her, in a more tender tone than she had ever heard him use to any one

"My child, what makes you so unhappy?"

"It can be, Emmy, but of course only in one way."

With an inquiring look, Emmy turned her face towards him; but it must have It was still some little time before she been that his eyes spoke another language could compose herself sufficiently to be than was expressed by his calm words and able to speak. Meanwhile, he waited the half smile which played on his lips. patiently till she had recovered herself. At least, at the first glance, Emmy saw "Otto is going to travel," Emmy whis- what he meant, and what it was which pered at last. filled her with such great alarm.

“And does that make you so unhappy?" asked Siword, surprised, and smiling as he looked into her tearful eyes.

"If you will be my wife, and come to Sollingen as Seyna's mother, Emmy, you will be welcomed by two warm hearts

This made her eyes overflow again, as whom you will make happy by your preshe said, "He-he means to go alone-sence." without me."

A long silence followed these words of

"Naturally," answered Siword, deci- Siword. sively. "In the journey he proposes to The confusion and distress into which take, you could not accompany him, and Emmy was thrown by this unexpected prounder the circumstances I believe it is bet-posal, rendered her speechless. Her face, ter for him to travel alone."

Gradually Emmy became more calm, and withdrawing her hand from Siword's, she pushed back her disordered hair from her forehead.

which had been red with weeping, now became deadly pale, whilst strong emotion made her heart beat painfully and violently. Once more Siword took her hand gently in his.

"You will think me quite foolish, SiMore in the tone of a father than of a word, but it came upon me so unexpect-lover, he said to her, gently but earnestly: edly, and I was so happy here," she added "Child, you are disturbed and nervous, softly, as the treacherous tears again glistened in her eyes.

and you must not come to any decision. I know full well that I who am so much older, can make no pretensions to the love of a young lady like you, and if you had had a happy home I should scarcely have

"And you dread going back to a home where you are not happy? Have I not guessed right, Emmy?" She hung down her head without an- dared to have asked you. Consider seriswering.

ously, therefore, whether you think you would be happy as my wife; and if you feel you may expect more happiness in the future than I can give you, then you must say, No. Tell me your mind unreservedly, and rest assured that you will always find

"Why, go with Seyna and me to Sol- in me a heartily sympathizing friend, be lingen."

Without looking at him or altering her position, Emmy shrugged her shoulders, and said despairingly, "That cannot be."

your decision what it may."

Before he released her hand, he bent down to imprint a hasty kiss on it. Siword Hiddema then left her alone.

CHAPTER XX.

THE DREAM IN THE CHURCHYARD.

AGAIN a few weeks have passed by.

William always suspended over her like a threatening sword.

And she thought of herself as the wife of Siword Hiddema, finding in him support and protection against every sorrow that the world could bring to her. Contented, and perhaps eventually happy,

Otto has carried his plans into execution, and has set off on his travels; whilst Emmy has gone back to her home, but when the love for Bruno, which still spoke not for long, for she is betrothed to Si-so loudly, should have been put to silence word Hiddema, and the marriage is fixed for the end of August.

I believe that Emmy had never felt so deeply how strong her love for Bruno Eversberg still was, as at the moment when Siword Hiddema asked her to be his wife. At the first moment it seemed to her an impossibility to accept his proposal, and quite a storm of contradictory emotions arose in her heart.

In the first place, there was a feeling of deep humiliation at finding her heart still so attached to the man who was untrue to her, and who perhaps had long since forgotten her; and besides this, a strong conviction that she would be behaving dishonorably towards Siword if she were to become his wife still feeling as she did.

by the power of time, and when the great respect and friendly regard which she felt for Siword Hiddema should perhaps have been developed into a warmer feeling. Then she thought of herself as filling the place of Seyna's early lost mother, and also of the warm love for herself which glowed in the young heart of the child, to whom she would be all that a loving step-mother could be.

The contrast was too great!

And yet Emmy would have had more scruple in accepting the proposal of Siword had he been younger, and had he addressed her in the words of passion.

Besides, it appeared to her that the love which he asked from her was not such love as she had felt for Bruno, but that he required nothing more than the calm respect and affection which actually did exist in

Had Siword required an immediate answer from her, or had he come back for an answer the very next day, without doubt her mind; and then a marriage with

he would have got a refusal.

But he did not come so speedily. More than a week elapsed after their interview before Siword came back to Beck

Siword seemed to her as a haven where the storm-driven ship of her life might enter and find a safe refuge.

cable feeling, as if her marriage with Siword Hiddema were a crime for which she could not answer to her conscience.

