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154 [For the Southern FieW end Fireside.] THE ANNIVERSARY. At twilight's calm and silent hour, And at the day's grey dawn When dew is on each leaf and flow'r, That decks the verdant lawn, Then most I think of thee, and dream Thon may'st remember me, E’en there where flows the pearly stream O’er crystal bed to thee ; But while I linger on the strand, Where thou may'st come no more, The world seems like some desert land The simoom hath swept o'er; Three years ago, three weary years. We made thy deep, cold bed. And laid thee down, embalm’d in tears, And left thee with the dead. And as the Winter's setting snn, With bright, but transient ray, Illumines all it shines upon. Then sinks from view away. Thus thy pure life hath cast on mine, A passing gleam of light, And with reflected hues of thine Made mine almost as bright; But it hath pass'd, and why repine ? Will not, ere long, this breast, Be just as cold, and still as thine — Like thine, with thee—at rest ? Augusta, June, 1559. Lois. — [For the Southern Field and Fireside.] SATURDAY NIGHT. BY MBS. CAROLINE IIENTZ BBANCII. CHAPTER IL “ Now why must I disturb a dream of bliss?” It was near twilight a few evenings after, that Lewis sat alone in the large bachelor studying room. Generally Charlie was there too, and since his accident he had been confined to its walls, subject to the careful restrictions of Lewis. Until this evening, he had succeed in curbing the impatient spirit that had been less easy of control than usual, but, upon returning from an unavoidable absence, he found the study desert ed. Charlie had gone out, leaving no traces of the direction he had taken. Lewis, as if moved by more than anxiety for his health, followed eagerly every course which he imagined Charlie might have taken. If he had discovered a clue to his whereabouts, it was no pleasant discovery, to judge by his unusually contracted brow.— He had been overtaxing his strength, for the veins in his white temples throbbed, and his thin hands shook nervously. He sat by an open window, watching out in the deepening twi light for a coming figure, and now and then he took a letter from his pocket and carried it to the dim light, as if to examine the direction, and he hastily thrust it out of sight, as the sound from the window startled him in the belief that Charlie was coming. It was a beautiful June evening, the air soft and balmy, and rich sunset clouds still lingered in the west, and sent a flood of fading glory in at the open windows. The glow fell full upon the anxious face of Lewis peering out into the shadows, and Charlie who at last came quietly upon the piazza unobserved, saw the care-worn face, and hurried in, a little conscience smitten, and resolving to atone for his disobedience. Lewis sprang up at the sound of his step, and was in the shadow when Charlie entered, so that he did not observe the very unusual expression of his face. “Well! my dear Cerberus!” he exclaimed, throwing himself upon a lounge after having giv en Lewis a hearty tap in passing, byway of expressing his recuperated energies. “ Have I outwitted you in putting to practice one of the maxims of Horace ? ‘Quo<l adest memento, Componere tequus,' by slipping out in your absence ? You are not going to be cross thereupon.” Lewis stood silent as if irresolute, en deavoring to suppress some rebellious emo tion, for he could not bear to utter anything that would damp the joyous mood or overcast the brow upon which he had seldom seen a more radiant glow. Charlie lay where the lamplight from the hall irradiated his figure, but Lewis still stood in the shadow. “ Come here," cried Charlie, “ I must whisper all this happiness to my twin soul, ere I realize it in its fullness, its overpowering blissfulness I” Lewis quickly responded to the call, and Charlie went on whilst pressing his hand, as he would have done that of a loving sister. “Oh I what would my life be without your sympathy, your better, purer nature tempering mine, and saving me from myself? I wish I had your spirit, brother, I wish in my soul I had, for what can I do that is great or good, ever in a constant combat with this volcano within me ?” There was a short pause in which Lewis almost con vulsively returned the pressure of his brother’s hand, and he said after awhile, in a low voieo: “ Think more of what my life would be with out your presence—but bless you, my brother! go on and relieve your burden of bliss, let us both be happy.” The melancholy cadence which had hung up on Charlie’s last words, gave place to the rich accents of joy, as he responded, and a less plea sant voice than his might have grown melodious in lingering upon a like vision. As if wielding the brush of an immortal artist, and dipping it in tints of life and passion, he brought the vision before the mind of