ing about your last essay--"

The other turned away. "No," he muttered, "it's better so, wiser to put
an end to this once for all. I'm glad Edwin is here too. I wanted to
say it before, but you were so absorbed in the game: I shall take leave
of you to-day--for an indefinite time--"

"Fools call it forever," quoted Mohr. "What devil has taken possession
of you, Caius Franzelius? Do you want to found a colony of workmen
among the red-skins on the Schultze--Delitz'schen principles? Or are
you going to the Salt Lake of Utah, to disgust the Mormons with their
immortality! Or--stop, now I have it--he can't endure the sight of a
man who drinks Rhine wine, while the camels in the desert of Sahara
often cannot get even muddy water."

The printer seemed about to make some angry reply. Edwin anticipated
him.

"You don't know what you are doing," said he. "If you part from old
friends, you must have some good reasons for doing so, for they are
wares that are not to be bought in every market. It would be kinder,
Franzel, to inform us of these reasons. Who knows whether they're so
well grounded, as you imagine."

"I thank you, Edwin," replied the other in a faltering voice. "I'm glad
it's not a matter of entire indifference to you whether or not our
intercourse is given up, little pleasure as it has afforded during the
last few weeks. As for my reasons--"

"I'm quite ready to forsake this locality, if unrestrained intercourse
is desired," said Mohr quietly, rising.

"There's nothing personal to be said," replied the gloomy visitor. "The
fact that we do not understand each other--unpleasant as it often is to
be the butt of your frivolous jests--could not induce me to remain away
from the 'tun' entirely. The matter is far more serious; to tell the
whole story in a few words: I've decided to publish a newspaper, which
is to acknowledge and defend my principles more plainly and openly than
my fugitive sheets have hitherto done. It is to appear twice a week
under the name of: 'The Tribune of the People.' I thank you for the
nick-name, Mohr, which I have now made a title of honor. The prospectus
will break with the last remnants of superstition and traditional
delusions, and as the rich have good reasons for preserving these
traditions, since they stir up the water in which they want to fish, it
will appeal expressly to the poor and miserable. I have recognized this
as my life task, for which I am ready to make every sacrifice--ev