But little more than three years since, I was married to Gabriel Henry St.James, in Paris, my native city, and here is the certificate which proves the truth of my assertion.' "Taking a paper from her pocket-book, she held it towards me, so that I could read the writing, still retaining it in her own hand.

I did not blame her,--oh, no! I should have done the same.

I saw, what seemed blazing in fire, the names of Henry Gabriel St.James and Theresa Josephine La Fontaine united in marriage by the usual formula of the church.
"I did not attempt to snatch it from her, or to destroy the fatal paper.
I gazed upon it till the characters swelled out like black chords, and writhed in snaky convolutions.
"'Do you recognize this ?' she asked, taking from her bosom a gold case, and touching a spring.

It flew open and revealed the handsome features of St.James, beaming with the same expression as when I first beheld him, an expression I remembered but too well.

She turned it in the case, and I saw written on the back in gold letters, 'For my beloved wife, Theresa Josephine.' "It was enough.