The mountain sentinel. (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, April 11, 1850, Image 1

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. "WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WS CEASE TO FOLLOW.' .
BY JOHN G. GIVEN. EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1850. VOL. G. NO. 27.
D
KXSOBLLANSOUS.
The Celebrated: Texan spy.
fc About two years after the Texan revo
lution, a difficulty occurred between the
new government aud a portion of the peo
ple, which .threatened the most serious
consequences even bloodshed and hor
rors of civil war." Briefly the cause was
this: The constitution had fixed the city
of Austin as the permanent capital, where
the public archives were to be kepV with
the reservation, however, of a power in the
president to order their temporary removal
in ease of danger from the inroads of a
foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden
insurrection.
Conceiving that the exceptional emer
gency had arrived, as the Camanches fre
quently committed ravages within sight of
the capital itself, Houston, who then resi
ded at Washington, on the Brazos, dis
patched an order commanding the subor
dinate functionaries to send the state re
cords to the latter place, which he de
clared to be, pro tempore, the seat of gov
ernment. ' ,
It is impossible to describe the stormy
excitement which the promulgation of this
Jiat raised in Austin. The keeper of ho
tels, boarding-houses, groceries, and faro
banks were thunderstruck, maddened to
frenzy; for the measure would be a death
blow to their prosperity in business; and,
accordingly they determined at once to
take the necessary steps to avert the dan
ger, by opposing the execution of Hous
tiu's mandate. They called a mass meet
ing of the citizens and farmers of the cir
cumjacent countrv . who were all more or
less interested in "the question; and after
many fiery speeches against the asserted
tyranny of the administration, it was unan
imously resolved to prevent the removal
of the archives by open and armed resist
ance. To that end they organized a com
pany of four hundred men, one moiety of
whom, relieving the o'her at regular peri
ods of duty, should keep constant guard
around the state-house until peril passed
by. The commander of this force was
one Colonel Morion, who had achieved
considerable renown in the war for inde
pendence,' and had still more recently dis
played desperate bravery in two desper
ate duels, in both of which hp had cut his
antagonist nearly to pieces with the bowie
knife. Indeed, from the notoriety of hi
character for revenge, as well as courage,
it was thought that President Houston
would renounce his purpose touching the
archives, so soon as he should learn who
was the leader of the opposition.
Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully
equalled his personal prowess, encouraged
and justified the prevailing opinion by his
boastful threats. He swore that if the
President did succeed in removing the lec
ords by the march of an overpowering
force, he would ihen himself hunt him
down like a wolf, and shoot him with little
ceremony or stab him in his bed, or way
lay him in his walks of recreation. He
even wrote the hero of San Jacinto to that
effect. The latter replied in a note of la
conic brevity:
If the people of Austin do not send the
archives, I shall certainly come and take
them, and if Col. Mortoii can kill me, he
is welcome to my ear-cap."
On the reception of this answer, the
guard was doubled around the state-house.
Chosen sentinels were stationed along the
road leading to the capital, the military pa
raded the streets from morning , till night
and a select caucus held permanent ses
sion in the city hall. In short everything
betokened a coming tempest.
One day, while matters were in this
precarious condition, the'eaucus at the city
hall was surprised by the sudden appear
ance of a stranger, whose mode of enter
ing was as extraordinary as ' I is looks and
dress. . He did not knock at- the! closed
door he did not seek admission thereat
all; but climbing unseen . a small bushy
topped live oak v which grew. .beside the
wall,' he leaped without sound or warning
through :a lofty window. He was clothed
-altogether in buckskin, carried a long "and
very heavy rifle in his hand, wore at the
button of his left suspender a large bowie
knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple
of pistols half the length of his gun. He
-was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a
panther in his motions, with dark com
plexion and luxuriant jetty hair, with a
severe iron-like countenance, that seemed
never. to. have known a smile, and eyes of
intense vivid black, wild and rolling, and
piercing as .'the point of a dagger. . His
trange advent inspired a thrill of involun
tary fear, and many present unconsciously
grasped the handles of their side-arms. ..'
I. Who ate you, that ; thrs presumes to
"intrude among gentlemen without invita
tion?? demanded Col. Morton ferociously
essaying to cow down the stranger with
his eye.
The latter returned his stare with com-
'"
pound interest, and laid his long bony fin
ger on his lip, as a sign but of what, the
spectators could not imagine.
