I was faint, trembling, but I sprang from his arms, and stood erect in the center of the glade. My dark hair fell to my shoulders; a flash of lightning lit up my form, clad in snow-white. As wildly, as completely as I loved him, I felt my eyes flash with indignation. "Words like these to a girl who has been reared under your father's roof!" He fell at my feet, besought my forgiveness in frantic tones, and bathed my hands with his tears. I fainted in his arms. When I unclosed my eyes again, I found myself pure and virgin in the arms of my plighted husband. The clouds were parting, the tempest was over, and the sun shone out once more. Every leaf glittered with diamond drops. The last blast of the storm was passing over the distant river, and through the driving clouds, I saw the sunlight shining once more upon our cottage home. "Forgive me, Frank, forgive me," he cried, bending passionately over me. "See! Your bad omen has been turned into good!" I cried joyfully--"First the sunshine, then the storm, but now the sun shines clear again;" and I pointed to the diamond drops glittering in the sun. "And you will be true to me, Frank?" "Before heaven I promise it, in life, in death, forever!" CHAPTER VIII. HOME, ADIEU! It was toward the close of the afternoon that we took our way from the glade through the forest to the river shore. We crossed the river, and passed through the village. Together we ascended the road that led to our home, and at the wicket-gate, found a splendid carriage with liveried servants. The good clergyman stood at the gate, his bared forehead and white hairs bathed in the sunshine; beside him, darkly dressed, diamonds upon her rich attire, my mother. Old Alice stood weeping in the background. "Come, Frank, your things are packed and we must be away," she said, abruptly, as though we had seen each other only the day before; "I wish to reach our home in New York, before night. Go in the house dear," she kissed me, "and get your bonnet and shawl. Quick my love!" Not daring to trust myself to speak--for my heart was full to bursting--I hurried through the gate, and along the garden walk. "How beautiful she has grown!" I heard my mother exclaim. One look into the old familiar library room, one moment in prayer by the bed, in which I had slept since childhood! Placing the bonnet on my curls, and dropping my shawl around me, I hurried from my cottage home. There were a few moments of agony, of blessings, of partings and tears. Old Alice pressed me in her arms, and bid me good-by. The good old clergyman laid his hands upon my head, and lifting his beaming eyes to heaven, invoked the blessing of God upon my head. "I give your child to you again!" he said, placing me in my mother's arms--"May she be a blessing to you, as for years past she has been the blessing and peace of my home!" I looked around for Ernest; he had disappeared. I entered the carriage, and sank sobbing on the seat.