The next moment Wild Madge, the sibyl, stood before them, and the echo of her weird and mocking laugh blent strangely with the hollow beat of the Atlantic waves. "Aha," she cried discordantly. "You weep, my bonny maid! Ah! said I not that the clouds of sorrow hung low over that golden head?" Bonnibel started and clung closer to her lover, while a tremor shook her frame. Leslie turned angrily and rebuked the old woman. "Begone!" he said sternly. "How dare you come prowling about this lady with your croakings of evil? Never dare to address her again." Wild Madge retreated a few steps and stood looking at him malevolently in the moonlight. Again her laugh rang out mockingly. "Never fear, fond lover, Wild Madge would not harm a hair of that bonny head you shelter on your breast. But destiny is stronger than you or I. Her doom is written. Take the little maid in your arms and spring out into the sea there, and save her from the heart-aches that are beginning now!" "Begone, I say!" reiterated the young artist threateningly. "I obey you," said the sibyl, retreating, with her mocking, discordant laugh still ringing in their ears. "Bonnibel," he whispered, "look up, my sweet one. The crazy old creature is gone. You need not fear her predictions--they mean nothing! Try and calm yourself and listen to me. I have much to say to you to-night for it is the last time we shall meet until I come to claim my bride. In a few hours I must leave here. To-morrow I shall be on a steamer bound for Europe." "So soon?" she gasped brokenly, stifling her anguished sobs. "The sooner the better, darling. I must not dally here when I have so much work to do. Remember I have fame and fortune to conquer before we meet again!" "It will be so long," she moaned, slipping out of his arms and sinking down on the pebbly beach with her face hidden in her hands. Leslie picked up the shawl which had slipped from her shoulders and wrapped it carefully about her, for the sea-air was chilly and damp. "It may seem long to us now, dear," he said, sitting down beside her, "but in reality it will pass very quickly. I shall work very hard with such a prize in view, and I hope the time of our separation will not be long. I shall go at once to Rome and place myself under the best masters. I have genius, for I feel it within me, and the critics already admit it. Never fear, darling, but that my success will be speedy and sure." "But away off to Rome," said the girl. "Oh! Leslie, that seems as if you were going out of the world. Why need you go to Italy? Cannot you study here in this country?" "Not so well, my little love, as in Italy, where I can have better masters, and better facilities for studying the paintings of the world's greatest artists in the beautiful old churches and cathedrals. I must have the best instruction, for I want to make the name you will bear an honored one." She lifted her beautiful, tear-wet face in the moonlight, and said, gently and simply: