. Klaus 
 accepted humbly, and Kathi rang and gave her 
 orders to the waiter. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 87 
 
 During the meal, which they both discussed 
 with good appetites and good humor, Klaus 
 handed her the tickets for the evening. 
 
 “How very vexatious,” she said. “My gowns 
 won’ t be here until to-morrow morning. I have 
 nothing to wear! I can not possibly go to-night. ’ ’ 
 
 “I am very sorry to hear that,” said Klaus, puz- 
 zled. “You just showed me a couple of beauti- 
 ful gowns in your wardrobe there; you’d look 
 lovely in either of them.” 
 
 “Oh, but those are street gowns. Ah! I see 
 you don’t understand anything about women’s 
 dress, my dear,” she added, laughing and shak- 
 ing her finger at him. 
 
 It had only taken twenty-four hours to make 
 Kathi, with her one simple sailor frock, under- 
 stand the difference between promenade and 
 evening costumes. 
 
 “I am very sorry,” said Klaus; “ all the more 
 so as I had sent Leo an invitation to join us at 
 supper afterward.” 
 
 “Tell me,” said Kathi, while she cut the meat 
 from the chicken wing with great skill, ‘ ‘ tell 
 me, do you care very much about this Herr Leo 
 Schneider? ” 
 
 “Care very much? No! He’s an old-time ac- 
 quaintance, who has always been courteous to me, 
 and with whom I have had some pleasant inter- 
 course — nothing more, nothing less.” 
 
88 
 
 ME. AMD MES. BEWEE. 
 
 ‘ ‘ To speak frankly, he does not please me at all. 
 He’s too great a gossip. Then, he’s a creature 
 always bubbling over with a species of good- 
 humor which is particularly abhorrent to me. 
 You understand what I mean — his whole manner 
 smacks of condescension. Grood Lord! and who 
 is this Herr Leo Schneider? And why does he 
 speak to me as if I were a creature from a lower 
 world?” 
 
 “I didn’t fancy his mode of addressing you, 
 myself. But you must not be too hard on him. 
 It’s only his theatrical manner.” 
 
 “ Oh, no it isn’t! None of the people I’ve ever 
 met had it,” said Kathi, in the pert manner of 
 the provincial actress. “Just write him and say 
 you won’t be able to meet him. Two is much 
 better company than three. Don’ t you think so? ’ ’ 
 
 “Just as you say,” said Klaus, taking her little 
 hand and pressing it affectionately. He gazed at 
 her for a moment without speaking. How beau- 
 tiful she was. Lovely as a picture! “Kathi,” 
 he said, in a changed tone, “have you thought 
 anything about procuring the necessary papers? 
 It is foolish for us to lose any time.” 
 
 “What papers? ” asked Kathi indifferently. 
 
 “Why, the papers which will be wanted at the 
 marriage ceremony. I think a certificate of bap- 
 tism and your father’s consent will be all that 
 will be required.” 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 89 
 
 “Yes, I see,” said Kathi, in her careless way. 
 
 The scales had fallen from her eyes. All which 
 had seemed so wonderful and mysterious yester- 
 day was now quite clear. She had completely 
 mastered the strange emotions within her. She 
 said to herself that she would reveal nothing, 
 would show neither surprise nor excitement for 
 the future. Yes, she would marry this blonde- 
 haired giant; he’d make as good a husband as 
 another. For, of course, he meant marriage or 
 he would not have mentioned the papers. But if 
 he did not mean marriage! Should she tolerate 
 his presence, allow him to breakfast with her, 
 walk with her, compromise her by their appear- 
 ing so publicly together? She felt the time to 
 speak had come. 
 
 “Yes, I have been thinking much about the 
 papers,” she began. “But I have also thought 
 it was your duty to procure them. You must 
 write to my father yourself. I have been just a 
 little hurt,” her voice had a grieved tone here, 
 “not much, but just a little bit, that you have 
 not spoken to me of my father before; why, you 
 have not even asked for his address.” 
 
 “You are right, child. I have only thought 
 of you — of you and none other. I will write to 
 him at once — to-day. I wrote to my own peo- 
 ple last night of our betrothal.” 
 
 Klaus then told Kathi all about his own family, 
 
90 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 and the girl listened to his account with unfeigned 
 interest. She was especially pleased, she said, 
 to learn that her future sister was a pastor’s wife, 
 a good religious woman. She asked Klaus many 
 questions concerning her, and regretted that he 
 could tell her so little; also that “sister Elise” 
 lived so far away. 
 
 After lunch, Klaus waited in the salon while 
 she arrayed herself for a promenade. When she 
 appeared in the door in her new and very becom- 
 ing walking dress, with a coquettish hat perched 
 on the top of her head, he was fairly radiant with 
 joy, and gave free expression to his ecstasy. 
 Kathi was beaming, too, and left the room on his 
 arm in a very contented frame of mind. In the 
 hotel lobby she stopped to look at a huge frame 
 of photographs; among the pictures she recog- 
 nized many of her friends “in the profession,” 
 as she explained to Klaus. 
 
 “Do I really please you to-day?” she said, as 
 they walked along. For answer Klaus looked 
 down at her lovingly and pressed her arm. 
 “Then let us go and have our photographs taken 
 together. We can send one to Elise at Husum, 
 and one to my father also.” 
 
 So, arm in arm, they went to the photogra- 
 phers. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 In a dark, gloomy waiting-room, adjoining the 
 magistrate’s office on Mittelstrasse, sat eight per- 
 sons — a poorly clad woman of abont forty, waiting 
 patiently, with tear-dimmed eyes and pallid 
 cheeks, to tell of the death of her child; a yonng 
 rosy-cheeked department clerk, who came to 
 announce the birth of a son; over near the only 
 window sat Kathi, dressed in a simple but elegant 
 brown silk gown; Klaus, who stood by her, wore 
 a dark suit, with frock-coat, and looked unusually 
 well. Leo Schneider was attired in a dress suit, 
 with a white silk tie, just as he had appeared in a 
 society play the previous evening. Near him 
 stood a delicate, fair-haired man of thirty or there- 
 abouts, with gold-rimmed spectacles. He wore a 
 spick and span new frock-coat, with unusually 
 long skirts, which fitted him very badly. This was 
 Dr. Gottlieb Bewer, who had arrived in Berlin the 
 previous day in order to be present at his brother’s 
 marriage on this, the 31st of August, in the year 
 of our Lord 1878. 
 
 Somewhat distant from this group, but near 
 enough to show she belonged to them, sat Frau 
 
 ( 91 ) 
 
92 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 Milcke, her face wreathed in smiles. She had 
 received information of the joyful event through 
 her daughter Augusta, who now stood beside her, 
 and who had been in Fraulein Sclione’s service for 
 the past three weeks. She had not been pleased 
 to hear that the young folks would not be married 
 in church. “People must have some kind of 
 religion ’ ’ was one of her favorite maxims. At the 
 same time she did not refuse to act as a witness 
 when requested so to do. 
 
 The door opened. 
 
 “HerrBewer comes next, I believe,” said an 
 official politely, “and the witnesses.” 
 
 The four entered the adjoining room followed 
 by Frau Milcke and Augusta. 
 
 While the officer was going through the formal- 
 ities, and filling up the necessary papers, those 
 concerned stood in absolute silence. Leo looked 
 indifferent and handsome. Klaus was deeply 
 moved; he seemed to be newly aroused from the 
 clear sailing of the past to the thought of tem- 
 pests; yea, even the possibility of shipwreck, in the 
 future. Even Kathi was moved, and when the 
 man offered her the pen, and begged her with a 
 polite bow to sign her new name, the name that 
 from this hour was to be hers, her hand trembled 
 violently, and the flourishes, which she had been 
 practicing in her quiet moments for the past fort- 
 night, failed her at the all-important moment. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 93 
 
 Katherine Bewer! As she signed the name on the 
 register, did she think of it as the profound and 
 laconic symbol of a new life, a new world, which 
 was beginning with this hour? 
 
 The magistrate was the first one to offer his con- 
 gratulations to the new wife. The others pressed 
 her hand, but said little. Frau Milcke sniffled. 
 
 The little wedding breakfast was set in Kathi’s 
 dining-room, and a sad enough feast it was. In 
 vain were the finest dishes and choicest wines 
 set before them. The four seemed wrapped in a 
 gloom which nothing could dispel. Klaus was all 
 attention to his young bride. Gottlieb was a bash- 
 ful, retiring man, who had never yet contributed 
 to the gaiety of any company in which he had 
 been placed. Leo, after his first joke, which had 
 not raised the ghost of a smile, turned his atten- 
 tion to the viands without any further attempt to 
 enliven the company. The two witnesses at the 
 side table ate heartily and drank freely. Leo, who 
 was a poet on occasion, and who was noted for his 
 happy sallies in toasts and after-dinner speeches, 
 bad had some thought of immortalizing him- 
 self by a little poetic effusion in honor of his old 
 friend’s wedding feast. But finally he had come 
 with empty hands. He could think of no good 
 word to rhyme with Sumatra, and he felt he lacked 
 the gift of eloquence to rightly apostrophize this 
 union of poesy and prose, of art with commerce! 
 
94 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 The meal ended with as little animation as it had 
 begun. Gottlieb, who was enchanted with the 
 beauty and winning manners of his new sister, 
 kissed her and pressed her hand warmly at parting; 
 and as he threw his arms around Klaus the tears 
 stood in his eyes. Leo kissed Frau Bewer’s little 
 hand with a great show of deference, and energetic- 
 ally grasped the large one of his old friend as if 
 his heart were too full for utterance. Then he 
 bowed himself out gracefully. Frau Milcke made 
 a series of courtesies and departed, too much awed 
 by the big man to give utterance to the garrulous 
 congratulations which were on her lips. Klaus 
 and Kathi turned their backs on the pretty rooms 
 in Unter den Linden and started on their honey- 
 moon tour. 
 
 The following morning found the young people 
 with Augusta, who still retained her place as maid, 
 established at the Nassau hof in Wiesbaden, where 
 Klaus had telegraphed for rooms three days pre- 
 vious. 
 
 Klaus was superlatively happy. He outshone 
 himself in delicate and thoughtful attentions to 
 his bride. It was almost pathetic to see the great, 
 good-natured fellow, whose every thought and 
 action was for the well-being and pleasure of his 
 little wife. He never tired of looking at the petite 
 figure and lovely face of his new possession, or of 
 listening to her musical voice, with its singular, 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWIiR. 
 
 95 
 
 but none less charming, dialect. There were 
 moments when he felt so proud of her that he was 
 tempted to shout for joy. Kathi was very pleasant 
 and amiable, too. She had grown accustomed to 
 him and to her position during the past few weeks, 
 and it was all very nice and agreeable. 
 
 She did not ask herself concerning the depth of 
 her feelings. This new husband was dead in love 
 with her, and she was pleased that it was so — that 
 was all. He adored her, and she had a feeling of 
 gratitude for all the benefits he bestowed. 
 
 A week before her marriage, Fraulein Levini 
 had called at the Hotel de Rome to see her, and 
 she had exhibited with much pride her jewels, 
 her laces, and her smart gowns; but when the 
 prima donna had asked her the pertinent ques- 
 tion, “ But do you love him? ” her answer, which 
 was a question, too, had been strictly truthful. 
 
 “Why should I not? He buys me everything I 
 can think of under the sun.” 
 
 “And are you quite happy?” Kathi had 
 responded once more with an interrogative: 
 
 “How can you ask such a question? Don’t I 
 tell you he showers gifts on me.” 
 
 She was quite contented, and, as long as she had 
 shopping to do, life was very pleasant; but, dur- 
 ing the last few days before her marriage, time 
 hung heavily on her hands. Klaus’s continual 
 visits grew very monotonous, for he was anything 
 
96 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 but an enlivening conversationalist. All he ever 
 said was that she was lovely, or that he loved her 
 beyond belief, or that he was supremely happy. 
 
 She did not confess it to herself, but still she 
 felt that in her former life there had been con- 
 stant change and variety. At the Walhalla the 
 unexpected was happening; something new, even 
 if not always pleasant, was forever occurring. 
 Even the quarrel with Levini, in the alley at the 
 back of the theater, had been exciting — and she 
 thought with satisfaction how she had come off 
 victor in that war of words. Then there were 
 supper parties arranged for nearly every evening 
 in the week, and at these she was continually see- 
 ing new faces. 
 
 Now, one day was just like the other. Even 
 the presents, which came with clock-like regular- 
 ity, soon seemed part of the day’s programme. 
 Nothing really and truly exciting ever happened. 
 
 She engaged a companion, as Klaus desired, 
 but she only kept the young woman, a well-edu- 
 cated daughter of a city official, three days. 
 Kathi said she had no fault to find with her, she 
 was everything she claimed to be, but she was a 
 dull, poky Berliner, so at the end of three days 
 Kathi paid her a week’s salary, and gave her a 
 parting blessing with a sigh of relief. Then she 
 engaged the seventeen-year-old daughter of her 
 former landlady, Augusta Milcke, and with her 
 
ME. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 97 
 
 she was well pleased. She could gossip with 
 Glustel much better than with Klaus himself. 
 They were of the same station in life, had 
 breathed — the one in Vienna, the other in Berlin — 
 the same atmosphere. Kathi confided to Gustel, 
 the morning of her marriage, that she was glad 
 this tiresome life at the Hotel de Rome was over, 
 at any rate. So Wiesbaden was an agreeable 
 change. 
 
 When the young couple appeared on the prom- 
 enade after dinner, or sauntered through the 
 park, listening to the music, they attracted much 
 attention. One of the numerous idlers who waste 
 their time in Wiesbaden, investigating the his- 
 tory of the latest new-comer, discovered that the 
 broad-shouldered, fair-haired man was an Ameri- 
 can millionaire, Mr. Bewer by name, who, with 
 his wife, the faultlessly attired brunette, was 
 traveling through Europe. The ladies whom they 
 met took special note of the enormous diamonds 
 which Kathi wore in her ears. 
 
 All this was manna to Kathi’ s soul. To be the 
 object of so much curiosity, and, naturally, of so 
 much envy, delighted her beyond measure, and 
 she was, as a return for all these favors, conspic- 
 uously affectionate toward Klaus. 
 
 The second evening after their arrival there was 
 a great festival, commemorative of the battle of 
 Sedan. The park and streets were illuminated. 
 
98 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 there were fireworks, and finally there was a great 
 ball in the Kursaal. 
 
 Klaus, who had no wish to deny Kathi any- 
 thing, took her to the ball. For himself, he was 
 out of his element in a dancing room; he knew 
 nothing but a polka, and couldn’t even keep time 
 to that very well. 
 
 As they had attracted attention in the after- 
 noon in the park, so they were the cynosure of 
 all eyes in the ball-room. Scarcely had they 
 taken their places, when a number of officers, who 
 had come over from Mainz and Kassel for the 
 dance, petitioned the ball manager to present 
 them to Klaus, of whom they immediately asked 
 permission to dance with his charming wife. 
 Kathi was a perfect dancer, and, as is the case 
 with all good dancers, dearly loved it. Klaus 
 pressed her handkerchief and fan involuntarily 
 to his lips as he watched her, his own lovely wife 
 — his wife, who was a thousand times lovelier than 
 any other woman in the room — go whirling past 
 him in the arms of a slender lieutenant. The 
 dance was over. The officer brought his fair part- 
 ner back to her husband and bowed low as he ex- 
 pressed his thanks. A comrade was behind him, 
 waiting to beg for a similar favor, when Kathi 
 turned around suddenly and exclaimed, in a sur- 
 prised tone: 
 
 “ Why, it’s Baron Albersdorff! ” 
 
ME. AND MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 99 
 
 “What did you say?” asked Klaus, who had 
 not understood her half-surprised exclamation. 
 
 “ I didn’t say anything,” she answered. 
 
 Almost immediately a cavalry officer stepped 
 up to Klaus and introduced himself as: 
 
 “ Baron von Albersdorff.” 
 
 “ My name is Bew&r.” 
 
 “Will you have the goodness to present me to 
 your wife?” 
 
 “ Baron von Albersdorff wishes to be introduced 
 to you— my wife.” 
 
 “May I look at your programme, my dear 
 madam? I am fortunate in finding a vacant place. 
 With your permission — my heartfelt thanks — I 
 have the honor.” 
 
 With a deferential bow, the baron left them. 
 
 Albersdorff! Klaus felt sure he had heard the 
 name before. But where had he heard it? There 
 was something unpleasant connected with it; he 
 felt certain of that. Albersdorff! Hadn’t Kathi 
 mentioned a name which sounded like that just a 
 moment ago, and then refused to repeat it? 
 
 A new waltz began, and a new partner carried 
 Kathi off once more. Her husband held her hand- 
 kerchief and fan as before, and Kathi danced like 
 a fairy, but for some reason this second dance 
 gave him no pleasure. He looked for the baron 
 among the dancers, and found him without diffi- 
 culty. He felt certain he had never seen the man’ s 
 
100 
 
 ME. AND ME8. BEWEE. 
 
 face until to-night; but he had heard the name. 
 Where? Where? Perhaps Kathi could tell him. 
 
 His reflections were interrupted by his wife’s 
 return. She was warm, and reached for her fan 
 at once. 
 
 “Have you ever spoken to me of a Baron 
 Albersdorlf? I’ve heard the name some place, 
 but I can’t think where, and it worries me.” 
 
 “Well, don’t worry me in turn, you dear, good 
 man, but get me an ice. This heat is unendur- 
 able.” 
 
 Klaus gave the order to a waiter who passed 
 them at that moment. 
 
 “Don’t you think you had better take a rest? 
 You look exhausted.” 
 
 “ Take a rest! Ah, you don’t know me. I never 
 tire of dancing, never! The longer the better. 
 It’s only the heat of the room. What a shame 
 it is you can not dance! How I wish we could 
 dance together. There’s nothing finer in the 
 world than a good waltz. That’s one of Johann 
 Strauss’ s beginning now. Isn’ t it perfect? ’ ’ 
 
 She ate her ice slowly as she chatted. 
 
 “I’m having such a heavenly time! You’re 
 the dearest, best husband in all the world. I like 
 Wiesbaden; we’ll stay here a long time.” 
 
 The uncomfortable feeling which had come over 
 Klaus during the last waltz was banished by 
 Kathi’ s gentle, loving manner. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 101 
 
 “As long as you wish,” he said heartily. 
 
 Just then another partner, a young lawyer, 
 came to sue for Kathi’s favor. Why were the 
 pauses so short, and the dances so long, Klaus 
 asked himself. There he was again, with fan and 
 kerchief, while Kathi was spinning round and 
 round in a circle with a lawyer; a homely enough 
 man, too, who stepped on her train at this very 
 moment. What pleasure could she find in it all? 
 Wouldn’ t it be a hundred times nicer to be sitting 
 tete-a-tete in the garden, or in one of their large, 
 cool rooms — they had seven of them — in the Nas- 
 sauer Hof? What need had they of company? 
 These lawyers and these officers! And this 
 Albersdorff! 
 
 Albersdorff ! Who was the man, anyway? 
 
 “You must sit through the next dance, just to 
 please me. Sweetheart, you are quite feverish.” 
 
 “Oh, don’t say that, Klaus; you must not be 
 uneasy about me. I’m all right. I’ve told you 
 before I could dance twenty-four hours without 
 stopping, and not feel one bit fatigued. The 
 people here would get a fine idea of me if I broke 
 my very first engagements with them. And then 
 dancing is my greatest pleasure.” 
 
 She said all this in a coaxing, purring tone, and 
 pressed her arm against her husband’s, and gave 
 him a pleading glance from her lovely eyes. 
 
 “Does it really give you so much pleasure?” 
 asked Klaus, only half -convinced. 
 
102 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 Katlii nodded her head and gave her well- 
 beloved husband a coquettish glance; then she 
 raised her fan before her face and hummed a line 
 of the Viennese waltz song, which he had heard 
 her sing at the Walhalla. 
 
 She was certainly irresistible, and her husband 
 was looking at her with adoring eyes, when she 
 made a little moue at him, gave him a tap with 
 her fan, and was off, before he could speak, to 
 dance the waltz-quadrille with the baron. 
 
 He nodded after her with a half-dazed smile, as 
 she went away on Baron AlbersdorfFs arm to a 
 distant part of the room. 
 
 “Did you recognize me at once?” asked Kathi, 
 looking up into the face of the handsome, well- 
 built, pleasant officer. 
 
 “ At the first glance.” 
 
 “And, naturally, you told your comrades of 
 your discovery?” 
 
 “ Haven’t breathed it to a soul.” 
 
 “ Is that true?” 
 
 “I give you my word. I’ve only been in com- 
 mand here three days, and consequently have but 
 a slight acquaintance with any of them. You can 
 rely on my discretion, absolutely; so do not be 
 uneasy.” 
 
 “ I believe you. Have you and Levini had a 
 
 fuss?” 
 
 “Oh, dear, no! I hold her in as high esteem 
 now as ever.” 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 103 
 
 A figure in the quadrille here interrupted their 
 conversation, but the thread was taken up when- 
 ever opportunity offered. 
 
 “And how does Prince Strusa get on?” asked 
 Kathi. 
 
 “Excellently. I thank you for inquiring,” 
 answered the baron promptly. 
 
 “ Levini told me how furious he was that even- 
 ing— you know — when I did not come. He’s over 
 it by this time, though. He knows I’m married.” 
 
 “Yes, he’s over it. He’s fully reconciled by 
 this time,” answered the baron cheerfully. 
 
 “That’s good. Who’s he devoting himself to 
 now? ” 
 
 “As far as I know, he is basking in the favor 
 of your successor at the Walhalla, that pretty lit- 
 tle thing, Toni Semmer.” 
 
 “ What, that little fool? I know her very well. 
 We were engaged together at Klausenburg. 
 Blonde Toni and the dark Strusa! They’re well 
 suited to one another. The prince was an awful 
 bore.” 
 
 “Now you’ve gratified your curiosity, tell me 
 how it goes with you. How does life please you 
 as a married woman?” 
 
 “Very well, indeed. I’ve made an excellent 
 match.” 
 
 “ So I have heard, to my great joy. And is 
 your husband jealous?” 
 
104 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 “How can he be jealous, I have never given 
 him any occasion.” 
 
 “ That’s no reason why he shouldn’t be. He’s 
 a handsome fellow.” 
 
 “Yes, isn’t he? If he’d been as ill-looking as 
 the prince I’d have said ‘no’ very promptly.” 
 
 “You are unkind, my dear madame. We’ve 
 all spent a great many happy hours together.” 
 
 “ Well, and what then?” 
 
 “And the prince’s face did not mar our pleas- 
 ure then.” 
 
 “Prince Strusa and Toni! Think of them 
 together,” said Kathi, quite unmoved, and she 
 laughed. 
 
