The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-20

Withdrawn from the horse; and he. feeling the
reins relax, Immediately started at full speed,
| should have been dashed TO pieces, had no;
Mannerstedt, quicker than lightning, seized the
horse by the bride, and fortunately succeeded
IN holding him until / sprang out. However,
he was unable to master the animal apv longer
with a violent effort, the horse threw Manner,
stedt to the ground with such force that he was
struck senseless, and the Infatuated animal con-
tlnued his mad career, never stopping until he
mad dashed the vehicle against the last corner
mouse at the end OF the street, breaking it into
fragments, and so entangling himself in the har-
ness that he was obliged to stand still. People
ran towards him from all directions, and every.
thing was soon quiet again, except my heart
tor had seen Mannerstedt carried away, as if
llfeless. How l myself got home, l scarcely
knew; but deeply agitated and excited, which
as mamma said, after the fright, was quite
natural.
81 sat upon sofa, and never ventured to ask
a question regarding him of whom nv thoughts
were full, when, oh, what Joy thrilled through
my whole being! papa entered, and ManneS.
stedt with him. The most eloquent smile WITS
upon his lips, as, bowling deeply, he assured ME
he had not received the slightest injury, merely
being stunned by the fall. l said nothing, for
emotion deprived me Of the power of utterancs:
he, however, received look of heartfelt graft
tude, and appeared fully satisfied
My father said that, having come out into
the street where the accident occurred, to see
after the remains of his handsome chaise. he
had learned that his daughter would have been
killed, or sadly injured, had it not been for the
Intervention of Mannerstedt.
"'Thanlful for the heroism of the Young man.
| was anxious to see how he was, also-there
fore, | climbed these terrible steep stairs, and
had the extreme satisfaction of finding Mr..
Mannerstedt fully restored to recollection, and
out of all danger. Thinking that Rosa might
have recognises her deliverer, and might like,
wise be anxious for his safety, i brought hiE
with me, to pass the rest of the day, in order
that my daughter, as well as my wife and M
sell, might express our gratitude for what le
had done for u.s. :,
Papa believed that this speech amply -,
warded the young man, and therefore departf q
to his counting house as quietly as if there he |
never been the least thought of danger. Oh!
what calm, beautiful day we all spent /
gether perhaps the only one of pure, unmil,-
gled happiness, which my life may know As
Mannerstedt arose to depart, papa said
know that Mr.. Mannerstedt's Sunda, IS
are disengaged; if it will give him pleasure,
my home and table are open to him on oil
holydays.'
The young man bowed, stammered some
thing about gratitude, and took his leave"
Here we will break off reading, and again
listen to Rosa. -.
sob, Mannerstedt, noble, high-souled as thou
art, why must our lives be so far apart? They
can never NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
She sighed deeply, pressed her hands upon
her fearful eyes, and gave free vent to the feel
ings which lay hidden in the Utmost depths of
her heart.
At length she gathered up the pictures, stir
red up the fire in the stove, and was just upon
the point of making a little bonfire of them,
when an impulse, mightier even than duty It.
self, restrained her hand.
Wherefore" murmured she, "should &C.
prive myself of this one Joy? Why, surely, it-is
no sin to possess them. Have not already For
months, known how to control each look, each
word, and every action? Have l not beheld
those eyes fixed upon me, with looks of mex
pressible devotion? and have not restrained
myself so far as to show myself only friendly,
calm, and Indifferent, when it was necessary
so to do? And so it shall be still. Should my
father have the least suspicion that | even
cared for Mannerstedt, he would be driven from
the house at once, and thus be entirely deprived
of the little income which he earns here daily.
| Have | not made the most difficult but neces-
sary sacrifice, which could rescue US both from
folly, when, agreeably to my parents wishes, |
engaged myself to Ferdinand2 Now l am his
bride-soon to be his wife-and, with Gods as
sistance will find in my own soul the strength
faithfully to discharge the duties | have talen
upon me-"
! While the thoughts and feelings we have IN
deavored to describe were passing in the mad
of Rosa, she had rolled the paintings up agsoo,
and consigned them to the portfolio. A cain,
sweet peace reposed in her eyes, as she sad,
aloud
eyes, can retain them, without feeling of
self-reproach; they are but few kindly sh-
beams, rescued from my bygone existence, W u
which | may at times rejoice my eyes,"
! When she had closed the portfolio, and pla( ID
it in the drawer, she again opened her DO k.
Its sacred words were no longer lifeless char c.
tiers to her heart, as she read the voice of peace
! speaking in soft and gentle accents; and, W th
a fervent prayer for him whose name her is
but slightly whispered, the lovely child lay do IN
to rest, and soon the soothing influence ofslfsp
closed her beauteous eyes.