A SECOND VISIT TO THE SUBMARINE

TELEGRAPH.*

WE had an uncomfortable conviction that our last article upon the Submarine Telegraph had left much untold, so we resolved to visit Dover again and gather a few more particulars; but this time we had no long pleasant walk over country downs and seabordered cliffs, only the dull nothings of a deserted, wintry, watering-place to enliven us, and we started upon our unpleasant, but fortunately limited, travels, with a strong feeling of disgust and indifference. But how true it is, "the worst moment becomes the most propitious," for there, lying directly in our path, were indications that the " great wiry snake of civilization" had preceded us; there, were raised landmarks that its sinuous length had contorted and twisted itself into unpleasant positions to accommodate the unruly and unalterable lines of the streets. We paused in our walk; we partly retraced our steps, and followed the cable to its starting-point. It led us to the old office of the Company at Athol Terrace, and there it left us, for we did not deem it desirable to follow the interesting subject of our contemplation up the perpendicular face of the cliff to the high and dizzy summit. But we had gained our object, for we knew that from that unattainable height, the cable, here separated from its iron casing, and only composed of four gutta-percha-covered wires, lay under the fertile soil, and wound its weary length for miles on the summit of the cliffs to the lighthouse, whence it descended by a shaft to the beach, and thence under the water to la belle France. We also knew that from the Calais shore it wound its snake-like length to the Calais Telegraph Office, similarly buried and similarly composed, and we knew again that there, at its extreme points, were the instrument intelligencers, the printing paraphernalia, the delicate vibrating needles, and the human manipulators, yclept "clerks," who read and make known to the impatient world its symbolic language. We saw, lying close to Athol Terrace, several masses of boarding, square in shape but hollowed in the centre, of about four inches in thickness each way, and provided with another piece of wood, evidently intended as a sort of cap, or cover, to that first mentioned.

*See No. 135 of the Journal.

[PRICE 1d.

We demonstrated, by actual experiment, that this was the case, and that when so covered the whole made a very tolerable block-house habitation for such unluxurious creatures as telegraphic wires, clothed, too, with so unpretending and modest a dress as gutta percha. We ascertained that ten inches beneath the little, slightly raised landmark, running along the streets, this wooden residence was comfortably ensconced, habited by nine wires, clothed with a tight-fitting, everlasting, and impervious material, made under the superintendence of that most perfect of gutta percha tailors, Mr. Statham, and that those nine wires were provided, four for the present and four for the future cable, which it is intended shall be shortly laid down, while the remaining one will serve for any eventuality that may arise. We presently reached the new office, close by the harbour, and were duly introduced to Mr. Cheshire, the same gentleman who had instructed our ignorance on a previous occasion.

We were in a large and lofty room, forming the outer office or reception-room for messages, and close to our left, in a thick wall, was an orifice provided with a trap-door, communicating with the inner or instrument apartment,--the real object of our aspirations; we were soon, however, made familiar with the whole process. A boy presently rushed in with a despatch from the South-eastern telegraph office, dated 1-59 p.m.; the date was cut off and shown to us, and we impulsively drew out our watch and saw that it was just two o'clock; that faithful monitor, therefore, showed a lapse of time only amounting to one minute since the despatch had been received from London. The clerk in attendance handed it through the opening in the wall just mentioned into the inner room; we were summoned to proceed, and straightway we found ourselves, in what may not inappropriately be termed, the manipulating department.

Here, ranged on a bench covered with green baize, were several instruments; that of the Messrs. Brett, several descriptions of the old machines of Messrs. Cooke and Wheatstone, the original instruments, par excellence,-one or two single-needle instruments, and a galvanometer, with many other mysteriouslyformed and significant-looking engines of electricity.

The despatch we have just alluded to here again met our expectant gaze, hung upon an apparatus bearing a very close resemblance to a Roman Catholic

cross; we were obliged, however, to maintain a very respectful distance, so that the despatch itself should preserve its incognito. On the right of the cross was an instrument provided with two needles, hanging perpendicularly to the earth, and furnished with two handles manipulated by a clerk, who straightway commenced operation. Several jerks were made with the handles, which caused the needles on the dial to move correspondingly, both in the office where we were standing and at Calais! These movements of the needles at Calais attracted the attention of the clerk there, who returned the signal, and the despatch was immediately commenced. But how singular and unmeaning to our gaze appeared the rapid evolutions of the needle indicators; how astonishing it seemed that eyes of mere mortals could follow the rapid and apparently continuous and incessant jerks of these life-like creatures; and what a wonder it was when we were informed, while yet confusedly contemplating in the profoundest ignorance these singular proceedings, that the despatch was already transmitted, and that in another minute or two it would in all probability be copying at Paris, ready for transmission by hand to its destination! This instrument was so totally different to that of the Messrs. Brett, and gave so indistinct and traceless a notice of its efficiency, that our wonder was even, if possible, greater on this than on the previous occasion, and we turned to our former kind informant, Mr. Cheshire, for a further explanation of the mystery.

