escries
the ocean it will plunge into it; so with some natures, they soar high
and keep their orbit well, till an invisible hand turns them from their
course and they fall, to be swallowed up, aye swallowed up, lost and
buried in the great sea that has awaited them so long.'

"'And you love--like this--' I murmured, quailing before the power of
her passion.

"'Would it not be strange if I did not,' she asked in an altered voice.
'You say he is everything noble, handsome and attractive.'

"Yes, yes,' I murmured, 'but--'

"She did not wait to hear what lay behind that but. Picking up her
flowers, she hastily crossed the room. 'Did my young mother shriek from
joy, when my father's horses ran away with them along that deadly
precipice at the side of the Southmore road? To lie for a few maddening
moments on the breast of the man you love, earth reeling beneath you,
heaven swimming above you, and then with a cry of bliss to fall heart to
heart, down the hideous gap of some awful gulf, and be dashed into
eternity with the cry still on your lips, that is what I call love and
that is what I--'

"She paused, turned upon me the whole splendor of her face, seemed to
realize to what an extent her impetuosity had lifted the veil with which
she usually shrouded her bitterly suppressed nature, and calming herself
with a sudden quick movement, gave me a short mocking courtesy and left
the room.

"Do you wonder that for half the night I sat up brooding and alive to
the faintest sounds!

"Next day Mr. Holt called again, and a couple of weeks after--long
enough to enable Colonel Japha to make whatever inquiries he chose as to
his claims as a gentleman of means and position--sent a formal entreaty
for Jacqueline's hand. I had never seen Colonel Japha more moved. His
admiration for the young man was hearty and sincere. From a worldly
point of view, as well as from all higher standpoints, the match was one
of which he could be proud; and yet to speak the word that would
separate from him the only creature that he loved, was hard as the
cutting off an arm or the plucking out of an eye. 'Do you think she
loves him?' asked he of me with a rare condescension of which he was not
often guilty. 'You are a woman and ought to understand her better than
I. Do you think she loves him?'

"After the words I had heard her speak, what could I reply but, 'Yes,
sir; she is of a reserved nature and controls her feelings in his
presence, but she lo