--- title: Legends and Tales., part 4 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees · page 2 description: Legends and Tales., part 4, «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: But let us not be too hard on the Baron in this respect, for the English often make as ludicrous errors in German. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/5/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/) / Legends and Tales., part 4 # Legends and Tales., part 4 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/5/) **2** "Olga in perfect terror, pale as marble, came rushing to meet me.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") She could not speak, and did not need to, for I had heard what had passed.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") I took Olga by the arm and walked firmly to the breakfast-room.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") Miss Mac Stab was arranging our breakfast-table as we entered.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") I inquired if any letters were come.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") "Miss Mac Stab glowered at us with an awful face, and replied savagely, in coarse tones, 'Yes, here is a letter; but you wrote and sent it to the post yourselves; nobody would write to the likes of you.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") Such grand pretensions, with your crests\![56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") You'll not get no more letters here; I'll intercept them, and expose your falsehoods.'[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") "We hastened to our rooms, and sent Paulina to call a carriage.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") I knew there was an English clergyman in the place, the Rev. William Samper, and we thought it better to acquaint him with our embarrassment, as we were alone, and ask his advice.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") "Olga went, taking Paulina with her, and I remained alone.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") There were two or three strangers staying in the house who had also gone out, hence there was no one but the family at home.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") "The day before, on going out for a drive, we had locked our door, and the Mac Stabs denied our right to lock any door, or even to keep any door-key.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") No sooner was Olga gone than Miss Mac Stab, accompanied by her brother and sister, came upstairs and entered my room without knocking.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Mac Stab demanded the keys.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") I told him I should not deliver up the keys till I had done with the apartments, and expressed my surprise at the insolence in thus entering my room unbidden, and the cowardice of such conduct when no one was there to see or hear.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") Miss Mac Stab, with one sweep of her hand, brushed all my writing materials on the floor, and her no less amiable brother seated himself, saying he should wait till he had the keys. '[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") You will wait, then,' I said, 'until my sister and maid return.'[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") "'My maid'! cried Miss Mac Stab.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Just then a loud ring hurried them all away.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") "I locked my door till Olga returned.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") She had seen Mr. Samper, and shown our letters, and he would be with us in a few moments.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") He came and insisted on our going with him, perfect strangers though we were, at once to his house; assuring us Mrs. Samper was expecting us, breakfast was being made ready, and our rooms awaited us.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") "The very atmosphere of their house was peace, and Mrs. Samper was like a mother to us, and the noble Christian pair have the warmest place in my memory and heart.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") The following day Mr. Samper received a letter from the Mac Stabs, claiming damages for a broken Sèvres vase and an injured piano, amounting to four pounds--all, of course, absolutely false.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Mr. Samper wrote declining any further correspondence, and informed them the post and the law were open.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") "Karl and Franz, on hearing our story, sent them a solicitor's letter, demanding an explanation of their infamous conduct to two defenceless ladies.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") The reply to this letter was absolute silence, and the sudden disappearance of the Mac Stabs from the town.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") We found they had treated many badly, and had sought in various instances, by driving people to leave before the expiration of the time already paid for, or by involving them in law proceedings, to gain money.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") "We stayed a few days with the good minister, but in a state of feverish excitement, watching the descriptions of succeeding battles, and reading the lists of wounded, dead, and missing with a horrible fascination.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") "At last we could bear the uncertainty no longer, and assuming the dresses of nuns, we joined several actual nuns and a couple of surgeons, who were going to France to follow the second army, in which Franz and Karl served, to nurse the wounded, seeking them out on the battle-field, which was very necessary, for there were not nurses and surgeons sufficient for the need, and many died for the lack of nursing in time.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") "At length came the terrible battle of Mars la Tour--St. Hilaire, or Vionville--in the burning heat of August--the 16th it was--and Major Franz Omnesky was among the missing.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Olga set off alone in her wild grief, to search on the battle-field, knowing we would not let her go; and when we first missed her, we had no idea how long she had been gone.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") "Oh! how shall I attempt to depict that dreadful night-scene among the dead and dying on the field of Mars la Tour?[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") The pale, ghastly faces looking up to God's pure, blue heavens so \_fearfully calm\_ above all this human woe and anguish.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") "Among the heaps of the slain, stumbling over horse and rider, we searched till night grew pale before the dawn, and then we found what we sought--and dreaded to find--Franz dead, and Olga lying with her head on his breast, in a deathly swoon, her garments wet with dew, and her long beautiful hair falling over her dead husband's face.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") "Olga never rallied; the grief, exposure, and fatigue were too much for her delicate frame and passionate love for Franz.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") We laid them both in one grave, on a knoll, under a clump of limes--the two brave hearts so true and noble.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") "Then came the 18th of August, that most murderous of all the engagements of the war, the battle of Gravelotte, in which the Kaiser commanded in person, with a brilliant staff, Prinz Friedrich Karl, Steinmetz, Moltke, Roon, Bismarck being on it.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") "Colonel Karl Omnesky was among the wounded, and I hastened on to nurse him, as I hoped, to renewed life and vigour, but the moment I saw him all hope died for ever.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Death was written on his noble brow, but his great, deep violet eyes looked bravely and tenderly as ever into mine.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Oh those precious days\![91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Golden is their memory, though so unspeakably sad.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") "He was ready to go, awaiting eagerly the change to the better land, but full of a tender sympathy and sorrow for me and his unborn child.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") "He never was weary of hearing that wonderful prayer of our Saviour, the seventeenth of St. John, and the fifteenth of the First Epistle to the Corinthians.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") "Often, accompanied by the harp he so loved, I sang his favourite lines, my heart frantic with grief, but outwardly calm, for God lent me strength.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") "'Bleibe bei mir vom Morgen bis Abend, Denn ohne Dich kann ich nicht leben.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Bleibe bei mir denn die Nacht ist dunkel, Und ohne Dich darf ich nicht sterben.'[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") "'Abide with me from morn till eve, For without Thee I cannot live.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Abide with me when night is nigh, For without Thee I cannot die.'[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") "The noble-hearted Kaiser honoured my dying husband, before the second army moved on, with a visit, and the tear his Majesty brushed away did honour to the Sovereign so deservedly beloved.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") "In peace my poor Karl died, and I closed the loving eyes--and my heart died.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") "I buried him beside Olga and Franz, and am building a chapel over them.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") "Five months after Karl's death my golden-haired Tatjana was born.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") For her sake I strive to reconcile myself to life.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") "But, alas! my wealth and joy are--a grave\![105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/5/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/5/) - next →: [Legends and Tales., part 5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/6/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)