on recovered the
whole of her property--which was soon restored to its flourishing
condition under the faithful stewardship of Antoine.

Alas! there was that that could never be restored--the young cheerful
heart--the buoyant spirit--the virgin love!

But do not imagine that Eugenie Besancon yielded to despair--that she
was ever after the victim of that unhappy passion. No--hers was a
mighty will; and all its energies were employed to pluck the fatal arrow
from her heart.

Time and a virtuous life have much power; but far more effective was
that sympathy of the object beloved--that _pity for love_--which to her
was fully accorded.

Her heart's young hope was crushed--her gay spirit shrouded--but there
are other joys in life besides the play of the passions; and, it may be,
the path of love is not the true road to happiness. Oh! that I could
believe this! Oh! that I could reason myself into the belief, that that
calm and unruffled mien--that soft sweet smile were the tokens of a
heart at rest. Alas! I cannot. Fate will have its victims. Poor
Eugenie! God be merciful to thee! Oh, that I could steep thy heart in
the waters of Lethe!

And Reigart? You, reader, will be glad to know that the good doctor
prospered--prospered until he was enabled to lay aside his lancet, and
become a grandee planter--nay more, a distinguished legislator,--one of
those to whom belongs the credit of having modelled the present system
of Louisiana law--the most advanced code in the civilised world.

You will be glad to learn that Scipio, with his Chloe and the "leetle
Chloe," were brought back to their old and now happy home--that the
snake-charmer still retained his brawny arms, and never afterwards had
occasion to seek refuge in his tree-cavern.

You will not be grieved to know, that Gayarre passed several years of
his after-life in the palace-prison of Baton Rouge, and then disappeared
altogether from the scene. It was said that under a changed name he
returned to France, his native country. His conviction was easy.
Antoine had long suspected him of a design to plunder their joint ward,
and had determined to put him to the proof. The raft of chairs had
floated after all; and by the help of these the faithful steward had
gained the shore, far down the river. No one knew of his escape; and
the idea occurred to this strange old man to remain for a while _en
perdu_--a silent spectator of the conduct of Monsieur Dominique. No