Short Stories From Austria- Ferdinand Von Saar

by Ferdinand Ludwig Adam

  'You should have called and abolished it. I ask that it happens next time. And if she does not obey you, you rush the dog at her - or burn her one! '

  'Yes, if only that happened!' I replied with forced laughter.

  , Unfortunately, it does not work. And the rabble knows that too, and therefore takes everything and everything out of it. But this cannaille must not be tolerated at any price. If you only threaten to deprive the parents of the right to vote, it will work. '

  I felt so much more self-conscious during this interview, when I realized I was blushing on the first question of my supervisor. But he was right: the matter had to be put to an end. So I decided to let the girl get hot at the first reunion.

  The next morning, cloudy, rainy weather had come, and I thought, therefore, that she would not show herself today; but it was not long before I saw her emerge in the wet undergrowth of a deforested back.

  , Hey! you!' I called to her.

  She stood still and looked at me, glowing over the dripping headscarf.

  'What are you doing in the woods?' I hurried on, approaching her.

  She seemed to have expected another language because her face darkened and her eyes took on a nasty look. 'Well,' she asked in a harsh voice, 'may I not?'

  ,No!'

  ,Why not? Anyone can go to the forest. '

  , Do you mean? Nobody should be in the area - and you least. '

  'Who will stop me?'

  ,I.'

  ,You? Go! ' She looked at me with contorted brow contemptuous - and yet with incredulous tenderness.

  I felt that look penetrate me inside; nevertheless, I assumed an indifferent air. 'As far as I am concerned, it should take little care, whether you are there or not; you will not carry away the trees. But the forester does not tolerate it and has ordered me to abolish you. '

  'How do you want to do that?' she asked scornfully.

  My stop was between the two of us and started to sniff them carefully.

  'Do you want to deal with the dog?' she continued, laughing. 'He would not obey you.' She had pulled a lump of black bread out of her pocket at these words, after which Stop, greedy as all hunting dogs, greedily snapped and then, wishing for more, looked up at her wagging.,Do you see! He is smarter than his master; he takes what he gives. '

  Her impudence really annoyed and upset me now. 'Do you know,' I said, 'I'm not going to talk to you and enter into heralding, and just explain that I do not want to see you here anymore. However, I can not use force, but there are other ways to fix your head. For now, your parents may not collect more wood if you get in my way again. You notice that! With that I let her, with whistling dogs, briefly stand in the bushes. I could clearly see her looking at me with angry, glittering eyes, and after a while I heard a wild, far-reaching mocking laughter.

  But my words, as well as my whole behavior, did not seem to have missed the intended effect; for the intrusive creature stayed away from the forest that day; at least I did not see it. But strange: although I had to be satisfied with the success and it was really, I was missing something in my courses. It seemed to me as if I still could not believe that she had obeyed my command, and as often as I heard it rustling somewhere in the branches, I thought I saw her figure spring open too, in a sense disappointed, if indeed I did saw some beast.

  In the meantime it had become completely summer, and outside in the vast, sunlit fields the grain began to ripen. At this time I had gone up to the Heger once in the morning, and with him had made the upper part of the station; When I started to descend, it was already close to noon and the heat, already very sensitive in the morning, had now increased to the unbearable. Around the softwood there was a numbing glow, and seemed to stifle every sound; not even the hammering of the woodpecker sounded through the silence. I had taken off my skirt and throbbed like my dog, who was walking behind me with his tongue hanging out. But all the streams and water cracks had dried up, and the short hour's walk that I still have to travel to the forester's lodge had just enough time to die of thirst. Then it occurred to me that I must be near a quarry, where I had encountered a spring last summer, during the greatest drought, which laboriously seeped between moss and tree roots. Their sparse water-drizzle collected in a small pool, overflowing from time to time, keeping the place itself constantly moist and favoring the growth of tall elms, which spread cool, gloomy shadows throughout the round. I immediately sought to gain the shortest direction by beating myself easily through the thicket. Soon I felt also, as a refreshing breath swept me; Now I heard clearly how it trickled and splashed in the depths. A few more steps - and below me lay the clear, shaded pool. But at the same time it took my breath away, and I had to hold myself staggering to the next branch. For the little basin, at the edge of which female garments were scattered, just emerged with a flickering body of the girl. Stop was ahead; she jumped and turned her face to me. Her first impulse was to clap her hands in instinctive shame; but at once it quirked strangely around her mouth, and, lowering her raised arms, she assumed the familiar position of Venus, which she had never before seen in her life. I turned away and fled back the path I broke. Like a drunkard, I stumbled forward; my heart beat up to my neck; Heat and dryness in my throat threatened to stifle me, while my dog, who was drunk in the meantime,

