path of study; and, under his care solely, from the peculiar circumstances of his early Wilton was prepared for college. He en- life, and the more than usual development of tered William and Mary at sixteen. His his mind, he added, to the passionate ardor first winter in Williamsburg was spent still of youth, the deep devotion of reflecting with his father; and, accustomed as he was manhood. She filled up the most glowing to associate with him on terms of perfect visions of his fancy, and did, indeed, seem equality, although still so young, he easily formed "of every creature's best." She was and gracefully filled a place in the society of so beautiful, yet so unpretending-so winthe gay capital, then even more than now, ning, yet so artless-so gentle, yet so dignireserved for persons of riper years. fied-so well informed, yet so unobtrusiveHe was not so fortunate the second win- that he yielded, unconsciously, his whole hapter. A severe, contagious disorder among piness into her keeping; and knew not how the slaves at Oatlands, compelled Mr. O'Don- devotedly and madly he loved her, until, at nell to devote himself to them entirely. Wil- the expiration of the college term, he found ton had never needed him more! An addi- himself shrinking from a return to his home, tion to the vice-regal circle had been made, and to that dear father, who had so lately in the persons of Col. St. Leger and his daugh- been all the world to him, as from a fearful ters Helen St. Leger was no longer a young doom. Although shocked at what seemed to girl; she was, perhaps, eight and twenty be ingratitude, yet he could not repress the years of age. In the full zenith of her beauty, eager thrill of joy which coursed through his and possessed of winning and courtly man- frame, as he thought that the being he so ners, polished by intercourse with the most loved might be won to be his, and might thus refined and elegant society of the various European courts, she was unhesitatingly allowed pre-eminence in all the Colonial cir

cles.

lived so wander-
He was of good

repay to his father, in the affection of a daughter, the love of the son in which she had innocently supplanted him.

Helen St. Leger had early discovered her Why Col. St. Leger had young lover's passion, and, in consultation ing a life, was not known. with her father, had determined to encourage and ancient family, but not equally matched it as far as possible. He seemed precisely in fortune; and he had accepted the appoint- the game they wished to fall into their nets. ment which he now held under the Crown Too young and inexperienced to detect, and in Virginia, (a lucrative but not an influen- too honorable by nature to suspect deceptial one,) apparently because it afforded him tion, the probabilities were in favor of his be a support, or, perhaps, because here the coming so deeply attached to Helen, as to charms of his daughter would be exhibited compel acquiescence from a father so devoin a new field. It was known that they had ted to his child as Mr. O'Donnell was known lived abroad, and now lived in Virginia. to be; and Col. St. Leger could hope, in such The whys and wherefores were a mystery. a case, to escape any scrutiny into his cirHowever rumor might point unfavorably at cumstances and plans which, as he knew from the father, all joined in praise of the daugh- several little incidents, was but too likely to ter. She was so simple, so gracious, so mind- be attempted by any other of the gay young ful of others, that she was as much the pas- planters who offered their homage to the Engsion of her own sex as the admiration of lish beauty. The fact was, that, although to the other. Then, too, she dressed so divine- many of her admirers it would have matterly: her French maid was an artiste, and had ed little that Helen would be portionless, yet been taught to dress hair by Marie Antoi- various things had occurred, even in the short nette's own friseur. Miss St. Leger gra- time of their residence at Williamsburg, ciously permitted her to instruct whom she which led it to be surmised that the Colonel chose in this most recherché art. Could made games of hazard, then commonly playanything be more magnanimous? was it not ed by ladies as well as gentlemen, more a natural she should be adored? Wilton was profession than a pastime. In short, Col. by no means the last to yield to these fasci- St. Leger, though of good birth, and the holnations. He could not choose but love, and der of a commission in the British service,

VOL. XIX-4

was little else than a chevalier d'industrie; and he was compelled to return home, not and, as more than one pigeon had suffered desponding certainly, for Helen owned she from his expertness, his true character began loved him, but yet without the full satisfacto be suspected. Suspicions of this sort on tion he would have received from her posiWilton's part were not to be apprehended; tive promise to be his.

for he was singularly free from all the vices

CHAPTER IIL

of youth, and knew only enough of games of chance, to enable him to perform his duty to society, by making up a table when required. Moreover, he was not accustomed to mingle On Wilton's return to Oatlands, he found much with those who might have enlighten- his father worn down with fatigue and care, ed him as to Col. St. Leger's true character. and could not help a secret feeling of reSkilfully did Miss St. Leger play her proach as he remembered how seldom he part; and when Wilton, in all the joyful ea- had recalled that fond father to his mind dugerness of his newborn hopes and aspirations, ring the last few weeks of his devotion to flew to her and poured out his whole tale of Helen.

