compact.

"Poor Leo! how little she suspects disloyalty. How infinite is her
trust, and what a besotted ingrate I am!"

He tossed the accusing flowers into the grate, took his riding-whip and
went down to the door, where his horse was champing the bit, and pawing
with impatience. Along the deserted streets, out of the sleeping town,
he rode toward the long stone bridge that spanned the winding river.
When he had reached the centre, his horse darted aside, because of the
sudden leap of a black cat from the coping of the nearest pier, whence
she sped on, keeping just ahead of him. The spectral sickle of a waning
moon hung on the edge of the sky, and up and down the banks of the
stream floated phantoms of silvery mist, here covering the water with
impalpable wreaths, and there drifting away to enable Andromeda to
print her starry image on the glassy surface.

Behind stretched the city, marked by lines of gas lamps; in front rose
the hill clothed with forests; and frowning down upon the rider, the
huge shadow of the dismal dungeon crouched like a stealthy beast ready
to spring upon him. Dark as the deeds of its inmates, the mass of stone
blotted the sky, save in one corner, where a solitary light shone
through iron lattice work. Was it a beacon of hope, or did the rays
fall on features cold under the kiss of death?

Spurring his horse up the rocky hill, Mr. Dunbar was greeted by the
baying of two bloodhounds within the enclosure; and soon after, Mr.
Singleton conducted him up the steps leading to the room where Beryl
had been placed.

"She is alive; that is all. The doctor said she could not last till
midnight, but it is now half-past one; and my wife has never lost hope.
She has sent the nurse off to get some sleep, and you will find Susie
in charge."

The hazel eyes of the gaoler's wife were humid with tears, as she
glanced up at the attorney, and motioned him to the low chair she
vacated.

"I knew you would come, and when I heard you gallop across the bridge,
I sent Sister Serena off to bed. There is nothing to be done now, but
watch and pray. If she ever wakes in this world she will be rational,
and she will get well. The nurse thinks she will pass away in this
stupor; but I have faith that she will not die, until she clears her
name."

Nature makes some women experts in the fine art of interpreting
countenance and character, and by a mysterious and unerring divination,
Mrs. Singleton knew that her visitor de