109 
“JT fully sympathize with you, my dear 
Count, yet I sincerely believe that your years 
of patient hc pe and believing prayers will be 
rewarded far beyond your happiest anticipa- 
tions.” 
“You do, my Fritz; you truly believe that 
we shall be united again this side of eternity? 
Oh, my dear comforter, I thank you more than 
tongue can express for that sweet assurance.” 
“ But come, my dear Count, let us retire to 
the ‘den,’ I wish to enjoy a quiet talk with you 
along this line.” 
A strange expression swept over the old her- 
mit’s fine face, at my request. A mixture of 
terror born of awful forebodings of evil tidings, 
and of overwhelming joy inspired by happy 
expectations of good news. 
GLAD TIDINGS. 
When we were comfortably seated in our 
favorite places in the cosy “den,” facing each 
other I declar d: 
“ Now, my dear Count, I have not the least 
shadow of a doubt that I enjoy your fullest 
esteem and confidence, yet you have but once 
during our long intimacy spoken of your great 
loss in my presence. You have never solicited 
my aid in finding some traces of your lost 
child, nor have you even given me any clews 
by which I could possibly trace her. I say 
this not chidingly but seriously. I know you 
