"The Secret Tribunal."

" There are sjiies behind yon arras , " and the new-comer pointed towards the place where the adventurers were hidden . How thoir presence had been discovered Goetze and his colleagues knew not , hut i « a ti- 'ice they wero dragged from their concealment by strong arms , and were securely bound and gagged before they had time to speak or realise their danger . To resist so many , however , would have been useless , so they ipiiet-ly subinitted to the punishment Pate had in store for them .

It is perhaps needless to record that the disappearance of three such important officers of the city watch caused much speculation and consternation in the minds of the judicial authorities aud the good burghers ' of Osnaburg . The absence of Herr Frederich von Koingsborn was not . commented upon , as it was rumoured that he had left Europe for the Indies . Kvery empiiry wns set on foot

to discover the fate of Goetzcand his assistants , but nothingcame of it . and after a few weeks their very names passed out of the thoughts of the general public . Old Weigell , the armourer , privately grieved for the loss of his friend , and shook Ins head ominiously when ( piestioned us tothe probable fate of the missing man ; hut he kept his own counsel . Curiosity and alarm , however , wore again aroused some mouths after

"The Secret Tribunal."

the facts above related . Tt happened in this wise . Some lads of the city had penetrated into nn unfreipionted . part of a lonely wood in search of nuts , berries , and other indigestible things clear to tho juvenile heart aud stomach iu all ages aud countries , when thoy were horrified upon beholding the remains of four men hanging to tho huge bough of a

forest tree . They at once spread tho grim news , and upon investigation the bodies were recognised by the clothing a-i being tbe long-missing officers of ths city watch and Herr von Konigshorn . A dagger was thrust into the tree , and attached to it was a piece of vellum , on which was written , " Thu * perish all spies nn ! enemies nf tlic llolii I ' elnn . "

This tragic discovery struck terror to the hearts of the inhabitants o ' Ostuihiirg . aud the tidings were soon circulated in Dortmund , lli ' iii-ster , and other towns of Westphalia . A great , commotion was the result . Tiie Bishop oF Osnnlinrg brought the matter before the Archbishop of Cologne , and that piw . u--1 ' nl dignitarv of the church communicated the facts to the F . mperor .

Tn conclusion , sulhee it to say , that the secret , and powerful tribunal of the Veliiii , that was traditionally supposed to have held groat sway in the numerous German States for nearly SOD years , by some cause or influence tint was brought , to bear , became no longer an active agent or factor in clandestinely redressing wrongs , real or imaginarv . and , it is presumed , evcntuallv died out .

A Carol At Eventide.

A Carol at Eventide .

Soft points of starshine glmt the silent , snow , Tlie keen air broken is with throbbing belli ? , Pealing the message of the long ago , Sweet hopeful chimes to cheer a -world of woe . Rising * and dying in their cadenced swells .

Dark firs rise outlined ' gainst the dark blue sky , Beyond the ridge of ermine-vested hill , Beneath which , scattered hamlets sleeping lie . Noiseless the river hurries swiftly by Past thorpe , and upland , desolate and still !

The sound of voices fills the silent night ; I cannot seo the singers , but their song Floats upward sweetly to tlie starshine blight , And like a star , their lantern ' s ruddy light , Above the hedgerows , slowly moves along .

A Carol At Eventide.

A sudden sense of loneliness I feel , My heart thrilled by thab simple rustic strain , T , who resolved my heart to henceforth steel 'Gainst every wounding shaft the Fates conld deil , Am moved to tears by this quaint old refrain !

Far in the snow-clad distance dies away The old-world carol . Home the singers wend * , Would I had beacon-light of Homo ns they , Greeting and kiss to welcome iu the day . Wherein to peace , and joy all hearts should tend !

Ye friends who love me , and I love so well , And shall indeed until all time shall cease , Take from me this poor song , born of the spell Of carol , starshine , snow , and chiming bell Out of my inmost heart , " Christ give ye Peace ! " WI LL . K D WARDKS-SPRAiNTGU .

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