And yet she hesitated. Her reason ley, and in that week Emmy's reason had having come to a decision, it seemed as if so far outweighed her feelings in the an inward voice tried to restrain her—a balance, that the scale turned altogether voice which made her doubt and hesitate, in favor of Siword's proposal. In that and sometimes filled her with an inexpliweek of perfect quiet and solitude, she had examined all the circumstances of the position in which she was placed by the true light of day. The result of her refusal she foresaw must be, that she would have to return to the house of her step-mother, where, after Elizabeth's marriage, there "It is my weakness, it is the love for would be no one left who had any regard Bruno, which I would tear out of my for her, and where she saw the hatred of heart root and branch, and which con

Now and then she listened to this voice, yet her reason for the most part kept the upper hand.

If Emmy had not been so entirely imbued with the consciousness that in all

tinues to live in me against my will-a love which I will vanquish as far as it is in human power to do so, and which ought things she could rely with confidence on

not to hinder me from giving my hand to a good man whom Heaven has sent me.

Thus reasoned Emmy; but, nevertheless, she burst into tears when she had accepted Siword.

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'Child, are you sure that you will not repent?" he asked, looking into her eyes with his earnest, piercing glance; but as truly and earnestly as she then believed it, she assured him to the contrary.

Siword's clear judgment and strict justice, there might have been something in this decisiveness which would have made her anxious as to her future happiness. But with the knowledge which she acquired more and more every day of his character, she gave herself up without fear to his decision; and the belief that there was some one who thought and cared for her filled her with the long-wanting calm and rest.

And what a calmness and repose came Yet but a few days had passed since over Emmy when the matter was once de- their betrothal before Emmy's conscience cided. How delightful was that confident began to speak, and her mind became posfeeling in Siword Hiddema's protecting sessed with the conviction that it was her love, which did not display itself in words duty to acquaint Siword with the relations or caresses, but in a hundred trifles which which had existed between herself and daily proved that he thought and cared for Bruno. Siword himself spoke very little, her with an entire absence of selfishness. if at all, of his past life, without, however, In their behavior to each other, out- avoiding any question which Emmy might wardly at least, there was none of that pas-put to him; but this little communicasion which is generally remarked in be- tiveness of his own accord made her untrothed persons, but something of that willing to touch upon his earlier life. On calm, confiding love which is the beautiful the other hand, he seemed to listen with relation between man and wife who have the greatest interest to all she told him of been bound together for years by a happy her mother and Aunt Emmy, who still marriage.

lived so vividly in her grateful recollection; but no question ever passed his lips that could lead to the subject upon which she considered it her duty to speak to him before their marriage.

There was that in Siword's nature which had the effect of producing in Emmy a peculiar tranquillity of mind. She looked up to him without being afraid of him. She was proud of all the noble qualities Frequently, during the long walks they which she discovered, the deeper she pen- took together, in some accidental moment etrated into the knowledge of his character. of silence the idea came to Emmy to say She was grateful for the love he bore to the important word, the mere thought of her, which she believed and inferred rather which made her tremble and shake; but than knew from demonstrations on his day after day went by, and the time for part, which would have been difficult for Otto's departure had already arrived before. her to respond to.

Perfect, nevertheless, Siword Hiddema was not; and if Emmy had wished to alter anything in him it was that great de'gree of decision which, as the distinctive mark of his whole nature, had both its light and its shadow side.

she found courage to avail herself of a suitable opportunity when she was alone with Siword to make her confession.

"Siword, there is something which I ought to tell you."

"Indeed, child," he said, plucking a geranium from the flower-bed by which

they were standing, and whilst admiring "Siword, God bless you for all your the flower, paying no attention to Emmy's goodness to me. You have nothing to disturbed countenance. 'Something in-fear in trusting me. The man whom I

teresting, I hope ?"

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loved is married and lost to me; and if his In the first moment, Emmy was not in memory, even to-day, casts a shadow over a state to answer him, her heart beat so. my happiness, from this time forth it shall Then she said, with a hesitating voiceleave me. To me also as your wife the "Something which happened before-future smiles, and may Heaven help me to when-before I learnt to know you, Si- make you as happy as my heart wishes!" word." Siword made no answer.

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'Perceiving her emotion, Siword threw He bent down to kiss her face, which away the flower, put Emmy's hand through glowed with emotion; and as he pressed his arm, and looked earnestly in her face, her to his heart, Emmy experienced the which betrayed signs of great confusion | blissful sensation of peace and security and emotion. after the storms which had passed over

"Is it necessary that I should know it, her. Emmy?" he asked.

