the grass in the garden of her father's castle, skipping among the gay parterres of variegated flowers, and plucking here a flower and there a flower to make up a nosegay, in all the innocent simplicity of a young fawn seeking its matutinal meal. The trilling lark was soaring above her head, and singing his matins at Heaven's gate, and—but what did Adeline abroad so early? Gentle reader! if you had seen the beauteous maiden throw back her flaxen tresses, and cast her fair blue eyes towards that aërial songster as he rose and rose higher and higher into the etherial expanse, you would have at once concluded that she went thitherfor a lark! Scarcely had Adeline completed her posy, when a youth of most respectable appearance suddenly advanced from an adjoining shrubbery, and extending his hand, simply said, "Adeline!" "Albrecht!" as simply replied the maiden, while the blush that mantled on her cheek was instantaneously reflected in his. They both, no doubt, possessed great skill in palmistry; for the mutual touch manual seemed as satisfactory as a dialogue, and they walked in silence for some minutes, or if they did talk, it was certainly with their fingers. Now it was the custom when the lord of the castle arose, to go forth to sound the great bell, that all his vassals might be gathered at their prescribed posts to do his bidding; for when his authoritative voice thundered through his halls, he expected his menials to fly about as bright and quick as so many flashes of lightning. Whether Adeline's companion was startled or offended by the abruptness of the clang it is impossible to say; but certain it is that their parting was as sudden as it was unceremonious; and, strange to say, (youths do take odd freaks into their heads!) instead of walking through the castle-gate, as beseemed a gentleman of his figure, he scudded hurry-scurry over the garden wall with all the celerity of a naughty male puss, when some back-door or window is suddenly thrown open by some incensed inmate, unseasonably disturbed by the cacophonous caterwauling! "What! you are afield betimes, girl," cried the Baron, who had come forth to cool his feverish brow in the morning breeze. " Flowers, too! Why, what festival's a-foot?" Adeline blushed as he glanced with his sinister eye full upon her intelligent countenance, the index of her mind, and skipping beside him, she playfully took his right arm, (his blind side!) and innocently replied, "No festival, dear papa. I've gathered a nosegay for your but ton-hole." "For my pocket-hole, I should think," answered the Baron, as he took the huge bouquet, and grimly smiled with delight at the unpremeditated stroke of wit. "But you must not rise so early, girl; it's damp, damp! Don't touch a flint like me." "The morning is so fresh, and the flowers are so fragrant, that their breath woos me forth," said the gentle Adeline. "Pooh! you've got all that nonsense out of some book. I never read-never could only fit for monks. Fighting, hunting, and drinking are the only occupations for a nobleman. There's Albrecht, -an excellent shot, rifle or pistol, and sits a horse like a man,--he's a liking for books, more's the pity. Had he followed my example, he'd have had more plunder." (Now plunder was Felskopf's expressive word for wealth, derived from his own practical experience upon the subject, and indubitably most applicable to his own worldly possessions.) Adeline said nothing, but she sighed inaudibly; a feeling of sorrow, no doubt, arising in her gentle bosom that she differed from her parent in her estimation of literature, for she was a pattern of filial affection. "Ludwig von Krassenheim feeds with me to-day. A fine youth that, and one of the richest barons in the neighbourhood, Adeline. Our estates join, too. I should like- Well, we'll see. I'm an old soldier, and think I can carry on the war as well as any that ever took the field. I should like to meet the man who could outflank me, that's all. I'll turn that baron to account, or—" He stopped, and fell into a reverie, and so did Adeline; for the said Baron Ludwig von Krassenheim was a perfect dolt, with neither wit nor accomplishments; and well might the maid wonder at her sire's expectations of turning the Baron to account-one so really barren in every sense. CHAPTER III. "Volle Taschen, volle Flaschen! THE PROPOSAL. THE young Baron von Krassenheim possessed the palate of Heliogabalus, and the capacity of a dinner-devouring burgermeister, while in the matter of absorption he was a veritable human sponge of the first magnitude, and could have seen old Silenus under the tablehad he been there! Felskopf had long reconnoitred the weak points in the object of his intended attack, and so arranged his forces, that he felt confident of success. With his one eye he superintended the operations in the castle kitchen, and threatened to spit the cook if he failed in producing such a dinner as must inevitably win the favour and applause of his fastidious guest. The hour at length arrived, and with it the most punctual Ludwig, eager for the feast. Odoriferously inviting were the savoury steams that tickled his broad and leonine nostrils even at the portal. The anticipatory and involuntary smack of his broad lips rang approvingly through the halls of Felskopf. The delighted host rushed forward, and pressed his visiter to his flinty bosom. Ludwig was really flattered by his reception, and when the dishes were uncovered, felt a conviction that Felskopf was really a chum after his own heart. They dined perfectly tête-à-tête; a circumstance most agreeable to the young Baron, who abhorred the idea of wasting the precious moments in bandying compliments with any lord or lady at the board. A whole hour was spent in the unremitting exercise of their