Lewis. “If you Could have been with me, Lewis, to have seen her as I did, in such exquisite pallor, when I remembered why she was pale, with her soul-full eyes, beaming with such depth of feeling, feeling so true and holy, and the trem bling modesty with which she vainly endeavor ed to hide the wealth from me—the wealth ol a heart that is all mine—all mine now and for ever!” He closed nis eyes for an instant as if to live it over again, and then went on dreamily, “ The air was redolent with love and joy as it came whispering in, and kissed both our lips —bathed as her lovely face was with the glory from the heavens. Oh! I ask no truer light to shine into her heart, that it might reflect upon mine a more effulgent tide of glowing affection than that which now fills it to brimming bliss! Are we not both happy, my sympathizing broth er, my better heart?” It was so like a wild enthusiast, as Charlie was to burst out thus, that Lowis might have smilingly joined in with him as he had often done before, had not a something deeper than boy hood’s dreaming fancies been slumbering beneath all this lightness. Wrapt, as Charlie was, in the gilded fancies of “ love’s young dream,” he was aroused and startled when Lewis question ed him rapidly in reply, in an unguarded an guish. he seldom allowed to over-master him: “You leave me in painful ignorance of whom you speak. Explain in mercy! ” Charlie raised himself and tried to penetrate through the gloom, but he could not see the face of Lewis and it was well, or the pang which came again as it had before when they had stood ®KB 80WX8BB HBM UV KIKKBXB*. together in the church with Ellen Farmer, would have been far deeper; but recollecting himself; he replied gaily, for he knew the truth would be a present relief for that sorrow of his poor broth er, if it should prove no more. “ Whom could I mean but Aliene ? The day star of my earliest visions—the sun of my dawn ing manhood I Why your sepulchral tone quite startled me,” and he threw himself back again ending with a laugh which sounded somewhat forced, his half satirical rejoinder. Lewis suddenly arose and made several turns up and down the room before ho spoke, and then it was not in his usual calm, healthful spirit His deep dejection so mocked the attempt at sympathizing with his joy, that Charlie asked, a little impatiently: “What can be the matter, Lewis? Your manner is really ominous of some calamity.— Pray be more frank!” “ I am sorry that an unconquerable dejection of mine should have come at a season like this, to dampen your happiness,” said Lewis, taking once more the seat he had left, and going on sadly in spite of liis great efforts to suppress the tone. “ I have a letter for you, and when you have read it, perhaps you will not wonder at my being gloomy, selfishly so, I’ll confess, and therefore it was culpablo.” Lights were called for, and whilst Charlie’s thoughts were gliding into a different channel, Lewis continued: “ I came whilst you were weakest from your accident, and thinking it might appertain to bus iness matters which concerned us both, I opened it. You were unfit for the demands it made, so I reserved it until to night—perhaps unwisely, as it has proved, umvise because I was just too late.” He buried his face in his hands after he had delivered the letter and arranged the lights, and with almost a groan, he went on murmuring to himself: “ Was I wise or not—have I defeatod my own purpose ? Oh it is God that disposes, and such conjectures are as harrowing as they are sinful. But these regrets—these regrets—how painful they are. Had I been sooner—or had he been less precipitate ” Charlie was deep in the perusal of the letter, and did not hear. It was from one of the firm of a banking house in City, and was ad dressed to Charles Grey, Jr. It contained these lines: > “ Your presence is demanded here at the ear liest possible moment, on business of a very im portant nature, and no substitute will supply your place. You will learn something to your advantage or your disadvantage, as the case may prove. Respectfully yours, Ac.” “The date,” ho cried, examining curiously, “is more than ten days back. llow singularly worded, and how provokingly mysterious!” He sat re-reading and pondering over it, whilst Lewis looked up into his handsome face, studying it with a kind of painful tenderness. The flicker ing shadows of the lamp lit it up with an un certain, wavering glow, and to Lewis it was an emblem of the varying emotions, flashing out and irradiating it like a meteor, then fading as quickly, leaving a cloud of unrest upon the clear mirror—his face. What a host of warring ele ments there was in his character! All good, yet so sadly unbecalmed, like the vessel which rides upon the rocking waves, following a tem pest, and dares not cast her anchor until that mighty voice, thundering ever mid the