, 1862-10-02
Married by Command.

to be married 10 two soldiers-one EACH Of course
Brothers they were, and as strapping fellows as
ever Great Frederick could wish to see. Il was
expected that the regimenti In which the brothers
served would soon be at the neghboring fortress;
and then the marriages were to take place.
Charlotte, the younger sister, was sitting, on
the day in question, busily employed in knitting,
while watching her fathers goats, when an old
gentleman, Of noble and majestic carriage, stopped
before her. He held cane in his hands and
wore military hat and boots, and . great.cOat
with large cape.
The young shepherdess had never seen this
gentleman before, and his presence-she knew
not why inspired her with feeling Of awe.
After regarding her for some minutes with an
arch smile, he thus addressed hers
"What is your name, my pretty girlf"
"Charlotte Reiwel, at your servicer answered
she.
"At nv servicel Well. I may, perhaps re
quire you. How old are your
Eighteen at Candleulas"
"What is your occupation"
"I am shepherdess to my parents, who are
farmers In the valley"
"You are not married {"
"Not yet, your lordship."
" Have you dowTyr
al do not know"
swell, here is something towards one, Il you
will serve me, as you promised to do just now"
said he, placing in her hand purse containing
two hundred gold forms
SO strange did this proceeding appear to the
simple and timid shepherdesS tina, she was quite
alarmed and, believing the fine gentleman to be
q sOTcerer, his gold seemed to burn her fingers
In the meantime, the stranger, taking q note
book from his pocket, wrote few words upon
sheet Of paper which he carefully sealed. Then
he continued:
"To gain two hundred 90 ms you have only
to carry this to the fort Of Marienburg II you
show this seal, all the guards will let you pass
You mtst ask for Major Keller, the commander,
and give the letter into his hands. DO you un.
derstand and promise to do what have told
yOIl"
Charlotte wished to reply In the negative, but
to r, fuse seemed to her even more difficult than
TO accept; 70 that, not knowing what to say, she
was silent, and the stranger, concluding that her
silence gave assent, lel her the letter and the
purse.
When he was out Of sight, the tsrrorsrieksn
girl ran % bet. sister, and related her adventure
Catherine was the very reverse Of her tmid
gentle sister. She was 4 fne independent, spr
tied girl, who would go through anything to gain
her end: she liked nothing better than mystery,
and danger even had a charm for her.
"A commission for MarienbuFgi" exclaimed
ID
rather than q demon, Who brought il. Our be-
trothed, the sergeants Albert and Ludwig Hos
ten, have been on the march for the fortress the
last three days. BY these means we may obtain
news Of them, and perhaps even see them to-day.
What surprise for them, and what Joy for US !
to say nothing about the two hundred geld flo-
rims, which are not to be picked up every day."
Saying these words she took the purse, and
turning the precious letter first on one side and
then on the other, she called upon Charlotte. in
the name Of their betrothed to 60 Immediately
to the fort, while she took care Of the goats.
"Neverl" replied Charlottei 81 shall never
have courage. If you like 10 20 in my stead"
added she, 81 will make over the two hundred
forms to you"
"lwil accept half replied Catherine, quickly;
Eve shall thus both have q dowry, and-whO
knoWsi--perhaps be married tomorrow"
Letter in hand, Catherine soon reached the for.
trcss, the gates Of which were opened to her at
the sight Of the mysterious seal. She was much
pleased with the Difference which was paid her,
and made up her mind that the stranger must
have been some great parsonage, and that the
letter contained something important She ex.
amined it over and over again, burning with Gu.
Fiosity 10 know the contents. She endeavored
to peep into the entelOpe, but in vain. ali
should; without kttoWlng II. cause coup deidt,
or . revolutionl" exclaimed she. But aiter
ell, what are the secrets Of peace and war to me
The great thing Is to ascertain Il Ludwig and
Albert are here"
The commander, crabbed dlo6king old soldier,
who had grown grey ID the service OF his king
and country, now entered to relieve her suspense
Having eyed her from head to foot he said:
done Of the fair sex asked for me- It was
you, young girl. Here am. What can do
for your"
ais Il Major Keller, commander at Marien.
burg, to whom have the honor Of speaking 7"
"The same"
al am commissioned to give this letter into
your hands, MAJOR" said Catherine, presenting
the letter.
"From whom did you receive tS" continued
he.
"From stranger who passed down the road
about an h0tr ago."
"1et me see" said he, starting as he recog
nized the seal, and; taking of hIs bat, he made
q military salute.
Catherine was quite astonished to find that
the despatch Of which she was the bearer re-
ceivcd as much honor as herself
Having read the letter, Keller burst into a
sudden 1T Of laughter, then as Suddenly grew
grave again, and, taking out double eye-glass,
silently regarded her for some time.
"Would you like to be q UiUdndieTe /" asked
the determined major.
NiUaRdiers1 That would depend on the
regiment. II Il werci for instance In the third
-"
"what is your dOwrys" interrupted he.
Catherine, thinking the majors question very
original, and wondering what he would say next,
answered, "Not large sum-one hundred gold
forms; the carriage Of the letter which have
given you"
"Wel, that Is dowry for q soldier"
"CeTtAinly-espeeially for q sergeant. But