Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/532

 Hans (Out of his sleep).—Ann! My Ann! (Waking) I beg your pardon! Now I know where I am. For a moment I had forgotten. You are not Ann, but the doctor’s widow.

Julia.—I was expecting I thought  I was sure you were not asleep, but you were and all at once you awoke.

Hans.—And frightened you terribly. Strange that I should again call you by your sister’s name. The first time it happened it was broad daylight, and this time it is twilight.

Julia.—I know I should not have come here, but I wanted so much My chief fault is that the moment anything occurs to me, I want to carry it through without thinking ahead to the consequences. This is what occurred to me just now: That you are here, sleeping, while you ought to be far away (from here) beyond the Bavarian mountains. I must warn you that brother-in-law intends no kindness toward you.

Hans.—Let us not talk about him, please; I have had all I can stand of him for one day. He calls me an outlaw, a fugitive, and I must agree with him, because it is the truth.

Julia.—He is capable of anything! You remember what he said about the Austrian Eagle? It is very evident that he is planning to turn you over to the magistrates. So why are you waiting here?

Hans.—It will not be the first time in his life that he tried to get me out of his way. I can always linger till the last moment, and then make a brave dash for liberty. I’ll be off in time, you’ll see. But now let’s talk about yourself, Mrs

Julia.—I am not a Mrs. I am not really a widow.

Hans.—I took you for the widow of the late interne.

Julia.—That is only a sort of charity name to satisfy town gossip.

Hans.—On my honor, I don’t comprehend!

Julia.—Mr. Karvan, I don’t know why it should be so, but there is nothing so important to me at this moment than that you should hear from my own lips all that I shall tell you. Before you go Of course, my history cannot be of interest to you, and so my sad tale will be brief. (Hesitating.) Johnny, Ann’s boy, him you have seen. If you should stay till tomorrow you would see another little fellow running around here, my little Jack. He is only five.

Hans.—And this little Jack?

Julia.—He is mine and I am unmarried.

Hans.—You poor girl, I begin to understand.