 “Can I take you in to supper now? ” asked the 
 baron, to whom Kathi’ s tone concerning the 
 prince was not altogether agreeable. 
 
 “Yes,” assented Kathi. 
 
 “Then, with your permission, we might take 
 seats at once in the supper room.” 
 
 “Yery well,” responded Kathi. 
 
 “Do you think your husband will object to 
 your supping with me?” asked the baron sud- 
 denly. “I should not like to do anything to 
 spoil the good man’s evening. We had better 
 ask him to join us.” 
 
 “Don’t bother about him. I can twist him 
 around my little finger.” 
 
 “Then you are most fortunate,” answered the 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 105 
 
 baron, resolving that he would invite the hus- 
 band, notwithstanding. 
 
 Kathi had found her old vivacious tone and 
 manner again by this time, though they had 
 seemed lost for the past month. The baron had 
 neither said nor done anything very remarkable, 
 but he had brought her old life, with its interests 
 and variations, to her mind. How many weeks 
 had it been? How long a time since she was so 
 gay and unconcerned? At the same time she 
 could not help feeling provoked that the prince 
 had so soon consoled himself, and with Toni, too! 
 Why couldn’t Klaus, such a good-hearted man 
 as he was, too, be lively and interesting like the 
 baron? He had such a kind disposition, and yet 
 he could not gossip. When he had told her he 
 loved her to distraction, that she made him happy, 
 and that he would always make her so, his com- 
 municative powers came to an end. That was all 
 very well, very fine and proper. But it was too 
 much of a good thing for every day in the week. 
 She wanted to hear about the “languid Toni,” as 
 she called her, and the prince; how Levini was 
 getting on with her lovers, and about many other 
 interesting persons and things. And yet he’d 
 sit and fret while she danced. Why didn’t he 
 dance himself, and not make eyes at her all the 
 evening. 
 
 “You are all selfish, every one of you!” said 
 
106 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 Kathi, aloud, supplementing her reflections on 
 her husband’s character by this abrupt exclama- 
 tion. 
 
 Klaus, in the mean time, had been watching 
 them closely. He had seen them talking animated- 
 ly during the breaks in the cotillion, and he had 
 noticed how happy Kathi appeared to be. Now 
 a feeling of anger came over him that she was 
 remaining away from him so long with this man 
 with the fatal name. And again the question 
 arose, where had he heard the name of Albers- 
 dorff? Kathi must have mentioned it; she had 
 evaded his question, and now she was chatting to 
 the man like an old acquaintance. He could see 
 her laugh heartily, while he, tired and impatient, 
 sat holding her fan and handkerchief. He had 
 drawn a different picture of the first evenings of 
 their married life. And now his wife seemed 
 unconscious of his very presence. All her atten- 
 tion was given to the ceaseless babble of a cavalry 
 officer. 
 
 Albersdorff! Klaus gave a sudden start and 
 pressed his lips tightly together. That was the 
 name of the officer who was to take Levini to the 
 Italian feast to which Kathi had been bidden. 
 And now she was dancing with him two days 
 after her marriage! 
 
 Klaus could hardly restrain himself. He felt 
 himself grow cold around the heart. A sudden 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 107 
 
 oppression came over him, and he wiped the great 
 beads of perspiration off his forehead. 
 
 “I will not be jealous. God help me! I will 
 not be jealous! ” he said, in a low tone. 
 
 The baron now brought Frau Bewer back to 
 her place, and remained for some time talking 
 beside her chair. Then he turned to her husband, 
 and said in a polite tone: 
 
 ‘ ‘ Madame, your wife, tells me that you sup here 
 this evening; may I take the liberty of asking 
 you to join me? ” 
 
 “It would be a great honor, Herr Baron,” 
 answered Klaus, “but I fear it is too late.” 
 
 “But, Klaus! ” exclaimed Kathi sulkily. 
 
 “It is really too late, dear child,” responded 
 Klaus gently, but very decidedly. “You amuse 
 yourself and think of nothing else. That is quite 
 natural at your age. But i am much older and 
 must be sensible for both. I am sorry if I disap- 
 point you, but 1 think it wiser for your health.” 
 
 “Herr Bewer is quite right, my dearmadame,” 
 the baron hastened to interrupt, for he saw 
 Kathi’ s feathers were ruffled the wrong way. 
 “ You are to be here for some time, I presume. I 
 shall, therefore, have the pleasure of seeing you 
 again, doubtless on the promenade. I come over 
 from Mainz very frequently. My dear madame — 
 Herr Bewer — I have the honor.” And with a 
 bow the baron turned on his heel. 
 
108 
 
 MK. AND MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 “ Well,” said Katlii, in a sharp tone. 
 
 “Come, my dear child, it is time. Come, to 
 please me.” 
 
 “You are unbearable! ” exclaimed Kathi. 
 
 Klaus was quite staggered by these words; 
 they came like a blow in the face. Thejr were the 
 first unkind ones he had ever heard her utter — 
 and this was the second day of their married life 
 together! He could say nothing but “ Kathi! ” 
 
 She uttered no word further as they threaded 
 their way through the brilliantly lighted corridor. 
 She took Klaus’ s arm back to the hotel and en- 
 tered her own well lighted salon, still without 
 speaking. 
 
 “Kathi,” said Klaus, with a world of love in 
 his reproving tones, “ do be reasonable.” 
 
 “Leave me alone,” she answered, in a whimp- 
 ering tone. She went to her room, where the 
 sleepy Gfustel was waiting, and shut the door 
 with a slam. 
 
 She felt the necessity of hiding the real state of 
 the case from her inquisitive handmaiden, at the 
 same time she must vent her ill feeling on some 
 one, so she scolded the girl well for her awkward- 
 ness and stupidity. The philosophical Gustel 
 took it all as a matter of course. 
 
 Klaus remained alone with his troublesome 
 thoughts. He sat a long time without arriving at 
 any satisfactory conclusion. He only knew his 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 109 
 
 heart was sad within him. Suddenly he rose and 
 stepped quickly into the bedroom. It was 
 empty. A great horror seized him. He hastened 
 to Kathi’s dressing-room. She had thrown her- 
 self down on a couch, in her nightgown, with only 
 a light shawl for covering, and was sleeping 
 soundly and peacefully. Klaus stood over her 
 and shook his head. 
 
 “She is a defiant child,” he said to himself. 
 “But only a child after all,” he added forgiv- 
 ingly. 
 
 He sat down opposite her and watched her for a 
 long time, and rejoiced that she could sleep so 
 quietly and deeply. How lovely she was in her 
 slumbers — how lovely and gentle. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 “Kathi,” said Klaus, as they sat opposite one 
 another at breakfast the next morning, “such a 
 scene as we went through last night must never 
 be repeated. We must not vex each other; we 
 are married, and have promised to gladden one 
 another’s lives, but not to sadden them. We 
 must, in consequence, consider well the first 
 weeks of married life, that we may tread the self- 
 same path, and not allow slight differences to part 
 us. It’s easy to start wrong, and if a man goes 
 one way and his wife another, unhappiness is sure 
 to follow. W e must never forget that our interests 
 are one; and while we may have many differences 
 of opinion — how could it be otherwise — still such 
 differences should never result in quarrels, or even 
 misunderstandings. It was no light matter for 
 me to refuse you last night. You had danced too 
 much already. You were greatly excited — more 
 so than I had ever seen you before, and it was 
 owing to this feverish excitement that you spoke 
 so unkindly to me, I am sure. And then, and 
 mainly, it was very disagreeable for me to have 
 
 you meet and talk with an acquaintance of your 
 
 ( 110 ) 
 
MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 Ill 
 
 former life. You can easily understand that. 
 About that old life I shall never breathe a syllable 
 that shall vex you, but I want to be reminded of 
 it as little as possible. Now let us think no more 
 about it, and I will not be cross with you. You 
 and I have many pleasures in life before us. Give 
 me your hand, my dear.” 
 
 During his long speech Kathi made no attempt 
 to interrupt him. She sat listlessly gazing at the 
 figured damask table-cover. Her face was utterly 
 devoid of expression. It was neither sad nor 
 defiant, nor distressed, nor reconciliatory. Apa- 
 thetically she extended her hand at her husband’s 
 bidding, now, without returning its pressure. 
 
 “Have you nothing to say to me?” he asked, 
 after a long pause. 
 
 “Nothing! When I’m out of humor I never 
 can say anything,” said his wife. 
 
 “ But you should not be out of humor, child! ” 
 
 Klaus drew her down beside him, and tried to 
 convince her that her ill-humor was groundless. 
 She let him talk, but gave him neither “yea” 
 nor “nay.” Perhaps she hardly understood 
 him. Klaus generalized too much for her lim- 
 ited comprehension. She never went beyond 
 positives. She knew what a new toilet signified, a 
 journey, a ball, a supper with Levini, but when 
 Klaus discoursed on the responsibilities of mar- 
 ried life, on duty and conduct for the future, he 
 
112 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 got beyond her level, and she was no Mend of 
 charades. 
 
 Klaus had been right when he declared to Leo, 
 the first night of their meeting, that her eyes were 
 proof her nature had not been spoiled. She was 
 by no means a degraded or vicious woman; she 
 was only undeveloped. She had grown up, as 
 best she could in a depressing atmosphere, with 
 no examples of a higher life before her eyes. No 
 earnest and noble thoughts had ever come into 
 her mind; all her powers of reflection lay dor- 
 mant. Her father had clothed, fed, and sent her 
 to the Yolksschule — her mother had been dead 
 for years — until she had acquired the compulsory 
 rudimentary education required by law. After 
 that she had to do what her hands could find to 
 do to support herself, and to rise, if possible, 
 above pinching poverty. The only duty which 
 she fully understood was that she must fulfill the 
 contracts which she signed, and her one reason 
 for doing so was that she would lose her salary 
 otherwise. Her personal charms, her inborn 
 grace of manner, did much, however, to conceal 
 this void in her soul. She was a more than ordi- 
 narily attractive woman, and she knew her power 
 well, and used it with such skill that it became a 
 dangerous weapon in her hands. If she wasn’t 
 quite sure of her ground, she would close her 
 mouth, and she found the gift of silence, in con- 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 113 
 
 junction with her attractive personality, accom- 
 plished revolutions which no speech could have 
 done. 
 
 But to Klaus, this silence was worse than any 
 torture, and when she stared straight ahead, with 
 a vacant, stolid look, he felt it was more than he 
 could endure. He was willing to bear anything, 
 willing to believe he was unjust, unkind, any- 
 thing but to have Kathi sit with sealed lips. He 
 had not married a lifeless statue. He would do 
 anything he could, but he would not talk to 
 empty air. Either he was right or he was wrong, 
 but she must speak out and say so. Was he 
 such a tyrant that all remonstrance died on her 
 lips? Her silence implied that such was the case, 
 but he must have open condemnation. 
 
 He reasoned with her, flew into a passion at 
 her callousness, as he termed it, and said things 
 for which he humbly apologized an hour later, 
 but all to no purpose. She would never acknowl- 
 edge herself in the wrong; in fact, she never 
 thought she was; and Klaus, after vainly endeav- 
 oring to convince her that he was right, in the 
 main, as to what their future life should be, and 
 as to what it would be if she did not work in 
 unison with him, would finally, with a sigh, 
 abandon the attack until some new folly or frib- 
 ble seemed to make it necessary for him to assume 
 
 once more the aggressive. He always felt 
 8 
 
114 
 
 ME. AND ME8. BEWEB. 
 
 ashamed of himself, too, she was such an inno- 
 cent, pretty little thing, with no one in the wide 
 world but himself. What business had he to 
 harangue such a child about wifely duty? She 
 was too young to know what the words meant. 
 
 Then when she had twisted him around her 
 finger, as she had boasted to the baron she could 
 do, a feeling of utter helplessness would confront 
 the poor, patient bridegroom as he thought of 
 how little he accomplished with all his words of 
 wisdom. 
 
 “ And they called me ‘king’ in Sumatra,” he 
 said once, with a bitter laugh. 
 
 Kathi, who had been silent at first from sheer 
 inability to defend herself, later, when she found 
 what a power against her husband her silence 
 was, made a point to shield herself thus whenever 
 he ventured upon any reproof. 
 
 Those first few weeks of married life were joy- 
 less in the extreme, but there were some hours of 
 sunshine notwithstanding. Frequently, after an 
 unpleasant scene, Kathi would go to the piano, 
 and sing the charming songs of her own land- 
 songs peculiarly adapted to one of her light, vari- 
 able temperament; and Klaus, great-hearted, 
 good-natured Klaus, would forget all else, and 
 listen with his very heart to the sweet tones of 
 the voice he loved, rejoicing within himself, the 
 while, that she was his, all his. This thought 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 115 
 
 consoled him for many a weary, oppressive hour. 
 He told himself that he had been too rough with 
 her, he had made a false start, and was little 
 more than an egotistical brute. 
 
 He had lived too long alone in Sumatra, and 
 women and their ways were an unopened book to 
 him. He must improve his manners. Kathi, 
 poor child, she had done too much already. If 
 she were different in many respects from what he 
 expected to find her, surely that was not her 
 fault. He could not expect the lark to sing with 
 the nightingale’s voice. 
 
 “I must build my house with the materials I 
 have at hand. The principal thing is to raise the 
 building, to have thick walls and a good roof. 
 I have planned a different life, but it need not be 
 a failure for all that. Kathi is not a bad nature; 
 we do not understand one another, that is all. 
 We must have patience, and learn to do so; then 
 we shall be perfectly happy.” 
 
 So argued Klaus. He blamed himself for all 
 troubles, and always turned a deaf ear to the 
 question whether Kathi was not the one, ever and 
 always, in fault. Something was wrong, had 
 been wrong, from the very beginning, and at 
 times the thought would overpower him that no 
 matter how thick the walls, or weather-proof the 
 roof, his house was built upon sand. He would 
 put the wretched thought from him, and declare, 
 
116 
 
 MB. AMD MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 for the hundredth time, that he, and he alone, was 
 to blame. 
 
 It soon became clear to him that their first lit- 
 tle quarrel had taken away all sympathy and 
 comfort in their intercourse. There was peace 
 between them, but no harmony. As a matter of 
 fact each lived a separate life. Outwardly all was 
 as it should be, but there was really nothing in 
 common between them. Kathi could not step out 
 of the circle for which her birth and rearing had 
 fitted her, and this circle differed greatly from 
 that within whose limits Klaus had been edu- 
 cated. The old Ltibeck banker had been a man of 
 austere life and strict morals, and the memory of 
 old times, of his boyhood’s home, was ever before 
 his son in those early days of marriage. It was 
 incomprehensible to Kathi that Klaus wished 
 certain alterations in her conduct or manner, and 
 was so captious concerning harmless deceptions 
 which she had practiced all her life. She took 
 the little seasons of strife much less tragically 
 thamher husband. It never for a moment entered 
 her head that she was the one to blame. But she 
 was not happy. True, the man at her side loved 
 her with his whole heart, and gave her all the ma- 
 terial comforts and luxuries which money could 
 buy, but she confessed to herself, over and over 
 again, she was much happier in Frau Milcke’s 
 stuffy little room, where she could have half 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 117 
 
 a dozen different admirers in as many days. Now, 
 she was wearied to death. Twenty-fonr hours, day 
 after day, with the same man— that was a little 
 too much! Would she have to endure it forever? 
 Other women had husbands who went off to their 
 business for the entire day, which gave the wives 
 an opportunity to come and go a little themselves, 
 and a chance for daily gossip with their neigh- 
 bors. She knew no women, and had no friends 
 whom she could entertain for a quiet hour in her 
 own handsome apartments. She had only her 
 own husband, who, God have mercy on her, had 
 nothing to do but bestow his company on her all 
 day long. And he certainly did annoy her con- 
 tinually with all his remarkable notions. She 
 never sat down for a quiet hour alone but he 
 intruded himself upon her, and either made love 
 to her, or began one of his prosy homilies, which 
 almost set her crazy. 
 
 Klaus, who took Kathi into his confidence con- 
 cerning all his business affairs, was not a little 
 surprised at the interest she manifested in every- 
 thing connected with Sumatra. The liquidation 
 of his Eastern business was a much more weari- 
 some matter than he had expected. The last 
 mail had brought him a letter from his cautious 
 and trustworthy manager, in which the latter said 
 that he dared not take the responsibility of carry- 
 ing out, to the letter, Herr Bewer’s hastily given 
 
118 
 
 MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 instructions; his conscience, as a man of business, 
 forbade it. Great losses would follow on imme- 
 diate retirement from business, all of which could 
 be avoided if more time was taken. He there- 
 fore begged Herr Bewer’s permission for time, 
 and also to be allowed to use his own judgment 
 in such complications as must be acted upon at 
 once. But above all things he wanted time; one 
 year or two, if necessary. If such was allowed 
 him, he would guarantee there would be no loss. 
 
 Klaus wrote his manager, giving him full per- 
 mission to use his own judgment, and to keep him 
 posted as to every turn in the affairs. It pleased 
 the husband greatly to find his wife so interested 
 in his business. It proved to him that she was 
 beginning to feel that their interests were one. 
 
 “ Who knows,” said Kathi, with an earnest 
 shake of the head, as she sat down on her hus- 
 band’ s knee, ‘ ‘ but what it would be better for you 
 to go yourself, to see that everything is as it 
 should be.” 
 
 “But child,” Klaus answered, with a good- 
 natured laugh. “You have not thought what a 
 long, hard journey it would be for you to take.” 
 
 No, Kathi had not thought of that. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The autumn had come and gone. The young 
 pair, after a delightful trip through South Ger- 
 many, after carrying out numerous projects and 
 abandoning others, decided to take up their resi- 
 dence in Berlin. Klaus had thought of Berlin as 
 a possible future home, even before their mar- 
 riage, and had decided upon a charming little 
 house in Hildebrandtstrasse. So when Kathi, 
 during her stay in Rome, was seized with a house- 
 wifely fever, Klaus immediately empowered Leo 
 to purchase the house which he had already 
 selected, and also instructed his friend to make 
 any alterations or improvements which he con- 
 sidered necessary; above all, to spare neither 
 pains nor money on the adornment and furnish- 
 ing of Kathi’ s own rooms. 
 
 In those few weeks immediately preceding their 
 settlement in their own home, Klaus was repeat- 
 edly and agreeably surprised by Kathi’ s interest. 
 “Ah,” he soliloquized, “I do not know her yet! 
 She is neither shallow nor selfish. She has no 
 thought for self, after all. How little she cares 
 for the comfort or garnishing of her own rooms, 
 
 ( 119 ) 
 
120 
 
 ME. AMD MBS. BEWER. 
 
 but how anxious she is concerning mine! My 
 particular sanctum must contain everything that 
 can be thought of; there must be nothing for- 
 gotten, nothing left undone! I must have 
 all the requirements of an office, or, when my 
 fancy inclines, of a lounging-room, so that I can 
 work unmolested or take my ease undisturbed. 
 There is more love, more gratitude, in my Kathi 
 than I had thought.” 
 
 Herr Bewer had made a wise choice in selecting 
 Leo Schneider to transform his house into a 
 beautiful as well as a homelike dwelling. 
 Schneider had an artist’s eye, and worked with a 
 will in the furtherance of his friend’s desires, so 
 that by the middle of November the pretty, 
 picturesque place in Hildebrandtstrasse was 
 ready for its owner, and a week later Herr and 
 Frau Bewer entered in and took possession. 
 
 Kathi was as enthusiastic as any fond husband 
 could desire over the beauties and conveniences 
 of her new home. How good he was! How 
 thoughtful! and — to herself — how rich! 
 
 The first weeks of home life passed much more 
 quickly than the honeymoon journey had done. 
 There was so much to arrange, so many pleasant 
 little duties to fulfill, and then Herr Schneider 
 made them frequent and enlivening visits. 
 
 Kathi had judged him too severely, she now 
 thought. He was a charming, amiable creature, 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 121 
 
 after all. Then his manner to herself had so 
 changed. He was so respectful, so deferential, 
 so anxious to hear her opinion on any and every 
 subject. The words “gnadige Frau” dropped 
 from his lips in such a natural, unconstrained 
 manner! But the great charm, after all, was that 
 the odor of the stage was inseparably connected 
 with him. It was folly for her to think he would 
 spoil Klaus or corrupt him in any way. On the 
 contrary, their intercourse must be encouraged by 
 every means in her power. He must become — it 
 would take time and caution, of course — her dis- 
 creet ally. He could plan evenings for Klaus 
 away from home; could take him out to supper 
 at Dressel’ s or anywhere else he chose, as long as 
 he only took him away. Then, when Klaus had 
 grown accustomed to seeking and finding his 
 pleasures away from home, like other men, life 
 would not only be endurable, but vistas of de- 
 light would open for her at every turn; she could 
 see and be seen by her old friends without a hus- 
 band always at her elbow, and, who knows, per- 
 haps have an opportunity to make some new 
 acquaintances. 
 
 So Kathi had a little perspective of her own, in 
 which the figure of her husband had no place. 
 
 She had not been back in Berlin twenty-four hours 
 before she was planning various deceptions which, 
 she argued, it would be necessary to practice upon 
 
122 
 
 ME. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 Klaus. In the mean time she was gracious and 
 amiable toward all. But markedly so toward the 
 director of the Court Theater. 
 
 All of which made Klaus a very contented man 
 once more. 
 
 One morning, a few weeks after their establish- 
 ment in Berlin, he received a letter, which, in his 
 present happy state, was most welcome. It was 
 from his favorite brother, Wilhelm, and ran as 
 follows: 
 
 Hamburg, December 18, 1878. 
 
 Crown Prince Hotel. 
 
 Dear Klaus: I arrived here yesterday, ac- 
 companied by my wife, my two-year-old son, and 
 a negress who is as black as pitch. 
 
 I shall only remain here a few days. My 
 business demands my presence in Berlin, so we 
 shall go to the capital about the 23d. My wife’s 
 sister, Bella, who has been in a pension in Dres- 
 den for the past three years, will meet us there 
 and spend the holidays with us, after which she 
 is to go back to Dresden to finish her term, and 
 then return with us to her home in San Fran- 
 cisco. If this letter finds you in Berlin, and it 
 is convenient and pleasant for your wife and 
 yourself, we will spend Christmas Eve with you. 
 
 We are delighted to think we shall soon meet 
 our lovely sister-in-law. My wife has fallen in 
 love with her photograph, which you sent. 
 
