Southern shield., 1858-03-13

NUMBER A.

Folt IcW NlSlIOlS to tHe OdVe put Stll1 OC- casionally in summer I was liable to inter- ruption. The grotto where sat, was, there fore, fayorite spot with me; for in it was quite secure from molestation, as it was, believe, wholly unknown, even to the guides. On this memorable day had been there but short time, when was reused by the distant murmur of voices, which the reverberati0ns of the rocks brought to me long before 1 could see the lights of the ap- preaching party. l hastened to extinguish my own lamp, for I always carried with ne the means of re-lighting it, and then sat listlessly, wishing no one would ever come there to lnterrupt znvsmeditations. Sud denly heard a voice which cut me to the very heart; its accents were only too we'll known. A moment after, the intruders came in view: there were only some dozen persons, and among them, arm-in-arm, were Mr. Beverleigh and his afianced bride There was a light in his eyes, as he looked at the fair, frail thing beside him, which had never seen there before. The very tone of his voice was softer and sweeter than had ever heard it; and 1 sat peering from my little den, furious as caged tiger, at their mutual endearments. They stood for a few moments little apart from the rest of the group, and his devotion of manner rendered me frantic with jealous rage. They were the last to approach the boat, and he tenderly assisted her in, and was about to follow, when the guide objected, as he thought the little skiff would be over crowd ed. Mir. Beyerleigh stepped back, and stood alone upon the shore. One of the young men offered to wait with him, but 1 could see he thought the suggestion an imputa- tion on his courage, and it was haughtily declined. So the boat slowly glided offand disappeared, with it's gay party and bright lights, under the low, arching rock. He waved his farewell, and then stood looking about him, with vague expression of un- easiness. knew they had three- quarters of mile to go, and the guide could scarcely return under an hour. His own words to me the day he found me in the Cave, the horror he expressed of being left there in solitude, recurred vividly to my remem- brance, and yet smarting under the uninten- tiOnal insult of his devotion to that girl, a plan presented itself to me by which might have him in my power, and humble him at my feet. As soon as his friends were be- yond call, lit my lamp, and advanced from my retreat. As 1 came upon him, he ut tered surprised exclamation; but greet ed him very calmly, saying: ' How are you, Mir. Beverleigh ?''
 "Quite well. Miss Melissa. am glad to you are sufficiently recovered from your re- cent illness, to be in your old haunts once m0re.''
 ''Yes; was sitting near when your party came up, and saw that y7u were left alone. came to offer to Show you path which will lead you to the other end of the river as soon as the boat will be there. It is somewhat disagreeable, but I thought you might prefer it to remaining here"
 He hesitated moment. 1 could see he thought it a strange proposal, and yet it was more to his taste than to remain there alone with me; read that in his look, and my own purpose became more fixed How ever, he thanked me, and accepted my offer, and we started on our way in silence.
 Every one who has visited the Mammoth Cave knows that there is a narrow, winding path, running parallel with Echo River, though at some distance from 1t, which Is called Purgatorv, where the rocks so hem one in on every side, that in some parts of the way it is impossible either to stand up right, or walk straight forward. Through this route. used by visitors only when the River is so high that boats cannot pass un- der the low rocks which overhang it, 1 now conducted Mir. Beverleigh.
 We had not walked far, nor yet reached the most dangerous part of the way, when he dropped his lamp, which went out. 1 took it in my hand, as if to re-light it, but without doing so, and went on short dis tance, till we came to an open space, from which the point whence we started could be easily reached by several different paths.- When arrived at this spot, l paused, and standing few feet from MT. Beverleigh, said abruptly:
 ''Do you love Mimic Haywood?"
 q love her, and intend to marry her." said he, firmly, though I could see he look ed at me distrustfuly, and endeayorod to approach step or two nearer. Quick as thought sprang around large rock, and extinguished my own lamp.
 'Melssa !" cried he in a startled voice, ' where are you? What are you going to do ?"
 ''I am going to leave you,' said l and ran a few paces farther off, and then paus- ed. My heart beat wildly, and 1 thought my moment of triumph had come. l ex- pected he would call upon me, entreating me to return. But te~my surprise, only heard his footsteps for a moment, growing fainter and fainter, as if he himself was in- creasing the distance between us, and then all was still. Was it possible that his in- domitable pride would not yield, evennow? This mute defiance rendered me savage, and I thought with fearful satisfaction l would leave him in the awful situation in which had placed him. Yet l paused few mo- ments longer, straining my ear for another sound, until the dreadful silence, when nad never before oppressed me, overWhelmeui me with unutterable horror. Stlll seelneu rooted to the spot. would not follow hlm, if he would not come to me; but Stood waiting, expecting each instant to near some sound of returning steps. But there was nothing but the profound darkness, ana the eternal stiffness. On sudden, the thought struck. me that the guide might come and find me there, and I turned, and finging away one lamp, fled blindly over the rough stones. guided only by my thorough knowl- edge of the place, until was at safe dis tance from the River. I then re-lit my lamp, and rapidly made my way out of the Cave. Once in the open air, breathed | more freely, but still hurried on. away from the gloomy cavern, which from that moment 1 became to me place of unimaginable dread. !
 I was soon at home. My mother looked lp, surprised at my abrupt entrance. and aid: s' l thought you were going into the Cave!o
 "No!o replied with an instinctive del