ith　my　dear　old　womanit　was　our　favorite　seat　when　we　were　young。　When　Charles　Henry　leaves　me；　I　not　only　lose　him；　but　my　whole　past　life　seems　to　vanish　away。〃
  〃You　would；　therefore；　prefer　he　should　remain　at　home？〃　said　Anna；　anxiously。
  〃If　it　were　possible；〃　said　he；　〃but　it　is　not。　His　king　has　called　him；　he　must　obey。〃
  〃But　he　may；　perhaps；　be　allowed　to　stay；　father；　if　you　will　declare　that　you　are　too　old；　too　weak　to　support　yourself；　and　wish　the　only　prop　of　your　old　age　to　remain　with　you；　the　authorities　at　Cleve　may；　perhaps；　grant　your　request。〃
  The　old　shepherd　shook　his　head　slowly　and　thoughtfully；　and　said：
  〃No；　we　will　not　make　the　attempt；　it　would　be　deception；　and　could　bring　us　no　honor。　I　am　not　too　weak　to　earn　my　own　living；　and　it　would　be　a　disgrace　to　Charles　Henry　if　I　bought　him　off　from　his　duty。　The　world　might　then　think　he　was　a　coward；　and　had　not　courage　enough　to　fight。〃
  〃Do　you　think　it　a　disgrace　for　a　man　to　be　wanting　in　courage？〃　said　Anna　Sophia；　gazing　at　him　as　if　her　life　depended　upon　his　answer。
  〃I　think　so；〃　said　he；　calmly；　〃it　is　as　bad　for　a　man　to　be　without　courage　as　for　a　woman　to　be　without　virtue。〃
  Anna　Sophia　raised　her　dark；　glowing　eyes　to　heaven　with　an　expression　of　deep　thankfulness。　Then　giving　way　to　her　emotion；　she　threw　her　arms　around　the　old　shepherd；　and；　leaning　her　head　upon　his　shoulder；　she　wept　bitterly。　He　did　not　disturb　her；　but　pressed　her　tenderly　to　his　heart；　and　whispered　occasionally　a　few　loving；　consoling　words。　He　believed　he　understood　her　sorrow；　he　thought　he　knew　the　source　of　these　tears。　She　was　weeping　because　all　hope　of　preventing　her　betrothed　from　being　a　soldier　was　now　gone。
  〃Weep　no　more；　my　child；〃　said　he；　at　last；　〃your　eyes　will　be　red；　it　will　sadden　Charles　Henry；　and　make　it　harder　for　him　to　say　good…by。　See；　there　he　comes　to　join　usdo　not　weep；　my　child。〃
  Anna　raised　her　head　and　dried　her　eyes　hastily。　〃I　am　not　weeping；　father；〃　said　she。　〃I　entreat　you　do　not　tell　Charles　Henry　that　I　have　been　cryingdo　not；　if　you　love　me。　I　will　promise　not　to　be　sad　again。〃
  〃I　will　be　silent；　but　you　must　keep　your　word　and　be　cheerful；　so　as　not　to　sadden　the　poor　boy。〃
  〃I　will。〃
  Anna　Sophia　kept　her　word。　She　gave　Charles　Henry　a　bright；　cheery　welcome。　While　she　was　joking　and　laughing　with　the　old　man；　evening　came　upon　them；　and　as　it　cast　its　shadows　about；　Charles　Henry　became　more　and　more　silent　and　sad。
  It　was　now　time　to　drive　home　the　fold；　the　sun　had　set；　and　Phylax　had　collected　his　little　army。　The　old　shepherd　arose。　〃And　now；　my　children；〃　said　he；　〃take　leave　of　one　another。　It　is　the　last　sunset　you　will　see　together　for　many　a　long　day。　Swear　to　each　other　here；　in　the　presence　of　God　and　of　his　beautiful　world；　that　you　will　be　true　to　each　other；　that　your　love　shall　never　change。〃
  Charles　Henry　looked　timidly；　beseechingly　at　Anna　Sophia；　but　she　would　not　encounter　his　gaze。
  〃We　have　said　all　that　we　had　to　say；〃　said　she；　quietly；　〃we　will　therefore　not　make　our　parting　harder　by　repeating　it。〃
