"Can it be? Yes. The longer I look on you, the more familiar do your features become. Welcome, welcome! You are indeed changed. The slight boy has become a stalwart man. I, too, am changed. I was then in the prime of life, now I am aged; then I was noble and honoured, now I owe the post of thief-taker to pity; then I was wealthy, now a beggar; then | was I proud and overbearing, now am I humble and patient; the frosts of age have quenched the fire of my spirit, and my enfeebled limbs have no longer strength to sin." But you have not lost all; those little maidens have grown up into lovely girls." "You found time to notice that then, young sir, during our hostile encounter the other evening?" "I saw them again this morning, and sought admittance, and was refused." "That I can well believe. My Adelaide would not admit a man during my absence." And yet, early as it was when I was there, there was a man, if not two, with them." "Is it possible! What sort of a man?" "His features seemed familiar to me, although I cannot recollect where I have seen him before. I did not much like his looks. He threatened to fire on me if I did not depart." "Gracious God! if it should be Uriel. Quick, quick, Wilhelm. Oh! my children! Let us not lose a second. Should it be him! I dare not think. Follow me! Quick." The stranger having seen Wilhelm depart, sprang lightly up the stairs into the sittingroom, as if he was quite at home, and laid his weapons on the table; then he paced the floor with his hands behind him, in deep thought, occasionally pausing to look out of the window, as if anxiously expecting some one, and at length threw himself into the arm-chair, covered his face with his hands, and muttered unintelligible words. The sisters stood trembling and shy before him, and had full leisure to contemplate their strange guest. He was a tall, muscular man, each limb finely developed. His face bore the scars of many wounds, his beard was dark and curly as was his hair, but here and there glittered a silvery shade that spoke of years or care. Suddenly he sprang from his seat, and seizing an arm of each of the startled girls, looked fixedly at them, and said— "And so you expect me to protect you from that fellow who was knocking at the gate? So ran your entreaty. I have done it ;" and then releasing his hold, he again threw himself on the chair. "You said you knew our father?" observed Adelaide, striving to shake off her fears. "I do indeed know him, my_beauty; none better my first thought when I rise, my last when I go to rest, is of your father." "It should rather be of God, at such times," said Adelaide, involuntarily. The stranger smiled, and drawing a telescope from his pocket, said, "I will look out for the old man have you no observatory?". : The sisters glanced at each other, and the look spoke plainly, "Who is to show him to it?" Emma turned pale and then red; Adelaide took down a key from the shelf, and offered to conduct him to the leads from which they usually looked out. Had she seen the fiendish expression which flitted over the stranger's face, she might not have stepped so firmly up the winding stairs. The leads were gained, and the unknown closed the door behind him as he followed her on to them, and in another moment his arm was thrown around her with a firm grasp. "In God's name who are you? what is your purpose? I will call for help," said the poor girl. "Your lungs must be tolerably powerful, if they enable you to make any one hear," replied the man with a mocking laugh; then bending down closer to her, he added, "Can you not guess who I am?” Her heart quailed beneath his licentious gaze, and sinking on her knees, she murmured, would you do?" "Heaven have mercy on me and mine! What mal's young been bitten by a bear, when he finds the ani"What? What does the hunter, who has what does a bear, that has been hunted, baited, in a cavern at his mercy? Or, worried by some hunter and his dogs, if that man once falls in its power?" "Merciful God! your looks are terrible!" "My hair has become grey, my face furrowed; and how? Not with age, but through your father, who has hunted me like a wild beast! I have slept in the snow, but it had no power to cool my rage-my thirst of vengeance! I have lived but to repay him, and now, now I can do it!" "Have you no mercy?" cried the half-fainting girl. 66 Yes, such as your father has taught me; ! have sworn to destroy all that he values, and I will do it." "Do-take everything-burn down this dwelling-shoot the horses-turn us forth barefoot-only hold me not here beneath that fearful gaze!" said Adelaide, imploringly. The robber laughed a scornful, hollow laugh, and she continued. "Will not that content you? If 'tis your purpose to murder us, why delay? We are in your power; yet spare my sister! Slay me, and let her go." "Dost think, girl, that had plunder been my object, I have not had opportunities enough of effecting it within these last five years? A thousand times has your father passed close by the muzzle of my gun; it needed but a touch, and he had been silenced for ever! I could have slain his children, too; but such revenge would have been too poor for my injuries. I have watched you and your sister grow up, and marked each budding beauty, and resolved to strike at the father through his