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silence of the house was ominous。 At length some one cried out
that Miss Liebenheim had that day gone upon a visit to a friend；
whose house was forty miles distant in the forest。 〃Aye；〃 replied
another；〃 she had settled to go； but I heard that something had
stopped her。〃 The suspense was now at its height； and the crowd
passed from room to room； but found no traces of Miss Liebenheim。
At length they ascended the stair； and in the very first room； a
small closet； or boudoir； lay Margaret； with her dress soiled
hideously with blood。 The first impression was that she also had
been murdered； but； on a nearer approach； she appeared to be
unwounded； and was manifestly alive。 Life had not departed； for
her breath sent a haze over a mirror； but it was suspended； and she
was laboring in some kind of fit。 The first act of the crowd was
to carry her into the house of a friend on the opposite side of the
street； by which time medical assistance had crowded to the spot。
Their attentions to Miss Liebenheim had naturally deranged the
condition of things in the little room； but not before many people
found time to remark that one of the murderers must have carried
her with his bloody hands to the sofa on which she lay； for water
had been sprinkled profusely over her face and throat； and water
was even placed ready to her hand； when she might happen to
recover； upon a low foot…stool by the side of the sofa。
On the following morning； Maximilian； who had been upon a hunting
party in the forest； returned to the city； and immediately learned
the news。 I did not see him for some hours after； but he then
appeared to me thoroughly agitated； for the first time I had known
him to be so。 In the evening another perplexing piece of
intelligence transpired with regard to Miss Liebenheim； which at
first afflicted every friend of that young lady。 It was that she
had been seized with the pains of childbirth； and delivered of a
son； who； however； being born prematurely； did not live many hours。
Scandal； however； was not allowed long to batten upon this
imaginary triumph； for within two hours after the circulation of
this first rumor； followed a second； authenticated； announcing that
Maximilian had appeared with the confessor of the Liebenheim
family； at the residence of the chief magistrate； and there
produced satisfactory proofs of his marriage with Miss Liebenheim；
which had been duly celebrated； though with great secrecy； nearly
eight months before。 In our city； as in all the cities of our
country； clandestine marriages； witnessed； perhaps； by two friends
only of the parties； besides the officiating priest； are
exceedingly common。 In the mere fact； therefore； taken separately；
there was nothing to surprise us； but； taken in connection with the
general position of the parties； it DID surprise us all； nor could
we conjecture the reason for a step apparently so needless。 For；
that Maximilian could have thought it any point of prudence or
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 h