BERTHA. 39 



a happy woman, when he kept the best horses, drove the finest 

 equipage, lived in the largest house, and, above all, possessed 

 the most extensive collection of flowers in the state. But 

 Bertha awoke too late ; she awoke to learn that she respected 

 her husband, admired his homely virtues, but had no sympathy 

 with his narrow soul. She was like a child who has been 

 dreaming of all things bright and beautiful, and is suddenly 

 awakened to find itself in darkness and solitude. 



But other influences were brought to act upon her morbid 

 feelings. She had heard of the rising fame of Elbert Von 

 L * * * *, the companion of her early youth. She knew that 

 he was occupying a post of honor and usefulness in the coun- 

 sels of the country which was proud of such a son ; and in the 

 sweet vagueness of her dreams, his image was often present 

 with her. But she knew not the whole truth, — she sus- 

 pected not the real nature of her lingering remembrances ; until 

 Death had set the seal of unchangeableness upon the heart of 

 the aspiring scholar. She had been ten years a wife, leading 

 an aimless weary life, finding solace in deeds of charity, but 

 shutting up within her heart untold treasures of tenderness, 

 when she received the tidings of Elbert's death. With the 

 melancholy news came a letter to herself. It had been written 

 at intervals during his fatal illness. He had not sufficient he- 

 roism to go down to the grave with his secret undisclosed and 

 his memory unwept. His last moments had been spent in giv- 

 ing utterance to the passionate love, the vain longings, the bitter 

 sufferings of his unsatisfied heart ; and in that letter from the 

 dead, Bertha read the first love-vows to which her feelings had 

 ever responded. 



