know too well what I suffered all last summer
—what it cost me of my life and power as an
artist, and how much time I lost in fruitless
longings. But it is a quiet joy which fills my
heart since I became certain that Marie loves
me. I shall tell Ernst all about it when we
return from Rabenstein. Carl, were you
going to Rabenstein, when I met you at
Stettin?

"Yes," I was going to see Franz Von Wedel.
He lives there, does he not ?"

"Lives there! " said Eric; " yes, and is a
great friend of ours. It is he whom we are
going to visit. Rabenstein castle belongs to
his father. It is close to the town. You
must take care of your heart, Carl; Franz
has some very beautiful sisters, I hear. I
knew them when they were little girls, and I
was a boy of fourteen. I hear they have
grown to be perfect beauties. When I
was here two winters ago, they were in Paris with
their aunt; so I did not see them."

On their arrival at Rabenstein, the travellers
were shown into the rooms prepared
for them. Carl had one allotted to him close
to those of the two brothers; and Eric had
been gossipping with him, and had not quite
finished his toilet, when Ernst came into his
room. His face was radiant with some great
joy. He stretched out his hand to his
brother Eric, and took hold of his, which he
pressed warmly.

"How well you look, Eric, this evening!"
he said. "You are as handsome as a young
bridegroom going to see his betrothed. Or
shall we make this your betrothal night?
There are such beautiful young ladies down-
stairs, you must choose one. But come; I
want to present you to my bride; she is all
impatience to see you."

As the three young men descended the
wide staircase of the old castle, and just as
they had reached the last step, Ernst said to
his brother, " Eric, why did you not tell me
all about your adventure with the wolves the
other night, and your ride in the snow-
storm?"

Eric started. He looked at his brother.

"Who told you? Did Carl?"

"Not I," said Carl.

"Ernst! how came you to know anything
about it?"

"Come and see who told me," said Ernst,
smiling, and he laid his hand on the
door.

Eric's heart beat quickly, his eyes became
dizzy. Who told Ernst about the wolves?
His bride? How came she to know? Who
told her? Had Marie? Did she know
Marie? Was Marie there? No; she was
at Strahlen, thirty leagues off. Then he
remembered her sister's parting words, " You
will see us sooner than you expect." A light
flashed through his mind. It was she—his
brother's bride— whom he had rescued from
death! She was on her way to Rabenstein
when he had met her. She, Marie, whom
he loved with all the strength of his soul!
He looked around; he would have fled.
Quick as lightning this truth must have
flashed through his mind; for, almost before
Ernst had done speaking, the door was
opened, and there, in a brilliantly-lighted
room, stood his mother; and, beside her,
robed in pure white, the golden curls falling
round her beautiful face, stood Marie. Marie,
his Roman dream. Marie, his beloved. Marie,
his brother's bride!

There were other persons in the room.
He saw only her. Mechanically, as in a dream,
he followed his brother: as in a dream, he
heard the voices of those around him; a
confused whirring filled his ears. He saw
Marie advance towards him, again holding
out both her hands, smiling with an angelic
smile. He looked at her. All present saw
his face was of a deadly pallor; then a wild,
unearthly gleam shot from his eyes. He
advanced to meet Marie as she approached;
then turned and fled.

All stood amazed. In the first consternation
none thought of following him; and
when Ernst and Carl did so, it was too late.
He was nowhere to be found. He was gone;
fled out into the night.

Soon the woods round Rabenstein rang
with the voices of men and hounds. " Eric!
Eric! " was heai'd on every side in the voices
of his friend and brother. Ernst and Carl
sought everywhere; and Schwartz bounded
into the woods, baying loudly. " Heaven be
praised! " said Ernst; " he is on his track."
But hour after hour passed, and neither
Schwartz nor Eric re-appeared.

Can I have a sleigh? " asked Carl. "I
will go to Stettin. I think he will go there."

"I will go with you," said Ernst.

"I think it will be better that you should
stay here and direct the search, both here
and at Kronenthal," answered Carl. " We
had better divide our exertions. Depend
upon me for leaving, on my part, nothing
undone. I will write to you from Stettin,
and tell you where I go next, if my researches
there are unsuccessful; and you can
write to me there, and let me know whether
you find any traces of him."

So Carl arrived at Stettin, and went to the
Geldenstern, which he had only left a few
hours before.

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

ERIC had rushed from the room into the hall;
caught up his cloak and cap, which still lay
there, opened the outer door, and fled—fled
out into the brilliant night; fled over the
hard frozen snow; fled, whither he knew
not. One idea, one thought, scorched his
brain, lent wings to his feet. Ernst's bride!
—his brother's bride! At first he could
think of nothing else. Then the remembrance
of the two days passed at Stettin
came back in a flood to his memory. Looks,
tones, words, seared him as with a hot iron.