The Columbian fountain., 1846-01-06


bering his poor father, the collector, and his kind
aunt.
And now commenced frank dialogue. Rode
rick lamented the solitude and joylessness of his
childhood and the early death Of his father 80,
were my father yet alive, how gladly would beg
for him |" and then he gratefully told of his ex-
| cellent aunt.
"And land l." sobbed Wilhelmine, 'swhat
has been my lot? have known no mother, had
no brother sister or aunt. You have at least
had a father, who was yo,w otcn father, but ~
her voice lost itself in a sigh.--They resumed
the subject in deep detection 8They had never
spoken so freely together, and in this mutual
gush Of feeling, nothing was more natural than
that Roderick should take Wilhelmine's hand
and breathe 10, the consciousness Of their mutual
privation, ''Were L but your brotherp"
She looked at him kindly and said, "As
brother, you would have been,ery dear to me. !"
''Let me then he one, )" sighed he, SO earnestly
that she could not deny him.
eyes, Roderick, !" said she, eff you can be my
brother, my true brother, candid, open, honest
as brother should be, you shall find in me a
true sister. have never yet spoken to any one
of my family matters, or heard any one speak
of yours but you. Letit be in confidence between
u.s. Do not forsakeme, andI will ever hereafter
| feel warm interest in your welfare
'.Dear Wilhelmine, sister ~ said Roderiek,
pressing her to his breast, with kiss which she
received from her adopted brother, with sisterly
| love. The kiss. indeed, lasted rather too long
| for brothers. kiss, but we must remember that
| n all their lives, neither had eyer held brother
or sister in their arms, and such rapture was
therefore for the first time very pardonahle.
The begger family experienced the first good
consequences of this new tle.sS RodeTick and
Wilhelmine, arm in arm, walked down to them
and gave each of the little vagabonds, that came
| to meet them, handful of money, without
thinking they did more than discharge sacred
debt. And it seemed to them, as they returned
| to the mansion Of the Lady Govtfness, as if the
| blooming shrubbery reached forth their garlands
to them, and the gentle evening wind at sunset
were but sisterly kiss Of Natur+
In the evening there was a ballgan one should
have seen the brother md sister dance, to under
stand fully the inspiration of sistaly love.
THE RETIcULE.
/ Roderick soon gained, by hisnew relationship
many advantages, which howper, he would
readilyhave foregone for another }rotherly kiss
/ He was often called to the PRESTIGE of the old
sick Duke to speak Of public sahars. Y Rederick
read aloud well, and his sister did not fail to make
known his talent to the Duke, who afterwards
called upon him to read passages from the latest
publications. By these means the serviceable
minister won gradually the favor Of his master,
who finally elevated him to a seat in the privy
council. The courtiers shook their heads with
huge meaning, aud all wondered that the old
Duke, who, in all his life before, had never had
a favorite should have chosen one in his old days
but all bowed the more deeply before the rising
star.
Rodericls gained daily on Wilhelmine's con-
fidence, especially when he told how he had loved
her above all things from their first meeting, and
the great anxiety the cidevant Miss Won Landern
had caused him. And then his sister confessed
with equal frankness how much he had pleased
her on this and that occasion how she had wept
when he went on the embassy, and with what
pleasure she had visited Miss Won Landern to
obtain intelligence from him.
A singular accident disturbed the quiet joy of
their relationship.
The countess was sitting in the coach about to
visit, in company with her new brother, his Sc
rene Highness, the Duke; for the Duke had no
pleasure but in his daughter. The servants shut
the door and the coachman raised his whip, when
Wihelmine cried "Stop !" She had forgotten
I her reticule. Rodetick sprang from the vehicle
and flew up the steps to seek it. Wilhelmine
had scarcely time to tell him, "It lies on the
toilet of the Lady Governess."
4 Roderck went to tho chamber of the Lady
Governess; it was locked ; to the second door !;
il was locked too to the third, with the same
success. At last he fonnd one open. He en-
tered and wandered from room TO room, where
never before one of the uninitiated had been.
Toilets he found in abundance, but no retcule.
!, He passed at length into what appeared to be a
private cabinet 1t was locked indeed, but the
; key was in the door. Papers, accounts, letters,
were, living scattered about, and among them, the
-retcule. He seized it and carried II in tr-
umph to his sister. The coach drove Off
On the way, the Countess wanted her hand
kerchief she drew it from the reticule, and three
or four letters fell out.
1T seems You have secret archives there"
said Rodericl, gathering up the letters. The
Countess protested she knew not how the letters
had got there.
"Shal pnt your sisterly confidence to the
test % asked he, ''Have you courage enough
to let me read those sccrets!'
She smiled consent and eager TO find subject
for playful banter Roderick cast his eyes over
the irst;-became earnest read the second--the
third was astonished and stunned.
ssGracious Countess, were got you these let
ters2"
..For Heavens sake, Roderick, what's the
matter2"
"Where did Your Grace get these lettersW
f.1l G