Short Stories From Austria- Ferdinand Von Saar

by Ferdinand Ludwig Adam

  I could stand it no longer and, recommending myself, wanted to leave the gallery, which was now already disgusting for me.

  “Wait, I'll go with you right away,” he said, hanging on my arm again.

  He had a stand-in down and offered me a seat. I wanted to decline; but he urged me to join. “Drive at least part of the way; why do you want to walk the long Heugasse on foot?”

  As we sat in the narrow vehicle, he asked me where I wanted to go. I replied that I would eat now. Where? He dined in the city of Frankfurt, I should come along. No, that was out of the way for me, I did not want to go to the city at all. So where would I go? I named a nearby hotel that came to my mind. “Hotel Viktoria? Well, I can dine there and keep you company. “He shouted to the coachman to drive to the designated place.

  As it had rained a bit since then and the day was really cool, we avoided sitting in the beautiful garden that characterized the hotel and went to the dining room, which, as usual at this hour, was completely unvisited was. We ordered our food, that For my part, I stifled myself in the enforced society with dogged anger.

  The coffee had already been brought to us when suddenly a remarkably distinguished couple appeared in the garden outside: a gentleman and a lady, in whom I immediately recognized Röber. The two seemed at odds with each other, whether they should stay outdoors or visit the hall. At last the lady quickly made the decision by quickly settling at a small table, which, surrounded by some oleander sticks, stood quite sheltered near the hall windows.

  My companion had also noticed the arrivals and shouted, “Oho! How come the therefore? Certainly only because they would have to fear elsewhere to be seen.”

  “Do you know the people?” I asked, looking out. We sat on the back wall of the not very wide hall in a kind of niche, where we could not easily be perceived.

  “Did I know her?” He replied, sitting back comfortably. “That's that Röber, who's making so much money lately.”

  “I think I met him once somewhere. And is the lady his wife?”

  “His beloved. The former woman of a stock market senator who shot herself because of her. A Jewess. It was once incomparably beautiful, as one can still notice.”

  Her beauty, however, I noticed immediately, and just then she showed with a head turn her extremely interesting profile: noblest oriental features, almost bloodless pale; out of the little white hoodie that she wore pushed out, backwards, in barely restrained abundance, a patch of dull dark-black hair.

  “A most dangerous person,” my neighbor continued. “Heartless, with a cold, razor-sharp mind. there bizarre, fantastic, adventurous. An impossible compilation, you will say - and yet it is so.”

  “They seem to be very well informed.”

  “My God, I associate with the whole world and I already knew her because she was still a young girl. Already then it showed what it would become: a will-o'-the-wisp not to hunt, a millstone that can not be shaken off. In the meantime she should have married a Prince B... and only through the biggest financial sacrifices on the part of the family has the matter been reversed.”

  “So you have assets?”

  He laughed out loud. “Fortune? Debt! For it is not to be assumed that her new admirer has paid her in full. She is a notorious spendthrift - and in a way that is actually touching the insane. This always happens to be the case when the Semitic mind turns once to the opposite. Millions would be lost in her hands. What she now tastes to Mr. Röber can not be judged.”

  “But is he himself so unusually rich,” I asked, “that he -”

  “Rich! He has made ample profits with deliveries to the lower Danube countries. For some time he has operated on the stock exchange with a certain Malinsky, a true crook. So far, however, with fabulous luck. How long it will go on is the question. Incidentally, he should also have an old lover in his villa in Hietzing with him. A kind of writer. - Do you know nothing about it? “He suddenly asked suspiciously.

  “No,” I said dryly and made ready to settle my bill. For I thought I noticed that outside, while two waiters, with servile duty, began to serve a fine dinner, we had become aware of them.

  “You want to go already?” Asked my companion.

  “Yes; I have to go home. I still have things to sort and pack, because I'm leaving tomorrow.”

  I was afraid he would join me again, maybe even want to smoke a second cigar in my apartment. But he did not move and looked at me indifferently.

  “So? You're traveling tomorrow? “He said slowly. “Well then God ordered! I'll stay a little bit longer. I enjoy watching the couple out there. It's sitting here like a box.”

  We held each other's hands fleetingly, and I walked away after glancing at Röber and his new lover, who was trying to open a crab claw with a short knife held in her ringed hand.

