pass over all further preparations, and tell you about the 15th of January, which was marked in Otto's almanack with a red

cross.

came before him with an almost overwhelming distinctness. He reproached himself for having thought so little about her, who a few months before had been so much to him.

The little letter, so welcome to him from the forgiveness which it expressed, at the same time pained him. It brought to his recollection a time which he would willingly have forgotten- a time when he had learnt to know himself as weak and inconstant.

The arrival of the great gala coach, which was to take the bridegroom to Beckley, at last put an end to his meditations, and gave a more natural direction to his thonghts. At Beckley, Otto found his whole family already assembled Burgomaster Welters, his wife, William, Emmy, Mina, and Elizabeth with two good friends of Otto's, who were to be Celine's witnesses.

Certainly January cannot be considered a very poetical time for a wedding, yet this day had done its best for Otto and Celine. The air was clear, the sun shone cheerfully, and although the trees were not adorned with leaves and blossoms, the white frozen rime which outlined every twig might indeed be called beautiful, as well as the snow-covered earth glittering in the beams of the winter sun. If such a winter's day as this 15th of January should be an exhilarating sight to everyone, how much more so to him who this day was to witness the fulfilment of his dearest wishes; and yet now, as we enter the presence of the happy bridegroom, we see settled on his countenance an expression bordering on sadness. We find him fully prepared for the ceremony more than half an hour too early; his long beard concealed the greater part of his white waistcoat, and his bran new black suit at this early hour of the morning spoke of "great doings," as well as the pretty white bouquet for the bride which had just arrived from the florist; and if these things were not enough to show what was going on, at all events Mrs. Geele's decorations of evergreens, and flags with blue and red paper roses, bigger than the biggest dahlias in existence, would have put one on the scent. But Otto's countenance was disturbed as he bent over a letter with the In a certain sense she regarded Celine postmark of Montpellier which he found as the cause of the coolness and sepby the side of his as yet untasted break- aration between herself and Otto; she fast. The postmark, and the well-known felt that a good hearty word of congratufeminine handwriting, how many recol-lation on his choice would bring back Otto lections had it not recalled-recollections to his old confidential relation with her, that in the past months had been stifled which he only discontinued because her siby so many other things? The well-lence about Celine was disagreeable to known writing gave him pain, and yet he him and yet that word she could not utter could not withdraw his eyes from the few without insincerity. lines of which the letter consisted, and which were as follows:

Emmie writes me word that your marriage is fixed for the 15th, my dear Otto, and from this foreign land I feel a wish to join in the congratulations of those who surround you. Believe that from my heart I rejoice in your happiness, and may Heaven's best blessing attend you and your bride.

If it can give you a single pleasant thought, receive the assurance that I can recall former days without pain, and that I still set a high value on living in your thoughts as your true and interested friend.

MARY.

Whilst Otto read these words the calm countenance and soft melancholy eyes

In none, except perhaps with Elizabeth, was there much feeling as to the bride. Burgomaster Welters valued in Celine the good match" for his son, and to Mrs. Welters Otto's marriage was a matter of indifference, as he had not chosen either Mina or Elizabeth, which she wou'd gladly have seen happen. William and Mina also regarded it with indifference, whilst the recollection of Mary, and the sorrow which Otto inflicted on her by his marriage, left a shadow on Emmy's heart which made it impossible for her to show any sisterly feeling towards Celine.

Celine's merit in Emmy's eyes was small. It was no difficult task to find faults in Celine, and especially by such prejudiced eyes as those of Emmy; and, as happens with the best of us, this prejudice made her unjust, and caused her entirely to overlook the good that there was in Celine, and to pity in silence poor Otto, who, now enchanted by her beauty, would sooner or later wake up from his blindness to a long repentance.

