"That's right, my little bride; we shall not easily find a better umpire," said Wilhelm as he started up, fetched an arm chair, and led his future mother-in-law politely to it, and then returning to his own observed, "Now, who is to state the question?" "Why I to be sure," replied Rosa, assuming an air of mock gravity. "Was it not I who first proposed bringing this matter before so august a tribunal? Prithee, good people, do not attempt to deprive me of the office I depute to myself." As no one interfered, Rosa got up with much dignity, and turning towards Madame M said, "Good mamma and judge, thou who knowest from experience what we have yet to learn, solve me this question: What reliance can be placed on the words and promises of a man?" "Thine is a somewhat ticklish question, my child," replied her mother merrily. "So far as I have had the opportunity of observing, men may be divided into at least twenty different classes, all distinguished from each other by certain characteristics; but as it would occupy too much time to describe them all, I will content myself with selecting two of those most commonly met with. The first of them consist of a mixture of fire and water, which two component parts are constantly at war with each other, and by turns gain an ascendancy: when it happens that the word or promise of a man thus constituted is given during the flaming period, or in other words when his imagination is excited, then there is every reason to fear that the intensity of the fire will cause it to consume itself; but should it be given during the water solstice, when the mind is clouded with the vapours of depression, it thaws and floats away unnoticed, like boundless, and will endure through time and eternity." "Too vehement by half!" said Madame M-, shaking her finger in merry menace at her intended son-in-law. "Take care of the water solstice! Now, Rosa, for your next complaint." "That relates to Leopold, Mamma; he presumes to take Wilhelm up, to declare that no one can answer for his own heart; that cir cumstances might arise which would lessen his regard for Julie; that he might become jealous, and should like to shut his wife up in a cabinet, where no one could look on her but himself." Well, I prefer the latter opinion to the former, although Leopold too exaggerates a little." 66 "And lastly, mamma, Wilhelm says that he should be proud to possess a wife whom others envied him; and he will permit me to listen to all the compliments people like to pay to me." "That is wrong, very wrong!" exclaimed the mother, and her playful tone gave place to a sober earnestness. That was not well said, Wilhelm, or well thought either. A man who cannot himself estimate the value of his wife, but requires the opinion of the world to sanc tion and uphold his choice, is of a weak and wavering disposition; and he who would set up his wife as an idol for the foolish and the flatterer to come and bow to, exposing himself to ridicule, and her to insult, and merely for the gratification of a paltry vanity, is mad. My judgment is, that Julie has most cause to be satisfied with the opinions of her lover, and that Wilhelm spoke thoughtlessly." Wilhelm crimsoned up even to the roots of his hair, and was about to make a rather sharp reply, when a carriage drove up, and all flew to see who the new comers were. "Welcome! welcome! dear aunt Ebba,” cried both the maidens as they led a stout, goodhumoured looking woman towards the sofa, and vied with each other who should untie her bonnet, take off her shawl, and arrange her cap and front, which had been somewhat disordered by the journey. 66 There, there, girls, do not smother aunt Ebba, but turn about and see what guest I have brought you." While Madame M- and her sister ex changed embraces and greetings, the maidens turned round, and received and acknowledged the bow of a young man whose manners, style, and appearance seemed to announce him a member of " the second class." "My husband's brother's son, the Baron Von H," said aunt Ebba, introducing him to her sister, who immediately presented him to her daughters and to the young men. After all aunt Ebba's things had been taken to the guestchamber, tea served, and orders given for supper, all assembled together in the salon in lively chat and concord; only aunt Ebba's cat, without which she never travelled, formed an exception to the general harmony, and refused to be friends with the great dog, but set up her back, spit, and every now and his corpse had just been carried into the hotel then, watching her opportunity, struck him, when we arrived." spitefully with her little white paw. Thy daughters are very pretty and well haved maidens," whispered Madame Hher sister. beto "They are industrious and domesticated," was the mother's reply, as she glanced proudly at them. 66 Ah, if my Elizabeth had lived she would have been just such another!" "Well to be sure, what an exquisitely beautiful place Wermland must be !" exclaimed Rosa laughing, as the young Baron described his home in the most glowing colours. "I knew that it was famous for its forests and iron mines, but that it was an actual Paradise I had not the least idea." "Believe me, I did not mean to give you any such impression; but I love my