at sunset, sank into her soul, mingling with more mellow light than is
of southern climes, these words fell upon her ear,--"Natalie, she is not
my sister by birth." She paused to hear no more, for she knew the
conversation was not designed for her, and noiselessly gliding from the
spot, she sought her own room. The crescent moon came forth, and beheld
the fair maiden gazing far out over the silver-edged billows, her head
resting upon her hand, her golden tresses falling gracefully over her
shoulders, while from the deep recesses of her heart there sprung up
that which had ever been, and yet was not, and took to itself a form.

"Good morning, Natalie, did I not know you retired early last night, I
should say you look a little unrefreshed. Where are the roses of
yesterday? they should not fade in a single night"

"Roses will fade, mother, and there are those which await the genial
rays of light before their unfolding," replied Sea-flower; "but I did
not retire until quite late last evening, for everything was so
beautiful and glad, that I loved to look out upon the night; and such
beautiful thoughts came to my mind, that I think I must have fallen
asleep, and dreamed; and yet I was awake, for I was conscious of
watching the water, as it sparkled in the moonlight. As the waves broke
upon the shore, they seemed to be striving, one with another, to see
which should venture the nearest, till at last there came one, which
lifted its head high above the rest, and as it receded, I saw there was
left upon the beach a tiny, shining thing, which resembled many drops of
dew. Just then the light clouds separated, and there looked down a star,
_so_ mild, and presently there came another, equally mild, and the two
finally blended into one, still hovering over the glittering one upon
the beach. At last there seemed to be a stream of light connecting one
with the other; I looked again, and the tiny thing which was left of the