they passed the Throne, each one depositing an urn of pure
gold at the feet of the Monarch. The urns were filled with the ashes of
those who had fallen in battle, heroes killed in holy causes, patriots
and martyrs from different parts of the world. The Grand Duke entered
last in the train, he was clad in the ermine only worn by Princes, and
as he bowed his head, he placed the last urn on the floor. The young man
started--the name of the murdered Mother was deeply graven on the
sculptured swells. Then all grew dark before him, he saw neither the
Throne of the Monarch, nor the fair girl still clinging to his arm. But
his ear quickened as his eye grew dim, and the question of the Monarch
rang loudly through his brain: 'Are they all really dead, and will they
rise from the grave no more?'

And as if with one voice answered the Ambassadors: 'They are all surely
dead, and will rise no more forever.' At a sign from the Monarch, the
courtiers approached, took up the urns, and solemnly deposited them upon
the columns of black marble ranged on either side of the Hall. Flaming
torches were then handed by the attendants, taken by those high in the
favor of the court, and held over the open crypt of the urn. The ashes
within kindled, and burned with a dim, bluish flame. The pale smoke rose
from the shrine, spread through the air, and wafted the smell of Death
to the nostrils of the Lord!

It now seemed to the young man as if all he had seen at the hour of
twilight was but a dream; he looked upon these throngs as the sole
masters of the world, and on their Monarch as omnipotent and eternal. At
this moment the table of festival rose in the Hall, everywhere
surrounded by the blazing funereal urns. The maiden begged the
bridegroom to take his seat at the banquet; the Master, descending from
his Throne, placed his arm in his, and led him to the place of honor, at
his side. The great bell again tolled the hour. The guests also took
their places at the feast.

Directly in front of the young man stood the column of black marble
bearing the urn containing the ashes of his Mother. And whenever he saw
her holy name, his long lashes veiled his sinking eyes; but his bride
constantly recalled his attention to the blue flames of the crypt.

More and more madly, fiercely, fearfully, his reeling and wretched soul
struggled to regain its ancient faith, to return to its early hopes; but
temptation was around him; his brain was bewildered; his under