 With a thousand greetings, 
 
 Your affectionate brother, 
 
 Wilhelm. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 123 
 
 KatM shared her husband’ s joy in the good news 
 which this letter brought. She had not thought 
 to have so gay a Christmas. Now her beautiful 
 home would be of some use. She could exhibit 
 it in all its glory to her husband’s kinsfolk. She 
 would be a bona fide hostess at last! She asked 
 Klaus many questions concerning her sister-in- 
 law’s sister Bella, of whom neither she nor 
 Klaus had ever heard until they read Wilhelm’s 
 letter. Her husband could tell her little except 
 that Wilhelm had married the daughter of a 
 wealthy San Francisco merchant, a man of note 
 in those parts and the president of several very 
 prominent corporations, and that he had sent his 
 young daughter to Europe to complete her educa- 
 tion, which desideratum having been accom- 
 plished, she would return soon to her native land 
 with Wilhelm and her sister. 
 
 Kathi was eager to have them become her guests 
 during their stay in Germany, but Klaus ex- 
 plained that his brother would never consent to 
 such an arrangement. Then she declared she would 
 show the Americans what a German Christmas 
 meant. She would arrange everything without 
 any interference. She would plan for their guests’ 
 entertainment, but “Klaus must not meddle, 
 not one bit, ” with a saucy shake of her head. 
 
 A half hour later Kathi appeared well wrapped 
 in furs and bonnet. Klaus looked up in surprise. 
 
124 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “ Where are you going so early?” he asked. 
 
 “Ah, that doesn’t matter to you,” she said, 
 with a dazzling smile. “It’s not good taste to be 
 curious so near Christmas.” 
 
 “You are but a child,” he said, smiling. 
 “You will not ride alone, though? ” 
 
 “ Gustel is going with me.” 
 
 “ Very well! ” 
 
 Kathi gave him a loving hug, and he followed 
 her to the carriage to give the coachman special 
 orders to drive carefully. 
 
 His wife threw herself back in the corner of the 
 carriage with a sigh of victory and relief, and 
 Gustel sat diagonally opposite her mistress. 
 
 For the first time since the day of her betrothal, 
 Kathi had managed to escape her husband’s 
 escort. His constant presence was suffocating to 
 her. She might as well be in a pension, if she 
 was to have him forever at her side like a great 
 shaggy dog. She now smiled broadly behind her 
 thick veil as she thought how she had finally 
 eluded her keeper. 
 
 “Say, Gustel,” she said suddenly, “do you 
 think Frederick is a gossip? ’ ’ 
 
 “ Coachmen are usually pretty close-mouthed; 
 but I don’t know enough of Frederick to answer 
 for him. You had better be cautious, however, 
 my lady.” 
 
 “I’d like to see Levini once again, but you 
 
ME. AND MKS. BEWEE. 
 
 125 
 
 know Herr Bewer is so peculiar about many 
 things. Then Levini lives in a street where there 
 are no Christmas shops. So if I go to see her, 
 and my husband should chance to ask Frederick 
 where we were, I should be lost. Don’t you see? ” - 
 
 “I do, indeed,” answered Gustel, whose schem- 
 ing brain was solving the difficulty for her mis- 
 tress. “If you wish to see Fraulein Levini, I 
 can write her a note, or see her and tell her to meet 
 you at mother’s to-morrow afternoon, for, of 
 course, you’ll have shopping to do every day now, 
 and you can go to my mother’s house in safety, 
 for if your husband does hear of it, what’s 
 more natural than that you should stop to inquire 
 about your old landlady, and leave her a little 
 Christmas gift. You can visit with Fraulein 
 Levini as long as you choose at mother’s — or 
 with any one else you desire.” 
 
 There was a careless but sinister insinuation in 
 the last words, which did not disturb Kathi in 
 the least — she was too overjoyed at her prudent 
 hand-maiden’s suggestion. 
 
 “That’s an excellent plan,” she exclaimed 
 excitedly. “You can see Fraulein Levini and 
 your mother some time this evening and arrange 
 a meeting for to-morrow afternoon at three.” 
 
 “Very well, my lady. Is it really Fraulein 
 Levini who I’m to tell?” asked Gustel curiously. 
 
 “Certainly, who else?” responded her mistress 
 
126 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 tartly. “Don’t get foolish notions in your 
 head.” 
 
 That day Kathi purchased all manner of use- 
 less articles for the two American ladies and her 
 brother-in-law, and bought a wagon-load of play 
 toys for the little boy; about all of which she 
 made a great secret, obstinately refusing to let 
 Klaus know anything about them. 
 
 The next day the scene of the previous one was 
 repeated. Kathi parted from her husband gaily 
 and affectionately, but as soon as she was out of 
 Hildebrandtstrasse she ordered Frederick to 
 drive to 99 Zimmerstrasse. Glustel preceded her 
 mistress out of the coupe, and, after a cautious 
 glance up and down the street, whispered to her 
 “the road is clear, gnadige Frau,” and a second 
 later Frau Bewer had entered the old house, 
 where “elegantly furnished rooms” were still to 
 let. 
 
 It was a real happiness to Kathi to enter the 
 well-known hallway once more. It did not seem 
 narrow and dark to her to-day, it seemed only 
 home-like; and when Glustel opened the door of 
 her old room, Kathi sprang with a cry of joy into 
 her former colleague’s arms. 
 
 Kathi’ s friendship for Victoria Levini had 
 gained ground since the days in which they had 
 sung together, and the Walhalla prima donna was 
 much surprised at her ci-devant friend’s hearty 
 
MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 127 
 
 greeting, but not to be outdone, she responded 
 with equal warmth. 
 
 Kathi found her old room changed a little for 
 the worse, but it had a comfortable look to her, 
 nevertheless. 
 
 Then for a long hour the two laughed and gos- 
 siped together with a freedom from restraint 
 which was manna to Kathi’ s soul. 
 
 “ And so our little blonde Toni is not a favor- 
 ite? I’m not surprised. How could she be? ” 
 
 “She can’t hold a candle to you, my dear,” 
 answered Victoria impressively. She sings her 
 numbers in the most lachrymose tones. She 
 hasn’t one bit of grace or chic.''' 1 
 
 “ Of course she hasn’t. I could do it all much 
 better.” 
 
 “There is no comparison between you! The 
 prince has often said that. By the way, he fre- 
 quently inquires after you.” 
 
 “Well, he need not trouble himself; he is too 
 poky. I told Baron Albersdorff that. I can not 
 tell you what a surprise it was to meet the baron 
 at a ball. We danced together, and my husband 
 was jealous, awfully jealous, and wouldn’t let us 
 take supper together. Can you understand such 
 a feeling? As if I couldn’t have a chat with your 
 old lover! ” 
 
 “ Does he annoy you often? ” 
 
 “Yes, and no. He is as good as gold, but he 
 
128 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 doesn’t understand what a jolly time means. He 
 buys me everything I want, and more too, but I 
 get wearied to death of such a humdrum exist- 
 ence. I long for the old bustle and excitement. 
 But only wait until the beginning of the new 
 year, when my visitors are gone — I am expecting 
 visitors, a brother in-law and his wife; she is the 
 daughter of one of the presidents in America — 
 when they have gone, I shall manage a pleasant 
 evening with you now and then. Gustel’s a 
 clever girl, and I rely greatly on her. Now I 
 must go. I can not annoy the coachman by stay- 
 ing too long, and I have a little present for Frau 
 Milcke.” 
 
 Fraulein Levini took this opportunity to bor- 
 row forty marks from her dear friend — she had 
 left her purse at home on the table. Kathi lent 
 her the money willingly and understandingly. It 
 was not the first time Fraulein Levini had for- 
 gotten her purse. 
 
 Frau Milcke could not restrain her tears when 
 Kathi presented her with a beautiful velvet bon- 
 net and muff, and followed her benefactress to 
 the door with many courtesies. Kathi drove 
 back hastily to her own home. 
 
 “Well,” exclaimed Klaus, to whom the time 
 had seemed unendurably long during her absence, 
 “have you finished all your secret expeditions?” 
 
 “Yes,” answered Kathi gaily, while Gustel 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 129 
 
 removed her hat and mantle, with no change in 
 her usual expressionless countenance. “Yes, 
 everything is ready now. At least I hope so.” 
 
 “Well, the heavens be praised for that! May 
 I be permitted to ask where you were to-day? ’ ’ 
 “Oh, everywhere — in all the shops. Then I 
 took a poor woman a little Christmas present. 
 Any more questions, my dear husband? ” 
 
 “No more,” said Klaus, as he drew her to him, 
 and stroked her soft, black hair lovingly. 
 
 o 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 It was a cold, gloomy, gray day. A sharp, 
 frost-laden east wind whistled through the streets, 
 and the throng of Christmas shoppers hurried 
 along, with red noses and streaming eyes, too 
 short of breath to exchange the season’s greet- 
 ings with the chance acquaintances whom they 
 happened to meet. Long before 4 o’clock, the 
 lamp-lighters were hurrying on, from street to 
 street, endeavoring to lighten a little the steadily 
 increasing gloom. 
 
 Kathi was in a state of great excitement. Her 
 husband had gone to the station to meet Wilhelm 
 and his family. The former telegraphed they 
 would arrive at half-past 4. Dinner was ordered 
 for half-past 6, a dinner for five, and the first one 
 at which the fine service of Dresden china would 
 be used. Kathi had invited Leo Schneider also, 
 notwithstanding her husband’s suggestion that it 
 would be better to have no guests at this first 
 family dinner. She was disappointed, however, 
 for Leo had an engagement at the theater that 
 night. She went for the fourth time into the 
 kitchen, and the fat. rosy-cheeked cook assured 
 
 ( 130 ) 
 
MR AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 131 
 
 her, for the fourth time also, that she need give 
 herself no uneasiness, as everything would be 
 satisfactory. 
 
 Then she went to her dressing-room, where 
 Gustel was waiting for her, and dressed very 
 slowly. She had chosen a simple gown, which 
 fitted her to perfection, and exhibited her grace- 
 ful figure to the best advantage. She resisted 
 the temptation to wear some of her glittering 
 wedding jewels, and contented herself with a 
 corsage bouquet of Jacquesminot roses instead. 
 Similar bouquets were to be placed beside the 
 plate of each lady. She inspected her pretty 
 rooms once more, and gave a satisfied sigh. 
 There was nothing new or gaudy about them; 
 everything was in most perfect taste — thanks to 
 Leo Schneider, though Kathi gave him little 
 credit. 
 
 * Then she went to the window, for she thought 
 she heard carriage- wheels; then back to the 
 kitchen again, then to consult the clocks one after 
 another, and to listen if her watch had stopped. 
 Surely, they must be here soon. But no rattling 
 of wheels disturbed the quiet of Hildebrandt- 
 strasse yet. 
 
 Klaus arrived at the station five minutes before 
 the arrival of the train. When he entered the 
 waiting-room, he was so full of his own thoughts 
 that he did not notice a tall, slender girl looking 
 
132 
 
 ME. AMD MES. BEWEE. 
 
 at him curiously out of her great brown eyes. 
 She had a lovely face, with a clear-cut profile, and 
 a brilliant color, and golden hair. Klaus remained 
 standing by the glass door, his attention attracted 
 by the hurry and bustle of the porters and train- 
 men on the platform outside. After a moment’s 
 hesitation, the girl rose from her seat with a reso- 
 lute air. 
 
 “Is this Herr Klaus Bewer?” 
 
 “ At your service, Fraulein,” answered Klaus, 
 a little surprised, as he lifted his hat. 
 
 “ I am Bella White,” explained the young girl 
 simply, as she reached out her hand to her sister’s 
 brother-in-law. 
 
 “You can go now, Fraulein,” she said, turning 
 carelessly toward a woman who stood at a respect- 
 ful distance. “I have protection now.” “I 
 brought her with me from the hotel,” she 
 explained to Klaus, who stood staring at her, 
 much surprised by her beauty. “ I knew you at 
 the first glance; your resemblance to Wilhelm 
 is so striking.” 
 
 As she said the last word, the heavy glass 
 doors swung back. The train had arrived. 
 
 Wilhelm stepped down slowly from his car. 
 The first person he saw was Klaus. Just the 
 same old and dearly loved brother. Perhaps he 
 had grown a trifle taller and a little broader. 
 His beard, too, had grown darker, and he wore it 
 shorter. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 133 
 
 The two on the platform saw him instantly, and 
 hurried forward. Bella gave him a hearty 
 embrace, then hurried past him into the com- 
 partment to see her sister and nephew, over whom 
 she was crying and laughing in a breath a mo- 
 ment later. The brothers embraced one another 
 and then clasped hands without saying a word. 
 Each was surprised at the changes in the other, 
 and these grew more marked as they stood and 
 gazed at one another. The sisters were still kiss- 
 ing and declaring that each had grown much 
 more beautiful since their separation, when they 
 were interrupted by Wilhelm. 
 
 “Come, children, come! Ellen, this is Klaus! ” 
 he said. 
 
 Ellen was not such a beauty as her sister, but 
 she was a very pretty woman, nevertheless. Her 
 face was so sympathetic, so kind and intelligent, 
 that it was a pleasant one for the eye to rest 
 upon. She was smaller than Bella, and fuller, 
 and looked, as in truth she was, a few years 
 older. Frau Wilhelm Bewer was in her twenty- 
 sixth year. 
 
 Ellen greeted her brother-in-law cordially, and 
 commented on the close resemblance between 
 him and her husband. Klaus was much inter- 
 ested in the negress who followed with the child. 
 
 Chloe was indeed as black as pitch, and the 
 brilliant red turban which she wore on her woolly 
 
134 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 head emphasized all the more strongly the color- 
 ing of the skin. Everything about he^ glittered, 
 the shiny skin, the magnificent teeth, the large, 
 luminous eyes, which rested so lovingly on the 
 little golden-hai»ed child, clad in pure white, who 
 rested against her expansive breast. 
 
 After the porter had secured their baggage, 
 Ellen and Klaus, with the baby and nurse, entered 
 the hotel omnibus and were driven quickly to the 
 Hotel Royal, while Wilhelm and Bella followed 
 in Klaus’s coupe. 
 
 The ladies went immediately to their rooms to 
 dress for dinner, and Klaus bore his brother com- 
 pany while the latter made such changes as were 
 necessary in his attire. 
 
 “Now tell me all about your wife,” began 
 Wilhelm. “ You can't know how anxious we all 
 are to hear about her.” 
 
 “You will soon see her and learn to know her 
 for yourself. ’ ’ 
 
 “Judging from her picture, she must be very 
 lovely, she has such a dainty, fragile look. But 
 if she is good, that’ s the main thing, and loves you 
 devotedly. Do you quarrel much?” Wilhelm 
 asked the question in a careless, conversational 
 tone as he searched for his dress-coat in his trunk. 
 
 “Do we quarrel much?” repeated Klaus. 
 “Why do you ask such a question?” 
 
 “I have no special motive. I am only inter- 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 135 
 
 ested to know whether it is a family trait among 
 the Bewers to begin married life with a succes- 
 sion of storms in order that unclouded sunshine 
 may follow after.” 
 
 “Was it so with you,” asked Klaus, rather 
 relieved. 
 
 “I should think so. We had more fusses in 
 the first three weeks after our marriage than we 
 have had in the last three years. Thank good- 
 ness, I’ve found it!” he exclaimed, drawing his 
 dress-coat out with a vindictive shake. 
 
 “You are my senior in years, but I am yours in 
 the marriage state, and I must say that, as far as 
 my experience goes, every man is a fool during 
 his honeymoon. More has been told about the 
 glories of the honeymoon season than about any 
 other period of human life; but it’s all stuff! 
 The wives are always captious and crotchety to 
 an exasperating degree, and the husbands take 
 the reins and become bullies for the time being in 
 order to prove how wise they are. Then there 
 are orders and tears, and sometimes a whole after 
 life is wrecked because two young people, each 
 kindly disposed enough, can’t have a little 
 patience one with the other. That’s what I mean, 
 Klaus. If you have not yet been able to overcome 
 all the little difficulties, do not fret about them. 
 They’ll all come right. It belongs to the early 
 days of marriage.” 
 
136 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 “Are you quite happy now? ” asked Klaus. 
 
 Wilhelm, who had been pacing the room slowly 
 while making his toilet, stopped before his 
 brother now and said very earnestly: 
 
 ‘ £ Quite happy, Klaus! Just as happy as a man 
 can be; and I know what that means. I have 
 the best and noblest of wives. No breath of 
 reproach could ever touch her. She has a deep, 
 pure soul, a full, warm heart, and a clear under- 
 standing of the duties and privileges of life. I 
 say to you, as you said to me just now, ‘ You will ■ 
 learn to know her for yourself.’ For she conceals 
 nothing, neither would it ever enter into her head 
 to make an ostentatious display. She is unas- 
 suming and good. So you can readily understand 
 what a faithful, loving companion she is to me in 
 my life. We understand one another at a glance, 
 understand one another without a glance. A 
 close and warm friendship unites us, in spite of 
 much dissimilarity. And though we frequently 
 entertain different opinions, we are always one in 
 heart and soul.” 
 
 “Yes, you are a happy man,” murmured 
 Klaus. 
 
 Wilhelm’s half -jesting remarks on the honey- 
 moon period had pleased him well. He had 
 involuntarily taken every word home, and turned 
 it to account in connection with those early and 
 unhappy weeks when Kathi and he began their 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWEE. 
 
 137 
 
 travels. But, when Wilhelm paid so earnest, and 
 Klaus could not but feel so truthful, a tribute to 
 his wife’s character and attributes, a deep sadness 
 came over the listener’s heart. He again drew a 
 parallel between her and Kathi, but he had to 
 force himself to do it, and it was most painful. 
 He could not conceal from himself that Kathi was 
 lacking in those virtues which are the foundation- 
 stones of a happy married life, and which his 
 more fortunate sister-in-law possessed. 
 
 When he questioned himself by what means 
 Kathi had won his heart, there was but one an- 
 swer, or series of answers: the beauty of her face 
 and figure, her grace, the sound of her voice, the 
 resistless charm of her Viennese speech. Of her 
 nobility of character, her warm heart, her pure 
 soul, he had never thought; and, as he was 
 honest to himself, he could not think now. 
 
 “1 should be sorry,” he said, after a pause, “if 
 our wives were not friends.” 
 
 “There’ll be no trouble about that,” said Wil- 
 helm briskly. “ Ellen intends they shall be. 
 She comes to your wife with a heart full of love 
 and sympathy.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ But Kathi is a very singular nature; not really 
 reserved, but, at the same time, difficult to 
 approach. She is quick and sensible, but some- 
 what peculiar in her feelings — that is, I mean in 
 her expression of them,” answered Klaus, 
 
138 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 “That won’t make any difference. Young 
 wives form friendships very quickly, and as your 
 Kathi is younger and much prettier than my wife, 
 she won’t find any fault with Ellen. And if 
 they become good friends at the start, they’ll 
 always remain so. If Frau Kathi is ever impo- 
 lite, why, my wife can give her a good scolding 
 and bring her around again, and we four will live 
 in peace together — and Bella, too! By George, 
 what a pretty girl she’s grown to be in these three 
 years! ” 
 
 Wilhelm knocked on the door of the adjoining 
 room and called out: 
 
 “Are you ready, Ellen?” 
 
 “Yes.” 
 
 “And Bella?” 
 
 “ She is waiting in the parlor.” 
 
 “I forgot to mention among my wife’s nu- 
 merous virtues,” said Wilhelm, with a laugh, 
 
 ‘ ‘ that she is always on time. I never knew her to 
 keep me waiting. That was not inborn, though, 
 but the result of my training,” he added, with 
 a self-satisfied, significant nod. 
 
 Ellen and the two men went at once to the 
 reception-room, where Bella sat playing with the 
 child, while Chloe stood back with a broad grin 
 on her ebony face, showing her glittering teeth to 
 perfection. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 When Kathi heard the carriage-wheels before 
 the door, she was in a state of great excitement. 
 She rushed to a long mirror to give herself one 
 more glance, and smoothed down the folds of her 
 long, soft pompadour train, and then, well satis- 
 fied with her appearance, went forward to meet 
 her guests. 
 
 The greetings were very cordial, almost hearty. 
 Ellen was charmed with Kathi, whom she 
 promptly declared to herself to be the most beau- 
 tiful creature in existence. Kathi, on her part, 
 was very gracious, especially after she observed 
 that her American kinswoman, notwithstanding 
 her youth, was given to embonpoint; decidedly so, 
 she assured herself complacently. The young 
 sister, who was glowing with youth and beauty, 
 and bubbling over with vivacious spirits, did not 
 please her so well. 
 
 At dinner Kathi sat next Wilhelm, who had, of 
 course, taken her in; Ellen was escorted by her 
 host, and sat at his right hand, while Bella was on 
 his left. 
 
 The conversation was very animated at first. 
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
140 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 The two sisters had not seen one another for three 
 years, and the two brothers had been parted for 
 quite eleven. So they talked of San Francisco 
 and Liibeck, of Sumatra and Dresden. They all 
 thought of something which they wished Kathi 
 could have seen, and which they yet hoped to 
 have the pleasure of showing her. Ellen good- 
 naturedly strove to turn the conversation into 
 channels which would interest her hostess, but 
 Kathi had by this time decided not to be inter- 
 ested in anything. Ellen complimented her on 
 her fine housekeeping, on the exquisite appoint- 
 ments of her table, and on the quiet elegance of 
 her gown. She deplored the ever-increasing ex- 
 travagance of Americans in the matter of dress, 
 and wished they could learn a lesson from the 
 more sensible Germans. To all of which Kathi 
 listened without making any attempt to bear her 
 share in the general talk. 
 
 Ellen asked which city she preferred as a place 
 of residence, Berlin or Vienna, and whether the 
 difference between North and South Germany was 
 great enough to be noticeable to a foreigner, but 
 Kathi only gave her monosyllabic answers. Ellen, 
 who was not very musical herself, felt it a duty to 
 resume a certain interest in such matters. She 
 asked Kathi if she ever grew timid or lost her 
 self-possession on the stage, if she memorized her 
 songs readily, and many more questions, to prove 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 141 
 
 to her new sister-in-law that whatever interested 
 her would become a matter of interest also to her 
 husband’s family. 
 
 Kathi answered all questions politely, but in- 
 differently. She was neither rude nor embar- 
 rassed; she had simply lost all interest in her 
 guests, or so at least it seemed. The four tried 
 repeatedly to draw her into conversation, but all 
 to no purpose; she was a passive hostess, sepa- 
 rated by an impassable barrier from the rest. 
 
 Good-natured Ellen soon found a reason for 
 Frau Bewer’ s distant manner which satisfied her. 
 They were all strangers to her, and foreigners too, 
 for Ellen considered Wilhelm a genuine American 
 by this time. Then the little woman was a young 
 housekeeper, and was anxious that everything 
 should pass off well. She was doubtless of a timid 
 nature, too, and was awed by their noise and 
 laughter. 
 
 At the same time, Ellen felt it a duty to show 
 good-fellowship and draw her hostess out. She 
 referred repeatedly to “us wives,” or “our hus- 
 bands,” or “we Bewers.” 
 
 Kathi realized that Ellen was a pleasant, sym- 
 pathetic woman, who meant what she said, and 
 was kindly disposed toward herself, and she ac- 
 corded to her guests, involuntarily, that respect 
 which the uncultivated and undeveloped must 
 always pay their superiors. 
 
142 ME. AND MKS. BEWEE. 
 
 It was really very good of this San Franciscan 
 to take so much trouble on her account, she re- 
 flected. But why did she do it? They all talked 
 about such stupid, uninteresting things, and 
 laughed, laughed heartily too, at absolutely 
 nothing. Kathi made it quite clear that she had 
 nothing in common with them, and that she had 
 neither desire nor intention to meet them half 
 way. 
 
 Something divided them, she could not tell what. 
 Though she had to smile and appear happy, she 
 felt she was “the fifth wheel of the wagon.” 
 
 Fraulein Bella annoyed her greatly. How free 
 and easy she was, chatting away with her husband 
 as though she had known him her life long, and 
 as if he were an unmarried man. Why was 
 she of the party at all? How unconcernedly she 
 laughed. That was the result, doubtless, of her 
 education in a pension. A singular education, 
 indeed, which permitted unfledged girls to laugh 
 and make merry while married women sat by in 
 silence! 
 
 The dinner was over. Each of the four had 
 discovered, by this time, that he or she made one 
 of a quartette, while the fifth was but a listener; 
 but no remark was made, and the fiction that Kathi 
 was participating in their mirth was still main- 
 tained. No one felt this as keenly as poor Klaus. 
 Both ladies congratulated Kathi on the success of 
 
MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 143 
 
 her little dinner, and, as they entered the drawing- 
 room after dinner, Ellen put her arm around the 
 silent woman’s waist, and said, with a pleasant 
 laugh, “Now we matrons will have a little sensi- 
 ble chat all by ourselves,” as she drew her down 
 on the sofa beside herself, in a little alcove sepa- 
 rated by portieres from the drawing-room. 
 
 Klaus, Wilhelm, and Bella sat at some distance 
 from them, and, after the coffee had been served, 
 the men smoked. 
 
 Bella chatted on quite oblivious of her hostess’ 
 disapproving looks. She had a thousand and one 
 things to tell her brother-in-law, and countless 
 questions to ask him: Whether her father still 
 played cards daily with Mr. J efferson? How far 
 Wilhelm’s new house was from the homestead? 
 What kind of a looking man her friend Hattie’s 
 husband was? and was he as much in love with 
 Hattie as she was with him? Then she told how 
 many nice girls she had met in Dresden; how fond 
 she was of some of them, and, she added unaf- 
 fectedly, they of her; how well she had progressed 
 with her painting, and what words of praise Di- 
 rector Hiibner had given her when he inspected 
 the two pictures of still-life which she had copied 
 in the great gallery. 
 
 Klaus listened to it all with attention, although 
 these things were in themselves totally without 
 interest for him; but he joined in the conversa- 
 
144 
 
 ME. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 tion, and even joked Bella on having an appre- 
 ciative audience. 
 
 It seemed almost singular that it was he who 
 did the talking to-night, without reserve or con- 
 straint, while his wife scarcely uttered a word. 
 And it was not with his brother that he chatted, 
 but with this blithesome young girl, who, being 
 eighteen years his junior, he regarded as little 
 more than a child. Then, too, she belonged to 
 another country, and was of another race. He 
 had no feeling for her except one of passing 
 interest as she was his brother’s kinswoman. He 
 was not blind to her beauty, but it did not wake 
 within him any other emotion than that of the 
 mildest admiration. Bella was to him a merry, 
 simple school -girl; nothing more and nothing less. 
 
 How did it happen, then, that he could con- 
 verse freely with this young girl, whom he did 
 not love, and whom he had only known a few 
 hours, while he would often be silent for hours, 
 or, if he did speak, was stupid in the extreme, in 
 the presence of his well -beloved wife? 
 
 It was simply this: Bella belonged to that class 
 which understood the freemasonry of polite and 
 refined society. To Kathi all this was mere shal- 
 low pantomiming. 
 
 Klaus gazed at Bella, too, with a puzzled feeling, 
 hardly knowing what to make of her. She looked 
 at him so innocently out of her great brown eyes, 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 145 
 
 with the same free, clear glance which she gave 
 to the rest of the world — a glance which, though 
 fearless, was always modest. In Kathi’s company 
 the fear was ever in his mind that she would say 
 something strange or vexatious, or frighten him 
 into silence by a sneer or a disdainful speech; 
 now how carelessly and thoughtlessly he talked 
 with this young guest. 
 
 Suddenly a horrible thought came into his 
 mind. “God help me!” he said to himself, 
 “have I been deceiving myself, after all?” 
 
 Great beads of perspiration stood out on his 
 forehead, and he rose precipitately from his 
 lounging-chair. He would talk no more to this 
 strange girl, who put vexatious thoughts of his 
 wife into his head. To be sure, Kathi had hardly 
 pleased him at table, but it was too much to 
 expect of her to enter at once into an alliance 
 with people who were utter strangers. Then, 
 poor soul, she had had no advantages of travel; 
 neither had she had those benefits which are 
 derived from a careful education. He had not 
 taken her from a celebrated pension. But she 
 had other qualities, he mused, equally attract- 
 ive — -yes, others. 
 
 But what were they? 
 
 Well, she was, for instance, very musical. And 
 the thought occurred suddenly to him, why 
 
 should she hide her light under a bushel? With 
 
 10 
 
146 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 the desire to make his apathetic little wife show 
 what she could do, he hurried toward the cur- 
 tained alcove. He had come at an opportune 
 moment. Both ladies rose at once, as if the 
 guard had announced that their train had reached 
 its destination. 
 
 “ Kathi, my dear, I want you to sing something 
 for us.” 
 
 “I beg to be excused,” answered Kathi lacon- 
 ically. 
 
 “ But why? ” said Klaus slowly, in a surprised 
 tone. 
 
 “For a very simple reason; I do not care to 
 sing.” 
 
 There ensued a painful silence. 
 
 “When I am not in the humor, I really can 
 not sing,” said Kathi, who felt some further word 
 of explanation was necessary. 
 
 “Don’t bother your wife,” interrupted Ellen. 
 “We women can not always do as we would like 
 on demand. I understand exactly how it is. 
 Kathi looks tired to-night. She will sing for us 
 some other time. 
 
 “I have nothing more to say,” said Klaus; and 
 he added, trying to joke about it, “Here comes 
 Fraulein Bella, and against three women one poor 
 man has no chance. I thought we might have a 
 little music, an Austrian song or two; and my 
 wife, according to my judgment, sings them 
 charmingly.” 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 147 
 
 “I don’t sing at all, or at least very little,” said 
 Bella, taking np the theme; “bnt if you want 
 music of some kind, and will be satisfied with bad 
 music as long as you can not get good, I will play 
 you something, and give you a negro melody or 
 two.” 
 
 Klaus thanked her, as in duty bound, and 
 opening the piano, led her to it. 
 
 As she struck the first chords, it was clear to 
 him that she was no mean or untutored dilet- 
 tante. She played with less force than might 
 have been expected, but with a delicacy of expres- 
 sion and touch which belongs to the true musician. 
 
 Klaus complimented her politely on this new 
 talent which she had hidden so modestly, and 
 expressed some surprise that she was so fine a 
 musician. 
 
 “ I deserve little credit for it,” Bella answered 
 gaily. “ After three years’ constant attendance at 
 the conservatoire, with daily practice, I certainly 
 ought to know something.” 
 
 She now began the prelude of a mournful but 
 characteristic negro melody, and Wilhelm and 
 Ellen, hearing something familiar to them both, 
 stepped to her side. Klaus leaned against the 
 instrument on the opposite side, and Kathi sat at 
 a little distance. 
 
 Bella played the simple air well, and Wilhelm 
 and Ellen stood by and hummed it, and finally 
 
148 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 sang it out lustily, with nods and pleasant mim- 
 icry. Then, when they forgot the words, Bella, 
 in her clear, pleasant, untrained voice, good-na- 
 turedly sang the remaining verses alone for her 
 little audience. 
 
 After this she played one or two others without 
 waiting to be asked, then ended with a Strauss 
 waltz, which she rendered with such spirit and 
 verve that even Kathi’s unwilling feet involun- 
 tarily kept time. 
 
 Klaus had done his best to bring his young 
 wife forward to shine as the center of attraction, 
 rather than this artless school-girl, but all to no 
 purpose. Bella, with her simple, merry speech 
 and honest, direct manner, was, for the rest of 
 the evening, the life and spirit of the little com- 
 pany, while Kathi sat by brooding, if not sullen. 
 She was devoutly thankful when they finally 
 declared their intention to depart. She said 
 “good-by, until to-morrow,” very cordially to 
 her brother-in-law and his wife, but when it came 
 to Bella, her manner changed. She felt that she 
 had been ill-used this Christmas eve — how, she 
 could not explain; but it was this stranger’s fault, 
 and she gave the merest touch at parting to the 
 hand which was extended to her so frankly. 
 Bella, all unconscious of the storm she had cre- 
 ated, bade a pleasant, unconcerned “good-night” 
 to all, and went away laughing. 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 149 
 
 No word was spoken between husband and wife 
 for several minutes after tlieir guests’ departure. 
 Kathi sank down again in the low reception-chair 
 which she had occupied the greater part of the 
 evening. Klaus, lost in thought, paced to and fro 
 the length of the long room. 
 
 A servant extinguished several lights and car- 
 ried away the coffee-service. But for the one lamp 
 burning on the table in front of Kathi, the long 
 room was in darkness. 
 
 “Well, haven’t you anything to say to me to 
 counteract the stupidity of this most tiresome 
 evening?” asked Kathi at last, too irritated to 
 longer conceal her ill-humor. 
 
 “It has made me very happy to see my brother 
 again, after our long years of separation; also to 
 meet his family. If you can not appreciate my 
 feelings, I beg you to say nothing unkind, for I 
 am in no humor to listen to criticism.” 
 
 “Why, what could I say to annoy you?” 
 answered Kathi in a drawling tone. “I like 
 your brother very much, and his wife pleases 
 me, too. But from that bold little minx 
 Bella heaven defend me! It would be a good 
 thing for them to send her to some institute for a 
 few years more, until she was taught how to 
 behave herself.” 
 
 “I pray you, Kathi — ” 
 
 “Of course you’ll take her part, after paying 
 
150 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 you such marked attention. That’s the way with 
 a maif, only flatter him, and he — ” 
 
 “Kathi!” Klaus interrupted angrily now. 
 
 “ Whether you cry out or not, it doesn’t change 
 the facts. What I have seen I have seen! I 
 know what’s decent as well as another, and I know 
 what to think when a girl makes eyes at a married 
 man! So I tell you, once for all, it does not suit 
 me, and I will not allow it again in my house! ” 
 Klaus was speechless. He fairly gasped for 
 breath as he stood staring at her. 
 
 “You don’t know what you are saying,” broke 
 at last from his lips. “How can you talk so 
 recklessly? ” 
 
 “I know very well what I am saying. I’m not 
 so stupid as you all think me. And this lovely 
 Bella shall not find me such a fool, either! 
 When she comes here to-morrow, I’ll put a stop 
 to her little game. I’ll take her aside and tell her 
 frankly what I think of her.” 
 
 “Silence!” thundered Klaus. 
 
 Kathi looked astonished, and drew back fright- 
 ened when she saw her husband standing over her 
 with flaming cheeks and flashing eyes. 
 
 “ Well , ” she said defiantly, ‘ ‘ what is it? ’ ’ 
 “You will say nothing at all to-morrow,” 
 Klaus said, in a quieter tone. “ I shall take care 
 that so unheard-of an insult shall not be given 
 here.” 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 151 
 
 He turned from her and began again pacing the 
 room. Kathi sat perfectly silent. It was the first 
 time Klaus had ever been angry with her. IShe gave 
 him many glances when his broad back was 
 turned, and when he faced her she dropped her 
 eyes. She felt oppressed, almost anxious, and 
 wished that he would break the silence or that she 
 could think of something to say. 
 
 She had been a fool to vex him and make him 
 so angry. But, after all, what was her crime? 
 Only that she had good eyes and had seen this 
 American trying to entrap her husband! She had 
 right on her side, and would meet defiance with 
 defiance. She’d see who’ d conquer! 
 
 She rose and turned toward the door. ‘ ‘ Where 
 are you going?” asked her husband quietly. 
 
 “lam going to bed. I have no appetite for 
 further discussion to-night.” 
 
 “ Please remain a few minutes. I have some- 
 thing to say to you.” 
 
 “ If you continue in the same tone in which you 
 just spoke, I prefer not to listen.” 
 
 “ I will be very quiet.” 
 
 “ Very well; say your say, then. But I may as 
 well warn you that you can not cajole me into 
 thinking black is white. I am no fool, and can 
 see as well as another.” 
 
 “I shall neither affirm nor deny any of your 
 foolish statements. I shall merely advise you. I 
 
152 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 have noticed that you do not feel at ease with my 
 kinsfolk, and your words just now have corrobo- 
 rated the result of my observation. You can not 
 control yourself, and with your peculiar disposi- 
 tion, it would be very natural for you to make an 
 uncomfortable scene, and such an exhibition I wish, 
 at any price, to avoid. If you insult Fraulein 
 Bella by your unjust and groundless suspicions, 
 all intercourse will be, as a consequence, at an end 
 between my American kinsfolk and myself, for 
 my brother can not separate himself from his fam- 
 ily any more than I can separate my self from you. 
 I love Wilhelm devotedly, and any breach between 
 us would wound me deeply. My feelings cannot 
 alter yours, nor do I expect they should, but you 
 can at least heed my words and be silent; by so 
 doing you will save me both mortification and 
 sorrow. I now see that a happy, united life with 
 Wilhelm and his family, of which I have so often 
 dreamed, can never be. Perhaps our parting will 
 be the less painful. But we must so arrange it 
 that there will be little intercourse between my 
 brother’s family and ourselves while they are here. 
 I will tell Wilhelm that there is nothing in common 
 between you women, and that it would be just as 
 prudent for you to see as little of one another as 
 possible. He’ 11 understand, and between him and 
 me the old love will be as strong as ever. But, in 
 the meantime, I must resort to subterfuge. I’ll 
 
ME. AMD ME8. BEWEE. 
 
 153 
 
 write a line to-night and say you are ill and will 
 probably be confined to your bed to-morrow, so 
 that it will be impossible for us to receive them 
 on Christmas-day. Will that suit you? ’ ’ 
 
 “As you please,” said his wife, sinking back 
 into her chair. “ It’s a pity about all the pretty 
 gifts!” Then, after a moment’s thought, sheadded: 
 “You’d better write to Leo Schneider to-night 
 and invite him for to-morrow evening. It’s ridic- 
 ulous to have such a great Christmas-tree and only 
 two people to see it.” 
 
 Klaus looked at her a moment in wonder, then 
 a sad, compassionate smile played around his lips, 
 and he said quietly: 
 
 “ I will invite him if you wish.” 
 
 “And then we shall have a happy evening 
 again,” said Kathi, all her old gaiety coming back 
 in a moment; “ and I won’t be capricious, and will 
 sing to you to your heart’s content.” 
 
 “ Very well, my child.” He honestly meant to 
 be as kind and friendly as ever, but the tones of 
 his voice betrayed sorrow and discontent. For 
 the first time the secret witchery of Kathi’ s voice 
 and manner had no effect on him. He made no 
 attempt to detain her longer, and gave a sigh of 
 relief when she was gone. 
 
 The servant came to him a few minutes later to 
 say that his mistress had ordered tea in her dress- 
 ing-room, and should he serve him also? 
 
154 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “ No! ” Klaus answered. ‘ ‘ I want nothing but 
 the lamp in my study to be lighted, and at once 
 too.” 
 
 After he had written his two letters, the one to 
 his brother and the other to Leo Schneider, he sat 
 for a long time with his head resting on his hands; 
 then, rousing himself, he sealed the letters, and 
 said, with a bitter smile: 
 
 “ She has not wasted much time! But I alone 
 am to blame! ” 
 
 He would post the letters himself. It was a cold 
 night; the mercury stood twelve degrees below 
 zero. But he shook himself into his great coat 
 without a thought of the biting air. It was past 
 
 11 . 
 
 “If my wife asks for me,” he said to the sleepy 
 man who handed him his hat and gloves, “say I 
 have gone to post the letters myself. And you 
 go to bed. Don’t wait for me.” And the vesti- 
 bule doors swung behind him as he spoke. 
 
 Kathi, in the meantime, had drunk her tea by 
 the glowing grate and had then put herself into 
 the hands of her maid. She was more than usually 
 talkative to-night. The taste of her unpleasant 
 evening was still in her mouth. 
 
 “I’ll be free from those tiresome Americans to- 
 morrow, thank the Lord! I’d die if I had to go 
 through such another evening. Frau Ellen is a 
 very nice woman, I must acknowledge that; but 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 155 
 
 she gossips all the time, and asks no end of ques- 
 tions. She is so curious about everything, I believe 
 the A mericans are great gossipers. I haven’ t much 
 to say about Wilhelm. You know how men are. 
 But the young girl, Bella— I’ll keep an eye on 
 her! She’s an affected doll just out of a pension 
 —you understand the kind. She spends her time 
 making eyes at the men. She has been at Dresden 
 for three years, being educated and trained for a 
 lady,” added Kathi ironically, and she hummed: 
 
 “ My Julia lias been trained, 
 
 But how I dare not say ’ 
 
 “A most disagreeable girl,” she continued; 
 1 ‘ but pretty, there’ s no denying that — very pretty. 
 She knows it, too!” 
 
 11 But she has such large feet, my lady,” inter- 
 posed Gustel. 
 
 “ Has she?” exclaimed her mistress, delighted. 
 ‘ ‘ How did you find it out? I do hate big feet above 
 all things.” 
 
 “ I took off her overshoes for her. Yes, she 
 certainly has large feet.” 
 
 “ And broad and flat, I’ve no doubt. Yes, yes, 
 she looks as if she had. That’s the secret of her 
 wearing so long a gown. Well, it’s a great blem- 
 ish to have big, ill-shaped feet; ” and Kathi gave 
 a sigh of genuine satisfaction as she looked down 
 at her own. Then she got up and danced a step 
 or two to show her contentment with what nature 
 had done for her. 
 
156 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 Finally, she let Gustel tuck her comfortably in 
 bed. 
 
 She wondered why Klaus, contrary to habit, 
 should have gone out on such a bitter night. 
 Perhaps he was laying some kind of a trap for her. 
 She laughed at the idea. 
 
 “The men don’t catch us as easily as they 
 think, do they, Gustel?” she said, with a little 
 laugh. 
 
 Then she thought of the gifts which she had 
 purchased — of the alligator-skin portfolio for 
 Klaus, with its heavy silver corners, which had 
 cost a small fortune, and of the smoking- set for 
 Wilhelm. Well, Wilhelm would not get it 
 now — why not present it to Leo Schneider? 
 
 Gustel agreed that the change of recipients was 
 a practical one. 
 
 “And Bella, pretty Bella, gets nothing,” said 
 Kathi gaily. ‘ 1 1 ought to send her a pair of shoes, 
 though. Good large, comfortable shoes! ” And 
 she laughed heartily, while Gustel joined as mer- 
 rily as her subordinate position would permit. 
 Gustel was a wise girl, who never overstepped the 
 bounds of her position. 
 
 ‘ ‘Just hand me a cigarette, Gustel. I never get 
 a chance to smoke; but now that Herr Bewer is 
 out, I’ll get through one — or even two, perhaps! ” 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Klaus went down Hildebrandtstrasse at a slow 
 pace, notwithstanding the cold. When he 
 reached the busier .streets, he was annoyed at the 
 bustle and noise on all sides. Theater-folk were 
 on their way home, shoppers were still out mak- 
 ing their last purchases for the morrow, and the 
 lights were streaming from the shop-windows. 
 He crossed to the Thiergarten and struck into the 
 same narrow, lonely footpath which he had trod 
 that wretched, oppressive night last summer. 
 His lagging footsteps made a hollow, cracking 
 echo on the crisp snow. The branches of the 
 trees swayed to and fro with a mournful sound in 
 the night wind, and their ice-covered arms had a 
 glistening, spectral appearance as they reached out 
 toward the pale, moonlit heavens. But the sor- 
 rowful man heeded neither the cold nor the weird 
 aspect of his lonely surroundings. His thoughts 
 to-night were sad, sad beyond belief. He felt that 
 his summer evening’ s walk — how far away that 
 August evening seemed now — was a happy one in 
 comparison with the weight of woe which bound 
 
158 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 him down to-night. Oh! why had he not been 
 warned that night? Why had he striven so 
 strenuously to stifle within him the prophetic 
 voice which had risen again and again? Then he 
 had satisfied himself with foolish, groundless 
 reasons; he had assured himself, over and over 
 again, that he was his own master and could do 
 as he pleased. Well, he had done as he pleased, 
 but surely he was not his own master! Oh! the 
 bitterness, the inexpressible bitterness, of this 
 hour. He had united himself for life to a woman 
 who could never, never be his. It was not that 
 she had been ill-educated, but that she was utterly 
 incapable of education, either moral or mental. 
 She did not understand him, and was a constant 
 source of mortification and sorrow, but she was 
 altogether unconscious of any shortcoming. She 
 belonged to another race of beings, to a race 
 which comprehended nothing of the difference 
 between right and wrong, between duty and 
 transgression. He saw it all now for the first 
 time — now, when it was too late! 
 
 Had he been a thoughtless, inconsiderate fool? 
 Had he taken this important step without due 
 reflection? 
 
 No! He had given it deep and mature consid- 
 eration. He had never supposed Kathi perfect, 
 even in the first hours of his fascination, but he 
 had given the credit of all her failings to her 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWEB. 
 
 159 
 
 unhealthy surroundings, surroundings which he 
 felt must have forced upon her a certain degree of 
 moral obliquity. 
 
 He felt confident that as soon as she was raised 
 to a higher plane all such deficiencies in charac- 
 ter would obliterate themselves; of her origin, or 
 of the fact that what is bred in the bone must in 
 time come to the surface, he had taken no 
 thought. “All will come right,” he had said 
 repeatedly. “Every wife’s worth is determined 
 by her husband! ” The future had given him no 
 anxiety. All his terror had been of some 
 unhappy developments from the past. He had 
 feared something from the first, for Leo Schnei- 
 der’ s careless words that first night had left their 
 sting: “ She hasn’t waited all these years for you 
 to come from Sumatra.” 
 