fond unselfish love at her feet, she could look Although the sickness had greatly abated, on his handsome young face, beaming with it still lingered, and some few days passed the fervor of his own passionate nature; and ere he could bring himself to open to his while listening to the burning words which father this, his first secret; for he felt it to fell from his lips-opening to her view the be almost wrong to have taken so decisive a deepest recesses of his honest, manly heart-step, without consulting him. The time at she could frame the answer which should length came: and Wilton told him how he most stimulate his ardor, and least commit loved and was beloved again, and entreated herself. So marvellous was her art, that his assistance in overcoming the opposition every look, every gesture, every faltering he feared from Col. St. Leger. word, was made to do its part, and aid in de- Mr. O'Donnell was not averse to the marceiving him. She confessed her love for riage; he only required that his son should wait him, but as if she were afraid to utter it. until he was twenty years of age, and adHer father was much opposed to her marrying vised that the intervening two years should in the colony, as her noble relatives in Eng- be passed in visiting England and the contiland had other views for her, and it would nent. To this proposition, Wilton could not answer to disoblige them. Much for- make no objection; for it had always been a bearance would be required to overcome these part of the plan chalked out for him by his difficulties. She would not herself hesitate father, except that the visit to Europe had to offend all her English friends, rather than been designed to take place after he was blight his happiness as well as her own; but twenty-one. As it was, preparations for his her father owed his appointment to these friends, and must, therefore defer to their wishes more than was just to her.

intended absence were rapidly made; and he wrote to Miss St. Leger, to apprise her of his father's consent, and to announce to her Wilton thought these objections might be that he should in person lay his pretensions overcome, and prayed to be allowed to broach before the Colonel ere he sailed. This arthe subject to Col. St. Leger. Helen posi- rangement by no means suited Miss St. Letively prohibited this step; saying it would ger's views. If he had announced his fathbe madness, unless she had paved the way: er's consent to their immediate union, she and then added, more playfully, "you could would willingly have acquiesced in an ennot ask my father to entertain a suit which gagement; but, to make a positive committal has not the sanction of your own father's of herself for two years, it would be madapproval." Wilton urged his conviction that ness. Well as she knew her father, she felt his father, who had no desire but for his hap- sure that two years would probably find him piness, would interpose no obstacle, but laying snares for new victims to his skill in would forward his views as far as possible. another part of the globe. After due consulIt was in vain. Helen was inexorable; tation, however, it was agreed upon between

them, that the Colonel should be absent on to find her whom he regarded as the plighted some duty, easily to be obtained, which wife of his son, one every way so worthy of should prevent his seeing Wilton before he him. The favorable impression made by left Virginia, and yet avoid the appearance Col. St. Leger upon Mr. O'Donnell, was not of designing to do so: and that she should still bind him with hopes of future happiness, whilst she kept herself at liberty to fulfil or to disappoint them.

counteracted by any oversight on the Colonel's part. Accustomed quickly to judge those he met, he readily concluded that his new friend was not his game; and a little farther acquaintance assured him that he was precisely his daughter's.

Helen did not fail in her part; when Wilton came, and urged her to enter into an avowed engagement, that would be a solace Helen had not been long in coming to the to him in his exile, she assured him of her de- same conclusion: in truth, O'Donnell's manvoted love, but persisted in saying that she ly form, and still eminently handsome face, could not make a positive engagement with- had at once prepossessed her; and the chiout her father's consent, and that it was vain valrous earnestness of his manner towards to look for that, until she had time to use her ladies, heightened in her case by his considinfluence to that end. This she was sure of ering her as the betrothed of his son, indoing during his absence, but in the mean creased the feeling. As their acquaintance time, they must be content with mutual con- ripened, the brilliant originality of his confidence; and, as she did not refuse to corres-versation, his happy wit and playful fancy, sofpond with him, a plan was arranged by which tened, as all was, by a tinge of sadness, that retheir letters should be interchanged, without minded one of the melodies of his native isle, passing through her father's hands.

Wilton was constrained to be satisfied with this arrangement. Soon afterwards, he sailed for England; accompanied by his tutor, a young Englishman of family, who had taken orders, and accepted a chaplaincy at the vice regal court. This he gladly gave up for the agreeable duty of accompanying Wilton on his foreign tour.

where mournfulness lurks in the wildest notes of merriment, combined to awaken, in this practised woman of the world, all of heart that was left to her. She loved him, and determined to win him, coûte qui coûte.

