all
things from His mercy. Another hour will probably end my suspense, and
decide the awful question of life or death. Salome, if she should die,
my future will be very lonely,--and my heart bereft of the brightest,
dearest hopes, that have ever cheered it."

A half-smothered cry struggled across the orphan's trembling lips that
had suddenly grown colorless, and he saw her clutch her fingers.

"And if she lives?"

"If she lives, and will accept the affection I shall offer her, the
remainder of my years will be devoted to the work of making her forget
the sorrows that have darkened the early portion of her life. I do
not wish to conceal the fact that she is inexpressibly dear to me."

During the long silence that ensued, a lifetime of agony seemed
compressed into the compass of a few moments, but Salome stood
motionless, with her arms pressed over her aching heart, and her head
thrown haughtily back, while the moonlight streamed down on her face
where pride and pain were struggling for right to reign.

When all expectation of earthly happiness is smothered in a proud,
passionate soul, and the future robes itself in those dun hues that
only the day-star of eternity can gild, nerves and muscles shrink and
shiver at the massacre of hopes which despair hews down, in the hour
that it "storms the citadel of the heart, and puts the whole garrison
to the sword."

Dr. Grey could not endure the sight of that fixed, hardened face, and
sorely distressed by the consciousness of the suffering which he had
unintentionally inflicted on one so young, he moved away, and for some
time walked slowly under the arching laurestines. Although his stern
integrity of purpose acquitted him of all blame, and he could accuse
himself of no word or deed that might be held amenable to conscience
for the mischief and misery that had resulted from his acquaintance
with this unfortunate girl, he regretted that he had remained in the
same house, and, by constant association, fed the flame that absence
might have extinguished.

While he pitied the weakness that had induced her to yield so entirely
to the preference she indulged for him, he felt humiliated at the
thought that he, who had intended to guide and elevate this wayward
child of nature, had been instrumental in darkening and embittering
her young life.

When he came back to the spot, whence she had not moved, and laid his
hand gently on her shoulder, she smiled strangely, and

"Unben