daughters. Not by deaththat would have been too merciful: he might When Adelaide awoke to returning conscious robber: her first impulse was to start from his side in horror; her next to staunch the blood which flowed from his wounded hand with her neckerchief. "Ha! what is it you do?" he murmured, half-stunned, and weak with loss of blood. "You still here, maiden? you tending me? Accursed be the wretch who dreamed of injuring so noble a girl!" have wept pure tears; now his heart shall weep, lar; but that short pause had broken the fall, tears of blood over his dishonoured children!" and a pile of hay received them. "Monster!" shrieked Adelaide, while her beautiful blue eyes gazed on his stern, immove-ness, she still lay clasping and clasped by the able brow with horror; and tears, the first she had yet shed, trembled on the long, silken lashes; and in a voice which might have moved a stone to pity, she continued-" My father has only done that which was his duty, his oath to his king required. Had he failed in it, who would have found him a roof to shelter his grey hairsa morsel of bread to save him from starving? You, who are no common man, must see, must feel this. In angry passion you might have raised your hand against his life, or burned his dwelling to the ground; but thus to cherish revenge, and dream of such a revenge, only a devil-" "I am no devil, maiden! but a man-an injured man!" 66 "No, no!" cried Adelaide, springing up and clinging imploringly to his arm, 'you are not so heartless, so bad as you picture yourself. I see a more kindly spirit looks from your eyes: there is moisture there, too-tears, yes, tears of mercy. Hear me: I will beseech the king, on my knees, to pardon you: I will pray for you to the King of kings! Have you children? have you a sister? Have you parents who love you, and whom you love? In their name I implore you-" 'In the name of my parents! You-child of the accursed one !—you implore for mercy in their name!" he cried wildly, while he grasped her with iron force; "maiden, you have touched the right chord. Mercy!-I know it not! I have foresworn it!" His eyes shot glances of fire, and every muscle of his face was distorted with rage. Adelaide covered her face with her hands for a second, and murmured a fervent prayer; and as she raised them again, her eyes fell on an open trap-door, close at her feet; the opening was used for winding up heavy weights from the cellar, and there were no steps leading to the dark depths. Pretty one, are you resigned to your fate?" said the robber. "I see a means of escape!" she murmured. "So do I," he replied, throwing his arm around her as she stepped back. "Your beauty pleases me methinks I can love: be mine, now, and then we will fly together!" "We will die together!" murmured the maiden; and now her arms were thrown around him he bent forwards to meet the expected embrace, heedless of the gulph behind her, lost his balance, and in another moment they were plunged into the dark opening! But even at this time of danger, so unlookedfor, the robber lost not his presence of mind: with one nervous arm he firmly clasped her who was to have been his victim-who sought to destroy him; and with the other snatched at a projection in the wall, and held it, though the blood sprang out from beneath his nails; but the weight was too great to be sustained by a single arm: he must relinquish her, or leave go his hold in another second they lay in the cel Can you rise?" she said: "if so, fly-fly before my father returns!" 66 My oath forbids!" he replied. "Your oath! what mean you?" 'I swore at the grave of my father, while the lamp which burned by my mother's death-bed shed its rays on me, to rob him of that which was dearest to him!" 66 Oh fly!" she cried in agony: "I could not bear to see you delivered into the hands of justice !" Come with me," he whispered; "I was not always a villain-a vagabond! And there are times when the feelings of my youth again have dominion. If an angel stood by my side-a noble, heroic, pure-hearted being a maiden like-but hark !” He raised himself up, although each feature was distorted with pain by the attempt. ""Tis my sister's voice!" cried Adelaide, as shrieks were heard, and struggles, accompanied by curses, uttered by a man, "Save her! Oh, save her! This way, quick!" She darted toward some steps, and the robber followed as quickly as his weakness permitted. Again came that piercing cry for aid, which died away as if stifled. The robber appeared in a moment to recover all his energies; he darted forward, thrusting Adelaide aside so roughly, that she staggered back. In another moment the report of a pistol reached her ears. Who had fallen? Distractedly she rushed up the steps, and into the room, the robber's servant lay stretched on the floor, in all the agonies of death; Emma stood with dishevelled hair, and pale as a corpse, watching the dying wretch as if she feared each motion would be to spring on her again; and the robber had sunk, fainting, on a chair. Long, silent, and fervent was the embrace of the sisters; at length the heart found vent in tears and words-Adelaide spoke: "Sister, will you not assist to save him who has protected you?" "Surely," was the prompt reply, and as she spoke the sound of horns and the voices of hunters were heard