The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-31


| If she really had any esteem for him. Do y u
not think so, uncle? True, she has again q d
again assured me that nothing would indu .e
her to unite her lot to Ferdinands but ha y
ly believe that this can be the serious feeli..g
OF her heart, if she really was ever attachedSo
him."
"Of the first there is not doubt return d
the Professor, earnestly; but Hilda's char, c.
ter is as firm as steel; and, to your honor /
will believe also, Rosa, that if Mannerstet.
which, OF course, is out of the question, We re
to behave IN similar manner towards yea,
you would act in the same way, too"
u am not SO sure of that, dear uncle; I,y
love for him is boundless and do not kn W
what L could not forgive him."
hat Is easy enough to say" reioined tie
Professor, a little petulantly, when there is
no chance of being put to the test But do rSt
encourage Ferdinand in any hope of this XII d,
Tor will confde to you, and you alone, II ct
the evening before she left for Lindfors, 81 ut
for her here, to give her little trife in case of
need !; and then / asked her, in confidence. if
she would not forgive Ferdinand, and consent
to become his wife, in which case l would jdtn
their hands, and give them my blessing but,
no, it was all in vain.
"Hilda is one in hundred. Once convinced
that she is in the right, and she will not be
| moved by any persuasion. knew that she was
going to dull, uninteresting kind of existence
in the country, and thought, perhaps, her
strength might waver under the trial but she
| remained like herself. / cannot withhold from
her my respect and good will, though I almost
feel inclined to wish that she had been a little
less proud. She thanked me, and wept for Joy
at hearing that l was willing to receive her as
a daughter to my home and heart at the same
time she assured me she should never change
her opinion, and that it would be impossible
for her ever to devote feeling to Ferdinand
other than that of friendship. / did not try
any more persuasion, but really feel sorry Cor
the boy and so l have promised him that he
shall travel for some months, and see the world,
should he get a refusal in answer to his last
letter."
On the day following this conversation, we
will introduce our readers to the Merchants
new residence. Rosa was at her sewing, when
she received letter, the post mark of which
announced that it come from Hilda. Overjoy-
ed, she broke the seal, and found enclosed
small thin note, addressed to Ferdinand, from
which she foreboded bad news for him. .
Hilda's letter was full of sympathy for her
friends fate, and then she passed on to her
own affairs described her Journey and the &C
quaintance to which it had led with Wallinder,
the most agreeable and sensible person that.
she ever remembered meeting.
"And who, my dear Rosa," the letter added,
I" is very nearly as handsome as Mannerstedt"
She then described his visit on the Sabbath,
the beautiful service, and their excursion to the
Neck's Island and her letter was in li2ely
and joyful strain, very different from anything
she had ever written before.
Rosa smiled, and thought
"No wonder she cannot forgive Ferdinand
she never loved him."
postscript followed
"Dear Rosa, give the enclosed to Ferdinpsd ::
and tell him to desist from all farther endtav,
ors-they will be quite fruitless."
ayes, indeed labor lost" said Rosa, wish a
sigh; "Ferdinand must be mamie Must
forget Hilda-and l hope and trust he will, and
learn to conquer an affection which can nor be
but a weakness"
The same evening she met Ferdinand at the
Professors. The note burned in her hand, yet
she hesitated each time when she was about to
give it to him. AT length she took courage,
and made sign to him to follow her into the
library. They sat down-Rosa scarcely ventuf-
ing to breathe. Ferdinand changed color ; he
anticipated what was coming, and, with fery
perceptible tremor in his voice, asked
"Perhaps you have received letters Eom
Hilda?"
eyes, dear Ferdinand, have, and -
"And she has commissioned you to reply to
my letter." said he. " So | am not even Com
sidered worthy of an answer from herself In
truth, Hilda has changed greatly"
"She has only commissioned me to give'sou
this" :
She gave him the note.
He tore it open-the few lines which it -son-
tanned were quickly read-and by the UNUSUAL
compression of the teeth against the upper lip,
the frown on his brow, and his flushed cheek,
Rosa saw at once that he was more angry 'han
sorry. Without word, he handed the no.e to
her.
Hilda wrote-"How often will you hea it,
Ferdinand? No, thousand times no, naver
will be yours and therefore, pray cease to tor
ture us both by these renewed entreaties, which
only lower you, and give me pain. i have but
one request for you, and that is to forget.
Hilda.r
"Yes, I will forget her, the heartess I'M
grateful girl; she is not worthy the love of even
country SQUIRE" cried Ferdinand, pacing up
and down the room violently. -
@ Such an answer-such haughtinessA;a
total want of all affection-of all womanif- ess
l never loved her-no, never it was all fa< cy
which deluded me with the dream; and you
may be assured, Rosa, that from this time )rth
my heart is free. No woman shall get in t iere
again in hurry. Friendship is now the inly
feeling which | will do homage to- and you
shall see, for the future, I will be so rational
and sedate, that it shall be quite pleasure to
you ALL"
At the end of this little speech, which eime
from his lips as rapidly as his feet paced Sver
the floor of the little room, he took up the ote,
crushed it violently together, and then entered
the Professors room.
All up, uncle" he exclaimed, tossing Jill
da's answer upon the writing table 4" but am
calm, perfectly calm"
" Yes, so perceive" said the old man, NTH
a kind glance at his features, distorted nth
grief and anger! "But, you will soon COMPOSE
yourself-time will do it-and we will SPEAK of
it no more. You must obtain your leave, and
then off on your tour wherever you like. III
give you travelling expenses for six months; |
and when you come back, you will be quite !
cured. Do your duty zealau5ly and actively |
keep your old uncle company-and BEHAVE |
yourself as becomes young man."
"Stop," answered the Captain, here is my
hand-you shall have no cause to blush for me ;
over my old weakness"
A fortnight after this, Captain Ferdinand, ia
very good spirits, went on board steamer 70
Copenhagen, where he was to pass a little time
before he went out into the wide world.
"May God keep him, and bring him safe
home again." said the Professor, as he wiped
away the tears which he shed at parting. IAN
now, Rosa, you are my sole comfort, and Only
pleasure. They are both gone -FerdinaiA
and Hilda. Do you know, child that at timts
am very sorry that did not give way to hi
BEFORE when all was well, and Hida would hal,
willingly married hims / was too obstinate, n
usual"
spray, do not say so, my dear uncle. Are MA
al hast he's