 Now everything had gone contrary to either 
 his hopes or his fears. It was not the past, but 
 the present, which brought him such misery; and 
 as to the future, Hod help him! he could not face 
 the thought. 
 
 He had no feeling of anger toward his wife, 
 only compassion and pain. She, poor, untutored 
 creature, what did she know of life? Its duties, 
 its obligations, were quite beyond her narrow 
 range. On him alone lay all the blame. Even 
 though she had a fipe house, horses and carriages, 
 jewels and gowns, her lot was not an enviable 
 
160 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 one. He had seized her almost perforce, and 
 taken her from the sphere in which she was 
 happy; taken her into a new world, between 
 which and her old life there lay an impassable 
 barrier. It was no matter that she humiliated 
 him, no one was to blame but himself; he had 
 rushed in impetuously and carried her off, to her 
 enduring unhappiness as well as his own. 
 
 The thought of the evil which he had wrought 
 sent the blood coursing hotly through his veins. 
 Naturally, it was impossible for her to be in 
 touch with his kinsfolk. N aturally, too, she could 
 not comprehend their habits or manners, though 
 she had eyes to see and ears to hear. Ellen’ s kind- 
 liness, which shone in her face and beamed from 
 her eyes, had made no impression; neither had 
 Bella’s simple, gracious manners and attractive 
 personality, nor even Wilhelm’s hearty brotherly 
 greetings. Kathi’ s pleasure had been only a low, 
 almost brutal one, to sneer at and make fun of 
 them. 
 
 Klaus sighed deeply. “ I have thrown my life 
 and happiness into an abyss. I have been blind, 
 but I have loved her very deeply.” 
 
 The tears came into his eyes; they rolled down 
 his cheeks, and falling, settled into icy drops on 
 his beard. 
 
 “And we are only four months married — only 
 four months! ” His thoughts took another turn. 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 161 
 
 “All would be well yet, if she only loved me. 
 Love would smooth out all the wrinkles in time. 
 But she does not love me! Poor little woman, I 
 have felt that for some time! ” 
 
 He turned his footsteps once more toward the 
 city, and soon was in the midst of the midnight 
 life and stir. A poor child of about fifteen came 
 up to him and begged him in a whining voice to 
 buy matches from her. He felt sorry for the poor, 
 ill-clad creature, and stepped under a gas-light to 
 count her out some change; he found his purse 
 contained no silver, so he put a five-mark gold- 
 piece into the small benumbed hand. The girl 
 thanked him effusively, and turned her great eyes 
 upon him as she did so. He was startled by the 
 strong resemblance her face bore to Kathi’s, and 
 he could not get the thought of this singular 
 resemblance out of his head as he hurried on 
 toward the hotel. 
 
 Before he arrived there, the hallucination had 
 become so strong that he could scarcely convince 
 himself that it was not Kathi herself who was the 
 match-seller, and he had to rub his eyes and rate 
 himself soundly for his folly before he could rid 
 himself of the idea. 
 
 As he entered the hotel, he could hear the girl’s 
 shuffling walk just behind him and her sing-song 
 cry to buy her wares. He would not have looked 
 around again for worlds . In answer to his inquiry, 
 11 
 
162 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 the porter told him that his brother and the ladies 
 were still in their own rooms, so he went up at once 
 and knocked. 
 
 Wilhelm shouted “ Come in! ” 
 
 The little group gathered within was the picture 
 of peace and happiness. Ellen had the faculty of 
 making any room in which she sat bear, in an 
 indescribably short time, a homelike, comfortable 
 look. There was nothing of the stiff, prim look 
 of an hotel parlor about this apartment. Two 
 large lamps, with bright shades, cast a rosy glow 
 over the room. 
 
 Wilhelm, in dressing-gown and slippers, lounged 
 back in the corner of a sofa smoking; beside him 
 sat his wife, and next her, Bella, who had her arm 
 around her sister’s waist and her head on her 
 shoulder. Both women had exchanged their 
 dinner-gowns for pretty wrappers, and they were 
 all talking and laughing in one breath. 
 
 “Hello!” cried Wilhelm, astonished at his 
 brother’s nocturnal visit. 
 
 “It’s old St. Nick” himself,” said Bella jok- 
 ingly, as she arose from her recumbent position. 
 The exclamation was apropos. 
 
 The great man in his long fur coat and cap, 
 with his frost-touched beard, reminded one forci- 
 bly of the yearly visitor who steals down the 
 chimneys “the night before Christmas.” 
 
 Wilhelm arose at once and went toward his 
 brother. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 163 
 
 “Welcome, old fellow! But what brings you 
 here at this time of night? Nothing wrong, I 
 trust?” 
 
 “Nothing specially wrong! I’ll tell you as 
 soon as I get thawed.” 
 
 “ Take your own time.” 
 
 Klaus had by this time thrown aside his coat 
 and cap, and shook hands with the ladies, who 
 went forward to greet him. 
 
 “Have a cup of tea with us; you need some- 
 thing to warm you,” said Ellen, turning toward 
 the steaming urn on the table; “and we’ll ring 
 for—” 
 
 “A cup of tea, but nothing else, I beg,” an- 
 swered Klaus. 
 
 Bella placed a chair for him and handed him 
 the cup of tea which her sister had just poured. 
 
 “I had” — Klaus hesitated a moment — “I had 
 just written to you, and intended dropping the 
 letter in the post-box, when, being near the hotel, 
 I decided it would be better to say by word of 
 mouth what I had to say, for — my wife — is not 
 quite — well.” 
 
 It was fortunate that the intense cold had sent 
 the blood tingling to his cheeks, otherwise the 
 added tinge which his face assumed would have 
 been very noticeable. 
 
 “Nothing serious, I trust?” Ellen was con- 
 cerned at once. 
 
164 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “Nothing serious. But she will, in all proba- 
 bility, be confined to her bed to-morrow, and I 
 thought, perhaps, it would be just as well — ” 
 
 He stopped and stammered, and looked help- 
 lessly around. 
 
 “Yes, I understand,” said Wilhelm’s wife hast- 
 ily. “Our first care must be for your wife’s 
 health. This weather is so severe; she did not 
 look well at dinner to-night. She has overex- 
 erted herself, and must be kept quiet to-morrow. 
 W e would have liked to spend the holy evening 
 together, but we are none of us sentimental, and 
 the principal thing is to get Kathi well again as 
 soon as possible.” 
 
 “To be sure,” agreed Wilhelm; “that is the 
 principal thing.” 
 
 “ And,” continued Ellen, desirous of putting 
 Klaus at his ease, “ I am just as well satisfied, 
 for, to be honest, I could not let my baby be out 
 at night in such weather, and I hate to be sepa- 
 rated from him on such a holiday.” 
 
 Klaus drank his tea slowly, and said, without 
 taking his eyes from his cup, in a sad, heavy 
 voice: 
 
 “lam sorry, very sorry, we can not be together. ’ ’ 
 
 “We’ll go and inquire how your wife is the 
 first thing in the morning,” said Bella. 
 
 “Thank you, Fraulein, but you must not 
 trouble yourself; it is really not necessary,” 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 165 
 
 answered Klans, still without raising his eyes. 
 “I will send a messenger early, or perhaps come 
 myself.” 
 
 “Come yourself, old fellow, come yourself. 
 We haven’t half seen you yet, and you must see 
 our boy after his night’s rest, when he is fresh.” 
 
 “Thank you, Wilhelm. I believe I will come 
 myself.” 
 
 His eyes were still fastened on his cup. The 
 three others exchanged fleeting, questioning 
 glances. 
 
 “You can do me a little favor,” said Klaus, 
 rising and swaying backward for a moment as a 
 haze came before his eyes. “ Send this letter by 
 the hotel porter to its address the first thing in 
 the morning.” 
 
 “It shall be sent at once,” said Wilhelm, ris- 
 ing; but Bella was before him, and had touched 
 the electric bell. 
 
 “I fear you are not well, Klaus,” said Wilhelm 
 anxiously, laying his hand on his shoulder. 
 
 “There’s nothing the matter with me only a 
 headache, and we all have headaches,” said 
 Klaus, striving, and failing, to speak carelessly. 
 
 Bella had in the meantime given the letter for 
 Leo Schneider to a waiter. / 
 
 Klaus watched it with singular interest, and 
 when the man had gone, turned to get his coat. 
 
 “ Oh, do not go yet,” remonstrated Ellen, 
 
166 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 “ Yes, I must go. 'Do not detain me. I would 
 rather go! ” 
 
 There was such deep sadness in his voice that 
 no one said a word further. Wilhelm helped 
 him silently with his coat, and gave him his 
 gloves and cap. 
 
 “It is much better that I should go,” the 
 unhappy man said after a minute, “much bet- 
 ter! ” 
 
 He said “good-night” to all, wrung his broth- 
 er’s hand, and was gone. 
 
 The three stood and looked at one another in 
 silence for a minute. 
 
 “ The poor man! ” said Bella. 
 
 “It makes my heart ache,” said Helen; “one 
 can see how much he suffers.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ Don’ t trouble yourselves too much about him, 
 girls,” remarked Wilhelm philosophically. “I 
 can see the poor fellow’s wretchedly unhappy 
 just now, but it’ll all blow over. There’s been a 
 scene at home, that’s all, and just now it appears 
 to Klaus worse than it really is. Frau Kathi has 
 flown in a tantrum over something, perhaps over 
 your gown, or your playing, Bella, or over my 
 bald head, or because some patties which we 
 never missed were spoiled and consequently could 
 not be served. Perhaps Klaus is the one to 
 blame; he may have scolded her for not singing 
 — I have no doubt he did. One word brought on 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 167 
 
 another, doubtless Kathi wept, perhaps capped 
 the climax by fainting, and that is the desperate 
 illness which has bowed the oak.” 
 
 “No, Wilhelm, I believe it is something more 
 serious than that.” 
 
 “ Well, let us hope, at least, that it isn’t. If I 
 judge my pretty little sister-in-law aright, it will 
 soon blow over. She does not seem to me to be of 
 a passionate temperament. She is, for a woman of 
 her age, remarkably temperate and collected. 
 When I think of her, she reminds me of one of 
 Bach’s preludes or fugues. She is a well-tem- 
 pered piano with — ” 
 
 “Without any sounding-board,” said Ellen, 
 finishing his sentence for him. “Poor Klaus, I 
 can not get him out of my mind; as I said before, 
 he has quite won my heart. I love him already 
 like a brother, and as if I had known him all my 
 life long. I can make nothing out of his wife, 
 though. She puzzles me sorely. She said noth- 
 ing foolish or out of the way — she hardly spoke 
 at all, for that matter; but when she did open 
 her lips, I had no indication from her words what 
 her real thoughts might be. She appeared to me ' 
 like a foreigner who did not rightly understand 
 our tongue, and in consequence feared to go 
 beyond the most simple sentences. I am con- 
 vinced, however, that she is not a well-educated 
 woman, and her early associations have, at least, 
 
168 ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 been unfortunate. She does not act like a woman 
 whose social intercourse has made her sure of 
 herself. Perhaps I have no right to say this after 
 only one evening’s intercourse, but before we left 
 the dinner-table I found myself saying: ‘ She is 
 without culture, and I fear without any educa- 
 tion.’ But she is a woman of tact, and in time — 
 perhaps — we may become warm friends; her lovely 
 face has attracted me greatly, and I mean to love 
 her if she will let me. Poor Klaus, something 
 serious has happened to make him so sad.” 
 
 “Well,” said Wilhelm, throwing himself back 
 on the sofa, “if lack of education were all, much 
 could be overcome with a quick-witted young 
 woman anxious to improve; but if the defect lies 
 deeper, if her disposition is not what it should be, 
 then the matter is much more serious.” 
 
 “You don’t understand anything about it, 
 Wilhelm. You speak as a theorist, just because 
 you had the good fortune to marry an educated 
 woman yourself! ” said Ellen. 
 
 “Bella,” laughed Wilhelm, “make your sister 
 a courtesy, the finest you learned in Dresden. ” 
 
 “Pm quite in earnest, ” his wife went on. “We 
 have an example in our own family, in papa’s 
 eldest brother, our Uncle John. He married a 
 woman greatly beneath him; he thought he could 
 elevate her, but the result was, as it invariably is, 
 she lowered him — all because she was an unedu- 
 
\ 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 169 
 
 cated woman. He strove to bring lier into society, 
 but it was a failure, and through, her he lost his 
 social position; yet she was a good, industrious 
 woman. Uncle John’s whole life was spoiled by 
 this marriage. Education is not everything, but 
 it is much; without it the battle is lost. If our 
 child were not taught to use his little legs, what 
 use would they be to him? Only a burden as he 
 crawled over the earth; and a nature which has 
 not been trained and tutored must crawl, too, all 
 its days. I know I do not give a perfect illustra- 
 tion, but you know what I mean. I have no 
 desire to make women servants. I do not think 
 it necessary for Bella to spend thirty or forty 
 years in study, although it’s to a woman’s credit 
 if she has the taste; but like consorts with like. 
 A cultivated man's wife must, if she is one with 
 him, incite him constantly to renewed efforts, and 
 must interest herself in his life, and sympathize 
 or admonish, as she sees the necessity. She must, 
 if she has grown up in a refined atmosphere, have 
 within herself, no matter how deeply hidden, the 
 germs of faith, love, truth, friendship, woman- 
 hood— in a word, all which makes life worth liv- 
 ing. The exterior circumstances of life amount 
 to little. She can accommodate herself to the 
 etiquette of the highest social circles, or to the 
 plainer forms of simple, every-day life. I have 
 known millionaires who could never acquire such 
 
170 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 an education, it was contrary to their nature; and 
 day-laborers, to whom, given equal opportunities, 
 such attainment would be second nature; and the 
 latter, if married to a millionaire, would have 
 made a false step. All persons who marry with- 
 out being equals, without meeting upon one plat- 
 form, no matter in what station of life, make a 
 mesalliance” 
 
 “Hear! hear! She speaks like a book,” said 
 Wilhelm, laughing. “I need not tell you that 
 you have convinced me. But, children, after such 
 a peroration, we’d better retire. We’ve had a 
 tiresome day — five hours in the cars, two at the 
 dinner-table, one for music; so that now, after 
 Ellen’s eloquent sermon, I feel the need of rest.” 
 
 Bella had said nothing since Klaus’s departure; 
 she sat in her corner listening and thinking. She 
 rose now at her brother’ s words, and kissing them 
 both, bade them good-night and went to her own 
 room. 
 
 She dismissed the sleepy maid who was waiting 
 to assist her, and undressed slowly, very slowly. 
 She loosened and brushed her luxuriant golden 
 hair. She spent much more time over it than 
 usual, but did it automatically, as if she had no 
 interest in her work. She was thinking on a sub- 
 ject entirely foreign to herself. The picture of a 
 tall, handsome, fair man, with a sad, downcast, 
 hopeless face and manner, was ever before her 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 171 
 
 eyes. Suddenly she closed her eyes, as if to put 
 all thoughts of this stranger out of her mind, 
 but they would come back; and once her lips 
 parted and she broke into a smile. She shook 
 her head impatiently now. 
 
 “ What a stupid thing I am. Such dreams are 
 sinful,” and she threw down her brush and fin- 
 ished her preparations for bed in all haste. Then 
 she kneeled and said her prayers, and, after ex- 
 tinguishing her light, laid her pretty head on the 
 pillow and was soon fast asleep. 
 
 The match-seller, elated by her good fortune, 
 was waiting in the Pariser platz for the big man 
 who had been so free with his gold. As he 
 emerged from the hotel entrance, she approached 
 him and renewed her whining cries to buy her 
 matches. 
 
 “ Get out of my way! ” said Klaus, in so harsh 
 a tone that the girl turned in affright from him. 
 
 She stood staring about her for a minute, with 
 a surprised look in her eyes. Then she made a 
 quick gesture with her hand, and exclaimed, in a 
 shrill, impertinent tone, “ Geh zum teufel! ” and 
 turning went quickly in the direction of the Bauer 
 Cafe. 
 
 Klaus hailed a passing drosky and was driven 
 quickly home. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 It was Christmas morning. Klaus could hear 
 the children in the street chanting : 
 
 “Peace and good will, good will and peace, 
 
 In liis dear name who loves us all.” 
 
 He sat in his study, with his head between his 
 hands and his eyes fixed on the green leather cover 
 of his writing-table. How long he had been thus 
 sitting he could not have told. Since yesterday 
 a terrible change had come over him. He had 
 been blind, but now the scales had dropped from 
 his eyes. 
 
 For the first time he saw the fathomless pit 
 which divided him from his wife; a pit which 
 time could never bridge, because she had no love 
 for him. 
 
 That was the secret of it all — she did not love 
 him. He had never questioned himself — of late 
 had not dared to question himself — but now the 
 truth was burned into his brain; she did not love 
 him. 
 
 He had had great hopes during his brief engage- 
 ment that she would learn to do so, had not 
 despaired even during their infelicitous honey- 
 
 ( 173 ) 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 173 
 
 moon, and hope had almost brightened into cer- 
 tainty since their return to Berlin. Now his 
 mind’s eye flew like an eagle’s over his short 
 season of intercourse with Kathi, from that first 
 fateful night until to-day. She had rejoiced, 
 honestly rejoiced, over her presents, and had 
 given him profuse but superficial thanks; nothing 
 else, as he now remembered. 
 
 She had been pleased with her new surround- 
 ings, her vanity had been flattered, and she had 
 made many purring speeches — speeches which 
 contained neither depth nor heart. 
 
 She, whom until now he had hoped to keep 
 ever by his side, he saw, as he calmly reviewed 
 their short life, was removed forever from him. 
 Between her and him other figures crowded them- 
 selves before his view; he saw the open, happy 
 face of his brother, the peaceful, contented smile 
 of his sister-in-law, and the fresh, girlish counte- 
 nance of the lovely young San Franciscan, with 
 her roe-like eyes and her golden hair, and for a 
 moment it was a great comfort to him that he 
 would have others in his life of whom now to 
 think rather than of his wife, who neither cared 
 for nor understood him. He could not think of 
 the future; he dared not think of it. 
 
 A servant knocked at the door, and, receiving 
 permission to enter, handed his master a letter, 
 explaining as he did so that a messenger was wait- 
 
174 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 ing for a reply. Klaus opened it and read as 
 follows: 
 
 ‘ ‘ December 25, 1878. 
 
 “ It is more than kind of you, dear friend, and 
 of your charming wife, also, to remember a deso- 
 late old bachelor and invite him to share in the 
 joys of a Christmas-tree and stretch his legs 
 under your mahogany on so happy and sacred a 
 holiday. But, alas! 1 shall have to decline, and 
 for a reason which I will explain forthwith. An 
 old friend and colleague of mine, Arnold Specht, 
 of whom you doubtless have heard me speak, is 
 in town for a few days; and, although I have no 
 special engagement with him for to-day, I feel 
 the demands of friendship bind me to his side. 
 Specht is a charming fellow; I want you to meet 
 him while he is here. With many, many thanks 
 for your thoughtfulness, and sincere sorrow that 
 I can not be one of you to-night, 
 
 “ I remain regretfully yours, 
 
 “Leo S.” 
 
 “ P. S. The messenger is paid.” 
 
 “Did you say someone was waiting for an 
 answer?” asked Klaus. 
 
 “Yes, Herr Bewer.” 
 
 Klaus shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 “Ah, I see!” he muttered, understanding for 
 the first that Leo was hinting for an invitation 
 for his friend. 
 
 “Is my wife in her room? ” 
 
 “ She is in the drawing-room, mein Herr.” 
 
 Kathi and Glustel were busy adorning the tree. 
 
ME. AND MBS. BE WEB. 
 
 175 
 
 “Leo declines,*’ said Klaus, going to his wife. 
 
 “ Oh, what a pity! ” 
 
 “Here is his letter.” 
 
 Kathi looked over it quickly, and understood 
 Leo’s silent petition at a glance. 
 
 “ How you startle one. He doesn’t decline at 
 all, only if he comes he must bring Arnold Specht 
 with him. You have no objection to inviting him? 
 He’s one of our leading actors. I’ve always had 
 the greatest admiration for him, and am delighted 
 at the opportunity of meeting him. Don’t look 
 so stupid and doleful, my dear; just write Leo a 
 few words.” 
 
 “As you wish,” said Klauts. He thought a 
 moment. “I’d be glad if you’d write the letter 
 yourself, Kathi; perhaps I wouldn’t write cor- 
 dially enough.” 
 
 “Very well; I’ll do it gladly.” 
 
 She hurried into the adjoining room and wrote 
 at once, crossing out three or four words, leaving 
 a big blot, and writing delighted four different 
 times. She came back to show it to Klaus, but 
 he had already left the drawing-room and was 
 once more shut up in his own sanctum. 
 
 The messenger took the note to Leo. The latter 
 was pleased, but not surprised. 
 
 Kathi and Grustel went back to the trimming 
 of the tree. 
 
 “I don’t know what’s come over Herr Bewer,’’ 
 
176 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 said his wife, as she tied a chocolate cow with gay 
 ribbons onto a low branch; “he’s had the dumps 
 since yesterday.” 
 
 “All men have their humors. What else can 
 we expect?” said Gustel, with motherly wisdom. 
 
 “I have been thinking — but of course it is folly 
 — that the lovely creature with the great feet 
 has — ” 
 
 “You’d better be careful, my lady.” 
 
 “What do you mean, Gustel, telling me I’d 
 better be careful, when I have said nothing? You 
 take too much upon yourself, and I will not put 
 up with it,” said Kathi angrily. 
 
 “Pardon me, gnadige Frau, you have misun- 
 derstood me. I only meant — ” 
 
 “Well, well, that’s all right, Gustel; you’re a 
 good soul. Tell me, Gustel,” she added a second 
 later, in a good-natured tone, “what had I better 
 give this friend of Leo’s, Herr Specht, for a 
 Christmas-gift? He must have something as our 
 guest to-night, but my husband has not thought 
 of it; he never takes any responsibility. I’ll give 
 the smoking-set to Herr Schneider, but instead 
 of giving the silver-clasped portfolio to Herr 
 Bewer, I’ll give it to the stranger, and my husband 
 shall have the pair of Dresden shepherdesses 
 which I intended for Ellen. I made up my mind 
 last night to keep them for myself.” 
 
 “I’m sure my master will be delighted with the 
 Dresden figures,” Gustel interpolated. 
 
V 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 177 
 
 “They are very expensive,” continued Kathi, 
 “especially the one with the cap. You know 
 yourself what care I took in their selection. 
 Then I can give him that case I bought to hold 
 the house-keys.” 
 
