le. His offence was readily pardoned when he
declared that the cause of it was a fancied resemblance between Adeline
and a dear sister whom death had lately robbed him of. Ere they parted
the young people were already deeply in love with one another, and had
promised to meet again on the following day. The spot where they had
first encountered each other became a trysting-place which was daily
hallowed by fresh vows and declarations.

On one such occasion Otto told his beloved the story of his early life
and revealed to her his identity. It was indeed a harrowing tale, and
one which drew a full meed of sympathy from the maiden.

Otto and his sister--she whose likeness in Adeline's face had first
arrested his attention--had been brought up by a cruel stepfather, who
had treated them so brutally that Otto was at length forced to flee
to the castle of an uncle, who received him kindly and gave him an
education befitting his knightly station. A few years later he had
returned home, to find his sister dead--slain by the ill-treatment
of her stepfather, who, it was even said, had hastened her death with
poison. Otto, overcome with grief, confronted her murderer, heaped abuse
on his head, and demanded his share of the property. The only answer was
a sneer, and the youth, maddened with grief and indignation, drew his
sword and plunged it in his tormentor's heart. A moment later he saw
the probable consequences of his hasty action, concealed himself in
the woods, and thenceforth became a fugitive, renounced even by his own
uncle, and obliged to remain in hiding in order to escape certain death
at the hands of the murdered man's kindred. In a fortunate moment he had
chanced to reach Floersheim, where, in his shepherd's guise, he judged
himself secure.

Adeline, deeply moved by the tale, sought to put her sympathy in the
practical form of advice.

"Dear Otto," she said, "let us go to my father and tell him all. We must
dispatch an embassy to your uncle in Thuringen, to see whether he
may not consent to a division of the property. Take courage, and your
rightful position may yet be assured."

So it was arranged that on the following day the lovers should seek Sir
Bodo and ask his advice in the matter. But alas! ere their plans could
be carried out Bodo himself sent for his daughter and informed her that
he had chosen a husband for her, Sir Siegebert, a wealthy and noble
knight, just returned from Palestine.

In vain Adeline