can happen, love? Why trouble
ourselves about the outer world and the existence of other beings?"

"I know not, but I am so anxious, my heart almost ceases to beat, with
terror!"

"Halt! halt!" the wind carries forward the shriek, and above their heads
it sounds like the screeching of ravens.

"Strange! For whom are they calling?" Moritz looked back along the
highway. White and clear it lay in the moonlight, but, far in the
distance was a black mass, taking form and shape at every moment!

Horsemen! horsemen! in full speed they come!

"Postilion! drive on! quick! Let the horses gallop! There is a forest
near--drive us to that, that we may hide ourselves in the thicket!
Onward, postilion! we are not thieves or murderers. A hundred thalers
are yours, if you save us!"

The postilion beat his horses! In full chase they followed--more and
more distinctly were heard the curses and yells.

"Oh, God in heaven, have mercy upon us in our need!"

"Faster, postilion!--in mercy, faster!"

"Halt! halt!--in the name of the king, halt!"

This startled the postilion, and he turned to listen, and again a
furious voice yelled, "In the name of the king, halt!"

The postilion drew up. "Forgive me, sir, but I must respect the name of
the king."

Forward galloped the horsemen.

"Philip," whispered Marie, "why do we live--why do we not die?"

He folded her in his arms, and passionately kissed her, perhaps for the
last time. "Marie, be mindful of our oath--constant unto death!"

"Constant unto death!" she repeated.

"Be firm and defy all the storms of life!"

Marie repeated it, with heightened courage.

The horsemen surrounded the carriage, the riders upon panting steeds!
Two officers in uniform sprang to the side, laying their hands upon
Moritz's shoulder. "Conrector Philip Moritz, we arrest you in the
name of the king! You are accused of eloping with a minor, and we are
commanded to transport you to Spandau until further orders!" Upon the
other side two other horsemen halted. The foremost was Herr Ebenstreit,
who laid his hand upon Marie, and saw not or cared not that she
shudderingly shrank away.

"My dear Marie, I come as the ambassador of your parents, and am fully
empowered to lead your back to your father's house."

She answered not, but sat immovable and benumbed with terror, the tears
rolling down her cheeks.

"You arrest me in the name of the king," cried Moritz; "I bow to the law.
I beg only to speak to tha