ror's service, I pledge you my word that you will be a cort poral in a month."

"What mean you by that?" asked Dorn with surprise, "The idea of entering the emperor's service never once came into my head."

"You jest!" cried the miscreant.

ແ You have drank to the

emperor with a Captain in the imperial service, and by that act have become a soldier.

"Is it possible!" cried Dorn. "Can you so prostitute the emperor's name as to use it for so low an artifice?"

"Not a word of opposition, fellow!" said the Captain menacingly. "You have consented to take service under the standard of his imperial majesty, and must abide thereby."

"I am a free-burgher of Schweidnitz," said Dorn; "what right have you to hold me ?"

"What right! what right!" blustered the Captain, striking the floor with his sword. "Here is my right, which is valid through all Europe."

"I warn you, Captain," cried Dorn, "to be cautious how you take a step which may disgrace you without accomplishing your purpose."

"That we shall see!" said the Captain; and, going to the door, he threw it open and cried, "Orderly !"

A gigantic guardsman came clattering up the steps, stooped to enter the room, and then, straightening himself up like a tall pine, thundered, "Here!"

"Take this recruit to the guard-room," commanded the Captain, "and deliver him over, on my account, to the officer of the day. He may as well be put in uniform and sworn to his colours this evening as to-morrow."

The colossus stepped up to Dorn, pointed to the door, and in a very insolent tone commanded, “ March !”

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Dorn hurled him back with great force, and drew from his pocket a sealed document which he held up to the view of the Captain. My commission as Captain in the royal Danish service," said he, "protects me against the honour of serving under you. The duke of Friedland shall satisfy himself of its authenticity to-morrow. To me you must make reparation, upon the spot, for this personal outrage. Have the goodness to follow me to the door."

The Captain, who, like many a braggadocio, hid the ears of the ass under the skin of the lion, stood utterly confused before the angry youth, in whom he had very unexpectedly found

his match. At length he motioned his orderly to retire. "It is not possible for me to accept your invitation to-night; but early in the morning we will speak further upon this matter," said he with constrained courtesy to Dorn, and immediately left the room.

"We shall not be able to start before noon, in this way," said Dorn, with some little vexation. "Meanwhile, have the goodness, madam Rosen, to pack the best and most necessary articles which you may wish to take with you, to-night."

"Ah, that would prove a fruitless trouble, my dear sir!" exclaimed the widow. "The Captain is now highly incensed, and I believe he would strike the horses dead before the carriage, sooner than let us go."

"I trust some one higher than he can be found here," said Dorn. "When matters come to the worst, I can speak to the duke himself."

"He is

"God preserve you from that!" cried the widow. indeed a passionate tyrannical man, who will not tolerate even the sparrows upon his roof. He directly hangs every one who makes the least opposition to him. He strung up a poor apothecary's apprentice for making too much noise in his neighbourhood with his pestle and mortar, and a poor child because it cried in its mother's arms."

"I nevertheless doubt not he will suffer me to live," said Dorn, with a smile. "I have seen the white of his eye at Dessau, and was not frightened. Therefore dismiss your fears and pack up as quick as you can. I shall start at one in the afternoon to-morrow. I have promised your daughter to be in Schweidnitz on new-year's eve, and will keep my word." He was about to take his leave; but the widow held him fast by both his hands.

"No," cried she, anxiously, "I will not let you go. I thank God for sending a manly protector to my house in these evil times, and should die with fear if compelled to sleep alone under the same roof with that monster, now that he is irritated. No, you remain with us. My daughter shall prepare the little guest-chamber for you, and I will mix your evening draught.' "I would not be troublesome to you," said Dorn, "at a time when your house is already occupied by other guests."

"It is indeed, and by those who are uninvited and unwelcome," sighed the widow. "But for that very reason I would add a welcome guest to the number, that I may know whether I am yet mistress of my own house."

In obedience to a nod from her mother, Faith, with blush

ing cheeks and downcast eyes, took a light to show the guest to his chamber. He followed her through the Gothic building, up one flight of steps and down another, through crooked passages, until they reached a small, but neatly furnished chamber, in which was a snow-white bed. While Faith removed the flowered damask covering, filled the shining pewter ewer with fresh water, and hung a towel near it, he was occupied in observing the beautiful form of the lovely blonde, whose graceful motions, employed for the promotion of his comfort, were for that reason rendered doubly charming.

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Perhaps I render you an unwelcome service in taking you from this place, fair maiden?" said he, by way of beginning conversation.

"How can you think so, sir?" quickly replied Faith. "I thank my God and yourself for my release."

"Well, one cannot always know," said Dorn, jestingly. "The heart may often have attachments in a place otherwise particularly disagreeable."

"If I thought you alluded to the captain," said Faith, with some asperity, "I could become angry with you, in the first hour of our acquaintance."

