Fickle Fortune

was hourly expected, had not returned from his shooting expedition when Baron Heideck suddenly arrived in the forenoon, straight from

brief visit to his relations at the castle. Though the fact of the engagement could not now be altered, an animated discussion on the subject seemed to have taken place between the brother and sister. They had remain

ies of the past, for very certainly the article which the Countess took from that small compartment was a souvenir of distant, bygone days. It was a small leather case, a few inches long, containing apparently a portrait which perhaps for years had remained in its hiding-place u

he dreamer away to a far-distant past. Obliterated memories troop back upon the mind, forgotten joys and sorro

f frightened, half annoyed, when, without any previous warning, the door of the room was suddenly thrown open. Quick as thought, she c

ith his usual formal, solemn demeanour. He was evidently agitated, and he

s just return

e mother, accustomed always t

rsberg was at the door when the carriage drove u

ce blanched to a deadly pallor. 'What do

The groom said something about an accident out shooting. A

f alarm. Asking no question, listening to no further word, the agonized mothe

errified as his mistress, would have rushed after her; but jus

aunt?' he a

g in the direction she had taken. 'My lady was so shocked whe

atient gesture. 'The Count's wound is not at all serious. I came myse

Everard, with a great sigh of r

ed in the hand, nothing more. It was quite unnecessary to alarm the Countess in this way. Go now and let Baron Heide

the room, when his eyes, wandering with a casual and indifferent glanc

begged the Countess to make over to him a portrait of his father, which had been in the possession of the late Count Ettersberg, and was, no doubt, still to be found among his personal belongings. Now that he was leaving the old

nce of it, and really did not know if it were enclosed in a frame or in a case. Th

ted on ivory--but it was not the one he sought. At the fir

'Strange that I should never have seen it before.

kably portrayed the young Count's features, and then the old-fashioned and discolou

from the shape of the case--yet it represents Edmund as he now appears. To be sure,

uth flashed upon him, the perception of all that was, and had been. The enigma was solved. Hastily he strode up to a life-size portrait of Edmund,

ion. The resemblance to Edmund was so extraordinary that he might have sat for the miniature, and yet the face depicted in it was

, in a low hoarse tone. 'Righ

it conveyed a certain unfeigned horror; but as he caught sight of the secret comp

rudence and power of reflection. To think that it should fall into my hands! This surely is more than a mere accident. I think'--here Oswald drew himself up to a proud

le case into his breast-pocke

d been accidentally discharged, but fortunately the shot had only grazed his left hand. The injury was very slight, hardly deserving to be called a wound, yet the whole castle was in commotion about it. Baron Heideck hastened

til it yielded beneath his cheery influence, protested strongly against being treated as a disabled ma

gings and deep bay-window. The furniture was massive and good, as in every room throughout the house, but it had not been renewed for years, and was in strong contrast to the bright and handsome appointments of the main building, and especially of that part of it

no circumstances could he have brought himself to seek aid or protection from Edmu

breast telling of the terrible agitation that reigned within him. The dim tormenting doubt which had beset his soul for years, the vague presentiment which he had driven from him only by the full exercise of his powerful will, now stood revealed a

le, and again took up the fatal port

it will certainly keep silence. She would die rather than make a confession which would bring ruin on herself and on her son, and I cannot compel her to speak--I must not, c

it down again, still standing bef

e would so set himself if once I introduced the suspicion to his mind. I know him well enough to be sure of that. But what a terrible blow it would be to him--to him, with his sensitive notions of honour, with his candid, open nature, which has never conde

awoke other and hostile emotions which clamoured to be heard. They recalled to him the deep-dyed treachery of

perhaps perish in the vain struggle, while, if you will, you may be master here on the land which belongs to you of right? Shall the woman who has been your bitterest enemy triumphantly retain her power and endow her son with all the good things o

at which he had endured for years, with inward chafing, it is true, but yet mutely, accepting it as a decree of Fate, goaded him to wild rebellion and fury now that he recognised the treachery that had been at work. Gradually every other feeling was

