"Gaspard," said he, as he held out his hand to him, "my old and brave comrade in arms, do you not know me?"
Gaspard at once recognised the young Baron Otto de Helfenstein. "My captain, my noble captain!" he said, "I never thought to see you again; we could never hear anything of you, and feared you were either killed or taken prisoner."
"I was taken prisoner by the French," returned the Baron; "and, when I got my exchange, I joined our army in Spain, and went with it afterwards to Italy. I only returned to my own country two days ago, when I saw my sister for the first time since her loss. I little imagined that the child you so bravely rescued was hers."
The Count interrupted further explanations by proposing that all should go to the castle, where they could, at leisure, hear and relate all that would be deeply interesting to the whole party.
The news had spread rapidly through the village, the inhabitants of which hastened to meet the little procession, and to testify their joy at the happy event. The Count was universally beloved by his dependents, and now received heartfelt congratulations from all on the recovery of his lost child.
On reaching the castle, he gave orders for a day of general rejoicing, in which all classes should join, promising, at the same time, that every year the anniversary of the day on which his son was restored to him should be kept as a holiday amongst his people.
The remainder of the day on which the little Francis was restored to his parents was spent in relating the various events which had led to his loss and recovery.
It appeared that, shortly before the disappearance of the little heir of the house of Sternfelden, a keeper of the Count's had been dismissed for repeated acts of gross misconduct and treachery, which had as often been pardoned by the Count. After his final disgrace, this man had been heard to threaten that he would have his revenge. On the disappearance of the child, this man was suspected, the more so that he was nowhere to be heard of, though every effort was made to trace him, and to obtain some eke that might lead to discovering what had become of the infant. The unhappy and bereaved parents learnt after a while that the wretch had crossed the Rhine, and it was supposed he had joined the French army near Metz.
Hither they followed, in the hope of gaining some tidings of their lost treasure. The search was fruitless; nothing could be heard of either. The unhappy Count and Countess returned heartbroken to their own childless home. On hearing Gaspard's account, it was easy to imagine that the wretch had carried the child with him when he joined the French, that he had been with those who had defended the fort the day it was attacked and taken by the Germans, and had probably met with the fate he so well merited, whilst the little Francis fell into the hands of the brave soldier and his kind-hearted wife.
The Countess learnt from Katherine why they had given their adopted child the name of "Francis," which, by a singular chance, was the name he had received from his own parents.
Little now remained to be told or learnt, save that the "little cap," which had so providentially led to the recovery of the lost child, had been sent by the wife of the steward of Feldsberg to her sister at Sternfelden, as a gift to her firstborn. That which the unfeeling woman had so eagerly coveted, and which she had obtained by such unjustifiable means, may possibly have become a source of trouble instead of gratification to her. She could, it may be supposed, scarcely look at the little cap, so prized by those from whom she had torn it, without some feelings of self-reproach; and may have been glad to have got rid of it, by bestowing it on one wholly unacquainted with its history, and who had, therefore, no scruple in accepting and making use of it. She may have quieted her conscience by thus removing from her sight that which reproached her, but she could not escape the punishment she so well merited; and that which seemed but a trifle was the means of bringing to light the steward's misconduct, as well as his wife's, and the ruin they sought to bring on others, who had never injured them, fell upon themselves.
All was now joy and thankfulness in the Castle of Sternfelden, and our poor wanderers had found the relief and rest they so greatly needed. They were not suppliants, but honoured guests in the Count's castle, with every comfort provided for them, and receiving that respect and regard they so well deserved.
The day following, ere the public rejoicings commenced, the little Francis de Sternfelden entered the apartment in which were Gaspard and Katherine. He had not forgotten that it was Katherine's birthday. Putting his arms round her neck, and kissing her affectionately, he said—
"Dear, good mother, your little Francis has brought you a birthday present." So saying, he put into her hands a paper, which proved to be a deed, giving to Gaspard and his wife a farm on the Count's estate at no great distance front the castle. With tears of grateful joy did the good couple recall the day on which Gaspard had presented the little Francis to his wife, and it was now through him that they received a gift which they looked upon as far beyond their deserts, and which more than repaid them for all their trials and anxieties.
The Count would scarcely receive any thanks; he felt he could never repay all they had done for his child, and that to them, under Providence, he owed his present unlooked-for happiness, and that of the Countess, whose health had seriously suffered from her terrible loss. By another deed, the Count restored to Gaspard his little property at Feldsberg, where he also appointed another steward in the place of one who had so cruelly abused the power entrusted to him.
Gaspard had the satisfaction of offering the little cottage and land at Feldsberg, at a nominal rent, to their kind neighbour, Christine and her son—an offer which was gladly accepted.
Peace and plenty and comfort, greater than any they had ever before enjoyed, were henceforward the portion of the good and brave soldier and his family; and above all, they had the approbation of their own consciences, and could feel that, by their honest endeavours to do what they believed to be right, they had secured the respect and goodwill of all who knew them. They lived to see their two sons grow up, receiving, by the Count's help, such an education as fitted them for respectable situations—Michael hoping one day to obtain that of steward to his patron. They had also the happiness of seeing the young Francis grow up in every way worthy of his high station, whilst he ever treated them with the tenderest regard and affection, which the good Count and Countess afforded him every opportunity of showing.
The history of this good couple may remind our readers of the words of the Psalmist: "Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good: dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."