Eastern times., 1851-05-01

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tender Offices
Alas! sweet Amy, it is to thyself the warn
ing comes, loud and unheeded. How strange.
that In the fiowings of the human passions
through the labyrinth Of the heart there is but
one connecting link-love Reason, thought
and action sink into nothingness at the waving
OF the mighty sceptre, thou monster passion -
The maiden dreams Of danger, and straight the
object of solitude is love. She sees storm clouds
gathering, and seeks to cover him from its fury,
while her own defenceless being is open to its
herceness-and when it bursts, 10 the stricken
one smiles, with ebbing breath, as she gazes on
the unscathed object of her affections
As the evening shadows gathered, after a
long day of all-absorbing, yet indefinite thought
fulness, Amy's troubled mind became lulled
into sweet calm. Her anxious mother had
marked the unaccountable change in the man.
ner of the fair girl, but to all of her question
lngs, the replies of Amy were inconclusive and
evasive. But now she resumed part of her
accustomed cheerfulness, as the night came OIL ;
and the parent imagined she had deceived her
self in the conduct of her child
'Will Frank be here to-night!' asked the
mother as they were seated together at the
tea-table, by an open window, with the per-
fumed air gushing through from the creeping
blossoms.
Frank" suddenly echoed Amy, looking up
with manner so perfectly distracted, that the
parent could not help smiling as she guessed
her thoughts
| Yes, Frank said the mother.
What of HING asked Amy, striving to COL
lect her wandering thoughts.
will he visit us to-night1'
'Oh, yes-yes !! she answered, smile light
ing up her pale face; he said he would-that
is-ii he could. Hark there is some one at
the gate and springing from her seat she flew
out into the garden to meet-her father.
why, Amy said the old man, what's the
matter,'
Il thought it was-was-somebody trying to
get the gate openr and Amy dropped her
eyes to the ground, while shade of disap-
pointment fingered pensively upon her open
brow.
The evening waxed later and later, but the
young patriot came not. Amy sat at the front
window, that looked out upon the garden gate,
her hand clasped tightly to her feverish brow
and the hot tears gnshed from their flooded
channels down over her flushed cheeks. More
than once had her fond mother begged her to
leave the window. for the night air was chilly
and as it swept over her delicate frame, the
fair girl shuddered, unconsciously. She rocked
not of herself in the burning intensity of thought
that possessed her being. A times she would
start wildly from her bending posture, gaze va
cantly out into the open air, and then, with a
sigh that seemed TO rend her heart, she would
sink listessly into her seat.
Again the mother stood beside her.
Amy she said in husky voice, and with
fearful eyes, will you hot retire. Come join
us in prayer, my sweet girl-'tis near mid
night.
Hush 7 replied Amy, in low, earnest
tone, he will come soon now.'
The poor mother fell upon her knees before
the daughter, and clasping both her hands in
hers, implored the sorrowing girl to leave the
damp window, and seek repose in her chamber
But Amy heard her mother CLASSY stare still
remained fixed upon the road, and her icy fin
gers returned net the fond pressure of her moth
er. Motionless statue, the color came and
went from her still features, even at the chirp-
ing of the cricket from without.
'Oh, ANY, sobbed the parent, do not look
so wildly
The daughter slowly turned her head till
her gaze rested upon the kneeling form Of the
mother.
Mother,' she said in changed tone, he
will not come tonight
The parent gently twined her arm around
the neck of her child, and led her unresistingly
to her chamber, where, after long hour Of
watchfulness, she left her in slumber Placing
a small night-lamp in an alcove bv the mantle
she softly stole from the room, and Amy was
alone. The moonbeams streamed through The
latticed window shutters, and sometimes flick
ering on the pale face of the sleeper, showing
that her rest was unquiet.
Scarce had the pale beams Of the night orb
darkened the chamber, when slight rustling
amid the shrubbery that clambered over and
around the window-frame. sounded from with
out, and the shutters slowly unclosed. A hand
was gently thrust through the opening, and
soon after raised the frame with a slight creak-
ing noise. ..t.
Histn cried the person at the window, and
muffled form glided from behind the garden
arbor, and stood at the bottom of the lad.
der. t.
Hist' was echoed from below.
i The room is dark, Captain said Bromly
(for it was he) give me the lantern-softly.'
The Captain took from beneath the folds Of
his cloak darkened lantern, and advancing
part way up the ladder, reached it to his com
panion. Bromly thrust it through the open
window, and gently sliding back small wick
ct, the light streamed in upon the form Of the
sleeping Amy. As the sudden glare fell upon
her face, she moved restessly, flinging one arm
about her head, till it mingled in the glossy
ringlets that flowed over the pillow-and then
all was still again.
She sleeps' whispered Bromly, as he
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