smallest scrap of white was permitted, were always an interesting, bronzed face, most also, as regards Mina de Graaff, by no probably a black brigand beard, and under means a matter of indifference. no possible circumstances was without Mina de Graaff? Yes, dear reader. It dark, flashing eyes, Elizabeth had origigrieves me to be obliged to tell you that nally bestowed but little attention on the no change has taken place in her maiden fair lieutenant with blushing cheeks and state, and in the mean time she has really soft blue eyes, who otherwise, as one of the overstepped the dreaded number of three best dancers at the Casino, stood high in her favor.

crosses.

"And Captain Uno ?"

Her dances with him at the Casino, Captain Uno is with his regiment in gar- however, and the very marked manner in rison at the Hague, whither he was trans-which he sought opportunities to meet her, ferred shortly after our last meeting. had at last fixed Elizabeth's attention on There was at that time in circulation a him. It is true his blushing cheeks fell saying of his, which William de Graaff very short of her ideal, and that his name took the first opportunity of conveying to of Peter Smit was far from poetical, but his sister, and from that moment Captain when, on nearer acquaintance, her heart Uno's name was for ever banished from her lips.

became involved, these trifles were overlooked, and our Elizabeth prepared herself in due form for the hapless love which had at last come.

It was exactly two days after she had arrived at the conviction that (according to the rules of romance) Lieutenant Smit was born in order to make her unhappy, when he declared himself, and so spoilt the game.

A farewell ball was given by the club in Dilburg to the officers of the departing regiment; naturally wine was drunk, and naturally people were merry. I know not who brought Mina's name on the tapis, or who taunted Captain Uno respecting her, but it must have been on that occasion that he uttered the philosophic proverb, "that the horse should come to the oats, and not "The course of true love never did run the oats to the horse." But there is no smooth was now her only comfort, and wind which blows nobody any good, and the affair, regarded from this point of so the blue hussars, with Captain Uno and view, became still more interesting. Mina's disappointment, marched out of Two lovers parted by the will or caprice Dilburg by one gate, to make room for of the parents or guardians, vows of eternal the red hussars, who rode in by the other fidelity, secret interchange of letters, tears, gate, bringing with them a young lieuten- despair, pining-perhaps even a runaway ant, who scarcely six months later ap-match-all whirled through Elizabeth's peared in Dilburg society as the betrothed head, but it seemed as if all her romantic of Elizabeth. dreams were doomed to miscarry. Papa Elizabeth was just of an age to be very and Mamma Welters had even less to romantic, and her young head had suffered bring against Lieutenant Smit than Papa amazingly by having devoured a great and Mamma Smit against Elizabeth. On quantity of green and ripe romances; in the contrary, the wealthy parents of the imagination she had already indulged for a loving and beloved Lieutenant promised a long time in dismal love stories, in which liberal contribution towards the expenses she was herself the heroine, and the hero of setting up housekeeping, for which they the as yet unknown X. were only waiting till his promotion to the

As, however, her imaginary hero had rank of first lieutenant.

Thus nothing stood in the way of their less gifted by nature; but all the youthful love, and a happier, more contented pair joyousness and light-heartedness have vanof human beings, without one really serious ished; the blue eyes have still the same thought in their two heads combined, never honorable, upright expression as formerly, walked the earth, nor, with their good, but have lost their brightness and their merhonest hearts, and equable, serene tempers, ry glance, and on her mouth is settled an gave so much promise of future domestic earnest, mournful expression, which seems happiness. to have sealed up, as it were, the smile which I have said that Burgomaster Welters once played around it. I have said that it was not yet forgotten by his own family; was the past years which had left behind still, if one entered the sitting-room unex- their traces on Emmy, and we have allowed pectedly, there would be nothing to remind her affairs to remain so long unnoticed, one of the change except the mourning that it may not be asking too much of you dresses. It is the same sociable-looking to give your attention to her for a few room, with its glass-doors opening out into moments. the garden. Mrs. Welters sits just as formWe have seen with what good resolutions erly on the sofa, with a little table between Emmy went forth to meet the future which her and Mina, who was busy trimming a she had chosen for herself; how she detershort jacket with shining jet beads, and mined to do her best to bear her separation from the summer-house in the shrubbery from Bruno courageously, in the hope of close by, Elizabeth's merry laugh may be the happy future which waited her by his heard almost incessantly, with an occasional side. The strong and holy love which she accompaniment in a man's voice. felt for him had nothing of sickly sentiment William de Graaff sits in silence in an in it. In her, love was a new force, an arm-chair, with an open book on his knees. unknown courage, a cheerful hope which He is paler and thinner than formerly, developed a fund of elasticity in her. Her and, observing him closely, one can see in life had become a double life-the outer the constant change of his position some- life of the present, with the duties it imthing restless about him, very different posed upon her; the inner life of the from his former calmness. More than once future, which made all present annoyances his wandering eyes rest on a distant chair appear so small and trivial that they glided where an old acquaintance of ours is sitting, off her without troubling her. who, compared with others of the family, is much, very much, changed.

