r with the articles required at wholesale prices.

The lady expressed her gratitude, and went away reconciled to the firm.

Pix went into the office, and calling Specht aside, severely
remonstrated with him. Specht was at first speechless with terror. "She
began in the daily papers," cried he, at length; "she first appointed
the theatre, then the promenade, then the tower to see the view, then--"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Pix, with virtuous indignation; "don't you see
that some scapegrace or other has been making a fool of you? The lady
has been rendered very unhappy by your conduct."

Specht wrung his hands.

"I have done all I could to set her mind at rest, and have promised that
you shall never again intrude upon her in any one way; so mind what you
are about, or Mr. Schroeter shall hear the whole story."

While Specht, suffering inexpressibly, took counsel with his musical
friends, Pix acted. A porter carried an immense packet to the widow's
house that very evening, which Pix scrupulously charged to his own
account. That same evening he called to announce Specht's penitence, and
promises of never offending again. The following Sunday he took coffee
at the lady's house, and four weeks after he made her a proposal. This
was accepted, and Mr. Pix determined, in spite of moths and other
hinderances, to give a fresh impulse to the fur-trade, and to become its
centre.

To his honor be it said, he felt bound to communicate the fact to Specht
before any one else, and to vouchsafe him a few words of consolation.
"Fate has so willed it; be rational, Specht, and make up your mind.
After all, it is one of your colleagues who is getting married; take my
advice, and fall in love as fast as you can with some one else. It will
give you no trouble at all."

"So you think," cried Specht, in despair.

"I assure you it will not, if you set about it in earnest. We will
remain good friends; you shall be my groom's-man, and you will soon find
another whose name will rhyme quite as well as Adele."

This consolation, however, proved unavailing at the time, and Specht,
indignant at the treachery of his opponent, enjoyed at least the
mournful satisfaction of having the whole counting-house on his side,
and hearing Pix universally condemned as a hard-hearted, selfish fellow.
But time gradually poured its balsam into his heart; and the widow
happening to have a niece whose eyes were blue and whose hair was
golden, Specht began by findin