.

That officer shrugged his shoulders. "Your insolence will only make
your situation worse. Remember, you are our prisoner."

"He must and shall die!" shouted the soldiers, thronging around
Feodor, angrily.

The officer ordered silence. "He must die," said he, "that is true;
but we must first carry him to the general, to obtain the price
offered for him."

The soldiers surrounded him and shoved him toward the door. But Elise
broke through the crowd. With flashing eyes, and cheeks burning with
a feverish excitement, she rushed toward Feodor. "No!" cried she, with
all the ardor of love, "no, I will not leave you. You are going to
your death!"

Feodor kissed her lightly on the forehead, and replied with a smile,
"I fear nothing. Fortune does not forsake a brave soldier."

He then took her by the hand and led her to her father. Gazing on him
with a long and speaking look, he continued: "Here, Father Gotzkowsky,
I bring your daughter to you: be a better father to her than you have
been a friend to me. These are my farewell words."

He leaned forward as if to give Gotzkowsky a parting embrace, and
whispered to him: "I hope we are now quit! I have atoned for my fault.
You will no longer wish to punish your daughter for my transgression."

He then threw the white cloak around him, and bidding Elise, who
leaned half fainting against her father, a tender farewell, he stepped
back into the ranks of the guard.

"Attention! shoulder arms!" commanded the officer; and the Austrians
left the hall with closed ranks, the prisoner in their midst.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XIX.

FATHER GOTZKOWSKY.

The door had closed behind the soldiers and their prisoner. Gotzkowsky
and Elise remained behind, silent and immersed in the deep sorrows of
their souls. Neither spoke a word; both stood motionless and listened.

They heard the soldiers hurry down the steps; they heard the house
door violently thrown open, and the officer announce in a loud voice
to those of his soldiers who were waiting in the street, the lucky
capture of the artilleryman.

A cry of triumph from the Austrians was the answer; then was heard
the loud word of command from the officer, and the roll of the drum
gradually receding in the distance until it was no longer audible.
Every thing was silent.

"Have mercy, Father in heaven have mercy! They are leading him to
death!" cried Elise in a heart-rending tone, and she sank on he