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"To me, worthy Herr Wirkmann. I am Eric Walderthorn. So the sleigh is here, mine host ?" said Eric, after reading the letter.

efforts, I should have despaired of myself. | give the letter, directed to the hands of It was you, and you only, who enabled the well-born Eric Walderthorn, arrived me to battle with the arduous trials which to-day from the honorable castle of Krobeset my path as an artist, and now—” nenthal ?" "And now, dear Eric, you are what you would always have become, with me or without me-not only an artist, heart and soul, but one who possesses the power to render his ideas visible. And this, owing solely to your own undaunted courage, energy, perseverance, and strong faith in yourself, under and through great difficulties. But, come, what do you say to some dinner? I am furiously hungry. What a keen air one breathes in these night rides!"

"By all means let us have something to eat, Carl; but it must only be a hasty snatch, for we have another ride before us. I want to get to Kronenthal to-night. Ernst is to send his travelling sleigh for me. It will be a glorious ride by this glorious moonlight. The distance is but three leagues."

"Don't go to-night, Eric, it is so comfortable here, and I had made up my mind to remain here to-night. It is cold out there, and I am tired; I have come a good long distance to-day."

"Don't have one of your lazy fits, Carl; we will have something to eat, and after that you will be all ready for a fresh start. I know you Englishmen ; you are something like your own horses; there is nothing like a good feed for putting your mettle up."

So the young men rang the bell; and the waiter appearing, something to eat was ordered to appear as quickly as possible. Whilst it was being prepared, a cloth, which rivalled the snow outside, was spread on a table drawn up close to the fire; and the young men chatted as young men do, who have lived together the rich artist-life of classical Rome.

"By the way," said Eric, interrupting himself, "waiter, can you tell me whether any message has arrived from Kronenthal for me, from Baron Ernst Walderthorn ?" "I cannot say, honored sir," replied the waiter; "I will inquire of Herr Wirkmann, the landlord.""

"Do," said Eric, and the waiter vanished, to reäppear presently, ushering in no less a personage than Herr Wirkmann himself, whose bald polished head shone again in the bright light of the blazing fire. "Noble sirs," said he, bowing low to the two young men, "to whom shall I

"Yes, honored sir, and will be ready. whenever your excellency chooses to order it."

"Then let it be made ready at once," said Eric, and the landlord withdrawing, the young men sat down, and discussed, with keen relish, the excellent production of the kitchen of mine host of the Geldernstern, worthy Herr Wirkmann.

In less than half an hour, they again stood at the door of the hotel, wrapped up in their cloaks and furs. Before the door, a sleigh was drawn up, well lined with skins of the reindeer, while two huge black bear-skins lay all ready to form the outer wrappings of the travellers. Two fine gray horses, evidently of the English breed, pawed the ground impatiently, and snorted, anxious to be off. crimson body-cloths, ornamented with silver, sparkled in the bright moonlight, and the silver bells which hung from their head-gear, filled the rarefied air with fairylike music every time they tossed their heads.

Their

"What a pretty turn-out," said Carl, biting off the end of his cigar previous to lighting it; "I give your brother credit for his taste, Eric."

"Ernst is a fine fellow every way," replied Eric, "and you will say so when you know him, Carl. Herr landlord, are the pistols put in ?"

"Yes, honored sir, they are here," replied the landlord, pointing to the holsters fastened on each side of the reversed dashing-board.

"All right," said Eric.

"Pistols! do we expect to meet robbers?" said Carl, laughing.

"The wolves have been very troublesome this winter, honored sir," returned the landlord; "but since the last grand hunt to which his excellency's brother, the noble baron, treated them, they have not been quite so obstreperous."

"What a chance, if we could get a shot at a wolf to-night," said Carl. "And what a night! how bright the moon is! and the air, how clear! One might see anything by such a light.”

