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372 think we are fondly remembered by those to whom we are now bidding adieu.” “You will not forget me, then, Evelyn, when you are moving, a pure star, amid the ‘ noble and gifted of our land V Tell me that you will think o 1 me, but not as you do of others, Evelyn,” he passionately exclaim ed, taking her hand, “and I will leave America—yes, even this dear home—without a regret, without a saddening anticipation.” “Forget you, Walter'? Can you ask it*?’’ And her look of chiding tenderness swept the responding chord that vibrated in his own bosom. Love for Walter Preston was the vestal flame which shed its light upon the al tar of her virgin heart. “Do 1 dream, Evelyn 1 Dp I deceive my self 1 Can you, so pure, so lofty in spirit and in mind, love one who is so wayward ? To win vour heart, Evelyn Hamilton, has been the ceaseless effort, the ambition of my life. I knew your own rich endowments, and I knew, too, that a proud intellect alone dared ask for reciprocity of heart. Never, until this evening, have I suspected that you regarded me. Were it not that we part so soon, I should not have presumed, thus far, to have declared my feelings, until I could have laid the laurels of my ambition at your feet. You would not spurn them, and the heart that hinds the offering, would you, Evelyn ?” u You have d.efined my feelings well, Wal ter, when you supposed my heart incapable of bowing at other than an elevated shrine. Then seek to reach that standard, if you would claim its homage.” “I have your permission to hope, and to strive to reach that elevated position. Bless you for it, Evelyn. In four years, if Heaven smile propitiously upon this chosen spot, 1 will claim the hand to which you bid me aspire. Tell me—shall it be thus “ Until then, Walter, no other shall claim either hand or heart.” “ Then, dearest Evelyn, each evening, when the stars of heaven light up the deep cerulean, look upon that one pure star which floats so proudly bright, where all are glitter ing and beautiful, and feel that I, too, look upon it, and think it sheds its light upon the being and the ‘land I love.’ Let it be -an ever-abiding earnest of my devotion. That sweet look of approval, Evelyn, speaks all 1 would have you say.” And, with all the glowing enthusiasm of an ardent nature, he breathed the eloquent tenderness that was welling from his spirit’s depths, and portrayed the visions which danced so merrily in the vista of coming years. Evelyn possessed all the ardent en thusiasm of her lover, without its vivid hope fulness. ■“You are a most happy limner, Walter: but, in the living portraiture which your ima gination gilds, you sketch the purling brooks, azure skies, and refulgent sunsets, unmindful of the darkening clouds, the fitful shadows, and billowy strife, which must enter into life’s picture, to soften down its too gorgeous coloring.” “I am a most happy limner, Eva, and you a bright dreamer, were it not for the shad ow which you are ever blending with the bright things in life. Why clo you thus tanta lize yout imagination with unreal sorrows and sad forebodings, because transitory cir cumstances make you sad ?” “I try, Walter, to be happy—to participate in all the beautiful and happy thoughts you so vividly portray; but I cannot resist the half-defined premonition that gathers in my heart, whenever I think of our long ab sence.” Evelyn, if it is not pleasant to you, I will not visit Europe; fori would forego every earthly consideration, barter every ambition, to secure your gratification.” “ Can you suppose me so utterly selfish, as to wish you to sacrifice your most cher ished plans of life, merely to gratify a weak §©®lTlSfl&{&El ® A % g ITIi 1 & ♦ ness —it may be, a vagary of an over-wrought and wayward heart % No, Walter, you must go as you have said, and fit yourself for fill | ing that station in life, which you are so well i calculated to adorn. Heaven will avert or temper all those evils which are not for our good. And yet my heart grows weak, as I turn to leave this spot, and know that to morrow we shall all be far a\vay from the scenes amid which we have sported and whi led away the hours of youth, when our spir its were fetterless as the singing-bird’s. I fear the simplicity of our tastes will be changed, but may their purity be spared the immolating touch of refinement.”