TO A LADY. 237 



"Lionel, I faint, lead me, lead me;" I hurried her out of the 

 tent; the air soon restored her. "Lionel, what did he say?" 

 gasped the affrighted girl — " did you notice his look, how horribly 

 dark and mysterious — I shudder at it." I laughed away her 

 fears. " Well, well, Lionel, I am not well, and indeed I could 

 cry with fear ; but Lionel, you speak not, perhaps you wished to 

 remain." " No, no, Ellen, not for the world would I keep you 

 there ; we will find your father, and then perhaps you will excuse 

 me for a few minutes, as I saw a person in that tent with whom I 

 wish to speak. Come, come, my love ! do not be alarmed at 

 shadows." " Ah, Lionel ! the shadow which I feared was on my 

 own mind, 'twas not the man. No, no" — " My own love ! re- 

 member next week, and then for ever we shall put an end to 

 fear — remember * Tachen-glaz,' " said I, as I pressed her nearer 

 to my side ; she pressed my hand. Mr. Westberry joined us, to 

 whom I consigned my affrighted Ellen. "Have you seen 

 Lieutenant Stratton ?" inquired Mr. Westberry somewhat sharply, 

 " it is half an hour since we parted, if you see him. Sir, tell him 

 we shall proceed slowly homeward. Come, Ellen — Sir, good 

 even to you." "Lionel, dear Lionel!" whispered Ellen — "haste 

 my love ; stay not Lionel," said Ellen, gazing with unutterable 

 fondness upon me. " Ellen." " I come. Sir." " Dear Ellen, 

 farewell !" She left me. For some minutes I stood as if frozen 

 to the ground, even as dead as those distant, monumental stones. 

 "Farewell! did she say farewell! — Ellen, my love — oh God! 

 shield me — be to her a preserver." I looked over the bleak moor, 

 I could just see Ellen's light dress fluttering in the fleeting wind 

 — now they are gone — gone sighed the wind. I turned slowly 

 towards the pystrior's tent. 



(To he continued.) 



TO A LADY. 



Chill, stormy clouds will veil the fairest sky ; 

 Hopes in their fragrant blossom droop and die, 

 And tears — dark tears — bedim youth's brilliant eye : 

 Roses, ere fully blown, desert their spray ; 

 Light, newly born, fast fleet in shades away ; 

 Old friendships weary* d, root and branch decay : 

 Truth vanish like a far-off sail at sea, 

 Time teach the bosom infidelity ; 

 Earth fade, and ocean's waves no longer be. 



But, fair and pure one ! be it thine to share 



All things that ever-changeless beauty wear ! 



Roses whose buds no thorns in secret, bear ; 



True friendship flourishing in verdant prime ; 



Love that, illumed with radiant joy, sublime 



Endureth, loyally, through tide and time ; 



Tears born of bliss, — thoughts bath'd in golden light, — 



Transports that faith and Christian deeds requite 



Ere Eden's bow'rs salute thy raptur'd sight. 



EDWARD. 



