Southern shield., 1858-03-13

neatn the branches or d tree tnat StOOu Ou the brow of gentle slope, at the bottom of which lay the marsh, sat down patiently to wait. How well remember that scene! The moon, which was beginning to assert her supremacy over the dying day, and send ing down a shower of pale arrows into the valley the river, which wound between the dark trees on its banks, gieaming like mol ten silver, and the weird lights and shadows that played across the green slope before me.
 My heart was full almost to bursting of it's long pent-up passion, and when 1 saw my tutor, after brief absence, coming slowly up the hill, felt that the time had come when it's tumultuous beatings could no longer be stilled. When he reached the tree, to my surprise he threw himself down beside me, saying, apolegetically: {" 1 have had a hard tramp, and must rest moment before we start for home."
 Then I could no longer restrain myself. l suddenly flung my arms around his neck and concealed my face in his bosom, pour ing out wild, mad words of endearment and love. The barrier once broken down, all my self-control was gone. What 1 said 1 do not know, but such eloquent passion as no woman ever uttered before, all the while strainng him to my heart, and at last en- deavoring to kiss his brow and lips-very pale and white they were during those few excited m0ments-befOre l could accom- plsh my object and set the seal alike to my shame and my love, with frantic struggle Re freed himself from my embrace and rose to his feet
 "Miss Melissa" said he, in hard, cold ac cents, 'Evou strangely forget yourself. do not think l have given you any reason for this singular conduct"
 Even at this l was not convinced of the utter hopelessness of my cause. ] threw myself weeping at his feet, and clasping his knees, begged like a poor wretch for at least some few words of kindness and love to re- pay my great devotion. But my abiect mis- cry, instead of moving his compassion, only seemed to rouse his contempt. He sudden ly seized me and lifted me to my feet, then loosened my clinging arms, and said, in ac- cents of bitter scorn:
 "Have you no pride, as well as no maid enly reserve? Do you not see that do not love vou?''
 looked wildly at him for moment, and read in those cold blue eyes and the curl of that naughty lip my hopeless doom; then, with a low moan, | turned and ran swiftly away. On, on l sped, not knowing where, so escaped from the stony look of that marble face. rushed over the rough fields, until sank exhausted on the ground, and then blessed period of utter oblivion fol- lowed.
 learned afterward that Mr. Beverleigh had hurried home as quickly as possible; but when he found. to his surprise, that was not there, he had said that we were hunting for flowers and had separated, ,and he feared. as we were q long distance from the house, might have lost my way. Imme- diatelYmv alarmed parents reused the plan tation, and was found, after brief period, by some negroes and brought home. When was recovered from the swoon into which had fallen, l was raving in delirium, and for days my life hung by a thread. My iron constitution, however, triumphcd over the fierce fever, which at length left me weak and exhausted. The first day was sble to converse, in answer to a faint question, my mother related what have just written, and added that Mir. Beverleigh had, with my fathers appreciation, accepted the post of tutor to the son of a gentleman owning a plantation some ten miles distant.
 :" We thought he had better go," conclu- ded my mother, '' as his year of tuition here was nearly up, and we knew you would not be able to study for long time to come; we were gald too, to have him gone, so that we might devote ourselves wholly to you. Bat tell me how you came to fall asleep in the wet grass when you know how danger ous it is at this season?"
 As Mir. Beverleigh said" replied sad lv, " hoped to find flowers in my path. 1 was searching for them, when suddenly everything turned dark around me and 1 swOoned away.''
 It still seems a mystery to me how ever regained even the small remains of my shat tered health, that at length recovered.- After months of a miserable convalescence, without hope or without the wish to be we'll again, day by day I found myself to be slow y but surely gaining stronger hold on that existence which had no charms for me, and from which I longed to escape.- The total depression of my feelings was at trbuted by relatives and friends, to my se- were illness; and when 1 was at length able to resume my old habits. it seemed but nat ural that l should once more begin my soli- tary rambles on the hills, and wanderings in the Cave. But this was not until our brief winter was over, and the warm spring days had come again. But how different was this early summer from my last Then l was dreaming bright dreams that fondly hoped might be realized. Now my life was with out an object and without a future. From this apathy I was reused by one more blow, the only thing which could move me, and sting me into madness again. A reliable rumor reached us that Mr. Beverleigh was engaged to Miss Minnie Haywood, the sister of his present pupil, d girl whom l knew to be pretty, graceful fool-nothing more.- heard this with apparent indifference but oh how my crushed heart writhed
 Then vague thoughts of revenge present. ed themselves to my mind, and wondered if by any means could render his existence as wretched as he had made mine. Then would try to form some plan by which I might humble this naughty man, and make hlm beg for mercy from me, as had from him. This idea was my favorite one. If could bring him to my feet by any means, how would triumph: nor should he have more compassion at my hands, than had received at his. Thoughts like these, but nothing more, harbored, when an accursed accident gave me the power of more terri ble vengeancethan any of which dreamed.
 One morning prepared myself for q long day in tho Cave. 1 walked on over the well-known path till reached the first river. instead of pausing there, however, l cross ed in ono of the fiat bottomed boats moor ed there for the accommodation of pleasure or+;o, o,,I ,ro,,4 ov, tr Ecbo RiVnr There