 The tree was ready at last. It stood on a great 
 table in the center of the long drawing-room. 
 The table was covered with a damask cloth, and 
 fruits, candies, cakes, and nuts were distributed 
 over it in lavish profusion. The gifts for Klaus 
 and the expected guests lay on it also, under the 
 branches of the gaily decorated fir-tree. Not- 
 withstanding Kathi’ s endeavors, the tree and table 
 had an undefinable gloomy look not at all associ- 
 ated with the idea of a merry Christmas-tide. 
 
 For the past few weeks Klaus had been buying 
 whatever his eye rested upon which he thought 
 would please his wife. The large desk in his 
 study was filled with packages of various shapes 
 and sizes. He had rejoiced over his growing pile, 
 and had ordered elaborate floral decorations for 
 the table. These decorations were to be a secret 
 until the last moment. The past twenty-four hours 
 had driven from his head all thought of his order. 
 He was now reminded of it by the servant’ s an- 
 nouncement that the florist had arrived. Klaus 
 had lost all pleasure in the day; its celebration 
 seemed to him now, brooding and unhappy, a 
 
 very childish affair altogether. He told the man 
 
 12 
 
178 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 to take all the packages from the drawers and 
 place them on the table just as they were; it 
 would not be necessary to remove the wrappings, 
 he added; and to tell the gardener to arrange the 
 flowers as he saw fit. 
 
 To the florist, who was an artist in his way, it 
 was a difficult order; so many parcels, with their 
 parti-colored paper coverings, gave the table an 
 incongruous appearance which all his roses and 
 camellias could not dissipate. He shook his head 
 sulkily as he strove to cover the most unsightly 
 with his leaves and blossoms, and give the table a 
 gala-day appearance. 
 
 The guests were invited for dinner at 6. The 
 drawing-room was not to be opened -until 8. 
 
 Leo and Arnold Specht appeared, with that 
 punctuality which is part of the education of all 
 true actors, at just 6. Leo thanked Herr and 
 Frau Bewer profusely for showing so much hos- 
 pitality toward his friend and himself; it had 
 surprised and touched him. 
 
 Herr Specht, too, made his little speech; he had 
 not deserved such an honor! Then he smiled and 
 bowed low, in token that words were not given 
 him in which to express all he felt. 
 
 Arnold Specht was a handsome man. He was 
 about forty years of age, and tall — though he had 
 attained by no means to Klaus’ s gigantic propor- 
 tions — slender, and gracefully formed, with small 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 179 
 
 feet and white, well-kept hands, with long, per- 
 fectly trimmed nails. His bearing was that of a 
 man who recognized the importance of looking well 
 on all occasions, and who was always prepared 
 for scrutiny through the lorgnette. His chest 
 was broad, his arms well developed, and he car- 
 ried his head with an air of complacent self-con- 
 sciousness. His skin was Almost brown, his eyes 
 were black and full of expression, his hair, which 
 was dark too, was carefully curled by a friseur, 
 and one Hamlet-like lock fell over his forehead. 
 His voice, which he had had carefully cultivated 
 after the mode of Emil Devrient, was full and 
 soft. He spoke slowly, distinctly, and rolled 
 his r's. 
 
 As soon as he had sufficiently recovered from 
 the emotions which overpowered him, he could 
 scarcely find words enough in which to express 
 his thanks. 
 
 “And to think that this day, of all others, 
 should bring me such good fortune! Who can 
 laugh at the beautiful legends of childhood con- 
 cerning Santa Claus? Have not the portals of a 
 lovely palace been opened to me by a Christmas 
 fairy?” 
 
 He was deeply moved, his voice trembled, he 
 could almost have wept, but it was too early in 
 the evening. 
 
 Klaus greeted his guests cordially, and strove 
 
180 
 
 l 
 
 . ' \ 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 to hide his own sufferings, but iJeo’s sharp eyes 
 perceived at once that something was amiss. He 
 took his host aside. 
 
 “ What’s the matter with you, old boy? You 
 seem out of sorts.” 
 
 “I’ve been suffering with my head terribly 
 since yesterday,” Klaus explained, and, as Kathi 
 and Herr Specht approached them at this moment, 
 he added, raising his voice, “I must warn my 
 guests in advance and crave their indulgence, for I 
 will not be a very entertaining host this evening. 
 I am decidedly under the weather.” 
 
 Specht was so deeply moved by this communica- 
 tion that he looked as if he had lost his last friend. 
 
 “My wife will endeavor to compensate for all 
 my shortcomings. I beg you will not be dis- 
 turbed by my taciturnity to-night — I’ll strive not 
 to interfere with your gaiety. And now let us go 
 to dinner. Herr Specht, will you be good enough 
 to escort my wife? ” 
 
 Specht made a profound bow, and, with his 
 sweetest smile and most languishing look, offered 
 his arm to Kathi. 
 
 And the hostess — could this gay, rosy-cheeked, 
 laughing girl be the same as she who, so silent and 
 listless, so apathetic and almost sneering, had sat 
 in the selfsame place only twenty-four hours 
 before? Never had she looked so lovely, so win- 
 ning, so fascinating, as to-night. 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 181 
 
 By the end of the third course Specht had laid 
 aside his semi-sentimental mask for a more pas- 
 sionate, fiery manner. His great eyes flashed as 
 he laughed and talked and drank his host’s 
 choice vintage. 
 
 “Ah,” he exclaimed, after once more draining 
 his glass, “ a draught for a king! And now, my 
 friends,” and he arose, while his face assumed the 
 artificial happy expression which is thought nec- 
 essary for the toast-giver, “while the wine rejoices 
 our hearts, why should we not prove how joyous 
 and gay we are? My heart is full of gratitude 
 toward our charming host and hostess, to whom I 
 was but one short hour ago an entire stranger, 
 but whom I now number among my chosen 
 friends. But when the heart is full — what is it, 
 Leo? ” and he interrupted himself. 
 
 Leo, who had not moved, only raised his eye- 
 brows. 
 
 “ And when the heart is full — the words which 
 are burning within me can not find expression.” 
 
 He made an effective pause, looking profound 
 and sad the while. 
 
 “I will not say that I shall ever hold this 
 blessed Christmas-night among my most sacred 
 memories; I will not say that the best Christmas- 
 gift which a poor man, Hamlet-like, could lay on 
 this hearth would be his blessing and prayers 
 for the well-being and prosperity of all within 
 
182 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 these walls; I will not speak of the goodness of 
 our host, who stands steadfast and true, like the 
 watch on the Rhine; I need not speak of the 
 maidenly reserve and charming dignity of this 
 young wife, who moves me one moment to laugh- 
 ter, and the next to pray heaven to protect her 
 ever and keep her always so pure and gracious 
 as now — I will say nothing of all these, I will 
 only ask you to remember them when we drink 
 to the long and happy life of” — a pause, he had 
 already refilled his glass — “Herr and Frau 
 Bewer.” 
 
 The glasses clinked together. Leo noticed with 
 disagreeable surprise that as Arnold’s glass 
 touched Kathi’s their fingers also touched, and 
 that he gave an insolent, admiring glance at the 
 “pure and gracious” wife whom he had just 
 extolled. 
 
 After this Herr Specht sat down, well contented 
 with himself. Upon thinking it over, he discov- 
 ered that his toast had been not only brilliant 
 but intellectual, original too, and that pleased 
 him greatly. 
 
 Kathi was in raptures over this stranger’s elo- 
 quence. 
 
 Leo looked at his friend rather quizzically; evi- 
 dently he regarded the performance as mediocre 
 in the extreme. Klaus, after listening to the first 
 fulsome sentence or two, paid no further heed to 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 183 
 
 his guest’s panegyric, but sank again into a 
 depressing, hopeless reverie. 
 
 By the time the roast was brought on, the other 
 three were in the gayest of gay humors, and Leo 
 and Herr Specht vied with one another in saying 
 sparkling nothings. Their host was absent- 
 minded and indifferent, but that fact did not 
 lessen the handsome actor’s silent but expressive 
 homage to the young wife. Specht was a fine ven- 
 triloquist, and when he saw how ready Kathi was 
 to laugh at anything he said or did, he went 
 through the whole gamut of mimicry, from the 
 crowing of a cock to the whistle of a locomotive, 
 all of which greatly delighted his lovely hostess, 
 who laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks. 
 “When had she been so well amused before?” 
 she asked herself, with a satisfied sigh. When 
 Arnold ended his performances by singing, or 
 rather humming, the song of the fly who returned 
 ever and anon to the nose of the intoxicated 
 sleeper, Kathi felt that she was enjoying the 
 refinement of pleasure, and was tempted to throw 
 her arms around this captivating creature who did 
 so much for her entertainment. 
 
 Leo had enjoyed his dinner heartily, and was well 
 satisfied to let his friend play the mountebank; but 
 when the coffee was served, he felt his hour had 
 come and that he could now conduce to the gen- 
 eral entertainment. He had drank enough wine 
 
184 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 by this time to undertake a juggler’s trick, which 
 he performed by balancing his cup of mocha on 
 the thin, narrow-rimmed saucer. He was loudly 
 applauded by the two attentive watchers, but to 
 Kathi his slight-of-hand achievements were infi- 
 nitely less amusing than anything which Arnold 
 Specht said or did. 
 
 Leo and his confrere told innumerable anec- 
 dotes as they lingered long over the “walnuts and 
 the wine,” and Klaus sat silent and unhappy, as 
 Kathi had done the previous evening. 
 
 And this was a Christmas-feast in his own house! 
 And these were his guests! Two comedians and 
 — God help him — his own wife! And his own 
 kinsfolk, his brother, for whom his soul yearned, 
 from whom he had been separated by distances 
 both of time and space, were within a stone’s throw 
 of his house, and yet he could not have them with 
 him! “Thank God!” he muttered, looking at 
 the flushed, excited faces of his companions — 
 “thank God that I can not! ” 
 
 Then the old anthem so familiar in his child- 
 hood days came back to him, fraught with mem- 
 ories of his boyhood in the old city of Liibeck: 
 
 The Christmas-bells are ringing, 
 
 This joyful holy night, 
 
 And heavenly hosts are singing 
 Of peace and hope and light. 
 
 “What is the matter with you, Klaus?” his 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 185 
 
 wife exclaimed suddenly. ‘ ‘ I never saw you look 
 so doleful before! Are you angry with us for 
 enjoying ourselves?” 
 
 “ On the contrary, -Kathi, I am very glad; but, 
 as I told you before, I am not well.” 
 
 His wife went to his side, and said in a low 
 tone, “You are thinking of your people; lean 
 see that. Why not go and spend a few hours 
 with them. I am perfectly willing to have you. 
 You are not enjoying yourself here, and a chat 
 with your brother will make you feel better. You 
 can take the child the toys I had bought for him. 
 I confess I forgot all about them until this 
 moment. The servants are lighting the tree now, 
 and in five minutes we will adjourn to the draw- 
 ing-room; then, after you get your gifts — I haven’t 
 very much for you, my dear — you can slip away, 
 and I will make it all right with the guests.” 
 
 With this she turned again to her guests. 
 
 Klaus drew a sigh of relief that so pleasant a 
 prospect had been opened before him. He could 
 not sit all evening and listen to the chatter and 
 laughter which was going on around him; he had 
 realized that for the past hour. 
 
 At the same time, such is the inconsistency of 
 human nature, he felt a sharp heart-pang at his 
 wife’ s evident eagerness to get rid of him. It was 
 very apparent that on this holy Christmas even- 
 ing, when all Germany was holding happy fam- 
 
186 
 
 MB. AND MRS. BEVEE. 
 
 ily reunions, he, the husband, was being turned 
 away, as it were, from his own hearth-stone. 
 
 Leo and Arnold were charmed with their lovely 
 gifts. The latter protested over and over again 
 that it was too much; he had never hoped to own 
 so exquisite a portfolio; and — as he opened and 
 closed it repeatedly — to come from the hands of 
 so gracious and fascinating a hostess, was too 
 much — too much! 
 
 Klaus thanked his wife for the Dresden figures, 
 and listened good-naturedly while she explained 
 how rare in design and how expensive they were. 
 
 Then Kathi began a series of exclamations, in 
 divers joyful keys, as she found the presents for 
 herself, which the florist had distributed under 
 the decorations. She turned finally to thank her 
 husband, but he had disappeared. 
 
 “Ah, so he’s gone! Perhaps it’s just as well,” 
 she muttered under her breath. And turning to 
 her guests, she said: 
 
 “You really must excuse my husband; he is not 
 well, and has gone to spend a quiet evening with 
 his kinsfolk. Now we can have a good time. Go 
 on with your mimicry, my dear Herr Specht; it is 
 so delightful. 
 
 Herr Specht was not affected one way or the 
 other by the announcement of his host’s depart- 
 ure; he always enjoyed himself, and cared little 
 at whose cost. He did his duty conscientiously 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 187 
 
 as an actor, and that was all any man need expect 
 from him. Leo, however, was painfully affected 
 by his friend’ s departure. It boded no good. Some- 
 thing was wrong, he felt certain! 
 
 Arnold acted a little and mimicked a little, cast 
 tender glances between times at his hostess and 
 overwhelmed her with compliments, which she 
 received with smiles and dimples. Leo related, 
 with many dramatic touches, a story of three 
 Polish Jews, at which Kathi laughed innocently 
 and heartily enough. 
 
 Then Schneider opened the piano and played 
 an accompaniment for his friend, who sang, with 
 feeling, “I wish I were a moonbeam bright.” 
 Kathi accompanied him in the last verse, and 
 then, being urged, sang half a dozen of her Vien- 
 nese music-hall ballads, as she alone could sing 
 them. 
 
 So the time passed, with song and laughter and 
 many a glass of sparkling sec. 
 
 Finally Kathi exclaimed excitedly: 
 
 “Play us a waltz, Leo; a lively waltz! We’ll 
 have a dance.” 
 
 The tables were quickly moved aside, rugs 
 lifted, and chairs crowded into corners. Then 
 began the waltz. 
 
 The porcelain and glass on the cabinet rattled 
 as Kathi and Arnold whirled round and round, 
 Kathi with burning cheeks and sparkling eyes, 
 
•188 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 and her partner with bold, admiring glances which 
 never left her face as he held her in a tight em- 
 brace. Finally Arnold kissed her. 
 
 “What on earth possessed yon to do that?” 
 asked Kathi, without halting in the waltz. 
 
 “Because I love you, Kathi,” he whispered in 
 her ear. 
 
 “That’s all right; but be reasonable. What 
 will people think? There’s someone standing at 
 the glass door now, I do believe.” 
 
 Leo had seen the kiss, and was justly incensed. 
 He was very loyal to Klaus, and felt he was 
 responsible for fair play during the absence of his 
 host. He knew this was neither the time nor the 
 place for remonstrances, so he played on until 
 he had finished the waltz. 
 
 “Go on! go on!” shouted the dancers. 
 
 “No; I’ve finished it now. Specht acts like 
 such a fool, I’m not going to play any more! ” 
 
 Kathi released herself quickly from her new 
 admirer’s arms and hurried toward a small recep- 
 tion-room at the right of the drawing-room. 
 Surely she had seen a face there which had only 
 disappeared since she had ceased dancing. She 
 caught her breath for a moment, and then went 
 quickly and resolutely through the smaller room, 
 where she caught sight of the faithful Gustel 
 creeping along silently toward the servants’ ball. 
 
 “Thank God, it’s you! You’ve given me a 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 189 
 
 nice fright! Listen to me, Gustel. You go in the 
 corner room and sit by the window. When you 
 hear the master coming— he went in the coupe, I 
 think — let me know at once — at once. I’ll give 
 you something beautiful to-morrow.” 
 
 That was a fair bargain, Gustel reasoned, as 
 she went, with a quiet smile, to do Frau Bewer’ s 
 bidding. 
 
 Leo, in the meantime, had been giving a few 
 words of advice to his brother actor regarding his 
 lover-like antics. 
 
 “In the first place, it is not agreeable for me to 
 have the man whom I introduced into this house 
 to-night, and for whom, by so doing, I stand spon- 
 sor, kiss the mistress when her husband is away. 
 In the second place, it is unwise, very unwise. 
 My friend Bewer is not the man — and I know him 
 well — to stand on etiquette. You have seen him. 
 He’s quite up to the military standard. He has 
 been out of the country these ten years, where 
 European culture is unheard of. You under- 
 stand? If he came in here, he’d simply strike 
 you down with one blow.” 
 
 The opening of such a perspective did not fail 
 of its purpose. 
 
 Arnold felt no need either of the lover-like or 
 sadly sentimental mask while alone with his 
 friend. His face was honest enough, though 
 rather perplexed. 
 
190 
 
 MR. ANT) MRS. BEWER. 
 
 ‘ ‘ Ah ! ” he said slowly. “You think he’d strike 
 from the shoulder, without any preliminaries?” 
 
 “Without any preliminaries. So put an end 
 to it all.” 
 
 “Yes, it would be wiser, I suppose,” Specht 
 assented reluctantly. 
 
 Kathi came back now in high spirits, her 
 cheeks flushed and her voice loud and excited. 
 
 “ Now give us a galop, Leo.” 
 
 “I’m awfully sorry, but I’m tired to death.” 
 
 “Not if I beg you to play for my pleasure? ” 
 
 “Not even for your pleasure.” 
 
 ‘ ‘ How disagreeable you are this evening! W ell, 
 we can get on without you. Come, Herr Specht! 
 I’ll sing the waltz.” 
 
 As she spoke, she put her hand on the come- 
 dian’s arm and leaned against his shoulder so that 
 it was impossible for him to excuse himself unless 
 he were positively rude. All heart for this little 
 pastime was gone from him, however. 
 
 Even when her voice failed her, and she was too 
 breathless to do more than hum the air, Kathi 
 kept on with the mad dance, leaning her weight 
 each minute more heavily upon her partner. 
 
 “The master! the master!” shouted Gustel, 
 suddenly, at the door. 
 
 The words gave Arnold Specht an electric shock. 
 The dance had given him no pleasure whatever. 
 As his energetic partner was whirling him round 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BEWER. 
 
 191 
 
 and round, Schneider’s warning was re-echoing in 
 his brain, and now the maid’s words struck terror 
 to his heart. The perspiration was running down 
 his hot cheeks, and he was breathless and ex- 
 hausted. The deep red of his face turned to an 
 olive-green and his legs trembled beneath him . 
 
 Kathi threw herself instantly into an easy-chair, 
 exclaiming nervously: 
 
 “ I don’t much care what happens now. It is 
 all the same to me! ” 
 
 Leo alone was composed. 
 
 He had but one anxiety, and that was to spare 
 his old friend as much as he could. He called to 
 Arnold sharply to help him move the piano into 
 its old place, put the chairs in order as well as he 
 could, and closed the door into the dining-room. 
 
 Kathi, in the meantime, had taken a piece of 
 ice from the champagne cooler and was striving to 
 cool her burning cheeks and forehead with it. 
 
 Klaus had passed a really enjoyable hour in the 
 company of his brother and his family. He had 
 been refreshed in spirit, and for the nonce had for- 
 gotten his own deep grief. 
 
 They had chatted over old times; the brothers 
 had recalled many amusing incidents of former 
 Christmas-nights, and then had talked tenderly 
 of their father, the unbending old merchant of 
 Lubeck, to whose stern, upright character they 
 had learned to do more justice since they them- 
 
192 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 selves had been buffeted around the world. Bella 
 had played for them — some soft, tuneful melodies 
 which accorded well with Klaus’s depressed state 
 of mind. 
 
 “My Grod! Kathi, what is the matter with you? 
 What has happened?” her husband exclaimed, 
 his eye resting on her as he entered the room. 
 
 “What should be the matter with me?” an- 
 swered Kathi in a shrill falsetto voice. ‘ ‘ N othing 
 at all; we have had a little dance, that is all.” 
 
 Klaus measured the two men with a cold glance. 
 As his eye caught the figure of the tall, handsome 
 comedian, who stood leaning against the piano with 
 an assumed air of boldness and ease, a feeling of 
 disgust, which he could scarcely conceal, came 
 over him. 
 
 “ So you’ve been dancing, have you?” he said 
 quietly, recovering himself with a powerful effort. 
 “Well, I’m not fond of dancing myself, but I’m 
 glad to know that my absence has not in any way 
 affected the evening’s pleasure. Won’t you be 
 seated again, gentlemen; I do not want to chase 
 you away by my return.” 
 
 “We had risen to make our adieus before you 
 entered,” explained Leo, who felt no whit more 
 comfortable than Arnold, although he knew he 
 had done nothing of which to be ashamed. 
 
 “Yes, we must indeed be going; it is late.” 
 Herr Specht spoke with a visible effort. 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 193 
 
 “You must not be angry with me,” said Leo, 
 in a voice which trembled from emotion. ‘ ‘ I have 
 done nothing to make you so, as God is my 
 judge—” 
 
 “ I believe you, Leo.” 
 
 “ You must believe me. It was terrible to me 
 when you looked at me just now as if you 
 thought — ” 
 
 “ I thought nothing, Leo.” 
 
 “I am honest to my friends, Klaus, and you 
 are one of the oldest. As heaven is my witness — ’ ’ 
 
 “That’s all right, Leo; that’ s all right. If you 
 have anything to tell me, keep it for another time. 
 It is, as you say, late. Good-night, gentlemen.” 
 
 He extended his hand to Leo, who pressed it 
 fiercely enough to make the strong man wince. 
 
 ‘ ‘ Believe me, ” Schneider repeated, ‘ ‘ I am your 
 friend! Good-night.” 
 
 Arnold *made a set speech to Kathi, who stood 
 gasping and breathless, as he bowed over her hand, 
 then he turned to shake hands with her husband 
 also. It was evident that Klaus did not see the 
 extended hand, for he bowed his guest out politely, 
 but without any friendly hand-clasp. The men 
 carried their expensive gifts with them, but their 
 possession gave them little pleasure now. 
 
 Klaus stood gazing critically at his wife for full 
 five minutes. Her cheeks, in fact her whole face, 
 burned with a deep red; her nostrils were dilated, 
 
 13 
 
194 ME. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 her eyes dim, and her hair in terrible disorder; 
 while her bosom heaved and her breath came in 
 gasps like one who is asthmatically affected. 
 Klaus thought of his sister-in-law, from whom he 
 had just parted; of her deep, clear eyes which gave 
 him so honest a glance; of Bella, her noble beauty 
 and calm, dignified manner. 
 
 He turned from Kathi as from a strange being, 
 and said no word. 
 
 “Klaus! Klaus!” she called after him. 
 
