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COME AND TAKE ME. Dcvivieh.
CLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1855.
NO. 34.
VOL. 1.
i
RAFTSMAN'S JOURXAL.
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3r CHAPTER XV.
"Wretched man ! The pangs of a gnilty con
science are lashing him. A thousand scorpi
tms have fastened themselves upon his soul.
Every inlet of Hgtt to it is blocked up, while
legions of black, hideous monsters have their
! revels there. . Those deep, blue eyes those
innocent eyes hac pierced his soul through
and through, like barbed, poisoned daggers.
And thou art young ! yes ; and noble, gen
erous, and brave. But, ah ! to think, that in a
form just developing itself into such manly
proportions itiio a symetry, and grace, and
beauty seldom rivalled to think, that such a
form should encase a soul so black, cruel, and
detestable! But the best may fall, and fall on
ly to rise again, better and wiser. Wc must,
therefore, be sparing in our censures.
This young man, however, could endure the
Intense, bitter agony of his soul no longer, and
after remaining for air hour, with despairing
looks, he had rushed from the hall of the court
The trials progressed, rather more slowly,
however, than usual. The Emperor seemed
languid ; you would said, perhaps, stupified
with drink cr excessive debauchery.
lie managed, however, to send several to the
flames to their crowns of rejoicing.
Three only remained, Vortitia, and two old
men.
"Stand up ! vCM;" 6ad the Emperor, at
length.
Vertitia rose to her feet.
The Emperor drowsed back in his seat a
while ; and then, with an effort at rousing him
self up, he csri his bieery, blinky eyes at her j
for a time. !
Vertitia hung her-had, and endeavored to
conceal her face with her hands.
"Soldiers ! Iir.iloa, there ; I say, soldiers !
d'ye hear ? You may take this niea look
ing thing back to prison, or use her for your
pltmire, to night. D'ye hear ?" saying which,
this brutal mobster, rose to his fec-t, and stag
gered from the hail, followed by his guard.
The crowd mosiiy followed, and rapidly dis
persed, as it was a lite !-.cur of the night.
At the last words of the Emperor, Vertitia
had fainted, and fell from the b!ock, upon
which she had jus a moment before seated
herself. Several of the more rude, beastly
looking soldiers had gathered around her.
She lay for some time insensible ; at length,
she opened her eyes ; but seeing the monsters
bending over her, she shrieked, and again
swooned away.
It was some time before she revived only
when the soldiers had raised her up, for the
purpose of carrying her from the hall. .She
made a faint resistance, and attempted to
break loose from their bauds. But, poor Ver
titia! thy virtuous efforts were fruitless.
Their hands grasped her struggling arms like
vises, while they laughed and shouted like de
mons. With Vertitia and the two poor old men,
they have entered the square. The fires have
burnt down, and nothing was visible to the
eye, save a few glowing chunks, and piles of
whitened bones, or half consumed bodies.
The spectators and participators in these dread
ful scenes have mostly gone, with the excep
tion Of a few loiterers here and there.
The square is filled with a dense, suffocating
smoke, and the odor of the burnt and half
burnt bodies i3 nauseous and offensive in the
extreme. No marvel, that the crowd had fled
as soon as possible even those whom duty
might have compelled to remain.
Then, the heavens were in their wrath.
Great, black clouds were gathering ov-.-r the
scene. The thunders were rumbling in all di
rections, and forty lightnings were playing off
their freaks all through the air. The night
was unusuclly dark ; snd, for the present, si
lence and death seemed to hold a joint and
undisturbed rein oi-er the city.
The soldiers, on entering the square, halted
a moment ; and, alter a short consultation, four
of them hurried otf with the two old men to
wards an adjacent prison, while the two re
maining ones, laying hold of Vertitia, drag
ged her from the square, and pulled her alter
them up a narrow, filthy street.
Vertitia pled, lagged, prayed screamed!
'0 ! take me to the flames! Do throw me into
the flames. O I dear, blessed Jesus ! have mer
cy mercy!" and her voice died away, and
she became insensible.
On they carried her dragged her in the
most indecent, brutal manner.
The thunders were roaring, cracking, and
crashing in the heavens, like the quick dis
charge of flying artillery ; while the vivid
flashes cf lightnicg were enough to have ap
palUd tt stoutest hearts. "
The soldiers, with their victim, hadjust ar
rived at the door of a low, black, filthy den,
and which they were about to enter ; when two
men. from under cover of the intense darkness,
rushed upon them, and, with well aimed blows,
sent the two soldiers sprawling in the street.
Vertitia, insensible, fell against the door ;
but, ia an instant, she was in the arms of a
strong, powerful man, w!:o, followed closely
by his companion, soon turned a corner, and
struck into a long street which led to one of
the city gates.
In a few minutes she was placed in a chari
ot ; and which, the next instant, was dashing
off down the street, with f rightful rapidity,
through a wild, roaring tempest of wind, rain,
lightning, and darkness.
To beconiinued.
THE SMUGGLER'S DAUGHTER.
BV KISS M. MILES.
Star after star had come forth, and the clock
of the old church of the village had pealed
forth the midnight hour as Roland Cranstoun
knelt for his mother's blessing. On the mor
row be was to go forth from the familiar
scenes of his boyish days, to tempt the wild
waste of ocean ; and the sweet spell of posey
was on his spirit as he murmured forth
'Pray for me mother, pray that no blight
May come ocr my hopes and prospecjs bright,
1'ray that my days may be long anu i.ur,
Free from the withering touch of care"
And most fervently did the mother's prayer
go up amidst the deep hush of midnight.
Roland Cranstoun's step had ever been
amidst lordly halls j but his father was dead,
leaving him but a younger son's portion and a
haughty spirit for an inheritance. The army
was open to him, and soon the name of Capt.
Cranstoun was read in the public papers of the
day, and that his regiment was ordered abroad.
"What! though these broad lands are mine,
brother, a-e not our hearts the same as in the
days of our boyhood? Stay with your kindred,
Roland, stay to witness my happiness, and my
sweet Anna shall be to you a sister."
Roland Cranstoun wrung his brother's hand
with strong feeling, and there was a slight qui
ver of his proud lip as he answered: "I know
your generous spirit Henry; I know what I sa
crifice, but you must have, the means of sup
porting the dignity of our ancient house, and I
could not brook dependence. Do not tempt me
my brother; I must go forth unshrinkingly."
The morning dawned fair and bright but
there was a " vacant seat at board and
hearth ;" and the inmates of Cranstoun Ab
bey felt as if one gleam of sunshine had de
parted from their dwelling :
Speed on. speed on. thou gallant bark!
Thy flag is waving free,
And let the ocean cares give forth,
A fitting minstrelscy!
And Roland Cranstoun was pacing the deck
of the gallant ship with a thoughtful brow but
proud step, as the merry shores of England
recceded from view.
"Whither arc those sighs wafted, Crans
toun, my good fellow ?" asked a brother offi
cer, upon whose arm leaned a young and beau
tiful female. "Is there any maiden fair
'Weeping in lonely bower?"
"No! I am free, but my thoughts were
homeward bound, Sedley !"
"So would mine be," replied his friend,
"but that this foolish girl chose to leave home
and kindred to follow a soldier's fortunes;'-
and the look of fondness that ha cast upon
the young being beside him, showed how
much he felt her devoted love. "Come, I
must introduce you to to Mrs. Sedley."
Sedley and he had been friends from their
earliest days ;" but the former's duties the last
two years had cast their lots in different pla
ces ; and it was with all the warmth of kindly
feeling that they met previous to their embar
kation on board the same ship. He had recent
ly married his cousin, and to Roland she soon
became almost as a sister; so confiding was she
in her friendship for her husband's friend.-:
"Do you know who that young girl is, Ro
land," she asked one day, just as they came
in view of their "destined haven ;" "I have
noticed her earnest gaze more than once, fix
ed upon you. There is something singularly
beautiful about her face."
