and its environs on the occasion, and not a few of the good old gossips were convinced that the lad had met his death unfairly, and therefore haunted the residence of his uncle. These impressions made them avoid the cottage, and even Mrs. Vuist Slaagen perceived that her old friends regarded her with looks of commiseration, and greeted her appearance in the village with mysterious whispers. But the secret was impenetrable to all save Luitje and Huyp, to whom Mrs. Vuist Slaagen most pathetically related her grievan

ces..

Luitje laughed at the earnestness of her manner, and assured her that her uneasiness might have been spared, as it was in consequence of his having quarrelled with his neighbours. Matilda strove to quiet her, and Luitje, tired,of the scene, beckoned Luttrell to follow him, and jumping into his boat, gaily

followed his occupation. Poor Luttrell found tugging at the oar much more difficult than flapping a lady's fan, but he was launched, on the ocean and could not escape. Luitje took care that his muscles should have sufficient motion, and boasted that he had done even more for him than his tutors, as he had given him an insight into an honest, profession.

CHAPTER XXXI.

"Can gold calm passion, or make reason shine?
Can we dig peace, or wisdom from the mine?.
Wisdom to gold prefer, for 'tis much less,
To make our fortune than our happiness."

RUMOUR had borne the tidings of Huyp's reappearance to the tower of the Dordrechts. An itinerant pedlar who had picked up the news, while displaying his wares before the eyes of Katryn and old Leena, related the story with all the marvellous annotations of the gossips. Katryn stood aghast at the intelligence, for that it was not himself but merely his spirit which had been.

seen at the cottage of Luitje Vuist Slaagen, she was certain. Leena ran up to her mistress as fast as her feeble limbs could carry her, and with breathless agitation communicated what she had heard. Aaltje was placing on her head tire before the glass at the moment, but in her anxiety to learn the particulars of the fate of her son, she hastily threw it on one side, and ran down forthwith to the kitchen.

"What know you of my son?" exclaimed Aaltje, catching hold of the the pedlar by the coat-" have you seen him?"

"God forbid " returned the man. crossing him with superstitious terror. "I would not have seen him, Mevrouw, for all the gold of Mynheer, the Burgomaster."

Aaltje did not exactly comprehend his meaning, and conceiving that he spoke somewhat slightingly of Huyp,

said, "Not see him fellow! I wish he was here to horsewhip you."

The man turned pale. Mevrouw Aaltje," he replied, "I know that you would not like to have him here yourself seeing that a spirit gliding about like a bog-light is not so desirable."

Here the pedlar entered fully into the story of the village, till Aaltje became pale and horror-struck with the relation. Impetuous and fiery, she stood not to. consider of the probability of the tale, but wildly accused her brother of having been accessary to the death of

son.

Vander Dordrecht was at the Stadt House. The impatience of Aaltje was not to be restrained, and forcing the pedlar to accompany her,. she immediately set forth for Amsterdam.

The Burgomaster was surprized at the unexpected appearance of his wife, and more so when he was informed of.