Leon remained speechless. There was something in the old man's tone and manner which made his heart bound again. He looked at Edith; she bowed her head, listening with all her ears, but saying nothing. The young man took a sudden resolution: he determined to risk all on one bold cast. Without moving from

his place, and almost closing his eyes, he spoke.

My worthy and respected master, and you, my friend'addressing Edith-' what I have to say, I meant not to have said. So direct a challenge, however, leaves me no alternative. I cannot say many words, but I love your daughter, Meinherr Rosenfelt'

'And'

said Karl, seeing the other hesitated.

'For that reason, I was about to leave '

'I should have thought that a reason for staying,' put in Karl, in his dryest tones.

'Sir!"

'But perhaps my daughter has refused you?" said Rosenfelt slily.

"I have not spoken to her,' replied Leon, who was overwhelmed with astonishment. 'But, sir, I, the son of a respectable jeweller, intended for commerce, it is true, like yourself, have yet no pretensions to aspire to the hand of the daughter of a merchant prince; and feeling this, I wished to go away, before, carried away by my feelings, I risked an avowal of my affection to your daughter.'

'Leon Gondy,' said Karl quietly, 'my father was a poor man, who rose by honesty and industry to vast wealth. My elder brother, if alive, is probably a poor man. You are not poor; you are the son of a respectable well-to-do tradesman; you have received a good education: during the year you have been with me, I have had reason to be much pleased with you. If my daughter is willing to accept you, I shall be very happy, one year hence, to take you as my son-in-law and partner. In fact, if you can settle this between you, I shall take steps to proclaim to the world the immediate union of the houses of Rosenfelt and Gondy.'

Karl bowed his head upon his book once more, and left Leon and Edith to their own thoughts. After a moment's silence, Leon, in a gentle tone, asked if she were inclined to ratify her father's promise.

'I do not know, my friend. I do not wish you to go away; but to decide so important a question so hastily'

Lovers are in general somewhat selfish. The answer of Edith was not exempt from this defect. It had a tinge of that ungenerous tyranny, which, however, is very readily pardoned.

Then I must go, and refuse your father's generous offers.'
At all events, he is more generous than you.'

'Why?'

'To make me answer at once, when the least I should have is a week's reflection.'

'But think of my doubt and anxiety! Besides, your father expects an answer.'

'Tell him, then, that I have always been an obedient child, and that I am not disposed to change my principles,' replied Edith in a very low tone.

'I may then dare to hope, that one day I may call you, Edith Rosenfelt, my wife?'

The girl made no reply; but she listened with evident pleasure to the young man's protestations of affection, and smiled, at last, at some of his lively pictures of the future that awaited them. From that hour there was great joy in the house. Karl was delighted. He now saw a clear prospect of happiness for his child he perceived in Leon all the signs of earnest industry and perseverance; and as he saw him so diligently devoted to his interests, longed for the moment when they should be bound together by irrevocable ties. There was something so frank, manly, and open-hearted in the character of Leon, that Karl already loved him as a son. In the course of a few weeks, it was settled that the marriage should be celebrated when Leon reached twenty years of age.

The sensations of Leon and Edith were pleasant indeed. The world smiled upon them: they were young people nearly of the same age, sensible, affectionate, well suited to each other, and looking forward to a happy marriage, sanctioned by parents and society they had wealth, well-earned and always well-spent, for Karl had taught them the secret of doing much good with their money. He was not a man to lavish gifts indiscriminately, but he never refused assistance to any when it could be really useful and profitable. The future was then bright and sunny, and they went on their way rejoicing, pleasantly, calmly, happy.

III.

It was four months later, and preparations were already making for the wedding, The father of Leon Gondy had signified his satisfaction and delight at the brilliant prospects of his son, and had renewed the promise of a visit at a future time. Leon was working very hard, to have the books of the house in good order; and was pressing business, so as conveniently to have a month's holiday; while Edith was busy seeing to all the domestic details of the house, as well as to the grand affair of the wedding, which in those days was a serious thing, requiring time and reflection. Karl overlooked all, even to the rich costumes which were being made for his daughter.

They dined at mid-day in private, the mass of clerks and others employed in the house having a general table. One day the meal was nearly over, when a servant announced that a young man had just entered the courtyard on horseback, and insisted on

seeing the master of the house instantly. He was, the servant said, in a state of great agitation.

'Let him come in.'

Scarcely had the words passed the merchant's lips, when a youth of about eighteen, sunburnt, dusty, and giving signs of extreme agitation, entered. He was tall, fair, with small features, and an expression of considerable shrewdness.

"I have the honour to address the worthy and respected burgher of Ghent, Karl Rosenfelt?' said the youth, in a shrill, agitated

tone.

'My name is Karl Rosenfelt,' replied the other, much astonished.

'Have you forgotten your elder brother Paul?' continued the youth, whose voice trembled, while his eyes were fixed anxiously on the old man.

'No!' cried Karl, rising, while at the same time he shook with emotion. Speak! what of him? Is he alive? What message bring you from him?'

'My uncle!-my dear uncle!' said the youth, rushing to the other's arms.

'You my nephew! But my brother-where is he? Where is Paul, my long-lost brother?'

The boy held down his head, while drawing forth a thick letter from his pocket-book, or rather a leather pouch that served the purpose. Edith and Leon had risen, and placed themselves one on each side, overwhelmed with surprise.

