The Rosicrucian.

IL —THE STUDENT S HOME . Let us glance at the home , of Basil Wolgemuth . It was a German habitation of the middle ages ; a comfortable , but not luxurious , dwelling , such an one as we see in old German pictures . In homes like this was nurtured the genius of Rembrandt , of

Rubens , of Vandyck ; from such a peaceful German home sprang the fiery spirit and indomitable zeal of Luther ; and in like home-nests wero cradled the early years of most of the rude but noble men , who either by the sword or the pen , have made their names famous throughout the fair land of thc Rhine .

Basil , his mother , Margareta , and another young g irl , sat round a table , spread with thc ample fare of bread and fruits . The mother was worthy of such a son—a matron cf placid but noble aspec ;; like him , too , in tlie deep clear eyes and open forehead . Margareta , a sweet bud , which onlv needed time to

burst forth into a perfect ( lower , sat by her brothers side ; the fourth of the group was Isilda . I hardly know how to describe Isilda . There is one face only I have seen which pictures her to my idea ; it is a Madonna of Guido Reni's . Once beheld , that face imprints itself for ever on the heart It is

the embodiment of a soul so pure , so angelic , that it might have been Eve's when she was still in Eden ; , vet there is in the eyes that shadow of woman's intense lovo ; the handmaid of which is ever sorrow ; and those deep blue orbs seem thoughtfully looking into the dim future with a vague sadness , as if con- scious that the peace of the present would not

endure . Womanly sweetness , feelings suppressed , not slumbering , a soul attuned to high thoughts like a well-strung lyre , and only needing a breath to awaken its harmonious chords—all these are visible in that face which shone into thc painter ' s heart , and has lived for ever in tho work of his hand . And such was Isilda .

Basil sat opposite to her ; he looked into her sweet eyes ; he drank in the beauty of her smile , and was happy . All traces of the care-worn student had vanished ; he was cheerful even to gaiety ; laughed and jested with his sister ; bade her sing old ditties , and even joined in the strain , which

made them all more mirthful still . Basil had little music in his voice , but much in his heart . When the songs ceased , Margareta prayed him to repeat some old ballad , he know so many . The student looked towards Isilda ; her eyes had more persuasive eloquence then even hia sister ' s words , and he

began" COUNT LUDWIO AND THE WOOD-SPIRIT . "Count T . udwig rode through the forest deep , And he trilled a lightsome song , And thought of his ladye-lovo ' s sweet soft eyes , That would smile his welcome ere long . " ' Now whither ridest so fust , sir knight ,

On tho back of thy good grey steed . And wherefore dost carol so gay , good knight , Nor tho stranger biddest good speed ?' * ' Is it the echo , or is it the wind In the houghs Hint whispers thus ? No ! beside him thero Rtandcth a woman fair , With tresses gold-luminous .

" llcr robe is tho hue of the forest leaves , Her eyes liko tho sky above ; Her voice rings sweet , as in maiden ' s cars , Tlio whisper ot euly love . " Gaily tho young count laughed und bent In courtesy frank and freo

'Good sooth , I know nut , ladye , I rodo In Rii-. 'h fair company . ' "lie throws the rein on his courser ' s neck , And Imp * lo tho grassy doll ; Has ho forgotten his ladyo waits , For his comiii '' sho loveth well ?

" He has drank strange poison from thoso wild eyes , Ho is lured by that angel air , And far tlu-oii ' -di the forest ' s mazes dim , He follows the damsel fair . " Sho bound him fast with unholy spells , And bore to her magic cell ; Three months , as it seemed , in those forest bowers

Did tho night and tlio wuodnympth dwell . " Sho has charmed all memories of earth away , ( As she deems ) with her beauty ' s power , And 0 ai less 1 . eels him beyond tho bounds

Of the spell enwoven-bower . "lie hears the Bound of a vesper bell , And the mists from his spirit roll , And the 1 mg-forgotten joys of earth Hush o ' er Ins enfranchised soul .

