that which, while still optional, she shuddered but to think of, became, except on one supposition, inevitable. She threw herself into my arms and wept; for even she could doubt if Deloraine would purchase the right to detain her with his hand.

"He, however, could not brook to see ber snatched so unexpectedly from him and agreeably surprised us both, by flying, as soon as the order reached him, to claim her as his bride. They had not met since her sad loss; and if, even in my sober eyes, her beauty was enhanced both by the reality and garb of woe, it evidently was not less so in a lover's. Poor Ellen! I think, when, with her fine, tall, fragile figure, her clear transparent skin, the floods of golden hair, set off by her black dress, she stood before us, smiling love's radiant smile through nature's filial tears, I never saw a creature more enchanting.

He

"Deloraine saw, by the manner of both, that in the absence of a natural parent, she had found one in me. therefore affected to consult me in the dilemma to which he was reduced by the inopportune illness of the garrison chaplain, and the difficulty of finding a substitute in the three days which alone intervened before the inexorable fiat of the Governor would separate them, perhaps, for ever. The cause was a cruel one. G- certainly did not afford another Englishman in regular orders, besides the new one lying delirious in the fever hospital; and, unless the wife of Deloraine before the sailing of the fatal transport, Ellen must perforce accompany it to England.

"In these perplexing circumstances, Deloraine's idea was one as likely to find favour with a young impassioned mind, as to startle and repel a more experienced one. G- then abounded with Catholic priests, some of whom might possibly be bribed or influenced to solemnize a marriage between heretics; and (argued the lover) while the Vow was written on the hearts of the parties, the precise form surely mattered little. Little indeed,' echoed the loving, trusting heart of Ellen, destined, like spotless alabaster, ever to retain impressions made on its soft and yielding surface. Little indeed,' perhaps, thought Deloraine, provided the form be one which, potent to dispel doubts and prevent departure now, may hereafter render

dubious irksome ties, and facilitate the wished for separation.

"I had not lived so long in a bad world, without distrust and loathing of this novel-like expedient. I did not reckon every youth a Lovelace, nor every monk a Schedoni; but I knew men were deceivers ever' and I urged-tenderly, authoritatively urged- Ellen to be gone. If Deloraine loves you as you think, my child, he will come honorably and claim you when this short strife is over; if otherwise, you will live to count escape a blessing. Why would you risk upon a questionable rite, the happiness and reputation of your future life?' But Ellen had the instinctive doubt of her lover's constancy, though not the rational of bis sincerity. The 'if' I placed before her was more dreadful than a thousand certainties. To stay, and marry, might be rash; to go, and meet no more, perhaps, was, in her present mood-to die!

"The priest was sought and found-raised scruplessold them, and was ready to officiate. At first, determined to withhold my sanction and presence from a ceremony my judgment utterly condemned; but suddenly reflecting of what importance as a witness I might be in case of need, I came unexpected-aud, on one side, I believe, undesired-to the scene.

"It was an ominous yet solemn one. The priest, whose

tenets forbade the exercise of his sacred office in unconsecrated precincts, yet who durst not bring openly a heretic couple to a Catholic altar, chose, for safety and convenience, a subterranean chapel in the rock, used in times of Moorish persecution, and known but to a few religious. I am not superstitious; yet the damp earthly smell of this sepulchral vault-its darkness, rendered visible by one dim glimmering lamp-the perjured priest, and perhaps no less perjured bridegroom, and fond believing victim, all made an impression not soon to be forgotten. Ellen, from motives of natural and pardonable superstition, had thrown aside her deep mourning for the ceremony; yet with such haste and negligence, that relics of it, strangely peeping from beneath her bridal garb, made me feel quite uncomfortable. Methonght-and when I take such fancies, the raven within

me must be loud indeed-the sable inner garb, so thinly veiled superficial gaiety, betokened more than met the startled eye.

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Deloraine, happy and successful as he was, had yet the wild bewildered look of one, who amid triumph asks him, if this indeed be joy;' Ellen, the expression of one whose heart has already prophetically answered in the negative.

"The long rite, at length was over-the certificate, at my request, duly signed by all present, including an Euglish servant of poor Osborne's-and Deloraine in triumph carried home his prize. The vessel sailed for England with her freight of fugitives; the siege commenced in earnest, and all was general bustle and individual exertion.

"The first drawback on Ellen's intended happiness, was the frequent exposure to peril and fatigue, of one whose temper and habits fitted him for neither. When others laughed at, nay, even courted hardships, this silken son of affluence shrunk in ill-humour or disgust: but woman's love and patience smiled on Ellen's brow; and sure I am, if undiscovered she could have donned his soldier's cloak and mounted the dark and stormy guard for him, she would have done so with unhesitating devotion.