  〃It　will　make　parting　much　easier　to　me；〃　cried　Charles　Henry；　〃if　you　will　swear　to　be　true；　and　always　to　love　me。　Though　many　years　may　pass；　Anna　Sophia；　before　we　meet　again；　I　will　never　cease　to　love　you；　never　cease　to　think　of　you。〃
  〃This　will　I　also　do；　Charles　Henry；〃　said　Anna；　solemnly。　〃My　thoughts　will　be　with　you　daily；　hourly；　your　name　will　be　constantly　upon　my　lips！〃
  Charles　Henry　turned　pale。　He　understood　the　ambiguous　meaning　of　this　oath；　and　it　cut　him　to　the　heart。
  〃And　now；　good…night；　Anna　Sophia；〃　said　the　old　shepherd；　〃to…　morrow　evening；　when　your　work　is　done；　I　will　await　you　here。　We　will　have　to　love　and　console　each　other。　Good…night　once　more！〃
  〃Good…night；　dear　father；〃　whispered　she；　in　a　voice　choked　with　tears；　as　she　pressed　a　burning　kiss　on　his　brow。
  The　old　man　took　her　in　his　arms　and　embraced　her　tenderly；　then　whispered：
  〃To…morrow　we　will　weep　together；　Anna　Sophia。〃
  Anna　tore　herself　from　his　arms。
  〃Good…night；　father！〃and　then　turning　to　Charles　Henry；　she　said：　〃When　do　you　leave　for　Cleve？〃
  〃To…night；　at　ten；〃　said　he；　〃I　prefer　going　at　night；　it　is　much　hotter　in　the　day；　and　I　must　be　at　Cleve　at　eight　in　the　morning。　I　will　be　at　your　door　to　night；　to　take　a　last　look　at　you。〃
  〃It　is　all　right；〃　said　she；　dryly；　turning　from　him　and　hastening　home。
  Night　had　come；　the　village　night…watch　had　announced　the　tenth　hour；　no　light　gleamed　through　the　windowsthe　busy　noise　and　bustle　of　day　had　given　place　to　deep　quiet。　The　whole　village　was　at　rest；　every　eye　was　closed。　No　one　saw　Charles　Henry　as　he　passed；　with　a　bundle　under　his　arm；　and　took　the　path　leading　to　the　old　school…houseno　one　but　the　moon；　that　was　gleaming　brightly　above；　and　was　illuminating　the　solitary　wanderer's　path。
  For　the　first　time　he　found　Anna　Sophia's　door　openhe　had　no　need　to　knock。　He　entered　undisturbed　with　his　bundle；　which　contained　the　suit　of　clothes　Anna　had　desired。
  Half　an　hour　later　the　door　was　opened；　and　two　tall；　slenderly　built　young　men　left　the　house。　The　moon　saw　it　all；　she　saw　that　the　man　with　the　hat　on；　and　with　the　bundle　on　his　back；　was　none　other　than　Anna　Sophia　Detzloff；　daughter　of　the　old　school…teacher。　She　saw　that　the　one　who　was　following　her；　whose　countenance　was　so　ghastly　palenot　because　the　moon　was　shining　upon　it；　but　because　he　was　so　sad；　so　truly　wretchedthat　this　other　was　Charles　Henry　Buschman；　who　was　coward　enough　to　let　his　bride　go　to　battle　in　his　stead！　The　moon　saw　them　shake　hands　for　the　last　time　and　bid　each　other　farewell。
  〃Let　me　go　a　little　bit　of　the　way　with　you；　Anna　Sophia；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃it　is　so　dark；　so　still；　and　soon　you　will　go　through　the　woods。　It　is　best　I　should　be　with　you；　for　it　is　so　fearfully　gloomy。　Let　me　accompany　you；　Anna　Sophia。〃