"I have seen those brilliant eyes before, I
am 6iire, but where I cannot think. There,
she has vanished again. They say yon dark
browed subaltern is her father ,and that he has
forbidden her appearing ou deck, ner face
haunts rue like some vision of my childhood."
'Her name is Florence so I heard them call
her," said Sedley joining them, "but her fath
er, Cranstoun, do you know him ?" and a shade
of anxiety passed over the face of the speaker.
"No ! I know no one by the name of Ridg
ley ; why do you ask ?"
"Only to bid you be on your guard ; I fear
he means you some evil."
"Me!" but era he could give expression to
his astonishment, the glad shout of the seamen
and soldiers, as they neared the shore, called off
their attention and the conversation dropped.
"Spain! sunny Spain! Oh, there is breath
ing beauty beneath thy skies," murmured the
young officer, as be was wandering forth one
evening. His regiment was stationed not far
from , the then seat of war ; though as yet
they had seen no actual service.' He was alone
and sad, for his dreams were of the "ancient
Abbey;" and the voices of his kindred seem
ed blent with the evening winds sighing
thiough orange groves. The shadows of night
were beginning to fall ere he turned towards
his quarters. Suddenly a sweet and thrilling
voice warbled clos2 to his ear - .
"There's danger when the soft winds sign, . .
And stars beam out in yon sweet sky
There's danger in the star-lit path '
The warning comes from one of earth."
Startled, he darted forward to discover the
hidden songstress, but he caught only a glimpse
of a slight figure as it disappeared amidst the
grove of limes. The warning was evidently
intended for him; but he was perplexed and
amazed. Who in this stranger land could do
him injury; and who, for the voice was that of
a female, should take this interest in his fittc?
But he was not long suffered to indulge his me
ditations. A bright weapen flashed before his
eyes, and he found himself attacked by three
ruffians. Determined to sell his life as dearly
as possible, he drew his sword, and for a few
moments kept them at bay. He had received
a severe wound in the shoulder, and was fast
losing strength from the effusion of blood; a
sudden faintness was stealing over him, and he
sunk to the ground; but ere the bared knife of
the taller ruffian had reached his heart, a shout
recalled his fleeting senses, and Sedley and a
band of his gallant soldiers burst upon them.
One of the ruffians was killed, but the others
escaped. The body was recognized as that of
a peasant, who was supposed to hold communi
cation with a well known brigand band. Crans
toun's wound was not dangerous, but was of
such a nature as to prevent him from usinghis
arm for many months, and he soon obtained
leave of absence ; though inwardly murmur
ing that his proud hopes of distinguishing
himself in the approaching strife, were crum
bled to the dust. The laurel wreath he covet
ed was not to grace his brow.
Home! home! was his thought; and all pre
parations being made, he was to start on the
morrow. He was sitting with his friends be
neath the sweet moonlight, that was restingon
the mouldering ruins of what was once a pal
ace, belonging to some proud grandee, whose
very name had died on time's records.
"Would that I too could see the faces of
mine own," softly whispered Mrs. Sedley,
through her tears. "Mother! sisters! you
will see them all, and tell them ihat their Flo
ra's heart is often with them."
"But still, my Flora would follow me to
share my dangers and privations," said Sed
ley. "Does she now repent? The soldier's
bride must give up much, but the soldier's
heart feels deeply her devotion."
'Never, Horace! Your lot is mine ;" and
her eye was lifted to his face, with a look lie
could not mistake. "But, even you some
times long for a sight of old England; and
Roland will soon see her dear shores."
"Turn ! tura! from fair England, there's death in thy
Tho' her bowers may smile the fairest of carth;path,
There's dimmer around thee,
Its meshes have bound thee.
And mourning shall be in the halls of thy birth.'"
Every one started up as the words fell upon
their ear, chanted in a low sweect voice, yet
distinct enough for them to catch each sound.
They searched the ruins but could find no trace
of any one's having been secreted there.
"Strange !" exclaimed Cranstoun. "That I
have some enemy I cannot doubt; but from
whom come these mysterious warnings? 1
will stay and unravel this plot."
