Once Miezle had stayed ten days at some small baths in the suburbs.-Page 210. "It is very inconsiderate of you not to mind, Henriette. It is your own house, and you ought to look after it. If there's anything I do detest, it's burglars prowling about by night." "Child, what can I do?" returned Henriette, indulgently. "Had I heard anything I should have gone out to see what it was. Ottilie prefers to stay on the safe side of a locked door. I miss nothing. The till was quite right. I locked up below as usual. It must have been Ottilie's nerves- -or ghosts, perhaps." "If you do not hear that stealthy creeping der, yes, wonder at you, Henriette ! Eberhard, dear boy, having gone to his room night before last at twenty-three minutes past eleven, for I had just finished putting a new braid on my second-best cashmere skirt, and the lamp beginning to flicker, I "Did you see Eberhard yesterday ? " asked Henriette, abruptly. "Do you know where he was?" "On Monday," replied the aggrieved mother, vague ly belligerent, slightly lachrymose," he said he should go out of town on Tuesday to take Professor Hartwig's special orders for binding a lot of books." "It is curious," thought Henriette, "that I've heard nothing from Professor Hartwig. Somebody wants me, Fritz? I'll come at once." Miezle's bird was pecking her finger. She giggled girlishly, and prattled baby - talk, unmindful of Ot "Can I see you alone?" he said, and, as she closed the door of a private room: "I am so exceedingly distressed, I have come myself," he murmured. "Having always known you and your family-having so much esteem for you all-andand- " "Has anything happened to Eberhard?" she demanded. "An accident? Is he dead?" "Control yourself, my dear Frau Vis Ottilie discoursed upon the feelings of a mother, which she declared Henriette never understood. tilie, who, wiping her eyes, discoursed upon the feelings of a mother, which she declared Henriette never understood. "No, I don't," Henriette admitted, with blunt good-humor, as she rose to go downstairs." Some feelings of mothers I never pretend to understand-others, perhaps I may. But I meant no harm, Ottilie. You know very well I think the world of Eberhard. If he's a bit late now and then, I cannot say he goes to roost with the chickens, can I? But Eberhard's got no better friend on earth than Henriette Vischer." In the middle of her shop stood her banker. cher," he urged, as people will, though she was regarding him with the strength of a rock in her rugged face. "It may be quite in order, of course -yet I fearand if there's ' anything wrong we've not a moment to lose allow me Taking two checks from his pocketbook he placed them in her hand. As she stared at them it seemed to him her strong and comely face visibly shrank into that of an old, old woman with gray and haggard features. "The first was presented on Friday last, you observe. It was submitted to me, as usual. I thought it rather large, but suspected nothing irregular. It was from your check-book and bore your signature. Your nephew, Eberhard, has frequently of late years presented your checks, payable to yourself or bearer. Yesterday, unfortunately, I was out of town, and have indeed only just returned this morning. I certainly should have hesitated to cash it without consulting you, the sum is so astoundingly at variance with your business habits. In fact, the two checks practically close your times"-he spoke with a certain routine— account with us. "they try Zürich, but usually Hamburg and the first ship sailing." "It was shortly before we closed yesterday that the second was presented. There was rather a run and the cashier who received it was exceedingly busy. He cashed it, but afterwards became uneasy, thought he perceived something queer in the signature. The quirl of the 'V' is not yours, he maintains. He was waiting at my house this morning when I arrived and here I am, deeply distressed, I need not assure you, to be the bearer of such tidings-but entirely at your service. It is most deplorable, but, of course, we must lose no time. With your permission, I will without delay inform the police. I am of the opinion your unfortunate nephew is on his way to Hamburg. Some As she stared at them it seemed to him her strong and comely face visibly shrank into that of an old, old woman with gray and haggard features.-Page 213. AMOR TRIUMPHATOR By W. J. Henderson I SOMETIMES dream a sweet and sleepless dream Of world forgetfulness and clearer life. If I could set myself aside from strife, From drum-beats and the thousand things that seem To fill the world with struggle and with death, Then would I take myself away and lie Upon some cloud-encircled peak of snow, Beyond the cliffs where viewless eagles go, And sweep the embattled earth with placid eye. Thence could I pierce the soul of empty state, There would I hold my thought in silent poise But lo! my peak stands yonder near the sun; And I crowd on with those who make the crowd, And loiter but a time to speak aloud My feeble little dream; and it is done. Yea, I am one with death and lordly love; Why, then let all the world go stark and mad; |