  When I came home, I do not know today; All I can say is that I did not take the picture before my eyes, that it consumed torturous longing, that I was struggling with the determination to visit the girl - and what were these kinds of extravagances of a heated fantasy. Reason and a sense of honor, of course, helped me over all these shocks; but I was and remained miserable in the next few days. I could not eat, not sleep, and walked about in the forest like a shadow.

  Almost a week had passed and I had to look again for the nursery that I had avoided since then, although a mysterious power seemed to call in me. From a distance I could see that the girl was sitting near the fence, as she was then. I felt a violent jerk all over my body and involuntarily turned back. But I was ashamed even of this unworthy cowardice and decided to bravely face the danger, if it really was to be one; So now walk past the sitter without glancing at her. Stop stopped and waved to her like a good friend. She lured him close. I whistled; but as she was barking his head, he did not immediately follow. That annoyed me. 'Leave the dog alone!' I told her,

  'Can I help him know me?' she answered calmly without looking up. 'He does not pretend to be like you.'

  ,What do you mean by that?' I answered harshly.

  'Why do you pretend you do not see me?'

  'Be glad if I do not see you,' I said meaningfully.

  'Oh, go!' she said as she rose from the stone and came slowly towards me. 'I've been waiting here for you day after day.'

  ,On me? Why?'

  She did not say anything, but looked at me with a look that made my blood boil - and yet at the same time so indignant that I exclaimed with unfeigned indignation: 'You are a shameless thing! See that you get away - and that at once! '

  She looked at me half in fright, half in disbelief, while a stupid smile played around her red, half-opened lips.

  ,Have you heard? Away! I say!' With that, I stretched out my arm so imperiously, that threatening to growl in spite of his friendly disposition.

  She quaked together; but immediately afterwards a treacherous, provocative defiance appeared in her face; it was as if she wanted to defend herself. But then her features suddenly took on the look of complete indifference.,Oh well; do not be so angry and do not cry. I'm going. But at least give me something. I'm hungry. And look, the dress is already in tatters - and I have no shoes - '

  'You need shoes - you shrub thief!' I shouted hard.

  She flinched again; her eyes had grown quite dark and flashed with anger and hatred. 'Why are you called me that?' she called with clenched fists. 'I did not steal anything from you.' Then she lowered her arms and said reproachfully, ' You should not call me that - just you.'

  I myself regretted the word when I la
unched it. 'Why do you care,' I said more mildly. 'And if you're hungry, why do not you work?'

  'That's not possible,' she replied dully.

  ,Why not?'

  'Nobody takes me.'

  ,That is not true. Have you already tried? '

  She shook her head.

  'Do it!'

  She looked thoughtfully to herself. 'Give me something,' she said after a while.

  'No, I will not give you anything! That would only support your laziness, your bad inclinations. Or, 'I went on, overcome by a sudden thought, yes, I want to give you so much, that for a while you do not have to go hungry and put a few cubes of stuff in your body; but only on the one condition that you look for work. '

  She was silent and seemed to fight a difficult inner fight. 'No one takes me,' she finally repeated. 'You know - -'

  ,I know. But that is precisely why one must and must take you; because it is everyone's duty to help you live a decent life. In the farm you will certainly find admission. If you want, I'll talk to the adjunct. '

  ' You better take me,' she said, looking up quickly. 'You can use me in the woods, too.'