"Do not stay, Roland," said Sedley earnest
ly. "Nor seek England either. Distrust not
this second waruing; I will endeavor to find
some clue to this labyrin h. You must leave
to-morrow, but your destination must be a se
cret, and a chosen band shall guard you be
yond the reach of danger. I suspect Ridgley
has something to do with these dark doings;
for I have seen such a look scouling hate up
on his dark face, when his eye has been bent
upon you, as has curdled my very blood."
"But why should he seek my destruction?
I kno w not the man, except as one who holds
atoof froni all companionship with his fellows.
Why should be thus pursue me!" and his
haughty brow daikened as he looked at his
disibled arm. "Could I but wield my good
sword," he fiercely added, "I would soon call
him to a dread acconnt."
Mrs. Sedley laid her hand upon his arm im
ploringly, "Roland, Roland, beware ! there
may be more listeners 4 beneath these sweet
skies than you wot of now. Hush! for pity's
sake, and let us leave this spot."
"Yes!", said her husband, "for yon know
miue are only conjectures, We can bring for
ward no proof of this man's villiany. Let us
be weuding to our own dwelling, and there
we can form our plans."
And they left the old ruin, with the sweet
moonbeam resting peacefully on the desolate
ruins of halls, where mirth and music once had
been. Their forms were nearly hid from view
by the embowering trees, when a dark figure
came forth from behind a ruined arch,and gazed
after them with afiend-like smile upon his face.
Ah! go forth Roland Cranstaun, with your
lofty brow and stately bearing. Go forth with
your sage advisers to 'scape me Ha! ha! my
coils are round thee, and I will compass sea and
land for revenge. When your heart's blood is
red upon my blade, then, only then shall I rest
satisfied." And he shook the bared weapon
tauntingly in the direction they had taken.
Suddenly a young girl sprung forth, and
knelt low at bis feet. The shadows of six
teen summers could hardly have touched her
, fair brow, and there she knelt,
r '-With head upraised, and look intent, '
And eye and ear attentive bent.
And locks flung back, and lips apart,
"' ' . ' Like monument of Grecian art"
but no sound broke the deep silence.
"Lelia!" and the tones of the voice were
stem and low, "what do you here girl?"
"Father!" and the thrillingly sweet accents
came like music on the ear. 'Father! by the
memory of . my sainted mother, abjure the
dark deed. Are we . not forbidden to take
vengeance ?"
"Tush, girl, have I not told you that Hood
alone can wash out the memory of that hour.
And mark me, Lelia, I do distrust you of late.
By my faith I believe you entertain some girl-,
ish affection for this same youth. Ha! do you
dream one of the proud Cranstoun's racte
would wed a smuggler's daughter. Lelia, be
die3 by mjr hand and you, girl, may wear
the willow if you will."
The maiden sprung to her feet: "Beware,
father, or you . will find your child has some
portion of your own spirit. Taunt mc again
with my deep love, and I will say one word
that shall give you to a dungeon and chains.
I love you not, father; and but that I promis
ed my gentle mother, on her death bed, to
watch your dark course, I would go forth a
wanderer through the world. I tell j-ou again,
that I will warn Roland Cranstoun and the
knife shall reach the heart of your daughter
ere it be stained with his life blood; and with
a light step she bounded away.
"Fool ! idiot that I was to trust her," mut
tered the man as he slowly follwed.
Cranstoun was in Venice, and- two months
went by without bringing any solution of the
mystery; the third found him laid low with fe
ver. In his delirious dreams he fancied that
the mysterions warnings were again on his,ear
and lie was conscious that a gentle hand
smoothed his pillow, and held the cordial to
his parched lip. A long heavy sleep fell upon
him ; wheu he awoke, lie saw one in the garb
of a sister of mercy by his bedside; he was too
exhausted for speech ; but she held a cooling
draught, and put her finger to her lip in token
of silence. In a half dreaming state he again
sunk back, but not before he was conscious of
looking upon a face of exceeding beauty. A
heavy step was heard outside of the door it
opened, and the dark-browed figue of the ru
ined palace softly entered the room. Cau
tiously he stole towards the table, on which
was many a drink and medicine.