She will defy me to her last breath. Edmund alone is able to extract her secret

ck movement he pushed the miniature out of sight beneath the papers on the writing-table, and cast a

d--you

sing the door. 'I still number among the living, and have come expressly to prove to you th

ce at that precise moment had upon his cousin. It was only by a violent effort tha

hrough these long cold corridors! You wer

put up with all their nonsense a few hours to please my mother, but I have had enough of it now. My servant has instructions to say that I am asleep, should anyone inqu

h such heartiness that Oswa

your room, at least

n armchair. 'I have so many things to say to you--for instance, how I came by this famous wou

ly to the papers, beneath whi

ly. 'I thought your gun was fired accide

y other version of the affair. But I need not make a secret of it to you. I was out

becoming attentive. 'What

we agreed to settle our little difference by meeting this morning. You see no great damage has been done. I shall perhaps

t? Why did you not send a message o

host offered me his services--and as the mourni

subjects,' said Oswald impatiently. 'A d

d lau

e a solemn leave of you, and have left a touching message of farewell for Hedwig? Bah! the

our adversary's words so coolly. W

arkened, and he replied

aughed with them and entered quite freely into the spirit of the joke, until Senden remarked very pointedly that as the two properties were to be joined

said Oswald, with a shrug of the shoulders. 'He naturally feels a certai

s, as you know, a lofty idea of her class-privileges, and she then felt it incumbent on her to uphold the principles she professes. This is why I esteem so highly the sacrifice she is now making for me. Senden'

believe that Senden had

I was rather too warm, but on that point I can brook no insinuations. You reproach me frequently with my heedlessness and fr

subjects on which you feel seriously and de

ne,' retorted

dow of a suspicion rouses all the s

. The habitual gay, careless expression had vanished from his features, giving pla

ady to push them aside and draw forth the picture, but as the young Count's last words fell on

e's death, have refused the bequest, and never should have allowed the suit to be instituted. If Hedwig and I had remained strangers, and the cou

e victim of a fraud,' sa

ount, stepping quickly up to his c

s great secret, but there was nothing to indicate the emoti

awn up in favour of a nephew, passing over the daughter and her rights. Calumny, of course, takes advantage of the scope afforded it, and hints at undue

such a possible view of the case, of the disgrace it would entail? How should you qualify a scheme formed to oust the rightful heir that another might succeed to his place and property?

nd he stepped back a little into the shadow

scoveries. In our sphere especially there are so many dark family histories which lie hidden for years, and then suddenly one day spring to light. So many, who hold a b

myself to be without reproach, that I may breathe freely, and boldly meet the slander I despise--there would be no living for me else. Dark family histories! The

imposed on you--for the

knowledge that there was a stain on our escutch

ccident might relieve him of the onerous task which he felt must be fulfilled in one way or another. Edmund had gone up to the writing-table, and as he spoke on, he took up some of the papers unthinkingly, an

Senden has had will serve for others. Nothing is sacred to calumny, no object, howev

e dust,' remarked Oswald. 'You have h

other,' said the young

, and to-day of all days he was grave and earnest of speech, showing the deeper side of his nature. And all the time his right hand was busy, mechanically turning over the papers on the table, approachin

nued. 'She would inquire, as you do into its origin, and the truth might wound her. Whilst I am to the fore not the very shadow of offe

come to the last sheet, that beneath which the picture lay, but suddenly Oswald's h

nd in astonishment. 'Wha

d threw his arm about

let us go to th

that? One would have thought a mine was about to explod

with a strange smile. 'Le

manner. I did not look at them, and if I touched them, I did it mechanically. You appear to have secrets, and I, no doubt, am disturbing you when you would wish to be sorting your

not leave me so--not

' said Edmund, half wrathful, half appeased. 'You are d

eparation is more painful t

that Edmund looked at him in sur

the evening. But I can guess: you have been searching among these letters and papers

ver now. You are right, they were old memories which put me out of tune. I wil

t you might still have much to arrange and set in order

ssuredly for the first time in his life, took him in

urn for your warm and hearty friendship, yet you have been ve

the embrace. 'But for that, the confession would never have passed your lips. N

il to-day. But go now. With that wound of yours,

but as the young Count retraced his steps to his own room, Oswald stood again before his writing-table, holding the po

will not reign as master o