Carl stepped into the sleigh. Eric, gath- | ing the silence after some time, "what beering up the reins, settled down into his came of your last spring adventure? Did place; the bear-skins were spread over you ever see the lady of the Sistine chapel them, and tucked in all round; and then, again? And did you find out who she with a good-night to all, responded to by was ?" a chorus of grooms and stable-helps, who had gathered round to see the handsome sleigh and the beautiful English horses, he gave a touch of the lash to these last, and they bounded forward, the sleigh skating smoothly over the frozen snow. The silver harness glittered in the bright moonshine, and the silver bells tinkled merrily in the cold night air, as they left the streets of Stettin, and emerged into the open country beyond.

For some time they proceeded in silence, as if each were communing with his own thoughts, or were awed by the deep stillness of the night. Not a sound was to be heard, not a creature to be seen. They seemed to be traversing a vast desert of snow. Everything was wrapped in the same dazzling uniform, by which the eye was almost pained. The light of the moon, reflected from the thousand points of snow, sparkling like silver in its rays, was increased to an intensity which almost equalled the light of day. The trees of the forest, along which they now skirted, stretched out their branches, encased in sheaths of glittering crystal. At first, the moon reigned alone in the deep blue sky; but now, small fleecy clouds began to appear, every now and then overshadowing her brightness. Presently a low moaning sound began to make itself heard, as if the wind were rising in the depths of the leafless forest. Eric seemed to listen uneasily, and to watch anxiously these ominous signs.

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I hope we shall reach Kronenthal before a snow-storm sets in," said Carl; "I have no desire to be buried in a snowwreath."

"I do not think it will be here so soon," answered his companion, "though I expect we shall have it here before long. The sky looks a little brighter again now. However, I will drive the horses as fast as they like to go.”

So saying, Eric touched their flanks slightly with the long lash of the sleigh whip, giving them their heads at the same time. The noble creatures again bounded forward with a speed which promised to outstrip all pursuers, snow-storms included.

"By the way, Eric," said Carl, break

"Yes, and no," said Eric. Yes to the question as to whether I ever saw her again. I saw her three times after you and I saw her that morning, but I never could find out who she was, or where she had gone to, and I did not even wish to find out after a time."

"Not wish to find out, Eric? I thought you were madly in love with her, even the first time you saw her."

"Call it love I felt for her then, if you like, Carl; but it is with a holier feeling I think of her now, than any earthly passion. It seems more to me now, as if she had been the vision of some saint or angel. I have her still before me there; those heavenly blue eyes upturned in rapt devotion; those twining locks of pure gold descending on the falling shoulders. I was very glad when she disappeared from Rome. Those three visits of hers to the gallery where I was making that statue of Canova, nearly drove me wild. Day after day I looked for her anxiously; and nearly gave up everything to hunt her out; but my better angel prevailed: I righted myself at last, and recovered not only my serenity, but also my communion with the spiritual, which is so essential to the life of an artist who would accomplish anything, and which at one time I seemed to have almost lost."

"What have you done with the sketch you made of her, kneeling in the chapel, with the dark background of the long aisle behind her. I thought you were going to make a picture from it, and send it to the exhibition."

"The picture is finished, and I have brought it for my mother's oratory. I could not summon up the courage to send it where it would be stared at by a hundred indifferent eyes. I could not bear to let others have a glimpse of a vision which seemed so entirely my own. Except you, Carl, no one knows I ever saw her; and I doubt much, if you had not been with me that morning, whether I should ever have told you, much as you are to me."

"Well," said Carl, taking the end of his cigar out of his mouth, and lighting another with it, "if that is not what is called being in love, I do not know what it is. What would you care who knew

what impression she had made on you, if you did not love her?"

"I do not love her, Carl, and I do not wish to love her."

"Not wish to love her! Why, Eric, what on earth do you mean?"

"Would you have me find that my angel, my vision of purity and holiness, was nothing but a mere woman, perhaps a captious one, too; enough to drive one mad with whims and follies of all sorts? Besides, Inever mean to be in love if I can help it. But, hark! What is that?"