'Dead!' said the old man sadly, while taking the letter-'dead, and without my seeing him! Poor Paul! But let me read his last words. Sit down, my nephew. Give him dinner, Edith: welcome your cousin. Leon, my friend, do the honours of my house.'

The old man as he spoke withdrew to a window to conceal his emotion, and to read the letter. Leon and Edith made the tired and agitated youth sit down at the table, and gave him to eat and drink. They did not press him much to talk, seeing that he was weary and exhausted. He, however, ate and drank like a man who had travelled much, and then demanded leave to retire to a room, where he could change his bespattered dress and take some rest. Leon accompanied him to his own chamber, and then returned to join the merchant and his daughter.

I will be a father unto him,' said Karl as he entered. 'It seems my brother has suffered much in Mexico and elsewhere, and died six months back, leaving this only child. He has sent him to me, begging that I will provide for him. I will. He writes me to give him my child to`wife'

Your child!' cried Leon.

up

'My friend, that cannot be, I know. But we can make for the non-fulfilment of this wish of my dear brother's, by finding him another wife, and giving him a position in the world.'

‘O yes, my father,' cried Edith : as for me, he must of course

look on me as the affianced wife of another.'

'Thank you, my dear Edith,' replied Leon; but I must leave you; I have a hard day's work before me, and there is no time to lose.'

'And I to the dressmaker's,' said the young girl.

Karl Rosenfelt remained alone. He was glad to be left to his thoughts: he was very sad. His elder brother-that Paul who had been his playmate, his companion, his leader-was gone, was dead; and he had died, too, in a foreign land, with only a boy near him. Karl would have given his fortune at that moment to have had his brother alive, even for one instant, to have pressed his hand; but, at all events, he had his son, and he vowed in his heart to transfer to him the deep and lasting affection which had always attached itself to the memory of his brother. There is no keener or more acute love than that which exists between brothers, nearly of the same age, who have been brought up together, and whom no quarrel has ever estranged. It is one of the most unselfish of all sentiments.

Rosenfelt was sad. He could have wished to have fulfilled his brother's wish in all things. It is true he could make his child wealthy among the wealthy, shower on him gold and all that gold can bring; but he could not give him his child. Why had he been so rash? Why had he given his Edith to a stranger? -a noble boy, it is true, but still a stranger. It would have been so delightful, so pleasant, to have united the cousins. But it could not be. The word he had given was a bond as binding as a triple-sealed parchment-more so; and Karl Rosenfelt rejected even the very thought of breaking off a marriage which had been settled under such happy auspices.

But Karl Rosenfelt went into his office that day very thoughtful and very sad.

IV.

Young Karl Rosenfelt so he was called-appeared towards evening neatly dressed, and evidently completely refreshed. The whole family crowded round him, and asked him a thousand questions, to which he readily replied, speaking with an accent so completely foreign, as to leave no doubt of his having been born out of Flanders. He described his father minutely, bringing tears into his uncle's eyes. He had arrived in Europe in time, for his education, it was clear, had been much neglected. He was so incredibly ignorant as to astonish Leon, who was so very different in character. He seemed, however, modest and well-behaved, and rather won upon the old man and Leon; but Edith did not appear to like him much she seemed to feel by instinct that a great danger was near her. Not that she disliked him. How could

she?-the child of her long-lost uncle; but she rather shrunk from any display of kindness and affection. Her manner was slightly repulsive, and she seemed beforehand to say: Do not attempt to make any advances. It will be in vain.'

Karl was never tired of hearing him speak. He made him relate all he knew of his father's life. He knew not much, having lost his mother when young, and being then left to the care of a quiet family in a village near Mexico city; but he knew that his father had been a soldier, an overseer of silver mines, a speculator in tobacco, and that he had died poor, after writing the letter which he had delivered that morning. He had seen him buried; and, with what money he had, had at once taken his departure for Europe in search of his uncle, whose kind and generous reception he should never forget.

'I have scarcely had time,' said the old man, to introduce you to my future son-in-law, Leon Gondy, an intelligent and good youth, who, as my daughter's husband, will soon be your cousin.' "Ah!' was the sole reply of young Karl, while he looked considerably astonished.

The old man gazed at him curiously, while Leon and Edith interchanged glances.

'He is a rival already,' whispered Leon.

* *།

'No matter; you have nothing to fear,' said Edith quietly..

Your father, continued the merchant, in a tone which did not conceal his deep regret, I know had different wishes. He hoped you would find my daughter free, and that a union between you might reunite those so long parted. But you came too late: such a thing is not to be thought of.'

I am very sorry, my uncle,' said young Karl, his eyes fixed on the ground. I certainly did myself come with this hope; but I should be the last person to wish to separate those who love. I wish my cousin much joy. I think my cousin Leon and I will be great friends.'"

I hope so,' replied Leon gravely

ar

Edith said nothing; she was looking with much sorrow at her father's serious and somewhat melancholy face. She felt an acute pain at her heart. She knew that her parent, under the impulse of his emotion, and influenced by his love for his longlost brother, desired with all his soul that which to her was an impossibility. She was well disposed to like her cousin, as a cousin; but she was sure, that even if she had been free, she could never have accepted him as a husband: she resolved, therefore, to resist firmly any attempt to make her waver in her resolution. She felt strong in her father's consent, her marriage-day fixed, and in the affection of Leon.

Young Karl himself was very thoughtful the greater part of the evening. When his uncle took up his book as usual, he went to a window that looked out on the principal street of Ghent, and appeared there enjoying the lively scene below-in reality,