retain the Kate Landon, she may consult her own pleasure!" Thus Landon's mind was resolutely made up, and he immediately announced his intention to the family at Riverview. We did not undertake to describe the outcry upon honest Jack Digby's part, when his friend was going away for a twelvemonth. We certainly, therefore, shall not try to paint the scene which followed the declaration now of his design to go away for many years. It was a hurricane of protests, to his old habits of living-unchanged, except | haps Asia; I'll see the world for as many years that his character was more cynical, his smile as I fancy; I'll grow a ferocious beard, and more indifferent and careless. In fact, Mr. Lan- smoke a chibouk in Constantinople! Then I'll don promised to become an elderly and good- come back, and settle down in old Northumberhumored bachelor; fond of the chase and his land for the remainder of my life, having seen bottle; singing songs in favor of single blessed- every thing; and if Miss Kate Landon Digby ness, and gradually growing eligible for a god-wishes to drop the latter part of her name, and father to the increasing household of his friend. At Riverview the young man was upon a footing of the most entire familiarity. He was regarded as one of the household-subject to none of the laws of etiquette-and free to go and come without announcing his arrival or departure. This arrangement, so to speak, seemed to afford his hostess the utmost delight. She greeted him always with her brightest smile, and begged him not to go whenever he rose to depart. It seemed to be her study how to please and make him happy. A thousand little wo-entreaties, almost of indignation, which raged manly devices betrayed her fondness; and she declared upon a hundred occasions that Mr. Landon was her "other husband," to the great delight and amusement of honest Digby. The three persons formed thus a little world to themselves, full of laughter and sunshine; and Landon found his days glide away like minutes, careless and tranquil, with no clouds in the sky, no cold or rain in the warm atmosphere of love. Thus passed six months, and then the young man began to covet something to arouse him. He was lounging one morning upon a sofa in Mrs. Digby's chamber, whither he always went at once upon his arrival, without the least ceremony, and he announced, with a smile, this humor to do something. "I believe I'll go to Europe, and remain fifteen or sixteen years," he said; "then return, and marry Kate yonder in the cradle." "Oh, Sainty!" said Mrs. Digby, who was sewing opposite, "how foolish you are!" "Foolish? Why I think 'twould be the best plan in the world, Kate; unless you refuse your consent!" And Landon laughed, lazily. "I would not refuse, Sainty; and I'll give you Katie now, except that you must let me educate your future wife." around him-but he was firm. At the end of a week Jack Digby and his wife gave up in despair, and Landon came and bade them farewell, leaving his younger brother at Riverview, as before. Honest Jack turned away to hide a moisture in his eyes-Mrs. Kate kissed the departing traveler, tears streaming down her cheeks-and to this scene were added the tears and sobs of little Alfred and Carrie. "Come, come, friends!" said Landon, frowning to hide his own emotion, "'tis not an everlasting separation. Who knows but I'll get tired in a year, and come back! I thought when I went away the last time I'd never return-and now I have a prospective wife to bring me home again," he added, pointing with a smile to the cradle. "Remember your promise, Kate, and so farewell!" On the next morning Landon and his trunks departed from the "Neck;" and with a favorable wind blowing down the brilliant Chesapeake, and filling the snowy sails, he went from the Western World, which soon sank and disappeared from his sight. VIII.-WHY, THAT'S MY WIFE.. Agreed!" said Landon, laughing; "and which we have just related, one of those small at sixteen I may have her?" craft which ply along the shores of the Chesapeake, entered the mouth of the Potomac, rounded Roger's Point, and approached the old wharf at "Landon's Neck." At the stern of the sloop stood a man apparently about twenty-eight years old, tall, state But when Landon returned home that even-ly, and with a complexion deeply embrowned by ing the subject came back to his thoughts, and his project presented itself to him with an odd attraction, perhaps from its very singularity and extravagance. He continued to think of it, day after day, more and more; and gradually the idle whim ripened into a determined purpose. "Yes, I'll go!" he said finally, one day; "I've made up my mind. This life is really delightful, but there's too much honey in it for a young fellow as fond of rough adventure as I am! Yes, decidedly I'll go to Europe, and perVOL. XV.