CHAPTER IV.

In the course of a few weeks more, the Some pleasant weeks passed, during which sickness at Oatlands had so far abated, as to the intercourse of Mr. O'Donnell with the permit Mr. O'Donnell to go to Williamsburg. St. Legers was uninterrupted; and, as yet, He immediately sought the acquaintance of they had skilfully warded off any allusion to Col. and Miss St. Leger, and was flattering- Wilton's hopes and expectations, whilst he ly received by both. The Col. spoke warm- was frequently spoken of as a dearly loved ly in praise of his young friend, Mr. Wilton friend. At length, in conversation with the O'Donnell; and Helen too, showed especial Colonel, Mr. O'Donnell hazarded an expresgraciousness to the father of so valued a sion relative to the future of their children, friend. Mr. O'Donnell was delighted with which seemed at once to astonish and alboth father and daughter: the beauty of most annoy the former. Mr. O'Donnell, surHelen far surpassed his expectations; and, prised in turn, and much hurt at the Coloin the varied charms of mind, manner and nel's manner, insisted on referring the matperson, he had never seen her equal. His ter to Miss St. Leger. She was already preown gentle Mildred, the fair bride of his pared to reply, and at once owned that Wilyouth, to whom his whole soul had been de- ton had, indeed, made a declaration of his voted, was so unlike this magnificent woman passion, but that she felt it to be only a boyin the zenith of her peerless beauty, and the ish love, which it would be preposterous to polished and faultless elegance of her finish- treat seriously. She said that she had told ed manner, as to render a comparison im- him truly that she was much attached to possible; and O'Donnell never thought of him, but that the disparity in their ages made drawing a parallel between them, but rejoiced a marriage between them out of the ques

tion; had their ages been more suitable, it destination: had it done so, how differently was very possible her attachment might have might events have been disposed. been of a different character; but, as it was,

During the early part of their acquainshe felt for him as an elder sister might do- tance, Mr. O'Donnell had received from (she was far too politic to say mother;)-Colonel and Miss St. Leger, the promise of proud of his success, anxious for his happi- a visit at Oatlands upon the return of Spring. ness, ambitious for his advancement: "But After the little scene described above, Mr. this is not love," she said, as she turned her O'Donnell again pressed this visit; but withsoftly beaming eyes on Mr. O'Donnell, with out giving a positive refusal, Miss St. Leger, an expression which might mean that they perhaps, from a feeling of delicacy, evaded could well express what love was: she added the proposal. Ere the Spring opened Mr. that it deeply pained her that Wilton should O'Donnell had returned home, and his lethave so misunderstood her feelings, as to ters from Wilton, though not frequent, were build false hopes upon her words or manner, unreserved, apparently, and very full. Wribut "Could you," she asked, "Mr. O'Don- ting more to gratify his father than himself nell, suppose it possible, that I should have Wilton had affected great cheerfulness: and spoken of your son to you in the affectionate, his mind seemed fully occupied with the gay open manner I have done, had I supposed for and varied scenes in which he was engaged. a moment you considered me as his affianced No particular mention of Helen occurred iL wife?" Mr. O'Donnell could not but ac- his letters, for he did not choose to hazard knowledge the justice of this view of the a written statement of the understanding case, and endeavored to express his disap- which existed between them at parting; alpointment at the failure of Wilton's hopes; though, had he been with his father, he whilst the Colonel announced his intention would have practised no such reserve. Mr. of writing immediately to Wilton, and ask- O'Donnell began to think, at length, tha ing from him an acknowledgement that no such Miss St. Leger was correct in the view she engagement existed. This step had already had taken of the affair; and that Wilton wa been taken: a letter to Wilton had been for- learning the boyishness of his love from the warded with despatches to Europe a day or teachings of absence. two before, asking peremptorily if an engagement existed between Miss St. Leger and himself; and the same vessel carried one from Helen, telling him that her father was en and himself, but saying at the same time, so resolutely determined against her marriage with him, that she felt it a duty to relinquish the idea, and that she was thankful, even in this overthrow of her hopes, that she was spared the misery of breaking a positive engagement. She went on to say, that she acquiesced quietly, at least, in this conclushould ever love him; but she hoped he sion. To Helen he wrote very differently. would unhesitatingly reply to her father, de- He told her he had obeyed her implicitly, for nying that any engagement existed; and also, he trusted her implicitly; that he could not that, for her sake, he would keep sacred the give up the hope of calling her his own:confidence she had reposed in him. She" You acknowledge, dearest Helen," said he spoke of her acquaintance with his father," that your love is unchanged, I ask no other and of the delight it would afford her to be assurance; only hold fast that love; and, alconnected with one so charming.

