The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1843-10-06

loved me, | feared that Anime, the wo-
man, would forget her early and humble
friend if not scorn him
4 never have, and never shall cease
10 think Of you with gratitude and love
But why did you not come as You pro-
missed ! Many weary days watched for
you. The caresses Of Lady EIanor
were, at those times, nothing to me-
AT the time | promised TO be here, |
was in prison. When | returned to
Spain, which did for the sake of secur-
ing some property left there, your
grandfather sought me out, and charged
me with having secrcted you, aud com.
manded 10 inform him where you might
be found. He had formerly refused to re-
cciye you when applied to by your mo-
ther, and now soon found he was anxi-
Gus to obtain you only to bury you in
a convent, or TO get rid of you by still
6aser means, that he might obtain posses
sion Of a large estate which fell 10 your
father. | refused to give him the infor-
nation he desired, which SO inccnsed
him, that he informed against me, and
procured my Imprisonment for having
dared TO enter the kingdom after my peo-
pie were banshed. | remained in PRISON
TIL his deceasc, which happened only a
few months since, when your uncle, Don
Diego D'Alvarez, procured my release,
on condition that would conduct him to
the place of your abode, he having form
ed a plan of uniting you to your cousin,
Philip, his only son, and thus secure the
valuable estate which you inherit from
your father
That was my uncle, then, whom YOU
accompanied hithcr.'
Yes
4 can never marry his SON. said she,
as her thoughts turned to the young and
handsome stranger who arrived in compa-
ny with the baron.
'Fhat you shall not he replied, 'if
when you come 10 see him you do not
like him-not if there be any wit in this
head, or strength in these arms. Yet
this much will | say for him, he is a
handsome undetermined youth and every
way fitted to win the heart of fair mai
dem
anime, who soon after her interview
with Rodoyan, retired to her own apart
mcnt, saw nothing more that evening, Of
the young stranger, nor did she learn any
thing concerning bin, except that her
waiting woman informed her that his
name was Ferdinand. A variety of new
and agitating emotions had sprung up in
her bosom. Though past midnight, she
had not yet slept. The moon was at
It's full, and the winds were hushcd,-
She rose, and went to the window. The
river, which, when swollen with the au-
tumn rains, was SO wild and turbulent,
now glldcd beneath with a soft and pleas
ant murmur. Suddenly the dash of oars
arrested her attention, and looking in the
direction whence the sound proceeded,
she behcld a small boat containing two
persons. She had no time to note the
appearance, before the boat entered the
deep shadow of the currents, thrown quite
across the river. In a few minutes a
tenor voice, deep, clear, aud musical, ac-
companied by the notes Of harp, came
floating upwards singing one of those
provincial songs by which the youthful
knight was accustomed TO reveal his pas
sion to lis Lady Love. She could not
for a moment doubt that Ferdinand was
the Minstrel for no person belonging to
the castle or its vicinity, Lad SO rich and
charming voice. Still less could she
doubt that she was the person addressed,
Tor the name of Anime joined with the
most passionate epthets, frequently oc-
cured during the song,-As strain after
strain, each sweetcr than the formcr,
arose to her ear, the thought Of what Ro.
doyan had told her respecting her cousin
Philip, grew more and more painful, and
by the time the musician closed his first
song, she had come to a firm resolution
to reject his suit, however strenuously ur.
gcd by his father in his behalf. At the
close Of the second song more passionate
and tender than the first, she again heard
the oars dip into the water, and left the
window, lest her white night dress should
be dIscerned through the gloom, when il
emerged f.om the shadow of the building.
The music appeared to have a soothing
effect upon her mind, for when she again
sought her pillow, she soon fell into a
deep and refreshing sleep. In the morn
ing when she descended to breakfast, heI
heart huttered, aud her cheeks glowed at
the idea of meeting the midnight minstrel,
but he did not make his appearance. -
Her uncle was present, and treated her
uttI urnat piI,h,l,,,t ,nJ n,1,tnn..s