-No. 86.-N sun and wind. A long and slender mustache, as black as midnight, and curled upward after the fashion of the period, fringed the firm, handsome lips; and beneath the perfectly arched brows sparkled a pair of dark and brilliant eyes, full of life and pride. The traveler was elegantly clad in an embroidered suit of maroon silk, and his quick glance darting from beneath a wide Spanish hat, surveyed the scene of land' and water with evident pleasure. As the little craft veered toward the wharf, sending up clouds of spray from her sharp cutwater, the traveler's attention was attracted by a beautiful sail-boat scudding under a press of snowy canvas across the brilliant expanse-and the light bark which ran over the ripples like a waterfowl with outstretched wings, was filled with youths and maidens, clad in all the colors of the rainbow, and as noisy as a party of happy children. The stranger gazed admiringly at the little bark with its fluttering streamers, and seemed to like the bright faces, for he smiled as he looked at them. One especially attracted his attention the face of a young lady, erect like himself in the stern, and leaning for support upon the shoulder of a youth, who did not seem at all fatigued by his burden. She was a girl of about sixteen, with brown curling hair, rippling now in the fresh breeze-a pair of rosy cheeks-and a figure tall, slender, and exquisitely graceful, as it bent backward and forward, lithe, rounded, and undulating, with the movement of the dancing bark. "A perfect little fairy, that!" muttered the stranger, smiling; and turning to a negro who had rowed to meet the sloop from the wharf, "Who is the young lady standing yonder, in the stern of that sail-boat?" he said. "Miss Kate Digby, Sah," replied the grinning negro. after which came the great old dinner-and the revelers from the water. Landon found his hand squeezed almost to a jelly by the vigorous grasp of a graceful young fellow of twenty-one, who introduced himself as | Alfred Landon; felt his lips suddenly assaulted by a young lady of the same age, Miss Carrie Digby; and behind there came a new acquaintance, blushing and smiling, Miss Kate Landon Digby, whom he had left sixteen years before in the cradle. Kate came to Mr. Landon, stepping with the grace and lightness of a mountain deer, which she really resembled in the beautiful carriage of her fair head; and with rosy cheeks, and large bright eyes, sparkling with pleasure, did not seem reluctant to welcome the stranger in the approved manner. "Why, here's my wife!" cried Landon, greeting the girl with a brilliant smile, “I salute my bride, as is proper!" And he impressed a kiss upon the blushing cheek which was not withdrawn. "I left you in the cradle, ma'm'selle!" holding her hand and looking at her with admiring affection, "and your mother gave you to me. Did you not, Madame Kate ?" "Yes, indeed, Sainty!" "Miss Kate Digby!" exclaimed the traveler, positively salute you again, Madame, if Jack "why that's my wife!" will permit. You really delight me more than I can tell you by calling me by my old name— the name of my youth.' And with a smile, Landon leaped from the deck of the sloop to the wharf, from which he walked to his house visble on a hill in the distance. The writers of romances have this advantage over the historian, or the simple story teller, that the width of canvas admits of those graphic delineations which add so largely to the attractions of a narrative. Were our canvas of the size in question, we might describe the extravagant delight of Landon's dark household-the joy of the white-haired patriarchs, bent with age -the dancing of the small Africans, for the most part clad in a single garment--the confusion, the uproar, the loud chant of "Massa Sainty home again!" and all the wild exuberance of the simple natures, flocking around the so-long-absent lord of the manor, and shaking his hand joyfully. All this we should like to tell of-and of the after meeting with Colonel John Digby, Justice of the Peace, and his excellent lady, who became quite childish and ridiculous upon the occasion, and, figuratively speaking, kindled a great bonfire in token of rejoicing. This and much more might we delineate on the above-referred-to expansive canvas—but unfortunately