ruins to die."

"Marie, pity us! for that is the answer I have for him," she
whispered. Ah! how she wished Doctor Prenoveau had been a true
prophet, and that she had died.

As he ceased, she took the little silver crucifix which hung around
her neck, pressed it tightly to her bosom, and turning her woe-begone
face to him, said, as she rose, "You do not know, or you would not say
such things to me."

He had expected something so different. "I--I do not understand," he
said, wonderingly, rising and walking toward her.

She clutched the cross tighter and stepped back as he approached. He
was sorely perplexed and apprehensive, and she saw it, and her heart
ached for him.

"I am going," she began weakly, "to be a nun. I have been in the
convent before, and shall return in a few days. In less than two
months I shall take the veil."

Dear heart! Fight as she would for conscience' sake, she could not
keep out of her eyes the pity and love for him, as she saw the look of
amazement and misery which flashed into his face, and noted how
unsteadily his hand sought the back of the garden bench.

Suddenly their eyes met, and then he knew, and hope flew back, and
with a glad ring in his voice he said, "You love me, Adele!" He
started forward and imprisoned the hand with the crucifix in his own.
His apprehension had all vanished now, and boldly he told her that if
she loved him she had no right to sacrifice their happiness. Then his
tone changed, and he pleaded with her; and as she looked into his
eager eyes, listened, and saw how dear she was to him, her rejoicing
heart deadened the lashings of her conscience; she forgot all about
her promise to Father Sauvalle and to her parents; forgot all about
the convent of the Sacred Heart; yea, even forgot the anathemas
uttered by her father against the Church, in this, the first great
happiness of her life.

He thought he had won her, and raising her head, looked teasingly into
her face and said softly, yet triumphantly:

"To prevail in the cause that is dearer than life,
Or--"

Adele wrenched her hand from him and started back. Her face was
ghastly pale, while her eyes dilated and shone with terror. "If I do
not enter the convent," she said fearfully, "I shall be responsible
for the loss of my father's soul!"

For a space he looked at her as though he thought her mind was
affected. She read his look, and remembering that he did not
understand, told him all her father's