rsed the volcanic
range of heights, he beheld naught to break the uniform and monotonous
aspect of the sunlit sea. But, on drawing nearer to the shore, he saw a
dark spot almost immediately in front of the little hut which Nisida and
himself had constructed, and wherein they had passed so many, many happy
hours.

He now advanced with a beating heart to the hut. The door was closed.
Was it possible that Nisida might be within? Oh, how weak in purpose is
the strongest minded of mortals. For an instant a pleasing hope filled
Wagner's breast; and then, again summoning all his resolutions to his
aid, he opened the door, resolved, should she indeed be there, to remain
proof against all the appeals she might make to induce him to sacrifice
to their mundane prosperity his immortal soul. But the hut was empty. He
lingered in it for a few moments; and the reminiscences of happy hours
passed therein swept across his brain. Suddenly the note which Nisida
had left for him met his eyes; and it would be representing him as
something far more or else far less than human, were we to declare he
did not experience a feeling of intense pleasure at beholding the
memorial of her love. The tears flowed down his cheeks as he read the
following lines:

"The hour approaches, dearest Fernand, when, in all probability,
I shall quit the island. But think not that this hope is
unaccompanied by severe pangs. Oh, thou knowest that I love
thee, and I will return to thee, my own adored Fernand, so soon
as my presence shall be no longer needed at Florence. Yes, I
will come back to thee, and we will not part until death shall
deprive thee of _me_--for I must perish first, and while thou
still remainest in all the glory of regenerated youth. Alas,
thou hast fled from me this morning in anger--perhaps in
disgust. But thou wilt forgive me, Fernand, if, yielding to some
strange influence which I could not control, I urged an appeal
so well calculated to strike terror into thy soul. Oh, that I
could embrace thee ere I leave this isle; but alas! thou comest
not back--thou hast fled to the mountains. It is, however, in
the ardent hope of thy return to this spot, that I leave these
few lines to assure thee of my undying affection, to pledge to
thee my intention to hasten back to thine arms as soon as
possible, and to implore thee not to nourish anger against thy
devoted