. "I have made a mistake. I expected
to find a faithful heart, a woman like an angel, ready in the hour of
meeting to forget all else, and take refuge in this heart; to forgive,
and, with her blessing, to wipe out the curse of my existence. This is
what I sought. But God is just, and I did not deserve such happiness.
I submit."

"Oh, my God!" said Elise to herself, "it is the same voice which once
charmed me." She no longer found strength in herself to bid him go.
She would have given her life blood to be able always to be thus near
him.

"This time, young lady," said Feodor, "I come only as a messenger, the
executor of the will of one who is dead." He took a letter from his
bosom and handed it to Elise. "I bring you," he said solemnly, "the
last will of my wife, Countess Lodoiska."

"She is no longer alive?" cried Elise, and involuntarily an almost
joyful tone pervaded her voice.

This did not escape the prince. "I will win her," said he to himself.
His eyes shone brighter, his countenance looked prouder, and his heart
beat higher with triumphant joy. Elise had taken the letter, and still
held it in her hand. "Will you not read it?" asked he, gently, and
her heart trembled at the pleading tone of his voice.

"Yes, I will read it," she answered, as if awaking from a dream, and
breaking the seal hastily.

The prince fixed his sharp, piercing eyes on her, and seemed to wish
to read in her looks her inmost thoughts, and feeling them favorable
to him, he approached still closer to her.

The letter was short and hastily written, but every word entered her
soul and brought tears to her eyes. It ran thus:

"My dear Elise, when you receive this letter I shall be no more, and
the heart which has suffered so much will be at rest. But when I have
found repose in the grave, do you fulfil my trust. I leave you the
dearest legacy that I possess. I give you back your property, the
heart and love of Feodor, which never ceased to belong to you. I never
have been able to win this love to myself. He gave me his hand, his
heart remains yours, and that is killing me. Take it then, it is my
legacy to you; and if you accept it my purified spirit will bless your
reunion.

LODOISKA."

The letter dropped from her hand; completely overpowered by deep and
solemn emotions, she sank in her chair, and hid her tears with her
hands. Feodor felt that she was again his, that he had regained
his sway over her. He rushed toward her, falling