"Genacht, Vader" [pp. 308-316]

312 "CENACH7; VADEl?." [APRIL,
"I will, Dominie," said Lena, break- young Hollander reject paternal aid.
ing out in tears, and sobbing as one Months and months wore on, but no
who had lost the treasure of her heart. tidings came from Ralf. The rich man
"What makes the child so unhappy?" began to weary. The son, of whom he
said old Casper, when Lena had left. was so proud, was gone; what were his
"Don't exactly know," said the dom- riches to him in his solitude? For Lena
inie, smiling at the old man's short-sight- he had left, and, almost strange to say,
edness. Lena, on that account, took slowly by
But the dominie did know. To him degrees, the place of'Ralf. He knew he
the culprits had confided their troubles. loved her. What the last angry words
But the dominie, as a man of honor, might have been, no one ever knew.
kept their secret to himself; not even But he was aware that for the love bf
his trusty wife knew anything about it. Lena he had left. Lena, the poor skipAnd so the dominie took a lively inter- per's daughter, rose in his estimation.
est in the fate of RaIf, and set to work Lena must have worth: to leave father,
to find him out, but all in vain. and riches, and all for her. And now
Two weeks had passed, when he re- the rich Reder was often seen at Vlietceived a letter, postmarked Teksel. Ralf ing's humble cottage. People began to
stated that, unable to bear the torture of say, "Joost Lammers takes to Lena;
his mind, he had resolved to "make his wonder what he might do if Ralf came
own way,' and would sail the following back!"
day, as third mate, on board the vessel Poor Lena! She daily carried her
Marianne, bound for Rio Janeiro. He basket, and faithfully attended her sickwished the dominie to communicate ening mother, and when the Reder was
this to his father and.... we know struck with palsy, and lingered long, she
whom. often came to see and nurse him, and
The anger of Joost Lammers gave way spoke of Ralf, and tried to give him
to sorrow and lamentation. Perhaps he consolation.
would now have given much to have Lena But after a few months the village
as his daughter in the house. But an- doctor gave no hope, and warned the
ger and sorrow subsided. "Business" dominie to prepare his patient for the
superseded paternal regret. Rio Janeiro worst.
was a fine commercial starting-point; he For the worst! That is the term so
would send Ralf money enough to start; often used for what o~ght to be the best!
meantime, his foolish whim might wear The dominie was aware of this. He
out. So he sent with the next sailing- had known the Reder from his youth,
vessel letters of credit, to the address of had married him, baptized his Ralf, buthe third mate of the Marianne. ried his wife, and knew the man as well,
The Marianne came to destination, so if not better, than himself. There was
did the letters of credit; but judge of the much good in Joost Lammers. Increasdominie's astonishment, when, months ing riches had for a time "kind of dazthereafter, he received the letters of cred- zled" him, but the Dutch sense of right
it, returned, with a few lines from Ralf. and wrdng remained.
"He needed none of his f~ther's prop- "Glad to see you, Dominie," he said,
erty, and would make his way with- with difficult utterance. "The Lord
out it." seems to call me home."
Dutch obstinacy had broken the lines, The dominie sat down, and taking the
and the same spirit which once broke sick man's hand, pressed it with friendloose from Spanish tyranny, made the ly affection.