him, with bitter sadness,--

"Alas! my dear friend, it is cruel to destroy this last hope of your
heart; and yet I must do it. Your uncle might consent; but my father--"

She faltered for an instant.

"Your father, Lenora? Your father would pardon all and receive me like a
long-lost son."

"No, no; believe it not, Gustave; for his honor has been too deeply
wounded. As a Christian he might pardon it; but as a gentleman he will
never forget the outrage."

"Oh, Lenora, you are unjust to your father. If I return with my uncle's
consent, and say to him, 'I will make your child happy; give her to me
for my wife; I will surround her path with all the joys a husband has
ever bestowed on woman;'--if I tell him this, think you he will deny
me?"

Lenora cast down her eyes.

"You know his infinite goodness, Gustave," said she. "My happiness is
his only thought on earth; he will thank God and bless you."

"Yes, yes; he _will_ consent," continued Gustave, with ardor; "and all
is not lost. A blessed ray lightens our future, and let it rekindle your
hope, beloved of my heart! Yield not to grief; let me go forth on this
dreary journey, but let me bear along with me the assurance that you
await my return with trust in God. Remember me in your prayers; utter my
name as you stray through these lonely paths which witnessed the dawn of
our love and where for two months I drained the cup of perfect bliss.
The knowledge that I am not forgotten by you will sustain my heart and
enable me to endure the pangs of separation."

Lenora wept in silence. Her lover's eloquence had extinguished every
spark of her pride; and the rebellious heart which so lately was ready
to cast off its rosy fetters had no longer a place for any thing but
love and sadness. Gustave saw that he had conquered.

"I go, Lenora," said he, "strong in your affection. I quit my country
and my loved one with a confident hope. Whatever may happen to me, I
will never be downcast. You will think of me daily, Lenora, will you
not?"

"Alas! I have promised my father that I will forget you!" sobbed the
maiden, as her hand trembled in his.

"_Forget_ me!" exclaimed Gustave. "_Can_ you force yourself to forget
me?"

"No, Gustave; NO!" said she, firmly, fixing her large eyes on him with
an intense and lingering gaze. "No: for the first time in my life I
will disobey my father. I feel that I have net the strength to keep my
idle word. I cannot forget you: till the last hour