"Who are you? Speak! or I will cut
an answer out of your heart!" shouted
Morton, almost distracted with rage by
the cool-sneering gaze, of the other, who
now removed his finger from 'his lip.
and laid it on the hilt of. his monstrous
knife.
The fiery colonel then drew his dagger,
and was in the act of advancing upon the
stranger, when several caught him and
held him back remonstrating.
"Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake.
Do you not perceive that he is crazy?"'
At that moment Judge Webb, a man
of shrewed intellect and courteous man
ners, stepped forward, and addressed the
intruder in a most respectful manner:
My good friend, 1 presume you have
made a mistake in the house. This is a
private meeting, where none but members
are admitted."
The stranger did not apppar to compre
hend the words, but he could not fail to
understand the mild and deprecatory man
ner. His rigid features relaxed, and mo
ving to a table in the centre of the hall,
where there. were materials and imple
ments for writing, he seized a pen and
traced one line: '! am deaf." He then
held it up before the spectators, as a sort :
of natural apology for his own want of po
liteness. Judge Webb took the paper and wrote
a question. "Dear Sir, will you be so
obligtng as to inform us what is your bus
iness with the presunt meeting.
The other responded by delivering a
letter inscribed on the back, "To the citi
zens of Austin." They broke the seal;
and read it aloud. It was from Houston, !
and showed the usual terse brevity of his
style:
"Fellow -Citizens: Though in error.
and deceived by the arts of traitors, I will ,
give you three days more to decide wheth
er you will surrender the public archives.
At tfie end of that time you will please let
me know your decision.
Sam. Houston."
After the reading, the deaf maa waited
a few seconds, as it for a reply, and then
turned and was about to leave the hall,
when Colonel Morton interposed, and
sternly beckoned him back to the table.
Thf stranger obeyed, and Morton wrote:
"You was brave enough to insult me by
your threatening looks ten minutes ago;
are you brave enough now to give me sat
isfaction?". The stranger penned his reply: "I am
at jour service!"
Morton wrote again: "Who will be your
second?"
The stranger rejoined: "I am too gen
erous to seek an advantage; and too
brave to fear any on the part of others;
therefore I never need the aid of a sec
ond." . :
Morton penned: "Name you terms."
The stranger traced without a mo
ment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this e
vening; place, left bank of the Colorado,
opposite Austin;. weapons, rides; and dis
tance, a hundred yards. Do not fail to be
in time!" , . ' ' .
He then took three steps across the
floor, and disappeared through the window
as he had entered. . ..
"What!". exclaimed Judge .W'ebb, "is
it possible Colonel Morton,, that you in
tend to fight that man? He is a, mute, if
not a posiiive.maniac. Such a meeting, I
fear, will sadly tarnish the lustre joi your
laurels." - ' - , - - ."
. "You are mistaken," replied Morton,
witli a smile; "that mute is a hero whose
fame stands in .the record of a dozen bat
tles, and at least half as many bloody du
els Besides, he is th favorite emissary
and bosom friend of Houston. If I have
the good fortune to kill him, I think it will
tempt the President to retract his vow
against venturing any more on the field of
honor." ' .
"You know the man then. "Who is
he? Who is he?" asked twenty voices to
ficther. . - ' , :
'Deaf Smith," answered.Morton coolly.
"Why no, that cannot be: Deaf Smith
was slain at San Jacinto,' remarked Judge
Webb. ' V
"There. again, your honor is mistaken"
said 'Morton. ; "The story of Smith's
death was a mere fiction, got up by Hous
ton to save the life of his favorite from the
sworn vengeance of certain Texaus, on
whose conduct he had acted as a spy;
I fathomed, the artifice twelve.: months
since' : : .' !. - : f ..- , -
. t'lf what you say le; true, you are a
madman yourself!" exclaimed Webb.
"Deaf Smith was never known to miss his
mark. He has often brought clown ravens
in their most rapid, flight, and killed Ca
manches ard Mexicans a distance of 250
yards. . : . . r 'r V . . ' '.' : '.
S.ay no more," answered CoY. Morton
in tones of deep determination; ' "the thing
is already settled. I have already agreed
to meet him.' There can be no disgrace
in falling before such a shot, and if I suc
ceed, my triumph will confer the greater
glory!"
Such was the general habit of thought
and feeling prevalent throughout Texas at
that period.
