tinate
clinging to the mask alarms me." But his uncertainty was of short
duration, for the lady, advancing to the centre of the room, where
Leander stood respectfully awaiting her pleasure, untied the strings
of the mask, took it off, and threw it down on the table, disclosing a
rather pretty face, with tolerably regular features, large, brilliant,
brown eyes, and smiling red lips. Her rich masses of dark hair were
elaborately dressed, with one long curl hanging down upon her neck, and
enhancing its whiteness by contrast; the uncovered shoulders were plump
and shapely, and the full, snowy bosom rose and fell tumultuously under
the cloud of beautifully fine lace that veiled, not concealed, its
voluptuous curves.

"Mme. la Marquise de Bruyeres!" cried Leander, astonished to the highest
degree, and not a little agitated, as the remembrance of his last, and
first, attempt to meet her, and what he had found in her place, rushed
back upon him; "can it be possible? am I dreaming? or may I dare to
believe in such unhoped-for, transcendent happiness?"

"Yes; you are not mistaken, my dear friend," said she, "I am indeed the
Marquise de Bruyeres, and recognised, I trust, by your heart as well as
your eyes."

"Ah! but too well," Leander replied, in thrilling tones. "Your adored
image is cherished there, traced in living lines of light; I have only
to look into that devoted, faithful heart, to see and worship your
beauteous form, endowed with every earthly grace, and radiant with every
heavenly perfection."

"I thank you," said the marquise, "for having retained such a kind and
tender remembrance of me; it proves that yours is a noble, magnanimous
soul. You had every reason to think me cruel, ungrateful, false--when,
alas! my poor heart in reality is but too susceptible, and I was far
from being insensible to the passionate admiration you so gracefully
testified for me. Your letter addressed to me did not reach my hands,
but unfortunately fell into those of the marquis--through the heartless
treachery of the faithless maid to whom it was intrusted--and he sent
you the answer which so cruelly deceived you, my poor Leander! Some
time after he showed me that letter, laughing heartily over what he
was wicked enough to call a capital joke; that letter, in every line of
which the purest, most impassioned love shone so brightly, and filled
my heart with joy, despite his ridicule and coarse abuse. It did not
produce the effect upon me