ans so carefully laid, and parting many who made them,
forever. Where all had been so calm but one short week before,
everything was now confusion and excitement. At Fuerstenstein where the
daughter of the house was happy with her lover, all was bustle now, for
the lover must leave at once to join his regiment. At Waldhofen where
Willibald was expected, he appeared suddenly in hot haste to spend with
Marietta the few days which intervened before he marched to the front.
At Ostwalden, Adelheid was making hasty preparations to start for the
North, in order that she might clasp her brother once more in her arms,
before he, too, joined the troops. Prince Adelsberg had left at the
first sound, and was in the city as soon as the duke. The world had
changed its face altogether in a few short hours.

Willibald was in the little garden of Waldhofen, speaking earnestly and
impressively to the old doctor, who sat upon the rustic bench, but who
hardly seemed persuaded by the younger man's eloquence.

"But, Will, it seems very precipitate," he said, shaking his head,
"your betrothal to Marietta has never been made public, and now you are
going to be married. What will the world say?"

"Under existing circumstances the world will say it was the proper thing
to do," Will answered, emphatically. "Though we need not care what it
says. I must go to the war, and it is my duty to make Marietta's future
secure before I go. I couldn't endure the thought that she'd have to
return to the stage if I should die, nor be left to the tender mercies
of my mother; the fortune which I shall inherit is in her hands, and she
will guard it carefully. I have only the estate of Burgsdorf, which if I
should die, goes to a distant branch of the family. According to the old
family law and custom, however, the widow of the heir has a rich dower.
I want Marietta to have my name, and I can then go to the field feeling
assured that her future will be well provided for."

He spoke quietly but with determination. The indifferent, dull
Willibald, was not to be recognized in this energetic man, who knew what
he wanted, could give clear, sound reasons, and was determined to have
his wishes fulfilled. He had gone through a hard but thorough school in
these last six months in which he had been alone. He had had to fight
against many obstacles, but the manliness and independence within him
had asserted themselves for all time. Even in appearance he was changed
for the