in
many things. He must always be the young ladies' school-teacher, even
with Fraeulein Milch.

When Knopf heard of Eric's betrothal with Manna, he said,--

"That is the way! If is the old story over again,--the story of the
maiden freed from enchantment, which is a great favorite here on the
Rhine. This is a new version of it. Only a youth as pure as Dournay
could have set the pure virgin free."

He spoke in a kind of low, dreamy mysterious tone, which so touched the
Major's heart, that he fell upon the speaker's neck, embraced and
kissed him, and cried,--

"You must enter our society. You must speak so there. That is the place
for you."

Knopf had come to fulfil Weidmann's commission, and to make some
inquiries of Eric about the black man Adams. When the Cooper and his
betrothed entered, and the Major gave them his blessing, and Fraeulein
Milch brought in a bottle of wine, Knopf was the merriest of the
company. He could not fully say what was in his heart; but he laid his
hand on the tablets in his breast-pocket, which meant, "Here is another
beautiful romance for me to write down. Ah, how beautiful the world
is!"

Into the midst of this joyful company came the tidings of Sonnenkamp's
flight.

"And we have not yet passed sentence upon him!" cried the Major.

Fraeulein Milch smiled knowingly at the Major, as much as to say, "Did I
not tell you he was making fools of you?"

Without waiting to finish their wine, the Major and Knopf hurried to
the Villa.

Eric was busy with the notary, and they had to wait some time before
they could speak with him.

The notary had brought Eric a paper in Sonnenkamp's handwriting,
which declared that he had taken with him all the property made in
slave-traffic; he appointed Weidmann and Eric guardians of his
children, and arranged for Roland's being declared of age in the
spring.

Another messenger came from Weidmann bringing the good news, that,
according to a letter just received from Doctor Fritz, Abraham Lincoln
had been elected President.

The thought passed through Eric's mind, that there might be some
connection between this event and Sonnenkamp's flight.

He had no time to dwell upon the idea, for immediately after Weidmann's
messenger had been admitted, the Major and Knopf entered.

News followed hard upon news. A telegram arrived, desiring Eric to go
to the city and wait at the telegraph-office, as some one wished to
communicate with him. The despatch was s