"Some flowers of Eden we still inherit, But the trail of the serpent is over them all." Over this exquisite picture of domestic peace and love broke the storm-cloud and the tempest. It was but a moment after Paul Winans kissed his happy wife before the stillness of the midnight hour was broken by a sound that rose from the street below, and was directly beneath the window. First, a mournful guitar prelude; then a man's voice singing in the very accents of despair, and he finished the song of which Grace had sung the first stanza for him four years before: "Sweetheart, good-by! One last embrace! O cruel fate! two souls to sever! Yet in this heart's most sacred place Thou, thou alone, shalt dwell forever! "And still shall recollection trace In fancy's mirror, ever near, Each smile, each tear, that form, that face-- Though lost to sight, to mem'ry dear!" Husband and wife listened in unbroken silence to the strain. The senator's arm tightened about his wife and child, and she sat mute and still, every line of her face as moveless as if carved from marble. But as the lingering notes died away, her hand sought and touched the tiny blue-and-silver tassel that depended from the bell-cord, and sent its low tinkle through the house. Norah, who always answered the nursery-bell, came in after the lapse of a moment. To her Mrs. Winans said, in a voice that sounded stern and cold for her silver-sweet tones: "Norah, go to the front door and tell that madman that he had better move on--that the family do not wish to be disturbed by such nonsense at this hour of the night." The woman withdrew obediently. Paul Winans turned, and walked restlessly up and down the room. "So he dares come and serenade my wife directly under my window!" His dark eyes blazed, his cheeks flamed, and his hand involuntarily clenched itself. Grace looked up at him, still immovably calm and silent; but a slight nervous movement of her arm showed that she heard and understood. She looked up questioningly as Norah appeared in the door-way. "He was gone, ma'am, before I got down to the door." "Very well; you may go, then." And, as before, Norah went out, with her small courtesy, and left the pair alone. "Grace!" "Well, dear?" Her voice had the same sweet cadence as usual, and her smile was as gentle as ever when she looked up at the princely form before her. His voice, his look, showed his insulted pride and outraged heart. Her only trace of emotion showed in marble pallor and darkening eyes.