molares; and what pen can describe their gastronomical performances ? - unless, courteous reader, thou shouldest have perchance beheld a couple of elephants lunching off a bushel of cabbages-for such was truly the avidity of the demolition. When a boa-constrictor is gorged with his prey, the hunter may safely handle him. Upon this principle the wily Felskopf worked his artillery. When they had emptied the sixth flask of wine, the Baron began to talk of his estate, the improvements he proposed, and then abruptly exclaimed, with an affectation of sentiment, "But, alas! I have no son to inherit my property." "True," replied Ludwig; and he put down his unfinished glass, an indubitable sign that he was becoming interested in the topic under discussion. Felskopf then slily insinuated the many advantages both real and personal which Adeline possessed, and expressed a wish that some worthy individual would seek her hand. Ludwig filled a silver beaker to the brim, and standing up, drained it off to the health of the fair Adeline. "My noble young friend," cried Felskopf, rising upon his legs, and grasping the hand of Ludwig, "you do her honour, and her father too." "Felskopf!" exclaimed Ludwig, in his turn bolting on end, "there is none whom I esteem more highly than yourself;" and having pressed the horny palm of the Baron, resumed his seat. "Krassenheim!" emphatically cried Felskopf. But why repeat the alternate rise and fall of the two Barons? Suffice it to say, that after playing at this "see-saw" for a full half hour, until Ludwig was sufficiently prepared to receive the intimation, Felskopf offered him his daughter in marriage; and the delighted spark was so overcome with gratitude and hock, that his speech and his legs both failed him at once, and he rolled under the table. Felskopf could scarcely believe his one eye, this disappearance of his intended son-in-law was so sudden. With an unsteady hand he seized a candle from the table to look after him. "My dear friend! Ludwig-my-" His imperfect speech could no further go, his head spun round like a whirligig, and Felskopf fell flop! - sprawling on the floor, crushing the candle beneath him. CHAPTER IV. "Es ist der Fehler des Junglings, sich immer für glücklicher und unglücklicher zu halten als er ist." A LOVER BESIDE HIMSELF. "WHAT is the matter, my dear master?" demanded Wilhelm, the faithful and confidential valet of Baron Albrecht, who was pacing up and down his chamber, thumping his handsome brow, and playing a thousand other fantastic tricks, which young people are sometimes wont to do when their sanguine wishes are unexpectedly thwarted. "O Adeline! Adeline!" exclaimed Albrecht. "The wind's in that quarter, is it?" muttered Wilhelm. she proved false?" "Has "False!" roared Albrecht, seizing his follower by the collar. "Who dare accuse her of falsehood? she who is a paragon of truth, fidelity, and purity of soul!" Wilhelm gazed coolly and compassionately upon his troubled master; he offered no remonstrance, and the thunderbolt of rage which threatened to annihilate him was averted. "Wilhelm, she is betrothed to that dolt Krassenheim,-sacrificed by her own father!" "What! couple the dove with the owl? It cannot be, — it shall not be!" exclaimed Wilhelm firmly. "Be cool, my dear master. You hold the winning card in your own hand, and it will be your own fault if you lose the game." "You encourage me, Wilhelm," said the distracted lover. - "And I will assist you, too," replied Wilhelm. "My wit against his stupidity, and that's a long odds, — if the fox don't overreach the calf, hang me in my own garters, that's all. I'll play the devil with him; I'll ha! a bright thought just strikes me! Give me till to-morrow morning, and if I miss my mark, call me weasel, rat, and poison me! I've not passed ten years in a university for nothing; and if I don't work up this hank of raw flax into a ladder of ropes for you, I'll be hanged!" The boldness of Wilhelm revived the drooping lover, and he promised to remain as tranquil as he could under the circumstances, until the morrow. " CHAPTER V. "Nur der verächtliches Mensch fürchtet Verachtung." 66 AN UNINVITED GUEST. -the young ADELINE had received her father's commands, and Baron? He had long beheld her with admiration; but he was truly such an ungainly cub, that he felt awkward in her presence. She was not therefore much troubled by the ardour or the eloquence of his amatory professions. "Der hat am meisten wer am wenigsten begehrt He hath most who desires least," says the philosopher. Now this was perfectly true as regarded Ludwig's ugliness; for he had certainly a consciousness of his personal defects; and the idea that continually recurred (at least as often as he shaved) was, that he would willingly give, a portion of his worldly wealth, could he obtain a better frontispiece than that which nature had bestowed upon him. He was sitting over his wine, and ruminating upon the frigidity of Adeline, when he was startled from his reverie by a salutation. Ludwig arose, surprised and annoyed at the intrusion, and beheld a tall, slim figure, richly attired, capped, and feathered, with a sharp physiognomy, full of fun and roguery. "Ceremony among "Pray be seated," coolly said the intruder. friends is like a tin-kettle to a dog's-tail, more ornamental than agreeable. Pray be seated. My business is soon despatched-business? I should say pleasure-for it is in your service that I come." Poor Ludwig was confounded by his volubility; and, finding he could not thrust a word in edgewise, resumed his chair. Filling a bumper, his visiter continued: Baron, I give you the lady of your thoughts-the fair Adeline." "A small taste of that," replied the other, "as the soldier said when the drummer flourished his cat-o'-nine-tails!" |