e of the story, and its affecting
sequel.

Near the close of the season when Lord ---- was at
Naples, he suddenly left that city and returned
with his wife and their one child to England. To
the surprise of the wondering world, Lady ---- went
to her father's, and Lord ---- to the small estate
of his widowed mother, where they remained for a
while in unexplained seclusion. It was not long
before rumors arrived from Italy, of a nature
breathing upon the reputation of the lady; and soon
after a formal separation took place, Mr. ----, her
father, engaging to leave his whole fortune to the
son of Lord ----, if that nobleman would consent to
give him to the exclusive keeping of his mother.
With these facts ended the world's knowledge of the
parties, the separated pair remaining, year after
year, in absolute seclusion; and Lady ---- never
having been known to put foot beyond the extending
forest in which her home was hidden from view, and
the gates to which were guarded from all entrance,
even of family friends.

It was but a few days before this sequel was
narrated to me, that the first communication had
been made from the Countess of ---- to her
husband. It was a summons to attend, if he wished,
the burial of his only child--the heir of his name,
and the bringer-back, had he lived, of wealth to
the broken fortunes of his title. A severer blow
could hardly have followed the first--for it struck
down heart, pride, and all that could brighten this
world's future. Lord ----came. The grave was made
in a deep grove of firs on the estate of the boy's
mother. There were but three mourners
present--herself, her father, and her husband. The
boy was ten or eleven years old when he died, and
one of the most gifted and noble lads, in mind and
person, that had ever been seen by those who knew
him. On his horse, with his servant behind him, the
young boy-lord was a constant sight of pride and
beauty to the inhabitants of the county, and was
admired and beloved every where he rode in his
daily excursions.

The service was read; the two parents stood si