"He is not, indeed, a very fascinating suitor," continued Dorn; "but there nevertheless may be in the city of Sagan, some slender rosy youth, who has eyes for so beauteous a maiden."

"I know none here for whom I could have eyes,' answered the maiden, quickly, and immediately became somewhat alarmed at the traitorous emphasis she had laid upon the word here.

"Not here, but elsewhere?" asked Dorn, seizing her deliIcate white hand.

"These bold questions come from the evil customs of your hateful military profession," said Faith, endeavouring to withdraw her hand. He suffered her to regain it only by slow degrees, letting but one rosy finger out of his hand at a time, while his pulse was becoming greatly accelerated by the soft, caressing touch. His eyes sought and met hers, which looked kindly upon him, not with the sun's consuming fire, but with the mild chaste light of the friendly moon.

"So you have not yet loved, charming Faith?" he earnestly asked, holding fast the last little finger of the imprisoned hand.

"What a question," whispered she, turning away from him, "I am scarcely sixteen years old."

"Then the first silver-tone is yet to be drawn from this untried harp of a thousand strings;' O, how happy," cried the youth, "will be that artist who shall one day succeed in awakening its thrilling music!"

The

Faith suddenly exclaimed, "Good night captain !" farewell bow released the yet imprisoned finger, and the delightful vision disappeared.

When Dorn opened his eyes the next morning, a corporal and six halbardiers were standing before his bed.

"Dress yourself quickly," commanded the corporal, "I am ordered to bring you before the duke."

war,

Having soon become satisfied that no opposition was, in this case, to be thought of, Dorn obeyed. As he and his guards were passing through the streets, he saw many things which went to prove the arbitrary power of the man before whom his own emperor and all Europe were then trembling. Notwithstanding the misery and suffering produced by the he saw whole rows of houses which had been repaired, newly painted, and splendidly furnished, that the city in which the Friedlander dwelt and governed might present an agreeable appearance to the eye. The beautiful flocks and herds of the city, driven by weeping burghers, were making their way toward the gates, having been expelled because their continuance in the city was inconsistent with the dignity of a capital. The work of demolition was yet going on in the vicinity of the palace, and more than fifty houses were lying in ruins. To all of Dorn's questions, however, the corporal had but one answer:-"the duke wills it." They had now reached the castle. The corporal conducted Dorn through the crowd of halbardiers, footmen and pages, to the ante-chamber of the audience-room, where fifty of the body guards were on duty. Two Silesian noblemen, ambassadors to the duke from Leig⚫nitz and Oels-Bernstadt were here waiting in patient humility to learn if the dictator would please to grant them an audience.

At length one of the duke's counsellors came out of the audience-room, and with insolent hauteur beckoned the Leignitz ambassador, who reverentially approached the proud knight.

"What you have delivered to my lord in behalf of your province," said the counsellor, with contemptuous disrespect, he will take into consideration and communicate his pleasure to your duke at the next assembly of the princes. Your JANUARY, 1840.

C

complaints against the troops are not deserving of consideration. The soldier must have something for his trouble and toil. In that respect, my lord has far heavier and more just complaints against your duke. The latter has put a man to death who wished to take service in our army."

"The culprit was a subject of our duke, and a wilful murderer," answered the ambassador. "He was executed in accordance with the right and in pursuance of the judgment of the court of Aldermen of Leignitz."

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No court of justice," continued the counsellor, "may presume to punish any one who claims the Friedlander's protection. My lord directs you to say to your duke, that he must send him two hundred infantry from his own troops as an indemnification, or the heads of a dozen of the Leignitz nobility shall be answerable for the neglect.'

The Leignitz ambassador retired with a deadly paleness, and the messenger from Oels-Bernstadt was beckoned to approach.

"Duke Wenzel," said the counsellor, in a cutting tone, "has ventured to hang some soldiers of count Terzky's regiment."

"As robbers taken in the act," interposed the messenger; "in obedience to the orders of the generalissimo himself, to keep the high roads safe, and punish all convicted criminals."

"Terzky has written to him," continued the counsellor, without noticing the interruption, "that he has ordered the same number of the prince's counsellors to be hanged, and that he has already set a price upon their heads. Thereupon lord Wenzel immediately complained to the emperor, and the complaint, as was proper, has been transmitted to my master, who has decided npon the affair. He directs it to be announced to your master that he approves and will sustain the acts of count Terzky, and to give an example to the Silesian princes generally, the principalities and baronies of your master will be confiscated and divided among those soldiers who have merited them by their services. With this message you are at liberty to depart." He turned his back upon him, and with a haughty step returned to the audience-room. The messengers departed in speechless sorrow, and at that moment a corporal conducted two well-dressed ladies into the ante-chamber. They were closely veiled and weeping bitterly. Another corporal led a bound Wallensteiner, with wild, staring eyes, blue lips and bristling hair, through the ante-chamber into the audience