, the ghostly trunks of the trees, the slowly
swaying, plume-like branches, sounded only like faint echoes or gleamed
only like soft reflections of a fairy world!

"It was here," Pepeeta said, pausing at the roots of a great beech tree,
"that I came the day after we had first seen each other, to inquire of
the gypsy goddess the secrets of the future. I have learned many lessons
since!"

"It was here," said David, as they emerged from the forest into the
larger valley, "that thee stood, a little way from the doctor's side,
stroking the necks of his horses and peeping at us stealthily from under
thy long dark lashes on the day when he tried to persuade me to join him
in his roving life."

"It was here," Pepeeta said, as they approached the little bridge, "that
we met each other and yielded our hearts to love."

"And met again after our tragedy and our suffering, to find that love is
eternal," David added.

They stood for a few moments in silence, recalling that bitter past, and
then the man of many sins and sorrows said, "Give me thy hand, Pepeeta.
How small it seems in mine. Let me fold thee in my arms; it makes my
heart bound to feel thee there! We have walked over rough roads
together, and the path before us may not be always smooth. We have
tasted the bitter cup between us, and there may still be dregs at the
bottom. It is hard to believe that after all the wrong we have done we
can still be happy. God is surely good! It seems to me that we must have
our feet on the right path. He paused for a moment and then continued:

"I have brought thee many sorrows, sweetheart."

"And many joys."

"I mean to bring thee some in the future! The love I bear thee now is
different from that of the past. I cannot wait until to-morrow to pledge
thee my troth! Listen!"

She did so, gazing up into his face with dark eyes in which the light of
the moon was reflected as in mountain lakes. There was something in
them which filled his heart with unutterable emotion, and his words hung
quivering upon his lips.

"Speak, my love, for I am listening," she said.

"I cannot," he replied.

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WHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER

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A VIVACIOUS ROMANCE OF REVOLUTIONARY DAYS.

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