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necessity to secure the hand of Margaret Liebenheim by a private
marriage； against the final opposition of her grandfather； nobody
who knew the parties； who knew the perfect love which possessed
Miss Liebenbeim； the growing imbecility of her grandfather； or the
utter contempt with which Maximilian regarded him； could for a
moment believe。 Altogether； the matter was one of profound
mystery。
Meantime； it rejoiced me that poor Margaret's name had been thus
rescued from the fangs of the scandalmongers。 These harpies had
their prey torn from them at the very moment when they were sitting
down to the unhallowed banquet。 For this I rejoiced； but else
there was little subject for rejoicing in anything which concerned
poor Margaret。 Long she lay in deep insensibility； taking no
notice of anything； rarely opening her eyes； and apparently
unconscious of the revolutions； as they succeeded； of morning or
evening； light or darkness； yesterday or to…day。 Great was the
agitation which convulsed the heart of Maximilian during this
period； he walked up and down in the cathedral nearly all day long；
and the ravages which anxiety was working in his physical system
might be read in his face。 People felt it an intrusion upon the
sanctity of his grief to look at him too narrowly； and the whole
town sympathized with his situation。
At length a change took place in Margaret； but one which the
medical men announced to Maximilian as boding ill for her recovery。
The wanderings of her mind did not depart； but they altered their
character。 She became more agitated； she would start up suddenly；
and strain her eye…sight after some figure which she seemed to see；
then she would apostrophize some person in the most piteous terms；
beseeching him； with streaming eyes； to spare her old grandfather。
〃Look； look；〃 she would cry out； 〃look at his gray hairs！ O； sir！
he is but a child； he does not know what he says； and he will soon
be out of the way and in his grave； and very soon； sir； he will
give you no more trouble。〃 Then； again； she would mutter
indistinctly for hours together； sometimes she would cry out
frantically； and say things which terrified the bystanders； and
which the physicians would solemnly caution them how they repeated；
then she would weep； and invoke Maximilian to come and aid her。
But seldom； indeed； did that name pass her lips that she did not
again begin to strain her eyeballs； and start up in bed to watch
some phantom of her poor； fevered heart； as if it seemed vanishing
into some mighty distance。
After nearly seven weeks passed in this agitating state； suddenly；
on one morning； the earliest and the loveliest of dawning spring； a
change was announced to us all as having taken place in Margaret；
but it was a change； alas！ that ushered in the last great change of
all。 The conflict； which had for so long a period raged within
her； and overthrown her reason； was at an end； the strife was over；
and nature was settling into an everlasting rest。 In the course of
the night she had recovered her senses。 When the morning light
penetrated through her curtain； she recognized her attendants； made
inquiries as to the month and the day of the month； and then；
sensible that she could not outlive the day； she requested that her
confessor might be summoned。
About an hour and a half the confessor remained alone with her。 At
the end of that time he came out； and hastily summoned the
attendants； for Margaret； he said； was sinking into a fainting fit。
The confessor himself might have passed through many a fit； so much
was he changed by the results of this interview。 I crossed him
coming out of the house。 I spoke to himI called to him； but he
heard me nothe saw me not。 He saw nobody。 Onward he strode to
the cathedral； where Maximilian was sure to be found； pacing about
upon the graves。 Him he seized by the arm； whispered something
into his ear； and then both retired into one of the many
sequestered chapels in which lights are continually burning。 There
they had some conversation； but not very long； for within five
minutes Maximilian strode away to the house in which his young wife
was dying。 One step seemed to carry him upstairs。 The attendants；
according to the directions they had received from the physicians；
mustered at the head of the stairs to oppose him。 But that was
idle： before the rights which he held as a lover and a husband
before the still more sacred rights of grief； which he carried in
his countenance； all opposition fled like a dream。 There was；
besides； a fury in his eye。 A motion of his hand waved them off
like summer flies； he entered the room； and once again； for the
last time； he was in company with his beloved。
What passed who could pretend to guess？ Something more than two
hours had elapsed； during which Margaret had been able to talk
occasionally； which was known； because at times the attendants
heard the sound of Maximilian's voice evidently in tones of reply
to something which she had said。 At the end of that time； a little
bell； placed near the bedside； was rung hastily。 A fainting fit
had seized Margaret； but she recovered almost before her women
applied the usual remedies。 They lingered； however； a little；
looking at the youthful couple with an interest which no restraints
availed to check。 Their hands were locked together； and in
Margaret's eyes there gleamed a farewell light of love； which
settled upon Maximilian； and seemed to indicate that she was
becoming speechless。 Just at this moment she made a feeble effort
to draw Maximilian toward her； he bent forward and kissed her with
an anguish that made the most callous weep； and then he whispered
something into her ear； upon which the attendants retired； taking
this as a proof that their presence was a hindrance to a free
communication。 But they heard no more talking； and in less than
ten minutes they returned。 Maximilian and Margaret still retained
their former position。 Their hands were fast locked together； the
same parting ray of affection； the same farewell light of love； was
in the eye of Margaret； and still it settled upon Maximilian。 But
her eyes were beginning to grow dim； mists were rapidly stealing
over them。 Maximilian； who sat stupefied and like one not in his
right mind； now； at the gentle request of the women； resigned his
seat； for the hand which had clasped his had already relaxed its
hold； the farewell gleam of love had departed。 One of the women
closed her eyelids； and there fell asleep forever the loveliest
flower that our city had reared for generations。
The funeral took place on the fourth day after her death。 In the
morning of that day； from strong affectionhaving known her from
an infantI begged permission to see the corpse。 She was in her
coffin； snowdrops and crocuses were laid upon her innocent bosom；
and roses； of that sort which the season allowed； over her person。
These and other lovely symbols of youth； of springtime； and of
resurrection； caught my eye for the first moment； but in the next
it fell upon her face。 Mighty God！ what a change！ what a
transfiguration！ Still； indeed； there was the same innocent
sweetness； still there was something of the same loveliness； the
expression still remained； but for the featuresall trace of flesh
seemed to have vanished； mere outline of bony structure remained；
mere pencilings and shadowings of what she once had been。 This is；
indeed； I exclaimed； 〃dust to dustashes to ashes！〃
Maximilian； to the astonishment of everybody； attended the funeral。
It was celebrated in the cathedral。 All made way for him； and at
times he seemed collected； at times he reeled like one who was
drunk。 He heard as one who hears not； he saw as one in a dream。
The whole ceremony went on by torchlight； and toward the close he
stood like a pillar； motionless； torpid； frozen。 But the great
burst of the choir； and the mighty blare ascending from our vast
organ at the closing of the grave； recalled him to himself； and he
strode rapidly homeward。 Half an hour after I returned； I was
summoned to his bedroom。 He was in bed； calm and collected。 What
he said to me I remember as if it had been yesterday； and the very
tone with which he said it； although more than twenty years have
passed since then。 He began thus： 〃I have not long to live〃； and
when he saw me start； suddenly awakened into a consciousness that
perhaps he had taken poison； and meant to intimate as much； he
continued： 〃You fancy I have taken poison；no matter whether I
have or not； if I have； the poison is such that no antidote will
now avail； or； if they would； you well know that some griefs are of
a kind which leave no opening to any hope。 What difference；
therefore； can it make whether I leave this earth to…day； to…
morrow； or the next day？ Be assured of thisthat whatever I have
determined to do is past all power of be