When, however, Otto entered the room where all were assembled, she felt that all her thoughts gave way to one, that her own brother was to-day to be united in marriage with the woman who, whatever

she might be, was his free choice, and that | restlessly up and down the room, stopping that brother, from the love she bore him, every instant at the window which comwas entitled to her good wishes and manded the high road. But, whether prayers for his welfare. When he had across hedges and ditches, or otherwise, shaken hands with all, and came at last to Celine seemed somehow to have got back her, her eyes filled with tears, and she by an unusual way; at least whilst Otto whispered to him her heart-felt wishes for was anxiously directing his eyes up the his happiness; and then Otto stooped and high road, the tramp of the horse on the gave her a kiss, which he had not done all snow near the house escaped him, and he these months, saying gently to her, "Celine suddenly saw her stop at the door. will find a sister in you, Emmy; will she not?" and from that moment Emmy felt more kindly disposed towards Celine, and determined to go to meet her with affection, and, if possible, to obtain her love. While these thoughts were passing in Emmy's mind, Otto had left the room to fetch his bride.

When he came into the passage, he was suddenly aware of the presence of old Miss Potter, who came to meet him with a somewhat disturbed countenance.

"Is Celine not ready yet?" he asked hastily.

"My dear young gentleman, you must still have a little patience. I hardly like to tell you, but two hours ago Celine went out riding and is not yet come back."

Out riding, and this morning?" said Otto, astonished and disturbed. "Heavens! Miss Potter, could you not have prevented it?"

"She was off before I knew of it; but if I had known it, who can prevent Celine Arnold from doing anything she chooses?"

She sprang quickly off her horse, threw the bridle to the groom, just stooped over Shimmel's head as if kissing him, and before Otto had reached the door it was thrown wide open, and Celine, with glowing cheeks and out of breath, entered the room at the same moment that Miss Potter left it by another door.

"I had hoped, Celine," said Otto, in a reproachful tone, coming towards her, "that for this one morning your passion for riding would have been sacrificed to propriety. My family have been all waiting below nearly an hour, and if you delay any longer the legal time will have elapsed and our marriage cannot be completed today."

That would be indeed a pity," answered Celine, in a mocking tone, giving him one of her scornful looks," and more especially a pity for me, as I should lose the opportunity to-day of becoming the obedient slave of my lord and master."

She was standing in the doorway, just opposite Otto, at whom she looked with bold and angry eyes, while at her list "Out riding?" he again repeated; and words she made him a mocking bow. Otto added, in an anxious tone, "What in Heav-instantly repented of his words when he en's name can I do?" saw how they disturbed her.

"Do? why, wait patiently, dear young Forgive me, Celine," he said, taking man. She is sure to return soon. Come hold of her hand; "you know, I am sure, upstairs into Celine's sitting-room, and that I do not grudge you any pleasure, but there you can wait undisturbed, and see you also know how I have been looking her from a distance when she comes.' forward to this day. Can you take it ill that the waiting for you has appeared to me endless, and that the anxiety lest you should not come in time has put me out?"

I believe that good Miss Potter felt great compassion for Otto, and wished as ardently as himself for Celine's return, although in her temporary stay at Beckley she had formed decided opinions as to Otto's chance of happiness in this approaching connection. She came upstairs to him as quickly as she could, and endeavoured as far as possible to lead him out of the uncomfortable state of mind in which he was. She told him about his mother's wedding day, which she had attended, and for the sake of Otto feigned a calmness which in reality she was losing more and more every instant.

The half-hour that now followed seemed to Otto half an eternity; he did not listen at all to Miss Potter's stories. He walked

At these conciliatory words Celine cast down her eyes, and when, after a moment of silence, she raised them towards him, they were full of tears.

"Who knows, Otto, whether it would not have been a blessing for you if I had not come in time?" she said softly.

"You cannot mean that, Celine?" exclaimed Otto. "Must I once more say to you that I regard this day, which will make you mine, as the happiest day of my life?"

