THE WATCH-TOWER OF KOAT-VfctT. 



the sounds of that voice, so sweet and timid, ever resounded in her 

 soul. 



Rita was so happy that she did not dream of checking her love. 

 She was immensely rich, who could prevent her devoting herself to 

 him ? And then he was alone in the world, without relations or 

 friends, would he not be hers, entirely her own ? Was he not com- 

 pletely dependent? And was she not alone to love him? 



Yes, Rita would have been jealous of a mother or a sister, if 

 Henry had either ; for love such as hers was fiercest selfishness, per- 

 fect exclusiveness. The more she saw of Henry the more she loved. 

 She passed whole hours listening to the confidence of this soul so sim- 

 ple and candid, in seeing gradually developed this heart which 

 scarcely knew itself, examining herself the feeling which she excited 

 in the heart of Henry ; for she was as simple as he in the thrilling 

 sense of love. 



Henry was timid and fearful ; he had not boldness to acquire any 

 thing wisely ; it was necessary that she should anticipate his wishes. 



In a short time love the most frantic, the most violent, the most 

 passionate, made Rita its slave ; and forgetting her rank, her fortune, 

 and her position in society, she decided upon offering her hand to 

 Henry. " Why should I consider his poverty?'' said Rita, " am I not 

 the only daughter of a grandee of Spain, and can I not give to Henry 

 the title and name of my father? I would that he should possess 

 every thing through me, even his name that name which he will 

 so well become, for he is handsome, brave, and clever ; J know not 

 one who equals him ; and then he loves me to adoration, at my 

 heart I feel he does. I love him too, perhaps too much. And ha? 

 he not sacrificed all he could in this world the faith which he had 

 sworn, his futurity so peaceful, so calm and who knows but he may 

 have sacrificed to me his truest happiness?" 



The three days which she had requested of Henry to reflect upon 

 her determination sufficed to establish her more firmly still in her 

 decision, so that on the evening of the third day she took her man- 

 tle, and passing through the oratory, which communicated with her 

 chapel by means of a narrow door, she joined Perez, who was await- 

 ing her. Resting upon her esquire's arm she walked from the castle 

 to the sea-coast, and, on reaching the steep bare rock, she left Perez 

 and wound her accustomed way to the tower. 



Henry was already at the door, upon a kind of platform which' 

 served as base to the staircase, but he was so strangely dressed that 

 Rita did not recognize him at first, and stopped timidly. He was 

 clad in a monk's habit, and the hood drawn down concealed nearly all 

 his face. " Rita, Rita, 'tis me,'' he exclaimed in a sweet tone. He 

 had hardly time to pronounce her name before the duchess, recog- 

 nizing his voice, was already in his embrace. f< Why this solemn 

 costume, dear Henry?'' she exclaimed. " Was it not that which I 

 should have taken ere I knew thee, Rita? I wished to wear it for 

 the last and only time, to make my sacrifice to thee more complete. 

 Do you object?'' " No, no," cried Rita, approaching towards the 

 entrance, " but come 



Henry held her back tenderly. " Listen," said he, as he pressed 