  Throughout the evening, this unexpected meeting occupied my thoughts, and the next morning, as the rain rushed through the melancholy prairie, in the pouring rain, the handsome suburb of the foot of the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg came into view for a moment had turned for the beautiful Mrs. Stadler the destiny knot. “How will it end?” I thought as the train now steamed into the wide, desolate plain with an accelerated course and a shrill whistle.

  * *

  *

  It ended only too soon - and sad. What I have learned about it accidentally and intentionally, can be told here shortly.

  The luck had not remained faithful to Röber. He lost, lost everything he won - and more. But in order to maintain himself, he had lately resorted to entrusted funds: three notable sums were immediately, if he did not want to go to court. But where do you get the necessary amount? Elsa brought it about: she went - whether forced, or of its own accord - to Conimor for it. And this fulfilled her desire. He had just lost the night before in the Vienna Club to a high aristocrat twice a hundred thousand guilders in the game; What was the point if Papa put a penny on it, which barely reached half of that loss? He could bring it back in. So Elsa got the money and gave it to Röber. He took it - and disappeared without fulfilling his obligations. With him the new lover. Everything had to be prepared long before; because they had escaped without a trace. It was believed to be to America;

  But what should the poor abandoned do at that time? The villa had been seized; She herself was embarrassed by interrogation - perhaps even worse, since initially she could not help but see her as the cognizant of those criminal acts. She resorted, therefore, to the remedy which she had long ago used for the relief of bodily pain, and which she now was to liberate quickly and suddenly from all suffering. She poisoned herself with morphine.

  And what would Frauenlob have said if he had experienced this all-important triumph of his predictions ?! But he had gone to the grave in front of Elsa. A lungs malady to which he had always been attached had developed rapidly in Berlin, where he had spent miserable days, and had carried him off before he could have been given a deceptive hope by the much-vaunted healing power of Koch's lymph.

  CASTLE KOSTENITZ

  FOREWORD BY THE PUBLISHER

  In the case of his death, the unpredictable preparatory work for the “Schloss Kostenitz” was awarded to Princess Salm or his brother-in-law Dr. Saar. Camill Lederer bequeathed as a souvenir, the latter in turn dedicated it to Mr. Hofrat Maresch, in whose possession they are currently located. We learn from them that the novel, originally “Schloss Reichegg and later “Baroness Clotilde” Was to be titled, with the older one:” Haus Reichegg “was not merely related to content, but really sprouted with it from a root. Saar seems to have found an entry for older writers originally intended for the earlier novel, and to have linked it to it. In March 1890 he began our novella in Kaltenleutgeben and then continued in Raitz in the summer and fall, without much going beyond the entrance, which is again in a dozen but slightly different copies. The hero here is still Günthersdorff, the Count Poiga-Reuhofen; at the hiding place between the doors (page 281) Latour is alluded to by name, and among the favorite works of the Baroness besides
the “Amaranth” of Redwitz are especially called Hebbel's “Herodes and Mariamne". The novella was completed in Raitz on March 1, 1892; It first appeared in the feature section of the Abendblatt der Deutsche Zeitung from 27 July to 19 August 1892 in eight sections (No. 7391-7414) and a few months later, in October 1892, but with the year 1893, as a single print (600 copies ), “Karl von Thaler appropriated in old friendship". The poet, who considered the novel to be one of his finest and most important works in Austria, wanted to reprint the fifth and seventh sheets four years later (in the fall of 1896) and At page 123 of the first print, have a box loaded to “make some very short but most necessary improvements.” But when the two-volume edition of the “Novellen from Austria” (second volume, pages 309-393) came about in 1897, he provided the copy, which he had already corrected, for them. It is now very peculiar to the poet, of whom one could say what W. Schlegel of Calderon said, that his hands have not produced a neglected line, most characteristic of how slight the changes are, for the sake of which he is the cost of an overprint do not hesitate. In our edition, the count only mentions the baroness once more as “you” ("You love me?"), but immediately returns to “you” and adds the words “and as she desperately resisted". S. 325 are the words: “Therefore she was also considered” interested “, which completes the character of the Baroness, in place of the words still pertaining to the previous sentence:” that she would fall without being able to rise again. “But the box should be inserted page 337 solely for the sake of three words:” most likely. ” In the second edition of the two-volume “Short stories from Austria” in 1904 (op. Cit.), The novella has undergone only insignificant changes. “In all likelihood", are inserted. In the second edition of the two-volume “Short stories from Austria” in 1904 (op. Cit.), The novella has undergone only insignificant changes. “In all likelihood", are inserted. In the second edition of the two-volume “Short stories from Austria” in 1904 (op. Cit.), The novella has undergone only insignificant changes.

