Year: 1873

l. even muSC 90 IL, unless Cue ueaIC snail
be desert that is now burning of love
for you.'


"You would make her your wife
who is fallen and is despised even in
her own eyes!'


\ deep blush colored the pale cheeks
of the girl. Was it deep shame for
herself, or was it for joy at the awaken
iny consciousness that she, at least in
his eyes; was not so deeply fallen as she
thought she would be in those of all
Others?


Fallen-despised!" said Jager,
"why these words, Anna do you see
that branch, which the lilac tree is ex-
tending over our heads Some flower
falls withered therefrom; but next
spring this branch will be still richer in
leaves and fowers-that is your own
image-your new spring has come
you are now richer in grace and virtue
than you have ever been."


My new spring." answered Anna;
" that will once come, hope, and [ be-
lieve it will but it is not coming on
this earth, that I know-and yet feel
so happy now-so happy!'


She threw her arms around Jager's
neck and leaned with tears her head
against his bosom.


Il would be everything for you;"
she whispered, your slave, if you 50
wished, but-not--not your wife -


There is love that will sacrifice all
even the appearance before the world,
which is otherwise so highly valued, if
this love can dream that just this ap-
pearance in the eyes of the world could
in any way hurt the beloved object.


Such was the love that burned in the
bosom of this woman. For one single
false step, she had in more than two
years suffered and pined away, 50 that
she was now nearly shadow Of her
self. and still she felt she had strength
enough to sacrifice herself anew, in Or
der to show how boundless and disin-
terested her love and gratitude was for
the man, whom she looked upon as her
benefactor but whose wife she regarded
herself unworthy to become.


eff become your wife, she con-
tinued, "how deceived would you not
be in the wife you have thought Of in
your dreams you have thought her
to be pure and good-and I-who am
I?-perhaps-yes, certainly an illustri-
Gus course is awaiting you-your wife
accompanies you--you will be ashamed
of her, and if you are not, she always
will be, because, knowing herself, she
must always believe that you--that you
at least ought to be ashamed Of her.
see there, my friend, why I cannot al
low you to make such sacrifce-I do
not want you to suffer-hush--I am
not so unsel6sh as you believe-for you
see / do not want to suffer myself do
you understand me now?"


Il do understand you, Anna, but
your confession has only brought to
light new virtue, and do you imagine
that this discovery can weaken my love
for you?-you will extinguish the fire,
but, indeed: it is not with oil you can
extinguish it!'


"But, Edward!"' exclaimed Anna,
gathering her last strength, Edward,
you do not perhaps know how weak:
how frivolous AMI feel now that
have strength to tell you all-you know
what has happened-but you do not
know how it happened-a few days
after the unlucky night when you and
your friend accompanied my father
home, your friend came alone to ne
papa was away-with tears in his eyes
he pitied me for the severity with which
papa treated me-for the hate he had
against every one who had the misfor-