native place, and hence my description may be somewhat partial; not but I confess that, in my opinion, Engelfors is a veritable Eden." "Which only lacks an Eve to render it perfect," observed Wilhelm. That's true, and I am now on a voyage of discovery, hoping to light upon a better half!'" "Permit me to play father confessor, and inquire if you have yet seen any one worthy of becoming the future mistress of Engelfors?" said Leopold. "Alas, if I confess truly, I must own that as yet I have not found a fair one who could tempt me to resign my liberty, and taste of the apple of knowledge.' "What in the name of goodness art thou talking about, my dear Reinhold?" said Madame H "Of that which is most likely to come into the head of a young man who suddenly finds himself among people bent on matrimony, dear aunt; but, apropos des bottes, have you not a melancholy tale to relate?" "Ah, yes! I had quite forgotten. And it will not prove agreeable news, the place being so near." "What do you mean? To what do you allude?" was now the general question. Did you know that the small-pox was raging in Kirchspiele?" "No, dear aunt! We were not at church last Sunday, and have not heard the least rumour of it." "Heaven grant that to you it may be no more than a rumour. Passing through there, we stopped to water the horses at Mark's Hotel, and there heard a very shocking relation. The daughter of the house had been affianced to the son of a wealthy farmer at Wik; a few weeks ago she sickened with the small-pox, and died. The intended bridegroom scarcely quitted the house during her illness, and at her death could with difficulty be torn from her body. After the funeral he had appeared somewhat calmer; but yesterday morning he was found in the milldam. The poor fellow had drowned himself; "That is as it should be," said Wilhelm ; "such is the mighty power of love. He loved her more than life, and therefore could not survive her. To me this appears perfectly natural: I can understand his feelings;" here his eyes rested on Rosa with a passionate devotion in their gaze. "Those who truly love, love not for a day, a month, a year, but even unto death!" He looked around in the excitation of his highly-wrought sensibility, and marking a general smile, continued-"It is most strange that you all should seem inclined to ridicule that feeling which is the purest and noblest of which man is capable-the best gift of the Creator to his creatures-that which calls forth all our highest attributes-which can make a sunshine in the desert spots of this world's trials, and which is in fact enjoined in the scriptures, which say, 'Love ye one another."" No one smiled at this warm defence, vehemently uttered as it was; Rosa gently pressed his hand, and the subject was changed. After supper they walked in the garden, the lovers of course sauntering away in pairs, and so aunt Ebba and her nephew were left together, Madame M having declined coming out. 66 Well, and what thinkest thou of my nieces, good Reinhold?" inquired the old lady. "I am delighted with them, dear aunt. Julie is somewhat too quiet exactly to please me: a little more life would improve her: but Rosa is enchanting!" "She is, indeed, my boy: she is a perfect angel! And Julie would be just as gay, were there not reasons for her stillness. Between thee and me, her intended, who really is a very nice fellow, is a little given to jealousy, and hence arises Julie's quietness. He does not like to see his bride talking and laughing with other men." "Well, I do not altogether blame him. But methinks the other is not that way inclined. He is very amusing, with his boastings, and his romantic devoted attachment." "I do not like him a bit, Reinhold: depend on it he is a weathercock, and may be blown any way. And as for his conversation, it is downright folly. How my sister, who used to be a sensible_woman, could say 'Amen' to such a match, I cannot conceive." "Do you not think he will make Rosa happy, then? Did we live in the times of chivalry, I could feel it in my heart to break a lance in honour of her beauty!" "What is that, Reinhold?-folly is surely catching. There, now, do not tread on the flower-beds! I am ashamed of you! And remember, covet not thy neighbour's goods!'" 6 "Good aunt, I should have said to you be fore we came, 'lead me not into temptation,'" replied the young baron, smiling: "but see, here we all are together again!" The next day the whole party went to church; nothing was spoken of but the small-pox: three bodies were already buried; as many more were to be interred in the afternoon, and ten persons were prayed for. "How very sad!" exclaimed Madame Mas she was cutting up the toast for the soup. "Heaven protect my girls, and all of us. I feel very uneasy." The whole party appeared to partake of her melancholy, for the sound of laughter and merry converse was not heard: even aunt Ebba's good-humoured face was clouded. On the Monday, Leopold and Wilhelm set off for their homes, neither of them best pleased at leaving a clever, handsome, young man, like Reinhold, domesticated with their intended brides. and Wilhelm followed, with loitering steps and a heavy heart, thinking to himself that love was a very fine thing, so long as all went smooth, and no