Year: 1878

1 tondness, was good and pious, active
and affectionate; and my daughter il
the true image Of her mother. But ag,
and illness have brought me to the las
extremity, and my conscience revoltl
against the idea of the best child in th,
world sacrificing her life for an old use
less fellow. cannot have much longer
, to live; and 1 hope the Lord will pardon
me for cutting off q few days or weeks
from my life, in order to preserve that
OF my dear Bertha.


"You are fortunate man, nv friend. ,
exclaimed the young man "what You
call misfortune is sheer nonsense, and
can be cured. Tomorrow will make
my will, and you shall be the heir OF all
my possessions, and tomorrow night ]
will take the leap from the Main bridge
alone. But before leave this world, ]
must see Bertha, for am anxious to
look upon one who is worthy the name
OF q human being"


"Sir, what can have made you 80 un-
happy at this early ageS" said the old
man, moved with compassion.


am the only son of one OF the
richest bankers of Frankfort. Ny faith.
er died five years ago, and left me the
heir to an immense fortune. From that
moment, every one that has come in
contact with me has endeavored to de.
ceive and defraud me. was child in
innocence, trusting and conHding. MY
education had not been neglected, and 1
possessed my mothers loving heart.
My friends, or rather the villains whom
L mistook for friends, and to whom
opened my heart, betrayed me, and
then laughed at my simplicity in time
L gathered experience, and my heart
was filed with distrust. was betroth-
ed to rich heiress, possessed of all
fashionable accomplishments; adored
her with enthusiasm her love, I thought
would repay me for every disappoint-
ment. But soon saw that she wished to
make me her slave, and yoke all other
men besides to her triumphal chariot,
broke off the engagement, and selected
q poor but charming girl-a sweet in
nocent being, as I thought, who would
be my ife's own angel. Alas I found
her one day bidding adieu with tears
and kisses to youth whom she loved ;
she had accepted me for my wealth only.
Ny peace of mind vanished, 1 sought
diversion in travel. Everywhere
found the same hollowness, the same
treachery, the same misery. In short,
I became disgusted with life, and re-
solved to put an end this night to the
pitiable farce"


Unfortunate young man, said the
other, with tears Of sympathy, 81 pity
you. confess l have been more for
tunate than you. I possessed q wife
and daughter, who came forth pure and
immaculate from the hand of the Crea-
tor. The one has returned to Him in
the whiteness of her soul, and 80 will
the other.


Give me your address, old man, and
permit me to visit your daughter to-
morrow. Also give me your word of
honor that you will not inform her, or
insinuate in any manner that ! am q
rich man." The old man held out his
hand.


81 give you my word. I am anxious
to convince you that l have spoken the
truth. Ny name is Wilhelm Schmidt,
and here is my address y giving him at
the same time, bit of paper which he
drew from his pocket.


"And my name is Karl Trait. 1 am
the son of Anton Trait. Take these
bank-notes, but only on condition that
you do not leave this house until I fetch
you from it. Waiter a bedroom for
this gentleman. You require rest, Herr
Schmidt. Goodnight. Tomorrow you
will see me again.