"Here," said he, "we are governed by precisely the same rules as those I explained to you on a previous occasion. The moment one of these handles is moved, a current of electricity leaves the batteries connected with the machine, and, passing through it, rushes over to the French coast by means of the submarine cable, one end of which is attached to this instrument. On the arrival of the current at the Calais telegraph office, it runs through an apparatus there in every respect similar to that which we have before us, and attracts needles, the very counterparts of these, and in exactly the same manner as you observe these to be attracted. Corresponding movements of these little indicators, therefore, take place both at Calais and Dover, and it is by this method we are enabled to forward our communications. For instance; if I desire to spell the word 'marble,' the right handle is first moved once to the right, and rapidly and without pause carried back again to the left; the needle moves on the dial correspondingly, but from left to right, and then, by its knocking first on one side and then on the other, forms the letter 'm;' I then take the left handle of the instrument and make two rapid blows on the right side, these cause the left needle to move twice to the left, which forms the letter 'a;' both handles are then moved once to the left, and that makes the letter 'r;' the left handle is again moved thrice to the right, the needle moves thrice to the left, that is b;' the letter '1' is the reverse movement of'm;' and we obtain the signal 'e' by moving the left handle once to the left, which causes the left needle to move once to the right, thus forming the last letter of the word." "But," said we, "we do not observe that you have formed any letters; do you attach arbitrary signs to the movements of the needles?"

"Precisely so; I might just as well say that when I make an inclination with one of my arms to one or the other side, we understand that forms a letter. Of course, no real letters are formed any more than we make real letters in affixing arbitrary signs to the movements of the dumb alphabet."

"An excellent illustration," said we, "for in effect it precisely resembles that, or the old semaphore telegraph.'

"Exactly so; but it yet remains to be explained why the needles move when the handles are moved, and this explanation you must follow with some little attention."

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"The moment I move the handle, it is suddenly stopped on attaining a certain bend, by something which you do not observe, but the effects of which you can perceive. Attached to the handle is a brass barrel, separated into two parts by a piece of wood, which piece of wood is a non-conductor; each of these distinct portions of the barrel is provided with a projecting piece of zinc, and it is this zinc, which striking against a brass stop, prevents the handle from going further, and causes it to make the clicking noise you hear. The moment the handle is thus stopped a tion' is formed between the batteries and the cable wire, and the fluid, rushing from the batteries, passes up a piece of wire into the front part of the barrel, runs down the projecting piece of zinc through this instrument, through the cable, through the instrument at Calais, thence by the earth to Dover, up a wire buried six feet in the earth here, into our instrument again, on to the little piece of zinc at the other end of the barrel, and thence, by a wire provided, back into the batteries. In its progress it passes through coils of wire in each of the instruments, and converts them, while so momentarily passing, into temporary magnets. These, when so converted, attract a steel needle suspended in their centres, and fixed upon the same pivot as the needles you observe on the outer face of the dial. Thus, whatever movements these inner needles make the outer ones make likewise. The instant the current has passed, the coils of wire are demagnetized, and the needles resume their perpendicular position. You have observed that the needles may be attracted to the right or left side of the dial at the same time. In the infancy of the invention they could only be attracted to one side, but by providing a combination of machinery we obtain movements on both sides. If I move the right handle once to the right, the needle will go once to the left; if I make the reverse movement, the needles will do so too. You perceive that we sometimes move one handle, sometimes the other, and sometimes both together; this gives us a great number of signals from the needles, both by using them singly and by combinations with the two. To these movements and combinations, as has been before stated, we give the name of some letter in the alphabet; we have a signal for all the letters of the alphabet, and also for figures, besides other combinations far too numerous to mention."

We entreated our friend not to mention them, for our head already seemed a little dizzy.

"And this," said we, pointing to a dial provided with only one needle.

"That is a single-needle instrument, and all the letters of the alphabet are formed by it. It is a very ingenious little object, but rather slow, and tiring for the eyes."

