own breast, but something impels me to speak out. I love you,
Heloise--I have dared to love--to adore you."

The fair girl blushed till her very temples were crimsoned over with
eloquent blood. The young soldier threw himself at her feet, and
taking the fair hand she abandoned to him, covered it with kisses; nor
did he rise till he had received confirmation of his new-born hopes,
and knew that, for good or ill, the heart of Heloise was irrevocably
his. Finally, he was compelled to tear himself away, but he carried
to his tent a feeling of delicious joy which steeled his mind against
all thought of the chances of the morrow.

The moments passed away in delirious revery, but at length he was
interrupted by St. Prix.

The count was in the worst of humors--his brow was dark with passion,
and he threw himself into a seat, and flung his plumed hat on the
table with an energy that betrayed the violence of his emotions.

"What's the matter, Raoul?" asked Henri. "Has Saxe changed his plans?
Do we fall back instead of advancing?"

"No, thank God! there will be plenty of throat-cutting to-morrow, and
the French Guards have the post of honor."

"Thank Heaven!" exclaimed Henri, joyfully.

"You seem in excellent spirits to-night, Captain Henri de Grandville."

"I wish I could say as much of you, Captain Raoul de St. Prix."