, 1840-11-21

deed no-even should L leel the ilShieSt de-
pression-it would vanish on beholding your
calmness.'
Like the visit of the stranger, that Of the
wild woman was soon forgotten; the maiden
and her lover thought Of nothing but their
own happiness, and waited impatieatiy for
the arrival of that day on which j, was to
be cemented toy the strongest tie OF cyl, ,nce.
On the evening previous to the day which
was fixed for their marriage, Roland and his
betrothed left the cottage to take their usual
rambIe. They pursued their walk with
hearts buoyant with youth and innocence
1t was early summer-every flower was in
bloom, and every path smiled in fertility
They had reached the OUTSKIRTS of the valley,
and entered Il forest-both were happy, for
they anticipated the morrow-love breaihed
in every word, and beamed IN every smile.
yes, Efie.' said Roland, 'to-morrow's sun
will rise snilinglv upon us; it will cheer two
hearts beating with love and happiness-our
hands will be united as our souls have been
from NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. -
Thou never shalt behold. was cried with
a stern voice-a dagger cleaned in the neon
light, and Roland fell bleeding at the feet Of his
betrolhed. Efie did not shrink-her vlion
failed her; and she fell senseless upon the eI-
tended body of her lover. When she re-
covered, she found herself on a rude couch,
in a mean hut, and leaning over, her, she
beheId the same stranger in whose presence
she had trembled, at the feast given in an
ticipation of her bridal. On recognising him.
she said
Stranger. | have no other claim on your
protection or charity, than that which every
weak and defenseless maiden like myself pos
sesses to the generosity of every mani
scarcely know how | have become the in
mate Of this dwelling-l have beheld that
which maddens my brain to think upon-re-
store me, | pray thee, to my parent. my lone
and aged mother-I have grief enough TO con
tend with without the addition OF that which
Il separation from her will create
May replied the stranger, 1T cannot be
|-Effie. dost thou not remember | told thee
was an admirer of flowers. and ever chose
the fairest! | have made choice of thee
watched thv ramblcs. and obtained acon-
pauion for my soIitude-l have 4 rose 10 my
wilderness. which shall bloom
No! nor wildly shrieked the unhappy girl
,-swi;her. wither-it shall wi,her in sight
OF the murderer
Dc Cdlili. iOOIlSil 1Hi. Sdlu tc SlidnSCis
'thy cries are unavaIling; in this lone hut
there is no being to whom thou cast look for
assistance, save myself will cherish thee
~fondly-for | love thee, Ellie Of lnyertaler
sLOrer! cried Efhe. love. thou art n s,ran-
ger to the sacred feelin--a brutal passion
has urged thee to the commission of 4 muir
der-God help me, | know not how TO act in
this extremIty-Once more let me e%ntreat, i'm
plore thee. To restore an only child TO Il wild
owed mother-refuSe me this, | have one
boon more to crave, and it is-death!r
'Restore thee TO thy mother, | will not,
said the sayage-'murder thee, | cannot
nav, Etfie, thou must remain
The unhappy girl was SIlcnt-the savage
seating himself on the couch beside her, at
tempted To console her, hut in vain; she
sprang from the seat. and in the frenzy of the
moment. seized the lamp. which burned on
the table. and rushing To the door, which was
open, applied it To the overhanging straw,
with which the roof was matched. 1t was
the work Of an instant. Before her persecu-
tor had an opportunity of preventing the
act. the roof was in flames-In a few minutes
the hut blazed, and the inhabitants of lnver-
hale, attracted by the light liasted to the spot.
Perceiving their approach, the wretch seized
Effie, who was now too much exhausted to
fly, and ihrusting her into the burning dwell
ing, cried, Perish there, mad girlr and DART
ing into the thicket, escaped the fury Of the
fast collecting rescuers. Efiie's shrieks were
heard, and in a few minutes she was brought
in safety from that hut, and in a short time
restored to her anxious and almost distracted
mother. Released from the murderer OF her
lover, Efio had now time to reflect, and re.
late the dreadful story Of Roland's assassina-
tion-it soon spread over the valley, and ma
ny went in quest of the assassin; but their
search was fruitless;-they likewise looked
for the corpse of Roland, but 1t had been
removed, and there was nc trace by which
they could discover the spot where 1t might
nave been inferred.
The bloom of Efie withered fast, and she
who once had been the l~iveliest lass in lnver-
hale was now the most pensive. The oc-
of that fatal night were ever fresh
in her memory. She never left the cottage
of her mother, who now endeavored to con-
sole the child from whom she had so often
consolation.
c.. - IL I...ol n,o tho nocrr- |