Towards evening a vast crowd assem
bled at the place appointed to witness the
hostile meeting; and so great was the pop
tdar recklessness as 10 affairs of the sort,
that numerous and considerable sums
were wagered on the result. At length
the red orb of the summer sun touched the
curved rim of the western horison, cover
ering it all with crimson and gold, and fil
ling the air with a flood of burning glory;
and then the two mortal antagonists, arm
ed with long ponderous rifles, look their
station, back to back, and at a preconcert
ed signal the waving of a white" hanker
chief walked slowly and steadily ofT in
opposite directions, counting their steps
until- each had measured fifty They
both completed the given number about
the same instant, and then they wheeled,
each to aim and fire when - he chose. As
the distance was great, both paused for J
some seconds long enough for the behol
ders to flash their eyes from one to the oth
er, and mark the striking contrast betwixt
them. The face of Colonel Morion was
calm and smiling, but the smile it bore'had !
a most merderous meaning. On the con
trary, the countenance of Deaf Smith was
stern and passionless as ever. Aside-view
of his features might have been mistaken
for a profile done in cast-iron. The one.
too, was dressed in the richest cloth, the !
other in smoke-tinted leather. Hut that
made no difference in Texas then; for the I
heirs of heroic courage were all considered j
peers the class of inferiors embraced i
none but cowards.
Presently two rifles exploded with sim
ultaneous roars. Colonel Morton gave a
prodigious bound upwards, and dropped to
the earth a corpse. Deaf Smith stood
erect, and immediately began to re-load j
his rifle; and then, having finished his brief I
task, he hastened away into the adjacent
forest.
Three days afterwards. General Hous
ton accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten
other men, oppeared in Austin, and with
out further opposition removed the state
papers.
The historv of the hero of the forejro
ing anecdote was one of the most extiaor
dinary ever known in- the West. He
made his advent in Texas at an early
period, and continued to reside there un
til his death, which happened some two
years ago;" but although he had many
warm personal friends, no one could ever
ascertain either the land of his birh,' cr
a single gleam of his previous biography.
When he was questioned on the subject,
lie laid his finger on his lip; and if press
ed more urgently, his brow writhed, and
his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of j
iivid fire! lie could write with astonish
ing correctness and facility, considering
his situation; and although denied the ex
quisite pleasure and priceless advanta
ges of the sense of- lienrmrr ' iinliiri l.nd
0 - - , "o T t
given him ample compensation, by an I
eye quick aud hr-seeing as an eaghi's
and a smell keen and incredible as that
of a raven. He could discover objects
moving miles away iri the far-ofT prairie,
when others could perceive nothing but
earth and sky; and the rangers used to
declare mat he could catch a scent of a
Mexican cr Indian ot as great a distance
as a buzzard could distinguish the odor of
a dead 'Carcass. ' . .
,.. It was these qualities which fitted him
so well for a spy, in which capaciiy he
rendered invaluable services tollouston's
army during the war 'of independence. He
always went alone, and generally obtained
the information desired. His habits in
private lile were equally singular. He l
comd nevei be persuaded to sleep under
the roof of a house, or even to use' a tent
cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he loved
to 1 c out in the open air, under the' bi'ue
canopy of pure; ether, and court t the- stars, I
or gaze with a yearning look at the mel
ancholy moon. , When not employed asH
a spy or gmae, tie subsisted by hunting,
being often'absent on solitary excursions
for weeks and even "months together in
the wilderness. IJe was a Genuine son
t)f nature, a grown up child .of, the woods
and prairie, which he worshipped vith
a sort ol Pagan adoration. Included by
his infirmities from cordial fellowship
with his kind,' he made , the inanimate
things of the earth his friends, and enter
ed by the heart's own adoption into broth
erhood with the lurnfnaries of heaven!
Wh ere ver there' was land or water, bar-
ren mountains or tangled bra kes of wild
waving: cane, there" was Deaf Smith's
home, and there he was happy; but in the
streets of great.cities, in all the great tho
roughfares cf men, wherever there was
flattery or fawning,"base canmg or -craven
fear, there was Deaf Smith an alien
and an exile.
Strange soul! he hath departed on the
long journey, away among those high
bright stars which were his night'lamps;
and he bath either solved or ceased to
ponder the deep mystery of the magic
word, "life." He is dead; tkerfore let
his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues
bs rememdered with hope.