"Simpletons!" he muttered, "they areafraid
of the fever ; and laud me for braving the
danger for my frieud. Well fiiend, let it be,
this powder will give him short shrift, and 'tis
surer than the dagger or knife:" and he turned
it intoaehrystalcup that held some prescribed
drink, and hastily left the room. Roland saw
the whole, and knew 'twas Ridgley Js form and
face, but he was too weak to raise his voice or
hand. But there was one other watcher, the
fair being who was watching his weary couch.
She sprang to the table, aud with a glance at
the contents of the cup, dashed it to the
ground, where it shivered into a hundred
pieces. It was roisox !
The stars looked down in their quiet beauty,
and the soft air of evening, such an eve as is
only met w ith beneath Italia's skies, was steal
ing gently into the sick room of Roland Crans
toun. He was reclining on a couch propped
by pillows near the open window, and there
with an anxious brow was Sister Theresa.
"Tell me your name, sweet lady ? It is
strange that one so young and fair should
keep such fearful virgils by my couch."
"Tis my vocation to soothe the sick and sor
rowTul," answered she in tones of music.
"Surely I have heard that voice before, and
met a face strangely like thine. But my head
is weak yet, and I cannot reccollect. Surely
it was not always Sister Theresa."
A knock at the door interrupted thera, and
ere she could reply, it was burst hastily open,
and the glad greeting of Horace Sedley fell
like a tcne from home upon the yearning
heart of the sufferer.
"Now the blessed virgin be praised," mur
mured Sister Theresa, and the shade of anxie
ty passed from her brow.
"Sedley, my dear friend, where do you come
from ?" exclaimed Roland, as he warnily wrung
his hand, "I thought you still in sunny Spain."
- "No ! my old uncle has departed this" life,
leaving ma heir to his wealth and titles a
good long rent roll mine is too. I immediate
ly sold out, and shall expect you to receive
Sir Horace Sedley, and lady, with a deal of
form and ceremony."
"What! is Flora with you 7"
"Yes ! Nothing must do, but the silly girl
must see Italy, though she has since confess
ed that she had a presentiment you were in
some danger."
"And so I have been, Horace, from more than
one cause Ridgley has been here and though
thisgentle maiden warded off the blow, and from
her lips I can gather nothing, yet 1 am cofident
he has attempted to remove me by poison."
"Ah! 1 was just going to say that Ridgley
deserted but a few weeks after you left. Can
he be taken, his fate is certain."
Sister Theresa laid her cold hand on Sed-
ley's arm "Guard well yonr friend my duty
calls me away, there is danger around him
and as he values life let him leave not this
room till I bid." And gathering ' ter veil
about her, she glided from the apartment.
Sedley started, "Why, Cranstoun, that surely
is the same voice that I heard in the old Queen."
Conviction flashed upon Roland's mind. Yes
he was sure he had heard those thrilling tones
before, and he met that sweet pale face. "Sed
ley yon beautiful being is certainly a guardi
an angel by my side- Is it not strange that
fortune should have singled me out as the he
ro of a romance like this I would give my
good sword to know what the end will be."
A gondola is gliding swiftly o'er the blue
waves, and the moonlight is giving a silver
gleam, and the soft evtnirg sir just curling
their surface strange that evil thoughts should
have a place in such a scene of loveliness.
"Antonio, I tell you that twice, thrice I have
failed? that girl is my bane. 1 verily believe
that tjicrc is an evil spirit in that beautiful form
to circumvent my designs. Before her only do
I'qiiail. Take her off my hands, and gold, aye,
gold beyond your thought shall be yours."
"Ridgley, I have told you I love the girl, and
I will be kinder to her than her own father
but she hates me, I read it in her eye" :
'But nevertheless shall wed thee to-morrow,
Antonio, she shall be yours. And then, when
you have borne her afar, you, boy, shall know
the depth of Ridgley's hate.
The gondola glided onward, and those dark
spirits formed their plans for the morrow.
