Forgotten Stories.

entirely abandoned , ivas noAV , in a great measure choked up by thorns and Avild bushes groAving there . Into this grotto a secret staircase led from that part of the palace in which the Princess herself had taken her particular residencethough

up , it had been so entirely disused for a great leng th of time , that most probably not a person in the palace remembered its situation , or even its existence . But Love , to whose eyes nothing is so hidden that it will

not become manifest , had turned the ardent imagination of the enamoured maiden to benefit by this ancient prison , or receptacle for booty . She employed herself many clays in effecting an opening into the staircase , which had been guarded by a large massy doorand having at length

, descended into the grotto itself , she calculated the height from the ground to the opening , and told Guiscard in her letter the result , and whither he Avas to betake

himself , and at Avhat time , to accomplish the intended intervieiv . Accordingly , the youth procured a rope-ladder of sufficient strength and length , aud , protecting himself from the thorny bushes at the opening by a coat of leather , Avithout letting another soul into the secretAvent bniht

, y g to the mountain , and , having fastened his ropes to a stump of a tree , descended safely and quietly into the cavern below . The next day , the maiden pretended to her damsels that she wished to sleep , ancl 'laving caused them all to retireand

, fastened her chamber-door inside , she opened the staircase entrance , ancl flew down into the grotto , where Guiscard expected her . Need I describe the rapturous expressions of love and joy which burst forth from the happy pair on their first embrace ? he

Need I say that Guiscard fell ^ Princess ' s feet , and swore eternal ealt y to the sovereign of his heart , and nat fcigisraunda , half blushing ancl half t j nig , bade him not swear li ghtly , for „ .. , Love was a tyrant , and would not ' ' rebellion

f eor pardon 1 After their \ emotions were a little subsided , the « en conducted her lover into her apartof ' - an < 1 , taking their seats by the side Vom wmdo »' , Avhich commanded all the Saier ' \ COTmtl 7 and sea-view around npoii ' t ' i' - J mused in sAveetest melanchol y No tl U" lmec l uaI lot irl life > wllich fortJieir openl y avowing their

attachment to the world ; and the Princess often sighed , ancl Avishecl she had been born a shepherdess—and the youth as often responded to her look by an inspiration that he could have been able to have demanded her hand as a Prince . At length , by a simultaneous movement of their feelings ,

the idea of a secret marriage suggested itself : ancl , \ A'hen once either had taken the courage to communicate it to the other , it was immediately determined upon , and the means alone formed the subject of their doubts . Guiscard was nephew to an

aged priest , whose godchild he Avas , and Avith Avhom he Avas an absolute favourite ; After leaving the grotto ivith the same precautions as before , he flew to this priest , Avhom , after long entreaty , and much argument about the clanger ancl propriety of such a step , he engaged to attend him to the mountain the next night ; and ,

having let themselves clown by the ladder , they waited but a few minutes , uutil Sigismunda , arrayed in Avhite , ancl resplendent with jeAvels , made her appearance AA'ith a torch . Upon Guiscard's expressing his surprise at seeing her so richly dressed , she

said , " I Avas Avilliug to do our nuptials all thehoiiourwhichlcouldhavebestowed upon them if they had been open and notorious ; for , dearest Guiscard , this rugged grot and single torch , sanctuary and light as they are of genuine love , please me far better

than gilded roofs ancl ten thousand lamps , Avhen they only serve to add the wei ght of splendour to that of sorrow . " This tender speech filled the heart of her lover with the softest emotions ; ancl he thought that he had never , to this moment , loved the beautiful creature before him with half the fervour ancl devotion of soul Avith which he now felt himself animated . The

aged priest shortly placed their hands Avithin each other ; and , faintly chanting a Latin service , ancl pronouncing a benediction upon the lovers , hade them ever , in all holiness and sincerity , protect ancl defend each other , and knoiv no change of affection to the end of their lives .

It Avas two months after their marriage , Avhile they Avere yet intoxicated Avith their OAVU perfect happiness , ancl fondly believed that it would last for ever , that Fortune , envious of so much ancl so pure deli ght , determined to crush the opening blossoms of then- garden of bliss , and in an instant