at length, they stormed
the place, our defence was reduced to eight men, commanded by a corporal
with two shot-wounds in his chest. We were made prisoners, and carried
away to Strasburg, from whence I was exchanged under a cartel, and came
back to my regiment as a lieutenant. Had I merely sought promotion,
Madame, and followed the dictates of ambition and not of duty, I had
perhaps fallen like the others. It was in the very forgetfulness of
myself lay my prosperity and my reward."

Kate's eyes sought out Frank, resolved on one effort more for her
object, but the boy was gone. He had contrived to slip away unseen
during the conversation, and was now waiting at the corner of the
street, impatient for the General's departure, to return to his sister.

"I am to have the honor of dining in your company to-day," said the
Feld, rising to take leave. "Let me hope that my obduracy will not
weaken your regard for one so proud of being your uncle."

"No, uncle," said she, "and chiefly since I do not believe in the
obduracy, and have full faith in the affection."

With every testimony of regard, they now took leave of each other, and
the General retired as Kate betook herself to her own room.

She had scarcely left the apartment when the Archduke entered it. Madame
de Heidendorf had told him that the Princess was there with her uncle,
and he came expressly to see her. "Gone again!" exclaimed he; "am I
never to see this mysterious beauty?" while he threw his eyes around
the room. "What's this addressed to myself here?" added he, as he caught
sight of the paper which the Feld had half written. "To his Imperial
Highness the Archduke Franz Albrecht, commanding the Eleventh Regiment
of Infantry." Rapidly glancing over the few lines, he at once caught
their meaning, and detected the playful spirit in which they were
conceived. "The fair Princess must not be disappointed in her opinion,"
said he, laughingly, as he took up the pen and wrote: "Too happy to
anticipate the unexpressed wish, the Archduke appoints Cadet von Dalton
to a lieutenancy in the Hussars of the Wurtemberg Regiment," and signing
his well-known initials at the foot, he sealed and addressed the paper
to the Princesse de Midchekoff. This done, he left the house, passing
as he went a young cadet, whose military salute he scarcely noticed, nor
knew the anxious heart for whose happiness he had just provided.

Young Frank stood respectfully at the salute as the Prince pass