s one
soft word from your fair lips would summon me to peaceful dreams.
Alas! to realize that you are far, far from me, and the agony of the
thought that you may never return seizes and holds me fast. Then it
is--

"'O, thou pale orb, that silent shines,
While care-untroubled mortals sleep!
Thou seest a wretch who inly pines,
And wanders here to wail and weep!
With woe I nightly vigils keep,
Beneath thy wan, unwarming beam,
And mourn in lamentation deep
How life and love are all a dream.

"'Encircled in her clasping arms,
How have the raptured moments flown!
How have I wished for fortune's charms,
For her dear sake and hers alone!
And must I think it!--is she gone,
My secret heart's exulting boast?
And does she heedless hear my groan?
And is she ever, ever lost?

"'Oh! can she bear so base a heart,
So lost to honor, lost to truth,
As from the fondest lover part,
The plighted husband of her youth!'"

"Jim, why didn't you learn how to write letters, so that you could send
some to me like that? Don't you think it lovely? Please don't stop.
Pardon my interruptions," said Gabrielle.

"Never mind the interruptions. Let us get all the fun out of it we can,"
replied Hygeia, who continued to read with frequent interruptions from
Gabrielle, but none whatever from Jim--the livelier the comments and
laughter, the greater he was inclined to silence and disappearance
beneath the covers.

"Jim, why don't you laugh?" Gabrielle would say, turning to the poor
fellow, who was as meek as any beggar could be. The partition wall was
too thick for me to hear what was going on, although by direct line I
was probably not two feet away from Jim, for our beds stood head to
head.

The idea of entertaining Miss Tescheron and her ill companion in this
way was pleasing to Hygeia. Of course, she knew there was nothing in
those letters that could make a woman cry, so on she read, and as she
proceeded the fun for Gabrielle and the interest from Jim's standpoint
became intensified. I don't suppose I did anything except snore.

"'I have tried hard, my sweetheart,'" continued Hygeia, "'to find
distraction by visiting the places of amusement alone, but the music
of the orchestras became jarring discord in my ears; the plays,
either dull, or if interesting in plot with lovers happily united,
they but added to my ang