" ' I must go , I must go , for my loved ono waits—Aroint t ; n e , fell witch , ' he cried ; "' Oh . emu , ' heart ! to bo lured away From my own truth-plighted bride . ' "Wild lightnings flash from her calm blue eyes , And her fa . : o crows foul to see : "When thou hailoat thy bride , at tho altar ' s foot , Kiss her as 1 kiss theo . '

"Iiendiii ; ' , sho kisses Count Ludwig ' s brow , And he starts with the burning pain ; He till in—she is i ; o : ic t nU ( J \ n falv amj lla 3 to Ho eooks thc known path again .

The Rosicrucian.

" It was broad noon-day when he loft tho track , Now the shadows of eye grow dim ; And , 0 wonder ! his steed by the wayside stands , And patient awaiteth him . " He rides like the wind , nor looks behind , And the past seems like a dream , Aa he sees his ladye-love ' s castle-towers Afar iu the moonlight gleam .

"Count Ludwig sits at his ladyes feet , And looks in her eyes so fair ; And feels the light touch of her soft white hand , As it wanders amidst his hair . " 'Now , what is this ? ' cried the maid in fear ; ' What aieaneth this blood-red ring ?

Thou hadst no such signet upon thy brow When last thou went ' st journeying . ' " A shade passed over the young knight ' s face' Tis nothing sweet love , ' he cried ; 'A troubled dream I would fain forget , When again by thy dear side . '

•' He calmed her fears with his tender words , And the maiden smiled again ; Nor over the sunshine of their love Frowned one dark shadow of pain . "Bold knights , proud nobles , and ladies bright , Are thronging the chapel aisles ; And the fair bride stands , rich iu happy love , With her changeful tears and smiles .

" Ihe ritf-s are oer , and Count Ludwig turns Unio her , now for ever his ; AVith heart full of joy , on her fairest brow He presses a husband's kiss . " One e ; -y of wild agony—one look In his face of love untold ; And the young bride lies at the bridegroom ' s feet , Death-stricken pale , and cold .

"A mark is on the pure forehead laid , A ring of crimson stain ; Count Ludwig saw , and with maniac shriek , Ho fled from the holy fane . " They wept o ' er the bride of a moment , dead Through him who her life had been : But never moro on the faca of earth , Was the sinful bridegroom seen . ' '

The student ceased ; and there was a deep silence . Basil's jotiiig sister g lanced round , almost fearfully . Isilda moved not ; but as the clear tones of Basil ' s voice ended , one deep drawn sigh was heard , as if it were the unconscious relief of a full heart .

" You have chosen a gloomy story , Basil , said the mother at last . Her voice broke the spell ; and Margareta added , with the earnest feeling of youth" I do not pity that false-hearted knight ; his was a just punishment for a heavy sin : but for tho poor bride to dio thus in her youth and happiness—oh , it was very sad . "

" Not so , " said Isilda , and she spoke in a low dreamy tone , as if half to herself . " It was not sad , even to be slain by him she loved , since she died in his arms , having known that he loved her . It was a happy fate—not mournful !" There was such an expression of intense feeling in the girl ' s face as she spoke , that Margareta looked at

her iu wondering silence ; but Basil gavo an involuntary start , as if a new light had broken in upon his mind , and the living crimson rushed immediately over Isilda ' s face and neck ; she seemed shrinking into the earth for shame , and said no more . Basil , too , kept silence . No marvel was it in the timid girl who rarely gave utterance to her thoughts , but that he whose

heart was so full of poetry , whose lips were ever brimming over with eloquence , should be dumb—it was passing strange ! The student felt as if though there was a linger laid on his lips , an unseen presence compelling him to silence ; but the finger and the presence were thoso of the angel of love . Angel of lovo ! invisible , mvsterious shadow , that

encompassest ( he whole world—that walketh over the hearts of men , ruling them at thy will , making them bud and bring forth flowers of joy and goodness , or changing , as thou passcth , ( he fair garden into a wilderness ! Angel of love , who shall speak of thee ? Silent and swift as the lightning , or stealing in by slow degrees , bringing light and having darkness , finding

gloom and creating sunshine ; with footsteps invisible as the wind , of which none can tell " whence it cometh and whither it goeth , " who may define thee , Angel of Love ? We see thee not , we comprehend thee not ; we can only bow our hearts at thy presence , and feci . There was a constraint visible in all but Margareta ; she , too young to understand what was passing in the

