The Nameless Castle

e was debarred from making direct inquiries concerning her, or from hearing the current gossip of the neighborhood, he learned only that abou

ing was properly attended to. Very often she rode on horseback, or drove in a light wagon, to look about her estate. She had arranged an extensive dairy, and paid daily visits to her stables. She did not seem aware that an attentive observer constantly watched her with his telescope from the tower of the Nameless Castle

that the lady who took up a residence anywhere should call on the ladies of the neighborhood-if only to leave a card with the servant at the door. The baroness had omitted this ceremony, which proved that she either did not know o

n without

ed something about her which

the vice-palatine's unpleasant visit to the castle. The young man wrote to say that he had passed his examination, and that wh

l valid. Therefore, it was only necessary to secure the naturalization documents, and to purchase a plot of ground on the shore of the lake. The young lawyer arranged these matters satisf

h a high fence of stout planks, engaged a gardener, a

o open, he said to Marie, one balmy, sunshin

h the park, along the freshly gravele

d, opening the gate. "Now you

e maid clap her hands with delight, and h

he clung to his arm

ie? Are you not pleas

hink it b

hy do y

nnot thank yo

ve already

words. Tell me, can

; we ar

in many years God's free sunlight illumined her lovely features. What those featu

but Ludwig laid a gently restraining hand on hers, and said: "Leave your face uncovered, Marie; no one can see it here; and ever

at day she had one more pleasure: the garden, a free sight of the sky, the warmth of the sunlight-enjoyments

sixteen-year-old girl might begin the study of history. At this age she would already become interested in descriptions of national customs, in ar

learned discourses, and even neglected to learn her lessons. For this he was frequently obliged to reprove her. This was a sort o

interest-the glorious deeds of heroism performed by St. Louis, and was tracing on the map the heroic king's memorab

you writin

him the sheet of pape

udwig,

ncere gaze met his own. She was not ashamed of what she had written, or

s. "Don't I love you as the fakir loves his Brahma-as the Cart

nd going to her own room, where she began to play with her cats

ip of paper containing the words, "De

ow, however, there was a certain fascination in bringing near to him with his telescope the woman with whom he had exchanged only written communication. If he wa

and foot, was the lock upon his lips. He must make n

only seat himself at the window of his tomb, and

th her wide-rimmed straw hat. Now she stops; she seems to be looking for some one. Now her lips open; she is calling some one. Her form is quite near, but her voice stops ov

he phantom of the object-glass, but from a

d, unable to say a word. Marie, however, did not wait

oking at through

, the little maid had taken his seat, and was gazing, w

revealed by the telescope-the beautiful woman over yonder amid

ossession of her. The lengthened features, the half-opened lips, the contracted brows, the ha

beautiful woman upon whose phenomenal charms her Lud

against his lips, and turned again to the telescope

hed her lips. She seized Ludwig's hand, and exclai

rue, after all! You did

ou see?" a

er with the beautiful lady. She called to him, and he came walking on his hands and feet. Now he is standing upright. How ridiculous the poor thing looks in his red clothes!

round Ludwig's neck, and began to sob. Her warm tears moist

d sobbing, and smil

Ludwig? I will come only when you ask me. And to-morrow we will resume

heerily, down the tower stairs; and the whole day