breakers, has spoken “ Peace be still!” Now the time had come when the voice of guiding affection, could not follow his pathway as it had ever done. He must battle with self amidst the rocking waves of life—lift his own implonngs to the ear that ever hoars—distin guish the “ Peace, be still ” amidst the sounding surf of sinful passion. Then Lewis thought of Aliene, and of how lit tle she knew of the spirit of him she loved, of how poorly fitted she was to meet his changeful moods to bear with his restlessness, to temper, to ennoble him, for the storm tossed wave was but another emblem of her impulsive, proud self. Ilad Charlie forgotten Saturday night and its revealings? Lewis wondered, and had ho been less tender of the brother’s feelings, he would have asked the question to-night. But what would it avail? He knew them both when they were blind to their own natures, and he read another in its depth, its purity, its rare strength and loveliness as Charlie did not—but could he wish it were otherwise ? Charlie drew such a loud, deep inspiration as he turned towards Lewis, that it dispelled his reflections. “ I must go, Lewis.” “ Are you' strong enough to venture soon ?” “ Pooh! yes—that was a trifle—beneficial, per haps,—but this strange affair. I’m completely mystified, and shall be uncomfortable until it is explained. Yes I will go, and I grow impatient to be off. The train leaves early.” Instantaneously a shadow came over his face, and lie looked at Lewis, exclaiming with eloquent simplicity: “ Aliene!” Lewis echoed with Ins usual quiet firmness: “You can write your actions, and leave ex planations with me. It is better, thus believe me, ‘ part at once, All farewells should be sudden, Else they make an eternity of momento.’ ” Charlie grew extremely wretched. Lewis might have smiled, but to-night there was a mighty torrent rushing through his heart, and sweeping away with it all mirth. He only laid his hand affectionately on his brother’s shoulder, and leaned upon him as he had done through life, in away so mutely expressive of depen pence, saying softly : “ Brother, the study will be very lonely when you are gone.” Charlie flung an arm impulsively around him, looked tenderly into his face, and his wretched ness gave way to nobler emotions. Lewis had accomplished his purpose. CHAPTER V. “ Thou sow’st and plantest, but no fruit muat ace, For death alas 1 is reaping thee.” Travel-worn and excited, Charlie reached his destination, after a few days passed in the confused tumult of transition from car to boat, from boat to omnibus ; jostling with rude hu manity, from omnibus to crowded, noisy hotels. In such a one he found himself at last, in the heart of city, and it would have been far wiser, and less fatal to his future, had he taken rest then. His system, scarcely recovered from the shock it had received, was only borne up from complete exhaustion, by the force of mental stimulus. Full of the impatience and zeal which had ever led him to heedless lengths, and without the controlling presence of Lewis, ho determined that the mystery should be ex plained at once. In this state, to have slept would have been impossible, and a few more turns in on omnibus, found him in front of the grand banking establishment of "Withers A Co. He was ushered into the private reception room, and upon giving his name, was not allowed to remain long alone, restlessly glancing around 1 the luxurious vacant apartment. A little man with twinkling grey eyes, dubious colored whiskers, nearly concealing his thin face, and a wig which showed a fringe of grey hair peeping out from underneath it in the part behind, and who was continually rolling his hands together over and over —came in, and closing the door very carefully behind him, he ceased the roll ing, long enough to offer a hand very graciously to Charlie, saying with a strange mixture of pomposity and affability— “ Mr. Charles Grey! To whom I have had occasion to address a letter appertaining to bus iness of import- “ Mr. Withers, I presume!” rejoined Charlie, rising to receive the patronizing hand, and both bowed so nearly together, and Mr. Wither’s movement was bo extremely aspiring, that his head camo in slight contact with the nose of Charlie, who was by a head the taller. “Be seated !”; resumed Mr. Withers, quite unconscious of |lie cause of an irrepressible smile lurking around Charlie’s mouth. He seat ed himself in a high chair which stood before an open desk, and took up a pen instinctively. “Ihope you are enjoying good health sir.”