True American, 1855-08-08

CHAPTER I. THE STAGE-COACH. ' 0 woman's love ! at times it may Sueui cold and clouded, but it burns With true undeviating ray, And never from its idol turns." Ckoiy, Tho last signal had been given, aud the omuibui! which daily fussed through the lit tics village of 0 was about to depart on its accustomed route. Standing at tho door of the "Stage House," Ernest Sinclair had, for the last half hour, been amusing himself with watching the confusiou and bustle that pre pre-vaded - vaded pre-vaded the interior of the stage-coach the cries of childreu, the disposing of bun bundles - dles bundles and baskets, the scrambling for scats and adieus to frieuds. Suddenly his at attention - tention attention was drawn off by thc.sound of carriage- wheels, aud tho next instant a hand handsome - some handsome barouche and grays dashed at full speed up the laue and stopped direetly in front of tho hotel. Another moment and the carriage door was opeued by a liveried footman, who assisted two females to alight -onc apparently quite youthful, the other evidently advuueed in years. Their faces were closely veiled, but tho sylph-like form and graceful bearing of the younger made Ernest Sinclair wish that he could pene penetrate - trate penetrate that thick 'wiaty curtaia' of gauze, and obtain a view of her countenance.

the shade of the Aconite, aud binds his throbbing temples with the wreaths of its dull foliage. The night of despair is fast closing in upou him. Darkness, like a blaukct, shuts out the light of heaven, and the trembling madness fires his brain. Slimy serpents are in attendance upou him. They glide around noiselessly, and lull him in drowsy folds. fsT "Sileuce is often au answer," say un Arabic proverb. How true it is, that when the tongue of malice or anger fails to provoke a reply, it reluctantly sheaths itself in chagrin and shame. In many ca cases - ses cases no reply can be more powerful than si silence. - lence. silence. There are men you cannot touch more acutely than by letting them alono most severely, as Theodore Hook expreft expreft-es - es expreft-es it, when they vilify you. JtlTA man will be what his most cher cherished - ished cherished feelings are. If ho encourage a co coble - ble coble generosity, every feeling will bo tnrkh-

by a table sewing they raised their eyes as the visitor entered, and he caught a glimpse of two countenances, certainly not very prepossessing in their appearance. The ladies continued their work, and the visitor awaited with impatience the appearance of his friend. Iu a few seoonds more the door opeued, and Carrington en entered, - tered, entered, aud alter giving his guest a warm welcome, introduced the ladies as his sis sisters, - ters, sisters, th Missel Carrington. Tho next ten miuutcs were occupied in a lively con conversation - versation conversation between the two gentleman, and then Sinclair moved toward the tablo whero the ladies were stationed ; and on a nearer view he wae enabled to discover that tho their Btyle of dress wbb youthful, they had both evidently passed their thirtieth year. After a few commonplaoe remarks, which were replied to with formal politeness by

At the first part of this information, Sinclair felt inexpressibly relieved ; for in Lizzie Carringtou he had recognized the young lady to whom he had been of so much service more than four months pre previous! - vious! previous! She had now to all appearance concluded her antics, for she had seated herself upon a chair, and was busily en engaged - gaged engaged divesting the kitten of her orna ornamental - mental ornamental attire. Ernest Sinclair thought he could never tire gazing upon that fair and laughing face ; but his attention was now attracted by the sound of Mrs. Carring Carrington's - ton's Carrington's voice. "Conio, Lizzie," she said, smilingly, as she advanced and took the young girl's hand, "uow that you have put the finish finishing - ing finishing stroke to your graud dance, suppose

over seen. Sho appeared to very young ; perhaps not fifteen, aud there was ah in intelligent, - telligent, intelligent, yet mischievous light in those dark blue eyes, though they now beamed gratofully upon hor presorver. Fivo minutes after, she was seated be be-sido - sido be-sido her frind in the Btage-coach ; once more tho driver gathered up the reins and flourished bis whip high in the air, the horses noighed and pranced, and ere many seconds had elapsed the omnibus was lost in the distance. Ernest Siuclair stood gazing abstracted abstractedly - ly abstractedly upon the vehielo till it disappeared from sight, und then turned thoughtfully toward home to dream of that fair girlish face and remember the soft clasp of that little hand! ' , Often afterwards did he think ef that

nest." And though he would fain have dispensed with any claim to couwmhij), Siuclair was obliged to content himself. "And in the next place, I am going to discover whether I should offeud you very much if I should -call you Lizzie dear Lizzie." And how Mr. Eruest Sinclair amused himself after that I will not take upou myself to repeat ; but certain it is, that night Lizzie Carrington retired to her chamber with the full consciousness that she was loved ! For a long time she re remained - mained remained awake musing. Until that even evening - ing evening sho had never deemed herself thought of as other than a child by Sinclair; till theu she had never taken the trouble to exauiiue her own heart, und now as she did so sho was surprised to find that it was

when they speak of it ; for who ever stop stopped - ped stopped aud did not at some time give way to temptation ? It id dangerous to trifle with pleasure. Each step that she leads us away from the path of rectitude, leaves us less desire to return. Each time that she induces us ' to deviate, we muet go a littlo further to obtain the same unjoymcnt. Even with increased experience we resolve to walk in the path of duty ; we follow it with juore difficulty, if we have once allowed ourselves to wander. Pleasure stauda at a gate ever open, aud sho invites us to enter her gardens. She She-tells - tells She-tells us that we need not fear, for we cart return when we choose, SL calls to tho pilgrim, on the dusty highway of life, and, wayworn and weary, as he is, she invitci