  'No,' I answered, confused, 'no, it's already too late for that; the cultures are exposed, and whatever else I could do to you would not go far. But the economy is only now so right. The next week begins the second turnip, then the hay harvest, later is the cut - and finally the turnip harvest. So you would have employment and earnings until late autumn. Do you want?'

  I saw that she could not come to a decision and stared vacantly at herself. I approached her and pulled the purse. 'Look,' said I mildly, 'you are a pretty girl; why do not you want to be good and righteous too? What's your name?

  'Maruschka,' she said quietly.

  'Well, Maruschka, why do not you, like all the others, to buy your daily bread - for you - and also for your parents who are no longer fit for work? Your example would enfeeble the brother - and you could become all still honorable people instead of degenerating into misery and shame. Do not you think about your future? '

  Her broad, strong nostrils had begun to quiver softly as I spoke; the corners of her mouth went down painfully, and now she broke into an unstoppable, loud cry.

  ,Do you see?' I continued, running my hand lightly over her brittle hair. 'Take it to heart. Today is Friday - the day after tomorrow, Sunday, early in the morning go to the farm and sign up for work. Do you want?'

  'I want,' she said, sobbing.

  ,So now. Take it! It's as much as I can. But I build on your promise. And that you can not get me into the forest anymore! Do you hear?'

  She shook her head in tears as a sign that she did not want to come back.

  'And now farewell,' I said.

  She held the gift in the tightly closed hand. Silent, obedient, still weeping softly, she turned and left.

  With a free, lifted breast I breathed. All unfair, ugly feelings were washed away in me; I just had the good feeling that I had done well.

  I climbed the hill and waited until Maruschka came out of the forest into the sunny plain. She lookedHe did not turn around, but walked with his head down between the shining cornfields. Finally she dried her eyes and then slowly and carefully began to unfold the banknote which I pressed into her hand.

  III.

  In the afternoon I went to the adjuncts. He listened to me somewhat surprised and asked, smiling, how I would manage to be the advocate of the young Troglodytin. Whereupon I was prepared and therefore could explain without any embarrassment that the girl had been driving around in the district for days to the great dismay of the forester, that I had at last spoken to her conscience and appointed her to go to the farmyard on Sundays to ask for employment. And in the end, as a result of our ministry, we are called to accept people because the local authorities do not care for them at all.

  'Certainly,' he replied, 'and it should not be my fault, if the dulled thing should complain that it is made to be lost without a vengeance. Also, I can not find enough touching hands just now. But I confess to you openly that I can not trust her good will. And even if she had the most honest intention, she will not be able to enforce it in her own way - just as little as her parents, who have had such a thing every now and then. After all, it is degenerating people who are labor-shy in the blood. For a few days, for a week at most, they attack; Then suddenly they leave everything and stand and stretch again on the lazy skin. This, as has been said, seems to rest on purely physical laws, which mock even the external compulsion. You know how it went with your brother in this regard; I'm afraid the sister will take a similar exit. But as I said, when she comes, she is accepted. Some of the women and girls, who are basically not much better, will probably turn up their noses when they are with the punished thief out in the field, but that gives itself in a few days and need not worry us.

  On Monday morning, the turnip began, and I went to a raised point near the edge of the forest to watch the work from a distance. During the night it had thundered violently; now the air was transparent, and a cool wind blew from the north across the fields, which stretched widely on either side of the highway. Like emerald, the beet plants pattered off the yellowish-billowing crops, and the colorful kerchiefs of the working women, who were very numerous in the deep-set posture on the green plan, fluttered like strange big flowers. I tried to find out Marushka among the scattered crowd, but I did not succeed, and already I began to doubt that they were carrying out their purpose - when I saw them appear suddenly, now clearly recognizable by the colorless dark rags, she still wore her body; she had just bought a new, fire-colored headscarf with my money. So she had come - she was working! Satisfied, I looked at the colorful picture for a while, then went about my business.