 If he heard her at all, he paid no heed to her 
 words. He passed out of the drawing-room, and 
 a second later he had turned the key in his own 
 bedroom door. He sat for a long time on the side 
 of his bed after he had partially undressed, think- 
 ing of nothing in particular, and with no feel- 
 ing either of anger or excitement. The little 
 trifles which had occurred during the evening 
 made a greater impression upon him than the one 
 matter of moment. He smiled over Leo’s friendly 
 and earnest assurances, over the Dresden figures, 
 the girl with the cap and the shepherd with the red 
 cheeks; but to Kathi he gave no thought. A melody 
 was running through his head; he couldn’t get 
 the words, neither could he remember where he had 
 heard it. Had Bella played it at his brother’s to- 
 night? Was it a song from the far-away days of his 
 childhood? Long after he had put out the light and 
 gone to bed it still hummed through his brain. 
 
MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 195 
 
 Why would not the words come to him? It was 
 a sad song, he felt sure of that, and yet the words 
 failed him. 
 
 Finally, when he did sleep, he had wretched, 
 disquieting dreams. He had a quarrel with some 
 men who waylaid him on a journey. His chief 
 antagonist was a tall, dark fellow with a Hamlet- 
 like lock, and long nails on his little fingers, and 
 he rolled his r' s. But it was not Herr Specht, it 
 was Prince Demeter Strusa! He looked like an 
 actor, and he offered his arm to Bella, who was 
 under Klaus’s protection, and wore a cap just 
 like the Dresden figure. Klaus was furious at the 
 prince, but Leo Schneider, looking just like the 
 shepherd, stepped to his side and swore with a 
 thousand oaths he would always be his friend. 
 A crowd of idlers gathered around Klaus, and 
 when he turned to look for his friends none were 
 to be seen. 
 
 Bella, in some inexplicable manner, had been 
 taken from him, and he was left alone, alone! 
 
 He lifted a stone from the street to fling at 
 Prince Strusa. The noise, like the breaking of 
 porcelain figures, awakened him with a start. 
 The melody was ringing in his ears! 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 It was the middle of February. The social life 
 of the Herman capital was at its height. Wil- 
 helm Bewer, with his wife and sister, had been 
 introduced, through the medium of the ambassa- 
 dor from the United States, into many charmed 
 circles. Wherever they went the Americans were 
 cordially received, and the women of the party 
 much admired and petted. 
 
 During the winter they had taken two short 
 journeys, one to Griefswald and the other to 
 Lubeck, neither of which had given Wilhelm 
 much pleasure. 
 
 Gottlieb, who was deep in some scientific work, 
 was very glad to see his brother and meet his 
 family, but he did not know what to do in the 
 company of women; he was totally unaccustomed 
 to them, and was, in consequence, awkward and 
 shy. He was glad to shake them all cordially by 
 the hand at parting, and after wishing them “ god- 
 speed,” to return with all haste to his desk. 
 
 The visit to Liibeck was even more uncomforta- 
 ble. The elder brothers could never forget how 
 wild and troublesome Wilhelm had been in his 
 
 ( 196 ) 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 197 
 
 boyhood. They could not dissociate this Ameri- 
 can, as they dubbed him to each other, from the 
 youth who had so vexed their father, and who 
 had been finally sent to the New World as a der- 
 nier ressort. But their most potent feeling was 
 the knowledge that they had wronged him, just 
 as they had wronged Klaus, and this knowledge 
 gave an added degree of coldness to their inter- 
 course with their young brother and his family. 
 Wilhelm, warm-hearted and impetuous, found 
 all this unendurable, and shortened his visit to 
 one day, though he had expected to remain in 
 Liibeck a week. He was so disgusted at his 
 reception there that he gave up his intended 
 visit to his sister at Husum and returned at once 
 to Berlin, where Klaus, the only real kinsman 
 he had, was to be found. The ladies also were 
 well satisfied to get back to the capital. 
 
 When Wilhelm announced one day that his 
 European business was satisfactorily concluded, 
 and they must turn their faces homeward now, 
 they were all distressed at the thought. His wife 
 and Bella had enjoyed to the utmost the society 
 into which they had been so auspiciously intro- 
 duced, but their chief regret was in leaving Klaus, 
 whom they had seen daily, and who by this time 
 seemed to belong to them. 
 
 Of Kathi no word had been spoken for some 
 time. After they learned, through Klaus’s eva- 
 
198 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 sions and excuses, that they were not to be invited 
 to his house again, and were not expected even 
 to make a brief call, they decided among them- 
 selves that it would be better to say nothing fur- 
 ther about the lovely sister-in-law who interested 
 them so much. In fact, before they left Berlin, 
 they had almost forgotten that Klaus was mar- 
 ried at all. 
 
 But Klaus had not forgotten it. He lived under 
 the same roof with Kathi, they ate their meals 
 together, and as far as the letter of the law was 
 concerned, they were man and wife living in per- 
 fect accord. 
 
 All scenes, either sorrowful or exciting, were at 
 an end. Klaus was thoughtful and kind. He gave 
 over lecturing or reproving; there was nothing to 
 be gained by admonition, he was confident of that 
 now. He attended to all his wife’ s creature needs; 
 he took her to the opera and theater, bought any 
 gewgaws for which she expressed a desire, and 
 strove to make her life as happy as possible. He 
 only prayed that she would do nothing to stain 
 his good name; that was all he had left, and he 
 was jealous of his honor. 
 
 Kathi was well content with the turn affairs had 
 taken. She had much more time to herself now; 
 could drive to Frau Milcke’s daily, and have her 
 long confidential chats with Fraulein Levini, to 
 whom she repeatedly gave the assurance that she 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 199 
 
 was as happy as happy could be, and had made 
 the best match in Berlin. Kathi was fully con- 
 vinced of this herself; and after she had accom- 
 modated her friend with money, usually silver, 
 but occasionally gold — Victoria was always for- 
 getting her purse — she would throw herself back 
 in her carriage and feel, as she was driven away, 
 that she was one of the great dames of the coun- 
 try. It gave her keen satisfaction, too, to sit 
 well forward in her opera-box — her husband 
 always kept in the shadow — and have numerous 
 glasses leveled at her, and know that the high- 
 born ladies were commenting on her jewels and 
 costly attire. Then when Grustel brought her the 
 papers the next morning, and she read of 'the 
 beauty and grace of one of Berlin’s most charm- 
 ing women, Frau K. B. (only the initials were 
 given), she felt her cup was overflowing. 
 
 But the great excitement of her life was the 
 forbidden visits to Frau Milcke, where she met 
 her old comrade. After a time, when Kathi had 
 gained confidence, and the tete-a-tete with Vic- 
 toria grew monotonous, other friends out of her 
 old life came to make merry with her, at her 
 expense. She ordered her former landlady to 
 provide dainty little lunches, and there was much 
 eating and drinking, much gossiping and laugh- 
 ing, in the little room in which she had formerly 
 lodged. 
 
200 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 Frederick proved to be a trustworthy coach- 
 man, who could be relied upon to account for his 
 time, if too closely questioned. Frederick was 
 accumulating five -mark pieces very rapidly now- 
 adays. 
 
 One day Fraulein Levini was driven to the 
 pretty little home on Hildebrandtstrasse, and 
 even Kathi was satisfied with the gay soubrette’s 
 exclamations of surprise and delight at all she 
 saw there. Levini was quite awed, in fact, by so 
 much splendor. 
 
 But all these doings were kept a profound 
 secret from Klaus. Had he known of them, he 
 would have been deeply grieved and mortified, as 
 well as suspicious of what might happen next. 
 In these latter days his senses seemed blunted. 
 His grief had dazed him, and he nursed his heavy 
 sorrow without any thought of vindictiveness 
 toward his wife. He became a fatalist, and 
 brooded continually, without trying to reason out 
 the past, or solve any riddles for the future. 
 
 Kathi was not bad, he often declared to him- 
 self, nor implacable — she was as she had ever 
 been; and here lay the sting. His imagination 
 had run away from him, and he had judged her 
 something entirely different. Her charms had 
 not faded; her manner, her speech, even her cap- 
 tivating voice, were all the same. He alone was 
 the guilty one! He alone must bear the punish- 
 
ME. AND MES. BE WEE. 
 
 201 
 
 ment! He had hurried her into this marriage, 
 for which she, with more acumen than he, had 
 shown no undue desire; and now, when it was 
 months too late, he had discovered with what 
 manner of woman he was mated for life. 
 
 Added to this old guilt was a new one creeping 
 upon him more strongly each day. He longed 
 for release from this unharmonious union as 
 eagerly in the early days of February as he had 
 desired the consummation of his marriage in the 
 August sunshine. 
 
 Then, again, he would quell all rising hopes, 
 which must ever be strangers to him now, and 
 ask himself what he had left undone, or what he 
 should do, to bring about a happier state of feel- 
 ing between himself and his wife. But Kathi 
 was contented, well contented, to judge from her 
 glowing face and insouciant manner; she wanted 
 nothing further, nothing better. In her life there 
 was no need of a husband’s love — his purse was 
 enough; and, with a bitter sigh, Klaus would 
 abandon all ' plans of trying to win her love. 
 Poor little Kathi, self was her love, and, as he 
 said to himself over and over again, nothing 
 could ever affect such a nature as long as her 
 material comforts remained. 
 
 Ellen Bewer began in earnest now to make 
 preparations for their departure. She had grown 
 
202 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 deeply attached to her husband’s country during 
 their few months’ sojourn in it, and one pretext 
 after another was brought forward to delay their 
 departure. Even the weather, which had been 
 cold and blustery, served a purpose, as Ellen did 
 not want her son to be unnecessarily exposed to 
 sudden draughts, changes, etc. Now, however, 
 everything was settled. Wilhelm had taken 
 passage in a Hamburg steamer for the 15th of 
 February, and even the unpropitious weather 
 had put on a brighter face, as if to give them a 
 foretaste of a German spring. The great trunks 
 had been packed, and were already at the station. 
 The family sat silent and sorrowful in the hotel 
 awaiting Klaus’s arrival. He was to accompany 
 them to the station. The child alone was gay 
 and happy, as he chased his nurse through the 
 dismantled, comfortless rooms. 
 
 To Klaus, his brother’ s departure was a keen 
 blow. He had scarcely lifted his head since he 
 knew the date was finally settled. He and Wil- 
 helm had picked up all the old threads, and were 
 once more as congenial and devoted to one 
 another as in their boyhood days. Ellen and her 
 sister, with their warm, frank, unaffected manners, 
 had won him, as they could not have failed to do 
 one of his honest, straightforward character. 
 And the boy, the dear little fellow with the 
 Bewer eyes, had become almost as dear to his 
 uncle as to his own father. 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEK. 
 
 203 
 
 They all turned now from their silent gaze at 
 the swaying lindens without when Klaus entered 
 the room. He had a traveling-sachel in his hand. 
 
 “I have decided,” he said, as he shook hands 
 with them all, “ to go to Hamburg with you, and 
 see you off to-morrow.” 
 
 His brother gave a shout of joy, as he slapped 
 him heavily on the shoulder. 
 
 “ There is really nothing to prevent my going, 
 and I can be back to-morrow night. 
 
 The six left for Hamburg at 4 o’clock. Their 
 departure was watched by an observant young 
 woman who sat in the third-class waiting-room. 
 
 The announcement that Klaus had decided to 
 accompany his brother to Hamburg was a joyful 
 surprise to Kathi. It had been a problem to her, 
 for the past fourteen days, how she could elude 
 her husband’s notice on the evening of the 
 14th. On that evening Victoria Levini was to 
 be given a benefit, and Kathi had an irresistible 
 longing to go to the Walhalla once more, on that 
 auspicious occasion, after seven months’ absence, 
 to witness her friend’s triumph. 
 
 Once she had determined to tell her husband 
 the truth and beg him to take her for that one 
 occasion. Then she thought it over, and feeling 
 assured that he would deny her request, concluded 
 to wait, and, as she expressed it, see “if something 
 would not turn up.” 
 
204 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWER. 
 
 Well, something had turned up, and very op- 
 portunely, too. She could go in secrecy now. 
 The added flavor of stolen fruit was the greatest 
 charm of all. 
 
 As soon as Klaus had driven away she rang for 
 Gfustel. 
 
 “Quick, get me the Fremdenblatt.' , ' > 
 
 She looked eagerly down the amusement column 
 to see whether Arnold Specht, who was engaged 
 at the Residenz Theater for the season, was free 
 for that night, and whether or not Leo Schneider 
 was free also. 
 
 Fortune was in her favor. Herr Specht was 
 not in the cast for that evening, and Leo played 
 an important part. 
 
 “ Find out when the next train leaves for Ham- 
 burg. There’s a time-table in the drawer in Herr 
 Bewer’s study -table, I think.” 
 
 She wrote a note to Arnold Specht to keep him- 
 self unengaged for that evening, and meet her at 
 the corner of Charlotte and Besselstrassen at 
 8 o’ clock. He need fear nothing disagreeable, she 
 added. 
 
 J ust as she finished, Gustel returned with the 
 announcement that a train left for Hamburg at 
 4 o’clock. 
 
 “And it’s 3 now. Well, there’s time enough, 
 if you pay attention to me. I’m not quite 
 easy about this trip to Hamburg. ‘There’s 
 
ME. AND MBS. BEWEB. 
 
 205 
 
 many a slip,’ you know. Get a thick veil and 
 put it over your hat. Take one of mine if you 
 haven’t any. Take a first-class drosky and drive 
 at once to the Hamburg station; keep yourself in 
 the background and wait until the 4 o’clock train 
 starts. Watch carefully. If your master does 
 not go, come back here; but if he does, drive at 
 once to Dressel’s and see Ned. Ask him if Herr 
 Specht comes there regularly; if so, leave this 
 note for him; if not, find out where he does live, 
 and take the note there. You understand? Then 
 go to Schmidt’s and buy a bouquet for 20 marks, 
 and then to the Walhalla and engage an orchestra- 
 box, either right or left. Then come back here. 
 Here are 60 marks for the drosky, the flowers, 
 and the box. Whatever is over you can keep. 
 If you hurry and manage everything satisfactorily 
 I’ll give you 20 marks besides.” 
 
 Gustel returned about half-past 5. 
 
 The master had gone; she saw him seated in the 
 train. She found that by waiting ten minutes at 
 Dressel’s she would be apt to meet Herr Specht, 
 and she had been able, by so waiting, to deliver 
 the note in person. He had sent word in reply, 
 that he was subject to the “gnadige Frau’s” 
 orders. She bought the flowers, and the ticket 
 for a box on the left. 
 
 At 8 o’clock a drosky drew up to the corner of 
 Besselstrasse. A minute later a tall figure, envel- 
 
206 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 oped in a long ulster and storm-hat, sauntered 
 along the street, and after throwing a hasty 
 glance into the carriage, stepped in and closed the 
 door. 
 
 Arnold attempted to draw Kathi in his arms at 
 once, but she drew back quite determinedly. 
 
 “Now we must not have any nonsense, Herr 
 Specht,” she said earnestly. “I shall be very 
 angry if you do not behave yourself.” 
 
 “Nonsense?” he questioned, in his soft, well- 
 modulated voice. “ Nonsense! When you know 
 how I love you. Y ou send for me — I come — is that 
 nonsense? Why did you send for me, you siren? ” 
 
 ‘ ‘ Because I must have an escort. W e are going 
 to the Walhalla; the coachman is stopping now. 
 Here is the ticket for the box; and take my 
 bouquet, please. Now do be circumspect! ” 
 
 Arnold was a little puzzled at his fair com- 
 panion, who, closely enveloped in veils and wraps, 
 led the way swiftly to the box she knew so well. 
 When she entered it she took a seat in the back- 
 ground, where she could not be seen and where she 
 could see but little. 
 
 Arnold tried the second time to embrace her, 
 but she was as determined as before. 
 
 “Do sit still and amuse me. But behave your- 
 self, or, I give my word, I’ll tell my husband.” 
 
 These words had their effect, and there was no 
 alternative left but for the comedian to play the 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 207 
 
 deeply injured. To Kathi it mattered little wliat 
 he did. 
 
 But the time passed wearily for them both. 
 When Arnold felt he could stand it no longer, 
 he said: 
 
 “ My dear madam, how much longer must we 
 remain in this stifling box, where we can see liter- 
 ally nothing, and hear little but the toot of the 
 trombone. It is unreasonable to stay shut up this 
 way. Hadn’t we better go some place else and 
 find some amusement?” 
 
 “ I thought, myself, it would be a great deal 
 livelier. You are quite right; it is very stupid. 
 When one takes no part in a performance, how 
 different it seems. But I have to stay to see 
 Levini; that’s what I came for, you know. You 
 must throw her this bouquet.” 
 
 “I?” said Specht, as though that were too 
 much. “Ask what you will — I am your slave; 
 but throw a bouquet — never! ” 
 
 A profound gesture of abhorrence accompanied 
 this speech. 
 
 “Well, we can take it to her behind the scenes, 
 then we’ll be done with it; and she will see that I 
 remembered her. After we have done that, we 
 can go.” 
 
 Arnold was well content with this modification 
 of the programme. They rose and left the box. 
 The corridors were empty; only a buffoon, off 
 
208 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 duty for the present, stood near one of the 
 wings. 
 
 Kathi hastened along the well-known way, and 
 Arnold followed with the bouquet; as she crossed 
 behind the stage, the players noticed with what 
 assurance she walked, as if very sure of her way, 
 and stood aside for her. 
 
 Kathi and Arnold mounted the steep familiar 
 steps, and Kathi knocked, as the manager had 
 done last August, on the dressing-room door. 
 
 “ Come in! ” in Yictoria Levini’s voice. 
 
 “Can I bring a gentleman with me?” 
 
 “ Yes; we are all ready.” It was another voice 
 which spoke now. 
 
 “Why, Kathi, surely it is not you in the 
 flesh!” washer friend’s astonished exclamation. 
 “This is very kind of you. You prove you are 
 indeed a true friend! ” 
 
 “ I have brought a distinguished visitor to you 
 on your benefit night— I see you do not know him. 
 Herr Arnold Specht, my friend, Tori Levini.” 
 
 “I am delighted to meet one whose name is so 
 renowned in the profession,” answered the sou- 
 brette, smiling, with a low bow. 
 
 “Thanks!” sighed Arnold, apparently quite 
 overwhelmed. 
 
 “ And how was it possible for you to — ” 
 
 “It’s a long and gruesome tale,” answered 
 Kathi, laughing. 
 
MR. AMD MRS. BEWER. 
 
 209 
 
 Then the two friends chatted and whispered 
 and giggled together for several minutes. 
 
 Not far from them sat a pale, freckle-faced girl, 
 who tapped on the floor impatiently with her foot, 
 and drummed on the table with her long, thin 
 fingers. At last she said, sharply and sneeringly: 
 
 “So you do not care even to bid me good-even- 
 ing, it seems, although you have intruded upon 
 my privacy, and brought with you a strange gen- 
 tleman whom you have not yet presented to me.” 
 
 “What do you want?” asked Kathi, with an 
 indifference which made the blonde furious. 
 
 “Those who look at you won’t be readily 
 duped. They see before them a woman who 
 deceives her husband; who has run away from 
 him in order to come to the Walhalla, and with 
 her latest lover, too. You understand me, Kathi? 
 Don’t try to ride the high horse with me, for 
 you’ll fail every time. I’ve known you long 
 enough, remember! You don’t impose on me 
 because of the big diamonds in your ears. I 
 remember the time when you ran about the 
 streets of Klausenburg with no shoes at all, to 
 speak of, on your feet. And I could tell other 
 things still more interesting, if I saw fit. So 
 don’t hold your nose so high in the air, you dear 
 creature.” 
 
 Kathi listened to this with a smile. When the 
 woman stopped, she responded promptly: 
 
 14 
 
210 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “ So this is blonde Toni! I recognize yon now 
 for the first time. It gives me great pleasure to 
 see you again, I can assure you. I am flattered 
 to learn you paid such close attention to me and 
 my shoes at Klausenburg, and here also. How 
 well those blue satin boots, with the high red 
 heels, suit you, by the way. I left them here 
 when I shook off the dust of the place, if I am 
 not mistaken. I am rejoiced that you are able to 
 make use of my cast-off shoes. I might send you 
 a few more pairs, if you want them. Or would 
 you rather I spoke a good word to Prince Strusa, 
 whom I cast off also. He would get you a new 
 pair if I asked him.” 
 
 Toni was beside herself with anger. 
 
 “I’ll pay you back — only wait!” she fairly 
 shouted. 
 
 “ But, my dear madam,” interposed Arnold, in 
 his most mournful baritone, to Kathi, “ I implore 
 you— for your own sake, for your own dignity — ” 
 
 “You are right,” assented Kathi, laughing; 
 “we’ll leave this idiot. And now, Victoria, 
 good-by. I hope your evening will be a great 
 success! We’ll see one another within the next 
 few days. Come on, Herr Specht.” 
 
 She turned to go. Her pale antagonist rose and 
 hurried toward her. 
 
 “So you think I’m an idiot, do you? You will 
 hear from me, my lady. Those words will lie 
 heavy on your stomach yet.” 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 211 
 
 “If ever yours is empty, come to me and I’ll 
 give you something to eat! Good-by, dear 
 Victoria,” and Kathi tripped lightly off the scene. 
 She was not specially excited. She had had a 
 little encounter, but had held her own and was 
 pleased to think she had come off victor. Her 
 only regret was that Arnold Specht had been wit- 
 ness to such a scene. 
 
 “I should rather have had nothing to say to 
 that creature. There is nothing to be gained by in- 
 tercourse with so rude and uncultivated a woman. ’ ’ 
 
 “No, indeed!” answered Specht in a tone of 
 deep conviction. “But let us drop all this. 
 After the storm we’re entitled to a glimpse of 
 idyllic life. We must get ours now.” 
 
 They were in the street by this time, and as 
 Kathi put her foot on the carriage-step, she said 
 calmly and coldly: 
 
 “Now I’m going home.” 
 
 The drosky drew up at the corner of Ililde- 
 brandt and Thiergarden strassen and the two 
 occupants alighted. 
 
 “Good-night, my dear Herr Specht. Many 
 thanks for your delightful company. I prefer 
 walking the few steps to my own door alone. 
 Refreshing sleep and pleasant dreams.” With a 
 slight nod and wave of her hand, she turned and 
 tripped lightly up the street toward her home. 
 
 Arnold Specht looked after her dreamily for a 
 
212 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 minute and then, with a characteristic shrug, 
 turned toward Dressel’ s. 
 
 The four at the Kronprinz Hotel at Hamburg 
 passed a quiet evening. They could not be gay; 
 the hour of separation was too near. The com- 
 panionship of the past three months had filled 
 the hearts of the travelers with deep sympathy 
 for the man from whom they were so soon to part, 
 and a tone of depression and sadness pervaded 
 their intercourse on this their last night together. 
 
 The parting was so certain, the meeting again 
 so questionable, that no one ventured to speak of 
 it; they could only enjoy each other’s society for 
 the few hours which remained. They sat together 
 until late in the night, none having the heart to 
 suggest sleep and rest. 
 
