Cruel As The Grave

"From the glance of her eye

Shun danger and fly,

for fatal's the glance."

Very happy were the married lovers as they sat over their tea, even

though the scene of their domestic joy was just now but an inn-parlor.

Both the young people had good appetites: gratified love had not

deprived them of that.

They talked of their homeward journey and how pleasant it would be in

this glorious autumn weather, and of their home and how glad they would

be to reach it--yes, how glad! For, paradoxical as it may seem to say

so, there is no happiness so perfect as that which looks forward to

something still more perfect, if such could be possible in the future.

They talked of the Black Valley, and how beautiful even that would look

in its gorgeous October livery.

Suddenly in the midst of their sweet converse they heard the sound of

weeping--low, deep, heart-broken weeping.

Both paused, looked at each other and listened.

The sound seemed to come from a room on the opposite side of the passage

to their own apartment.

"What is that?" inquired Sybil, looking up to her husband's face.

"It seems to be some woman in distress," answered Lyon.

"Oh! see what it is, dear, will you?" entreated Sybil.

She was herself so happy, that it was really dreadful to be reminded

just then that sorrow should exist in this world; at all.

"Oh, go and see what is the matter. Do, dear," she insisted, seeing that

he hesitated.

"I would do so, dear, in a moment, but it might be indiscreet on my

part. The lady may be a party to some little domestic misunderstanding,

with which it would be impertinent in any stranger to interfere,"

answered the more thoughtful husband.

"A domestic misunderstanding! O, dear Lyon, that such things should be!

Fancy you and I having a misunderstanding!" exclaimed Sybil, with a

shiver.

"I cannot fancy anything of the sort, my darling; Heaven forbid that I

could!" said Lyon, fervently.

"Amen to that! But listen! Ah! how she weeps and wails! Oh, Lyon, how I

pity her! Oh, how I wish I could do something for her! Oh, Lyon, are you

sure it would be improper for me to go and see if I can relieve her in

any way?" pleaded Sybil.

"Quite sure, my darling; I am quite sure that you must not interfere, at

least at this stage. If this should be a case in which we can be of

service, we shall be likely to know it when the waiter answers the bell

that I rung some five minutes since," said Lyon, soothingly.