"It is the moaning of the wind," said Carl. "No!" he exclaimed, springing up in his seat, as a shrill, wild, piercing cry for help, rang through the still night. "Hear that cry."

"Sit down, Carl, I beseech you," said Eric; "you will upset the sleigh! Look at the horses, how they tremble. I can scarcely manage them as it is, they are so wild. That is the baying of a hound, a wolf hound," he said, listening to fresh sounds, his head bent, at the same time that he kept urging his horses on, continually and smartly applying the lash to them, without which goad they would certainly have come to a stand-still. "That is the yell of a wolf!" he exclaimed, as a loud yell reached their ears, whilst wild shrieks again followed in quick succession, and then a cry of agony and terror, so prolonged, that the blood froze in the veins of the listeners.

"That is the cry of a horse beset by wolves," said Carl, the truth now flashing upon him. "Let me out, Eric, let me out, that I may fly to their assistance. Where is my rifle ?"

"Šit still, Carl, I implore you; our only chance of getting up to them in time for help, is to trust to the speed of our horses, if I can only keep them going. Get the pistols ready! they are loaded. Can you manage to get at my hunting-knife? it is in the case which the landlord put under the

seat."

"All right," said Carl, who having secured the weapons, now sat, his teeth clenched, his eyes straining forward in the direction from which the cries seemed to

come.

"There they are," he exclaimed at last, "right ahead. Heaven! there is a sleigh and two women in it; the horses are on the ground, and there is a battle going on between a wolf and a large hound."

The bright light of the moon revealed

the scene distinctly to the eyes of the two young men. Eric forced his now frantic horses alongside the sleigh which Carl had described. Standing upright in this was a young girl, clasping in her arms another, who appeared to have fainted. Her hood and cloak had fallen off, and her golden curls streamed in the winds from under a light blue Polish cap, bordered with ermine; her large blue eyes were raised to heaven as if seeking from thence that help which her wild cries had vainly implored from earth.

Eric stood for an instant transfixed in amazement, but it was only for an instant: the next moment both he and Carl had sprung to the ground.

"Lay hold of the horses' heads, Carl! Don't let them go, for God's sake! We shall need their best speed soon."

Seizing his pistols and the hunting-knife, Eric ran round to the side where the battle was going on between a large wolf and a magnificent wolf-hound. This latter had seized his antagonist by the throat with a gripe the wolf tried in vain to escape from. They now rolled over and over on the snow together; fierce snorts coming from the hound, and faint, stifled cries from the wolf. As Eric approached the scene of the fray, two wolves who had been gorging themselves on a prostrate horse lying behind the ladies' sleigh, sprang fiercely upon him. These, however, he soon dispatched, after some little difficulty; one he shot through the brain, so close to his own face, that the flash of the pistol scorched his eyes; the other received a thrust from his hunting-knife, which penetrated his lungs, and he fell beside his companion, suffocated in his own blood. Eric, once more free, approached to the help of the noble hound. It was well nigh time. The wolf had extricated his throat from his teeth, and was now making strenuous efforts to free himself from the gripe which the desperate hound still fastened on him. It was some time before Eric could give him any help, so closely were the two antagonists locked together. At last, watching his opportu nity, he was able, by a well-directed blow, to plunge his knife into him. The wolf rolled over, dyeing the trampled snow with the life-blood streaming from his wound. The hound rose slowly, shook himself well, and then rushed to the sleigh and leaped fawning upon his young mistress.

