In reply to his urgent cross-questioning, the Italian acknowledged that the Frenchman told him he had brought the figure from Alsace, and he had understood from him that the original had lived in or near Strasburg, and was called Julie de Lindore, or some similar

"Had lived, and was called," ejaculated Theodore, turning pale with apprehension. "Does she not live?

or is she married? "

"Alas, Signor!" replied the Italian, with rising shoulders and eyebrows, "'tis a sad story. The Frenchman told me that the lady had been arrested by the Committee of Public Safety, and that in less than a week she was condemned and guillotined."

"Gracious heaven!" exclaimed the shuddering Theodore, "how could the monsters destroy a creature so perfect. Surely the pure and sacred innocence which beams from every feature of that angel-face would have softened the heart of a tiger!"

Hastily seizing the arm of Leopold, he quitted the exhibition; but ere he reached the street-door, he turned back to ask the Italian whether he would sell the model, paid without hesitation the high price named by the crafty proprietor, and saw the figure safely conveyed to his apartment in his friend's hotel.

On the ensuing morning Leopold, who had been out early on duties connected with the recruiting ser

vice, was no little surprised on his return to find the following note from Theodore on his breakfast table.

"Pardon me, my dear friend, that I quit you thus abruptly, for a reason too, which your more worldly notions may deem romantic, and, too probably, absurd.

"I cannot, however, divest myself of a belief that the Italian's information concerning the original of that beauteous model I leave to your friendly care, is wholly or partially a fiction. As the costume, however, is French, and the French book in her hand was printed at Strasburg, I am disposed to believe the lovely original a native of Alsace, and I have determined to enter France at all risks, and to explore that province in quest of the incomparable woman whose resemblance has laid so strong a hold upon my imagination, that I have already ceased to contend with the feeling.

"Again, Leopold, I beseech you to pardon my abrupt departure, and to believe me, not the less,

"Your sincerely attached friend,

"THEODORE."

The first impulse of Leopold, on perusing this farewell note, was anger at the romantic absurdity of Theodore in thus hazarding liberty, and even life, by entering France during the period of revolutionary excitement, when a foreigner unskilled in worldly tact, was exposed to hourly and imminent peril. Recollecting, however, the peculiar habits and character of his sentimental friend, his irritation rapidly subsided, and he determined to seek relief from the irksome and often painful duties of his appointment, by frequenting the numerous and highly-polished circle of French emigrants then resident in Nuremburg. But to one long accustomed to the life and public amusements of the Prussian capital,

the quiet city of Nuremburg was a dull abode. The months rolled heavily by, and winter arrived and passed without bringing any stirring intelligence to Leopold, when on a sunny morning in March, his spirits were unexpectedly cheered by the arrival of a short note from Theodore, announcing his marriage, and requesting his company that day to dinner at Waldenhain.

In ten minutes or less the delighted baron was on horseback, and riding full speed to the estate of his friend, who met him on the threshold of his mansion, no longer the pale and languid youth he had seen the previous September, but in firm and ruddy health, his sparkling eye and elastic step indicating that a favourable change had also taken place in his habits and feelings.

After a cordial greeting the friends entered the parlour, and Leopold, directing an impatient and searching glance for the bride, besought an introduction without delay to the matchless original of the wax-figure, "for" he added, "to judge from your radiant looks, I will not suppose you the husband of any other woman."

"She is gone," said Theodore, "to see her mother in the neighbourhood, and will return in an hour, which I will employ in giving you some detail of my adventures since we separated. I succeeded in obtaining a passport from the French minister at M., and proceeded immediately to Strasburg, where I passed a fortnight in fruitless inquiries after a family named Lindore. The reign of terror still prevailed, the most distinguished families had emigrated, the men in power were principally strangers, and my inquiries were not

D

only attended with imminent peril, but at length involved me in difficulties which compelled me to leave the city abruptly and in disguise. I continued my search for some time in various parts of Alsace, but everywhere encountered the same hazards and impediments. At length I determined to retrace my steps to Germany, and to explore those districts most frequented by the unfortunate emigrants. To this object I devoted three months without success, and returned about five weeks since, discouraged and exhausted, to Waldenhain, where my presence was imperatively required for some days before I could proceed to your quarters in Nuremburg. On the morning after my arrival, I strolled in a melancholy mood through the park to a small demesne separated from my property by a fine grove of beech. On this demesne are a beautiful garden and a large pool of water, which had been a favorite resort of mine in early youth, and in which I had narrowly escaped death, from falling out of a boat. I entered the garden and proceeded immediately to the margin of the pool, where I stood for some time gazing on its smooth and glassy surface. When reminded by the now shattered skiff of my former peril, I was weak enough to regret that I had not found an early grave in those still waters, and thereby been spared the severe trials and disappointments attendant on sensibilities acute as mine. While thus intently gazing on the placid element, and lost in painful reminiscences of my fruitless endeavours to find the original of that lovely model, I suddenly beheld the form and features ever present to my fancy, distinctly

reflected in the pool below. My first impulse was to plunge in and grasp the beauteous shadow ere it faded from my view, when I discovered that some one was standing at my elbow, and looking up I saw with inexpressible wonder and delight-the living image of the wax-figure.

"For some moments my astonishment deprived me of all power of speech or motion; and before I had regained even partial self-possession, the unknown fair one gracefully apologized for her approach, saying, that her curiosity had been excited by my long and earnest gaze upon

the water.

"Still too much embarrassed to speak rationally, I replied that she herself had been the cause of my looking so steadfastly upon the pond. Immediately conscious, however, of the blunder, I added, in reply to her request for an explanation, that it should ere long be given, and solicited her indulgence for the delay.

"I discovered in the course of our conversation that she was the daughter of a lady who had recently hired the cottage on this secluded park. Finding it impossible to moderate the ardour of my looks and deportment so soon after this enchanting and unhoped for discovery, I acknowledged myself the owner of the next estate, obtained permission to pay my respects to her mother and herself the ensuing day, retreated with the best grace I could assume, and reached home in a state of ecstacy bordering on delirium.

"On the following morning, at an hour somewhat earlier than fashion sanctions, I called upon my new neigh