  I.

  Near a frontier ridge, whose western spurs extend into the flat land, densely wooded, lies a moderately high, far-reaching castle that has not stood out too kindly from the background of dark firs in recent decades. For the walls were weathered, the shutters closed, and around the silent portal was the breath of desolation. Below, however, the plain expanded, then as now, a sunny picture of rain, of working life. Hard at the foot of the slope, a stately marketplace, in the circumference of which the black diamond, the hard coal, was mined and framed in fields, bordered only by narrow lines of grain, the yellow-flowering oil plant and the sugar-giving turnip were built. In between, widely scattered, individual shafts and factory buildings, against their blackened walls and smoldering chimneys here and there a shimmering country house looked all the sweeter. From there came the sounds of daytime, now louder, now muffled, the clatter of machines, the roar of steam boilers, the shrill sound of the bells-and trembled in the treetops of the castle park, where a lone swan silently cushioned them on the muddy ponds covered by water lilies Circles drew. ponds covered by water lilies a lone swan drew the silent circles. ponds covered by water lilies a lone swan drew the silent circles.

  In the spring of 1849, however, this abandoned mansion had presented a still quite friendly sight. Also at that time a number of workers had come to repair the castle, which had been used by his then owner, Baron von Gunthersheim, until now only in the summer, for permanent residence. And soon it was possible to hear the news in the neighborhood that the baron of the high public office which he held, had been relieved, and that he now intended to withdraw for ever with his wife. In fact, one evening, at the beginning of June, a mighty carriage lined with post-horses came into view, which in former times would have expected black-headed dignitaries and white-robed girls with bouquets in their hands. Where the stale storms of the revolutionary year had still destroyed and left unclear circumstances everywhere, merely the object of a half-fleeting, half-curious curiosity. Thus it happened that the baron, when he and his wife, a young, slightly veiled lady, got out of the carriage under the portal, was received only by his steward and some auxiliary servants. Later, however, in the dining room of the Golden Lion, where the most prominent citizens and residents of the place used to gather every evening, there was a lively debate on the question of whether the lord of the palace, though losing all feudal sovereignty, would not be ovate should have offered. For there was no doubt that he was only interested in his liberal views, which he was known to have already operated in the Vormärz, had fallen victim to the repeated reversal of things. And in any case, in this respect, he deserves the high esteem, the sympathetic regret of enlightened and still liberal-minded men. A direct rally, one would have to recognize later, would, however, be in reactionary pressure, which is currently on the plate itself The country was practiced and made itself noticeable by stricter police measures of any kind, had not been well done, but by no means it could be angered or even denied that one from the side of the citizenship of the landowner, which stood for years in a wide-spread lease and still stand, pay a courtesy visit. In this case, one would be quite well able to announce the actual intention sub rosa, and thus was also every failure - if such a present - made good again. This view, although some timid and indifferent ones spoke against it, was finally resolved by a majority of votes, after which it was decided to elect the members of the intended deputation and its leaders.

  When the next morning the Freiherr appeared to be informed of the appearance of the deputies, he was busy occupying some of the necessary facilities in his study-a high-lying room with distant views-and by no means seemed to be pleasantly surprised by his intended honor Shadow of displeasure flew over his face. But as it was not proper, on any pretext, to refuse the men, who made themselves felt by their exalted throat-clearing and pawing, he let them enter without further ado, taking a benevolent air. He took a few steps towards them, listened to the speech of the speaker, who was a short, fat man, in a bent position, blushing in some significant passages, and finally thanked him with something softer, but clear and urgent voice for the benevolent sentiments of his fellow-citizens. Unfortunately, he can no longer justify her; In the first place, the individual as well as the whole has no choice but to settle in silent resignation. Hereupon he shook hands with the Fiihrer, and escorted the men who were away under the Bücklingen to the door. Alone, stepped He slowly moved to a window and looked thoughtfully out into the glowing day. The unexpected, though in itself meaningless, incident had, by awakening memories, had a vivid effect on him. And as white shimmering masses of clouds appeared on the horizon outside, the past appeared in the mind of the departed statesman.....