"What then," said we, "are its advantages?"

"For use where there is little business transacted. This method of one needle only requires one wire, and therefore is less expensive. The double-needle apparatus requires a wire for each needle, but then, by its greater speed and efficacy, it much more than compensates for the additional cost; indeed, with us the smaller instrument would be next to useless, and would not enable us to transmit, with any regularity, one quarter of the business we now perform.'

We thought so too, as we observed the rapidity and frequency with which the despatches were pouring in. "Your contrivance for the separation of the different wires from each other, and from the sea, appears, then, to answer perfectly?"

"Quite so; you will observe that on my causing one needle to move on the double-needle instrument, no perceptible tremor is occasioned to the other; this proves the perfect nature of the insulation of the wires from each other. We have also made various experiments to demonstrate this as perfectly as pos.. sible."

We observed a galvanometer on a side table, and inquired if that had ever been brought into play?

Yes, and has answered our purpose admirably. You see, it is a very beautiful and delicate piece of mechanism. Inclosed in a glass tube, and suspended by threads, is a steel needle, quite at liberty to turn in any direction, and, from its perfect lightness and mobility, easily acted upon by any countervailing cause. We have connected this, and by means of the plate underneath, marked with the points of the compass and the subdivisions, we have been enabled to calculate to a nicety whether there has been the slightest current independent of that which alone should be traversing the wires. You have, doubtless, heard that there are atmospheric currents traversing the wires of the different telegraphs at various intervals of time, and in differing degrees of strength or quantity?"

We intimated our acquiescence.

"In some telegraphic systems these currents cause great inconvenience; they pass through the same coils as the currents we ourselves transmit, and not unfrequently, on some lines, all the needles are very strongly attracted, and kept on the one side or the other, preventing the proper working of the line, and causing great delay in the transmission of communications. This, however, is now obviated by what are termed movable studs; the small pieces of ivory you see inserted in the face of the dial, on each side of the needles, are to prevent them from moving too far over, and to give distinctiveness to the signals. If they were attracted too far, they would not return to their position in time for the next movement of the handles; we therefore limit their gyrations. this limitation affords a lever to the atmospheric currents, for they attract the needles forcibly to the stops, and there hold them; we have, therefore, provided movable stops, and when the needles are so inclined we turn round a disc, on which the stops are fixed, until the needles are again brought in the centre point between them; we then proceed with our business as comfortably as ever. Our insulation is almost of necessity perfect; it must be either perfect or utterly destroyed. Were the sea to touch any part of the wire, of course we should be undone at once."

But

"There was lately a report," said we, "of a ship's anchor having caught hold of the cable: is this true?" 66 "Yes."

"And is it also true that the captain, notwithstanding all his efforts, was unable to heave his anchor, and was at last compelled to sever one of the links of the chain, and leave anchor, and cable, and all' permanent inhabitants of the channel?"

"It is all quite true, and has more than realized our expectations of the strength and efficiency of the cable." "It also verifies," observed we, "the truthfulness of your calculation, that several anchors would be required to lift the cable; and certainly it is a most convincing proof of the strength and perfect nature of the submarine line. Indeed, you must have been very happy when you found that this great source of alarm had been found, after all, nothing but a bugbear. The captain, however, cannot be particularly gratified at the result of his night anchorage having cost him so dear. By-the-by," added we, "how is it the French telegraphs in the south of France are so frequently interrompu par le brouillard ?'"

"It is the old semaphore from Marseilles. We expect a great addition to our business when the line of telegraphs to Marseilles shall be completed. It is an amusing instance of adherence to old customs, that the French electric telegraph is provided with needles working very much after the fashion of the old semaphore; they are, however, found efficacious. What is, indeed, very singular, is the secret nature of the Governmental cipher; notwithstanding the long continuance of employés in office, it is credibly asserted, that on no one occasion has this very clever system been penetrated. Despatches, after having been received by the clerks, are enclosed and sent to the translator, who deciphers them by his key. doubt the system of secret signals is very frequently changed."

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"Prussian telegraphs," said we, are very much interfered with by numerous bands of rats. Do not these rats very frequently take the form of Government despatches?"

"No question of it; but the Austrian Government is now bestirring itself to make the telegraphic communication of that country more perfect and efficient. Prussia is similarly employed; and no doubt presently, when more wires are provided, greater certainty will be secured."

