CHAPTER XIX.

West Coast Times, Issue 3055, 18 January 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XIX.

\ HSRB VOH HABCHLING. Conceive, if you please, a cottage of two rooms, situated in the midst of a forest in Transylvania. * It is not one of the peasant's hute ; it is built of blue granite ; its windows are of the gothic pattern ; it is a sound and substantial edifice; bu% standing as it does, in the toldst of stately trees, ifc looks, singularly oat of place— "-small, tccentrio, not consistent. But if the cottage looks thus, its inhabitant in certainly consistent with his habitation. Conceive, if you please, a little maa of meagre form, apeish face, quick, eager and suspicions eyes, and yet with the grand bead and imperial intellectuality of Sbakopeare or St. P*ul. The quaint aspect of the cottage, as viewed without, was consistent with the quaint aspect of Herr Von Hasohling as viewed within its walls. And, indeed, the furniture — singularly Bimple, and yet as. singularly costly — was in accord with its owner's appearance. Of Hungarian maple, it shone with a dull lustre, which was alike ta bis complexion. Of many knobs and corners' and twists, and having many odd carving? of satyrs and the like, it "sympathised" with the grotesq-ie features he possessed. Massive and sound, it seemed in accord with the grandeur of tbe man's head. Altogether the picture was one which was consistent, and, therefore, attractive. And yet it was one of discord, sympathy, and contradiction, confusion and order — an epigram 1 , . It is noon, and Herr Von Hasehling, sitting by the huge fire which is built up in his BitUug-room, glances, at odd times, at the clock which hangs over the m»ntel-she)f. He smokes incessantly, now 'and then sipping from a tall tumbler filled with light Hungarian beer. A white cat with pink ♦■yes, lies on the .hekrthru?, watching, with that curious expression of intuition^ which c^ts can assume, the face of her master. Apd, indeed^-I have: often observed th^t anioaaU — cats ; espechlly— poßseaß the faculty of. intuition in a remarkable degree. -'■ Presently both man and cat prick up their

ears, as the Bound of wheels and the tramp of horsps are heird without;. A moment more, and a sharp and imperative knock is heard, and a voice demands admission. "Enter, in the. name of Hoavsn 1" said Herr Von Haschling, and, although he strove to check all Berablance of emotion, his voice shook grievously. There entered a stranger in response. D >shine; aside his hat and cloak, he was discovered to he Vickers. Herr Von Haao.hling looked at him curiously. "Sir," said he, "you are a stranger to me." " Doubtless," waa the reply. "Yet lam the rightful visitor. L\3l time my father waited on you. Ha is dcvi. lam his eon." 11 He is dead," echoed Hsrr Von Haschling, " and you are his son." '• And this in proof," and he took from hia breast a bag of chamois leather, and from it withdrew ( a ring. It was the ring to which Harrington had . drawn his at ention on the evening of Ada Inphce's first appearance in Melbourne. Herr Von Htschling took it in his hand ?s tenderly as a lover might take the form of his beloved. ' " Ach !" he muttered, "it is bo. Seven years ago I saw this gem," and as he spoke he pressed a spring. The upper surface of the ring arose j and then within, exquisitely printed upon ivory, the eye beheld the portrait, of a woman. Vickers uttered an, exclamation of Bu*pri<?e. (To be continued.)