The dress had been provided for a beautiful lady, brought there like Dora against her will, and whom on seeing, one of the smugglers had become very much enamored with, and desired to marry her. She indignantly refused his suit, but preparations were made for the bridal, the dress and its paraphernalia were all in readiness, but when the time came the bride was missing. Every vault and passage was explored, but without success, until at last her body was found floating in the sea. She had found a passage leading to it, and had cast herself into it rather than become the bride of such a wretch. Poor Dora! no wonder her heart shrunk within her at this sad story. But she would gladly have followed the unfortunate lady’s example had the opportunity offered. Only once did she betray the slightest interest about her apparel, and that was when Nina placed a very large casket before her, and opening it, began to fasten the elegant jewels which lay within it upon her person. Then for a few moments her eye brightened at beholding so much magnificence. There were bracelets, ear-rings and necklace; a coronet with which to fasten the vail, from which hung graceful and delicate pendants; little tassels and ornaments to loop up the long, full skirt; a pair of dainty slippers, embroidered in strange devices with the same costly gems; and a girdle for the waist, from which depended two superb tassels, one before, and one behind, and which outrivaled anything that our heroine’s most brilliant imagination had ever pictured. Madam Alroyd, even through her tears, could not help exclaiming: “Oh, how lovely!” as Nina clasped the last ornament in its place, and stepped back to note the effect. She then gently led the fair girl before a full length mirror, and entreated her to look. Dora raised her sad, lovely eyes, and gazed upon her reflected image, and realized for an instant that she was indeed surpassingly beautiful; but with a shudder she covered her face with her white-gloved hands. “Oh, Robbie! Robbie!” she exclaimed, as the extent of her shattered hopes rushed over her. With unsteady steps she walked to a chair, upon which she sat, with clasped hands and a stony heart, waiting for the fatal summons. It came before she was aware of it. A curtain noiselessly swung aside, and Ralph Moulton entered. He stopped spell-bound at sight of the vision before him, and the cloud that had hung on his brow ever since he had parted from little black-eyed Enid Chichester vanished in the presence of his elegant bride-elect. She did not move, for she had not heard nor seen him enter. He passed swiftly to her side, bent upon one knee, and taking her icy hand, pressed a passionate kiss upon it. Then she started as if an asp had stung her, and spurned him from her with loathing. Rising, she stood haughtily erect, and fixed her flashing eyes full upon him.