afar off; and he lay insensible, unable to do aught to ensure his safety. * Hallwyn stood before his gate, his knocks thundered on it; he shook it in wild frenzy, and cried-" Wretch, thou hast not dared to injure my children! Open the gate. Give them again unto my arms, and I will kneel to thee-will worship thee-do thy bidding, but give me them again! My Adelaide, the apple of my eye, my pride and joy—and my gentle Emma! Oh! give them to me, or be merciful and destroy me too!" Wilhelm strove to speak comfort and hope to the father, while he hurled threats and defiance at the robber. At length a sound was heard a trembling hand was evidently drawing back the heavy bolt, and endeavouring to turn the key; the door opened, and Emma lay on her father's bosom; who cried, as he strained her to his heart, “I have thee once more, my childmy darling, quite safe and uninjured! But, Adelaide gracious Heavens!-where is she?" "She lives-come in," was all poor Emma could say. They hastened to obey her, and found Adelaide standing, pale as a marble statue and as motionless, near the room door; in her hand was a pistol, recently discharged, and at her feet the corpse of the robber's servant. 66 My Adelaide-my own girl," cried the old man ; "mine once more, brave, pure, and affectionate as when I parted from you yesterday evening?" "We are both uninjured," said Emma, for Adelaide did not speak, or even lift her eyes from the ground, but deep sobs burst from her labouring heart. "Heaven be praised!" fervently exclaimed the father, while Wilhelm responded, "Amen amen!" was a very proud man-proud of my birth, my station, and all the other fleeting vanities of an hour. How changed is all now! God knows I am humbled enough. After the war was over, when I came to reside on the remnant of my once princely property which the enemy had spared, I would fain have exacted as much deference as would have been paid to me in the palmy days of our ancestral splendour. The peasantry pulled off their caps with all due humility, so there I had no ground of complaint; but the clergyman merely bowed, and-worst of all-the Mayor nodded to me with all the familiarity of an equal. With this latter personage I was for ever at law on some frivolous point or other; obstinacy prevented him from yielding, pride determined me to conquer, if possible, at any price. When the hunting season commenced, my path was sure to lie across his kitchen garden, or I drove the game through his corn fields; and scarcely a week passed but I found excuse to pound some of his cattle. This haughty citizen had an only son-a lad of whom any father might have been proud-and he chose to let him study the law instead of bringing him up to some trade; because my son, who was then alive, was at the University. I encountered the boy one day, and with all the audacity of youth he gazed full on me, and not even touched the brim of his cap. My rage was so great that I could have felt it in my heart to trample the boor under my horse's feet; but the evil one put another idea in my head, and I called after him- How many inches do you measure, How much of joy succeeded to these fearful Jurgen?' He understood me. War broke out, hours! Emma could scarcely be made to be- conscripts were raised, and a few Friedrich d'ors lieve that the swarthy, black-bearded man managed matters so that the son of my hated before her was her old playmate-her fondly enemy was drafted into my company. I placed remembered friend, Wilhelm. Her father had him under one of the most brutal men the earth silently laid their hands in each other's, and ever knew to learn his duty, well knowing that murmured a blessing on them. They were all so high-spirited a fellow as Jurgen Grätz would seated together around the table, a bright flame rebel and commit some breach of discipline. sparkled in the stove, a brimming punch-bowl He did so, and was flogged-once-twice-thrice. reeked on the table. The old man sat in his He deserted, and was retaken. How did I rearm-chair, and looked approvingly on the tokens joice--with a fiendish joy-when I saw him of affection which passed between the lovers, brought back! He was tried, everything was indeed he seemed to have laid aside all his cus-conducted in strict accordance with the military tomary reserve and sternness; the only thing laws; he had justice, but not mercy. He was which appeared to displease him was that Ade- condemned to run the gauntlet; but it was to laide frequently quitted the room, and did not my good offices he owed the command that his partake of the general hilarity. sentence should be carried into execution on his father's slip of freehold property-that which made the old man fancy himself my equal. The regiment was marched to the spot: the youthalthough strong as man need be-sank before the thoughts of this sentence, and was too weak to move. I was not to be balked, and spoke to the corporal, who immediately raised him on his back and carried him down the ranks; with such a weight the poor man, of course, could not move fast, and so Jurgen lost not a single lash-and his father saw it all. He was aged and weak, and the shock was too much for him; he died cursing me, and the mother did not survive him long enough to see her son's wounds * Wilhelm narrated his wanderings, his studies; in short, each event of his life since they had been parted; and, when he had done, requested Hallwyn in return to inform him of all that had befallen them. The old man shook his head, and a deep sigh burst from his breast. "To look back, even for a few years, recalls memories I fain would banish for ever. How carefully should we guard each action, for the past can never be recalled!" "But it may be atoned for," observed Wil helm. "Yes if the dead could arise again, as the memory of the injuries we have done them arises. Listen to me, my children. A recital | healed." of my life may serve as a warning to you. I The old man ceased to speak, and a silence of Lines Written on Seeing a Picture of " Cleopatra Dying." 