Eastern times., 1851-05-01
went, SO were the thoughts Of Frank Pickering

went, SO were the thoughts of Frank Pickering
and irresolute.
Ferhaps you saw gate open on your road,
said Amy, in the slightest petulant tome
And maybe there was some body waiting by
n-so you thought you would stop just little
while, as it wouldn't be any harm
You wrong me, Amy replied the youth
quickly, with flushed cheek your suspi-
clons are unjust, as they are heart
Hearlless he was going TO say, but his COM
Panlon looked up so meekly, as if she repented
her thoughtlessness, and the tears came trick
ling so fast through her dark, long lashes that
In his own heart he could not finish the word
Reason and thought asserted their empire,
and the forgiveness was mutual.
Il will no more endeavor to unravel the
mystery that hangs around thy conduct, but
trust to thy own discretion and valor for ,hy
safety said Amy, as if nothing had occurred
to mar the sunny current Of her pure feelings
In that assurance thou cans't rest happy,
replied Frank, 'and Heaven grant that the
time may speedily arrive, when every act of
mine shall be laid before thee, and ask for
judgment. 1t is no mean enterprise that nv
comrades engage in, and it behooves them, as
well for the safety Of themselves. as their cause
that they preserve the utmost secrecy. If pos
slble, will return on tomorrow's eve-but as
the moment when we shall be called TO our
duty is uncertain, the engagement is not posi-
tivei'
you will remain tonight?
'No-that is impossible. Nv leave of alb.
sence extends 10 hui three short hours, and
it were imprudeni to overstay them
Slowly advancing up the smoothly gravel>
ed avenue, overshadowed by The tall trees
whose extended limbs formed a complete
canopy of leaves over them, they entered the
cottage.
Amy Walters and the young Frank Nor
ton, had, "a The phrase goes, been children
together The attachment formed by con-
srant association in early life. suffered no di
mnlsIirnent as years came over them, and
The village gussips had said a thousand times
that they were sure 10 come together. Both
were the children of par.ns who had been
among the first settlers of the new colonies
but Franks parents had died while he was
yet in his infancy, and he had ever been
guided by his own will, and acted from his
own judgment. There was but one tie in the
wide world, and to thai he clung with all the
ardent fondness of a first affection IL is
needless TO say that tins tie was concentrate
ed in Amy, the only object, besides his coun-
try, that made life sweet-and the attach
ment lost none of its sincerity in the amiable
girl. When the blast Of war echoed DER the
land, Frank was among the foremost to an.
swer its sumrnons--and numbering himself
as one of that little band whose fame will
stand while freedoms banner has resting
place-he gave his heart and hand to his
suffering country, under The bright pinions
of the immortal Marion.
Two short hours had taken their echoless
flight, and again the lovers stood beside the
roadside gate. II was the moment of part
ing-a few whispered words of affection to
cheer The sad heart Of Amy, and Frank was
gone.
God be with thee = was borne upon the
breeze, as the fair girl stood gazing after the
relrealing form of The departed, until his in.
distinct figure became lost in the mazes oil
the deep forest, when, with long drawn
sigh, she relraced her way back to the cot.
tage.
1t was midnight. The inmates of the
white cottage had long retired, and a solemn
stiffness held absolute reign A dense dark.
ness was fast gathering over the earth, fol
the night-queen had gone down behind the
hills, and huge masses of dark clouds came
up from the south, and creeping over the
starry face OF heaven, hid the gemmed night
watchers in their black pail. The heavy
boughs of The oaks began to swing to and
fro as The rising wind swept through then
with slirll whistle-aud the quiet waters
of The little stream down at the foot of the
garden began 10 lash its fiowery banks, aud
dash the foamy JET up the margin path. A.
short intervals large drops came dropping
from the misty chalices, and lingering Oh the
| light stemmed nighI-h flower, bent the trai
blossoms TO the moistened grouad. Ii is a
strange but thrilling music, when, ia the
stiffness Of midnight, the large rain-drop.
come pattering down upon the giant oaks
| failing from leaf to leaf, with a sweet, heart.
stirring echo. The low mutterings Of The
distant thunder cloud became louder as the
gale increased. and the vivid lightning dared
iortl, with startling briIiancy. Suddenly the
watery mass came dashing TO the earth, raj
Iling among tue leaiv branches, an,l drench.
ing the tiny flowerets ii they fell from their
slight stems, and covered ile green sward
with their rich, fragrant blossoms. And
then The wind lulled, aud the black clouds
parted, as they foated swiftly on, leaving nc
traces of The sudden storm, save in the
freshened earth and the expansion of the
closed blossoms, showering their perfumes
on the night air.
As the hidden stars came creeping forth
again, the muffied forms OF two men issued
from the wood at the foot Of the long lane.
Large dark coaks completely enveloped
them save the upper portion oil the face, upon
which was Iiaced hall mask, running up
under low slouched hat, so that the dis