A

"We remember an amusing incident," said we, "which happened to one of the German papers. despatch, containing intelligence of a battle between the Schleswig-Holsteiners and the Danes, was handed in to the telegraph office somewhere near the vicinity of the occurrence. Several months afterwards it was delivered at the office of the journal, and payment demanded! It was announced, in a conspicuous part of the journal, the following morning, with a sarcastic remark by the editor, calling attention to the great rapidity with which, by means of the telegraph, he had obtained such important intelligence.'

"It is a melancholy reflection," we observed "that the submarine telegraph should have been first occupied in transmitting intelligence of the late French Revolution, so pernicious in its consequences, so destructive of continental liberty, and the maintenance of confidence between the two nations."

"It was, perhaps, an unfortunate opening," said Mr. Cheshire, "but perhaps it is also equally unfortunate that telegraphs always prosper, not a little, in times of agitation and excitement.'

Despatches still came streaming in, and we shook hands, and bade our friend good-day, not forgetting to thank him for his information. Our mind, however, still pursued the train of its former reflections, and we could not but regret that, just at that moment, when a speaking link of communication had bound the two countries in a nearer, and apparently indissoluble union, distrust and fear should intervene, and sever, with one rapid and destructive blow, the ties of amity which were apparently so beautifully effective and so lasting.

THE PROBATION BY CHESS.

Win her and wear her.-Old Proverb.

"DON'T be down-hearted, Carl," cheerfully exclaimed old Wilhelm Reiter; "you've made some progress already; and if you only stick to it with a stout heart-who knows,--perhaps before the Rhine breaks up, I shall be obliged to abandon the rook, and give you a knight only.'

A quiet smile of conscious superiority involuntarily played over the old man's features, as he put up the pieces, for a fresh game, inviting the despondent Carl to try his luck once more; but the tyro had had

enough for that day, and pleading a head-ache (the vanquished chess-player's best friend) he bid the conqueror good night.

"Good night, Anschutz!" said Wilhelm, as he cordially shook the young man's hand. "Persevere, lad, persevere, and never mind being beaten at first. Remember the Roman general who 'conquered through defeat.' And, harkye! come over to-morrow evening, and we will have another bout. Lina, darling, see the gate fast after Carl."

The farewell between the miller's pretty daughter and Carl Anschutz was somewhat more prolonged than her father's. She accompanied him across the garden, whispering words of solace and hope.

You

""Tis of no use trying, Lina," said he, despairingly; "I am sure I shall never be able to beat him. saw how little chance I had against him, even with the rook, and what fearful odds that makes! Why, it will take years of hard study before I can play him on even terms, much less beat him. Oh ! it is cruel,-downright barbarous of him to sport and trifle with our happiness so frivolously!

66

Oh! hush, dear Carl, do not say so!" murmured Lina, reproachfully. "I am sure my father loves you.'

66

'Why then does he rest his consent to our union upon such a ridiculous, unmeaning condition?" replied Carl, angrily. "What motive can he have? After allowing us to grow up together from the very cradle in such intimacy, knowing my circumstances so well, and even desirous, as he told my mother, of seeing us united ;-what can be his object I know not, unless it is from a morbid love of his favourite amusement, and a desire to see me appreciate it equally with himself. I like the game well enough, but after all, what is it? Only a game, and not to be made part of the business of life. To think of beating him, too,-the best player in

I shall never do it," and poor Carl smote his forehead with vexation, as he thought of the immense disparity in their play.

"Alas! I cannot guess at his motive," sighed Lina; "to me he has ever been the kindest and most indulgent of fathers. Not a wish I can form but he hastens to gratify it. Rely on it, dearest Carl, there must be some deeper reason we are not aware of, for his acting thus-hark!-Coming, father," she answered, as the old man's voice was heard calling her. "Good night, dear! don't despair, and remember,come what will, your Lina lives but for you."

Carl Anschutz and Lina Reiter had been, as he said, companions from infancy. Their fathers were very old friends, and since the death of Johann Anschutz, which happened when Carl was only nine years old, Wilhelm Reiter's counsel and assistance had been of the greatest service to his widow, who continued to carry on the small, but thriving farm her husband had left. She, too, had in a great measure supplied the place of Lina's mother to the orphaned babe,-for the good miller's frau had died in giving birth to her first child, whose earliest years were spent entirely under her fostering care.

Brought up thus together, it was no wonder that the dawning of youth taught the two playmates to feel that sweet, undefinable attraction which adolescence quickened into passion, until at the respective ages of twenty and seventeen, the youth and maiden had discovered, by a mutual confession, that life would be intolerable if divided; and accordingly, Carl made his prayer to the old man for his daughter's hand, never doubting that, as the good miller had always treated him with the affection of a son, he would now hesitate to make him so in reality.