— He relinquished the pen and began rolling again. “ I am well, thank you sir,” Charlie answered, looking very sick and impatient. “ That is, I lam at present. Your letter reached me when I was suffering from a slight accident, and my brother withheld it until the time, when being able to travel, I came on directly. You will probably find some excuse, sir, for the great im patience I feel to lean the object of my jour ney!” “ Certainly, certainly ! It is not surprising, or at at all culpable, that you should feel a con siderable degree of inpatient and curious inter est. I feel if to a great degree, myself, for this is, I assure you, quite a singular and interesting case; I assure you it i■ 1” Charlie sat eagerly attentive, but Mr. With ers kept his hands rolli ig, in polite expectancy for a response. Charlh prompted again— “ You were about toexplain—” “ Ah, yes!” Mr. Wi hers cried, settling him self in his chair, and to his wig, both at the same time. “ This is * curious business. You are a native of the Sotth, I think —” “ Yes, sir.” “ You are the younger brother, eh ?” “ I am the older; w> are orphans, and com prise the surviving pofions of our family,” re plied Charlie, hoping by the revelation to hasten matters. “ Younger brother, a little unfortunate —Ah!” continued his tormento-, getting into a compas sionate mood. Charlie’s brow grew hot, and he answered, haughtily: “ I see that you aro not inquiring into our private affairs, from the fact of your ignorance of them. You will pleise refrain from touching upon subjects which are sacred, and certainly irrevelant to the business m question." Mr. Withers grew very pompous, and more haughty than Charlie hal supposed possible, but he responded in unruffled politeness— “ You may find yourself mistaken, in your last assertion ; but we nay as well proceed to the business. I presume the necessary infor mation, I shall have no difficulty in our future dealings to obtain ?” Charlie bowed, and eyed eagerly some papers which Mr. Withers drew from his desk, holding them very tightly, as if afraid of their being seized by force, whilst l.e delivered himself of this speech: “ I commit into your hands this paper, which you had best peruse at your room, as it is well to inform you now, that I am not at liberty to reveal anything more than you will learn there in. I would only add, in a friendly spirit of caution, that it would be well to cultivate a manly resistance of the impatience and curiosi ty which will certainly assail you after perusing all you are allowed to learn of this matter.— The utter vanity and restlessness of the feeling should induce you to curb it. I wish you good morning sir, presuming our separation will bo transient, and other duties await mo.” Mr. Withers went out, bowing and rolling his hands. Charlie was not long in retracing his way to the hotel, and to his room; then, as night had come on, he lit the gas, and proceeded forthwith to the reading of the mysterious manuscript. On a sheet of plain foolscap, the following singular revelation was addressed to himself. It was headed very carefully, with statements proving his identity with the Charles Grey, Jr., to whom the writer addressed himself. Over the signature and date, a paper was pasted, con cealing them entirely, with the injunction written below, that it wa s not to be removed until a period which would be indicated in the communication. The writing was in uncertain, eccentric char acters, now bold and clear, then wavering and feeble, as if the hand grew tremulous, when there were, not cursing and bitterness, arming the pen with passion’s might. It began boldly: “ I address him whom I have chosen to be my heir. Read, young man, as if the dead were given voice, and a restless tenant of a tomb stood before thee, and school thy heart and mind to a so lemnity as awful as if the thunder of the Al mighty's accents were thrilling in your ear. Mr. Withers, a man of honor, and whom you will have met before this meets your eye, has in his possession the deeds which will substantiate your heirship to the gold which I have hoarded through a lifetime. You will be master of im mense wealth, if you submit to the conditions I shall name here, cowering, writhing, as I am, beneath the frowns of an outraged God, let me swear to thee, as thou fulfillest not my condi tions, as thou swervest one iota from their limits, . not only wilt thou forfeit the heirship, but the gold lying useless and unemployed, shall rise up, so many avenging demons, haunting thy path way, adding horror to thy dreams, and shriek ing in thy ears the curses of a soul, plunged in the horrors of eternal hell, shall thus wreak its remorseless revenge on thee. Yes ! listen; this is no weak phantom of the brain of an old dotard, but the living wailing of a deathless soul, that from that place of gnashing agony, shall dog thy pathway on earth with eternal cur ses /” The writing here grew bold and violent. The sweat drops stood out on Charlie’s brow, and a horrible presence seemed to make the air heavy and rushing, as if stirred by the wings of de mons. Again the tracings subsided into a trem ulous waver— “ Thou shalt reveal this matter to