nest!" he repeated. "That sounds well. When I was of his
age, I only carried a musket in the ranks. I never dreamed then that a
son of mine could ever aspire to the epaulet."

Ernest, waving his hand to Meena Altenburg and his father, rode past
them to the stable, where he left his horse. He then rushed into the
farm house where his father met him.

"What is the meaning of this, boy?" he said. "How wild and haggard you
look! And you have avoided Meena--and this, too, upon your wedding
day."

"My wedding day--O Heavens! I shall die," said the young man, sinking
into a seat.

As soon as he could collect himself, he told his father that he could
not marry Meena, and the reason--he had pledged himself to another.
The old man, who was the soul of honor, burst forth in violent
imprecations, and drove him from his presence. As he left the house,
the unfortunate young man encountered a person whom he at once
recognized as the Baron Von Dangerfeld, the reputed suitor of Madame
Von Berlingen.

"I have been looking for you, Captain Walstein," said the baron,
sternly.

"And you have found me," answered the young man, shortly.

"Yes--and I thank Heaven you wear that uniform. It entitles you to
meet a German noble, and answer for your conduct."

"I am answerable for my conduct to no living man," retorted Ernest.

"You wear a sword."

"Yes."

"Very well--if you refuse to give satisfaction for the injury you have
done me, in robbing me of my mistress, I will proclaim you a coward in
the presence of the regiment upon parade."

"O, make yourself easy on that score, baron," answered Ernest. "Life
is of too little worth for me to think of shielding it. If you will
step with me into the shadow of yonder grove, we can soon regulate our
accounts."

The two men walked silently to the appointed spot, and without any
preliminary, drew their swords and engaged in combat. The struggle was
not of long duration, for Ernest wounded his adversary in the sword
arm, and disarmed him.

"Are you satisfied?" he asked.

"I must be so for the present," replied the baron, sullenly. "When I
recover, you shall hear from me again."

"As you please," said Ernest, coldly. "In the mean time, suffer me to
bind up your arm."

The young man bandaged the wound of his adversary, and as he faltered
from the loss of blood, led him towards the farm house. As they
approached it, two ladies advanced to meet them--one of them was
Meena, the other Mada