HAPPIEST MOMENT of MY LIFE.
In all the pride and condescension of
an inmate of Grosvenor-square, I looked
upon Lady Motley's At Home. 4Yes,
1 said, flinging away the card, with a
tragedy twist of the fingers yes; 1 will
be there. For one evening I will encoun
ter the tedium and the taste of a village
ball. For one evening I will doom my
self to figures that are out of date, and
fiddles that are out of tune; dowagers who
make embroidery by wholesale, and de
moiselles who make conquests by profes
sion; for one evening I will endure the
inquiries about Almaek's and St. Paul's,
the tales of the weddings that have been
and the weddings that are to be, the round
of curtsies in the ball-room, and the round
of beef at the supper-table; for one evening
1 will not complain of the everlasting hos
tess and the everlasting Boulinger. of the
double duty and the double bass, of the
great heiress, and the great plum puddidg:
"Come on, come all,
Come dance in Sir Roger's hall "
And thus by dint of civility, indolence,
quotation and antithesis, I bent up each
corporal agent to the terrible feat, and
'would have the honor of waiting upon
her ladyship" in due form.
1 went: turned my uncle's one-horse
chaise into the long old avenue, about an
hour after the lime specified, and percei
ved by the lights flashing from all the
windows, and the crash of chairs and
carriages returning from the door, that the
room was most punctually full, and the
performers most pastorally impatient.
The first face I encouutered on my en
trance, was that of my old friend Villars;
I was delighted to meet him, and express
ed my astonishment at finding him in a
situation for which his inclination, one
would have supposed, was as little adapted.
By Mercury!' he exclaimed, 'lam me
tamorphosed, fairly metamorphosed, my
good Vyvyan; I have been detained here
three months by a fall from Sir Peter,
and have amused myselt most indefalaga
bly by humming tunes and reading news
papers, winding silk, and guessing con
undrums. I have made myself the admi
ration, the adoration, the very worship of
all the coteries in the place; am reckoned
very clever at cross purposes, and very
apt at what's my thought like!' The
'squires have discovered 1 can carve, and j
the matrons hold me indispensable at loo. j
Come! I am of little seivice to-night, but'
ray popularity may be of use to you: you j
don t know a soul: 1 thought so; read it
in your face the - moment you came in
never saw such a there, Vyvyan,
look there! I will introduce you." And
so saying, my companion half limped.
halt danced with me up to Miss Amelia
Mesnil, and presented me in due form.
When I look hack to any particular
scene of my existence, I can4ver keep
the stage clear of second-rate characters.
I never think of Mr. Kean's Othello with
out an intrusive reflection upon the Sub
ject of Mr. Copper's Cassio; I never call
to mind a gorgeous scattering forth of ro
ses from Mr. Canning,' without a painful
idea of some contemporary effusion of
poppies from Mr. Hume. And thus,
beautiful Margaret, it is in vain that I en
deavor to separate your fascination from
the group which ' was collected around
you. Perhaps that dominion, which ' at
this moment 1 feel almost revived, recurs
more vividly to my imagination when the
forms and figures of all by whom it was
contested are associated in its renewal. '.
First comes Amelia the magnificent,
the acknowledged ' belle of the country,
very stifTand very dumb in. her unheeded
and uncontested supremacy; and next." the
most black-browed of fox-hunters, Augus
ta, enumerating the names of her father's
stud, and dancing as if she imitated; and
then the rno3t accomplished Jane, vowing
that for the last month she had endured
immense ennui, that she thinks Lady Ol
ivia prodigiously 'fade, that her cousin
Sophy is quite brillante to-night, and that
Mr. Peters plays tub violin a merveillel
I am bored, my dear Villars positive
ly bored! the light is bad and the music
abominable! there is no r spring in 'the
boards and less iu the. conversation; it is a
lovely moonlight night, and there is noth
ing worth looking at in the room.' ''
I shook hands with my friend, bowed to
three or four people, and was moving ofl'.
As I passed to the door, I met two ladies
in conversation;- "Don't you dance any
more, Margaret? said one. 0 uo,' replidd
the other, I am bored, my dear Louisa
positively bored; the light is bad and the
music abominable; there is no spring in
the boards, and less in the conversation;
it is a lovely moonlight night, and there is
nothing worth looking at in the room."