none —not even to thy brother, thy twin soul; neither will it avail thee to question any one concerning it—do as I bid thee, and happiness shall crown thy manhood, and peace surround thy dying pillow— refuse, and it shall prove as unblest as mine I I bid thee seek among the daughters of earth a helpmeet. Choose her for her humility and truth, prove her beyond a doubt to boa Christian—an earnest, working Christian; bold in her faith, yet modest in all else ; ono who loves thee, and yet far beyond that love, loves the laboring in her Father’s vineyard—to whom thy love will be a far lesser boon, than the smiles of the Saviour with whom she walks day by day—and who will prefer for thee thy salva tion, above all earthly treasures. When thou hast found such a one, and proved her to be all these, ask of her ‘How wealth can be best used in the service of God ?’ If she shall an swer after this wise— 1 Those of God’s children to whom He giveth riches, He giveth also the knowledge and the ways to use them in His ser vice’—if she shall auswer thee thus, (and be ware of any other reply) take her to thy heart, marry her, and then, after ye are one, and ready to become faithful stewards, thou canst learn whose gold will fill thy coffers, and who thus will send it abroad among the suffering children of earth. She will teach them how, for she is one of God’s children. Young man hearken to me: I know her ; I have seen her, who liveth for thee ; who will make the gold rest lightly in thy purse ; not from expenditure, but from Peace! Peace which I have not! My conditions are named. I-have warned thee how thou disregardest them. Dare not cheat thyself with the belief that my spirit hath no power to watch thee and detect thy short comings. There are others whom thou dreamest not, can follow thee, who can revenge my spirit upon thee, if thou failest— thine own soul will bear witness against thee, if thou art not TRUE. Listen to the dying words of a wretched Miser! I have lived to find my hoardings rise up around me, scorching my heart, as with the fires of hell! Sleep is murdered, food I loathe, disease is consuming me, but the plague spot within, more terrible than the ‘ Black Death’ is remorse. God gave me plenty. He showered blessings around me ; blessed my labors a thousand fold, but my own evil nature tempted mo, and I yield ed. i kept the talent ‘ hid in the earth.’ No man guessed of my riches. I forgot that the Almighty is Omnipotent, and that my safes and vile screens kept not His eye out. His just retribution has begun; a wretch upon the earth, lost to Hope ; sinking, unloved, into that grave, where in place of rest, I hear even now the awful tones of tkat voice which shall thunder in my ears : ‘ Cast ye the unprof itable servant into outer darkness ; there shall be w’eeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ” , —then the last words were traced feebly as though the hand was already stiffening in the death grasp— “ Thou canst redeem the lost treasure, the unemployed riches. Take them, be a cheerful, trusting steward, and when thy feet shall land on the shores of Jordan, the just God shall meet thee with the soul-cheering words— 1 Well dono thou good and faithful servant —enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ ” CHAPTER vi. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard, Than the substance of ten thousand soldiers ” Charlie read and re-read in such a whirl of excited feeling, that to think rationally would have been an impossibility. He thrust the pa per in his pocket, when he had scrutinized each of the strange characters, at least a dozen times over, and began walking about the room in a kind of wild way, vainly endeavoring to restore order to the chaos within him. “ This will not do,” he cried, at length, when the throbbing and piercing pain in his temples became more violent. He recollected that he had brought with him some Turkish smoking tobacco, strongly impregnated with opium, which he had found once or twice to exert a very soothing influence on his volcanic nerves. Never had they been more in a state bordering on an eruption than at that moment. He hastily filled hls long German pipe with the narcotized weed, and drew a large arm-chair in front of a window, so that the air came fluttering in through the blinds, and fanned his hot temples, nc sank wearily into the luxurious seat, and soon wreaths of white smoke went curling away on the flut tering air, scattering into many a fragmentary wave before they were lost, now amid his rich brown, tumbled hair, or in the space beyond! In a little while, a delicious sense of rest stole over his weary body, and tranquillized his too active brain sufficiently for him to think. And what his first definite thought ? “My beautiful Aliene! will she bear the test of so many exalted requisitions ?” He hugged a fond hope