"No, no," she interrupted him, withdrawing her hand from his, and walking up and down the room in visible annoy

ance. Then suddenly she stopped be- before Elizabeth brought down the bride fore him, and said in a voice trembling in triumph. with emotion, "Otto, if I were to entreat you even now to release me from my word, not only on my own account but on yours, would you do it?"

66

I have often spoken of Celine's beauty, too often, perhaps, for those who say with the proverb that "beauty is but skin-deep," but yet once more, and for the last time, I “No, Celine; I cannot release you from will say how brilliantly beautiful she was your word; you are free to take it back, but in her black velvet dress, with the white to give back at the last moment what is my bridal wreath in her dark hair, and her greatest treasure, to give back voluntarily veil arranged in a somewhat foreign manwhat you have given voluntarily, that can-ner, as if she was concealed in a transparnot be. You have promised to be mine, ent cloud. This much is certain, that an and I am come here in order that you may fulfil your promise. If you retract your word, I must submit, but, for my part, I neither can nor will give you up; you must not ask that of me.'

When Otto had said these words, so passionately, she grew pale.

"Otto," she began again, in an anxious tone, "dare you take upon yourself the responsibility of this union? Will you never reproach me that I became your wife in the full conviction that I should not make you happy?'

"I dare take that responsibility," he answered. "It shall be my endeavour to make you happy; in that I shall find my own happiness; and I hope I shall never forget the last prayer of your father to be patient with his beloved child."

involuntary exclamation of admiration escaped everyone's lips when she entered the room, and the charming manner with which she greeted all who were present attracted them towards her more than they had ever been before.

The marriage of Otto and Celine was now completed without any remarkable occurrence, and at her express desire without any religious ceremony; but when they came back to Beckley a short solemn address was delivered to them by the minister who had been Otto's tutor, and it ap peared to make a visible impression on Celine. She seemed deeply affected when he made her kneel down and obliged all the surrounding company to follow him in the prayer which he pronounced for the young couple.

however, except the minister and the witnesses, no stranger took part. Celine was talkative and merry, and Otto's countenance beamed with happiness and content.

He clasped her in his arms, and kissed After the completion of this ceremony a away the tears which now flowed abun-déjeuner took place at Beckley, at which, dantly from her eyes. When she was some what composed, she whispered, "It was not to annoy you that I rode out, Otto; I have been to his grave, and have there prayed for his blessing. Now I am calm and prepared. Come, your family must not be kept waiting any longer." Freeing herself from his arms, she put out her hand, and was about to lead Otto with her, when he cast an uneasy glance at her habit. She caught his look, aud said, laughing, "I forgot this trifle, Otto; how will you ever make me a civilized European woman?"

'If you would but recollect that I am to-day going to make you Mrs. Welters, I should be quite content," answered Otto.

"Send Elizabeth upstairs to me, if she is willing to help me.'

With his mind relieved Otto now rejoined his family downstairs, where he contradicted all Miss Potter's invented excuses with this simple communication, "that Celine had felt it necessary, before her marriage, to visit her father's grave, and had consequently been late." He then chatted away with his people in high good humour during the time which still elapsed

Burgomaster Welters gave a toast which was more remarkable for richness of words than of thoughts, and Celine made her first sacrifice to her wifely dignity by not bursting out laughing during or immediately after the speech, but after the lapse of some minutes.

At four o'clock the carriage came which was to take the young couple to Arnheim, whence they were to make a little excursion to Brussels. The farewell on both sides was calm and cheerful, without any tears, for which, indeed, there was no occasion, as they were shortly to return an i establish themselves at Beckley; but when Celine had bid good-bye to all, she suddenly glided down to the ground in order to take Cæsar's great shaggy head between her hands and cover it with kisses, and warm tears rolled down her cheeks whilst Otto helped her into the carriage. On the steps the family of Welters waved a salute to the married pair, but the cold drove them speedily into the house. The weather

had changed; the wind blew sharp from the unfortunate criminal is again united the north, and great thick flakes of snow to her who was dearest to him in the whole fell upon the carriage which carried off Otto Welters and his young wife.