sacrifices were required; and that to die for love, or even run the risk of it, was better in theory than in practice: in short, his usual exaltation of feeling on that subject was very considerably lowered; still, he felt convinced that, should his "beloved Rosa" die, he should be immeasurably grieved that such a loss would surely drive him mad! But suppose she should recover, and only be pitted with the small-poxonly-oh, heaven! how could he drag through life with an ugly wife? This was too frightful a martyrdom even to be thought of! Rosa's beau But very few days had elapsed when, one tiful cheeks, the seat of lilies and roses, to be evening, Julie complained of headache and defaced by pocks-her ivory brow scarred, her heaviness about the eyes. With anxious haste snowy lids all covered, too, and perhaps those the terrified mother prepared a detached room long lashes destroyed! Oh, such afflictions refor her beloved child, and forbade Rosa to go quired more than human strength to endure! near her sister, but desired her to keep on the How he pitied himself at the bare thought! He upper floor. Poor Julie lay all-night in a burn- | could not love a woman thus disfigured; yet he ing fever, and on the surgeon's seeing her on the must marry her for pity's sake. And then, when following morning, he pronounced the disease he went into society with her, no one would to be the small-pox. Madame M- wrote to envy him-no, men would not even waste a inform Leopold of it, and he flew to Hillinge to glance on her; but people would say, “How his suffering bride and her anxious mother. noble, how generous of young L to unite Two days afterward Rosa was obliged to take to himself to such a fright, merely because of some her bed, and now the mother anxiously went former engagement!" But this could not repay from room to room to wait on each dear child by him, for in time they would forget this, and then turns. A second message was despatched to what remained? With such thoughts as these town to inform Wilhelm of the dangerous state flitting, like clouds hurried on by the wind, of his bride; but evening had set in before he across his mind, it is not to be wondered at that made his appearance, pale and agitated. "How Wilhelm's steps were slow, and that Madame are they? What is your opinion?" he said to M had to wait for him. The latch was Leopold, who was crossing the hall with a cool- gently turned, and he stood in the room, whose ing drink for Julie. "Who is that for? You half-light and smell of physic appeared to him surely do not venture into the sick room?" like messengers from Esculapius, calling him "Most certainly I do! What do you sup-to appear before his judgment seat! He pose I came for, if not to aid our mother-in-law in the fulfilment of her anxious and sad task?” breathed with difficulty, for his lips were closed from fear of inhaling the infection. 66 'Come nearer, dear Wilhelm," said Rosa sweetly. "Gracious heavens! how pale and altered you are! You must not grieve so, love; indeed you must not. I shall soon be better again. Come, sit you down in mamma's armchair." Yes, yes; but when there is danger of infection, surely one need not run wilfully into it!" Leopold smiled, and it was not difficult to mistake the thoughts expressed by that smile. "And my beloved, my precious, my angelic Rosa, how is she? I must see her; yes, I must: it is my duty to go to her, even though it cost Trembling at the touch of that little hand, me my life! I confess, brother Leopold, that which before he could not clasp in his too long, my nature that unfortunately-that, that-but Wilhelm took the seat she assigned him, and perhaps her attack is slight?" gazed anxiously in her face: it was flushed with "As yet the eruption has not made its appear-fever, but as yet betrayed no sign of pock. ance; but I fear that in a few days she will be "Perhaps," thought he," she will escape;" and as much covered with it as my poor suffering Julie is." Wilhelm sighed deeply: he sought Madame M to request a permission-which he would have been very well satisfied if she had refused-namely, to be allowed to see Rosa. He found her somewhat hurt at his having suffered so much time to elapse before showing himself; and some allusion to "fine words, which meant nothing," met his ear. He listened to her reproaches with the utmost patience, and only replied by some imperfect excuses, as business, &c., &c. "Well, it might have been so," she said. "If y f you wish to see Rosa, follow me;" this consoling idea enabled him to meet her arch glance with something like a smile. "Wilhelm," she said, after a short and thoughtful silence, "you are not comfortable; you are afraid: if so, you must not, on any consideration, remain here; pray leave me at once!" "No, no, my beloved Rosa! how can you imagine such a thing? How can you think that I can exist apart from you, and you in danger? The uncertainty would drive me mad!" These were very fine words, and very emphatically pronounced; but still there was a something in the tone of the voice, and the expres sion of the countenance, which did not satisfy Rosa. "You are not frank with me, Wilhelm," | almost a welcome thought, for it cut the knot of she said. "It is no crime to dread infection: do as I bid you; go home, and if I should get worse, mamma will send and let you know." There was a struggle in Wilhelm's breast, something, too, of shame in his face, as he replied, "Well, dearest Rosa, if you wish it, if you feel anxious for me, I will not be obstinate, but will quit you; but believe me, absent or present, I shall weary heaven with prayers that you may recover speedily, and remain unblemished by this fearful disease." Very shortly afterwards young L- was seated in his gig, not a little pleased to be speeding away from the abode of pain and disease. The daily messenger that he sent brought sad tidings, and on the fourth day Rosa was said to be so ill that her life was despaired of. "I suppose I must go," he soliloquized; "love and honour require this sacrifice of feeling: yes, I must, I should despise myself if I did not." That same evening he reached Hillinge, just as the doctor came out of the door, and arresting his steps as he was about to mount his horse, said, "How is my bride, doctor?" "Badly, very badly!" was the reply. With God's help I hope to save her life, but her beauty is destroyed for ever!" 66 The doctor departed, and Wilhelm stood as if rooted to the ground. "Her beauty is destroyed for ever!" he murmured again and again, and at length entered the house, and went up-stairs. Leopold met him, and led him to the chamber door, whispering, Collect yourself; you will, 'tis true, behold a mere wreck of beauty; but remember that your bride had far greater charms than those of mere exterior. And permit me to hint, Wilhelm, that she has your absence and neglect severely; so now, by proving that you loved her for herself alone, you may set all to rights, and show that your words and actions are in unison." felt "Permit me to observe," said Wilhelm; but Leopold's looks flashed scorn, and he interrupted him with—"This is no time for senseless observations-mere empty words! You must act!" and, opening the chamber-door, he pushed him in, and closed it behind him. Gracious God! and is that Rosa?" exclaimed Wilhelm, when his eyes became accustomed to the semi-obscurity of the room, and he discerned the frightfully disfigured countenance of the maiden, who lay stretched on the bed, and feebly extended her hand towards him, saying, "I am altered in features, dear Wilhelm; but my heart is still the same." All The unhappy lover cast one long agonized look on her, and then muttering-" Farewell, farewell! oh, my heart is riven asunder!" rushed from the room and down stairs, sprang into his gig and was gone like lightning. those intense feelings-all that devoted affection which was to endure throughout time and eternity, whither were they flown? Only a cold sense of honour bound him to his unfortunate bride, and that was but a weak defence against all the rest. "She may not live," was now difficulties. A month passed away, and Wilhelm : "DEAREST ROSA,-Much cause as you have to be angry with me, you cannot be more so than I am with myself. Yet were I to deceive you I must hate myself even more than I now do. God is my witness how severe has been the struggle in my heart before I could prevail upon myself to take this step; you will see by my returning the betrothal ring to what I allude. Judge me not too harshly, dearest Rosa! I am weak, vain, egotistical, and I feel, alas! only too deeply, that I shall never be otherwise. When I professed to love you more than myself-even unto death-I dreamed not that your lovely angelic countenance-oh! the thought rends my heart-could become thus disfigured, that the time would ever arrive when I could not look upon you without pain. But it was fitting that I should be punished for my idolatrous worship, and I am most bitterly, in thus finding my idol destroyed, my every feeling of bliss and pride quenched. "I seek not to excuse my conduct: there is but one excuse for it-the mutability of all our feelings-that fact which I used to deny. Forgive me, dear Rosa, if you can, the grief which I now cause you. it is better thus at once to part than to drag on a life of repentance, grief, and discontent together. "WILHELM L-." But "Yes, yes, it is better at once to part!" murmured Rosa, as a few hot tears fell upon this 66 letter. Oh, Wilhelm! I deemed thee not so weak: where are now thy vows, thy promises of eternal fidelity! Yet why these tears? a man who can thus love merely the outer shell, and care nothing for the kernel, is not worthy one And sigh. I will conquer this weakness." opening her desk she wrote "WILHELM,-Thy love could not withstand one solitary test. I thank thee that thou hast opened my eyes in time. Thou art right: it is better that we should part at once, than drag on a life of regret and grief together. Adieu Wilhelm ! forgive your fickleness, and will endeavour to forget it. "Rosa." In this she enclosed her ring, and despatched it. The next day Wilhelm set out on a long journey, in hopes that change of scene would restore his tranquillity. Summer had passed away, autumn had followed, and the last shades of green were rapidly vanishing from the trees; the wind had begun to assume its bleak wintry sound and feel, as it whirled the yellow leaves around in eddies. Young Lhad returned but little the better for his