The Magnolia gazette., 1882-02-24


swered. "Ours has been a strange ex
perience. Without knowing each other
as people ordinarily do, we have yet
been close friends. You are more to
me than any friend, for love you, LIE
more.
There was quick, suppressed cry, no
other reply,
BE truthful, Lenore. Tell me your
heart If you love me, trust to me to
discover your whereabouts and come to
you, If you do not, say it, and ! will
spare you the pain Of meeting me, and
let MS never speak again.
There was a pause, then she tremu-
lously said;
/ have never seen you, but my
heart tells me TO trust you. ! know yon
nrc good and noble, and am willing to
leave my fate in your hands. Yes,
George, love you."
Even as she said the words she ut-
tered a cry Of alarm. Then agruffman's
voice spoke:
Go to your room, Ienore As to
this villain with whom you have been
holding these secret meetings, we shall
soon find him and punish him as he
deserves. Search for the rascal, Anto-
MO, and bring him to me"
There was a quick trampling of feet
and the sound Of crushing shrubbery rs
if the men were breaking through it.
Then another mans voice spoke;
lie has disappeared, your Excel
lence.'
Very wen, we shall find him yet. He
cannot escape me This is fine piece
Of business, surely-the daughter Of
Count VILLAIN holding secret meetings
with some common yagabond. Lenorc
shall take tho veil,
Yes" / cried, "the bridal veil,
Count shall pay my respects in per-
son to-day"
Then, leaving them TO get over their
astomshment as best they might, | re-
turned to the house in high spirits. The
name, Count VILLAIN, had given me the
clew to the whereabouts Of Lenore. Tho
dwelling OF which / have spoken as sit
uated across the plain and opposite the
rock was the residence of Count VILLAIN.
had met tho old gentleman in the city
and formed q speaking acquaintance
with him. AS neither Of us had men
toned our private affairs, | had no
means Of connecting his daughter with
my invisible girl.
That afternoon presented myself to
the Count, and, after amazing him with
my story, which few tests convinced
him was true, formally proposed for his
daughters hand As my wealth and
social position were well known, he
offered no objections and his daughter
was sent for.
As she entered the room. saw that
my idea Of her had been less than true
| had never seen so lovely woman, nor
one who SO perfectly embodied my high
est conception of grace and beauty. Her
dark eyes, still wet with tears, met mine
mquiringly.
"Lenore, saidI, - have come as ]
promised"
"Gcorge, she cried, with radiant
smile, "is it youP"
"Are you disappointed?" 2" l asked,
"am | what you expected?"
" You could not be more" she an
swered naively, "you are no less"
Now that we meet as solid aud ma,
terial beings" continued, "aro you
willing to ratify the contract we made
when We're nlyyoices, Lenore? You
father gives us permission.
It may be supposed that / received q
satisfactory answer, when the good
natured Count found it discreet to turr
away his eyes during my reception Of it.
As to the strange circumstance which
was the means of uniting us, series o
tests revealed a remarkable acoustic
property in the rock, by which person;
standing in certain positions with refer
ence to it We're able to hear each Other
with ease, more than quarter OF a NIL,
apart It is very matter-of-fact solu
tion Of the mystery, but Lenore and
are none the less grateful for the gooC
Offices of the rock.