  〃I　have　no　fear　of　the　woods；〃　said　she；　gently：　〃the　stars　above　will　watch　over　and　guard　me；　the　moon　will　shed　her　light　upon　my　path；　it　will　not　be　dark。　I　must　go　my　way　through　life　aloneI　must　have　no　fear　of　any　thing；　not　even　of　death。　Leave　me　now；　and　be　careful　that　you　are　seen　by　no　one　during　the　whole　of　tomorrow　in　my　house。　No　one　will　go　there　tomorrow；　for　I　have　left　word　in　the　village　that　I　am　going　on　a　visit　to　my　aunt　at　Cleve。　I　have　prepared　your　meals　for　you；　the　table　is　set；　and　above；　in　my　room；　you　will　find　books　to　read。　You　can　stand　it　for　one　day；　tomorrow　evening　you　will　be　released。　Farewell；　Charles　Henry！〃
  〃Do　not　go；　Anna　Sophia；〃　said　he；　weeping　and　trembling；　〃I　will　go。　I　will　force　my　heart　to　be　courageous！　You　must　stay　here。〃
  〃It　is　too　late；〃　said　Anna：　〃nor　could　you　do　it；　Charles　Henry。　You　are　afraid　of　the　dark　woods；　and　what　comes　beyond　is　much　more　fearful。　We　have　taken　leave　of　each　other；　the　worst　is　past。　Kiss　your　father　for　me；　and　when　at　times　you　are　sitting　upon　the　old　bench；　remind　him　of　Anna　Sophia。〃
  〃I　will　obey　you；〃　whispered　he。
  But　Anna　was　not　listening　to　him；　she　had　turned　from　him；　and　was　hastening　down　the　road。
  The　moon　saw　it　all！　She　saw　the　tears　steal　slowly　from　Anna　Sophia's　eyes；　and　fall　unknown　to　herself　upon　her　cheek；　as　she　turned　her　back　upon　her　old　home　and　hastened　forward　to　a　life　of　danger；　privation；　and　want。　She　saw　Charles　Henry　leaning　upon　the　door　of　the　old　school…house；　staring　after　Anna　with　a　trembling　heart　until　the　last　glimpse　of　her　was　lost　in　the　distant　woods。　He　then　entered　the　school…house　and　fastened　the　door　behind　him。　His　heart　was　heavy　and　sorrowful；　he　was　ashamed　of　himself；　he　was　sorry　for　what　he　had　done；　but　had　not　the　strength　to　change　it；　and　as　he　went　over　Anna　Sophia's　departure；　he　was　inwardly　rejoiced　that　he　himself　was　to　remain　at　home。
  On　the　morning　of　the　second　day　after　Anna's　departure；　there　was　a　great　stir　in　the　village；　there　were　two　astounding　reports　to　excite　the　community。　Charles　Henry　Buschman　had　returned　from　Cleve；　they　had　told　him　he　could　be　spared　for　a　while。　The　second　report　was　that　Anna　Sophia　had　not　returned　from　her　visit。　They　waited　for　several　days；　and　as　she　did　not　come；　Charles　Henry　went　to　the　distant　village　where　her　aunt　lived。　But　he　returned　with　sad　news。　Anna　Sophia　was　not　there；　her　aunt　had　not　seen　her。
  What　had　become　of　her？　Where　was　she？　No　one　could　clear　up　the　mystery。　Many　spoke　of　suicide；　she　had　drowned　herself　in　the　large　lake　to　the　left　of　the　village　they　said；　because　her　betrothed　had　to　leave　her。　The　old　pastor　would　not　listen　to　this；　but　when　the　aunt　came　to　take　possession　of　her　niece's　worldly　goods；　he　had　to　bring　forward　the　will　Anna　had　given　him；　in　which　she　had　willed　her　all　to　Father　Buschman。　And　now　no　one　doubted　that　Anna　had　laid　hands　upon　herself。　The　mystery　remained　unsolved。　Every　one　pitied　and　sympathized　with　Charles　Henry；　who　had　lost　all　his　former　cheerfulness　since　the　death　of　his　bride！
  CHAPTER　V。
  THE　PRISONER。
  Two　years　had　passed　since　Frederick　von　Trenck　entered　the　fortress　of　Magdeburg。　Two　years！　What　is　that　to　those　who　live；　work；　strive；　and　fight　t