once surrounded by a fosse, only a single tower-of considerable dimensions, however,-was left, flanked on one side

blocks of granite from the old castle had been used in building the modern villa. The tower, with the ruin adjoining it, had been spared as an ornament to the park. It crowned an artificial mound covered with mossy turf. Its base was encircled by a wilde

asing the estate that this proceeding had been the only sensible thing done by its former possessors, and had appropriated this spot for his own special use. As a child, Kitty had taken great delight in the "little valley," as she called the former fosse. Of course, she then thought and knew nothing o

ance. There was no trace of fresh mortar on the walls to tell of modern repair, every stone was old, yet none were wanting; the high arched windows in the tower, formerly closed by decaying wooden shutters, gaped wide, and within the stone window-frames the sunny, tremulous air glittered as if some imprisoned sunbeam were weaving there a mysterious golden web. And fresh life was stirring about the ruined ancestral home of the Von Baumgartens;

its hither side, lay a huge bull-dog, his head on his forepaws

ur months ago an undisputed refuge for owls, bats, and my doves; and now drawing-room, bedroom, and even treasure-chamber, of the Herr Councillor von R?mer. In truth, the place still looks ruinous enou

path, and she ascended the hill. The roes fled timidly from her rustling silken robes, the doves flew away from the lower window-sills, and the dog growled, and slowly followed the lordly lady for a few steps. Standing above, her slender hands upon the latc

attacks of asthma, almost to suffocation, and yet she would not be ill: the world should not know that she suffered. A single compassionate glance, any pitying remark, made her angry and bitter. She had been more ill than usual; for Doctor Bruck, whose patient she was, and who could always give her relief, was away. A few hours after leaving the villa upon Kitty's arrival there, he had received a telegraphic

and admired the effect produced by the wealthy merchant's money. Without, a crumbling ruin; within, the home of knightly ease. The room her childish eye had never been able to pierce was a spacious vaulted hall, the massive arches of which supported the entire structure above. On the walls the "horrid things" were still hanging,-helmets and various weapons,-but they were tastefully arranged, and flashed back from their burnished surfaces the sunlight that streamed through the windows. To preserve the ruinous aspect from without, there was no division into panes of the glass in the windows; one unbroken sheet had been set into the stone frames, hence the strange glitter in them when seen from the outside. Th

her entrance, directing her attention by a wave of

golden-brown braids, her eyes full of laughter, her young frame vi

e pointed through the nearest window to the gleaming girdle of water, "might terrify us with his martia

d cabbages in the bed of the fosse," she continued. "I see that now, although the 'little valley' was a favoured spot in my remembrance. Still, it is a strange a

able pique. "It is sad to think that an ancient race should so adapt itself to the spirit of the age as ruthle

chanic, and Moritz, left an orphan at an early age, of striking personal beauty and ingratiating address, had been received as an underling in the establishment of the wealthy banker Mangold, whose daughter he eventually married. Kitty knew how devoted he had been to her sister Clotilde until she died; she had always seen him submissive even to servility to her father, and he ha

ay you do not take quite so much state upon yourself; you might provoke some old mistress of these walls to awaken and see her grand su

te slowly from between her lips, and asked, in a tone of assumed indifference, a

u know I am never annoyed by the freaks and follies of yo

ild. I asked from the purest

to throw that smoky thing out of the window, for it discolours your white teeth like meerschaum, and sends a perpetual shiver of disgust through you, and yet you persist in the heroic self-subjugation. From a mania for the

ntertains of me," Flora said to the councillo

ontinued, undeterred, but with evident irritation, "because there are people who detest like the breath of th

Fr?ulein Henriette?" she asked, with an air of lofty disdain. "I

this case is to please," Henr

f all others should be the last to lay a lance in rest in this cause. You are ill, poor child, and more than ever dependent upo

all the why and the wherefore of his absence!" he exclaimed, with irritation. "Bruck never speaks of his pro

ut her hand for her coffee-cup, and slowly sipped the delicious beverage. Henriette sullenly declined the offered refreshment; she arose, and stepped to the glass door that led out upon the adjoining ruin. It

sufferer, and even Flora arose and reluctantly threw away her cigarette. "I suppose you will accuse these harmless wreaths of smoke of causing this attack," she said, fretfully, "but I know better. You ought to be in bed, Henriette, not out in

e first poisoner at hand," Henriette conclude

er shoulders. "Go on, child, if it pleases you! I know nothing, it is true, about his medicine

ily raised his hand, as if to stop the slanderous words upon

!" gasped

ere superficial adventitious celebrity was sure to come. It has come, more disastrously and completely than even I feared, as you must admit if you would not dispute the unanimous verdict of the public. That I will not share this fall every one who knows me must be aware. I canno

le marble tint of her Roman profile, seen clearly cut against the blue sky of spring, glowed with a gloomy fire; he

!" she continued, thrusting her slender fingers in among the rustling tracery of withered vines. "But h

should have

king looks and gestures: I require more. But I show you that my will is good in the matter by repeating a

ning full upon the balcony was insupportable to him. "You know well enough that I cannot do what you

upon her sister's beautiful face. "It would be best that your cruel designs should attain their end as soon as possible,-to speak plainly, that your evident estrangement should induce him voluntarily to break the bond betwe

said over her shoulder,

your machinations if I can," Henriette conclu

ion seemed to dawn upon her; she suddenly put her right arm around Henriette's shoulders, and drew her towards her, as she whispered i

Kitty stood near enough to understand the whisper, and, although she had hitherto

filled with crochet, worsted-work, and a few French phrases, side with them against me. You little goose, do you really think yourself capable of passing judgment upon your sister Flora?" She laughed aloud, and pointed to a chestnut-tree, from the boughs of which a white dove was flying. The bird flew high in air, a dazzling point of light. "Look, child, a moment ago it nestled amid the branches among its fellows, no

he hearth," the councillor replied, smiling. "

iserable old plac

an to allow any of his property to go to ruin; there is not a

a slight nervous shiver, and, as though involuntarily, lifted her richly-trimmed skirt, as if from a freshly-scoured floor. "We had better shut the doors," she said, hastily retreating into the room; "the wind blows the smoke over here. Pah!"-she waved her

ry of the tower, where the doves and rooks had their nests. Kitty took up her parasol,-she knew that the invalid always desired solitude when she thus withdrew from the society of others; but this room within these thick walls, the oppressive sple

, you lucky child; here is your 'Shake, shake, little tree, gold and silver over me.'" And he passed his hand almost caressingly over the cold iron. "Everything that your grandfather owned of real estate is in there, turned into paper. Those papers are working f

r marriage with silver dollars," Flora cried, from the lounge, where she was again reclining, with a book in her hand. "'Tis a pity! Don't be angr

to take one dollar locked up there." She pointed to the safe. "With regard to the c

it you, 'lovely

he high-road uncultivated, for want of time and labourers. He wishes to sell it to you,-it would divide very well into lots for villas, and would be a good investmen

m a present o

usly, Moritz. Such 'exaggerated sentimentality' would disgrace me, truly, in the Villa B

Flora, sitting upright on the lounge and fixing her eyes with

ed to Flora's words: "I know, besides, how valuable is the fruit of one's own exertions. I prize what I earn myself mor

enough at the price they offer; and that piece of fine arable land near the mill! ... No, child; glad as I should

rprised nor irritated. "I know that at the end of three years I shall think just as I do at present, and

miling farew