ghter," added Marie,
trembling. "At this hour, it weighs like a heavy burden upon my heart,
and the words of Holy Writ burn into my very soul--'Honor thy father and
thy mother, that it may be well with thee.'"

"You have honored them all your life," said Trude, solemnly; "I can
witness it before God and man. You have worked for them without thanks
or love, receiving only contempt. It is also written, 'Thou shalt leave
father and mother, and cleave unto thy husband.' You still follow the
commands of God, and may it bring you happiness and blessing. My
prayers and thoughts go with you, my child! a mother could not love her
offspring more tenderly than I do you."

"No mother could more tenderly and faithfully care for her than you
have for me, Trude," cried Marie, pressing her lovingly to her breast.
"Through you alone is my rescue possible, for you give us the money to
undertake the long journey."

"Not I," she laughed; "it is Herr Ebenstreit, and that makes it the
more amusing; the wicked always set the traps into which they fall
themselves." Suddenly the loud, quivering tones of the post-horn were
heard, "Es ritten drei Reiter zum Thore hinaus."

"He has come!" cried Marie, and her face beamed with delight. "He calls
me! I am coming!--Farewell, dear, peaceful room, where I have so toiled,
wept, and suffered! I shall never see thee again! My beloved calls me,
and I go to follow him even unto death! Pardon me, O God! Thou seest
that I cannot do otherwise! They would force me to perjury, and I dare
not break my oath! I cannot forsake him whom I love!--When they curse
me, Trude, kneel, and implor God to bless me, who is the Father of love!
My conscience does not reproach me. I have worked for them when they
needed it; now their adopted son, to whom they have sold their name,
allows them a yearly rent, and I can work for myself."

"Hark! there is the post-horn again, you must go," murmured Trude,
struggling to force back her tears.

"Bless me, mother," implored Marie, kneeling.

"God's blessing go with you," she said, laying her hands upon her head,
"and may it render of no avail the curses of men, but permit you to walk
in love and happiness!"

"Amen, amen!" sighed Marie, "now farewell, dear mother, farewell!"

Marie rose, and kissing Trude again, flitted down the stairs, and out of
the house, Trude following, holding her breath and listening in fearful
excitement.

Again resounded the post-horn.

"They are go