our real material is far too narrow. The brush paints in the air all those gracious and kind faces-we can only faintly touch them-minute, and thrown far to the background. It is enough to say that honest Jack-still the same happy laughing gentleman-exhibited extravagant joy-and that Madame Kate conducted herself with a similar want of propriety; "You are quite a youth yet," said Mrs. Digby, receiving the second kiss with a smile, "and even younger, I think." "No, indeed! I'm an old fellow of thirtyeight. I despair of ever inducing Kate here to marry me." "You've not asked her yet!" "That's true, 'faith! will you, Kate?" "Ask mamma!" was the reply of the young lady, blushing into laughter. "She says yes." "Then I'm quite willing." Which reply of Miss Kate's caused universal laughter. One personage, however, did not seem to listen with so much pleasure as the rest-Alfred Landon. He blushed slightly— moved about in an uneasy manner-and was evidently relieved when his brother turned to converse with Mr. Digby and Mrs. Kate. Dinner proceeded, and we need not say that the friends sat for hours over their wine, talking of a thousand things-recalling old scenes and memories-and smiling as they had not smiled for years. After all there is nothing in the whole wide world like home-like those faces which beam as of old-like the friends of our youth. Age does not change the old love-distance take from it; and the two friends lived again all that life which had gone from them, and were again happy. When Landon returned homeward, he experienced a tranquil happiness which he had been a stranger to for years: and among all those kindly faces, he smiled the most at the recollection of Miss Kate's, and at her mirth and beauty. IX.-AT RIVERVIEW. "And so you think you will like me, Kate ?" "Yes, indeed, cousin Sainty! you see I've fashioned my mouth as you desire," said the lovely girl. 66 I hope you'll always call me so," continued Landon, smiling, and looking through the window of the great apartment at "Riverview," where this conversation took place, "I doubted whether you could place me on the list of your cousins, Kate-it seems more suitable for you to call me uncle, does it not?" "Oh no, indeed, cousin! not that I don't like uncle, for I think I'd love an uncle if I had one, dearly! A young uncle recollect!" added the merry girl, "for you know he'd pet me, and I'm desperately fond of petting!" It was not Kate's fault that she accompanied the words with a dangerous glance. Nature had given her that look, and she could no more keep her brilliant eyes demurely fixed upon the carpet, than she could look prim when any thing amused her. "Ah, well!" said Landon, laughing, "I don't find fault with that—and I'm very well content to be your cousin, if you'll adopt such an old gentleman." "An old gentleman! You!" Why, certainly." "In your wife!" cried Kate, laughing and blushing. "But I'm going to set an example to brides, cousin." "Ah! I'd forgotten." "Forgotten, Sir! Fie! for shame!" And again Kate's laugh rang out merry and free. Landon scarcely knew what to reply, and it was well for him that Alfred entered at the moment and broke up the interview. The two brothers returned home together, but little was said upon the road. Landon was smiling and reflecting; Alfred was gloomy, and full of a strange, vague jealousy. IX.-A GENTLEMAN. Does the heart grow so much older with the passing years that the fresh, pure love of boyhood is impossible to the mature mind? In many instances this is doubtless true-in as many others it is not. The kind, true heart is always young, for the bitter waters of misfortune and dispelled illusion leave no stain on the pure tablet. Such a soul flourishes in imperishable youth, and two or four score years may turn the locks to gray or white, but they can not banish the sunshine of the breast. Landon was thirty-eight on his return from that long travel through many lands, but he had all the gayety and freshness of a man of twenty. He was even younger, it seemed, than when he went away, for life had passed before him in a thousand brilliant and imposing forms, "You! Why, cousin, you look scarcely twen- and all his old cynical indifference had disapty-eight!" "Alas! I am thirty-eight!" "That's still very young." peared, leaving in its place a calm good-humor, a fresher zest of existence, and a happier and more contented philosophy. He no longer "And so you think I'd answer for a young cared to roam away, to utter satire, to yawn And Miss Kate delivered another dangerous excellent