Not again, but still shut up, dear reader. Mary and her father are still at Montpellier, but from necessity, not from choice. If we have ever smiled at the selfish invalid, at Naturally enough it must be so when least now let us pity him with all our two summers and three winters have hearts. A new method of treatment pracpassed over a town and its inhabitants; tised upon Mr. van Stein, by an American much has happened and much is changed, doctor, instead of curing him, had the efalthough outside everything is so exactly fect of depriving him of the use of his the same, that at first sight it seems im-limbs, which rendered his departure from possible that all should not be the same Montpellier an impossibility. within.

himself up at the savoury smell of his fa- tions were made at his grave, and the good vourite dish, but to eat was impossible. qualities recalled of the man who, during Falling back again with a deep sigh, his the twenty-eight years he had been at the death struggle began from that moment. head of the town, would have accomplished His body was followed to the churchyard such great things if. Now, three by a numerous crowd; all the shops in the months later, Dilburg had entirely forgotstreets through which the procession ten him, and his place was completely passed were shut; striking funeral ora- filled by the new Burgomaster.

CHINESE POLITICS. An interesting letter on | present political condition of the Western PowChinese politics is published in the Allgemeine ers no warlike action on their part agaiust Zeitung. The two parties, says the correspond- China need be apprehended, and they would ent, which have been struggling for the suprem- not have hesitated, if the ambassadors did not acy are still pretty equally matched. The so- listen to their representations, to reject their called party of progress, consisting of Prince claim to direct and personal communication Kung and his supporters, wishes that the young with the Emperor altogether. As to the young Emperor should be publicly proclaimed as of Emperor, he is said to be still a mere child so age on the occasion of his approaching marriage far as mental development and worldly knowlnext month, and that he should then at once edge are concerned. He is very fond of fine assume the reins of government. It hopes to clothes and theatrical spectacles, and his mother gain over to its side the Enperor himself, who is said to foster this taste in order to keep him is said to be disposed to cultivate friendly rela- as long as possible in leading-strings. The cortions with foreign Powers, and it supports the respondent adds that the Government is busily claim of the foreign diplomatists to be allowed strengthening the defences of Pekin, and that direct and personal communication with the the large entrenched camp between Tientsin and Sovereign. It is also said that Prince Kung is Taku is to be provided with six huge Krupp becoming impatient at the heavy responsibility guns which have arrived in a steamer from imposed upon him in his capacity of Regent, Europe. A new fort is being built at the mouth and that he is therefore actively preparing for of the river south of Taku. A gun-boat is to be the Emperor's marriage and accession to the stationed at this point, where it would be able throne. The other party, known as the bow- to do great damage. The troops, too, are workand-arrow men, advocate the opinions of the ing hard at the construction of roads which are Emperor's mother, who thinks he should be to facilitate the communications between the regarded as a minor for two years longer, dur-head-quarters at Tientsin and the river ports as ing which period he would remain under her tutelage. This Empress Dowager (there is also another, the late Emperor having had two wives) is described as an able, energetic, and ambitious woman, unwilling to give up the reins or government, and fearing to lose her power and influence. She agitates with great skill against the policy of Prince Kung, and even with a certain amount of success, for she has induced him to consent that the question of the reception of foreign ambassadors should be postponed until the Emperor's majority. The Chinese Ministers, proceeds the correspondent, who are kept very well informed as to European politics, became convinced that in view of the

far as Taku. The crews of the Chinese men-ofwar are being drilled in the use of the Remington rifle, besides which many things are being done for the army which are carefully concealed from Europeans. "It is quite certain," the correspondent concludes, "that a hostile enterprise against Pekin would meet with very much greater obstacles and difficulties than was the case ten years ago. A large Chinese man-ofwar, manned exclusively by Chinese sailors and commanded by Chinese officers, has arrived at Canton, showing the progress which has been made by China in naval matters."

Pall Mall Budget.