he room--such laughter as
formed a fit prelude for words like these:

'Find out if the lad is alive yet. There is a piece of business worthy
of Scheffer himself! I'm tired of hunting out secrets. Promise me,
August--promise before you leave this room--before you breathe again.'

Scheffer did.

Mrs. Mitchell waited tea that evening for at least an hour. Josephine
was sure that if August could be found, Paul would bring him home. At
last they came. Home at last! The darkness might besiege the house, it
could not enter the hearts there; rain might fall on Scheffer's ruins,
it could not prevent the rising of the Phoenix. Not recognized
altogether as the household's eldest son, he stood under the roof of the
little house on Cottage Row. But enough! he was satisfied: he saw two
women smiling on him--one from her heart. And from the circle that night
Paul, triumphant and joyful, excluded the vision of death.

LAS ORACIONES.

I moved among the moving multitude
In old Manila, when the afternoon
Releases labor, and the scorching skies
Are tempered with the coming on of night.
Above the 'ever loyal city,' rose
The surging sound of unloosed tongues and feet,
As the encompassed town and suburbs vast,
The boated river and the sentinelled bridge
Swarmed, parti-colored, with the populace.
The sovereign sun, that through the toilsome day
No eye had seen for brightness, now subdued,
Stepping, like Holy Pontiff, from his throne,
Neared to the people, and, with level rays,
As hands outstretching, benedictions shed.
Full the effulgence flashed upon the walls
Which girt the city with a strength renowned,
Rimming them with new glory: bright it gleamed
Upon the swarthy soldiery, as they filed
A dazzling phalanx through the gaping crowd
With martial intonation, and it played
Softly upon the evening-breathing throng
On the Calsada's broad and dashing drive,
On gay, armorial equipage, wherein
Dozed dowagers: on unbonneted dames
In open chariots, toying daintily
With dark hidalgos, as they sipped the scene
In languishing contentment, and between
Responsive glances, showing hidden fire,
With fluent breath of Spanish repartee.
There lounged senoras, fat officials' wives,
From their soft cushions casting cool disdain
On the mestiza, who, in hired hack,
Blooming in beauty of commingled blood,
And robed in slippery tissue, rainbow-bright,
Sat, in her sandal-fo