How the time passed he knew not, so was he absorbed in the
communion which his spirit held in heaven with the most gracious of
beings. But the bell of the palace striking the matin hour, reminded
him he was yet on earth; and looking up his eyes met those of Helen.
His devotional rosary hung on his arm; he kissed it. "Wear this, holy
maid," said he, "in remembrance of this hour!" She bowed her fair
neck, and he put the consecrated chain over it. "Let it bear witness
to a friendship," added he, clasping her hands in his, "which will be
cemented by eternal ties in heaven."
Helen bent her face upon his hands; he felt the sacred tears of so pure
a compact upon them; and while he looked up, as if he thought the
spirit of his Marion hovered near, to bless a communion so remote from
all infringement of the sentiment he had dedicated forever to her,
Helen raised her head-and, with a terrible shriek, throwing her arms
around the body of Wallace, he, that moment, felt an assassin's steel
in his back, and she fell senseless on his breast. He started on his
feet; a dagger fell from his wound to the ground, but the hand which
had struck the blow he could nowhere see.
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