Year: 1859

IN beauty tne nestllnS Villages, tne PIaclu
lakes, the happy pessantry; and while catch
ing inspiration from. the lofty height, with
sublime and rapt meaning gave high sodled
utterance. With ready transition from the
picturesque in Swis, scenery, he graphically
described carnival at Rome. His brilli-
ant imagination and ready wit colored glow
ing and laughing picture, though his excu-
ses for the immoral tendency of the pageant
Clara would willingly have dispensed with.
But quick to perceive the slightest change
upon her speaking features, heagain led her
fancy captive by the vivid delineation of a
night in Venice. She listened to the me-
lodious song of the gondolier, she aoated,b by
soft moonlight and under softer breezes, to
pictured dwelling of such love, such beau
ty as fairy might have built, and an angel
might have envied. Almost unconsciously
she heard him tell of one he had left in his
own land with every charm but woman's
maturity; of a love that in its passionate
fervor crimsoned even now his cheek, and
sank his voice to trembling whisper !;
heard him speak of bitter grief when he
found the one SO loved, so lost to him; and
with surprise, an indignation not to be
conceived, heard him cry-''my Clara, are
you indeed forever lost!


For an instant her face was deadly pale.
Then summoning all her self command she
said slowly, for she could scarcely control
her voice.


"Your pretty tale is quite pathetic, sir,
but you should have had a more tragic de-
nouement-you might have found the lady
Indifferent or faithless; or excuse me if l
think more manly one in meeting her, for
instance, at the side of her husband whose
honor and integrity would frighten bdck the
unfeeling words ere the eicOward lips could
utter them"


His eye for a moment fell under the
steady look that rested upon him then his
face grew dark in wrath, and striving to
meet her look unabashed, while sneering
smile curled his lips, he said }


"You speak as if you were interested in
the story-do you imagine you could play
the heroine?" His unblushing boldpess
abashed her for moment; she felt as if:she
could not cope with such spirit of evil ;
then the thought of Edward, and his love,
his trust, his honor, so filled her heart that
involuntarily she clasped her hand, while
with tears trembling in her eyes she whis-
pered, "my Husband" The name was as
a talisman against evil, and at once with a
manner of unconscious dignity she turned
and said with a sweet smile


"Excuse me, l have no ambition to play
any other part than that of a trusting wife,
and truthful woman"


Her innocence, her faith baffled him,
and biting his lip in disappointment he
inwardly cursed the purity and, truth that
had so wounded his vanity. Recovering
from his embarrassment, he again sought to
enchain her attention, but not now as be-
fore with false ideas dressed in the garb Of
truth, the himsey veil was cast aside, and
he seemed to wantonin hisscorn Of all things
holy and pure. Her suspicion, too, COM
pletely aroused, now carefully analysed every
expression, and trying by the test of truth
the specious arguments, and the hollow
sophistry of the unprincipled Sybarite, ex-
posed the fallacy and heartlessness of his
creed. If he spoke of nature, its beauties
were only given to charm the senses and
delight the appetites, while of natures God
he was entirely ignorant. If he touched
upon His holy sanctuaries and sacred altars,
he would make solemn pageant answer for
worship in the one, and formal ritual bow
the knee to the other; but for the worship of
the heart and the aspirations for higher,
holier and better nature, he knew and cared
nothing. He made mockery Of truth, a
jest of honor; sneered at wife's virtue,
and virgins purity, while he laughed to
scorn every holy principle ofour being. Not
with coarse or unfeeling words, bat with the
refinement of a polished satire, his arrows
were sharper from their brightness, while
with soft accents and honeyed words he
scattered right and left the deadly thrusts
of unbelief 1t was with feeling of thanks
giving, Clara reached the scene of their pleas
ure. Alas ! anything but a day of pleasure
for her; never had she so missed her hus-
band never had she so longed for him nev-
er had she so loved him. Under his protec-
tion was peace, in his love was truth, in his
trust was safety; and as she contrasted his
stern principle of right, his high toned, gen.
erous nature, his christian character, with
the man before her, her whole nature went
out in love towards the one, and in abhor-
encc of the other.


Clara had determined to effect some plan
by which she might be freed from the pain
of returning with him; but he seemed to sus-
pect this, for as she descended he said.


"Of course shall have the privilege of
taking you back" and then as he saw her
hesitate, said sneeringl ngly--"You are not
afraid of me, are you? if so, I will at once
state the case to some friend, and effect an
exchange" 1t was what she dreaded, and
he knew it : her name must not be so used
and she would bear it all rather than give a
moments suspicion. She was, too, as fear
less as she was truthful, and she trusted to
her own power to restrain any impertinence.


"Ah Leslie just arrived ?'' said Dudley.
"You must have driven slowly, we have been
good half hour before you"


uPossible !" said Leslie, with surprised