Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-04-02

as they mistook the breeze numbering a.
mong the leaves for the whispers of hu-
man voice, and more than once thew shrunk
back with terror as some houch swayed
by the winds cast IFS shadow across their
path. As they entered the wood, Joanna
drew more closely to her companions side.
who led her to an opening. A man muf.
fled in cloak advanced % meet them. As
he drew near he suffered the folds that
shrouded his face to fall. and at the same
time taking of his cap he revealed the fca-
lures Of the Minstrel. The moonbeams
fell brightly on his high aud noble brow,
round which his dark and waving hair lux
urantly clustered, and the somewhat
naughty expression Of his handsome mouth
was now s0ftcned by one of the most mel
anchoIy and winning of smiles.--As she
listened to his deep musical voice breathing
cioquencc and poetry Of passion, she re-
mcmberod not that he was captive she
forgot even, that could he by any chance
regain his liberty, he might claim crown
she bche!d one Of the most fascinating
and noble Of men, to whom she felt pride
in yielding the whole treasure of her af-
fcctions. The prince raised his eyes to the
sweet blue sky, which seemed spread like
banner of love over the opening where
they stood, which at this hour was AS silent
and appeared as lonely as if in the heart
of deep forest. 1t was the first time for
many, many years, that he had stood in the
open air with none near to guard him, and
ny their presence refund him of his bon
dage. Calmer aGd more reflective thoughts
succeeded the delrium of jov which he
felt at finding that his love was returned.
40 what end" thought he "shoud |
seek TO link the destiny of this lovely girl
with mine, save to make her feel the weight
Of the chains which are daily dragging me
10 the earth!" and he offered to release her
from the promise which he had sought to
obtain with so much ardor
She replied" while my heart is yours,
my promise remains. When take back
the one, you may be assured that you no
longer possess the other"
At this moment, Lady Hester stepped
forward and directed their attention to 6
Light which CLEANED from the Prince.
window 1t was the signal which Sir An,
thony barley had promised to display al
midnight, the hour at which his prisoner
had promised to return. 1t shone with a
calm, unwavering light, and seemed to the
lovers like star, which, though it hovcrs
near the cloud, pours beams of peace and
promise on the tempest-tost mariner. Its
influence may appear strange, but they
parted from each other full of happy
thoughts and buoyed up with hopes, which
10 them, that serene and lonely light geam
ing from the prison room was an emblem
AS Lady Hester and her youthful com
panion were about to emerge from the
wood. man darted across the path, wounc
along by the shore % tire lake, and coucheo
beneath the shelter Of neighborng cop
pice. They stopped, greatly alarmed, fol
they feared that their interview with the
Prince had been discovered They coulo
not proceed without passing directly by
the coppce, and after considerable hcsita
ton they retraced their steps and took The
path by which Prince James had Just made
his egress,
1t proved as they had feared The King
who, as has already been mentioned. sus.
pected that the Minstrel whom he met in
the Queens apartment was his royal pris.
oner, had issued orders that the proceedings
of Sir Anthony barley, his keeper, should
be strictly watched, and early the next NOR
ming Sir Anthony received information
that another keeper was appointed in hi
room.
When the prisoner was informed of tn,
change, he uttered no complaint, he did no
even speak, but he felt that the thoughts
which a few moments before were teemin:
with hopes and anticipation, which, though
vague and half formed, had passed over hi
spirit soothing and most blessed power
must henceforlh be the darker for on
bright and solitary CLEAN Of that sunshine
had fitted across his path.
1t was August Two months had pas
scd away and the country was in mourn
ing for her King. Henry ", "the sta
Of England" was dead. Henry W., be
ing only nine months old, the kingdom wa
placed under the protectorship of his I'm
Gle, the Duke of Bedford, who was like
wise, by the will of his late brother, ap
pointed Regent Of France.
II was delightful evenng-as lovely a
the one in June when Prince James am
Joanna Beaufort, accompanied by Lad,
Hester barley, mot for the first time in thu
wood. Autumn had planted few touche
Of decay on the then fresh foliage ant
spread a somewhat fainter hue over tn,
heavens, but they were no less beautiful
and serene, while star less evanescen
than the light that cleaned from the win
dow, lowering near the crescent moon likt
messenger of love, seemed to regar,
them with look of benignity as they nov
stood on the same spot. The Prince ha,