A concealed romance survives marriage, social pressure, and seven years of repression before ending in death and impossible revenge.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Love Before Marriage
Vroni and Andre begin a secret summer romance in Switzerland. Andre later returns and discovers that Vroni has been forced to marry Poldi.
Key Events
Secret Summer Romance — Vroni and Andre begin a secret summer romance in Switzerland. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
Andre Returns — Andre later returns to Switzerland and encounters Vroni again. Characters: Andre Frey, VroniLocation: Switzerland
Marriage Discovered — Andre learns that Vroni has been forced to marry Poldi. Characters: Andre Frey, Vroni, Poldi MoserLocation: Switzerland
A Protective Introduction — Vroni presents Andre as a man who has lost his sweetheart. Characters: Vroni, Andre Frey, Poldi MoserLocation: Poldi's house
The Unknowing Household
Vroni disguises Andre's identity, allowing Poldi to welcome him as a sympathetic guest. Andre continues visiting while Poldi and Vroni build a family.
Key Events
Poldi Offers Hospitality — Moved by sympathy, Poldi invites Andre to stay as a guest. Characters: Poldi Moser, Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Poldi's house
First House Visit — Andre visits the household while concealing his history with Vroni. Characters: Andre Frey, Vroni, Poldi MoserLocation: Poldi's house
Repeated Visits — Andre returns several times over the following years. Characters: Andre Frey, Vroni, Poldi MoserLocation: Poldi's house
The Family Grows — Poldi and Vroni have two children during their marriage. Characters: Poldi Moser, VroniLocation: Poldi's house
Years of Separation — Andre remains connected to the household while Vroni remains married to Poldi. Characters: Vroni, Andre Frey, Poldi MoserLocation: Poldi's house
Seven Years of Repression
Andre remains overwhelmed by his feelings for Vroni over the passing years. Eventually, he asks her to abandon her marriage and leave with him.
Key Events
Years of Separation — Andre remains connected to the household while Vroni remains married to Poldi. Characters: Vroni, Andre Frey, Poldi MoserLocation: Poldi's house
Repressed Feelings Intensify — Andre becomes overwrought by his repressed feelings for Vroni. Characters: Andre Frey, VroniLocation: Switzerland
Seven Years Pass — After seven years, Andre finally confronts the unresolved relationship. Characters: Andre Frey, VroniLocation: Switzerland
The Elopement Plea — Andre begs Vroni to leave Poldi and run away with him. Characters: Andre Frey, VroniLocation: Switzerland
Vroni Refuses — Vroni refuses to elope with Andre despite their continuing feelings. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
The Fatal Last Meeting
Vroni refuses to elope but agrees to one final tryst with Andre. Their dangerous toboggan ride ends with Vroni dead and Andre fatally injured.
Key Events
One Last Tryst — Vroni agrees to meet Andre for one final tryst. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
Dangerous Toboggan Run — Vroni and Andre speed together down a dangerous run. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: A dangerous toboggan run
Fatal Toboggan Crash — The toboggan ride ends in a crash that kills Vroni and injures Andre. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: A dangerous toboggan run
Vroni Dies — Vroni dies from the accident, while Andre is fatally injured. Characters: Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
Revenge at the Funeral
At Vroni's funeral, Poldi discovers the truth about her relationship with Andre. He swears vengeance, but Andre dies before revenge can occur.
Key Events
Funeral Gathering — Poldi attends Vroni's funeral after her death. Characters: Poldi Moser, VroniLocation: Vroni's funeral
The Affair Revealed — Poldi learns the truth about Vroni and Andre's relationship. Characters: Poldi Moser, Vroni, Andre FreyLocation: Vroni's funeral
Poldi Swears Vengeance — Poldi responds to the revelation by swearing vengeance on Andre. Characters: Poldi Moser, Andre FreyLocation: Vroni's funeral
Andre's Fatal Injuries — Andre dies from the severity of his injuries before Poldi can act. Characters: Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
Vengeance Becomes Impossible — Andre's death prevents Poldi's declared revenge from taking place. Characters: Poldi Moser, Andre FreyLocation: Switzerland
Story Breakdown
Secret Summer Romance — Vroni and Andre form a hidden romantic bond in Switzerland.
Swiss Peasant Girl — Vroni is introduced as a Swiss peasant girl.
Artist Returns — Andre later returns to Switzerland and reconnects with Vroni.
Forced Marriage — Vroni's relationship with Andre is overtaken by her forced marriage to Poldi.
Poldi's Authority — The wealthy burgomeister forces Vroni into marriage.
Family Formation — Poldi and Vroni later have two children.
False Explanation — Vroni describes Andre as a man who lost his sweetheart.
Unwitting Host — Poldi invites Andre to stay in his house.
Years Of Repression — Andre repeatedly visits and struggles with his continuing feelings for Vroni.
Repeated Visits — Andre returns several times over the following years.
Emotional Overload — His repressed feelings eventually become overwhelming.
Final Rendezvous — Andre asks Vroni to leave with him, but their final meeting becomes fatal.
Rejected Elopement — Vroni refuses Andre's request to run away.
Toboggan Ride — They agree to one last tryst and ride a dangerous run.
Funeral Revelation — Poldi learns the truth and seeks revenge after Vroni's death.
Hidden Affair Exposed — Poldi discovers the truth at Vroni's funeral.
Unfulfilled Revenge — Andre dies from his injuries before Poldi can act.
André Frey, a bohemian artist, woos and wins a rustic Swiss maid, promising to return to her after a visit to the city. The girl, Vroni, finds herself pregnant and is forced by her father to marry Poldi Moser, the mayor of the small Swiss town. Moser and Vroni are happy together, and two sons are born to them. André returns to the village periodically and finally asks Vroni to go away with him. She refuses, and he writes her an angry note. That evening, Vroni and André are involved in a toboggan accident; Vroni is killed outright, and André is fatally injured. Moser finds André's note and goes to him, demanding of the dying man to know which of the boys is in fact André's child. Thinking to protect his own son, André informs Moser that Moser's own son is his (André's) son. Moser swears vengeance on the child but relents when he realizes that he loves both boys equally.