 They met next day at 1 o’clock on the pier, and 
 shook hands, hardly exchanging a word. The 
 noise, bustle, and confusion consequent upon a 
 great steamer’s departure for a long voyage were 
 going on all around them. 
 
 Klaus looked at the great ship, . the deck of 
 which was already filled with passengers, while 
 others ran hither and thither giving final orders 
 about their luggage, and then, turning to his 
 brother, said in a pained tone: 
 
 “Ah, Wilhelm, if I could only go with you 
 away from here; I long for freedom, but I must 
 stay behind a prisoner! ” 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 213 
 
 “My dear old boy, I wish you could. And 
 now for one word, our last. Don’t allow your- 
 self to be crushed. Hold up your head like a 
 man, and live like a man, too. Determine what is 
 best to do; don’t be driven east and west by every 
 wind that blows. Make up your mind, and at 
 once, and when you have come to a conclusion 
 stick to it! Do you hear? Stick to it, and God 
 help you! ” 
 
 The signal for starting was given. The three 
 went slowly across the narrow plank, and a min- 
 ute later Wilhelm, Ellen, and Bella stood on the 
 upper deck waving their handkerchiefs. The 
 powerful machinery was set in motion, flags 
 waved, friends shouted, and whistles shrieked as 
 the steamer moved slowly and majestically from 
 the harbor. 
 
 Klaus stood looking after it as long as he could 
 define the contour of the three figures still waving 
 to him from the receding ship, then he turned 
 and went slowly back to his hotel. 
 
 Those on the <? sparting vessel said no word to 
 one another. But scon Bella descended to her 
 cabin, and there her sister found her a little later, 
 sobbing as though her heart would break. 
 
 “My poor sistor,” said Ellen, taking her in her 
 arms— “my poor sister, yo may show me your 
 heart, my poor dear child! ” 
 
 It was long ere Bella’s sobs ceased. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 At half-past 10 o’clock that night Klaus 
 alighted at his own door. He had telegraphed 
 the hour of his arrival to his wife, and she came 
 out to meet him with open arms. 
 
 “ Has anything happened? ” asked Klaus, inno- 
 cently. 
 
 “Nothing that I know of,” answered Kathi. 
 “Did your people get away? I am very sorry, 
 on your account, that they had to go, for it was a 
 great pleasure to you to have them with you; I 
 could see that. Your sister-in-law is a lovely 
 woman. She wrote me such a kind letter before 
 she left.” 
 
 Klaus thanked her, with a good-natured smile, 
 for her friendly speech. 
 
 They ate their supper together that night. 
 
 Klaus went immediately to his study, after the 
 meal, to answer some important letters which had 
 been lying on his desk for several days. One es- 
 pecially, from his lawyer, Felix Quintus, inform- 
 ing him of the successful termination of a long 
 and weary lawsuit, demanded his immediate 
 attention. 
 
 ( 314 ) 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 215 
 
 He wrote Mm a few lines excusing his delay, 
 and concluded by saying that within the next few 
 days he should do himself the honor of calling in 
 person on the distinguished barrister. 
 
 Klaus was pleased with the business correspond- 
 ence which he had carried on for some time with 
 Herr Quintus, and had decided in his own mind 
 that he was a man worth knowing. 
 
 Then he wrote a long letter to his business man- 
 ager in Sumatra, telling him not to rush matters 
 in the settlement of his affairs there; that there 
 were now no cogent reasons for haste. 
 
 It was past 2 o’clock when Klaus retired. He 
 fell at once into a deep, dreamless slumber; when 
 he waked in the morning his head was heavy 
 and his limbs felt like lead. 
 
 The early post brought several letters — business 
 communications and others. One of them, blot- 
 ted and ill-written, he read several times. His 
 brows contracted; he folded the letter slowly 
 and put it in his pocket; then he looked across 
 the table at his wife, who sat opposite him, and 
 said slowly: 
 
 “Were you at the Walhalla night before last? ” 
 
 Kathi’s face became crimson. 
 
 “No! ” she said. 
 
 Klaus laid his fork on his plate and drummed 
 on the table with his fingers, looking searchingly 
 at her the while. 
 
216 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “Yes, I was there. I will not tell you a lie. 
 But tell me who has been tattling on me? ” 
 
 Klaus handed her the letter without a word. 
 
 “ Blonde Toni! The wretched creature! ” 
 
 The perfidy of the dancer so occupied her 
 thoughts that she forgot for the moment the pain- 
 ful situation in which she was placed as regarded 
 her husband. 
 
 Klaus knocked somewhat energetically on the 
 table, as he said, in a slightly accentuated tone: 
 
 “You may as well understand from the first 
 that I will not suffer you to deviate one hair’s 
 breadth from the truth. I will be very quiet, but 
 I want the truth.” 
 
 There was a note of command in the man’s tone 
 which Kathi had never heard before, which made 
 her look at him with a hitherto unknown feel- 
 ing of dread. 
 
 “Well* go on! What has happened?” 
 
 “My Gfod, nothing at all! Nothing wrong, I 
 swear to you. My old friend Victoria Levini 
 had a benefit, and I took a bouquet to her dress- 
 ing-room. Then I met the vile creature who has 
 written this note to you. That is all.” 
 
 “ But what of your escort, to whom this letter 
 refers? Who — ” 
 
 “That is a vile slander, I swear to you! I 
 can not make myself out worse than I am. I have 
 done nothing but conceal a few little trifles. You 
 
ME. AND MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 217 
 
 may believe me or not, as you see fit; but, 
 though you kill me on the spot, I can but repeat 
 the words, I have done nothing! ” 
 
 “And what are these trifles which you con- 
 cealed from me so carefully?” 
 
 “ Only a few visits to my old friend Victoria. 
 You debar me from all my old pleasures. Surely 
 one can have a little variety once in awhile. But 
 I have done nothing wrong,” she repeated vehe- 
 mently; “you may or may not believe me, but I 
 am telling you the truth.” 
 
 Klaus remained very quiet. He believed his 
 wife’s repeated assurances that his honor as a 
 husband had not been sullied; but how long 
 would this be so? He knew that chance alone, 
 and not the moral principle of his wife, had 
 saved him, so far, from humiliation and dis- 
 honor. 
 
 “The duck returns to water,” and his wife, 
 behind his back, had found her way to her for- 
 mer companions — that was all. Wilhelm had 
 given good advice at parting. He would decide 
 at once what to do, and he would abide by his 
 own decision. 
 
 He rose and left the room. Kathi remained 
 sitting where he had left her for a short time. 
 She took up the letter and read it through a 
 second time, then she crushed it in her hand. 
 
 ‘ ‘ The low, miserable wretch ! ’ ’ she cried. ‘ ‘ But 
 
218 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 you have not seen the last of me yet. Wait until 
 we meet — only wait! ” 
 
 Then she rose and went thoughtfully to her 
 room. 
 
 “I’m curious to know what he’ll do now. He 
 can not do much. I haven’t committed any crime. 
 He might turn me out. Well, I would not have 
 to stay in the streets. I’d get an engagement at 
 once, and Toni would lose hers in a week, for I 
 can sing and dance much better than she. I 
 wouldn’ t regard that as any great misfortune. It 
 would be gayer than this stupid life here. Let 
 him do what he chooses; it’s all one to me. ” 
 
 At 1 o’clock that day Klaus Bewer sent his 
 card into the private office of his attorney, Felix 
 Quintus. He was admitted at once. 
 
 Klaus was surprised upon entering the eminent 
 lawyer’s room to see that the man who rose to 
 receive him was of so youthful an appearance. 
 The lawyer had a round, jovial face, upon which 
 he wore neither beard nor mustache. At a first 
 glance he might have been taken for an actor, or 
 a priest who had just taken orders; but a longer 
 look at the tall, graceful man assured one that he 
 had outlived his boyhood’s years. A life a little 
 too convivial, perhaps, had brought tinges of gray 
 into the brown curly hair, and deep lines in the 
 high, broad forehead, over his large, intelligent 
 blue eyes, gave evidence of hard work with no 
 
MK. AND MKS. BEWEE. 
 
 219 
 
 intervals for rest. A pair of gold-rimmed eye- 
 glasses rested upon his nose. His complexion 
 was fresh and clear; his well-formed mouth and 
 thin lips showed great decision of character. He 
 was well, even elegantly dressed, perhaps a little 
 too youthfully for his years. 
 
 Felix Quintus was an acknowledged favorite in 
 all circles of Berlin society. He was deferential 
 and obliging to the ladies, and a great blessing to 
 the men, for he brought humor and life into every 
 room he entered. He had a cultivated palate, and 
 never smoked any but the best cigars, and was a 
 master hand at all social games; skittles, billiards, 
 quinze, bezique, piquet, chess — it mattered not 
 what, he was an adept at them all. He never gam- 
 bled, at least not to any extent, and never gave 
 himself airs of superiority over the uninitiated. It 
 was a riddle to his friends how he did it all. He 
 was seen everywhere; never refused an invitation, 
 even to the most modest dinner, and never missed 
 a club night. Yet, with it all, he had made 
 unheard-of strides in his profession, and never 
 neglected the minutest detail of his enormous 
 practice. 
 
 “I’ve just this moment finished reading your 
 letter, Herr Bewer,” he said pleasantly, extend- 
 ing his hand to the visitor. “ I did not think I 
 should see you so soon.” 
 
 “ I have delayed too long already in tendering 
 
220 
 
 ME. AND ME8. BEWER 
 
 my thanks for the great service yon have done 
 me,” said Klans, shaking the extended hand cor- 
 dially. 
 
 “ Take this chair. Won’t you smoke? Are you 
 a connoisseur? I have a little box here of choice 
 cigars such as can not be bought now, positively 
 can not be bought. There are no more in the 
 market.” 
 
 He had taken a small box from the table while 
 speaking, and offered it to Klaus. 
 
 The two men lit their cigars and smoked in 
 silence for a minute. 
 
 “ I have come to you on another mission than 
 that of mere thanks,” began Klaus. “I wish 
 to consult with you, to ask your advice and take 
 advantage of your experience in a matter which 
 is of great import to me.” 
 
 “ I am at your service,” answered the lawyer 
 politely. 
 
 ‘ ‘ Can you give me your time to-day, now, and 
 shall we be undisturbed?” 
 
 “I will give orders that we shall not be inter- 
 rupted.” 
 
 Quintus rang a bell, and upon the entrance of a 
 clerk, gave orders that he was not to be disturbed. 
 If anyone came on important business, the man- 
 aging clerk was to see him. 
 
 The clerk took the liberty of explaining that 
 Baron Seckt had an appointment at 2. 
 
ME. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 221 
 
 “Yes, so he has. Tell the baron I was sud- 
 denly called away — to draw up a will— or any- 
 thing else you please. I’ll meet him at Pop- 
 penberg’s at 6, and we can talk his business 
 over freely at table. Now, my dear sir, I am at 
 your service.” 
 
 “ I come to speak of my wife.” 
 
 “Ah, yes! I hear she is a charming lady. 
 I had the pleasure of seeing her recently at the 
 opera with you. I, have seldom seen so lovely a 
 woman. When I heard her name and found she 
 was your wife, I decided at once that I would 
 request an introduction at the earliest oppor- 
 tunity. But pardon this digression. In what 
 way can I serve your wife? ” 
 
 “I am on the point of separating from her.” 
 
 The lawyer looked serious at once, and said 
 quietly, with a certain warmth: 
 
 “Indeed! I am very sorry to hear it.” 
 
 “I have not determined upon this course with- 
 out serious thought. I have no one to blame but 
 myself, no word of reproach for my wife. There 
 stands between us an irreconcilable antagonism, a 
 total difference of character and of conception. 
 There can be no union of souls, either now or 
 later. Our life together is merely a vexation to 
 us both-; we shall be happier apart. It is but 
 right that this decaying bond should be loosened. 
 As I have said to you, my wife has done nothing 
 
222 
 
 MB. AND MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 for which she should be punished, and I wish her 
 to be as comfortable as may be under the terms 
 of our separation I wish her to continue living 
 in the same manner in which she has done since 
 our marriage. She has no business knowledge 
 whatever, and it is in regard to this, my dear sir, 
 that I wish your advice and assistance.” 
 
 “ You’ve made up your mind? Well, my dear 
 sir, I have no experience to fall back upon to 
 meet the conditions of your especial case. I can 
 but advise you to the best of my ability without 
 any examples of a like nature to guide me. Are 
 there any children by this marriage? ” 
 
 “No; we were only married the first of last 
 September.” 
 
 “How old is your wife, may I ask?” 
 
 “ She’ll be twenty-one next June.” 
 
 “You speak of living apart. Do you mean by 
 that a legal separation? ” 
 
 ‘ ‘ I shall leave that to my wife. All I want is 
 the separation.” 
 
 “And will your wife agree to this without 
 opposition? ” 
 
 “I believe she will. I have decided to leave 
 her, however, even against her will.” 
 
 “She’ll make the thing as easy as possible for 
 us, you think?” 
 
 “As easy as possible, I believe.” 
 
 “That’s good; for legally there’s nothing to 
 
MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 223 
 
 work on at present. There’s no point in delay. 
 The simplest and most direct is the desertio mali- 
 tiosa , or willful desertion. Yon go at once to 
 yonr wife when you leave here, and tell her you 
 are going away from her forever — will never live 
 with her again. I’d advise you to take a trip to 
 Nice; it’s delightful at this season of the year.” 
 
 “I am going much farther than that,” an- 
 swered Klaus quietly. 
 
 “Ah, yes! Well, I have just explained to you 
 the simplest way out of the trouble. If your wife 
 wants an absolute divorce, let her come to me. I 
 will send a demand to you at once to come and 
 live with her again; you will answer in few words 
 that you’ll do nothing of the sort. Then there is 
 nothing left for her but to apply for her divorce 
 on the ground of desertion, and you remain the 
 guilty party. These things take time, so the 
 sooner she begins her suit, if she is anxious to be 
 free, the better. In the meantime we must con- 
 sider her support. I know nothing about your 
 financial condition, whether you are rich or poor. 
 As soon as I know that, we can determine in a few 
 words what pecuniary arrangements to make for 
 Frau Bewer.” 
 
 “I have a house in Hildebrandtstrasse, free of 
 all incumbrance, which I shall leave to my wife 
 —furnished as it is, together with certain acces- 
 sories, such as carriage, horses, etc. I estimate 
 
224 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEB. 
 
 that she will need for household expenses and 
 her own personal wants from 60,000 to 65,000 
 marks a year. For that purpose I shall 
 deposit enough capital in the Imperial Bank to 
 yield a yearly income of 75,000 marks, and that 
 income will be transferred to my wife. As I 
 consider her a bad financier and housekeeper, 
 I want the principal so placed as to make it 
 impossible for her to touch it.” 
 
 “That’s certainly liberal enough for anyone. 
 Your arrangements for her comfort are those of a 
 gentleman. You make your wife a rich woman, 
 and that is all you can do. But after you are sep- 
 arated from her, remember one thing, you are 
 under no obligations, indeed you have neither 
 the power nor the right to remonstrate with her 
 concerning any possible whims, or crotchets, or 
 extravagances. They will no longer be your care 
 — though they may concern others who are nearer 
 to her. For you can rest assured that a young, 
 handsome, rich woman will not mourn in soli- 
 tude; she will have many admirers. You can see 
 that for yourself. I shall be obliged to you, also, 
 if you will attend to all matters connected with 
 the transfer of the house and the settlement of 
 the annuity in the Imperial Bank. In the mean- 
 time, open a monthly credit with some banker in 
 the city here for your wife while she still bears 
 your name. I suppose the funds which you will 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 225 
 
 deposit in the Imperial Bank will not be at the 
 disposal of Frau Bewer until after the divorce. 
 You bring me all the necessary documents, and 
 say to your wife that I’m entirely at her service 
 then there will be nothing to detain you longer 
 m Berlin everything’s all right now. I’m only 
 sorry our acquaintance will be of such short dura- 
 tion. I’d like to have you dine with me at Pop- 
 penberg’ s at 6 o’ clock. ’ ’ 
 
 “I thank you, Herr Quintus. To-morrow at 
 this hour— if it be convenient for you — I will do 
 mjself the honor of calling again, and will bring 
 with me such papers as are necessary, and get 
 from you any suggestions you may have to 
 make.” 
 
 “ Yery good! W on’t you take another cigar* ” 
 “No more, I thank you, Herr Counselor. 
 Hood-morning. ’ ’ 
 
 * ‘ Hood-morning. ’ ’ 
 
 Klaus retraced his steps to his own house. He 
 found his wife in her dressing-room with her 
 dressmaker, who had just brought home some new 
 garment, with which Kathi was well pleased. 
 
 When < you are at leisure, please come into 
 the drawing-room.” 
 
 “ I am at leisure now.” 
 
 She threw a glance into the mirror; then, ex- 
 cusing herself to the woman, followed her ’hus- 
 band. When she reached the drawing-room, she 
 
 1 5 
 
226 
 
 ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 took her position behind a high -backed easy-chair, 
 leaning her arms carelessly across it. Drooping 
 her head, like a defendant in the presence of her 
 accuser, she waited to hear what her husband had 
 to say; she knew well that it was something of 
 importance. 
 
 “ Katlii,” said Klaus, standing opposite to her, 
 “Kathi, you and I must part.” 
 
 Kathi’s face became ashy pale. Her lips trem- 
 bled. She did not speak, because she had no 
 power to do so. 
 
 The strong man’s voice trembled as he con- 
 tinued: 
 
 “ For a time, at least. As I have explained to 
 you before, my business in Sumatra has suffered 
 since my absence, and to-day I resolved to return 
 to that island. Of course, I could not go on such 
 a journey without making all necessary arrange- 
 ments for your comfort. The distance is great, 
 and one never knows what may happen. I may 
 never return. You will be left perfectly inde- 
 pendent, so that my absence need make no differ- 
 ence in your mode of living; and you will be 
 equally well provided for in the case of my dying 
 suddenly. I have intrusted all my business 
 arrangements in your behalf to my attorney, 
 Herr Felix Quintus; a most excellent man, upon 
 whom you can always rely. He is at your service 
 for the future, if you wish for advice or instruc- 
 
ME. AND MES. BEWEE. 
 
 227 
 
 tion. I have left you this house, just as it is; the 
 deeds will be transferred to you before I leave 
 Berlin. I shall wish you to keep it up as you 
 have done so far, and I leave you an income suffi- 
 cient for that purpose. I shall not leave Europe 
 for seven or eight weeks, as it will require all that 
 time to consummate my plans, but I shall leave 
 this house a week from this day. If you wish me 
 to do anything for you, if I can gratify any unful- 
 filled desire before I go, I beg you to let me know. 
 As I have before said, when I am gone, Herr 
 Quintus will be at your service. I desire nothing 
 further from you than that you do your duty, and 
 remember what you owe to the man whose name 
 you bear — that is, so long as you bear it. I can 
 but beg you to be prudent and chaste. I am 
 going on a long journey, a very long journey. If 
 you find the time drag and you wish your entire 
 freedom, it will be all the better and easier for 
 you if you can prove your life has been above 
 reproach. And now, good-by, Kathi. We shall 
 see little of one another these last few days, for I 
 shall have many claims upon my time. Gfood-by, 
 Kathi.” 
 
 Kathi stood as one turned to stone; her hands 
 had not moved from their resting-place across the 
 chair-back. As her husband spoke the last words, 
 the tears trickled down her cheeks and she sobbed 
 aloud. 
 
228 
 
 MR. AND MRS. BEWER. 
 
 “I understand it all! But I have done nothing, 
 I have done nothing.” 
 
 She broke into sobs again. 
 
 “You have done nothing. I do not accuse you 
 of doing anything. Only it is better so; Kathi, 
 believe me, it is better so. Do not make our part- 
 ing hard. I could say much more to you, but 
 you would hardly comprehend me. You have 
 not been happy. It is better so.” 
 
 “That you should believe such a low creature,” 
 said Kathi, between her sobs; “that is what 
 vexes me.” 
 
 “You really do not understand me,” said 
 Klaus good-naturedly. “ I believe what you told 
 me; but it is better so.” 
 
 He turned slowly away and went to his room. 
 He locked himself in, and did not open the door 
 again until far into the night. 
 
 Kathi sobbed for a time in a comfortable corner 
 of the sofa. At last she dried her red eyes, and 
 exclaimed: 
 
 “Well, I don’t care! ” 
 
 The Trench steamer outward bound from Mar- 
 seilles had left the harbor of the city about five 
 hours before. 
 
 It was the same ship which in midsummer of 
 the previous year had brought the “King of 
 Sumatra” across the ocean on his homeward 
 
ME. AMD MBS. BEWEE. 
 
 229 
 
 journey. Now the pilot, who heeded little who 
 came or went, turned her face again toward the 
 east. 
 
 The sun was yet high in the clear blue May sky, 
 and a few airy, fleecy clouds sailed near the hori- 
 zon. The sea was calm and still. 
 
 Klaus stood near the wheel-house and gazed into 
 the deep green water, watching the dashing waves 
 as the revolving paddles churned them into foam. 
 He leaned upon the rail until he grew dizzy with 
 watching the rush of the swift-passing water and 
 his ear grew heavy with the monotonous crash of 
 the machinery. 
 
 The parting from Kathi had been harder, much 
 harder, than he had thought. 
 
 “It is better so!” he had repeated over and 
 over again. “ It must be! ” 
 
 But nothing could blind him to the truth that 
 he was leaving the woman whom he had loved 
 more than all else on earth. 
 
 The engine panted and hammered and the wheels 
 crashed through the beating waves. Klaus still 
 stood looking down into the rushing water. Out 
 of all the noise and turmoil came, soft and low, a 
 simple melody which the lonely man hummed 
 with closed lips. It was a homely, touching air, a 
 song which that last sad Christmas-night had rung 
 in his ears, and even while he slept had been with 
 
230 
 
 ME. AND MBS. BE WEE. 
 
 him in Ms dreams — a ballad, the words of which he 
 then had tried in vain to seize. 
 
 Now he remembered them, and smiled sadly as 
 the words came back to him. It was the song 
 which he had heard Kathi sing the first night he 
 ever saw her; he sang it over softly to Mmself 
 now: 
 
 “ Forsaken, forsaken, 
 
 Forsaken am I. 
 
 Like a flower, sear and withered, 
 
 Deserted I lie.” 
 
 The End. 
 
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 80. Madam’s Ward, Carl Andrews. 
 
 81. The Story of an African Farm. 
 
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 83. The Dream (Le Reve), E. Zola. 
 
 84. The Rogue, W. E. Norris. 
 
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 Fabian Dimitry 
 
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