Year: 1866

my years, and then began the struggle
for subsistence. Ny wife died Of trouble
and now my poor child is wearing hel
life away to gain my support. l cannot
bear to see her working herself to death
for me-therefOre it is better 1 gO-you
know ALL


" Friend, " exclaimed the young man.
" you are the most fortunate man [ ever
encountered in my life. 1t is insane to
call that misfortune. Nobody is easier
helped than you. Tomorrow 1 make
Day will, and you shall be-no resistance
my heir. The coming night is my
Hast. Before this, however, must see
yaur daughter, out of pure curiosity. ]
would for once see how one looks who
really deserves the uame of woman"


" But young man, what can it be which
thus early has made you SO unhappy ?"
asked the elder, much moved.


Il believe it was the wealth which
nv father left me. 1 was the only son
of the richest banker in the city. My
father died five years since, leaving me
more than was good for me. Since
that time l have been deceived and be-
traycd by every one, without exception,
with whom I have had any connection
Some have pretended friendship for me
on account of my money. Others
have pretended to love me-again for my
money-aud so it went on. I have often
mingled, in the garb OF simple work
man, with the masses, and thus one day
became acquainted with charming be-
ing, a young girl to whom my whole
heart soon went out in love, l disclosed
neither my name nor my position. I
longed to be loved for myself alone, and
for a time it appeared as if I were going
to be happy. The young girl and l,
whom she still regarded as simple
workman, met every afternoon In the
Marcusplaiz, where we walked up and
down together, passing many happy
hours Oue day my dear girl appeared
with flushed face and swollen eyes-she
had been weeping and told me that we
must part-confessing that her life be-
longed 10 another. With these words.
she tore her>e!ffrom ne, and disappeared
in the crowd. Her faithlcssness decided
my destiny. Vainly did rush into the
so-callcd good society," but found my
lost peace Of mind never, never! l
then determined TO bring my joyless ex-
stence to a close"


Unhappy young man, said the elder;
" with my whole heart l pity you. l
must acknowledge that was more for
tunate than you for I, at least was by
two womeu-my wife and my daughter
-tenderly loved"


VIII you give me your address, good
sir, that [ may convince myself of the
truth of your story? 1t is not exactly
mistrust, but ! must see too believe
To morrow I will arrange my affairs as l
have already told you. You will remain
in this inn tonight, and in the morning
early I will return. Give me your word
Of honor that you will not leave this
house until I return, and that you will
not in the meantime speak to any one Of
what has taken place between us"
You have my word. GO to my
dwelling, to my daughter, and you will
find that I have told you but the simple
truth My name is Wilhelm s..
Here is my address.


With these words he handed they young
man paper, giving the locality of his
dwelling. 1t lays in a suburb inhabited
by the poorest classes, at some distance
from the city proper.


And my name is Carl" said the
young man. Take this bank note it
will reach till my return"


Carl rang for awaiter, had the proprie-
tor called, commended the old man to
his care in suitable terms, and left the
house. x X


Hardly had the morning broke, when
Carl found him on the way to the suburb
where lived the daughter of the old man,
with whom he became acquainted under
such peculiar circumstances. 1t was not
without trouble that he found the house.
The young man knocked, opened the
door, and involuntarily stepped back.


What did he see


The young girl whose Inconsistency had
made his life a burden unbearable stood
before him.


She had grown pale-but he knew her
at the first glance it was Bertha, whom
he had once hoped to call his own.


At his appearance, the young girl
sprang toward him, overcome with JOY,
holding out her little hands. The young
man waved her back, exclaiming


" You did not expect to see me ?"


The poor girl sank into a seat and
covered her pale, beautiful oountenance
with her hands


"Are you Wilhelm SIS daugbter?''
asked the young man, coldly, after a
short pause.


81 am, answered the maiden timidly. |


And who and where is that other to
whom, as you told me at parting, your
life bslonged?"


That other is my father" answered |
the young girl, looking up to the young
man with glance in which spoke the
tenderest love. |


With lightning quiekness the truth
dawned upon him, the scales fell from
his eyes-suddenly all was clear.


Specifies he rushed to Bertha, took
her in his arms, pressed her to his
bosom.


Come to your father" he faltered to
the surprised girl.


my father o, God I forgot
where is he? He has been out all night.
1 have watched for him in tears the long
night through" a.a . !