  Towards evening I suddenly felt uncomfortable. I had somehow caught a cold, and when I went to bed, chills and a strong sore throat set in, which kept me in the house for a few days; meanwhile, however, the work on the turnip fields had been completed.

  On the other hand, the hay harvest followed in the near future, and a large meadow adjacent to the place was first attacked. As I happened to be in the castle that day, when two young counts had just arrived at the castle, I was able to look at the bustle of the neighborhood when I returned, and finally entered it myself. Although the sun was not yet very high, there was already the oppressive sultriness of July. The sweat the work flowed in streams; yet it was a pleasure to see people, men, and women united, merrily swinging the scythes, and laying down the long-stemmed grasses in which they stood up to their hips. On the already mowed part of the meadow, a new machine was driven around in large circles, which was intended to turn the fragrant swaths and spread easily. There one could also see the adjutant, who was zealously pacing, swinging his field-pole. When he caught sight of me, he called from afar: 'Hello God, fellow Forest Colleague! You come to see what my wards are doing? But you will not find it here. What I predicted has arrived. For two days she worked on the beets, then she disappeared. But if your heart still demands it, 'he went on ironically,' just look there! ' He pointed with his stick to a high mill dam, which drew on the edge of the meadow. And really: up there Maruschka was sitting at the foot of a rotten willow trunk, which made individual young shoots shine in the sun. But she still wore her old clothes, and so the whole figure was dark and unpleasant against the clear horizon and its white shimmering clouds. The fire-colored cloth was on her knees, her hair sparkling with a tuft of red poppies. So she looked down at the busy crowd at her feet, arms raised and chin supporting with her hands. up there, Maruschka sat at the foot of a rotten willow trunk, which made individual young shoots shine in the sun. But she still wore her old clothes, and so the whole figure was dark and unpleasant against the clear horizon and its white shimmering clouds. The fire-colored cloth was on her knees, her hair sparkling with a tuft of red poppies. So she looked down at the busy crowd at her feet, arms raised and chin supporting with her hands. up there, Maruschka sat at the foot of a rotten willow trunk, which made individual young
shoots shine in the sun. But she still wore her old clothes, and so the whole figure was dark and unpleasant against the clear horizon and its white shimmering clouds. The fire-colored cloth was on her knees, her hair sparkling with a tuft of red poppies. So she looked down at the busy crowd at her feet, arms raised and chin supporting with her hands. her hair sparkled with a tuft of red poppies. So she looked down at the busy crowd at her feet, arms raised and chin supporting with her hands. her hair sparkled with a tuft of red poppies. So she looked down at the busy crowd at her feet, arms raised and chin supporting with her hands.

  “It is more convenient, of course,” continued the adjutant, to take a bird's-eye view of the matter. Yet we do not even understand how the prostitute may go the day; The eternal lounging and vagrancy must also have his pain. And what she just thinks? Is she even thinking or thinking about something? Who is able to put himself in the soul of such a being? I have often wondered what she really wants to do, the paths the nearest and most comfortable vice; she would be sure of success. Because despite her neglect, her broad cheekbones and the somewhat flat nose, she is nevertheless a beauty, a true Slavic beauty. Here in the village, of course, her wheat could not bloom; but all she had to do was take a foot trip to Brno, where there are enough soul-sellers to welcome them with open arms. So it can only be the power of inertia again, which binds them to their usual native misery. It is remarkable, by the way, that at least some degenerate lad does not turn to her here. Although I can not stand up for her virtue, it is certain that I have never seen her associate with anything masculine; she always drives around on her own. Would she even be able to love? Yes, those are all problems, dear friend, and if you were able to do so, it would be very interesting to put them in other circumstances and watch what would come out, what unsuspected qualities they might develop - - But hell 'What is the machine doing?' he cried, suddenly breaking off. This seemed to be faltering, and he hurried anxiously towards her. I waved goodbye to him and left. suddenly breaking off. This seemed to be faltering, and he hurried anxiously towards her. I waved goodbye to him and left. suddenly breaking off. This seemed to be faltering, and he hurried anxiously towards her. I waved goodbye to him and left.