hearts of the two she loved so much , began to sport with her friend . •' Well I I should not envy Count Ludwig ' s bride , though you do , Isilda ; I would much rather live . " Isilda smiled ; and , just at the moment , a voice was heard in an inner apartment . "It is poor grandfather , " cried thc blithe maiden ,

starting np ; " 1 must go to him—he has been left a long time alone . " And she vanished with the swiftness of a young fawn . The mother followed her with her eyes . " A sunny and loving heart is thine , my child ! " she murmured . "God bless thee , and keep all care from that gay spirit ! " And Madame Wolgemuth leaned back in her chair , closing her eyes . The

The Rosicrucian.

mother ' s heart seemed absorbed in the past , or else dreaming of her child ' s future . But , by thc two thus left together , past and , future were alike unregarded . With Basl and Isilda it was all the present—the blissfull present , fraught with strange and new feelings full of hope and love . They

, talked but little , and in broken sentences , flitting from subject to subject , lest each should lead to the unveiling of the delicious secret that was uppermost in both their hearts , and which they at once feared , yet longed to utter . At last the lamp grew dim , and the moonlight streamed in through the narrow window . Isilda

noticed and spoke of it—it was a relief . " How lovely the moon looks , setting behind the cathedral , " she said ; and rising , walked to the window . It mi ght be she was glad to escape from the passionate tenderness of Bazil ' s gaze , as he sat facing her .

The young student followed her , moving noiselessly , for his aged mother had fallen asleep through weariness . And now thc two stood together , silent , alone with their own hearts , looking up to the quiet starlit sky , and drinking in love , pure , and deep , and boundless as that heaven itself .

" How beautiful is this world ! how happy ! " murmured the girl . "I feel it so ; and most when thus with thee , Isilda , " answered Basil ; and with what unspeakable sweetness and tenderness thc name lingered on his lips ! " Isilda

—my Isilda !" There was a moment of tremulous silence , and then the girl felt herself drawn closer , until her head rested on his bosom , and she heard his voice whispering in her

car" Mag I call the mg Isilda ? all mine—mine onlymine for ever !" She raised her head and looked timidl y but search ingly in his countenance .

"Is it , indeed , true—dost thou then love me ?" "As my own soul ! " passionately answered the student . ' Isilda hid her face again in his bosom , and burst into a shower of tears .

The girl and her lover went home together that nig ht , through the cold clear starlight , to Isilda ' s abode . Many and many a time had they trod the same path , but now everything was changed . They had become all in all to each other—an infinity of love was around them—all was li ght , hope , ami trembling

gladness . The crisp snow crackled under Isilda ' s feet , and the sharp frosty air made her slight form chivcr , but she felt it not . She only clung the closer to Basil ' s arm . lie was all her own now , he—her life's joyher pride—the idol of her dreams , tho delight of her soul . Such happiness was almost too much to bear :

and therefore , when she first knew that he loved her , had Isilda wept—nay , even when sho had parted from Basil and was alone , her full heart poured itself forth in tears . That he—the noble—the gifted—so rich in the greatest of all wealth—the wealth of geniushonoured among men , with a glorious harvest of

fame yet unreaped before him—that he should lovo her , who had nothing to give but a heart that worshipped him 1 The girl , iu her humility , felt unworthy of sucli deep happiness ; all that her lips would utter were the blessed , joyful words— "He loves me ! ho loves mo ! my Basil , mine own ! " and even in her si cop

she murmured the same . Man's love is not like woman ' s ; yet Basil was very happy—happier than he had ever been in his life . The student , the philosopher , felt that all his wisdom was as nothing compared to the wondrous alchemy of love . So far from being weakened , his lofty mind seemed to grow purer and richer , beneath the light of

beloved eyes ; it was like the sunshine to the ripening corn . Basil now knew how long Isilda had filled his thoughts , and been mingled with all his hopes . He did not even then fathom the depths of her spirit—but he felt it was one with his ; and man , proud man , ever rejoices to sec his soul's image reflected in a woman ' s loving heart . ( To be continued . )

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