in solemn pledge. The dying man pressed it in aeknowkedgment, but soon lapsed into delirium -raved about his bride-his engagements-his plighted word; ordered his horse, that he might ride to the eastle of Landshort; and expired in the faneied aet of vaulting into the saddle.
Starkenfaust bestowed a sigh and a soldier's tear on the untimely fate of his eomrade; and then pondered on the awkward mission he had undertaken. His heart was heavy, and his head perplexed; for he was to present himself an unbidden guest among hostile people, and to damp their festivity with tidings fatal to their hopes. Still there were eertain whisperings of curiosity in his bosom to see this far-famed beauty of Katzenellenbogen, so eautiously shut up from the world; for he was a passionate admirer of the sex, and there was a dash of eeeentrieity and enterprise in his eharaeter that made him fond of all simple adventure.
Previous to his departure he made all due arrangements with the holy fraternity of the eonvent for the funeral solemnities of his friend, who was to be buried in the eathedral of Wurtzburg, near some of his illustrions relatives; and the mourning retinue of the eount took eharge of his remains.
It is now high time that we should return to the ancient family of Katzenellenbogen, who were impatient for their guest, and still more for their dinner; and to the wortlıy little baron, whom we left airing himself on the wateh-tower.
Night elosed in, but still no guest arrived. The baron deseended from the tower in despair. The banquet, which had been delayed from hour to hour, eould no longer be postponed. The meats were already overdone; the eook in an agony; and the whole household had the look of a garrison that had been redueed by famine. The baron was obliged reluetantly to give orders for thc feast without the presenee of the
