Trenck drew aside reverentially, that she might pass him; but she moved not—­her eyes were misty with tears, tears of love, of heavenly peace.  Amelia laid her soft hand upon his shoulder.  Her eyes, which were fixed upon his face, had a wondrous glow.  Love and high resolve were written there.  “Two of the brightest stars in yonder heavens did wander in our sphere.”  Trenck looked upon her, and saw and felt that we are indeed made in the image of God.

“I seek no safety in flight.  I remain by your side; I love you, I love you!  This is no trembling, sighing, blushing, sentimental love of a young maiden.  I offer you the love of a bold, proud woman, who looks shame and death in the face.  In the fire of my anguish, my love has become purified and hardened; in this flame it has forgotten its girlish blushes, and is unbending and unconquerable.  I have baptized it with my tears; I have taken it to my heart, as a mother takes her new-born child whose existence is her condemnation, her dishonor, her shame; whom she loves boundlessly, and blesses even while weeping over it!  I also weep, and I feel that condemnation and shame are my portion.  I also bless my love; I think myself happy and enviable.  God has blessed me; He has sent one pure, burning ray of His celestial existence into my heart, and taught me how to love unchangeably, immortally.”

“Oh, Amelia, why cannot I die now?” cried Trenck, falling powerless at her feet.

She stooped and raised him up with a strong hand.

“Rise,” she said; “we must stand erect, side by side, firm and cool.  When you kneel before me, I fear that you see in me a princess, the sister of a king.  I am simply your beloved, the woman who adores you.  Look you, Trenck, I do not say ‘the young girl;’ in my interior life I am no longer that.  This fearful battle with myself has made me old and cautious.  A young girl is trembling and cowardly.  I am firm and brave; a young girl blushes when she confesses her love; I do not confess, I declare and glory in my passion.  A young girl shudders when she thinks of dishonor and misery, of the power and rage and menaces of her family; when with prophetic eye she sees a herald clad in mourning announcing her dark fate.  I shudder not.  I am no weak maiden; I am a woman who loves without limit, unchangeably, eternally.”

She threw her arms around him, and a long and blessed pause ensued.  Lightly whispered the wind in the tops of the lofty poplars and oaks of the garden; unnumbered stars came out in their soft splendor and looked down upon this slumbering world.  Many slept, forgetful alike of their joys and their griefs; some, rejoicing in unhoped-for happiness, looked up with grateful and loving hearts; others, with convulsive wringings of the hands and wild cries of anguish, called upon Heaven for aid.  What know the stars of this? they flash and glimmer alike upon the happy and the despairing.  The earth and sky have no tears, no sympathy for earthly passions.  Amelia released herself from the arms of her lover and fixed her eyes upon the heavens.  Suddenly a star fell, marking its downward and rapid flight with a line of silver; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, it was extinguished.