e to Tony by the miller's man, but now it is too
late."

Not till after repeated entreaties on the part of her brother, did his
sister recommence her story.

CHAPTER IV.
MARTINA'S RETURN HOME.

"On the Saturday afternoon of a midsummer's day a woman was crouching
behind a rock, overhanging that part of the stream where there is a
black whirlpool. The sempstress Leegart chanced to be passing by on her
way home from the forest mill, wishing to see the spot where she once
lost her way.

"Leegart is full of superstition, though no one says more against it
than she does. When on that Saturday she arrived at the rock and saw
the figure cowering down behind it, she gave a loud scream. 'What can
that be crouching in the bright light like a spectre? It is Martina!'
She rose, and looking piteously at Leegart, told her that she had
intended to drown herself, but that she must live for her child's sake;
but when it was born she resolved to die. Leegart quickly promised to
be godmother, for the belief hereabouts is, that a child for whom a
godmother is promised before its birth, comes happily into the world,
and even if it dies it is sure to be happy. Leegart never ceased
talking to Martina, and striving to console her, till at last she
persuaded her to go with her to the village.

"This took place in the afternoon; I was sitting with my husband in the
garden, when suddenly we heard from the opposite side of the river, a
shrill scream of agony that seemed to pierce our ears; and scarcely had
we hurried out of the arbour than Leegart rushed up to us as pale as
death, and said: 'Herr Pastor, for God's sake lose not a moment in
going to Schilder-David's, for he will murder Martina, I fear.'

"I wished to go with my husband, but he told me to stay where I was,
and went himself as quickly as possible. Leegart nearly swooned away,
but luckily there was still a cup of coffee to spare, and when it had
revived her she told me that Martina had come home in shame and
disgrace. When David, who was cutting, wood before his door, saw her,
and heard the sad truth, he raised his axe with the intention of
splitting his daughter's skull. The neighbours, however, rushed up to
him in time to snatch the axe from him, but he was still standing on
the threshold of his door, threatening to strangle Martina if she
attempted to come under his roof. Martina fell down on the doorstep;
some wo