gleam, as a ray from the brilliant ball-room sparkled upon
the falling drops,—and when the blaring trumpet tones
were silent for a moment, the waters murmured and
whispered amid the sad story, as if they too remembered
how the grave,  man, upon Whose brow death
had set its seal, had passed by them for the last time.
When at last the man ended the recital that moved
him so deeply, two soft little hands took his own right
hand that hung by his side, and timidly held it firmly
clasped.
" Countess, do you not detest that hand ?"
‘‘Oh, no! how could 1?" she faltered, in a broken
voice. "I would console and soothe you, by every
argument which a human voice is capable "
He clasped her hands, and drew her out upon the
lawn,—the light from the castle fell full upon her face
and the tears shining in her brown eyes.
"Do you remember the words that you called after
me to-day when I turned to leave you forever?" he said
in irrepressible , pressing the trembling little
hands to his breast.
She was silent, and struggled gently to free her hands,—she would have hidden in them her face, now suffused
with a burning blush. '
" I