Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-10-20

band; but ere he can tell you he loves
you, he must lose the recollection Of a
certain purse filed with gold
Yes. that gold. that purse. said
Helena. i knew well that was the
cause OF your cruel conduct; but |
have never touched IL since: il is
thcre--'
Without finishing the sentence, she
ran to an old trunk. drew forth the
purse. and, raising the window, threw
il into the Rhine, which boiled anil
dubbed beneath the house.
Now, said Helena, you see there
no longer remains any motive for your
not loving me-
4 see that you have thrown your
money into the unyielding waves, but
| do not see how that prodigality ex-
plains away the strange letter which |
now possess
What letter?' demanded Helena,
half breathless.
This letter, written by the same
hand that signs all the official docu-
ments-this letter, which / found in the
identical purse which you have cast in
TO the deep
"A letterl' repeated Helena, and
from the Princol Obi Fritz, that let
ter was not for me-
Speak again that assurance, my be-
loved Helena. Tell me, swear 10 mo,
those words were not addressed TO
you, exclaimed the fearfully agitated
husband.
AS hope to sec God. said Helena,
4 know not the Prince. nor have ev.
or seen him. That purse was sent to
me by my godmOther, Helena of
Bromsvig.
Your godmotheris, then
MY godmother. and the Prince is
my godfather by proxy. II this has
been fault, il scarcely merited so
cruel punishment ae you have iniiic-
ted, said the weeping Helena.
"Then it was not to you thisor this
letter was sent by the Princc?' inqui-
red Fritz.
1t was not to me, but for me, re-
piled Helena, 'in consequence of my
godmother having asked him for for
tune for her god-child.'
Then it was not owing to your innu-
ence that l have been thus decorated
and promotod|
No: but it may, perhaps, be owing
to the influence Of my godmother,' re-
piled Helena.
Fritz, overcome by his contending
feelings and his disgust at his own
rash conduct, gave himself up TO the
widest reproaches. The caresses of
his beloved bride soon. restored him,
and thev quickly forgot in their aifec-
ton the remembrance Of their suffer-
ings.
Nothing was now wanting orender
those united lovers supremely blessed,
but the prospect Of n means Of subsis-
tence. Helena had been unable TO at
tend TO the occupation Of straw.plait-
ing since the flight of her husband;
and Fritz, from being SO long n sol
der, was now become incapable Of any
other occupation. The five hundred
ducats sustained them for some time,
but their resources soon became dried
up.
One morning finding themselves
without fire. bread, or means Of pro-
viding it. Fitz began to think seri-
ouslp Of diving into the river. doubt
less for Tic purpose Of seeking IL sold
which ais wife had thrown th,r.-
Having arrived at the bank, at the
moment he was about precipitating
himself into its waters, his eyes me-
chanically turned towards the oppo-
site side, and he perceived upon the
quay a bill posted, upon which was
wriiton:r-
Fond IN Me water, at this spot, q
purse containing ten thousand golden
forms. The gunner Of the ADORE shall
receive Il, by applying 10 Conrad Lad'
wig. Fisherman. FauJoarg NoenG
This inscription suspended the
act Of suicide which Fritz had mcdita-
ted.
lie directly took the road to Lud-
wigs residence, and there was no diff
ficulty in getting the honest fisherman
to restore his lost treasure.
From this day Fritz realized his
first dreams of greatness, by installing
his beautiful bride behind the long
thought of ebony counter. Happiness
soon restored TO Helena her wonted
beauty. In short time their estab
lishment became the fayorite rendez-
vous Of all lh. youth Of the place, and
our hero was not. longsin amassing a
fortune.
One morning as they were engaged
in attending as usual, their numerous
customers. a carriage, the appoint
ments of which were more than ordina-
rily splendid, was drawn up before the
door. A gentlemen descended, cloth
ed IN tho deepest mourning, and at
tended by half a dozen liveried domes-
tics, entered the shop.
Fritz looked and started, exclaim-
ing.
III am not considerably deceived,
you are the companion with whom |
drank the Rhenish wine at the little inn
called the knight of the Golden
Cross?"
"You are right, replied the siran-
ger. Il am that companion, and no
less a parsonage than Prince Froder.
ick Agustus; and further still, by
proxy, the godfather Of your beloved
Helena.
Fritz and his wife, at this an
nouneemont. became confused and
humbled.
INV dear children gnid the Prince