to ' his breast, and dreamed it was that which brought peace, for how could cool judgment sit in state, where Love was so ardent ? He was bewildered; the helmless bark of his mind tossed about in' this strange gale of fortune. It was no unalluring prospect, to a youth, just starting in life, that of being the owner of great riches, and Charlie, though he had never wasted a moment in a weak desire for affluence, was human, and felt that wealth was a desirable good. Air-castles began to mount rapidly in his brain. He would take Lewis to Europe, carry out a long-nursed hope of putting him in the way of restoration to health, and perhaps, with the best aid, his de formity might be ameliorated I Ah! he would travel himself—glorious prospect! . How the air-castles went tumbling down, as the condi tions flashed upon his remembrance, and he started in terror at the thought of having in fringed upon them, even in air-castle building! Was he not in prospective forming plans of self gratification, unmindful of a higher end ? He was unfitted for the trust, he felt it, and again fell to bewildering over the conditions. His restless eyes closed, he went off into a slumber, scarcely less exhausted with giants of thought, that tramped heavily through his brain, leaving burning tracks behind them, than his waking had been. Ho was with Aliene once more, her hand lay confidingly in his, and the light of her glorious eyes sinning upon him. All was delicious peace for a while, and that journey with its strange revealings, was but a night-mare. But the riches, the gold, was his in his dream, though the miser, with his conditions, were for gotten. He had built upon transatlantic lands, on the border of a beautiful lake, a palace, such as Claude Melnotte pictured for the enraptured Pauline; Aliene was to perfect every allurement, by her presence, her love and beauty! He was to surprise her with the gorgeous loveliness of their home, for his wealth had been his own se cret. They were married. He carried her to the palace, as if it had been another’s. He drank in the rapture of her ad miration ; then as he turned to clasp hor in an embrace, and exclaimed, “It is thine—all thine!”—a horrible void screamed in his ear— “ Hast thou dared so soon, falso-hearted wretch, thus to mock my warnings ? My curse is upon thee —thee and thy ill-gotten wife! Thy bridal shall end in realms of darkness ” A mighty flapping of wings stirred the air, which grew dense and black witli sulphurous vapors. He saw a pair of mighty claws seize upon the form of his beloved, and bear her struggling away. Demoniac voices yelled deri sion at his impotent cries. He saw the monster bear her into the palace, which was ono crack ling, hissing mass of flame. He saw her out stretched arms, and glance of appealing agony, through the lurid glare—those beautiful eyes, which had never beamed upon him, but in love. Spirits of darkness could not hold him—love was mighty in its holiness, and must triumph over their lawless power—he grew strong, dashed forward, plunged into the dames, and— awoke! He sprang to his feet, nearly suffoca ting, for a dense cloud of smoke was in reality, blinding him, and flames scorching him in living intensity. The covering of the chair in which he lay dreaming was in a light blaze, and the flames were fast communicating to the curtains. Dizzy and confused, yet roused to prompt action, he seized a rug which was close to his feet, and smothered the flames by a great exertion. A spark from his pipe had probably fallen, and the cloth had slowly ignited In the first glow of gratitude for his self-preservation, he was un conscious that one of his hands was badly burnt. The pain soon grew excessive, but too weary to call assistance, he bound it up care lessly, and, in desperation, again used an opiate, and at last fell into a heav y rest. A feverish prostration followed upon this slumber, in which he found it almost a relief to feel incapable of action. For more than a week, he lay languid and ill, and in an apathy from which little Mr. Withers labored in vain to arouse him. His stated visits were paid, a due number of friendly inquiries were made, and both were received with indifference. Charlie was indeed alone. One afternoon, a servant brought to his bed side a note, and there was something so tasteful in its appearance, that the apathetic faculties of the young man were aroused as he examined it. He opened the perfumed envelope, aud as he read the delicate characters inscribed upon a card, like lightning the fires came back into his heavy eyes, and energy into his weary body. Aliene was in the city, with his aristocratic aunt, who had penned the card of invitation. As Charlie rushed down the stairs, he nearly upset Mr. Withers, who was ascending in the discharge of his daily duty. Charlie, without appearing to observe him, brushed