thing. He experienced a calm joy at look. Landon laughed. "Well, well," he said, regarding the young girl with undisguised affection and admiration, "call me uncle-cousin-any thing you will, so that you love me; for you love me a little, do you not?" His voice altered like a boy's as he spoke, and Miss Kate perceived it, for a slight tinge came to her cheek. "Indeed, cousin Sainty," she said, with a frank and sincere look, "twould be indeed strange did I not love you. Mamma does nothing but praise you and speak of all your goodness; and I think you've given her love-powders. Not a day, I think, has passed, for years, without some allusion to our traveler;' and there's a little air, which mamma sings oftenI have learned it-called 'Across the sea and home again.' I'm glad you've heard it, and obeyed it." And the beautiful girl looked at him with such a frank affection in her tender, smiling eyes, that Landon felt his heart beat. "Oh, you flatter me!" he said, smiling; "that is not necessary-" the idea of spending the remainder of his days in the good old domain of home. He smiled where he had scoffed and laughed. He was fresher and happier. Thus it was that he brought to the young girl, Kate Digby, whom he soon came to love, a purity and delicacy of feeling which he had never before possessed. He scarcely realized that he was more than twice her age, and, indeed, the young lady herself seemed wholly oblivious of the fact. She soon found herself returning his repartees with perfect ease; and every day the affection which he had experienced for her upon their first meeting appeared more natural, and ripened more rapidly into what it ere long became, delicate and tender love. Honest Jack Digby and his excellent wife observed the growing fondness for the young girl on the part of Landon with the deepest satisfaction. If there was any desire which the lady cherished above and beyond all others, it was that of seeing her daughter united to the noble gentleman whose beautiful traits of head and heart had inspired her with so much ad miration and affection. It came at last to be | away, leaving his brother to prosecute his suit the daily prayer of the kind lady; and at the on an undisputed arena. expiration of two or three months, her schemes seemed to be in a fair way for fulfillment, when suddenly, by the act of Landon himself, they were all at once disappointed and wholly dissipated. One morning Landon bade the family goodby, and set out for the western country beyond the great Blue Ridge-alleging the necessity of attending to his waste lands; an occupation which, he said, would probably retain him away for at least a year, perhaps two. We shall not attempt to paint the scene at "Riverview,' whose kind mistress dissolved into a flood of tears at the announcement, but proceed briefly to explain this course upon the part of Landon. He exiled himself thus deliberately-for the business was all a pretense-to avoid becoming the rival of his brother. In these words we sum up, and indicate succinctly the point to which things had come. With every passing day the man of thirtyeight had found in the girl of seventeen some new and more engaging quality-some hitherto undiscovered loveliness of intellect or heart. He saw ripening beneath his eyes, as it were, from seed to fruit, from bud to full blossom, one of those rare and beautiful natures which seem allied to the sunshine, the flowers, the pure and limpid streams reflecting the blue heavens, to all that is delicate and admirable in the universe. And seeing her thus, tender and beautiful, he had come to love her with all the ardor and freshness of a boy, into whose heart love enters for the first time. With the gliding weeks, his love grew stronger and stronger; in her presence alone he seemed to live, and from her violet eyes he drank in something brighter than the sunshine-an influence which made him young again, reviving in full strength and brilliance all the rosy and enchanting dreams of his happy youth. Let us not accompany him, but, passing over the space of ten months, rapidly bring our narrative to its dénouement. X.