He soothed me with his charming voice; he brought me back to myself with his tender caresses.

He called the bright heaven above us to witness that he devoted his whole life to me.

He vowed--oh, in such solemn, such eloquent words!--that his one thought, night and day, should be to prove himself worthy of such love as mine.

And had he not nobly redeemed the pledge?
Had not the betrothal of that memorable night been followed by the betrothal at the altar, by the vows before God! Ah, what a life was before me! What more than mortal happiness was mine! Again I lifted my head from his bosom to taste the dear delight of seeing him by my side--my life, my love, my husband, my own! Hardly awakened yet from the absorbing memories of the past to the sweet realities of the present, I let my cheek touch his cheek, I whispered to him softly, "Oh, how I love you! how I love you!" The next instant I started back from him.

My heart stood still.