1800.] 
our dwelling. ‘The A rstiaiie hand of 
old age would be but a fad inheritance for 
her ; but nobody knows whom fhe loves. 
She could find admirers inabundance, but 
fhe fhuns them all.” 
Thefe words relieved the burden that 
weighed heavy on my heart. I imme- 
diately requefted Annette to follow me to 
a room above ; I addrefied her in the ter- 
dereft manner I was able. I preff-d her 
to tell me in confidence, if fhe had already 
made a choice; and affured her fincerely, 
that, in all my travels, I had never met 
with any one who pleafed meas fhe had 
done. 
«© Let us fit down,”’ faid the, ** and lif- 
ten attentively. Do you underitand how 
to keep a fecret ? Can I confide myfelf to 
you in perfeét fecurity ? If you will fwear, 
¥ will tell you whom I love.” «* Heaven ° 
knows, I fhall fwear with a good heart. I 
have all your words graven deep in my 
Toemory. 
‘¢ Do you remember the day that firtt 
made you a foldier,—it is about eight 
years ago? Do you recollect alfo Sigri 
with Jong hair, who ftood by the officers; 
the fame young maid who lamented fo 
much when you were ordered to march as 
a guard to Copenhagen? There was then 
among your comrades the handfomeft man 
in the world ! 
“< In feeing Sigri weep, I wept too, but 
knewnotwhy. Thecrowd had their eyes 
fixed on you, but this handfome man look- 
ed atme. ‘ Grieve not at his departure, 
dear girl,’ faid he, ¢ you will fee him re- 
turn ina few years.’ ¢ It is not on his 
account that I weep,’ faid I, * but.on 
your's.” My grandmother chide me. 
<¢T felt equally proud, both of having 
been feen, and having {poken to this man, 
I was, however, a child; delicate, weak, 
and pale as a winter’s moon; but that 
which I had faid was the truth. It is a 
Jong time that I have Joved him. Never 
have I feen fo fine a man. 
“© You begag your march; he went 
along with you :—when Sigri faw you go, 
fhe fainted. Sigriis fince dead. 
ed you much, but, perbaps, you never 
knew it. Her father was a man cruel 
and inflexible, who wifhed to contradict 
her choice, and perfecuted her as long as 
fhe lived. For me, I had neither father 
nor mother; my handfome man went with 
you ; they tell me fince, he has gained 
reputation in the fervice, is much ‘Joved, 
and with much reluctance given up by his 
officers. 
& Now {peak freely, and promife with 
She lov- | 
Tranflated ‘by Mr, Coitle. O71 
truth to anfwer my queftions. Tell me if 
his heart is engaged, if it is his intention 
to remain in the fervice; or, if the love of 
his native country calls him home? _He 
is about your age, and I know that he has 
my heart, and that I live for him alone.” 
So far her fecret was fafe; I was not a 
bit the wifer. I reflected a long time on 
what fhéhad faid, but in vain. At lat I 
feized her two hands, and entreated her to 
finifh the confidence fhe had began to re~ 
pofe in me. ** I know,” faid Is << every 
one belonging to thefe parts, vehio have en- 
tered into eur ee and have deferv- 
ed weil: fo that if you tel] me the name of 
your fault e, it is not impoffible but I 
may recolle& him.” 
““ His name,” faid coe “my tongue 
refufes to pronounce a then turning her 
head, added, —** modefty makes it expire 
on my lips. But do not blame me! f 
bivelfav heart ike thine own, that would 
rather die than be guilty of on indelicate 
ation! but it js all the fame perhaps— 
do you recolle& his portrait ? 
“¢ Ata fair, I accidentally found fuch 
aone, the exack refemblance of my fa- 
vourite. IT bought it, with the determi- 
nation to fhew it to no ones but by little 
and little, you havein{pired me with fuch 
confidence that I muft flew it you——per- 
haps,” faid fhe, ‘* you may recolleét it.’* 
She drew out a key and opened a great 
coffer, in which was a box, containing 
fomething caretuliy folded up: this the 
prefented to me with a trembling hand. 
‘* Judge,” faid fhe, ‘¢ my feelings ‘by 3 your 
own. If I have dane wrong, conhider 
yourfelf as the caufe; for me, 1 fhould ‘al. 
wavs have kept the eevee, I began to 
unfold the little packet, impatient to 
know what happy mortal the portrait re~- 
prefented ; a mirror reflected my owe 
tmage ! . 
Ina tranfport of joy I feized Annette 
in my arms, and preifed ber to my heart, 
without the power to {peak, I felt a 
mingled fenfation of fear and joy. «* Yes; 
it was for thee, dear Thor, that I wept. 
—And! furely now-I amy the happielt of 
women ; and if I can pleafe as much as I 
Jove, my happine!s will be complete."* 
At this moment my father entered : he 
found Annette in my arms, and tears of 
joy freaming from our eyes. He catches 
us tenderly to his bofom, and we all three 
remained nvuate for fome minutes ; at lak 
the old man fpoke. ‘I fee plainiy how 
the cafe ftands ; the happy moment that I 
expected is arrived.”"——With what joy did 
we then embrace our father ! | 
Te 