jaunt; no where had he seen any one to compare with his Rosa as she once was, and he sorrowed for her as if she were dead; for was not that beauty he so loved dead? A note lay upon the table; it contained an invitation to the wedding of Leopold F. and Julie M. which was to take place on the 21st of Oct. "And this is the 20th" he murmured, and then throwing himself back in his chair, lighted his Meerscham, and, enveloped in gauzy clouds of smoke, endeavoured to puff away the memories of the past, the visions of what might have been, which would come thronging round him. But they came but more vividly, and suddenly he exclaimed, "I will go. Who knows but that the effects of that horrid disease may have worn off? At any rate, I shall see those lovely eyes, and that arch smile, and hear that sweet voice; and perhaps I may be able to reconcile myself to all the rest yet." It never entered into his mind, that perhaps Rosa might not choose to reconcile herself to what had passed; and impatiently did he count the hours until he reached Hillinge, and was ushered into the salon where the guests were already assembling. Chance placed him next to the young Baron H, and, after they had exchanged a few words, he said, almost involuntarily and with some feeling of jealousy, "Have you seen Rosa?" "I have not had that honour since she was so ill," replied Reinheld, coldly. "They say that she is very much altered," observed Wilhelm. "I heard that she had suffered from the smallpox, but although I acknowledged, as all who beheld her must, the loveliness of her face, yet to me the mind was yet more lovely; mere personal beauty, if not lighted up by mental acquirements, and those even more precious attributes, amiability and sterling worth, has no charm in my eyes, and while these remain, and in such luxuriance as they are displayed in Madamoiselle Rosa, she will ever be most fascinating." At this moment the doors opened, and the bride and bridegroom entered, followed by their attendant cortège. The countenance of Leopold expressed happiness and content, and his eyes, in which beamed the purest love and joy, were directed towards his bride, who turned towards him a face beaming with grateful and devoted affection, but so sadly scarred as scarcely to bear any resemblance to the Julie of old; and yet it had such beauty of expression, and was so lighted up by all the feelings of joy, gratitude, humility, and affection that crowded her heart, as to be almost angelic. Wilhelm's crimsoned with shame and repentance as he met Leopold's glance, and his eyes instantly sought Rosa. Could he believe his senses? Yes, there she stood more lovely than ever, no scar marred the perfection of her features, no shade dimmed the lustre of her complexion. He very nearly had uttered a cry of joy as he beheld her, and invo luntarily he caught the Baron by the arm, who, turning his enraptured gaze from the same object, somewhat impatiently demanded what he wanted. Wilhelm marked when Rosa, withdrawing herself from the other bridesmaids, quitted the room, and followed her. "My own, my ever beloved!" he exclaimed, "what torments have you not caused me! But the past pain does but heighten the present bliss of thus finding you the same angelic being I so worshipped," and he would have clasped her to his breast. But repulsing him with gentle firmness, she replied "Not so, Wilhelm; you rejected me, and all is over between us." "Good God! Rosa, you are not in earnest? you have merely done this to try me?" "I am in earnest, and I did it to try you, Wilhelm. I was willing to test that love which you vaunted so highly, and so persuaded my sister to assume my character on your second visit, well knowing that your fears would prevent you from coming near enough to discover the deceit. Mamma, Leopold, and the Doctor were all in my secret, and of them all I alone hoped and believed that you would pass victorious through the ordeal. You know how my confidence in you was justified." Wilhelm stood pale and self convicted. “Dearest Rosa," at length he began, "I was wrong, I acted thoughtlessly, selfishly, cruelly; yet believe me that I have never since felt happy: my presence here now is a testimony of my repentance. Have mercy on me, and permit me once more to hope." "No, no, Wilhelm: we can no more be to each other what we once were. Beauty is perishable, and the love which depends solely on that is held by a frail tenure; a few hours may sweep it away for ever. But in future weigh well your words, and let them be only such as you can act up to. Now we will, if you please, return to the company." Wilhelm knew the firmness of Rosa's character too well to cherish further hope; he took her hand, and silently pressed it to his lips, and while his heart breathed a long farewell, a treacherous tear fell upon its snowy surface. In another moment he was gone, and Rosa saw him mounting his horse. "Poor Wilhelm," she murmured, "may this lesson be productive of future happiness to you." Lost in thought, she stood there until a pleasing and well-known voice said, "And cannot my fair cousin waste a thought on poor me?" A slight blush heightened her colour as she looked on the speaker, and replied, "Who can say when or where thoughts are most wasted!” |