And this feeling accompanied her to the

"I believe, Siword, that it is my duty house of her step-mother, to whom Siword to tell you."

had imparted his engagement, and with

But a duty that is disagreeable to whom he had arranged all that was necesyou?"

sary, so that Emmy on coming home found everything settled, and readily gave her consent to the early completion of the marriage.

The day on which Otto, Emmy, and Seyna parted from each other had been a sorrowful one.

When she was silent and seemed to hesitate, he said, in a cordial, earnest tone, "Child, I believe I can guess what it is that you think you ought to tell me. know well that one must pay a very early visit to a young lady in order to be the first to whom she opens her heart. As I All Siword's powers of persuasion were have learnt to know you, I am too thor- necessary to make Otto persevere in carryoughly convinced that there is nothing in ing out his plan, for every day, as the time your past life at which you need blush, not for starting on his tour approached, he beto feel that you could make any com- came more vacillating and wavering, and munication connected with the past with a when he actually did set off it was with quiet conscience. Don't speak of it any tears that the three took leave of each more, dear Emmy. To-day belongs to us. other. Whatever love and sorrow lies behind in the life of either of us, we will leave undisturbed, and look forward to the future, which at least smiles to me in a manner that I never dared to expect in this world." Emmy would have liked very much to It was as if the words of Siword had accompany Siword to Sollingen, in order lifted off Emmy's heart a weight which to make acquaintance with her future pressed upon her like lead. With a fear- home, but as it was the frequently exless expression, she looked up at him pressed wish of her intended husband that gratefully, and the words which she spoke she should not see Sollingen until he consurged up from the very depths of her ducted her there as his wife, Emmy would heart. not speak of it.

On the same day that Otto started and Emmy returned to Dilburg, Seyna was taken by Siword to Sollingen, where the governess had at length arrived.

"If I were still about to buy Sollingen,' I believe that his mother conjectured said he, "then it would naturally be a something, although not the whole truth, matter of great interest to me that the of what was passing in him. place should please you; but as in any Her anxious looks frequently rested on case it must be your home, I wish you to him. Her voice lost somewhat of its orsee it for the first time in the best possible dinary harsh tone when she addressed him, light, and I will reserve for myself the as if it were softened by a compassionate chaos which precedes the getting it in tenderness, and more than once Emmy order." met her piercing eyes, as if they were inquiring of her the confirmation of what she observed in William.

In the weeks before the marriage Siword went continually backwards and forwards between Dilburg and Sollingen, which were distant from each other two hours by railway, or three hours in driving by a cross country road.

And these weeks were more agreeable to Emmy than he could have ventured to hope.

Strengthened by the feeling of her own innocence, Emmy endured these inquiring looks as calmly as possible; but even if it were only on account of William, and the uneasiness which his behavior continued to cause her, she was thankful for the prospect of soon going into a new neighborhood.

Mrs. Welters, cold as ever, nevertheless helped with a certain readiness in the She hoped that absence would calm many preparations which had to be made down the feeling that had been transformed in the short time. Mina was away on a in William de Graaff from passionate love visit, and was not to return till after the to hate, and would gradually restore the wedding; and Elizabeth, zealous for balance of his mind; and that whatever Emmy's interest as always, had never she might have to fear from him while at shown herself more cordial and useful than home would find its natural termination in now when she was on the point of sepa- her departure. rating from her.

But in these last weeks before the marriage Emmy had not much time for reflection.

and to order; so much to consult about with Siword as to the arrangements of their house; so much to choose and to inspect, that Emmy's days flew like minutes.

The only one who seemed much disturbed by this last period before the marriage was William de Graaff—William, There was so much to provide, so many with his pale, worn countenance, that preparations to think of; so much to do would have excited Emmy's compassion, had she not observed with some fear, as before, the angry looks, full of hate, which he cast on her. In words, he uttered nothing. If possible he was even less talkative than before, and his restlessness seemed to have reached such a height that it was impossible for him to sit still.

Instead of sitting silently with a book before him, he now walked up and down the room with restless steps the whole evening; and any of the family who ventured to remark upon it, received for answer an angry retort to mind their own business and let him alone.

In the evenings Elizabeth came to Emmy's room under pretence of brushing her hair in Emmy's company, but really in order to chatter, sometimes till midnight, about the future, and all the rosecolored dreams which surrounded Elizabeth's intended marriage.

The similarity of both their positions as intended brides produced a greater intimacy between Emmy and Elizabeth than had ever before existed, notwithstanding