rich Meghem. He had made several
voyages of adventure, and was well accustomed to a seafaring life. Now
prosperous, and hoping to become wealthy, he was about to settle down as
a steady citizen on shore, with the expectation of some day, perhaps,
becoming burgomaster of his native city. Diedrich, as young men are apt
to do, looked about for a wife to share his good fortune, and had fixed
his affections on Gretchen Hopper, a fair and very lovely girl, the
daughter of a flourishing merchant. Hopper was supposed to be the
possessor of considerable wealth--a dangerous distinction in those days.
Duke Alva heard of the merchant Hopper's reputed wealth, and had made a
note to take an early opportunity of relieving him of a portion if not
the whole of it. Hopper was known to hold the reformed principles, and
though he was careful not to intrude his opinions in public, the duke's
advisers suggested that there would be no difficulty in bringing up an
accusation of heresy against him. Diedrich was an ardent Protestant.
His eye had long been fixed on William of Orange as the person best able
to lift his country out of the present depressed condition in which she
groaned.

Gretchen was a quiet, gentle girl, and she also held to the opinions of
her father and her lover, in spite of her gentleness, with a
determination in no way inferior to theirs. Gretchen soon found out
that the honest, generous-hearted Diedrich loved her, and not long after
this discovery she acknowledged to him that he possessed her entire
heart. She had, however, other admirers, from whom she might have
chosen a husband of a nobler family and of greater wealth than Diedrich.
Among other pretenders to her hand was Caspar Gaill, a Fleming of good
family, who, however, held to the Romish faith and supported the
government of Alva. The merchant Hopper had a great regard for
Diedrich, and was well pleased to find that he wished to become his
daughter's husband. He at once accepted him as a son-in-law, and gave
the young couple his blessing.

"The times are not propitious for marriage, however," he observed.
"Matters may mend; they can scarcely grow worse. Gretchen is young, and
can wait a little. You must have patience, then, my good friend
Diedrich."

Gretchen and her lover passed many pleasant evenings together, though it
was considered prudent not to make their intended marriage public. One,
however, had watched Diedrich's constant visits to the hou