used with the rich hues of health and
happiness, and her eyes sparking with delight at seeing him?

We said _happiness_--'twas not the deep, quiet happiness of the heart,
but the wild, delirious joy of the intoxicated brain.

'Dear Montoni,' she cried, embracing and kissing him--'your presence
never gave more pleasure. I have waited for your coming with impatience.
You are mine now, you cannot deny me--the obstacle is removed.--Oh, my
God, what happiness!'

'Lady,' replied the Italian, in his usual cold and respectful tone, as
he disengaged himself from her embrace, 'what means this agitation? You
speak of an _obstacle_ as being removed; pray explain the enigma.'

'Signor Montoni,' cried Julia, her eyes flashing almost fearfully--'when
I spoke to you of love last night, you preached to me of my husband, and
my duty to him. The recollection that I _had_ a husband, you said,
forbade that you should take advantage of my preference for you. Rejoice
with me, Montoni--come to my arms--my husband is no more!'

'How--what mean you?' demanded the Italian, in breathless astonishment.

'Follow me,' she said; and taking a lamp, she led the way to the chamber
of Mr. Hedge. She unlocked the door, they entered, and she beckoned her
companion to approach the bed.

Montoni advanced, and gazed upon the swollen, disfigured face of a
corpse!

'Your husband--dead!' cried the Italian. 'By heaven there has been foul
play here. Woman, can it be possible--'

'Yes, all things are possible to Love!' exclaimed Julia, laughing
hysterically;--''twas I did the deed, Montoni; for _your_ dear sake I
killed him!'

'Murderess!' cried Montoni, recoiling from her with horror, 'has it come
to this?--Then indeed it is time that this wretched farce should end!'

He tore off the wig, the false whiskers, imperial and moustache--and
Frank Sydney stood before her! With a wild shriek she fell senseless
upon the carpet.

'God of heaven!' exclaimed Frank--'what infernal crimes blot thy fair
creation! Let me escape from this house, for the atmosphere is thick
with guilt, and will suffocate me if I remain longer!'

And without casting one look at the ghastly corpse, or the swooning
murderess upon the floor, he rushed from the house, and fled rapidly
from it, as though it were the abode of the pestilence.

Miserable Julia! She awoke to a full consciousness of her guilt and
wretchedness. The intoxication of her senses was over; her delirium was
past, an