-CORRESPONDENCE. Ten months after his departure Landon received the following letter, which found him at his place of sojourn beyond the Blue Ridge: "LANDON'S NECK, August 10, 175 "DEAR BROTHER,-I write to announce the happiest event of my life, and to ask your permission, although I'm twenty-one, to get married. You are the head of our house, and 'tis proper that you should not remain in ignorance of the alliance which I'm about to enter into. Therefore, my dear brother, let me, in the European fashion, and with the gravest dignity, which I can't preserve long without laughing, I fear, since I'm so happy -permit me to announce to your Excellency that I've the honor of being engaged to Miss Digby, and every preparation is made for our marriage. Pray do not be absent twill take place at Pentotoc church, on the 10th October, and I should be really unhappy were not the best of brothers present on the occasion. Pray write at once; we are all very well, and the estate proceeds admirably. All at Riverview send much love. "Always, my dear brother, "Your obedient ALFRED LANDON." This was the letter which Landon read with a pale cheek, and deep sighs. His reply was as follows: "MR. PENDLETON'S, IN BERKELEY COUNTY, the 1st Sep. 175-. "MY DEAR ALFRED,-You have my entire approval of your alliance with Miss Digby, and if 'tis possible I shall be present at Pontotoc Church on the 10th October. Mr. Digby, as you are aware, is one of my oldest and most esteemed friends, and the young lady possesses great excellence and beauty of character. heartily God-speed, and will write you soon at greater length, my desire being that you should have the 'Bayshore' estate upon your marriage. Present my regards to our excellent friends at Riverview. I bid you "Your loving brother, ST. GEORGE LANDON." The pang which his brother's letter caused Landon, was one of inexpressible bitterness. To the last moment he had hoped that something would intervene to prevent his unhappiness-that Providence would not thus again strike him heavily; with that desperate hope which characterizes drowning men and lovers, he had questioned the horizon of chance each day for some cloud, some indication of change. To the end he had clung to his illusion, and retained his trust. Now, however, all was over: the blow had at last fallen with all its strength, he was a despairing man; and nothing re claim to the young lady's hand. There was no part left him but that of the smiling friend of the family-one of the pageant at the marriage. This was the point at which Landon had arrived when, one day, he discovered what, strangely unobservant, he had not dreamed of, that his brother Alfred loved the woman upon whom he himself had thus expended all the treasures of his heart. Arrested suddenly by this terrible misfortune, as a horse going at full speed is by the hand of his rider, Landon turned pale, and going away to his silent chamber, sat down and reflected. With knit brows, and mut-mained for him but a decent withdrawal of all tering lips-pale with suppressed agitation, and groaning at times-he meditated long and profoundly. Three hours passed thus, and then he rose, agitated but determined, miserable but calm, and resolute to preserve this calmness. It was the second time that a great temptation had assailed him-on the first occasion he had struggled successfully-should he be wanting now? Should he refuse to his brother that magnanimity which he had exerted toward a friend? No! At least, there should be no blot on his escutcheon; and so, with a smile on his lips, and a heart full of despair, he went "Well!" he said, with clenched teeth, "I'll not retreat! I'll go, and then let fate do her worst. "Tis a hard task to move a ruined man!" He had determined to be present at his brother's marriage. XI.-PONTOTOC CHURCH: CONCLUSION. At nine o'clock in the morning, on the 10th of October, Landon mounted on horseback, ap which he grasped the back of the seat, made the firm timber bend and crack. Then a last shudder ran through his frame, his white teeth caught the trembling under lip with the pressure of iron, and Landon raised his head, and looked. She stood with her back to him, clad in her bridal dress of snowy satin, falling in stiff folds ending in a train, and from her head floated the white vail, almost to the floor. proached the old Pontotoc Church, through the | were riveted upon the floor, and the hand with magnificent woodland; and tying his animal to a bough of the forest, entered the building. Doubtful of his strength, and desirous above all things to avoid the possibility of any thing like a "scene," he had determined to put off the meeting with his brother until the marriage was consummated; and in prosecution of this scheme, he now ascended the winding stairway leading to a small private gallery, such as the greater families built for their own accommodation, and concealed himself behind the large railing. From this perch, raised high above the body of the church, he