"I saw them seldom. I could not at first, even for Ellen's sake, love Deloraine; and for her sake I should have learned ere long to hate him, had I not, before the conclusion of the siege, received a desperate wound, aud remained in hospital till all was over, and the exhausted garrison relieved by fresh troops. Deloraine came to see me ere he sailed, and brought a billet full of love and gratitude from Ellen. I sought, in vain, in its tone, for joy, and should have been happy had it breathed content.

My regiment went to India. I shared in many a hardfought contests with our then formidable Indian foes, and proved their tender mercies in the far-famed dungeons of Seringapatam. When the first bitterness of this virtual death was past, it is well known that courage and constitutional cheerfulness rendered the lot of most of us supportable. We were generally contented-sometimes even gay; but while we bore thus wonderfully to ourselves an appa

rently hopeless confinement, little did I dream how fatal its protraction had proved to one, whom I could not even there forget.

"The tale of Ellen has been told for centuries; yet their hoary stamp renders it not the more impressive to the reckless ear of youth. Deloraine ceased to be a lover, and, in so doing, felt that to cease io be a husband was not difficult. The priest was out of reach-transported perchance on the wings of gold, to a rich convent in Peru. The English soldier present at the marriage was dead; and I alone remained, a witness formidable to the one party, and precious to the other. Ellen, with the powerlessness of utter despair, and painful memory of my prophetic warnings, would have forborne to appeal to me, but she had still distant relations interested by pride in establishing her marriage. They wrote and wrote to me; and it was not till the letters were returned as those of one over whom the grave had well nigh closed, that Ellen knew how unconsciously her heart had clung to me as her protector and her champion.

"In Hyder's dungeon Deloraine defied me; cast Ellen wholly off, and fortified himself in guilty breach of vows, by interesting, through a second marriage, a whole noble family in the annihilation of all traces of his first.

"I was released at length, and re-appeared among my English friends as one arisen from the grave. If to some of these my hollow cheeks and lean gaunt limbs gave an unwelcome shock, it was slight to that I felt when sent for by the dying Ellen.

There

"I should have known her voice, low, sweet, and musical, and traced a heightened likeness to her father in her mournful smile! All else had vanished: the tall form was bent and wasted-the fair skin ghastly palethe golden hair thinned, not by time, but sorrow. was a mightier change! The thoughtless wilful novice, rushing upon life, was grown a grief-taught heavenward pilgrim. I talked to her of her rights, as soldiers talk, and swore I would assert them with my life. Nay, Colonel Vernon,' said the gentle injured one, 'speak not of rights to her whose only lawful title was to the years of suffering her rashness purchased. It was mine to sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind; but the storm is spent-the baven

almost gained. I waited for your coming, that you might sanction with your presence, on act more of submission to a higher Power, and Christian charity towards one, richer and fairer, yet I fear not much happier, than I; but who, long taught to tremble at my name, and turn pale at the sound of yours, cannot know peace till this exists no more.' So saying, she took the certificate which I had been examining, and which lay between us on the table, cast up her eyes in meek surrender of all earthly hopes, and placed the fatal paper on the flames.

I have no child, Vernon!' said she, answering my look of petrified amazement, 'to upbraid me with this purely personal sacrifice. She, I am told, has smiling innocents to profit by it: on them she may now gaze without a pang; and he, released from hated vows and racking fears, may grow, perhaps a faithful husband and fond father. To me he can be nothing but an instrument of merited chastisement and contrite self-abashment. I have forgiven, and would fain forget him.

I am now again Osborne's friendless daughter, Colonel Vernon. You closed my darling parent's eyes in happy ignorance of future woe: you will, I hope, close mine in blest forgetfulness of past misfortunes. The chapel of San Roque, its stolen vows, and murky air-my motly trappings of grief and joy-what were they but unerring omens of a ashly chosen lot? It has been quickly run, and fatally for time-not without profit, let me humbly hope for eternity! God bless you, mine own and my father's friend! I shall not be a tax upon your kindness long!'

"It was even so and Ellen Osborne died at five-andtwenty, the worn and wasted victim of misplaced confidence and headstrong passion. Nor was retributive justice idle. Deloraine, too, died young-a martyr to remorse; alike unloving and unloved by his proud new connexions; who, while they tolerated, for his children's sake, the treason, felt for the traitor, merited abhorrence. He sent for me; and asked me with bis dying breath, to lay him at the feet of Ellen."