Her lover’s peril had taught Margaretha beyond a doubt where her affections lay, and she showed such unfeigned delight at his recovery that he forgot the difference in their rank and told her of his love.  There on the terrace they plighted their troth, and vowed to remain true to each other, whatever might befall.  Werner now ventured to seek the nobleman that he might acquaint him of the circumstances and beg for his daughter’s hand, but ere he could prefer his request the old man proceeded to tell him that he had but just received a letter from an old friend desiring that his son should marry Margaretha.  As the young man was of noble birth, he added, and eligible in every respect he was disposed to agree to the arrangement, and he desired Werner to write to him and invite him to Saeckingen.  The unfortunate soldier now made his belated announcement; but the old man shook his head and declared that only a nobleman should wed with his daughter.  It is true he was greatly attached to the young musician, but his ideas were those of his times, and so Werner was obliged to quit his service and fare once more into the wide world.

Years passed by, and Margaretha, who had resolutely discouraged the advances of her high-born lover, grew so pale and woebegone that her father in despair sent her to Italy.  When in Rome she went one Sunday with her maid to St. Peter’s Church, and there, leading the Papal choir, was her lover!  Margaretha promptly fainted, and Werner, who had recognized his beloved, was only able with difficulty to perform the remainder of his choral duties.  Meanwhile the Pope had observed that the young man was deeply affected, and believing this to be caused by the lady’s indisposition, he desired that the couple should be brought before him at the conclusion of the service.  With kindly questioning he elicited the whole story, and was so touched by the romance that he immediately created Werner Marquis of Santo Campo and arranged that the marriage of the young people should take place at once.  Immediately after the ceremony, having received the Papal blessing, they returned to Saeckingen, where the father of the bride greeted them cordially, for Margaretha was restored to health and happiness, and his own condition was satisfied, for had she not brought home a noble husband?

The Charcoal-Burner

In the woods of Zaehringen there dwelt a young charcoal-burner.  His parents before him had followed the same humble calling, and one might have supposed that the youth would be well satisfied to emulate their simple industry and contentment.  But in truth it was not so.

On one occasion, while on an errand to the town, he had witnessed a tournament, and the brilliant spectacle of beauty and chivalry had lingered in his memory and fired his boyish enthusiasm, so that thenceforth he was possessed by ‘divine discontent.’  The romance of the ancient forests wherein he dwelt fostered his strange longings, and in fancy he already saw himself a knight, fighting in the wars, jousting in the lists, receiving, perchance, the prize of the tourney from the fair hands of its queen.  And, indeed, in all save birth and station he was well fitted for the profession of arms—­handsome, brave, spirited, and withal gentle and courteous.