began to be
somewhat alarmed for his safety, when, late one evening, as he was
riding to the village, he met his son on his return home. He rejoiced
to hear that he had a safe arrival, and immediately turned and hastened
to the cottage.

On the following morning the two cousins met, and Rineldo hastily
approached Fostina, expressing his joy on seeing her again after his
long absence. To this his cousin made little reply, and passed by with
cool indifference; he followed, and, with unusual kindness, asked the
pleasure of joining her in a walk through the gardens. Fostina remained
silent, and continued on her way some distance from the cottage. Seeing
the coolness with which he was treated, Rineldo turned his steps in
another direction, and after walking a short distance, he seated
himself in a little arbor, apparently in deep thought. After some time
had elapsed, he returned to the cottage and retired to his chamber.

At the close of the afternoon, he hastily descended and entered the
parlor where Fostina was seated. With trembling steps he approached his
cousin, holding a paper in his hand which had a few moments before been
left in his apartment, and directing her attention to some late
intelligence, requested her to read it. She took the paper from his
hand in silence, and placing it on the table near her, rose to depart.
Her cousin seeing her intention, immediately rose and left the room,
pointing to the paper which lay on the table as he closed the door.

Fostina, finding herself alone, returned to her seat and took the paper
which had been left, and casting a hasty glance over the contents, her
eyes fell on the following:--

LEWIS MORTIMER, of S----, died suddenly on board ship Essex, on
passage from Panama to California.

The paper dropped from her hand, and uttering a loud shriek, the
distracted girl fell senseless from her seat.

Rineldo, on leaving the room, had returned to his apartment, where his
parents were seated, who, on hearing the alarm, rushed to the parlor,
where they discovered Fostina lying insensible on the floor.

He made known to them the supposed cause of her grief, and hastily
summoning a servant, assisted in bearing the apparently lifeless form
of his cousin to her apartment.

Mr. Aubrey immediately brought restoratives, but there was little hope
of again rousing the consciousness of the unfortunate sufferer.

Towards evening he called in a physician, who, on seeing the pati