bered that Mrs. Hill saw no one now, "and, of | we'll go to Praline's this instant and reverse it. And course, Miss Seymour wont come when her sister is not invited. I wish I had not kept on this old gown, since they spied me out; but, lor! it do n't make any difference. I wonder what they said, too; I could n't tell from here." She asked Cilla; but Cilla replied that "they did n't talk Merrican, and how could she understand? But I tell you what, Miss Sarly, I didn't like to invite one 'thout tother; and I felt very oncomfortable 'bout it, too!" So Cilla had the advantage over her mistress in good feeling at least, but she was told to hold her tongue and go to her work, and no one was ever the wiser by it. But as we wish to give only an account of the rise of Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson Jones, we must pay less attention to the little incidents of everyday life. To have slighted Mrs. Hill, "whose husband did a bad business," was one triumph-to have secured Eda's non-attendance, another. But to receive Mrs. Macfuss's acceptance, was one worthy of the gods! This joyful blow was too much for Mrs. Jones's nervous system! She had the paint rescoured, and Cilla, much discomforted, observed (out of her lady's hearing, of course,) "that if cos Mrs. Makefuss is a comin' I has to do all my work over, I wish, (oh, my sakes! if Miss Sarly could hear me !) she'd a kept her 'ceptance to herself. Here's Miss Sarly almost out her head, and when the 'oman do come, she 'll be crazy as a coot-and coots is bad off for sense." Cilla was not far wrong. When Miss Fawney communicated the intelligence that an acceptance was to be sent on the morrow, Mrs. Jones ran about in playful bewilderment and relieved herself a little by adding some extra-artificials to her dress. She borrowed more candlesticks and lamps, and had some idea of illuminating the house from attic to cellar, ordering lanterns to be hung at the gate, that Mrs. Macfuss might not mistake. "And now, Marian, my dear child," continued she, turning to her convenient friend, "do tell me what Mr. and Mrs. Macfuss like best to eat. What more can I have on my table that they would relish? I know they always have the finest of every thing-think well now, and let me know." Miss Fawney was a little puzzled at first, but suddenly recollected what she liked most herself, so informed Mrs. Jones that Mr. Macfuss was very fond of paté de foie gras, and also of oyster gumbo." "The gumbo I have prepared, my love, of course; but the potty dee foy graws I had almost forgotten. Gourmand has quantities of potties, as he is a Frenchman, and imports those articles from Paris direct. I think you said Mrs. Macfuss liked sherbet and lemon ice cream?" No; Miss Fawney liked vanilla best, and affirmed that Mrs. Macfuss was very partial to it. those pine apples. They must be rich. Smith! have the carriage round immediately; I'll go up and put on my bonnet, Marian;" and when Mrs. Jones arrived at Praline's her heart dilated as she saw in how much consideration she was held by her confectioner and his wife. Th y were all smirks and smiles, particularly as she constantly repeated' “you know now, Mrs. Praline, that I mind no expense whatever." And Miss Fawney called her an extravagant creature! "But I knew, Mrs. Jones, that when you did give a party, it would be a magnificent affair!" And so, indeed, it proved. The weather was fine and everybody came. Mrs. Macfuss meeting her own set, and seeing so much display, was reconciled to her new acquaintance. Mr. Macfuss, seeing a magnificent supper and drinking the finest of wines, shook hands with his host, and asked him to come and see him sociably. There was a pleasant combination of things. The host and hostess said they never would regret the ball, and Miss Fawney was profuse in her congratulations. At length they had reached the goal, and began to feel with Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Crummles, the sweets of popularity. Mrs. Jones was heard soon after to say that she had scarcely time to take her meals, people so thronged the house; and before she was quite aware of it, she had asked Mrs. Macfuss to come over and be intimate! One evening, as Mrs. Hill and her brother stood together at the gate of her pretty cottage, a handsome equipage dashed by, filling with dust the mouths of the plebeian pedestrians on either side of the smooth road through Summerfield. Two ladies were on the back seat, while in front sat two little boys, looking very gravely at one another. The driver had on a coat filled with brass buttons-and this was called a livery; so the whole effect was very grand and imposing. "Who was that, Fanny ?" said young Seymour; "whose carriage is that?" "The