take possession
of the estate. The mayor and Edward gave everything up to him; and
when the surrender was completed, and Edward was left alone with the
mother and son, William thus interrupted their silent meditations:
"Now we are all among friends, my dear Edward, and I may talk with
perfect frankness to you, and shew my gratitude, if you choose so to
call it, for your former kindness. One night, when I was here, and had
been copying papers till very late, I was lockt into the anteroom; the
door had been fastened on the outside, and I did not like to make a
noise and call up the servants, more especially as Herr Balthasar used
to be much annoyed and worried by any disturbance. During the night,
while I kept perfectly still, I heard the unhappy old man walking to
and fro in his room, sometimes sighing heavily, sometimes moaning and
wailing as he talkt to himself. They were not merely broken sounds and
exclamations; but it seemed to be his custom to talk over sundry
events of his life, as if he was speaking to some invisible person.
Thus I heard the story of his youth, of his intolerable woes, but at
the same time of his love for Edward, and what part of his fortune he
meant to leave him. The chief thing however, and what toucht me most,
was to learn that Rose was not his adopted, but his real daughter. His
self-reproaches, his lamentations over her deceast mother, his bursts
of pity for Rose, were heart-rending. Now then, my beloved mother and
my dear Edward, what remains for us to do? Our conscience, if we
consult it honestly, declares that Rose is his true rightful heir, and
ought to have the largest part of his fortune."

After this declaration his mother treated the lovely girl as a beloved
daughter; and on the same day on which William celebrated his wedding,
Edward had also the happiness of receiving Rose as his bride. The
fortune was divided; Edward continued to manage all the most important
affairs; and a happy joyful family inhabited and enlivened the old
house, which lost its gloomy character, and often resounded with
music, songs, and dancing, to the delight of all the inhabitants of
the little town.

THE LOVECHARM.

Emilius was sitting in deep thought at his table, awaiting his friend
Roderick. A light was burning before him; the winter-evening was cold;
and today he wisht for the presence of his fellow traveller, though at
other times wont to avoid his society; for on