And her annoyances were many.
Although not a word had ever been ex-

Do you remember Emmy Welters as she changed on the subject, Emmy was shown first appeared in my story?

gradually, but all too clearly, that Mrs. Welters had never forgiven her for her disobedience with regard to her visit to the

Do you remember her clear, merry eyes, her winning smile, which continually brought the dimples into her round Eversbergs. cheeks? From that moment she had never spoken Nearly three years have passed since that a friendly word to Emmy, and every time, and they have not passed without advance on Emmy's part was met with icy leaving their traces on Emmy's counte- indifference. Not that she was ever absolutely disagreeable to her, or that she

nance.

A lovely face certainly it has remained, opposed her; but it was as if Mrs. Welters and reflecting a certain goodness of heart had determined not to trouble herself any. which would render attractive an exterior more about her, and to avoid any interfer

ence in her affairs. No word, either of afforded, so as to attract attention; but it praise or blame, ever passed her lips. She soon became a well-known fact in the required nothing from Emmy; never family that Emmy did not much care allowed her to be of the slightest use, and about going out, and that it need not be declined all help from her in household regarded as a sacrifice if she allowed Mina* matters, in which neither Mina nor Eliza- or Elizabeth to go instead of her, whenever, beth were spared. And whenever Emmy as frequently happened, only two of the asked for her advice in anything, her inva- young ladies were invited. riable answer, with an expression of indifference, was, "I don't know, but you can do as you please; that will be the best."

I have no doubt that in Dilburg, and also in the family, there were persons who connected the cause of this with Bruno Eversberg, either in the affection which, owing to the sad events, she was obliged

between them, the possibility of which crossed their minds.

At first Emmy had considered this as a just punishment for her disobedience, and had borne it patiently, trusting that the to suppress, or in a secret love affair anger of her stepmother would wear out in time. But it did not; on the contrary, it seemed gradually to develop into an insurmountable aversion, which, at any rate, was not diminished by later events.

But any such suspicions were dispelled by the cheerful contentedness which was the characteristic of her disposition; and in When Emmy at last came to the con- the evenings, under the influence of the viction that the love of her stepmother must sociability which ruled in the family, and of be always unattainable—when she under- which I have spoken before, she was even stood the cold disposition which, accus- considered to be quite merry. And merry, tomed to make anything bend and bow to people imagined, no one could be who was it, could neither forget nor forgive where enduring a secret pang, or whose thoughts once it had been defied-she ceased to dis- were fixed on a far distant land, beyond turb herself about the matter; she wasted the insurmountable barrier of the great no love where that feeling was evidently ocean. despised, and learned to accommodate herself to the peculiar position which she held in her father's house.

For, as is mostly the case, Emmy was judged by appearances, and she was measured by the usual standard supposed More and more she withdrew herself to apply to all indiscriminately. from the family circle, and, in the absence Laughter or weeping is, according to of any duty or business resting on her, she this measure, the outward sign of the began again, in the solitude of her own inward feeling, and but few understand room, to take up the studies which she had broken off since her school days, and to seek occupation in them.

anything of the pride, of the secret suffering that conceals itself from the curious, indifferent eye, and only leaves its hidingplace when it meets with a warm, sympathizing heart.

In these, as in all things, Bruno was her principal thought. He should find her, when they met again, advanced in knowl- Knowing nothing of the inward peace edge and mental culture; and the years which has its source in a childlike trust in which would cost him so much toil and God and His wisdom, and by means of struggle should not be passed by her simply which the saddest heart can find a smile, in pleasure or in useless occupations. they would have expected to see Emmy Not that she definitely withdrew herself quiet and reserved and indifferent to everyfrom the amusements which Dilburg' thing not concerning her own interests;

and in such selfishness they would have days for her. In the fulness of her heart fancied they detected signs of love. But she wrote to Bruno a long letter of conthe warm, strong, hopeful feelings which solation and support. She knew indeed dwelt in her heart, and made her thankful that her letter must go through the hands ⚫and contented as regards the present, and of William de Graaff, as postmaster; but surrounded the future with a rose-colored if the worst came to the worst, she was halo, the brightness of which was reflected ready to endure a scolding from her stepin her face-such a love but few people mother, if she could but send Bruno a understand; among Emmy's family none word of sympathy. understood it.

No one had ever prohibited her from But now I am speaking principally of writing to him, but for all that, it was not the first half-year after Bruno's departure, without alarm that she looked forward to when Emmy, according to agreement, had his reply, which would probably be folreceived a letter from him filling her heart lowed by such a prohibition, and would with joyful hope, and when an active cor- perhaps become a new source of unpleasrespondence with Mrs. Eversberg kept her antness between herself and her step

informed of all that related to him.

