A German Pompadour

of sound, with

shadow in a

make God

leadings tak

long our spirits

death tender a

Bourke

he events of the previous evening. Her reverie was interrupted by Madame de Ruth who arrived, as usual, in a cloud of her own words. She embraced Wilhelmine affectionately, exclaiming: 'Never was there so great a victory! One battle and the country is ours! The hero at your feet, my dear! Did I not say that you had a great future before you? Ah! the Geyling! Ha! ha! ha! what a face she made when his Highness led you out on to the balcony, and I asked her if she thought it convenable for you! Ha! ha! ha! she looked sour indeed, and she screeched at me in her peahen voice: "Mademoiselle de Gr?venitz seems to be a lady of experience; she can guard her own young vir

er hands. 'Poor Madame de Geyli

my child! Ah!' and she caught Wilhelmine by the wrist; 'you pity her? because she has lost the Duke's affe

st time. She was angry, and yet there was an immense gladness in her heart. Her eyes were wet

d, she took Wilhelmine's hand and said gently: 'God give you joy, my child. There, there-I am a

and, bending, kissed the

, be my friend; I shall nee

will be your friend. Do you know that I had a little girl twenty years ago? She would have been just your age now, had she lived, and p

, and, rising hastily, too

lizabetha resided at the castle, most of the courtiers had retired to the country and Stuttgart was more than usually dull. Stafforth had accompanied the Duke to Urach, so Wilhelmine remained alone with Madame de Stafforth. T

ess, is an almost tangible presence at moments, and seems to blight the beauty of all things. This Wilhelmine felt in those stifling days at Stuttgart. Madame de Stafforth's moth-like personality wearied her. Madame de

uchess received her with amiable indifference, and the young woman stood sile

she felt a hatred growing in her he

morning air after the long days of oppressive heat which she had endured. A fancy took her to wander in the Rothwald, and she walked briskly along, up the dusty country path which led to the wood on the hill. The sun had risen, and even at that early hour the heat was so great that once or twice Wilhelmine almost turned homewards; however, the thought of the cool shade of the beech-trees in the forest drew her, and she pressed onward. At length she reached the edge of the wood, and, turning, she contemplated the steep hill which she had climbed from the town. The rough country road wound like some white riband through the green vineyards which lay between Stuttgart and the Rothwald. A light breeze sprang up and stirred the long, lush grass of the field which bordered the shadow of the trees. There is no part of a forest more beautiful than the line where wood begins and meadow ends; it is as the lip of the forest breathing forth in a fragrant kiss of poesy some mystery of silent dells and fairy's haunts, which it hints of but does not quite betray. Wilhelmine mused on this; she was gifted with a delic

ed a leaf of an overhanging beech-branch; it was intolerable. All those people would ridicule her! Leaning her head in her hand, she pressed her fingers against her eyes to shut out the sunlight, but it lingered in her eyeballs, and against the blackness she saw dancing rays of blinding light. A feeling of delightful drowsiness was coming over her-a far-away feeling. Presently she raised her head from her hands, and once more contemplated the peaceful wood. What did she care for

s redouble

ais être a

eux tro

heureux

un dés

rreur est

dois p

ue j

plus souffr

, and itself deserving to be worshipped in reverent devotion. During the song Wilhelmine had not heard the sound of approaching footsteps, nor did she observe how a hand pushed aside some branches not far from where she sat, and a man's head and shoulders appeared. She leaned back on the moss for a moment's rest, and then springing up recommenced to sing. She stood very straight and tall, her hands locked together behind her, like a schoolgirl reciting a lesson; somehow this childlike attitude added by its simplicity to the woman's dignity. Her head was h

impetuously on his knees before Wilhelmine, he raised the hem of her gown to his lips in a

urmured. 'Ah! Phi

nsurprising it seemed to her that he should be kneeling the

d fell on his shoulder. His hand sought hers, h

the words like a prayer

had forgotten me!' He started at her ges

bition. He poured out to her his life's history, all his dreams of brilliant feats of arms, the raising of his duchy to a kingdom; he told her of his bitter disappointment when he found these ambitions were incomprehensible to the Duchess Johanna Elizabetha; of how, gr

have been fighting with my thoughts ever since. Beloved! I have nothing to offer you-you a

e touched her lips and vanish

, and drew her towards him. One thick curl of hair had fallen forward on her neck, h

w her, unresisting, into his arms. '

urst forth into a