106 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 
was not needed in the cottage of her parents, 
went to the lone mother of her betrothed and 
labored for her support. When there were no 
fish for her to bring to the markets of ‘The 
Hague, she came to Herr Witzman with shells 
she gathered among the sad waves at Scheven- 
ingen. The day of which I have told you she 
had a small store of shells and was evidently 
crossing to Herr Witzman’s little shop when 
thrown under the feet of the horses. 
“T bought the shells, giving their price into 
the hand of Herr Witzman to be used toward 
her burial. The day followmg I was myself 
at Scheveningen. 
“T sat in one of the wicker-basket chairs 
upon the wide sand beach when a curious 
closed carriage drawn by a single strong horse 
came down the sand and was driven out far 
into the sea. A door opened and the lilylike 
lady with golden hair descended into the 
water, and with gay laughter sported among 
the waves. 
“ Again in the evening I saw her dancing 
amid lights and gayety with the French count. 
“Neither of them thought, nor had hearts 
worthy to think of Emilie, to whom a life of 
hardship and of sorrow had given riches of 
which they had no power to conceive.” 