Silence was in the streets of Venice, as
Ridgely entered his temporary dwelling. A
young fair girl had laid her weary head upon
her arm by the open window, with only her
own clustering ringlets for a screen from the
night air. The step roused her from her slum
bers, and springing up she stood erect before
him.
"Lelia, I have blithe news for you. To-morrow,
ere the sun goes down, you will bo the
bride of Antonio Montoli; am I not a kind fa
ther to provide so well for you ?"
The beautilul being before him raised her
eyes to his face. The rich color that had ting
ed her cheek faded away, and gave place to a
marble paleness. There was a smil-j ; n her
father's lip that the maiden toowellun Jerstood.
In a moment her resolution was taken.
"Father, for naught have I to thank 3ou,
save for sending me to the convent where I
early learned lessons of Christian love and du
ty. For the education there received, I uo.
thank you; for it has fitted me to fulfil higher
duties than falls to one of my station. But,
father! you have reviled and tormented me.
You have turned the sweet waters of affection
to bitterness. I have borne all in silence, but
father, henceforth our destinies are sundered
for ever. I will not give my band to your
match I will die sooner no force shall com
pel me. Father, farewell for ever." And sVe
turned to go forth a wanderer from the home of
him who should have shielded her from haim.
But the passions of the parent wcra roused,
and he sprang forward and grasped her fiercely
by the hand. There was a glitterof something
in the moonshine but with a powerful effort
she burst away.
Mrs. Sedley was anxiously awaiting her hus
band's return, when her servant ushered into
the apartment a niufiled figure. She started up.
"Lady, fear nothing," said alow sweet tone
that thrilled to her heart. "Lady, I claim your
protection:" and whilst she Isold one hand
pressed to her side, with the other she flungup
the veil, and discovered the fanlim'S of Flor
ence Ridgley, Mrs. Sedley uttered aa excli
mation of wonder.
"Lady, I am alone in the wide world, and
throw myself on your protection. My strength
is fast failing me I am wounded, and by ruy
fathcr's hand."
She sunk upon a couch pale as death, and
Mrs. Sedley saw with horror that her hand and
dress were stained with the dark current that
was oozing from her side. In terror she des
patched a servant for her husband and medi
cal attendance, and then applied what means
she had within her reach to staunch the wound.
It was not deep, and after dressing it, the Eng
lish physician, who had attended Cranstoun..
enjoined strict quietness; and having adminis
tered an opiate, left them.
Two days went by, and Roland was impa
tient to breathe the fresh air of heaven. Sis
ter Theresa came not, and the third, in spite
of Sedley's remonstrances, he determined to
accompany him in his carriage to the -Villa,
which he bad hired during his stay. His
foot was already on the step when the click of
a pistol fell on his ear, and avall whizzed past
him. Involuntarily he started back it saved
his life, for in another moment William, bis
faithful English servant had caught another
from the hand of the assassin, and fired it; the
man fell with a groan, disclosing the dark fea
tures of Ridgley. He was conveyed into the
very room in which he had attempted to poi-.
son Roland.
'- A priest was soon sent for, at bis own re
quest, to shrive the dying man, and Cranstoun
bent above him.
He Vaised himself up.
"The sands are running low, my son," said
the holy man, crossing himself. "Is there
aught on thy conscience ?"
ne replied not, but turning to Roland with a
look of undying hate, hoarsely criel "Do
you remember the smuggler's cave by the sea
6bore, near the village of A, in merry Eng
land, Roland CrsnstouoJ Aye, dx you-re
member when a youth, you wandered to the'
lone spot one summer eve. One met you and
warned you to depart; but you, with your fear
less daring, would go on. The man laid a strong
hand on you to turn you back, and your fierce
spirit was roused, and with the bitter words of
'dog and smuggler,' you struck him ablow in
the face. The remembrance of that hour has -never
been washed away, and in it was swoin
a deep oath of vengeance. Look at the sub
altern Ridgley, and read in bis countenance,
the name of Matteo Levesci; a name at which
you have often qnailed in days gone by.
"I have followed your footsteps, nnd "ven
geance would have been mine, but that, dolt
that I was, I trusted a child with the secret.
