Year: 1859

in his situation He was at first annoyed and
panied by many of the peculiarities of South
ern society, and then became gradually accus-
toned to them. But his natural sense of JUS
tice was very strong and this, added to the
influence of early education, and strengthened
by scenes of petty despotism which he was fire.
quently compelled to witness, led him to re-
solve that he would never hold q slave. The
colored people in his employ considered him
their friend, because he was always kind and
generous to them. He supposed that com
prised the whole of duty, aud farther than that
he never reflected upon the subject


The pretty little picture at Pine Grove, which
had made so lively an impression on his mag-
nation, faded the more rapidly, because uncon-
nected with his affections But shadowy
semblance Of it always fitted through his mem
ory, whenever he saw beautiful child or OBJ
served any unusual combination of trees and
vines.


-Four years after his interview with Mr.. Dun
can, business called him to the interior of the
State and for the sake of healthy exercise he
chose to make the journey on horseback. His
route lay mostly through monotonous region
of sandy plain, covered with pines, here and
there varied by patches of cleared land, in which
numerous dead trees were prostrate or stand
ing leafess, waiting their time to fall. Most
of the dwellings were Lighthouses but now and
then the white villa of some wealthy farmer
might be seen cleaning through the evergreens
Sometimes the sandy soil was interSected by
veins of swamp, through which muddy water
oozed sluggishly among the bushes and dead
logs. In these damp places fourlshed dark
expresses and hOlytrees, draped with gray
Spanish moss twisted around the boughS, and
hanging from them like gigantic cobwebs Now
and then, the Sombre scene was lighted up with
bit of brilliant color, when a scarlet grosback
fitted from branch to branch, or q red headed
woodpecker hammered at the trunk of some
old tree, to find where the insects had entrench-
ed themselves. But nothing pleased the eye of
the traveller so much as the holy-trees, with
their glossy evergreen foliage, red berries, and
tufts of verdant miStletoe. He had been rid
ing all day, when, late in the afternoon, an un-
commonly beautiful holly appeared to termiu-
ate the road at the bend where it stood. Its
boughs were woven in with q cypress on the
other side, by long tangled fringes of Spanish
moss. The setting sun shone brightly aslant
the mingled foliage, and lighted up the red ber-
lies, which glimmered through the thin drape
ry of moss, like the coral ornaments of hand
some brunette seen through her veil of embroi
dered lace. 1t was unlike the woodland picture
he had seen at Pine Grove, but it recalled it to
his memory more freshly than he had seen it
for long time. He watched the peculiar ef-
fects Of sunlight, changing as he approached
the tree and the desire grew stronger within
him to have the fairy-ike child and the frolc-
some dog make their appearance beneath that
swinging canopy of Illuminated moss If his
nerves had been in such state that forms in
the mind could have taken outward shape he
would have realized the vision so distinctly
painted on his Imagination. But he was well
and strong therefore he saw nothing but
blue heron Tapping away among the expresses,
and a flock of turkey buzzards soaring high
above the trees, with easy and graceful flight
His thoughts, however, continued busy with
the picture that had been so wildly recalled
He recollected having heard, some time before.
of Mr.. Duncans death, and he queried within
himself what had become of that beautiful
child


Musing thus, he rode under the fantastic feS
toons he had been admiring, and saw at his
right long gentle descent, where a small
stream Of water glded downward over messy
otOuCo IlCCo VII CiCutI oluC ldCtu luSlI
bOughs over 1t, and formed vista, cool, dark,
and solemn as the aisle of some old Gothic
church.


A figure, moving upward, by the side of the
little brook attracted his attention, and he
checked his horse to enquire whether the peo-
pie at the nearest house would entertain
stranger for the night. When the figure ap-
preached nearer, he saw that it was slender
bare-footed girl, carrying pail of water As
he emerged from the dim aisle of trees, a CLEAN
OF the setting sun shone across her face for an
instant, and impaired luminous glory to her
large brown eyes. Shading them with her
hand, she paused timidly before the stranger,
and answered his inquiries. The meditation of
her tones suggested a degree of refinement
which he had not expected to meet in that
lonely region. He gazed at her so intently,
that her eyes sought the ground, and their long
dark frlnges rested on her blushng cheeks
What was it those eyes recalled? They tanta.
lized and eluded his memory


My good girl, tell D,e what is your name?"
he said.


" Louisa" she replied, bashfuIly, and added,
=" / will show you the way to the house"


" Let me carry the water for you," said the
kind-hearted traveller. He dismounted for the
purpose, but she resisted his opportunities,
saying that she would be very angry with her


"And who is she ?' he asked. "Is she your
mother ?"


"Oh, no, indeed !" was the hasty reply. 81
anil live there"


The disclaimer was sudden and earnest as
if the question struck on a wounded nerve
Her eyes swan with tears, and the remainder
of her answer was sad and reluctant in its tones
The child was so decately formed, so shy and
sensitive, so very beautiful that she fascinated
him strongly. He led his horse into the lane
she had entered, and as he walked by her side
he continued to observe her with the most live
lv interest Her motions were listless and lam