* “But, Evelyn, why do you linger here, when it but serves to increase your dejection ? Come, there are many favorite haunts yet for you to visit, which Horace, Ally, and Ban gero, the happy trio, have explored this evening; besides, the little family festivity, in the arbor, near the river, which kind Aunt Lydia has planned for our pleasure, requires our attention.” The three years at school had nearly fleet ed by, fraught with little incident to mar the monotonous round of studies, lectures and exhibitions, except when a letter -would ar rive from Walter, or when a Christmas vaca tion rolled round which was to be spent in their sunny homes. But never had a period been to them so deeply interesting as the coming exhibition ; for they should again re turn to that home, and would never again be compelled to leave its blest shades. Evelyn Hamilton had long occupied the most elevated position in her class, and, from the bright and masculine energy of her mind, had received the appellation of the “ Southern Star.” She had sought to place herself upon that elevated pedestal, the proud eminence where Walter’s too partial fondness had loved to ■picture her. The evening of the exhibition had arrived, a crisis fraught with overweening solicitude to Evelyn Hamilton* It was the time ap propriated for the exhibition of the premium sketches. Alice, the little amateur sketches, was a competitor; for weeks, she had been absorbed in the execution of her most cher ished design : it'was and gem of a sketch of her own beautiful home, yet not even a glimpse would she deign to Eva or Horace, until they should see it ranked in the bril liant list. Evelyn feared the effect which disappointment would produce on one of her sanguine and enthusiastic temperament. When the committee of examination had taken their positions, the artist proceeded to unveil the bright pictures for decision. As the last one was unveiled, a gleam of such natural, life-like loveliness, radiated the can vass, that a simultaneous murmur of appro bation was breathed through the audience. The committee arose, and approached the painting, and, after a few commendatory ob servations, requested the name of the young aihateur. “Alice Hamilton,” said the artist. “ Will Miss Hamilton allow us to bestow this testimonial of our appreciation on one, whose talents we are proud thus to honor V’ And, as the lovely girl advanced and knelt before the leading member of the committee, the delicate gold chain was thrown upon her neck, clasping a richly chased medal, and accompanied by graceful compliments. “ Who is Alice Hamilton ?” inquired some gentleman that sat near Evelyn and Horace. “Do you not know the beautiful young Southerner, and her gifted sister, who receiv ed the first grade of scholarship. Alice Ham ilton is the most delicately beautiful creature I have ever seen. She reminds one of a sweet fragile lily, of her own fair and sunny home, born to bloom and smile alone amid its summer air.” Yv T hen the exercises had closed, many pressed forward to examine the picture, and obtain an introduction to the aristocratic young Southerners. “ You leave us on the morrow, Miss Ham ilton,” said a gentleman, bowing low, as he approached Alice. “Can nothing which our fair city prqsents for your enjoyment lure you but a few days longer from your home ?” “ Under other circumstances than those which at present must govern our conduct, I might be induced to devote a few weeks to enjoyment; but our absence from home has already been too long protracted by the course of our studies, and the arrangements for our departure have been previously made. By changing that plan, we shall disappoint those who are to meet us.” “It would speak well for our patriotism, Miss Hamilton, if our feelings of nationality were as strong as the clinging ties and asso ciations which bind a Southerner to his home : this feeling is the most beautiful pe_ culiarity of Southern character. The home you love must, indeed, be worthy of that feeling, if that lake of enchanting loveliness has its counterpart there. As I look upon its leafy solitude, and see all things combin ing and harmonizing so true to nature, I can almost fancy myself amid its mystic influen ces and balmy air.” WhenLlorace Sidney approached his cous in, to communicate the wishes of Aunt Ly dia, his eye was full of a happy light, and he drew her arm in his, apologizing for the very unceremonious interruption. It was not without deep emotion that Evelyn and •% > Alice bade a lasting adieu to their teachers and companions, with whom they had so long held familiar intercourse and friendly confidence ; but the delight, the wild buoy ancy of feeling, which could call up even a memory of home, chased away every transi tory grief—that home, where every floweret breathed or smiled a welcome. “Evelyn,” said Alice, “though we are all again established at home, I miss Walter : he always seemed to enter into my views, and assimilate his tastes to mine. I dare not approach cousin Horace with a subject so silly, for fear of shocking his dignity. If Walter has given over his cheering merri ment of manner, and his rambling propensi ties, I, for one, shall feel that Europe, and University, and traveling, have sadly changed him. I expect he will come back again the formal, polished gentleman, and, by his re spectful kindness and dignity towards me, will be constantly reminding me that I am Miss Alice, the young lady of seventeen, and not, as formerly, his ‘little pet sister,’ the companion of Bangero and the canaries. I could try to act