She warned you well my malison be on her
head for it. I hate you with a bitter hatred"
and clenching his teeth he sunk back. . '
It all came back to Roland Cranstoun's
memory. The sunny spot and the dark cavo
that had beguiled him from his home in the
days of his boyhood to see what treasure it
contained, and the bounding step, and bright
beautiful smile in the fairy -like child who oft
en stole away with him by the gea-shore, when
the smuggler's bark was afar; and the moment
of passion in which that blow had been struck,
and the disappearance of Martin Walters soon
after. It all come back to him like some half
forgotten dream. Now he knew where he had
heard the voice, and met the eye of the young,
girl whose kindly warning had so often saved"
his life; and he turned shuddering- away, from
the dark page of human passions which Wal
ters' life presented. Ridgley waved them all
from him, and desired to be alone with his
priest. When the old man came forth from the
chamber, it was to say that his soul bad gone
to its final account.
Gently as possible was the news of bis death
communicated to his suffering child. A feel
ing of pity and horror at his impious end was
all the emotion it could excite. His own hand
had torn asunder the strong ties of filial love.
"No! no! my sweet Lelia, as this is your
true name, I cannot so soon part from you.
Immure yourself in a convent for life No!
you shall go back with me to England, and be
to me a sister."
"But, kind lady" and her tones wero
"Musical, but sadly sweet,
Such as when windsand harp strings meet,"
"I have none to welcome mc there. I am poor
and alone. Few yvars may go by ere I shall
be as one forgotten, whilst you, and thoso
with whose dtstiuy mine has bnen so fearfully
interwoven, will be jn balls of gladness and
mirth, surrounded by all you love."
"Never, Lelia, never," exclaimed Crans
toun, who stood now before the astonished
girl "never I love you, Lelia nay, turn
not away; and it must be as my bride that you
again go forth into the world that has so sore
ly tried your youth."
"But I am not of j our faith or country, for
my mother was an Italian, and I am poor in
wealth and name."
"My kindred shall be thine, Lelia. They
owe you a deep debt, it shall be repaid in af
fection; an l though our -creeds differ, our
hearts worship the same Being."
Still she hesitated, and flush after flush was
mantling her cheek and brow. She, the smug
gler's daughter, to be the bride of the high
born Cranstoun, and carry naught cf dowcry
to him. There was woman's strong love, and
stronger pride, contending for mastery.
Lady Sedley took her hand "You are
young, Lulia, to quit the bright world, and
pass years of lonely vigils and penances. Think
deeply a happy home, and aff ect ion's spells
may yet be yours."
The maiden's face was bowed down, but not
before one single word had pledged her faith
to her lover.
"Why, you all look in sober guise," exclaim
ed the gay voice of Sedley, about half an hour
after as he entered the room. "But cheer up,
Cranstoun, there is blythencws from fair Eng
land. My old uncle, with thceccentric gen
erosity that cbrracterized him, has left you the
pretty estate of Mossville, with sixty thousand
pounds to support its dignity, in considera
tion of the affection he bore you in your child
hood so runs the will, a copy of which has
just reached me. I give you joy, Cranstoun,
for I have still more than I know well what to
do with. So my pretty little Lelia will have
almost a fairy bouse, for Mossside is a little
paradise."
Home, home the "Old Abbye" is in sight,
the gates are thrown open and Roland Crans
ton is again in the midst of his kindred. Tho
mother blesses her son, the brothers grasps his
hand, and they turn with deeper blessings up
on the head of the beautiful being beside him,
whom they greet as bis bride. She had savid
their Roland from death, she had watched bim
in sickness in a foreign land, and their hearts
yearned towards the stranger. . Nver wis
such a joyous peal rung out, or did the . old
walls resound to such shouts of merriment as
shook them that eve, for there were ; warm
hearts to welcome back the wanderer; but,
there was a deeper well-spring of bappines in
his soul a few months after when his young
wife had been converted to his creed, "and
knelt a humble worshipper at the same shrine
of prayer with himself.
T&rA. cloe month abews a win bS,
m
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