Year: 1859

His purse-had been sufficiently well filled
10 enable him amply to pay for the shelter
he had enjoyed, and indeed the cottager
thought so agreeable and profitable Visi-
tor quite a codsend to his house. One
day a stranger passing that way, the sol
dier accosted him, and was for long while
alone with him, deeply engaged in conver-
sation; and when the traveller had passed
on, he was moody and thoughtful, until at
last he told Imorene and her father that
he must bid them farewell, and once more
join in the noise and hustle of the times.


Oh, shall we see you no more? asked
Imorene, with heaving breast and tremu-
lous voice that startled the soldier.


Imust 90 TO my friends and my home
| am needed there, he answered.


| Perhaps you will sometime return this
way, suggested the cottager, and then we
may sit down once more together.


| trust it may be SO, was the reply Of
the now thoughtful guest.


At that moment his eyes fell upon those
Of Imorene, and starting as though an ar
row had pierced his SIDE he said


Come, gentle one, let us walk once more
through these loved and long to be remem-
bered scenes before | bid all farewell.


4 secret seemed to reveal itself to the
soldier as they sat now together beneath a
bank where oft they had sat before for
hours together lie read now the heart
of the gentle one by his side, and placing
an arm about her waist, and looking into
her bashful face, he won from her the Sc
cret. And then, as if his whole feelings at
once changed, he told her he was unwor
thy Of her tender and virtuous affection;
that his had been a wild and reckless life
and his hand in battle had often been lift
ed to spill his fellows blood: that he had
travelled much, and had been hardened by
contact with the world, and in fact that
he could never make SO sweet and gentle
a being happy.


She had no reply for his eloquence, but
a single pearly tear drop.


The soldier while at the cot had said lit
tie of himself as it regarded his former life
while Imorene and her parents were too
considerate, humble as they were, to seek
for that information which it was evident
the soldier did not desiie to communicate
But now as Imorene sat by his side and re-
allied that he was about to leave her, she
could not but ask:


And where is your home, Scnor Gomez?
for thus he had given his name to the cot
tager.


In Vaentia, Imorene. All, Imorene,
continued he, pressing her hand with his
own, | could wish my life had been differ
emily cast, that l mig ght dare to love thee
and wed thee. But alas, am unfit to do
either. | am unworthy of thy love. And
yet within this hour | realize how sweet
has been the brief period lave dwelt with
thee; and alas that do love thee unwit-
tingly.


The following morning, when he left, he
gave the c0ttagers the contents of his
purse, reserving a mere tritlc for his jour
ney, and pressing small but costly ring
upon Imorene as a parting gift, he touch
ed his lips to her forehead, and wended his
way on the mountain road toward his dis
tant home at Nalentia.


Six months had passed since the woun-
ded soldier left the hospitable cottagers,
when one of those devastating tornadoes
peculiar 20 the climate, swept over the
spot, and left not one ycstigc standing of
that peaceful habitation; cattle were de-
stroyed, vegetation blighted; everything
was wreck; and alas, with the rest was
lost Imorene's mother-herself and father
alone escaping. What could they do
whittier 90? Imorcne suggested Valenta.
The father was half broken hearted by the
loss Of his companion, and his all. lie
cared not whittier they went, and so on
foot they turned their way towards the
distant city, which Imor,nc believed held
him she loved


She hardly expected to find him, or if
she did, she knew not that he still loved
her. But then she thought that she was
so near hm-the idea that she might pos
sibly see him-gave to her loving heart
Indictment enough to carry her thither,
over mountain and plain, with willing,
though oftentimes weary feet.


At length they came in sight Of Valen-
tia with it's moorish gates. it's many tur-
rets, palaces and public buildings. But
here they were lost in the labyrinth of the
streets, and the giddy masses and turmoil
of the city. They had come without any
definite purpose, and We're now entirely
desttute of means. Want stared them in
the face, until by some good fortune the
father engaged his services to a noble as a
gardener, AMI 50 arranged the contract
that it afforded him good accommodations
for both himself and Imorene.


Time passed on, and the fathers skill
began to manifest itself to the owners
eyes. lie was pleased, and visited the
servants cottage at the end of the garden,
where Imorene and her father lived. The
owner Of these yards and gardens was as
tonishei, when he found blooming within
his palace walls a flower so beautiful rs
the peasant girl. He was spell bound by
her exquisite sweetness of features, the
delicacy other bearing, and the sylph-like
gracefulncss of her form. The father was
surprised at the carnestrcss of Don Ma
ramos questions concerning his child, and
perhaps a troubled thought crossed his
mind when his noble master turned away
from the cottage door, and walked back
to the palace.


Don Moranzo hal a bal name in Valcn.