  The Freiherr von Günthersheim was not of old nobility. His grandfather, born of a bourgeois family, had come into governmental service under modest beginnings under the reign of Maria Theresa, and over the years had proved so useful to Chancellor Kaunitz that he rose to ever higher offices during the Josephine era. His son entered the same career under the next ruler and was later elevated to baroncy by his merit at the time of the French invasion of Emperor Francis, which distinction he obtained by acquiring a dominion in Bohemia, which he received from a deeply indebted gentleman under very favorable conditions Conditions also assumed to lend a real basis. The grandchild had thus been given a bright future. Originally intended for a diplomatic career, he was used as a very young man during the Congress of Vienna in the State Chancellery, where he attracted the attention of Metternich through his skills and his amazing work. The prince drew him nearer to him, but he could not convince him of the correctness of the system of government, which now took up more and more space in Austria; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken He was used as a very young man during the Congre
ss of Vienna in the State Chancellery, where he attracted the attention of Metternich through his abilities and astonishing manpower. The prince drew him nearer to him, but he could not convince him of the correctness of the system of government, which now took up more and more space in Austria; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken He was used as a very young man during the Congress of Vienna in the State Chancellery, where he attracted the attention of Metternich through his abilities and astonishing manpower. The prince drew him nearer to him, but he could not convince him of the correctness of the system of government, which now took up more and more space in Austria; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken where he attracted the attention of Metternich through his abilities and amazing work. The prince drew him nearer to him, but he could not convince him of the correctness of the system of government, which now took up more and more space in Austria; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken where he attracted the attention of Metternich through his abilities and amazing work. The prince drew him nearer to him, but he could not convince him of the correctness of the system of government, which now took up more and more space in Austria; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken that now in Austria more and more space grabbed, not convincing; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken that now in Austria more and more space grabbed, not convincing; Their views continued to diverge, until at last the Freiherr, even in higher office, was one of those personalities who, at the rate of the crown, developed progressive ideas and endeavored to create new institutions. So he was one of those who, in spite of rank and dignity, called the March Revolution so suddenly broken welcomed a redemptive and auspicious turnaround. However, entrusted with a leading position of power in that period of great change, he was forced by the increasing revolutionary excesses to impose injunctions which, in the eyes of the people's leaders, made him seem anti-freedom and enabled him one day to turn his back on an excited swarm of swarming people and threatened to penetrate, with his nearly frightened young woman hidden in the narrow space of a double door. Nevertheless, he remained at his post and, in collaboration with some like-minded people, sought to determine the Emperor, who had meanwhile gone to Innsbruck, to return to Vienna, from which steps he expected a clarification of the situation and a final reassurance. But when, nevertheless, the horrors of the October days followed and the court was now forced to flee to Olomouc, he could not help but complain to those who had already seen the ruin and disintegration of the monarchy in the first glorious days of freedom. He himself had to - with what feelings! - welcoming the encroaching troops of Windisch-Gratz and the Banus as saviors and saviors, had to realize that the government could take no other measures than those who now gave a haughty approaching, violent statesman to the hand and the baron himself for Victim had fallen..... who had already seen the ruin and disintegration of the monarchy in the first glorious days of freedom. He himself had to - with what feelings! - welcoming the encroaching troops of Windisch-Gratz and the Banus as saviors and saviors, had to realize that the government could take no other measures than those who now gave a haughty approaching, violent statesman to the hand and the baron himself for Victim had fallen..... who had already seen the ruin and disintegration of the monarchy in the first glorious days of freedom. He himself had to - with what feelings! - welcoming the encroaching troops of Windisch-Gratz and the Banus as saviors and saviors, had to realize that the government could take no other measures than those who now gave a haughty approaching, violent statesman to the hand and the baron himself for Victim had fallen.....