and passed lovingly and gently
over it. She caught his fingers, as if the very touch inspired her
with new life; and raising her head, she turned her hot, tearless eyes
up to him, saying in an inexpressibly sad tone:

"Father, why have you forsaken your child in her hour of need?"

"Because, Carmen, I am powerless before this man," he returned in a low
voice.

"Powerless?" she asked. "But how can he have any power over you if you
do not wish it? He, a friend, against his friend!"

"Ah, Carmen," answered the old man, "that he has not used his power
against me before is another proof of his friendship for me; but now,
when he sees fit to exert it, I cannot prevent him, and must bear it.
I have already told you that it is a great misfortune that he loves
you, and you cannot return his affection."

"Father, my thoughts are so perplexed by all this. I cannot understand
how any one can have such power over you that you are forced to leave
your own child unprotected."

Mauer sighed deeply. Carmen rose, and began to pace restlessly up and
down the room. Outside, the thunder-storm raged with ungovernable
fury; within, the poor girl was endeavoring to quiet the tumult of her
aching heart, and collect her scattered thoughts.

"Father," she said at last, breaking silence, and seating herself near
him, "speak, and let me know how and why Brother Jonathan can injure
you. What can we do to avert the peril we are in?"

"Carmen, could you bear to behold in your father a culprit, a great
sinner?" He looked so crushed, so very, very miserable, that her
loving heart overflowed with sympathy and pity. To look at that dear
face, and see the wretchedness of gulf and remorse written there, wrung
her heart beyond endurance, and brought the scalding tears to her eyes.
She threw her arms about his neck, and answered tenderly: "You cannot
be guilty in your daughter's eyes; and if you appear so before the
world, I will only love you the more for it, and help you to bear your
grief, father." He sobbed aloud, and drew her closer to him.

"It must be God's gracious mercy and pity which speaks to me through
you, my child. May He bless you, and for your sake, and my sufferings,
may He forgive my great sin! It is indeed an old story of guilt and
sorrow which I have to tell, and which has weighed heavily upon my
heart for nineteen long years! Listen, then, Carmen."

Mauer sat silent a moment, as if trying to refresh in his memory t