There in solitude, with but two servants--a man and a maid whom I could trust--we lived and loved, and for a season, brief as all happiness is doomed to be, we were happy.

Her cousins had no knowledge of that farm of mine, and though they searched the country for many a mile around, they searched in vain.

My father knew--as I learned afterwards--but deeming that what was done might not be undone, he held his peace.

In the following spring a babe was born to us, and our bliss made heaven of that cottage.
"Twas a month or so after the birth of our child that the blow descended.

I was away, enjoying alone the pleasures of the chase; my man was gone a journey to the nearest town, whence he would not return until the morrow.