The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-12

worthy OF his ove, and he took no pains
70 eheek the gPwth Of the Seeding plant
ell by this COW 3ction. The utmost. how
ever, he could gather from his intercourse
with her was, tiat she did not hate him,
Ihis was the Hrdict of his calmer and
truer hours; BIT naturally enough. he
permitted the lelusion to creep in, that
she evinced prtiality towards him.
ihis he dreaded to forfeit. Alexander.
with a world tdgain, was braver than
Alexander with world to lose. This
thought destroyel the spontaneity of Helm
richs action; h, was anxious to please.
fearful lest he shsuld d;splease; and, thus
fettered, he lost he power and independ-
ence which wouh have most effectuallv
charmed the girl he loved.
The night pretious to his conversation
with Fred, Heini:h attended the periodi-
ca cal meeting of tie Sonntags-geseflschaft.
Three or four of the highest families of
Carburg, few IF the professors of the
university, and anumber of the older stu
dents, formed the core of this society, each
member Of which could invite as MANY
guests as he pleased. On Sunda even
ings, once fortnight, the society came
together. Plays, charades, and dancing
fllied up the time until twelve o'clock. at
which hour the meeting usually separated.
On the night in question, the lady above
described, whom we shall hereafter call
Helen, was also present. Heinrich did
not pay her his usual attention on this oc-
casion, for doubt had insinuated itself
into his mind rs to whether it was apreea-
ble to her. Before supper, however, he
summoned resolution to ask her if she
would permit him to lead her to the table
She replied that she was engaged, and he
retired accordingly. There was nothing
new in the fact of lady's being engaged,
the circumstance had occurred to him n
hundred times before, but he accepted il
AS an evil omen in his present state of
mind. He saw Helen led to the table by
Herr Crick, n gentleman whom Tennyson
might have had in his eye when he penned
the Character" Heinrich was one of
the few who had pierced the enamel which
surrounded this person, and found an in
trguer within; and, though he had strong
faith in the capacity Of the maiden to dis
tinguish true from false, he nevertheless
would have rather seen her in any other
company than that Of Herr Crick.
Dancing was resumed after supper. At
~. Gin period Of d - :. full
oi little knots oT'np6on, having various de-
vices, was placed in the middle of the
room. The ladies were led in turn TO the
basket; each chose knot and presented
1t to some one of the gentlemen standing
round, who took the !giver's hand and
danced with her round the room. These
little knots were often messengers of plea
sure and Of fhope-sometimes the contrary.
Helen was led to the basket, she chose a
knot, and approaching the portion Of the
ring where Heinrich stood, gave ito
Herr Crick who stood at his side.
Up to this moment the image of the
maiden had lain like a bright daguerreo-
typo upon his brain. A canker now at
tackled it. and the bliss of contemplating
II was no moro. He had sense enough TO
know that this was subjective phenome-
non, that the maiden had not changed.
but had merely revealed to him the peril
OF the dream in which he had indulged.
There was steadiness and decision about
her action which banished the thought
that II was the result Of levity. "She is
right" he thought. ~ have been fool
and coxeomb, and now the penalty has
come" A stroke Of calamity is often ac-
eompanied by psychological results the re-
verse OF those which might be anticipated.
IL was so in the present case. Heinrich
mingled with his companions, none knew
the nature of the change that had sudden
ly came upon him, and il surprised even
himself He did not culver; LIE was as
r'gid as n rock. His brain became clear
and his glance concentrated. He felt a
sudden accession Of intellectual power.
enabling him rs it were to crush in an in
slant problel:s which under ordinary cir
cumstances, he might have nibbled at for
months. Nor was it in the energy Of des-
pair which thus took possession Of him :;
he never once contemplated the thought
Of suicide. He confronted the fact of his
position valiantly, and the swelling of his
heart seemed only to exalt him into clear
or day. ...
On the evening of the next day, Helm
rich and his friend Fred sat together In
the room Of the former, and carried on the
dialogue with which we have introduced
our narrative.
lido not blame her." continued Helm
rich, "and when use the term ignis ia.
taas don't mean TO apply Il to her. The
thing was my own creation solely. | col
lected her words and looks and Urged
them with my own hopes. Like fellow
who sets out with theory, and then
hunts for facts to support it, instead of first
waiting humbly for the fact, and placing
it at the foundation. have had nv the.
ory-bight and beautiful enough, but
now In ruins. Sac, however, may Danish
uneaAiness from her mind; shall see her
again, aud shew her that her hints have
been accepted. Helm Himmell, she has
no spaniel at her feetl Fred, my dea.
fellow II hlaaa tha esods that a., !. -