He then entered the school-house and fastened the door behind him.
His heart was heavy and sorrowful, he was ashamed of himself; he was
sorry for what he had done, but had not the strength to change it;
and as he went over Anna Sophia's departure, he was inwardly
rejoiced that he himself was to remain at home.

On the morning of the second day after Anna's departure, there was a
great stir in the village, there were two astounding reports to
excite the community. Charles Henry Buschman had returned from
Cleve; they had told him he could be spared for a while. The second
report was that Anna Sophia had not returned from her visit. They
waited for several days, and as she did not come, Charles Henry went
to the distant village where her aunt lived. But he returned with
sad news. Anna Sophia was not there, her aunt had not seen her.

What had become of her? Where was she? No one could clear up the
mystery. Many spoke of suicide; she had drowned herself in the large
lake to the left of the village they said, because her betrothed had
to leave her. The old pastor would not listen to this; but when the
aunt came to take possession of her niece's worldly goods, he had to
bring forward the will Anna had given him, in which she had willed
her all to Father Buschman. And now no one doubted that Anna had
laid hands upon herself. The mystery remained unsolved. Every one
pitied and sympathized with Charles Henry, who had lost all his
former cheerfulness since the death of his bride!




CHAPTER V.