return Frank’s salutation with sweet blushes, as he met her and her mother on their way from church. The two lovers had never yet exchanged one word; but he understood her and she him, so well, that words could not have made them understand each other more distinctly, even if by themselves; and both parties vowed in their hearts, to preserve the greatest secrecy, and be eternally faithful.
In the quarter where mother Brigitta now resided, there were not wanting persons who made it their business to hunt out the most beautiful maidens and by them the charms of the fair Mela did not long remain unnoticed.
Directly opposite to their humble lodgings, lived an opulent brewer, whom the witlings of the day chose to call the king of hops, on account of his great wealth. He was a spruce young widower, whose time of mourning was just drawing to a close, and who, without offending the laws of decorum, might now look out for a second help-mate. Immediately after the decease of his late wife, he had, in the greatest secrecy made a pact with his patron St. Christo-
