Litchfield enquirer., 1835-08-27

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 ness of herother slaves, she wondered what could be the crime of which so meek and
 unofending creature had been guil,y.-
 One night she felt worse than usual. and having persuaded her sister to retire for a I while, she lay perfectly still, meditating on the pasr, and on the future. that fearful fu: tl tnre. of which she knew little, and which she so much dreaded. Alec. was kneel- ing by her couch, and believing her mis- rtress to be asleep. she prayed in soft voice
 to the God offhe Christians for her recoy- lery. Bercnice listened in still attention she heard to her surprise, the meditation of a being implored. of whose very eaist- Ecnee she was totally ignorant. She saw 1 Alec arise at last. with an expression, oi
 resignation and holy hope in her meekiy
 raised eyes, which slie had never witnessed
 in the yotaries of love. She called the
 trembling girl to her side, and bade her
 quickly explain her sacred faith. Alec hes
 itated--she knew the danger she would in-
 cur for both-and some remains of the fear I of man yet fingered about her heart. But
 she conquered the unworthy feeling. and
 drawing from the folds of her robe, roll
 ot parchment, she read aloud to her atten-
 tive auditress the record of the most sur- prising event in the history of mankind. 4, Many months had passed away. One
 evening the sisters were together in their
 own apartments Veronica stood before a
 mirror. her vest ofsatin, her lower-wreath- ed robe, her zone of brilliants, told that sho was preparing for a festival. At the farther end of the room Berenice was seat ed. She was aErayed in plain white dress and her long hair fell unbraidcd, in lts own rich. luxuriance, about her throat and shoulders. With one hand she fond- |Ieda snowiwllite dove, and ever and anon her dark hair fell oyer the gentle bird, and 1t nestled lovingly within it !: the other rest cd on a parchment which appeared to en-. gross the iiaiden's deepest attention.
 Come now, Berenicc,' said her sister. playfally fixing the wreath of roses, pre- pared forherself, on her sisters brow. :lsy aside for once your melancholy book, and send your dove to his rest, and cnme down with nae to the banquef.' Berenice looked up, ano answered. gently,
 Not so, Veronicas-no 10 night. IL is the anniversary of poor Aice's death; and did she not die for love ofme, watching and waiting when all others sleptl Her inl- age has been with me through inc day: I cannot join lhe banquet will, my heart full If sad memories. Leave me sister ' and Berenlce took of and relurned1he wreath.
 zESr Itstcu---s,sIOr wUsu knowest who will be there this evening. -.
 My father will frown, and Lucius Emilius will sigh when go in alone. Lucius de- parts .to-morrow for the battle and shall he go without one benison from his afian-, ced r sss t ".
 No,' replied her sister. speaking low and ialiering; .you, Veronica, will tell him that wait to see him here before his de- parllTs.' 8tY
 Befenice my sister, bethink you of our fathefs; remember his patrician preju-: dices. Surely this step-'
 t Go dear sister, answered Berenice, !, mildly, yet firmly: for the love that you bear me, do me this errand. would not any other eye should mark the weakness
 l fear to betray at parting with one whom my father has commanded me to love. Tell my father | am unwell---and it is true my
 head and heart ache---go. dearest And Veronica, unconyinced, yet persuaded by
 the tears of her sister, which in truth'were flowing fast, Jeff her alone. .5 Berenice resumed her reading, but not for many minutes: she arose and shut the volume, saying,rs Not thus. not thus, with divided attention, and with wandering tho'ts may presume-t to read this holy record? She placed it within small golden casket, locked it carefully. aud then walked forth into balcony, on which the windows of the apartment opened. The moon had just risen, and shed soft light on the mag lni6cent buildings of the eternal city the cool, thin air swept oyer the brow of the
 maiden, and calmed her agitated thoughts |:
 she had bitter trial before her, for she was about to inflict deep wound on the heart of one whom she loved with all the inno-
 cent fsrvor of girls first affection, and she itrcmbled, as she pictured to herself his sur prise and sorrow. Then Bcrsnice looked up at the quiet of the evening sky. and iho't
 of the time when earth's iRierestsswould be
 over for her: and could she thus look, and
 thus think, and still hesitale2 Ah, no!
 When she heard the step of Lucius drawing nigh, she plucked single flower from q 1creeping plant tiIatoyershaded the balcony,
 and keeping it in her hand as token, to
 recall her better resolutions, she advanced
 to meet him. ..a It was not for this sent for you hitller,
 she said, in reply to his passionate express- :... ..f .ar.at ssA lnxA sxnss ere .. ID 1r.x..