And truly, there did seem no reason to anticipate a refusal. Carl, although so young, was a man

grown, could outwork any labourer on the farm, was temperate, amiable, and sincere, and altogether a fine, open-hearted, clever young fellow. But he was deficient in reflection and steady resolution. These defects showing themselves in an extremely plastic disposition, placed his mind too much under the control of others, and sometimes marred the success of an enterprise well begun ; but time and experience might teach him the lesson of self-reliance. worldly position, though not equal to that of the prosperous miller, was yet a fair one. Johann Anschutz had left his small farm well stocked, and in excellent condition, and, although the seasons had been unpropitious of late, a few years of patient application and good management promised to place Carl and his mother above the reach of any freak of fortune.

His

All this Wilhelm Reiter knew as well as himself, from having been left joint-executor with the widow, and so, when the old man gave but a conditional assent, depending on so strange and difficult an ultimatum, Carl's astonishment and vexation knew no bounds. The miller listened to the ardent representations of the young man with kindness,— professed not the least objection to his prospects, and even encouraged him to the task, but-until Carl had won a game at chess of him, on equal terms, Lina was no bride for him.

Poor Carl prayed,-entreated of him to alter his determination, representing with all the fiery impetuosity of his nature, the strength of their mutual attachment, and the misery he would entail on Lina and himself by a lengthened separation; but argunents, expostulations were of no avail. The old man mildly but firmly reiterated his fixed resolution, concluding the interview by saying :

"No, Carl, you cannot alter my resolve, so begin at once, lad; and if you love Lina as you say, I shall quickly see it by the progress you make. You have plenty of talent, and with ordinary application and care, ought soon to play as good a game as I do. Meanwhile, my dear boy, do not think I am acting from sheer caprice. My reasons you shall some day know. You shall have every chance of success; will even give you regular lessons of instruction, apart from our games, and to show you I really wish you to win her, I shall place no restrictions on your intercourse with Lina. Come as often as ever, and the faster you improve, the better I shall be pleased."

I

It was really a hard task old Wilhelm had imposed on poor Carl, for he was known to be one of the best players in the whole district, some said the very best ; and Carl had only lately learnt the first principles of the game from him. It interested him, as he said, but only as an amusement; he had not patience or perseverance to study it scientifically, and now that his happiness depended on the progress he made in its mysteries, he almost hated it, as night after night he reluctantly pored over "the books," getting bewildered in the mazes of the different 66 openings and their variations, until he went to bed dreaming of undiscovered "gambits," impossible "mates," and "nine queens on the board."

Spring came round, and found Carl much advanced in the game of chess. He was now able, as Wilhelm Reiter had foreseen, to accept the "knight" only, and even with that, won almost game for game. Still this improvement was more the result of constant practice, than of studious inquiry into the science of the game. There was as yet little purpose or method in his play,-little of that causality characteristic of the reflective mind; but hope was dawning. He gradually overcame his distaste for the game, and began to see a higher meaning in it

than mere amusement. His opponent, faithful to his promise, took pains to teach him, showing the "why and because" of the best moves and their answers, occasionally making a brilliant, though unsound move, which quite upset Carl's combinations, and then, thoroughly analyzing it, showing in a clear lucid manner how a little cool reflection would have made it fatal to the player.

The effects of this valuable instruction soon became apparent. Carl began to think before he played, to calculate on contingencies, and look a-head for results, although still somewhat impatient, easily daunted by an embarrassing or difficult position in his game, and apt to despair if the tide appeared at all against him. He fancied, too, that the more progress he made, the better the old man seemed to play also, which, of course, was the fact. There was yet much work to be done.

It was pretty to watch the air of affectionate sympathy with which the sweet Lina would cheer and console her young lover after his constant defeats, as they sat together during the long evenings in the comfortable parlour of the mill. Now behind her father's chair, apparently intent on the game, but always watching for Carl's uplifted eye, to greet him with a smile of love and hope,-now seating herself nearer her lover, her soft white hand stealing underneath the table, to reassure him by a fond pressure. And if Wilhelm Reiter saw anything of this, or fancied his pretty daughter stayed too long out in the night-air, as she closed the outer gate after Carl, he never said so, or placed the least restraint upon their intercourse, but really seemed desirous for the time when Carl could comply with the condition, and claim his young bride.