I never was distanced in a jest. I put
on the look of a ten years acquaintance,
and commenced parley. Surely you are
not going away yet; you have not danced
with me, Margaret; it is impossible you
can be so cruel! The lady behaved with
wonderful intrepedity. 4She would allow
me the honor-but I was very latc;-really,
I had not deserved it; and so we stood
up together.
Are you not very impertinent?'
Very; but you are very handsome.
Nay; you are not to be angry; it was a
fair challenge, and fairly received."
And you will not even ask my pardon?
No! it is out of my way! I never do
those things; it would embarrass me be
yond measure. Pray, let us accomplish
an introduction; not altogether an usual
one; but that matters little. Vyvyan Joy
euse rather impertinent, and very fortu
nate at j our service.
Margaret Orleans very handsome,
and rather foolish at your service.'
Margaret danced like an angel. I knew
she would. I could not conceive by what
blindness I had passed four hours without
being struck. We talked of all things
that are, and a few beside. She was
something of a botanist, so we began with
flowers; a digression upon China roses
carried us to China the mandarins with
little brains, and the ladies with little feet
the emperor the Orphan of China ;
vouaire zayrc criticism ur. Johnson
the great bear the system of Coperni
cus stars ribbons garters the order
of the Bath sea-bathing Dawlish Sid
mouth Lord Sidmouth Cicero Rome
Italy Alfieri Metastasio fountains
groves gardens and so, as ihe dancing
concluded, we contrived to end as we be
gan, with Margaret Orleans and botany.
XT 1 . " fF w-v V a i
Margaret talked well on all subjects,
and wittily on many. I had expected to
find nothing but a romping girl, somewhat
amusing, and very vain. But I was out
of my latitude in the first five minutes,
ana out of my senses in the next. She
left the room very early, and I drove
home, more astonished ' than I had been
for many years. j
Several weeks passed away, and I was
about to leave England, to join my sisters
on the Continent. I determined to look
once more on that enslaving smile, whose
recollection ' had huanted me more than
once. I, had ascertained that she resided
with an old lady who took two pupils,
and taught French and Italian, and music
and manners, at an establishment called
Vine House. Two days before I left the
country, I had been, till a late hour, shoot
ing at a mark with a duelling pi?tol an
entertainment, of which, perhaps from a
lurking presentiment, I was very fond. I
was returning alone when I perceived, by
the light of an enormous lamp, a board by
the wayside bearing the welcome inscrip
tion, Vine Hcuse."'
Enough,' I exclaimed, 'enough I one
more scene before the curtain drops
Ilomeo and Juliet by lamplight! I roam
ed about the dwelling place of all I held
dear, till I saw a figure at one of the win
dows, in the back of the house, which it
was quite impossible to doubt. I leaned
against a tree in a sentimental position,
and began to chant my own rhymes thus:
Pretty ccq-iette, the ceaseless JIJ
. Of thine unstudied wit.
And lUy dark eye's remembered my
Iy buoyant fancy lit.
And thy yunij fureliead' clear expanse,
Where the lock'u slejt.. as through the dance.
Dreamlike 1 saw lli.-e flit.
Are far too warm, and far to fair.
To mix with aupbt of earthly cro,
IJuttlie vision khall come when my day is
done,
A frail and a fair! and a fleeting one!
"And if the many bo!d!y -gize
On that bright brow of thine.
And if thine eye's undying rays,
On countless coxcombs shine.
And if thy wil llitig out its mirth,
Which echoes more of air than earth,.
For vther cars thnn mine.
I hoed not thU, ye are fickle things.
And I likej-our very wanderings;
I ghze, and if thousands thare toe bit,
lctty capricious! I heod nut this.
In sooth I am a wayward youth,
' " Ai fick'e s the sa.
And very apt to speak the truth,
Unpleasing tliougli ilba;
I am no lover, yet, as long
. As I have heart for jest or son, ...
An image, tweet, of thee.
Ijoeked in my heart's remotest treasures,
. Shall over to one of its hoards. I pleasures.
This from thu scoffer thou lust won, ,
' And muro t!mn - this l.e gives tv none.
Are they' yniur own verses?' said my
idol at the window.
They are yours, Margaret! I was only
the versifier; you were the muse herself.
". The muse herself is obliged to you.--And
now vhat is your errand? for it
gnows late, and you must be sensible no,
that you never will be but you must be
aware that this is very indecorous.
