Poured out their souls in odors, that were their

prayers and confessions

Unto the night, as it went its way, like a silent

Carthusian.

Fuller of fragrance than they, and as heavy with shadows and night-dews,

Hung the heart of the maiden. The calm and the magical moonlight

Seemed to inundate her soul with indefinable long

ings,

As, through the garden gate, beneath the brown

shade of the oak-trees,

Passed she along the path to the edge of the

measureless prairie.

Silent it lay with a silvery haze upon it, and fire

flies

Gleaming and floating away in mingled and infi

nite numbers.

Over her head the stars, the thoughts of God in

the heavens,

Shone on the eyes of man, who had ceased to

marvel and worship,

Save when a blazing comet was seen on the walls

of that temple,

As if a hand had appeared and written upon

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them, Upharsin."

And the soul of the maiden, between the stars

Art thou so near unto me, and yet I cannot be

hold thee?

Art thou so near unto me, and yet thy voice does

not reach me?

Ah! how often thy feet have trod this path to the

prairie !

Ah! how often thine eyes have looked on the

woodlands around me!

Ah! how often beneath this oak, returning from

labor,

Thou hast lain down to rest, and to dream of me

in thy slumbers!

When shall these eyes behold, these arms be

folded about thee?"

Loud and sudden and near the note of a whippoorwill sounded

Like a flute in the woods; and anon, through the neighboring thickets,

Farther and farther away it floated and dropped

into silence.

"Patience!" whispered the oaks from oracular caverns of darkness;

And, from the moonlit meadow, a sigh responded, "To-morrow!"

Bright rose the sun next day; and all the flowers

of the garden

Bathed his shining feet with their tears, and

anointed his tresses

th the delicious balm that they bore in their

vases of crystal.

Farewell!" said the priest, as he stood at the

shadowy threshold;

See that you bring us the Prodigal Son from his fasting and famine,

And, too, the Foolish Virgin, who slept when the

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bridegroom was coming."

Farewell!" answered the maiden, and, smiling, with Basil descended

Down to the river's brink, where the boatmen

already were waiting.

Thus beginning their journey with morning, and sunshine, and gladness,

Swiftly they followed the flight of him who was speeding before them,

Blown by the blast of fate like a dead leaf over

the desert.

Not that day, nor the next, nor yet the day that

succeeded,

Found they trace of his course, in lake or forest

or river,

Nor, after many days, had they found him; but vague and uncertain

Rumors alone were their guides through a wild and desolate country;

Till, at the little inn of the Spanish town of

Adayes,

Weary and worn, they alighted, and learned from the garrulous landlord,

That on the day before, with horses and guides

and companions,

Gabriel left the village, and took the road of the

prairies.