Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/394

 Anezka—My Jiri—oh my father! You will come with us, won’t you?

Dr. Svoboda—(Buried in thought)—Yes—I would go about the streets of Prague— and people would point after me and say: See, there goes Dr. Svoboda, formerly the great freeholder! They threw him out—he is run down at the heels now—has nothing—lives off of his daughter and son-in-law!—Or what could I do—starting anew with the youngsters in the hospitals, competing with them for a living in the profession that I have now neglected for these twenty years—finding myself subordinated, even an utter failure—My life has run its course—I missed my aim—

Anezka—Father—dear father! Do not talk so!

Dr. Svoboda—(Smoothing her hair)—That was only for a moment. You do not know as yet, what ideas may take possession of a defeated man. Anezka, let me rest and take breath. See, night is at hand, and I have had a terrible day—My child, (kissing her on the forehead)—go now, and be at peace.

Anezka—I could compose myself, if I only knew that you, my father, would be calm!

Dr. Svoboda—I will be at rest—in a few minutes, but I now must be alone—alone—

Anezka—Won’t you take refreshment of some sort?

Dr. Svoboda—Not today—Where the beaks of the vultures have been feeding, (pointing to the table)—I can no longer eat.

Anezka—Father!

Dr. Svoboda—Good night, dear child, Good night! (Kisses her, holding her for a minute in his arms.)

Anezka—Good night! (Leaves him.)

(To himself)—Good night!—May you sleep well, my dearest, best beloved child! Before my last sleep, I wish you good night! It is growing late, the day is fading, and the night is spreading out like a dark and heavy blanket, into which it would forever enfold me. For etermity,—yes, what is left—what wiser philosophy could I think of,—the surest and safest refuge—it is a short and sharp word, death—Death Here I stand before that riddle, before which I have stood a thousand times when it was disporting itself with others, drawing others to its bosom. Today, I must solve that puzzle myself. Why did not the