Year: 1868




in the great city; how he teck a,shop a, d
spread his goods Co. sale, an! how Of OF 6
piece of gold he made two. AS she spoke
and seemed to cast about IN the deep re-
cesses of her memory for facts, made a
curious observation, the truth of which
was afterwards confirmed. It seemed as
il she was older than her appearance at
first testified, and that sorrow, instead Of
having induced premature decay, had, as
it were, Ietri6cd her, al d caused her to re
i tain through long succession of years the
very aspect she wore when misfortune fell
upon her


:, ~She had little delicacy about telling
me how she became acquainted with one
who became the arbiter of her destiny.
Possibly, like many other young girls, in
some moment of idlcness, she looked out
for sentimental adventure for its own
sake The object fher love was youth,
less remarkable for beauty than for cer-
tain princely dcmcanor, certain eleva-
tion of views, "a certain reckless violence
Of passion peculiar to himself. He insis-
ted that, for some time their Acquaintance
should be kept secret from the father
promising when the fitting moment came,
to demand her hand with such circum-
stances of spendor as would insure sue
cess. When asked who and what he was,
he answered, with some hesitation, that
he was in rank prince; and Miriam
guessed that he came from one of the
DaDubian provinces, which she knew were
| Christian. Having full confidence i'll his
honor, and conceiving that he must have
some powerful motive for mystery, she
a,stained from pressing him much on the
subject. I


They used to meet in, a kiosque or pa
vilion in garden behind her fathers
house, near the borders of the sea. The
young man used to come in a little caique
with a single attendant, who remained
on the watch, Miriam at first brought a
faithful black girl as companion and
protector but soon disregarded this pre-
caution, and confined herself entirely to
her lover. Long and sweet moonlight
nights bright and balmy days they pass
ed together. while the old father was at
business or in bed, 1t was the season If
spring, and Nature seemed to soften and
grow more beautiful to please their young
senses.


At length little cloud gathered Oh the
horizon The father ANNOUNCED that the
time of marriage had come, and that ne
had sought for and selected husband.
There is good deal Of routine in these
love affairs Miriam had not the courage
to acknowledge, and the old man had not
the wit to understand. They we're neith-
er Of theAi more angelic than the Capu-
let's; and, Eastern ideas aiding. the said
history of that family menaced to repeat
ite'f A powerful will, however, inter-
4 venei to force the current OF events into
new channel. ........


Two nights after Miriam had communi-
Gated to her mysterious lover the proposed
marriage, she was sitting in the kiosque,.
looking forth upon the broad expanse of
waves that danced and kindled in the
moonleams. She had sat there the pre-
vious night. and waited in vain for the
coming Of what she considered as the star
Of her existence; and that night the usual
hour had long since passed when she be-
held large csique, with an awning or
cabin. approaching along che shore, She
shrapk back little behind the shadow
lof myrtle bush, lest her presence might.
b. observed by strangers, But the caique
ad vanced bodily to the usual landing place,
and her lover,ieaped lightly ashore. and
ran to meet her. The fret tmi race
over. he invited hesp in Wild. reckless
way, to come on board his caique. and
enjoy an hour or two on the water. Not
displcased, though somewhat puzzled by
his manner, she went. He took her into
the cabin. aud there, when the crew Of
sixteen men had piled their oars for some
time, confessed that he was taking her
away from her home. She expostulatcd
at first, hut he soon contriyed to console
her by PROMISES that they should at once
be married that her father should behold
him again. How easily it is for a young
girl to believe in thd words,a lover o


He took her to palace with large
garden surrounded by high walls; ard
there. having become his wife by the AID
Of Greek priest, she passed some months
in happiness which she lacked words to
describe. 10 her this was the great fea-
iure, the chief incident other story. She
enlarged on the occupati0s Of every hour;
on the delicious walks and exquisite meals
they enjoyed together; onthe anguish of
his absence. that imperceptibly became