with dignity, and be a re served young lady, whilst I was mingling in society; but at home, where all love, and cherish, and smile on me, I must be a child still; I must ramble among the woods and flowers, with my heart blithe and free as in other days. But, Eva, dear sister, I would have you dignified and amiable, just as you always were—that dignity which does not awe me—amiability which combines every gentle and generous feeling of your heart— one so far elevated above me to look up to, and love me—a kind, fond heart, to caress and talk soothingly to me, when I am sad.” “Ally, you are a beguiling flatterer: I shall ever strive to be all your trusting heart requires.” “ But, Eva, I fear I am too exacting and capricious: if I am, your forbearance and gentleness has made me such, and you must correct it.” “ Ally, don’t feel that you possess any such untractable qualities. But there are Parson Evans and Horace, with an open let ter, too!” “Oh! Eva, it is from Walter!” And the merry girl sprang like a light fawn down the gravel walk to meet them. Another short week, and he would be again with the only being on earth, with whom he claimed kin dred ties. It was the evening of Walter Preston’s ex pected arrival. Evelyn was alone upon the balcony which opened into the parterre, and as she watched the varying hues of a gor geous sunset, which threw a soft light fu into the vault of heaven, the perfume-laden air, “breathing over the early spring violets ’’ came soothingly to her brow—the beautify thoughts of life’s young dreams flitted round every hope of coming years. Her fond rev e ry was broken by Alice and Bangero, who came bounding to her side from their accus tomed ramble. Evelyn looked tenderly down upon the fair head w hich lay upon her lap and, putting back the tresses that fell around that young face, contemplated its surpassing beauty, as the glow of vivid thought would radiate the delicately-chiseled features. Not in heart was Alice Hamilton more child-like than in form and features. Never had Eve lyn thought her so surpassingly beautiful as on that evening: a dress of the showy mull fell in graceful folds around a sylph-like form—the flowing sleeves were looped back with clasps of pearl, displaying the delicate ly rounded arm, and the luxuriant hair fell around that airy form; the charms which Nature had thrown over lip, and cheek, and brow, would have matched the hitherto unri valled “Campaspe.” Both of those gentle, girls were fair, hut one was passing beauti ful. “ Eva, I have been, since sunset, watching every distant speck that floated upon the riv er ; and, more than once, I have mistaken a snowy water-fall for the sails of the little boat. But they will surely be here soon. Let me beguile you of your sadness, Eva, my sister, by playing for you that sweet air he loved so well, ‘ The Ingleside:’ it inpver grows trite, though it was one. of the first songs I ever learned.” And, unlinking the silken sash by which it Was suspended around her neck, her fair hand swept the strings of the silvery lute up on which it rested. The simple accompani ment, blending with the tones of her witch ing voice, was still “melting on the soft summer air/’ when the tangled masses of of flowers and foliage were pressed aside, and Horace Sidney bounded to the balcony, followed by a manly form —who,'ere Horace could announce, had knelt, and pressed the hand of Evelyn Hamilton to his lips. “And this is my beautiful ‘pet sister,’” he said, bestowing on Alice a like greeting: “and this is faithful Bangero,” he continued, stooping to stroke the head.of the favorite Newfoundland. “What an interesting trio they form, Horace!” “Waller, we have been expecting you anx iously for the past hour; but you must not delay another minute to go and relieve Aunt Lydia’s anxiety.” “ Why, Evelyn, we should have been a few minutes earlier, had we not have been arrested, spell-bound, by the witching min strelsy which came floating through these enchanted regions; but I suspect that we have found the syren, and this is the charmed ‘shell,’” he said, raising the lute from the sculptured vase of Camelias, upon which Alice had thrown it. “But, Walter, you forget that you owe compliments and greetings to a host of oth ers, both here and at the parsonage, before you make your exclusive devoirs to these ladies for the evening ; so we are off fora beginning.” Again, their childhood home was bright and happy; for they, who were its light and hope, again gladdened all things with their smiles; and again could the.good old Minis ter bless them together, for they had all reached his fondest expectations. But of all in that bright and happy home, Evelyn and Walter were brightest and happiest. M alter Preston had again offered the wealth of bis love, and claimed the heart for which he had been permitted to strive and hope. “ Evelyn,” he said, as they sat together on the banks of that fair lake, “here you once promised that, when we should all u-