ent seemed to pervade my being in his
presence and my girlish fancy dignified the delusion with the name of
love? My father was delighted with his society; he possessed an
inexhaustible fund of anecdotes and strange adventures, was an excellent
musician, and had the agreeable tact of accommodating himself to the mood
of the moment. He was a constant visitor, and at length became almost
domesticated in our household. Known to us by the name of Corrie, he spoke
of himself as the son of a noble house, who, to indulge a poetic
temperament, and a romantic passion for rural scenery, had come forth on a
solitary pilgrimage, and cast aside for a while what he called the iron
fetters of exclusive society. How sweet were our moonlight ramblings
through the deep forest glens; how fondly we lingered by the Fairies' Well
in the green hollow of the woods, watching the single star that glittered
in its pellucid waters! And, oh, what passionate eloquence, what romantic
adoration, was poured forth upon my willing ear, and thrilled my
susceptible heart!

"Before my father's eye he appeared gracefully courteous to me, but not a
word or glance betrayed the passion which in our secret interviews
worshiped me as an idol, and enthralled my senses with the ardency of its
homage. This, he told me, was necessary for my happiness, as my father
might separate us if he suspected that another shared the heart hitherto
exclusively his own. This was my first deception. Fatal transgression! I
had departed from the path of truth, and my guardian angel grew pale in
the presence of the tempter. Winter began to darken the valleys; our
fireside circle was enlivened by the presence of our accomplished guest.
On the eve of my natal day, he spoke of the birth-day fetes he had
witnessed during his Continental and Oriental rambles, complimented my
father on the antique beauty and massy richness of the gold and silver
plate which, rarely used, decorated the sideboard in honor of the
occasion; and, admiring the pearls adorning my hair and bosom, spoke so
learnedly on the subject of jewels, that my father brought forth from his
Indian cabinet my mother's bridal jewels, diamonds, and emeralds of
exquisite lustre and beauty. I had never before seen these treasures, and
our guest joined in the raptures of my admiration.

" 'They will adorn my daughter,' said my father, with a sigh, as he closed
the casket, and retired to place it in its safe receptacle.

" 'Yes, my