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THE MAGIC CRYSTAL; OR,

“ Hush ! that word again ! You are to love me, sweetest,not to thank. What have I done for thanks ? But your heart,that priceless gift, not to be bought-”

“ Be satisfied, it is filled with your image. Oh, De Grey,I will try to be a true and loving wife to you, for I owe myfather to you. Believe me, I will!”

She burst into tears.

“ My Iva, will it need trying? Nay ! not that reproachfullook. Oh, dearest! I love you so tenderly; my whole being isso absorbed in, and twined about your influence, that I shoulddie if not loved as truly. You are my whole life, my wholedependence!”

“ Dear De Grey ! ”

“ Call me Reginald; come, you must speak the words. Imust hear you say you love me! Oh ! Iva, I must be lovedwildly, absorbingly ! You have this to give, have you not ?What! you will not speak ? Cruel! then see here! Come, youshall not even whisper the precious assurance: look, Iva, here isa mirror which shall reflect your inmost thoughts !”

She turned and looked hurriedly upon him. He was gazingfixedly into the glass he held, and endeavoured by drawing hercheek towards his to make her look into it too : she turnedaway.

“What! you are ashamed even to see me satisfy myself?You will not look ? But I am relentless, and will detect yourthoughts. Now I shall see the object which fills your soul, theform of him you love ! Oh, mirror-crystal! now beloved asformerly detested ! revealing my own image in thy mysteriousdepths! Iva’s lover — husband!-”

-Hush! what wild wailing comes upon the evening

breeze, as though a spirit’s pain disturbed the ripples of the air ?He gazes with panting eagerness, and eyes which seemedspell-bound upon the surface of the crystal. What sees he there ?