FATHER AND DAUGHTER

YET ONCE MORE.

EARLY in the morning Hertha entered her father's room. She saw, by his threatening and angry countenance, the tempest which awaited her. But she was now in that state of mind when the soul takes no heed of fear, and feels a determination and a power in its will which assures it of victory. Therefore is she so calm, so composed in her demeanor, glance, and voice. The strength lies in the depth of the will.

The Chief-Director was deceived by this, and began with a stern voice:

"What liberty is this which you are taking in my house? How dared you, without asking my permission, to bring a stranger hither? Are you, or am I, master of this house?"

"You, my father!" replied Hertha. "But Yngve is in his mother's room; is her guest, not mine."

The old man knew not for a moment what to say to this, but continued to look at his daughter with an angry expression, and then said:

"At all events, I ought to have been asked, been consulted with -I ought indeed to have a voice in my own house!" "Father," said Hertha, with sad earnestness, "you are right, I might have asked your permission, have consulted with you, but—you have made me afraid of you, and the fear of strife, and the fear of your refusing me my prayer, prevented my coming to you yesterday, because I must have my own way as regards Yngve. But to-day-to-day I have come to talk with you, to ask your consent to what I propose, to what must be done."

"Must,” repeated the Chief-Director, astonished, “what is it that must be done?"

Hertha continued as before: "Yngve is dying. The most watchful tenderness can alone, by any possibility, save him. I wish to marry him, that I may have the right to attend upon him as his wife."

The Chief Director looked at her with an immoveable gaze, and seemed to be turning over in his mind the means of opposition.

"Father," resumed Hertha, "for more than seven years I have waited for the freedom which you promised me on one occasion, and which I consider as my right, that of disposing of my own person and my own future; I have waited for your consent; I have bowed myself to your will. I cannot do it any longer. The life of another is at stake. I have taken my resolution. Do not drive me to extremes. You may deny me my freedom, forbid me to become Yngve's wife, but nothing in this world shall henceforth prevent me from remaining with Yngve, and being his faithful attendant, even though I should forfeit my reputation by doing so?"

"You

"Do you threaten? do you defy me? will you compel me?" out burst the Director, beside himself with rage. intend perhaps to cite me before a Court of Justice; to drag your father into a court of law!"

"Never!" returned Hertha, pale and calm as before, "but I warn you, my father; I tell you what will be the consequence if you forbid me to fulfil my duty to my-betrothed. Do not do this, my father, and fear nothing from me. Everything in your family will remain just as it was before. I shall demand nothing from you as my guardian, excepting what you yourself may think well to give. Yngve and I possess sufficient means for the present time. If he recover we shall want nothing. Have no fear of us, my father, and give your consent to that which I ask. Otherwise I shall, with Yngve, seek another home than yours."

"Do you promise," said the Chief-Director, gloomily, "to be satisfied with such a statement of your mother's inheritance

as I shall render; will you promise that on your own, and your future husband's account?"

"I promise, my father!

upon me!"

You know that you may depend

"Are you prepared, you and your future husband, to give me a written engagement to that effect ?"

"Yes."

"Well then, send for the clergyman when you like. Only, I will have no bridal ceremonies, no company invited; that I will be excused; do you hear ?"

"Yes; and there is no need of invitations. Bridal ceremonies would not be seemly at a dying-bed. I thank you, my father!"

Thus separated, for this time, father and daughter.

THE WEDDING.

AGAIN we see the Iduna-hall. A small, silent company is assembled there, in the midst of which is a man still young, though he evidently has not long to live, for "roses of the grave" bloom upon his sunken cheeks, and the fine eyes are bright with a supernatural radiance. This was the bridegroom. All seemed to wait. Anon a door was opened, and accompanied by her maidens and beautiful from the expression of nobility and earnestness, entered the pale but stately bride, with the myrtle crown on her golden hair.

Here in the circle of their nearest connections, were united Yngve and Hertha, by the warm-hearted little pastor, who was so deeply affected by the scene, that he was scarcely able to read the marriage ceremony, but from that very cause spoke with still deeper emphasis the benediction on the newmarried pair, who seemed to be united rather for death than life. And yet they looked more happy, nay more blessed, these two, than bridal couples do in general.

Mimmi Svanberg is present at the marriage, and by her lively loquacity introduces a little gaiety into the seriousness of the solemnity. It is the Chief Director in particular whom she devotes herself to enliven, and she actually succeeds in calling up now and then a smile on his morose countenance. Hertha and Yngve are all-sufficient to each other. Yngve is better this evening than he has been since his return. The fulness and the importance of the time seem to have given him a renewed life. But his affectionate wife watches over him and will not allow him to give himself up to the augmented excitement of the moment, without soon recalling him from the company to stillness and silence with her. Thus, as in former years, she again supported him on her faithful arm.

A SUNBEAM.

MAN-"he cometh like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not."

These words often sounded in Hertha's memory during the days which succeeded, and when she saw Yngve decline more and more in strength, more and more bend towards the grave.

But God in his love often permits his servant to beautify for days and months the pilgrimage of a beloved being towards "The second light." This was Hertha's privilege.

Yngve seemed, especially during the few weeks after his return home, to revive, as it were, and acquire new strength. The presence of Hertha and his mother, their care and affection, the peacefulness and pleasantness with which Hertha surrounded him, all operated most beneficially upon him. Two rooms on the other side of the Iduna-hall were fitted up especially for him-for the house was spacious and contained much more room than the family required, and the Chief-Director himself made no objection to his daughter's ordering and arranging everything as she pleased in the house when he saw that Yngve's residence there increased, instead of diminishing, the family income.

Yngve passed daily a few hours in the Iduna-hall. The influence of the summer, the wholesome diet which was supplied, produced a feeling of physical well-being, such as he had not experienced for a long time. He began himself to have faith in his restoration to health.

"How can I be otherwise than well, here with you?" said he frequently to Hertha; "you seem to possess a health-giving power."

Towards autumn, however, the daily fever returned with augmented force. In order to devote herself to Yngve,,