Thus the year rolled round, and hoary winter again wrapped the fields in his cold, white mantle. About this time, a law suit which had long been pending between a neighbouring farmer and a contractor in Berlin, rendered Carl's presence there as a witness indispensable, and as at that season he could best be spared from farming operations, he intended to make a long stay in that capital. For this Carl had another reason. Berlin had long been celebrated throughout Europe for its chess players, and he determined to avail himself to the utmost by their instructions. He had now become really fond of the game, and was fast acquiring the qualities of application and patience, so necessary to the successful prosecution of any important undertakings.

Perhaps Wilhelm Reiter guessed at this last motive, for he gave Carl a letter to an old friend in Berlin, who had removed there from many years since, and with whom he had fought many a doughty battle over the chess-board.

Arriving in Berlin, Carl's first care was to deliver the letter from Wilhelm Reiter to his old friend and comrade, Hans Koenig, who received him with great kindness, and insisted upon Carl's staying with him while he remained in the capital. The young man gladly accepted the invitation, which was of the greatest service to him, as being the means of introducing him to the acquaintance of many first-rate players and professors of the game, amongst others, the renowned Von der L-, one of the finest players in Europe. This talented master became much interested in Carl, from hearing of his task and its dependent prize, and took frequent opportunities of imparting to him sound and valuable instruction. Carl also frequented the cafés, and engaged with players of his own calibre. This was of great service to him, for his frequent successes with these taught him to feel his own strength, and to play with more self-reliance. He devoted his hours of leisure with unceasing application to mastering the more abstruse

intricacies of "the wondrous game," and even looked forward to the hour when he might again measure his strength with his task-master.

After having spent nearly three months in Berlin, Carl now hastened to return home, and two days afterwards he again clasped his own dear Lina to his heart.

"That will do for to-day, Carl," said the old man, at the close of a tough game, which Carl had won with the least possible odds; "you are indeed improved. I am afraid you are too much for me, even with the 'pawn and move' only. But come over to-morrow evening, and we will try a game 'even' for the first time. Heyday! you little jade! exclaimed he, catching the exulting smile that Lina directed towards her lover, as her father paid this gratifying and deserved tribute to the skill of his opponent; "chuckling over your father's defeat, eh? Come and kiss me directly; and don't think Carl has got you yet, minx. Although," he added, with a half sigh, I am almost afraid I shall lose you sooner than I expected."

"

Wilhelm Reiter had indeed found Carl improved, not in his chess-playing only, but his whole character seemed to have undergone a salutary change. From the hot-headed, thoughtless youth who had importuned him a year and a half ago, he had become a cautious, reflecting man. His mind had acquired firmness and vigour, and the want of self-reliance, once so apparent, no longer showed itself. Probation had done its work.

The

We will not fatigue the reader with the record of the many hot battles which ensued ere Carl triumphed. Doughty and more protracted grew they, for the old man's pride became piqued to find his opponent so close upon his heels, and he played with the utmost caution, every game as yet resulting in his favour. But Wilhelm Reiter was not the Pope. In a game where he was sweeping all before him, scattering combinations, and taking pieces at a terrible rate, he made an inadvertent move, apparently a very strong one, and threatening to bring the partie to a speedy termination in his favour. Carl was sorely puzzled, and for a long time could see no chance of escape. Suddenly his attention was riveted on a particular piece, he looked at its bearings, then again at the piece, could it be? His heart bounded, his eyes gleamed,-stop,-yes,-it is, it is,-"Checkmate in five moves by sacrificing queen," he shouted, almost upsetting the board in his eagerness, as, unable to control himself, he sprang from the table, and hugged Lina in his arms.

"Donnerwetter," muttered the old man, hastily, "der spiel ist vorloren," and lost it was, sure enough, by the masterly series of coups Carl had discovered. He shook his head like a terrier which had laid hold of a hedge-hog by mistake, and didn't like it,pished and pshawed a little, but then gave in with a good grace, and laying down his huge meerschaum : "Thou hast won her fairly, lad," said he, cordially. "Lina, my child, come hither."

The blushing, happy girl advanced, and taking her hand, the old man placed it in Carl's, saying: "Take her, my son, and may she prove the blessing to her husband she has ever been to her father! And now,

Carl, I think you have long ceased to do me injustice. If I read you aright, you conjecture my motives for imposing such a trial on you. Is it not so, lad?"

The young man made no answer, but the downcast eyes, and the conscious flush on his cheek needed no interpreter.

"I see you do," continued Wilhelm Reiter. "It