could witness all, and wiping his forehead, which was bathed in cold sweat, he sat down, and waited for the approach of the bridal party. At the end of somewhat more than an hour the sound of chariot wheels and prancing hoofs resounded upon the road in front of the building, every moment growing louder and more frequent, and ere long, the church began to fill with gayly-dressed dames and gentlemen, exchanging a hundred salutations, and uttering that murmurous greeting and conversation which characterized such occasions at the period, as indeed it does to the present day. Silent and motionless in his hiding-place, Landon heard all these compliments, all this laughter; he recognized the young ladies of the county, and the gentlemen his friends, as he had left them, all smiling as in days before, and carrying on the comedy which he regarded with a mournful smile, a sombre disdain. There they were, smiling and happy, and full of expectation; and he was looking upon the pageant from his concealment plunged into the most miserable despair, the deepest wretchedness. There were the cavaliers ogling the maidens, and dreaming of the moment when their own weddings would take place-while for him there was no more love, no more happiness, no more laughter, it seemed almost no more life! A groan issued from Landon's breast, which mingled with the hubbub, and was lost; leaning his cold forehead against a pillar he summoned all his resolution, braced all his remaining strength, and thus, calm and pale awaited the coming spectacle. At last it came. The wheels of half a dozen chariots resounded in front of the church-the rustling of satin was heard as the bride and her suit issued from the coaches-and in the midst of a general movement accompanied by a prolonged buzz, which made the concourse resemble a bed of tulips agitated by the wind -the bridal party swept into the edifice, ascended the aisle, and took their places before the black-robed parson. Landon, with one arm clasping the pillar upon which he leaned, and brows bathed in icy moisture, retained for an instant his former attitude -his body bending forward, his head crouching like that of a hunter who seeks to avoid the spring of an enraged panther. His fiery eyes, burning like flame in his face as pale' as ashes, Alfred in a magnificent costume, covered with embroidery, raised his proud and happy head; and thus side by side, their garments touching, they went through the ceremony which · made them man and wife. Then the heads of all were bent as the parson uttered the concluding prayer; all heads but one. A superstitious observer would have said that the pale face, with its eyes burning like fire, belonged to some evil spirit entered into the flesh. The prayer ended, and in the midst of an immense flood of kisses and congratulations, the bride and bridegroom turned from the chancel. Landon rose to his feet with a bound, and then seemed about to fall back fainting. The bride was "Miss Digby," it is true; but it was Carrie Digby-not Kate. This latter young lady was first bridesmaid! The revulsion was almost too much for Landon's strength, strong as he was. The rush of tumultuous joy almost overwhelmed him. Before he knew where he was, he was exchanging greetings with a dozen friends in the vestibule below, laughing with electric mirth, and pressing toward the bride. This extravagance soon passed, however, and when he reached the side of his brother, Landon had regained all his coolness, and met him with a placid smile. The young bridegroom uttered a joyous exclamation and pressed his brother's hand enthusiastically, demanding how it had been possible that he had not known of his presence. "Only a little surprise I wished to give you!" said the smiling Landon, “and now with your permission, Monseigneur, I shall salute Madame !" Mrs. Carrie Landon returned the kiss with the utmost warmth; and then Landon's eye encountered that of the first bridesmaid, Miss Kate Landon Digby. Her face flushed with joy, and pressing toward Landon with sparkling eyes, and heightened color, she cried, holding out both hands "Oh! I am so glad to see you, cousin Sainty!" "And I to see you, Kate, I do assure you. I'm glad enough to kiss you." But Miss Kate drew back, blushing more deeply than before. "No-please-don't!" she murmured; "at least-not here! Oh, I do not mean that! But, indeed, I am very glad to see you, Sir." And the girl turned away her head, as if afraid of betraying by the expression of her eyes how very deep her joy at meeting him again in reality was. |