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The time of Rudolph's return was about ten days
prior to the period appointed for the nuptials of Egbert
and Miss Sharp. That contemplated event, however,
was far from being a matter of public notoriety,
and was entirely unknown to Mr. Knickerbocker,
who continued to cherish the hope that Egbert's estrangement
was only temporary, and that he would
yet prove mindful of his obligations. He knew
but little indeed of the true character of the individual
whom he thus desired as the protector of
his daughter, and still less of Effie's feelings in regard
to him. Long accustomed to wealth, and to the influence
which it commands, he had insensibly acquired
the habit of considering it essential to happiness, and
nothing gave him more uneasiness than the dread of
leaving his child unprotected by so powerful an ægis.
Although Egbert's vices were radical, and indicated
almost a total absence of moral principle, his manner,
as has been said, was frank and engaging. Smiles
were ever at his command—counterfeits, of course, of
the heart's true currency, but which, like other

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counterfeits, were freely dispensed. It was not strange,
therefore, that the guileless Evert, who was possessed
of that blessed spirit of Charity which “thinketh
no evil,” still retained confidence in the son of his deceased
friend.

There was one exception to the universality of Egbert's
smiles. He had none for Rudolph; and so far
from welcoming him home, gave manifest tokens of
dissatisfaction at his return. The intercourse of the
brothers was of course, therefore, of the most limited
kind, for however Rudolph's generous nature would
have induced him to cultivate a more fraternal feeling,
his advances were ever coldly repulsed, and were
even openly attributed to motives of personal interest.

Rudolph was fortunately charged with some friendly
messages from his uncle to Mr. Knickerbocker,
and, as may be imagined, he was not tardy in calling
to deliver them. As he approached Evert's residence,
he saw the old man from a distance, now strolling
slowly through his garden, and now leaning on his
cane at the water-side, and looking wistfully in
the direction of his lost estates. As he came nearer,
he saw Effie also, restraining her buoyant steps, and
walking slowly at her dear father's side; and a still
nearer view would have shown him that her face was
radiant with smiles, and that her lips were prattling
of hope, and that she was full of little devices to win

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the heart-broken Evert from his grief; for she trembled,
poor Effie, for the failing reason of her sire, as
with his thin locks streaming to the wind, he still
gazed silently away—far away—toward the miles of
blooming fields and waving forests which were even
yet called by his name.

Although nearly a stranger to the family, Rudolph
received a cordial welcome from the hospitable old
man, who congratulated him on his safe return, and
evinced much curiosity on the subject of his adventures.
Effie, delighted at the returning smiles of her
father, and at the interest which he manifested in
their visiter's narrative, became a deeply interested
listener, and was doubly beautiful, because utterly unconscious
of being the object of admiration. Rudolph,
of course, exerted himself to please, and became astonished
at his own resources, and when he rose to
take his leave his new friends parted with him with
unfeigned regret. It was a singular accident, Effie
thought, that on the very next day she met him again,
while taking a short walk, and that he strolled at her
side, and engaged her in conversation, and accompanied
her home, and again sat down by old Evert's side
for two long hours. On the ensuing day he came to
exhibit some northern curiosity of which he had
spoken on a former visit, and on the next, for some
other easily invented cause. How very kind it was

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of him, thought sweet unsuspecting Effie, to come
thus daily and cheer up poor papa, for the old man's
eyes always brightened at his approach, and all his
grief seemed for a while forgotten. But other
eyes soon brightened, and other ears caught first
the sound of his footsteps, and an angel heart
beat quicker at his coming. New and strange emotions
were Effie's, unconfessed to herself, and carefully
concealed from others. Vainly she sought to
repress them, or to believe that they did not exist;
for she did not dare to believe that Rudolph's visits
were intended for her, or that he looked upon her
with any especial regard. To her appreciating heart
he was all too noble and too pure, to be within the
attraction of her humble charms. But as day after
day brought some new token of his regard, the delighted
Effie was compelled to believe and hope, and
to look tremblingly for that avowal, which seemed
only unspoken.

But Rudolph unfortunately began to be haunted by
doubts. The first ardor of his hopes had subsided, and
some very natural fears suggested themselves to his
mind. If Effie had really been attached to Egbert,
was it not reasonable to suppose that she still loved
him? Might she not even be cherishing the expectation
of his returning fealty; and might not her present
kindness to himself be the more freely exhibited,

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because she had every reason to believe that he knew
of her love for another, and that he would not misconstrue
her friendship into affection? Lovers are always
skilled in self-torture, and Rudolph was fast becoming
a proficient in the art. Several unfortunate circumstances
gave strength to his suspicions, and just as he
had resolved to hear the worst from Effie herself, a most
untoward event occurred, interrupting his design, and
dashing all his brilliant hopes to earth. Evert had
continued blind to the attachment which existed between
Effie and Rudolph, and so pertinaciously had
his own thoughts and hopes clung to the idea of Egbert's
returning faith, that he imagined his daughter
to be imbued with the same feelings. What else, he
thought, could render her so happy and contented?
How could her step be otherwise so light, her voice
so cheerful, her face so radiant with smiles? In this
state of mind the half-crazed father applied to poor
Rudolph for his opinion in regard to the extent of Egbert's
defection, and the probability of his return; and
when the young man found voice to reply, it was only
hurriedly to inquire if Effie would still be a willing
party to the alliance with his brother. The surprised
air of Evert, as he returned an unhesitating answer in
the affirmative, set the seal to Rudolph's despair. He
felt like one who, having in a dream climbed to some
giddy eminence, topples suddenly from its summit.

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He was now furnished, he thought, with the key to
all Effie's conduct. His sagacity had been at fault
before, only because it had been led blindfold by
his hopes. But he never would hope again. How
foolish indeed for him to think of winning an angel
from its sphere; but he saw, thank Heaven, his presumption,
and now that his eyes were open he would
endeavor to keep them so. Such were Rudolph's
thoughts. His esteem for Effie was indeed slightly
impaired at the thought of her attachment to one as
undeserving as Egbert; but on reflection he remembered
that she was ignorant of his true character, and
he thought that doubtless her affection, based at first
on a sense of duty, had grown gradually into an enduring
sentiment. But however that might be, one
thing was clear enough, and that was that she cared
nothing for him. So this, he thought, was the end of
all his happiness. It had lasted a fortnight, for which
he might thank his folly. He would now go quietly
home, and advertise for a cap and bells, for if there
were any spare insignia of that kind in the world, he
thought he was fully entitled to wear them. Rudolph,
in short, discontinued his visits to Effie, and betook
himself once more to solitude, but, as is supposed, not
of the “sweetened” variety.

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