cousin's scrutiny, proposed a visit to Captain Talbot, and they repaired together to his apartment. But Catherine was too restless to remain long stationary, and pleading some trifling excuse, she soon returned to the parlor, leaving Amelia reading to Talbot; a task, which the young man would have transferred to her cousin. But, in truth, Catherine began to observe the pleasure which her presence gave him; several little incidents of the preceding day had revealed to her the state of his feelings. See had marked, with pain, the flushing of his cheek, and the lighting up of his whole countenance, when she addressed, or even when she approached him; and had, more than once, been startled by an expression of his sentiments too pointed to be misunderstood. Feeling herself unable to return his affection, she forbore to encourage it, and resolved, by every possible means, consistent with delicacy and generosity, to check its progress, and spare him the pain of a final rejection. She determined to visit him less frequently, and never alone, and to confer on Amelia the task, which she knew was far from disagreeable to her, of soothing and entertaining the invalid. But her father, who saw and highly approved Captain Talbot's sentiments, was constantly making some excuse for sending her to him; and on the preceding evening, had insisted that she should remain with her cousin in his apartment. Captain Talbot's attachment to Catherine, had commenced during the former part of their acquaintance, and he had made Colonel Dunbar (the particular friend of his father) the confidant of his passion and his hopes. From his brother-in-law, Major Courtland had learned the state of the Captain's affections; and delighted with the prospect of a union so advantageous for his daughter, he had, previously to his departure for the north, encouraged the young man's visits, and now augured the most happy result to his wishes, from the circumstance of his becoming a member of his family circle. It was noon before the Major and O'Carroll returned from their ride, and they expressed no little surprise, when informed that Colonel Grahame had not yet made his appearance. Catherine had employed herself about a hundred different things, and thrown them all successively aside, till vexed with herself, that she was capable of feeling so deeply the disappointment of Grahame's continued absence, she took up the book which she had just laid down, and resolved to think only of its contents. But she had read several pages, without comprehending a word that they contained, and was beginning to reperuse them, when her father and O'Carroll entered the parlor. "What, alone, Kate!" said the Major, with some surprise. Pray, where is your cousin ?" "With Captain Talbot, sir," replied Catherine, closing her book as she spoke. "With Captain Talbot!" he repeated." "Did they wish for a tete-a-tete, or is your's a voluntary banishment?" "It is voluntary, father," replied Catherine. "To confess the truth, Amelia was reading an old romance which I had no mind to hear again, and so I stole away to amuse myself here." A look of displeasure for a moment shaded the Major's countenance, but it quickly vanished when O'Carroll said, "And So, Miss Courtland, Hugh tells me the Colonel has not been here this morning.' "No," said Catherine, "but it is not impossible we may yet see him before night." "It is not probable," said the Major; " and I confess his continued absence looks rather suspicious.' O'Carroll shrugged his shoulders as he said, "Perhaps we may find him in the forest again." "Are you going to search," inquired the Major, observing the Captain, move towards the door. "No," he said; "I have not a particular fancy for the gibbet, and shall not, of course, act the part of a spy. I am going to the stable, Major, for Ronald tells me SARATOGA; TALE OF THE REVOLUTION. fs. 3. fleig IN TWO VOLUMES. I know that we have all an innate love of our country, and that the greatest men have been sensible to its attractions; but I know also that it is only little minds which cannot shake off these fetters. PETRARCH. VOL. II. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS, HILLIARD & CO. PRINTED BY HILLIARD AND METCALF. 1824. 4349. 1797-2 |