waking as from a dream, _they have no perception
of color_! The animal world sports in light and shade; the human only
rejoices in the apprehension of color. Does the horse admire the
rainbow? or does the ox spare the buttercup and the violet, because they
are beautiful? The secret lies in the human eye alone. An eye! an eye!
give me but one, Lucile!"

As the girl was about to answer, the photographer again interposed, "Not
now; I want no answer now; I give you a month for reflection." And so
saying, he left the room as unceremoniously as he had entered.

The struggle in the mind of Lucile was sharp and decisive. Dependent
herself upon her daily labor, her lover an invalid, and her nearest
kindred starving, were facts that spoke in deeper tones than the thunder
to her soul. Besides, was not one eye to be spared her, and was not a
single eye quite as good as two? She thought, too, how glorious it would
be if Pollexfen should not be mistaken, and she herself should conduce
so essentially to the noblest triumph of the photographic art.

A shade, however, soon overspread her glowing face, as the unbidden idea
came forward: "And will my lover still be faithful to a mutilated bride?
Will not my beauty be marred forever? But," thought she, "is not this
sacrifice for him? Oh, yes! we shall cling still more closely in
consequence of the very misfortune that renders our union possible." One
other doubt suggested itself to her mind: "Is this contract legal? Can
it be enforced? If so," and here her compressed lips, her dilated
nostril, and her clenched hand betokened her decision, "_if so, I
yield_!"

Three weeks passed quickly away, and served but to strengthen the
determination of Lucile. At the expiration of that period, and just one
week before the time fixed for the accomplishment of this cruel scheme,
I was interrupted, during the trial of a cause, by the entry of my
clerk, with a short note from Mademoiselle Marmont, requesting my
immediate presence at the office. Apologizing to the judge, and to my
associate counsel, I hastily left the court-room.

On entering, I found Lucile completely veiled. Nor was it possible,
during our interview, to catch a single glimpse of her features. She
rose, and advancing toward me, extended her hand; whilst pressing it I
felt it tremble.

"Read this document, Mr. Falconer, and advise me as to its legality. I
seek no counsel as to my duty. My mind is unalterably fixed on that
subject, a