carriage belongs to Mrs. John Johnson Jones, brother. Did you not see her?" "I did not recognize her-she bowed, did she not?" "Not she, my good sir; she never bends so low. Could you not see how stiff the lady was?" "Then who did bow to you just now?" "Mrs. Macfuss," said Fanny, smiling archly. "Whew! Whose little innocents were those in front?" "Master Pushaw Jones and Master Johnny Macfuss." Mr. Seymour paused. "Fanny," said he at length, "I'll go to Texas. I see that Mrs. Macfuss has been over, and s LINES TO AN IDEA THAT WOULDN'T "COME." BY FRANCES 8. OSGOOD. "Why thus longing, thus forever sighing "Has Hope like the bird in the story, OH! fondly wished for, why delay? This virgin page awaits theeIt's waited since the dawn of dayWhat can it be belates thee? Thou ne'er wilt find a nicer couch, A softer or a fairer ? Thou ne'er wilt find a desk to which Oh! airy rover, rainbow-winged! And blesséd be forever! Alight and shut your gleaming wing, And let my verse be amber, To make for you, while glad you sing, A fitting, fairy chamber! Whether around the dainty tip Of Whitman's pen you hover, Or rest on Greenwood's rosy lip, To greet some poet-lover; Or hide in glorious Hewitt's heart Oh! fly them all, and fly to me! I'll dress you in the prettiest words Be sure I'll make the most of thee! Oh! fairy treasure, fine and fleet, I'll give you welcome warm and true, And take what route it pleases you, Oh! come by telegraph from Maine, By steamboat from the shores of Spain, But come at all events-without THE NAVAL OFFICER. BY WM. F. LYNCH. CHAPTER IV. (Concluded from page 230.) It was the morning of the fifth day after the escape of Talbot and his companion. The land breeze, like the breath of expiring humanity, had become more and yet more faint, until it ceased entirely, and the flag that was wont to wave over the ramparts of the Moro Castle hung listless beside the staff which supported it. Into the cavernous recesses worn by the friction of the water, in the foundations of the massive structure, the sluggish waves tumbled with a dull and deafening sound. In the near offing lay the frigate, rolling slowly on the unbroken surface of a light ground swell, while the sails flapped against the masts, as if impatient for the breeze. In various directions, a number of vessels, differing in size and appearance, like the frigate awaited a wind to waft them to their various destinations. Beyond them, and until it blended with the distant horizon, save here and there a sea-gull noiselessly skimming its surface, there was nothing visible on the far-stretching and pellucid sea. Like a slumbering giant, the very heavings of that sea told of the latent power that dwelt within it, and conveyed a forcible idea of the might and majesty of the Great Being that made it. On the after part of the deck of the frigate, screened from the sun by an awning overhead, sat Miss Gillespie and her brother. She, with an air of unmitigated sadness; he, chafing at a captivity which he deemed illegal, and impatient to reach the shore and obtain his freedom. He had never understood for what purpose the soporific incense had been burned, or, boy as he was, he would have attempted the life of their insidious foe. He had imagined that it was an attempt on their lives, (for the disaster of the count had been carefully concealed from them,) and his sister had shrunk from undeceiving him. Her pure nature could itself with difficulty comprehend such baseness, but was absolutely incapable of conveying an idea of it to another, particularly one whose disposition was naturally as unsuspecting as her own. She therefore determined to avoid exciting his suspicions, and even forbore to interfere further than by advice, when the steward, at the instance of his master, now able to sit up, represented that so far from designing injury, the object was to soothe their nerves, those of the lady in especial, after the anxiety and alarm of the evening previous. He also persuaded Frank that the count would exert himself to obtain their speedy liberation when they reached the port; and, that having found them on board of a privateer of the enemy, a class of vessels not in the habit of conveying passengers, he was, by the strict tenor of his orders, bound, although most reluctantly, to detain them. These representations so far operated upon the youth, that he was several times prevailed upon to visit the designing count. But his sister pertinaciously refused to see, or receive any message from her persecutor, and might have departed from her resolution and told Frank sufficient to prevent him from leaving her alone, but that in her fears for Talbot she had forgotten every thing else. Although a prisoner, confined apart and denied