by without a word. Mr. Withers settled his discomposed wig, but attempted in vain to smooth the ruffled condition of his feelings. “A most singular youth,” he muttered; “ most singular. Rather a wouderful selection, I should say the miser made, in the disposal of a fortune. There are others, less inclined to in sanity, who might have made a better use of it, I imagine.” The unconscious object of these reflections) made his way rapidly towards the residence of Aliene’s aunt, where a liveried servant ushered him into a luxurious apartment. Charlie was in a disordered dress, his face so pale and haggard, and his eyes stared so wildly, that the servant seemed to hesitate about admitting him. But Aliene was awaiting—he heard the rustle of rich garments, as his foot pressed the soft Wilton carpet, and soon a pair of bewildered, yet beau tifully loving eyes gaxed into his. For a time, he forgot the interval of their sep aration, and yielded himself to the sweet influ ences of her love and presence. She thought him strangely silent in regard to the cause of his sudden departure and abrupt leave-taking, and said, at length, reproachfully: “ You do not think me worthy of your confi dence.” He answered her only by an enquiring smile. “ You must know,” she continued, “that you are quite a lion in rumor. Not only in our own quiet Georgian home, but in this city, you are the theme of conversation.” “And what do they say of me?” asked he, whilst the remembrance of his strange secret re turned like a night-mare upon his spirits. Aliene did not reply, and he saw by the deepening color on her face, that some womanly instinct chained her tongue. He broke the silence, in a voice so changed, that Aliene recoiled. “A great calamity has befallen me; lam very wretched, Aliene.” “Calamity!” she exclaimed, “you are the first person I ever heard terra the reception of a leg acy, a calamity 1 What do you mean?” Charlie began walking the floor rapidly, in the abandonment to miserable reflections. He could not unfold his burthen, for well ho remembered the strict injunctions to secresy that the manu sript contained; yet he would most gladly, at that moment,have given up all title to the riches, which seemed to bo threatening destruction to his peace, had Le dared to disregard the solemn charge of the miser. Then the condition came in array before lum liko embodied spirits, refus ing to stand aside, and with the abrupt energy which characterized him, he turned towards Aliene and asked: “ Are you a Christian?” He was in solemn earnestness, for he had re ally never questioned himsey in regard to Aliene’s piety. She was awed by his manners, and now no ticed how sick and wretchedly he had looked all the while. A deep foreboding oppressed her heart, and so confused her thoughts, that she answered at random: “ I am going—that is, I think of being con firmed.” “ Confirmed 1” echoed Charlie, as absently as she had spoken: “ Not that, Aliene—are you a disciple of Jesus —do you trust and love your God, more than you do me ?” Aliene burst into tears. “Don’t weep, in mercy,” cried Charlie, as he caressed her passionately, yet pursued his ques tioning to the climax. “ Answer me one more question, and answer from your heart, dearest. Should I become the millionaire the world now believes me to be, and were you my wife, how would you teach me to use my wealth best in the service of God ?” Aliene smiled through her tears, as she looked up with childish trust into his face, and replied: “Why, have charity schools, found orphan asylums, pay the minister, support missionaries, and all that sort of thing, of course.” The knell of hope sounded in Charlie’s heart; his heated imagination discovered demoniac forms pressing in between himself and his be trothed, and breathing curses on their unblest love—everywhere, above and around, and even in Aliene’s love-lit eyes, was the reflection of the miser’s death-struck face and ashy lips, breathing in sepulchral tones, “Beware,Beware.” One embrace, in defiance of demons, and he tore himself away from her without a word, and rushod out as he had come, nor stayed to hear Aliene’s moans, or to see that she sank terrified and half insensible, upon the floor. (to be continued.) Poor and Proud.— A highwayman under took to rob Major Jones. He met Jones in a wood ovor in Jersey. lie asked Jones for his pocket-book. Jones refused to yield. High wayman took Jones by the neck, and undertook to choke him. Jones made fight, and kept it up for half an hour. At the expiration of that timo Jones caved; at the expiration of that time the highwayman commenced rifling his pockets. — The contents amounted to eighteen cents. “Is that all you’ve got?” “Every cent.” “What made you fight so long?” “Didn’t want to be exposed. Bad enough to have only eighteen cents; a great deal worse to have the whole world know it.”