And these two years were indeed griev

mother. Emmy's fears, however, were She knew that he had been received with not realized. Bruno's answer did not extreme cordiality at New York by Mr. arrive, and even the yearly letter agreed Siddons, who had invited him to his house upon between them was wanting. Two as a guest, and who was already in treaty years passed by, and neither word nor sign to provide him' with employment in an was received in Dilburg from Bruno Eversagricultural undertaking in Michigan, of berg. which Mr. Siddons' nephew was the head. Bruno had written all this to her a few ous years for Emmy; nevertheless her months after her arrival at New York, and confidence in Bruno was so firmly fixed in the letter, enclosed in one to his mother, her heart, that no suspicion of inconstancy had reached Emmy without any impedi- on his part occurred to her; but when the ment, and without the knowledge of any second year had gone by without any news one in the house; and through the same of him, the conviction began to grow upon channel she had written to him in reply her that he must be ill or dead, and that much more fully and freely than he had probably she would never hear anything ventured to write to her. This answer more of him.

could hardly have reached New York when She suffered inexpressibly from these the sudden death of Mrs. Eversberg thoughts, and perhaps doubly so because plunged Emmy into the deepest sorrow; she had no one to whom she could confide for not only had she dearly loved her, but her suffering, and because she must feign on Bruno's account she doubly mourned composure whilst the bitterest sorrow was for her. His strong attachment to his filling her heart. mother, and his ardent wish to compen- For as long as she could Emmy had sate her by a happier life in the future for hoped for the best; then fear and hope the painful experiences of the past, were had alternately struggled within her; inwell known to Emmy. By her death, sensibly hope lost ground more and more, moreover, F.mmy lost the source of tidings and at last the conviction of the worst had of Bruno, which had so often contributed become fixed in her mind. And it was to keep alive her courage and her hope; just this slow process of conviction that and this was the beginning of sorrowful caused the effect which it had upon her to

be less apparent to those around her. Berthold had been intended for her Gradually she had become quieter and daughter, and although in a certain sense paler, but too gradually for any one who she shared in her daughter's disappointsaw her daily to notice it, and it was only ment, she found it, as matters now stood, on recalling her to one's mind as she had too favorable an opportunity for getting been on her first coming home to Dilburg, quit of Emmy to acquiesce willingly in that one could see the change which had her refusal, and not to use every endeavor taken place in her. The shade of melan- to bring about the marriage. choly which had now come over her had At first she adopted a motherly tone indeed changed, but not lessened her towards her; then she took her aside to beauty; and it will not be wondered at, place before her eyes all the advantages that all this time she should not have of this marriage; and one can imagine passed unobserved by the gentlemen of how her dislike towards Emmy increased Dilburg, more especially as it was pretty when all this was without any result, and generally known that she had inherited a nice little fortune from the aunt by whom she had been brought up.

Emmy obstinately persevered in her refusal, on the ground that her regard for Dr. Berthold was certainly not of such a kind as to cause her to wish to become his wife. Mrs. Welters, however, would have be

But the evident indifference with which she received their attentions had discouraged most of her admirers, until it hap-lied her character had she hereupon pened that one bolder than the rest came abandoned the matter, and Emmy saw

to involve her in new annoyances.

through her plan entirely when she was called into her father's room in order to hear the marriage advocated by him also.

This time, however, Emmy was too sharp for her stepmother; for after Burgomaster Welters had delivered with the necessary gravity the lecture dictated by his wife, and Emmy had waited patiently till he had said all that he had been charged to say, she threw her arms round his neck, and ex

As ill-luck would have it, the person in question was a young doctor who had shortly before established himself in Dilburg, and who often came to the Welters' house, thereby giving new life to Mina's hopes of marriage, till one fine day he astonished the unsuspecting Emmy by a written proposal to her, sent through her father. This time Mina de Graaff did not conceal her rage and disappointment, and claimed laughingly, while a tear glistened from the first bestowed on Emmy the coarsest and most unmerited reproaches, accusing her of having, under the appearance of indifference, attracted the doctor to herself by artful coquetry.

in her eye, "Now tell me plainly and once for all, dear papa, that you would gladly be quit of your Emmy."

But that was too much for the kind heart of Burgomaster Welters.

"Heaven forbid, my child!" said he, touched and alarmed.

It was a scene which wounded Emmy's delicacy most sensibly, and it was entirely opposed to her feelings of womanly digni-| "Well, if it is not so, papa-if you wish ty; but her disgust at such vulgarity for- to keep me a little longer-and I wish to tunately restrained her from answering stay a little longer with you then Dr. Mina as she deserved, and she contented Berthold may just as well seek for a wife herself with a contemptuous silence. elsewhere."

But the matter did not end here. Although Mrs. Welters, as well as Mina, had thought that the attentions of Dr.

This was too good logic to be refuted, and the conversation from which Mrs. Welters had promised herself so much,