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THE LEPER'S CONFESSION. 7 curse, that, which had been made holy by the word of the priest. They then took the water in which he had been baptized, and threw it into a lonely place where nothing living would be likely to come near it, for they supposed even the water to be infectious. All this while I stood at a distance looking on, and when I saw them about to depart, I besought them to bring the child to me, that I might kiss and bless it for the first and last time. My prayer was denied, and I was commanded not to come nearer. As they withdrew, I stood gazing at them until they were out of sight, and then retraced my steps to my hovel, conscious that the last tie between myself and the living was broken.

Several months elapsed, when a report reached me, that the day was fixed for the nuptials of my wife with my detested rival. I received a letter from her, beseeching me to save her, as she was heart broken, and that, in her forlorn and dependent state, she doubted her fortitude to resist the severity of her father, by any other means than seeking a refuge in the grave. — I was not long in determining upon what course to pursue, as my choice lay between her death and his who had entailed such a load of wretchedness upon me. That night I left my hovel, and by day-break the following morning, I was within sight of the city where she resided.

I was resting by the way side before the sun had risen above the horizon, when I heard the distant sound of merry voices and the clattering of horses' hoofs approaching, and immediately a party appeared with hawks and hounds on the way to the. They drew nigh to where, and the silent air was. Joy and sorrow are distant, and yet we constantly find them breathing the same atmosphere! -As they passed on, I perceived that my wife was of the party, but how changed from what she was when I first beheld her! She was faded, but still beautiful; to me, even more beautiful than ever, but it was not the beauty that belongs to this world. He who had poisoned the very fountain of her life - the detested cause of her premature decay, rode beside her. They passed without perceiving me, and I rose and followed them at a distance.

I have ever believed, that good and evil are mingled in like proportions in the human heart, and that he whose virtues call forth the admiration of the world, is equally capable of rousing its indignation by his vices, if circumstances call them into action. I fully believed myself virtuous -I was sensible of its beauties, and I studied to be so, and yet I glided into the stream of vice, as naturally as if it had been my element, and was hurried along with a wilder sense of delight than ever I had experienced in the course of virtue. That feeling, however, was of short duration.

I kept my eye upon my rival, who pursued the chase like an eager sportsman, and I followed in his track unperceived. He soon became separated from the party; I watched his course - it led him to an entangled wood - I knew the spot that he must pass, for I had myself hunted on the same ground, and there I stationed myself to await his coming. I had not waited long before he appeared.

As soon as he perceived me, he cried out, "Wretch, why did you not give the alarm to warn me that pestilence was at hand?"

"I will give it now," I replied, and approached him.

"Stand off! have you no fear of punishment?"

"None on earth." I still advanced.

"Villain, another step nigher, and I strike you to my feet." He raised his rapier, which was sheathed, as if he would put his threat in execution.

"Not so," I replied, "Another step nigher, and I strike you to my feet." The blow followed upon the word, my knife was buried to the haft in his bosom, and my enemy lay prostrate on the earth. I drew the knife from the wound, the blood spouted after it, he uttered a deep groan, and the next moment ceased to breathe. I stood for a moment over the inanimate body, and then returned to my home, unobserved, well satisfied with what I had done.

Several weeks after this, as I was sitting in front of my hut, towards evening, I beheld a female approaching. Her step was slow and tottering, and she was accompanied by another bearing an infant child. As they drew nigh, I recognized my wife. I hastened to her, and she sunk exhausted in my arms. When she revived, I asked to know, to what happy occurrence I was indebted for this unlooked for interview. She faintly replied, "The leprosy has restored the leper's wife to his bosom; they can now no longer keep us asunder." - Another look convinced me, that the fatal disease was on her. The agony of that moment, exceeded all that I had hitherto experienced.

I took my child in my arms, and kissed him for the first time, and his mother's face brightened as she beheld me caressing him, though there was pestilence and death in the kiss. There is no feeling more pure and holy, than that which a young mother enjoys, when she beholds a beloved - husband caressing her offspring. We then moved on to my hut in silence, as mourners ap- proach the grave.

Day after day, I marked the progress of the disease on my wife. Her frame had wasted away, and there was no longer the slightest trace of beauty remaining in that once angelic countenance. Her mind had sunk beneath the weight that had been heaped upon it, and had been literally crushed; a total change had taken place, and every thing denoted that the fountain of life had been poisoned. Still she bore all with resignation, and never a word of complaint passed her lips. There was one subject that I desired to speak of to her, and yet dreaded to do so - I mean the murder - for it is a relief to the guilty to impart a knowledge of their crimes to others. She never alluded to it by word or look, and I had not the fortitude to do it.

She died as gently as a lamp goes out for want of oil. It took place at midnight. I was