O shining brow and golden hair

And eyes that looked beyond the blue! Dear face, that grew from fair to fair,

The same, yet always something new!

A sweeter dream who ever dreamed

Than came with his soft lips to ours? Blent with his life, our being seemed Drowned in the glowing soul of flowers.

All through the years his beauty shone;
His path and ours appeared the same;
And every good we called our own

Was linked with his beloved name.

O heart of God that pities all!

O Love that gives and takes away!
Confused and faint, on Thee we fall,

Yet know not how we ought to pray,

Save this, that in our doubt and fear
We wait as loving children should.

We cannot see nor far nor near,

But trust that somehow all is good.

THE LADY HILDEGARDE'S WEDDING.

A BALLAD.

"I dare not doubt his word,”—she said,

With steadfast voice and clear; "For sure as knight did ever plight True faith, he will be here.

"He sware it on this crested ring,
That by our Lord's dear leave,
He'd wed me here at Lyndismere,
This blessed Christmas Eve."

-Sir Walter dallies with his blade,
And his steel eyne grew wroth:
Nay, sweetheart, see!—it cannot be:
Thy knight hath broke his troth."

Out spake the Lady Hildegarde
With grieved, reproachful air:
"None other may such slander say,—
My father only dare!

"My bower-maids all await my

My bridesmen will be here;

call,

And merry throngs with wedding-songs
Shall bide at Lyndismere."

"Now out upon thee!-simple lass!" With heat Sir Walter cried;

"To-morrow e'en, with seas between, How canst thou be a bride?

"The Netherland is far o'er seas, And angry storms may roar;

Or war may send (which Heaven forfend!) Tidings to vex thee sore.

"Forbear, until the galliot drop
Anchor at Malden-head,
To fix the day, and yea or nay,
Proclaim thou wilt be wed.

"Let the old Hall ring loud and high With roistering Twelfth-night cheer; Bring holly-glow and mistletoe

To garland Lyndismere.

"Let frolic mummers don their masks,
Let morris dancers come

And reel and sing in jocund ring,
With rebeck, pipe and drum.

'Of capons, boar's-head, nut-brown ale,

Let liberal store be shown;

And wassail-shout shall make the bout

The merriest ever known.

"The jesters with their bells shall plot
All mirth-provoking pranks:
So . . . let me sue;-forget Sir Hugh,
And take thy father's thanks!"

She heard, the Lady Hildegarde,
With firm, unflinching eye;

Then forth she stepped and onward swept,
Disdainful of reply.

-The snows lay deep round Lyndismere,
But generous fires blazed free,

And casements clear flashed far and near
Their gleams across the lea.

Retainers filled the ancient Hall,
Guests thronged as fell the night;
And rare to see, right gorgeously

The chapel streamed with light.

Be brave Sir Hugh come back?”—they asked

The gray-haired seneschal:

-"Not yet-'Twas said to-night he'd wed Our lady of the Hall."

Sir Walter chafed and strode apart;
The cassock'd priest was seen;
And maidens fair came pair by pair . . .
What could the folly mean!"

A sudden vision hushed the mirth,-
Sir Walter's breath came hard;

For last of all adown the hall

Swept Lady Hildegarde.

Saint Agnes!-but she's comely!" quoth

The parti-color'd clown;

And by the rood! in bridal hood

And bridal veil and gown!

66

Sir Hugh should e'en be here to mark

The orange-posies bloom;

Will proxy do for stout Sir Hugh?
Then I would fain be groom!"

Straight onward to the chancel rails
The snooded maidens passed,
When suddenly the companie
Was startled by a blast,→

A blast that echoed loud and shrill
Without the castle-gate,

As though the train that paused amain
Was sorely loth to wait.

Unmoved stood Lady Hildegarde,

Nor seemed to hear nor feel,
Till up the floor, one moment more,

There tramped a clanking heel.

Beloved!"-With one bound they met!
Then dashing off a tear,

She turned and said with lifted head,—
"Father, Sir Hugh is here!"

WE TWO.

Ah, painful-sweet! how can I take it in!

That somewhere in the illimitable blue

Of God's pure space, which men call Heaven,—we two Again shall find each other, and begin

The infinite life of love, a life akin

To angels',-only angels never knew The ecstasy of blessedness that drew Us each to each, even in this world of sin.