reality. The music was still there. I could not be mistaken. I felt my spirit soothed, and again sunk to rest.

Day dawned, and I rose refreshed. Something like hope played round my heart, and whispered, 'There is a balm for every grief.' I now began to have serious thoughts of leaving Thebes. The stranger, too, thought it was time to move. Sitting one day by my side, after gazing sorrowfully on me for some time, he said: Ellspeth, I must journey to my own home. Those who love, will expect me. Yet do I feel sad to

leave you here; and longer with you 't were not well to stay. I would say to you go with me to my own free land, had I a sister to whose care I could confide you; but Fate hath not so blessed me. There is but

one of your own sex with whom I could have influence in your behalf; one whom, alas! I cannot love, but who is soon to be my wife.'

I started to my feet. The word wife had turned the current of my thoughts. 'Go,' I exclaimed, Go: 't is best. Fear not to leave me. The wretched can have nothing to fear. If I may not have peace, I have still power. Go: and when you think not of Ellspeth, she will be by your side.'

I rushed from the ruins, and took the road to Luxor, there, on the marble that covered my parent, to weep; for I felt that I now could weep. The dim shades of evening were closing in as I reached the temple. All seemed desolate and cold as my heart. The spell was broken he was to be the husband of another. I cast myself on my father's grave, and wept in agony. I felt myself indeed alone. While I had one being to look kindly on me, even though it were but a look of doubtful kindness, my heart felt not the loneliness of my situation. Earth had for me held but two beings whose love I prized: the one lay dead and cold beneath the marble I pressed; the other had told me he was to be the husband of another. The world seemed a void: all was chaos. The power I had hitherto possessed seemed lost. I became a very infant, and wept till nature was exhausted, then sunk to sleep. Long and sound that sleep must have been; for when I awoke the moon was shedding her broad light on the checkered pavement. The same low, sweet music I had before heard, seemed borne on the wind, and a voice, in accents sweet and mild, said:

The music, as before, died in the distance.

But

The voice ceased. I seemed to possess new energy. I no longer felt myself alone. I knew there was honey mixed with the gall of my destiny. I had now a motive—something to live for. I had power to watch over, if not to guard, the stranger. A melancholy pleasure seemed to take possession of me, in the thought that I might stand by his death-bed and receive his last sigh. I rose from my knees and took the way to my lonely dwelling with a comparatively light heart. I retired to rest, and sought not to see the stranger.

The sun was high when I opened my eyes from a dreamless sleep. I almost dreaded to encounter the stranger's gaze. He had spared me the mortification and pain of parting: he was gone.

On the table was a bag containing gold; a miniature of himself, and a note, wherein he took leave of me, expressed gratitude for my care of him, and anxiety for my happiness. The miniature he said he left to remind me of one who would never cease to feel gratitude for my kindness, and who would pray for my peace.

With strange calmness I opened and gazed on the picture. Oh, how like him! I pressed it to my lips, to my heart; nor do I believe I would at that moment have given it up to call the original mine. I was no longer alone. The shadow was mine, and I ceased to sigh for the substance. I now became exceedingly anxious to be gone, or rather, to begin my wanderings. I looked around with an aching heart on the ruins I so soon must leave, leave not to return to till my earthly sojourn was near its close. Oh, life! what is there in the mystic woof of thy web that makes poor mortals cling to thee so fondly? Even I, lost and lonely as I was, had no wish, even if I had the power, to journey to that far-off spirit-land.

The last day arrived that I intended to pass in my ruined home. Each object that met my view had for me an additional charm. With even childish fondness I passed my hands over the obelisks that marked the entrance to the shrine that had been so long my dwelling. I gazed on the sphinxes as I passed along the avenue, and thought I read compassion in their marble eyes. I could have caressed them, so kindly did my heart warm to the few objects I had been used to look upon. Farewell! farewell!' I exclaimed; when next I gaze upon you, you will be unchanged; while Time, with chilling hand, shall have strewn over me the snows of age! When I next behold you I shall be on the brink of the tomb, with no hand to compose my limbs, no eye to shed for me a tear!' I wept, and continued my way to pay a last visit, for some time at least, to the grave of my parent. On that spot I had heard my doom: on that spot I had saved, from the meshes of the Evil One, the soul of my father. I thought of this; and felt the price not too much to win admission for the parent I loved into paradise. Long and fast flowed my tears. There is pain in leaving even the ashes of those we love and have clung to. Every little circumstance connected with my childhood came to my mind; the many dark and lonely nights we had spent in our mountain-home, when the light of no other eye had beamed upon me, and the sound of no other voice had cheered me. As the flood-gates of memory opened, the recollection came that he lay beneath the marble; his heart had ceased its throbbings; and I stood in the

world alone no, not alone; the miniature of the stranger was around my neck: I pressed it to my lips; and peace, for a brief space, was mine.

I remembered now the power I possessed; the spirits who promised to come at my call; and determined on the spot to try the truth. I invoked the spirit of air to tell me of the stranger; and stood waiting the knowledge with the miniature pressed to my heart. Soon, the same sweet, low music that ever ushered in their presence, was borne on the breeze; and a clear voice breathed:

THE white sail is spreading,

The bark 's on the tide
That beareth the stranger
Away to his bride.

In prayer at this moment,

He bendeth the knee,

His sad thoughts still dwelling,
Lone maiden, on thee.'

I knelt and wept in thankfulness. Again and again I pressed my lips to the cold marble that covered my parent's remains. Oh, there are moments of agony in this world of wo, to which the pangs of death are naught. Alas! I have died a thousand deaths, and yet live on. The agony of my mind almost deprived me of reason. 'Farewell! farewell!' I franticly exclaimed; Thy poor doomed Ellspeth must leave even thy ashes, and wander in other lands, exposed perhaps to the peltings of the storm: but never can she endure a storm like that which now rages in her heart. Friend of my childhood! soother of my sorrows, and author of my being, farewell! When next I kneel on this spot it will be to mingle my dust with thine, while my spirit soars to meet thee in realms of bliss.' I rushed from the temple and fled, I knew not whither. I forgot the power I possessed, and sought but oblivion of my woes. I wandered, I knew not how long, till I was exhausted, and sunk on a broken column, almost deprived of reason. this moment, a voice loud and clear, that seemed to hover over me, said:

'SPIRIT of flowers! hie thee hence,

And cull from earth's gay parterre

Each blossom that breathes of peace and rest,

To twine in a garland fair.

'That garland weave for the lonely and sad,
When her heart is crushed and sore,

Till her pillow is pressed by the spirit of rest,
And she thinks of her griefs no more.'

Then came the sweet familiar music. I was entranced.

At

In spite of

myself, sleep overpowered me, and all recollection of my loneliness and sorrow ceased.