all intercourse, the mere presence of her lover in the same vessel gave her a sense of security. But now he was gone, whither and wherefore she could not tell, and she felt as if she were abandoned to the dreadful fate which so long had threatened her. To do her justice, too, her bitterest source of grief was in anxiety for the safety of Talbot. Had she heard nothing of him, she would have concluded that he was still among the prisoners, and by the strict vigilance of his guards denied the opportunity of communicating with her. Tut her persecutor was too malignant, was also too shrewd not to know that if he could persuade her of her lover's desertion, he might more reasonably hope for success. She was therefore but too soon informed of the escape, of which the mi sing boat was sufficient proof; and through others every representation was made, calculated to impair her confidence and weaken her attachment. But, like a mail of proof, her own integrity protected her, and the malicious shafts fell harmless, creating no pain, nnd scarce attracting notice. Although young and inexperienced, scarce more than a nestling that had for the first time fledged its wing, this girl possessed the noblest attributes of her sex, and hers was more than the ordinary love of woman. True, deep, fervent love, such as that sex alone can feel, cannot harbor a doubt. Undying and unchangeable in itself, it cannot comprehend that, of the existence of which it is unconscious. Often placed unhappily, often denied the communion for which it yearns, it looks beyond the grave for the fruition of its hopes. "They sin who tell us love can die." She had listened to the soft and hesitating whisper of proffered love, and her gushing eye and mantling cheek and throbbing breath had confessed that love to be requited. Her soul had mingled with another's in the dearest and the noblest union which adorns and irradiates existence—the union of manly strength with shrinking beauty; of the clear eye to look upon, and the bold heart to encounter peril, with the step hesitating and timid as a fawn! of skill to do and will to dare, with affection to sustain and fortitude to endure; of man, fashioned in comeliness and radiant THE NAVAL OFFICER. 287 with virtue, with woman, the celestial link that binds | until late the next morning. I remember that at first him to a purer state! With a pledge as dear as it we thought that an attempt was being made to stuwas enduring, they had sworn to preserve that union pefy or smother us with something that was burned, until it should be merged into that most glorious, but, as we were not molested, we concluded that we holiest and most beautiful of all, which is effected in had been mistaken. For God's sake, tell me what death-when their souls, stripped of the mortal coils happened?" which encumbered them, and wafted on the wings of love, should soar upward and onward, until side by side, inseparable as in life, and inseparable forever, they intoned their hymns of praise with the choir which surrounds the Eternal! Could a woman capable of conceiving such a pledge ever falter, much less prove unfaithful? Never. And Miss Gillespie was as unmoved by the insinuations of those around her, as is the calm and placid moon by the howlings of a hungry wolf. "Young lady," he answered, "I have ever since sought an opportunity to speak to you; why is that you have confined yourself below?" "We often wished to come up," she replied, "but were told that the count was too ill to be consulted, and that without his permission we could not leave the cabin. But do tell me all about that night, I implore you." The lieutenant then informed her of the condition in which the count was found the next morning, and the general belief of the officers that his villainous design had been frustrated by Talbot or Gonzalez, who must have been concealed in the cabin. They conversed for some time, and before leaving her, he advised her, as the count was nearly well, to keep always near her brother, and to write a note to the American Consul in Havana, claiming his protection, would forward it at once to its destination. With diminished fear, and in a comparatively cheerful mood, Miss Gillespie returned to the cabin, and repeated to her brother such parts of her conversation with the lieutenant as she thought she could safely confide to him. As the two orphans sat apart, occasionally exchanging a few words, and then relapsing into silence, the first lieutenant, an old and worthy officer, who, from the want of family influence, had long been denied promotion, touched by the sadness of the fair captive, approached and respectfully accosted them. He first confined himself to inquiries respecting their health and