ever.

About a month had passed since the duel upon the mountain-side, and
during that time Carlton was only able to communicate with Florinda
through means of epistolary correspondence. For some time he had
employed a servant of the house of Carrati as his messenger; but the
fellow being bribed by the agents of Petro, intercepted the letters,
and now Carlton was forced to become his own messenger or bearer of
the letters he himself wrote. He was now urgent in his
communications to the gentle Florinda that she should elope from her
home and become united to him; and their arrangements were nearly
completed, as the following letter, written at this time, will show:

"DEAR FLORINDA:-I am more and more convinced of the propriety of the
course I have urged upon you. You say that such a plan may
jeopardize your largo property. This is a mistake, I am fully
convinced; and even were it otherwise, what need we care for
wealth, if we are sure for a sufficiency for life, and of each
other's love? I am highly gratified, dearest, that you have at
length consented to this arrangement. I will, in the meantime, make
all necessary arrangements for our journey. I count the moments
until we shall meet again. Guard your health, dear Florinda, and
believe me, Devotedly yours, CARLTON."

Carlton then proceeded immediately to perfect his plan, and to make
all necessary arrangements for the proposed elopement, and in
another letter to Signora Florinda, he made all preliminary
arrangements with her also, so that there might be no
misunderstanding in the case.