letter, and the accompanying message, and to make his parting bow.

In the deep shade of the forest he endeavored to recover his wonted coolness, but in vain; and it was with a feeling of absolute despair that he for the first time owned to himself the interest with which Caroline, in her new character, as the angel of the house of mourning, had inspired him.

His hands abandoned the rein-he ceased to guide his horse, and he did not even notice that the animal had wandered, browsing, far from the beaten track, when he was recalled from a vortex of busy thoughts by a violent blow; and Avenard, his eyes flashing fire, his horse in a foam, and his whole appearance betokening complete distraction, stood beside him.

"Villain!" he shouted, "mean pitiful scoundrel! this is your indifference! you were too much of a coward to dare to avow your intentions, so you resorted to the expedient of undermining! You do not escape me!" And the madman drew a pistol before Seymour had collected his senses.

Seymour was unarmed of course, for honest men do not carry weapons in a peaceful land; - but with the instinct of self-defence he turned upon Avenard, and urged his horse forward with the spur. The animal was a heavy and powerful one, and easily rode down the other, which was of a lighter make, and Avenard, unhorsed by the unexpected shock, fell prostrate with the whole weight

of his own horse across his body. The pistol went off however, and the ball broke Seymour's bridle arm. He lost all consciousness, and sank forward, with his face on his horse's neck; upon which that wise beast took the well-known way to a good stable, and carried his master safely to Mr. Hay's gate.

We cannot report the extent to which our gay Newyorker may have been injured by this rough handling, for he quitted the country without any further effort to see Miss Hay. Mr. Thurston's letters had brought intelligence of one of those developments which too often close the career of city youths, who, unfortunately "born with the tastes of a duke without his income," find it convenient to borrow of those who have more money than they have the spirit to spend. Avenard had written somebody else's name by mistake, and received various sums of money thereupon, and he was now on his way to more congenial climes.

All that could be guessed of his intention in coming to this country was, the cruel and base design of persuading the innocent Caroline to share his exile, but we will hope he was not so utterly vile; though it may be doubted whether a person of his selfish and unprincipled habits is capable of any form of disinterested affection.

SEYMOUR'S broken arm might have been no very terrible accident for a young backwoodsman, but the excitement and agitation of his mind were unfavorable to a speedy cure, and for several days, the physician went backwards and forwards between Mr. Hay's and Mr. Ellingham's, leaving almost equally anxious faces in both. But happily all went well, and Mrs. Thurston and Seymour were nearly at the same time pronounced convalescent. The latter was most carefully nursed at Mr. Hay's, and occasionally visited for a few moments by Caroline herself. She was looking pale, sad, and spiritworn from her long anxiety and confinement, added to the distressing thoughts naturally arising from the whole course of the Avenard affair. Between Seymour and herself there was a hopeful degree of constraint; for in his account of the affray he had unavoidably allowed it to be guessed that jealousy

was the moving cause of the young man's fury, and this presenting him in a new light to Caroline, forbade her feeling quite the ancient cool indifference, while Seymour, novice-like, was amusingly conscious.

Mr. Thurston now began to think of his return home, and he left nothing unsaid or undone to show his sense of the kindness with which he had been treated. He proposed to our friend Seymour to return with him to Newyork.

"We can do but little, my dear young friend," said he, "to show how we appreciate the kindness of all about us, but I hope thou wilt be willing to help us do what we can. I think I see in thee all that I can desire as a companion in business. Now, if thou wilt go with us to town, I will make thee such proposals as cannot but prove very advantageous to thy worldly interests, and such as will probably fix thee in the city permanently; and I am sure thou wilt not doubt that myself and my wife will do all in our power in return for thy great kindness to us in this our extremity. business is such as thou art well fitted for, and such as will make thy station in society all thou couldst desire. Now I have made thee a long discourse," concluded the good man with a smile, "and I hope thou wilt give me a short answer, and one favorable to my wishes. But no!" he added, recollecting himself, "I did wrong to ask thee for a sudden answer. Affairs of importance should be better

My

weighed. I was consulting my own wishes rather than thy good in this. Take a week for thy consideration of my proposal, and ask the counsel of thy friends. They will be better judges of thy real interest than I can be, for I am doubtless biased by my desire to have thee with me."

Seymour gratefully acknowledged Mr. Thurston's generous kindness, and, Mr. Hay coming in at the moment, the proposition was submitted for his judgment.

"You would probably live and die a richer man, Seymour," said he, "in the city than in the country; whether you would be a happier one may be doubted. But you are young enough to make the trial, and you have good sense enough to give it up if you find yourself unfitted, by character or habit, for a city life." And here the matter rested for the present.

He

Mr. Hay, who had always been extremely active in his habis, was now failing in health in some degree, though he had hardly yet reached the age when "the strong men shall bow themselves." had been among the earliest pioneers of the West, and the labors and privations of his younger days had left their traces in his constitution, producing a premature old age not uncommon among the settlers. His interest in the duties and occupations of his situation were in no wise diminished, yet he was frequently prevented from taking his usual active part in them; a state of things which