353 some moments prevailed, which was broken by, corpse moved, raised itself, and embraced her. the voice of Emma, who inquired-almost in Then I saw her and that ghastly being mounted a whisper-"And what is become of Jurgen on steeds and galloping rapidly through the Grätz?" forest. Go, Emma, and see if your sister is awake." Adelaide started suddenly up, and dashing the tears from her eyes, flung herself on the old man's neck, exclaiming, "God forgive you, father! You knew not what you did." "What ails thee, girl?" said the old man, returning her embrace, and rising to retire to rest. "Good night, my children. May God bless you, and enable you to atone for your father's evil deeds." The grey light of morning had scarcely begun to assume a roseate tinge when Wilhelm might be perceived, slowly, and with folded arms, pacing the sitting-room; now pausing to look from the window, now to listen for any sound which might betoken that the household were astir; presently a light footstep was heard, the door slowly opened, and Emma stole in. "How delightful, Wilhelm, to find you too up. I could not sleep, I was too happy. How brightly the day dawns; even nature seems full of joy. 66 Heaven grant no cloud may obscure this radiance!" 'What mean you? what can do so? Come, come, unfold the wrinkles from that gloomy brow, or I shall think you do not love me. Tell me, did Adelaide seek your assistance last night Emma was met at the door by Franz, who exclaimed-" Master, master! Marcus, the forester is here, and he declares that the dead man is not black Uriel, but a smuggler called rednosed Christian. He is attired in his master's clothes, but he is but a common man; and— and, master, the two horses are gone, saddles, bags, and all." And my child, my Adelaide !" cried the old man, involuntarily; trembling so as to be incapable of supporting himself. Wilhelm led him to a seat and signed to Franz to withdraw. "She is not there!" exclaimed Emma, hastily returning; "my sister is not there, I only found this note." The old man snatched it, and read evil deeds.' 'Jurgen Grätz and Uriel are one. Your "FATHER,-I obey you; I go to atone for your lege to reclaim the sinner. In Hamburgh the priest conduct drove him to evil; may it be my blest priviwill unite us, and thence we sail for America, where, among the new settlements, he hopes to lead a new and better life, and repent of the past. Farewell! You will still have two children. In this world you will not again behold your ADELAIDE." to enable her to get that wretched man safely LINES WRITTEN ON SEEING A off? She did not come up until I was nearly asleep, and then she embraced and bade me good night, again and again. She seemed with difficulty to refrain from tears." "Perhaps she envied you your happiness." "Well done vanity! But tell me, Wilhelm, is that man gone? I trembled so all day yesterday lest my father should think that as there were two horses there must have been two riders." The entrance of Captain Hallwyn prevented the reply. He too could not sleep, and had arisen to avoid the dreams which haunted his pillow. "Me thought," he said, "the curtains of my bed were suddenly drawn back, and a form bent over me, and kissed me again and again, murmuring Farewell, farewell for ever!' At first I could not define the lineaments, and then the face seemed that of my Adelaide, and was, oh! so pale, and tears fell like rain on my cheeks and forehead. I would have enfolded her in my arms, but she was gone. I started up in the bed, and rubbed my eyes in astonishment; the curtains were waving to and fro, and I could have vowed that I distinctly heard the door gently closed; and, what was most strange, my face was wet. I am convinced that I was awake then, for I heard the clock strike twelve, and counted each stroke, but afterwards I fell asleep; but it was only to dream such fearful dreams. Now my Adelaide knelt by the dead robber and kissed his pale lips, and the PICTURE OF "CLEOPATRA DYING." Oh! can I e'er forget the hour, When first that form, whose magic power That head thrown back in mute despair, Breathed the cold, the venomed breath, Be hers, who once in pompous state, Scarce can I think that this is she, The waves, that touched the Cydnus' shore, That form within yon glittering bark, Like those we view in some bright dream; Her form how full of matchless grace! It touches now upon the land; He loves her-yes-she feels-she knows- Now turn thine eyes and look upon Vain mortals now- One tear to her who would not live. No, save her faithful handmaids, none The selfish e'er could heap on me! |