y will, despite my
efforts to the contrary, come into my mind. I do not and will not yield to
them, though I find it impossible at all times to shake them off."

"Singular, truly; I pray God, they presage no harm."

"Oh, I so much wish you could always be near me; I dread nothing in your
presence."

"I hope the time is not far distant when this dearest wish of both our
hearts will be realized."

The conversation took a tender cast at this point; and as matters of the
heart are secrets between lovers, which they dislike for third parties to
look into, we will take ourselves away, and leave them to enjoy their hour
of happiness in undisturbed quiet.

Several days brought a return of much the same routine of events, the
lovers always spending an hour of each afternoon in the woods. Durant kept
to his tree, and the others invariably occupied the same seat near his
hiding-place. At the end of a week, Durant learned from the conversation of
the young couple that the gentleman was to return to Virginia in a day or
two, to make preparations for the coming wedding, which was to take place
about the holidays, he being now on a visit to arrange the preliminaries,
and enjoy for a brief time the society of his betrothed. When they had
returned home, Durant muttered to himself:

"Now is my time! To-morrow is their last day for walking, and, like loving
fools as they are, they will be so absorbed in each others' feelings, and
the silly sentimentality of love, as to be easily surprised. Yes, to-morrow
will be my time!"

And gloating over the anticipated triumph, he left his burrow, and hastened
to his companions, to make known his intentions, and prepare everything for
the event of the morrow. He and one Indian were to seize and secure Ellen,
while Ramsey and the other should perform the more difficult task of
capturing her lover. All the details of their arrangements were discussed
and adopted; and Durant, now that he felt certain of his victims--for his
hate of Ellen's lover was bitter, though of recent date--was almost beside
himself with malignant and hellish joy. He saw before him the speedy
accomplishment of his fiendish purpose--the gratification of his inveterate
hate and long sought revenge, by the commission of the most damnable act
known this side of the "bottomless pit" of darkness; and his sin-polluted
heart actually swelled with venomous delight, and demoniac exultation. One
of the fairest flowers of earth is to be