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Carl stepped into the sleigh. Eric, gathering up the reins, settled down into his place; the bear-skins were spread over them, and tucked in all round; and then, with a good-night to all, responded to by a chorus of grooms and stable-helps, who had gathered round to see the handsome sleigh and the beautiful English horses, he gave a touch of the lash to these last, and they bounded forward, the sleigh skating smoothly over the frozen snow. The silver harness glittered in the bright moonshine, and the silver bells tinkled merrily in the cold night air, as they left the streets of Stettin, and emerged into the open country beyond. For some time they proceeded in silence, as if each were communing with his own thoughts, or were awed by the deep stillness of the night. Not a sound was to be had heard, not a creature to be seen. They I ha seemed to be traversing a vast desert of hea snow. Everything was wrapped in the vot same dazzling uniform, by which the eye dewas almost pained. The light of the moon, w reflected from the thousand points of snow, R sparkling like silver in its rays, was in- thi creased to an intensity which almost s equalled the light of day. The trees of I the forest, along which they now skirted, a stretched out their branches, encased in i sheaths of glittering crystal. At first, the moon reigned alone in the deep blue sky; but now, small fleecy clouds began to appear, every now and then overshadowing her brightness. Presently a low moaning sound began to make itself heard, as if the wind were rising in the depths of the leafless forest. Eric seemed to listen uneasily. and to watch anxiously these ominou signs.

"I hope we shall reach Kronenthal b fore a snow-storm sets in," said Carl; have no desire to be buried in a sno wreath."

"I do not think it will be here so soo answered his companion, "though I pect we shall have it here before l The sky looks a little brighter again! However, I will drive the horses as fa they like to go."

So saying, Eric touched their f slightly with the long lash of the whip, giving them their heads at the time. The noble creatures again bo forward with a speed which promi outstrip all pursuers, snow-storms

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When the rescued ladies, who were eviroke dently sisters, were left alone in the room ving to which they had been conducted, they ined threw themselves into each other's arms, gazed and kissed each other with an affection it, for heightened by the joy of their miraculous go back escape. She who had fainted in the sleigh, s, as he seemed a year or two older than the sister ze. On who had supported her in her arms. She he silver had hair rather darker than that of her increas- sister, but there was a great likeness beOn they tween them; and, except that she was a the noble little taller, a stranger would have been puzzled for a time to distinguish between them. On closer observation, however, he would have found that they were dif ferent, especially in their eyes- those of the tallest being of a deep brown, whilst those of her younger sister were of that beautiful deep blue, which had so fascinanated Eric's gaze.

:he thought she sat behis thoughts ht; she, his ed her from carrying her orm; and now, r he turned to s, swimming in lent gaze. His flashed with an too great for till the light of h the darkness bey stood before the

"Oh, Marie, Marie!" said the eldest to her golden-haired sister, "you must have thought it so cowardly in me to faint."

"No, dear Katrine! I never thought it cowardly. The sight was frightful enough. I certainly did feel, when you had fainted, as if you were dead, and I were left alone in the world-left to the mercy of the horrible wolves. And yet, not alone, either; did I forget you, dear old Schwartz ?" and the beautiful girl, re-kneeling down, flung her arms round the neck of the wolf-hound, who had been thrusting his black nose into her small white hand.

i inhabitants were

red out to inquire gray horses were questioned, every one lf-hound jumped up, Eric, as he handed the high; and amidst the the wolves-the grable hound-the storm h-the snow wreaths;" es were led back to the rescued ladies and the ind, to a room blazing with nial warmth of a comfort

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follow them, but as soon as ed them to the care of the aled the landlord, who, afto him with respect, said, excellency," and vanished. ites, a saddle-horse was led and the landlord, after

"Ah, noble Schwartz! ah, dear Schwartz! brave hound," said Katrine, kneeling in her turn to pat and kiss the delighted animal, whose huge feathery tail swept backwards and forwards on the ground.

"Katrine, do you know," said Marie, rising from beside the dog, "who it was that came to our rescue ?"

"No," said her sister. "I did not see him at first, when the moon shone so brightly, and afterwards as we were in the sleigh with him it was so dark."

"But I saw him well, there was no mistaking him; it was no less a person than our Roman artist; do you remember?

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