THREE HOURS ON THE DIAL OF A RHAPSODIST.

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to claim your hand. Dearest Iva! my child, my guardian angel,I shall be saved through this marriage, I shall dare to look upagain upon the world. Nay ! why so pale ? we can both owe afavour to De Grey— n’est-ce pas .?”

He smiled, and sought to elicit a responsive glance.

The beautiful girl made no reply, but silently placing herarms around her father’s neck, followed him with drooping headto the apartment where her lover awaited her, and where herfather left them.

De Grey was very pale. The confirmation of his hopes was,perhaps, too thrilling to be borne without a rush of pain as wellas pleasure.

Gently drawing her arm within his own, and pressing herhand for a moment to his lips, he drew her to a seat.

“My Iva! may I not say mine?” he murmured. “Yourfather gives me the right to claim this dear hand-”

She was weeping already. Oh, blessed tears of joy !

“My Iva!”—tenderly wreathing his arm around her—“ Hush, sweetest one ! I am here listening—close—close—forthe slightest syllable—whisper but a word, a single word-”

It came at his bidding. “Yes;” and her voice was stifledin sobs.

“ Your father! ” he went on, still retaining her hand, andcaressing the bright curls which lay upon his bosom; yourfather, Iva. has told you all-”

“ Oh, yes! ” she said, lifting her eyes, and a sparkle cameinto them as she gazed upon his manly features; “ you havesaved him, and for my sake, noble as you are ! How delicatelyhave you arranged all! My grateful lips will never cease toinvoke blessings on you for your succour of my father !”

“ Think not of that now. Money ! mere dross! Oh, abrighter reward I — selfish !—aspire to. Say, is it mine?”

“ You know my heart—you know my gratitude !”