I am come to see you, dear Margaret;
which I cannot without candles; to
see you, and to tell you, that it is impossi
ble I can forget
Bless me! what a memory you hare!
But you must take another, opportunity
for your tale! for
Alas! I leave England immediately?
A pleasant voyage to you! there, not
word more; I must run down to coffee.
Now may I never laugh more, I said,
'if I am to be baffled thus;' so I strolled
back to the front of the ' house and pro
ceeded to reconnoitre. A bay-window
was half open, and in a. small neat draw
ing room I perceived a group assembled;
an old lady, with a high muslin cap
and red ribbons, was pouring out the cof
fee her nephew, a tall awkard young
gentleman, silting on oue chair and rest
ing his legs on another, was occupied in
the study of Sir Charles Grandisoa: and
my fair Margaret was leaning on a sofa,
and laughing immoderately. Indeed,
Miss,' said the matron, 'you should. learn
to govern your mirth; people will think
you came out of Bedlcm.
I lifted the window gently, and slept
into the room. Bcdlam, madam! quoih
I, I bring intelligence from Bedlam; I ar
rived last week.
The tall awkard young gentleman
stared: and the aunt half said, half skriek
cd 'What in the name of wonder ar
you?
Mad, madam ! very particularly mad !
mad as a hare in March, or a Chcapside
a a
blood on Sunday morning. Look at me!
do I not foam? listen to me! do I not raie?
Coffee, my dear madam, coffee; there
is no animal so thirsty as your madman
in thedog days.
Eh! really!' said the tall awkward
young gentleman.
My good sir, I began;- but my origi
nal insanity began to fail me, nd I drew
forthwith upon Ossian's Fiy! receive
the wind and fly; the blasts are in the hol
low of mv hand, the course of the storm
is mine!
Eh! really! said
the tall awkward
young gentleman.
I look on the nations and they vanish;
my nostrils pour the blast of death: I
come abroad on the winds; thf tempest is
before my face; but my dwelling is calm,
above the clouds; the fields of my rest aro
pleasant.
Do you mean to insult us? said the old
lady.
Ay! do you mean to insult my aunt?
really! said the tall awkward young gen
tleman. I shall call in my servants, said the
old lady.
Iam the humblest ofkthemt' said I,
bowing.
I shall teach you a different tune, said
the tall awkward young gentleman, really!'
Very well, my dear sir; my instrument
is the barrel organ; and I cocked toy
sweet little pocket companion in his face,
"Vanish, little Kastril; for by Hannibal,
Heliogabalus, and Holaphernes, lime is
valuable; madness is precipitate, and hair
triggers is the word: vanish!'
Eh! really!' said the the tall awkward
young gentleman, andperformed an en
trechat which carried him to the door; the
old lady had disappeared at he first noto
of the barrel organ. I locked the door
and found Margaret "m "a paroxysm of
laughter. I wish you had shot him, she
said, when she recovered, I wish vou
had shot him: he is a sad fool.'
Do not talk of him; I am speaking to
you, beautiful Margaret, possibly for the
last time! Will you ever think of me
perhaps you will. But let me receive
from you some token that I may dote
upon in other years; something that may
be a hope to me in my happiness, and a
consolation in calamity. Something
nay! I never could talk romance; but
give me one lock of your hair, and I will
will leave England with resignation. .
You have earned it like a true , night,
said Margaret; and she severed from her
head a long glossy ringlet. Look, she
continued. you must to horse; the country
has risen' for your apprehension. I turn
ed towards the window. The country
had indeed risen. Nothing was to bo
seen but gossoons in the van, Tand gossips
in the" rear, red faces and white jackets,
gallants in smock frocks, and gay damsels
in grogram. Bludgeons were waving and
torches, were flashing, as ftr as the gaze
could reach. All the chivalry of the place
was arming anu cuauiig, ouu aumj;
for a volley of pebbles and oaths together.
I kneeled down and kissed her hand.
It was the happiest moment of my life!
Now, said I, 'an revoir, my sweet Mar
garet. and ia a moment I was in the lane.
".. This was my first folly. I looked at
the lock of hair often, but I never saw
Margaret again. She has become th
wife of a young clergyman, and resides
with him" on a small living in Stafford
shire. I believe she. is very happy, and I
have forgotten the color of her cye.