II

What Happens on Organ-Sunday

Early in the morning, long before the nine o'clock church service, large
crowds of people were walking toward Upper Wood, for everybody wanted to
hear the new organ. It was a beautiful Sunday and everyone preferred to
go to Upper Wood to church. The women all carried a few beautiful
flowers on their hymnbooks, and when they had arrived at the open place
before the church they stopped and greeted each other and stood talking
in different groups. Gradually the men came along and did the same.

The Mayor was standing a little on one side with the Justice of Peace.
They were in deep conversation in which many threats occurred, for the
Mayor several times held up his finger and waved it threateningly in the
air.

Kaetheli stood close beside her father and pricked up her ears. Now the
church bells began to ring. Soon after the pastor's wife and Sally came
out of their house door, and behind them quiet, devout Edi and Ritz with
hymn-books under their arms. After a few steps they all stopped to wait
for the pastor. Now the old wife of the sexton ran to the pastor's wife;
she always had to report something as soon as she caught sight of her.
Kaetheli took advantage of the opportunity. Like a flash she was from
her father's side and whispered with the greatest rapidity in Sally's
ear: "Just think what I know now. Last evening Neighbor Rudi, who
belongs to Churi's officers, told me that it was not on account of the
fight that they were going away in the morning; but that they were going
into the Mayor's vineyard and were going to take his early grapes; that
Churi had persuaded Erick to come along, because he wants to send him
ahead through the vineyard, because a trap might be set there. Of course
Erick would be caught and the others could be warned and pass by,
without harm. But imagine what the Mayor has just told father: he has
had something placed in the narrow pathway which leads through the grape
vines which no one can see; but if anyone steps on it, it discharges a
shot in the face and burns it so that no one could recognize him any
more, for it would mar him so badly. Just think, Erick's curls will be
burned off and his handsome face will be so marred that we shall not
know him."

Sally had become as white as snow from fright. "Come quickly, Kaetheli,"
she said urgently, "we will run after Erick and tell him everything,
come!"

"It is much too late, why, what do you think," Kaethe