Be Ferdinand's bride, and all shall be forgiven, all forgotten--thou art my child, my Miriam's child once more!" He pressed her again fondly to him; but though she made no reply, his arguments could not convince her.

She had indeed told Arthur that she never could be his, but yet avowed that she loved him; and if he did meet her as the wife of another, what must he believe her?
And Ferdinand, if he did so love her, that preoccupied heart was indeed a sad requital.

She had, however, that evening but little time to think, for ere either spoke again, the branches at the entrance of the tent were hastily pushed aside, and a tall manly form stood upon the threshold.

Marie sprang to her feet with a faint cry--could it be that the vow of an hour was already called upon to be fulfilled ?--but the intruder attributed her alarm to a different cause, and hastily flinging off his wrapping mantle and deep plumed morion, he exclaimed, "What! alarmed by me, my gentle cousin?
dearest Marie! am I forgotten ?" And Henriquez, forgetting all of bodily exhaustion, all of mental suffering, in the deep joy his sudden appearance caused, could only fold the warrior in his feeble arms, and drooping his head on his shoulder, sob forth expressively, "My son! my son!".