bright and joyous aspect shows, that they
have known only the sunshine of life's early day; no sorrow as yet had
checked those bounding feet, that loved to spring so lightly over
woodland paths, nor hushed the carol of that gladsome voice, which
rivalled the summer bird in melody; cloudless and pure were her eyes as
the sky at dawn--fresh the soul within her as the morning dew; the
beauty of guilelessness, and of a heart at rest, shed a light around her
which had an indescribable charm. It was a strange thing to see her
there, looking out so serenely on the war of the elements; whilst others
wept and raved, no sound was heard from her, and though strong men lay
writhing at her feet in a paroxysm of terror, no thrill of fear shook
her tender frame; calmly she stood, her white garments shining in the
night, like the pure robes of some angel of peace; her sweet face shaded
by the golden glory of her long flowing hair, her fair hands folded over
her tranquil bosom, and a faint smile lingering on her parted lips,
like the soft light of a reflected moonbeam, on the still waters of a
lucid lake.

There was one there who, even in that hour of tumult and distress, could
not choose but look on her in her marvellous tranquillity; he, like
herself, was calm--the only other in all that trembling crew who faced
death with indifference. But it was sufficient to look upon his
countenance to read the secret of his silent courage; strange it was,
indeed, that she--so young, so fair, so like a snow-white lily--should
be ready to fall without a sigh into the embrace of the deadly
corruption; but it was no marvel that this man should be well content to
feel on his strong, passionate heart, the iron grasp which alone would
still its beating. A noble face was his, bearing the marked evidence of
a powerful mind, a resolute spirit, and a generous heart; but it was so
sorrowfully stern, so deeply shadowed with the gloom of some great
darkness which lay upon his soul, that it was plain the bitterness of
life alone had engendered this recklessness of death.

They had never met before, these two. She was so young, and he already
well-nigh past his prime, for he had numbered some forty years; yet now
the attraction of a common sentiment drew them towards one another as
though they had been kindred spirits. He was gazing intently upon her,
when she turned her bright, candid eyes towards him, and smiled. She
seemed willing to answer the question his