comfort, and made some cheer-promising that if she would send her note to him he ing observations on their prospects of liberation. He then, after musing a few moments, left them and whispered a few words to the officer of the deck. The latter nodded intelligence, and immediately gave an order which required those of the crew hovering about to go forward to aid in its execution. The lieutenant then returning said, "Young lady, may I speak a few words with you?" and leading her a few steps from where her brother sat, continued, "I have two daughters at home, one of them about your age, and when I think how I should feel if either of them were in your almost unprotected situation, I sympathize deeply with you. Indeed I am not the only one. There is a general feeling among the officers to protect you if need be. You may rely upon our disposition to serve you-and now answer me frankly-Does your extreme sadness proceed solely from your detention here, and the escape and apparent desertion of your friend?" "Oh no, sir!" cried she, immeasurably relieved by his words, "whatever may have induced Mr. Talbot to leave us, I am sure that he has acted for the best. You judge rightly," she added, “in supposing that I have other cause of anxiety than what proceeds from our detention, which, if we be not most unjustly dealt by, must terminate so soon. I have not dared to tell my brother what horrid fears distract me, for I know he would attempt something violent, that would most probably separate us, and I love my only protector." "Our fears then are not unfounded, and the mys tery of that night is partly solved," said the lieutenant, in a soliloquizing tone. About the usual hour the breeze set in, and sailing "majestically slow," by the towering fortress on the one hand, and the gay and beautiful structures of the town, with its crowded wharves and numerous shipping on the other, the frigate, early in the afternoon, had anchored in the upper harbor of Havana. Frank Gillespie, who was no longer restricted to the cabin, watched his opportunity and slipped into the old lieutenant's hand the note with which his sister had entrusted him. Soon after the ship had cast her anchor, the Captain of the Port came on board to pay his official visit. The lieutenant, who was on intimate terms with him, invited him down to his state-room, and there giving him the note, with the assurance that it was of very great importance, exacted a promise that he would transmit it without delay to the American Consul. The officer promised to attend punctually to the commission, and the kindhearted lieutenant with great satisfaction saw him, a short time afterward, take his departure for the shore. Quite late in the afternoon, when the ship was moored, the count, unable to go himself, sent the first lieutenant to wait upon the admiral and report the ship. About dusk, and before he returned, a boat came alongside for Miss Gillespie and her brother. The person who came in charge stated that the American Consul was absent and would not return for a "What night? Of what mystery do you speak?" day or two, but that his wife had prepared a room exclaimed the lady. for, and would gladly welcome them. The message "Of the night you came on board. But is it pos- ended with an entreaty that they would come at sible you are ignorant of what I allude to ?” "I have not the most remote idea; Frank and I slept soundly the whole night, and did not awake once. They needed no persuasion, and with alacrity making their brief preparation, and without meeting obstructions, which to the last they feared, with in describable joy they took their seats in the boat and bade adieu to their late floating prison. Talbot and Gonzalez, representing themselves as having escaped from a wreck, were kindly received at the little settlement where they landed, but instead of accepting the hospitalities which were freely tendered, they merely asked for a guide to conduct them into the interior, so fearful were they of being pursued. With much toil and privation, and at one time exposed to imminent peril, they reached the Reglos, a settlement opposite to the city of Havana, the very day on which the frigate arrived. Afraid to venture out before night-fall, one of them feigned to be sick, and the other remained as if to keep him company, in the small room of an obscure fonda, which they occupied. They had remained for a very long time without seeing or hearing any one, when, about an hour after the ship had anchored, they heard footsteps on the creaking staircase, and one called out, "Is there any one above, Marguerita ?" "There were two sailor-looking men there this morning," replied a female voice, "but they must have gone out, for I have heard nothing