Mr. O'Donnell, too, wrote to Wilton, telling him of his visit to Williamsburg, and giving the history of his intercourse with the St. Legers. This letter was entrusted to the ordinary channel of intercourse, then slow and unfrequent. It never reached its

In due time, early in Spring, Wilton's answer to Col. St. Leger arrived, acknowledging that no engagement existed between Hel

that he had entertained hopes that he was not entirely indifferent to her. The tone of the letter was guarded and constrained; and was well calculated to leave the impression that he considered the affair at an end, and

though years may pass ere our wishes can b fulfilled, they will yet be borne cheerfully with such a termination in view; then do not. for a moment say the hope must be abandoned; for, without that hope, life of my soul, I should be hopeless and aimless on earth."

Wilton's letter to Col. St. Leger, was duly

enclosed to Mr. O'Donnell. It was answer-expressed his regret at having been so preed by him in person: and but little persuasion mature, but added that he feared the lady on his part was needed, to induce the Eng- would be as much surprised as himself, if it lish Colonel and his fascinating daughter, to proved altogether a mistake. return with him to Oatlands. He, poor man, Mr. O'Donnell was much startled at this; never dreamed of stepping into that place in for he knew his friend to be a man of plain, Miss Leger's affections, which he had sup- solid sense, and not at all imaginative. Afposed his son to hold; but he was really griev- ter a little further conversation, he became ed to think that he had given so much un-assured that such was the current opinion in comfortable feeling to such charming people, the circle to which they belonged; and it was and felt it incumbent on him, by every pos- in a somewhat uneasy mood he returned to sible attention, to remove all unpleasantness. Oatlands that evening. On his way home, he He construed Wilton's silence towards him- rode some distance in company with the good self, in connection with his reply to Col. St. old Parson, whose presence in those days alLeger, as being confirmatory of the latter; ways gave pleasure in these social meetings; supposing, as was natural, that Col. St. Le- and, in this instance at least, restrained from ger's letter had gone out with his own. He license without diminishing hilarity. He therefore escorted his fair guest to Oatlands, opened to this good and tried friend the whole without a thought beyond atoning for the mis- affair; and became assured, from his views, apprehension, which must have annoyed her that it was due to the lady to leave the deso much. cision of the matter in her hands.

As they approached Oatlands, the Colonel When he had once formed this determination, and his daughter were charmed with the he was astonished at the impetuosity of his beauty of the country; and the place itself feelings; for he found he was as ardently in far surpassed their expectations. When she love as he had been twenty-five years beascended the broad steps leading to the en- fore. Ere the evening closed, he laid his pretrance porch, Helen inwardly vowed to enter tensions before the lady; and, although she some future day as mistress. To this end, exhibited the most artless surprise, she yet every faculty of her powerful intellect was suffered him to perceive that the gratification, bent, all her varied accomplishments, her rich the happiness, exceeded the surprise. In stores of thought and fancy were put in re- the intoxication of successful love, no wonder quisition, and so gracefully and artlessly dis- Wilton was forgotten! But the hour for replayed, that Mr. O'Donnell, whilst complete-membrance returned, when the happy and ly duped by her blandishments, believed her accepted lover retired to his bed-room. That greatest charm to be, that, through so much old room was filled with the past; and how that might have sullied with worldliness the dear was that past! Here he had spent the purity of her lovely character, she should happy years of his marriage with Mildred; have preserved the transparent simplicity and hither he had returned after her death: which made her so attractive, and gave so winning a grace to her uncommon acquire

ments.

Week after week passed away, and still their stay was protracted, whilst, throughout the pleasant neighborhood, the English strangers received the attention and hospitality, then as now, characteristic of the Old Dominion.

and it is hard to say, which most endears a a particular spot to us, sorrows or joys. Here, too, so soon as Wilton was old enough to be taken from the hands of a nurse, he had established him as his companion; this, then, their common apartment, had been the scene of so many childish sports, boyish confidences, and earnest conversations, that every spot seemed filled with his image; and then came sudIt was on one of these "dining days," at a denly before him the idea of this beloved son near neighbor's, that a particular friend con--far from his home-amongst strangers, who gratulated Mr. O'Donnell on the prospect of could sympathise neither in his joys nor his so charming an addition to their society; griefs, learning that his father had married; and, when on expounding his meaning, Mr. nay, more, had wedded the very woman once O'Donnell assured him he was mistaken, he so dear to himself. It was true, his letter,