The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-17


ofsecret love is over; my stolen watchings,
so dear, though hopeless, are at an end;
YOU will call your fathers guards, and l
shall die"
''No, no-you shall not die-not If Ada
can save you; will not call them, no-I
dread their coming"
"Then you forgive my boldness!"
"Yes-only begone--save yourself"
"Shall we meet again?"
"Never!"
"Then | will stay and die; better to die
here, at your command, in your presence,
than to go hence and linger out life of
hopeless love, never beholding you again"
Poor Ada had never been addressed
before in loves own language Her hand
had been sought by princes and mobiles,
who secure in her fathers sanction, had
addressed her in terms of admiration, but
whose looks and accents were cold and
spiritless, when compared with the ardor
of the youthful lover who kneels before
her.
"For my sake, if not for your own, CO."
she cried.
"Then we meet again?'
"Yes. only leave me now; you know
not half your peril. Tomorrow is the an
nual festival in honor of Vishnu, shall
be there, and will contrive to speak to
you-harkf'
She pointed to the orange trees. A
footstep was heard at distance. The
Moor grasped her hand, pressed it to his
lips, and was lost among the orange BIOS
SONS Just as the chief officer of the rajah
entered to inform Ada that her father de-
sired her presence. She cast one anxious
glance round her, breathed more freely
when she found her lover lay unsuspected
in his fragrant ambush, and followed by
her attendant, returned to her palace
There was no festival in Hindoston so
splendid as the celebrated annual festival
in honor of Vishnu, in the province over
which the rajah governed. The gardens
on the banks of the Sumna were splendid
ly decorated for the occasion, and at noon
were filled by crowds of persons, all eager
in their various situations, either to see or
be seen; to pay due reference to the Wish
uu, OF 10 De uuly TeVereuCeu.
Kettles-drums sounded, golden armour
glistened. downy feathers waved in costly
turbans; cavaliers bearing silver battle
axes, rode proudly on their milk white
steeds, and princely ladies borne in gilt
tering palankeens on the backs of ele-
plants.
Ada was there, pale and sad; her stol-
en-, mysterious interview with her unknown
lover, was so recent, so unexpected, so
to end happily, that she lay on
her rose-colored cushions, famed by her
favorite slave, without taking the trouble to
draw aside the amber curtains Of her lit
ter, to look upon the festivities which sur
her.
Towards evening the gardens were il
Eliminated with thousands of many-colored |
lamps; she raised herself and looked
around her, but glancing over bright vis-
las and radiant bowers, her eye rested on
a wide spreading tree. beneath whose ov-
branches a comparatively
lark space remained. She there saw the
orm of her unknown lover; he was lean
ng against the tree, with his eyes fixed
lpon her; she told her slave, with assum-
ID levity, that she had vowed to gather a
cluster of the blossoms of that tree, alone
o gather them, and desiring her to await
Ter return, she fastened beneath the can
~ formed by its boughs.
Selim was, indeed, there.
"Speak not" she earnestly whispered,
Il must not stay for an instant-I dare not
isten to you--but mark my words, and if {
vou love me, obey me. do not doubt {
,our love, do not doubt your constancy, ,
'ut | shall appear to doubt both when you
ear my request"
"Speak, lady, | will obey you," said the
Moor. :
&C.," whispered Ada, "get the swittest {
f Arabian steeds, ride him across yon i
lain three times. in every day; in the t
norning, at noon, and in the evening; and I
very time you ride him, swim the Jumna
n his back" II
SIS that ala" said Selim; sit shall be
one"
sit is ALL" replied Ada; ''to prove your
I'VE you will readily do it; but to prove
our constancy, or rather ensure our safe I
7, it must be done three times every day |
n the space of one year."
"a year!"
"Yes; and at the expiration of the year, 8
this festival, on this very day, if neither !
ourage nor constancy has been wanting, 9
leet me again on this spot. can wait J
r no reply-bless you, bless you," v
Ada, with few leaves of the tree in her h
hand, hastened back TO her pa. e
nkeen, and Selim, again alone, gazed il
ON his shadowy hiding place on the gay b
stival, in which his eyes beheld one form c
one. How brief seems the retrospect of Il
le year of happiness! How sad--how +,
terminable seems the same space Of time g
anticipation, when we know at its close "
me long-looked for bliss will be obtain v