of them since dinner." "We will see," said the first voice. But Gonzalez was too quick for him. He had started at the first word, and rising from the bed, which was at the side of the room, placed himself by the door, and quietly turning the bolt of the lock, withdrew the key. He then bent his head and listened attentively, taking care not to place it in a line with the key-hole. The party, consisting of three, came up in the meantime, and two of them proceeded to an adjoining room, while one stopped and tried the door. In a few moments he rejoined his companions, saying, "All safe, they are out." When Gonzalez started up and hurried to the door, Talbot was struck as much by the expression of his countenance as by the movement itself, and he had continued to watch him in silent amazement. But he was soon convinced that his friend was not insane. When the person who tried the door had retired, Gonzalez, stepping lightly to the bed, whispered, "Don't speak or make the slightest noise, it is the rascally steward, with some of the cut-throats who resort to this side of the harbor. The count has some design afoot, and Providence has sent us just in time to save that unfortunate young lady." Talbot needed no more, and with their faculties on the full stretch, they listened intently, and gathered almost every word of the conversation in the next room. It was a festival day in Havana. The clang of the bells had been incessant since noon, and the air reverberated with the almost uninterrupted discharge of artillery from the forts and men-of-war. There was no diminution of light with the setting of the sun, for the clouds which slowly floated along the sky, threw back the blaze of the illuminated city, while, like an undulating mirror, the harbor reflected the myriads of lights interspersed among the spars and rigging of the men-of-war. Along the shore, in each direction, bonfires were blazing, and from every point as well of the waters as the land, was heard the whizzing sound of the sinuous and beautiful rocket, which, exploding above and around with an unceasing feu de joie, filled the air with its fiery flakes. The sound of music and the shouts of merriment commingled, and wafted by the breeze, fell gratefully upon the ear of the boatmen reclining upon their oars, and the distant sentinels making their solitary rounds on the ramparts of the castle. As the boat with Frank and his sister pushed off from the frigate, another, and much smaller one, that had hovered within the shadow of the ship, noiselessly pursued the same direction. The first pulled for some distance up the river, until it had passed the city, and then stopped at one of the neat villas that lined its banks. The smaller boat, which, as the reader must have surmised, contained Talbot and Gonzalez, had been obliged to keep close within the other shore, to avoid observation. When the larger boat was turned toward the shore, the two friends, unseen themselves, distinctly saw all that passed. "I do not understand this movement," said Gonzalez. They have stopped at a Posada, to which the citizens, in their evening rides, usually resort for refreshment. There must be some change in their plans since we heard them discuss it." In the meantime, the party, (with the exception of one who remained by the boat,) had landed, and ascending the bank, opened the little wicker-gate and proceeded through the garden toward the house. Talbot and Gonzalez were about to pull across, and had nearly reached the line of light when the latter cried, "Hush! back, back your oars quickly, they are returning!" They again retreated within the shadows of the opposite bank, and saw two men, followed by a third, hurrying the lady rapidly toward the boat, into which they forced her, for it was evident that she was strug gling. The moment she was placed in the boat, they again shoved off from the shore. "I now understand it all," whispered Gonzalez to his companion. "They have decoyed the brother into the house, and run off and left him. I am sure, too, that the lady is gagged, for she does not cry out, although she yet struggles desperately. Stop, stop! What are you about?" he cried, as he saw Talbot begin to ply his oars with all his might. "Do you ask me, with such a sight before us,” replied the latter, indignantly. "Nay, lay on your oars, I beg, I entreat you. Your precipitation will ruin all. They are four, and well armed-we are defenceless. They would slay us before we could cope with them, and then farewell to all hopes of the lady's rescue." "What shall we do, then?" said Talbot, as he despairingly rested his oar. "Follow them, as we at first proposed, and concert our plan after we have seen the place in which they mean to place her." |