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Emily's in the school of redemption, would not permit her to rest in material attractions. She admired their loveliness; but the more they were lovely, the closer did they draw her to Him, from whose benignity they came-leading her to adore its Maker, in

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So clothed with beauty, for rebellious man.”

In such an hour it was, and amidst such scenes, that Alphonzo at last avowed the affection he bore her, and asked for a return. They had winded among the devious paths that conducted through the glen and the adjacent glades, until, as evening fell, they found themselves beside the arbour, which we have already occasionally alluded to in the course of our narrative. Here, desirous of enjoying the prospect, and not unwilling to repose after many an aberration through walks, which passion, undeclared, but not unknown, had rendered sweet, they entered. Emily's bosom was beating high. It seemed to her, as if that hour was to be decisive of results which were to characterize her future life, and yet she scarcely was conscious

why. Some kind spirit, she almost imagined, was whispering in her ear of secrets, long concealed, and now to be disclosed, and

nly admonishing her of the high, though arduous, duty she had to perform. "Be faithful, Emily," he appeared to say ; leave events to God!"

"and

Alphonzo was seated at her side. She had observed him more thoughtful than usual during their rambles, and once even fancied that she had perceived him wipe away a falling tear. He was now still more thoughtful. He remained beside her,

gazing, one while, on the water, and again on the hills, and now on the departing orb. At length his eye fixed-it was on the setting sun. He watched it-and sighed deeply. It

was descending. Still he watched it-it descended still. Still he gazed fixedly-it was rapidly withdrawing from his view. Fixedly still he gazed—and now it was seen no more! He then suddenly seized her hand, and said in a voice so agitated as almost to prevent utterance: "Ere that sun arise, Emily, may I

request

you to tell me, whether these eyes shall hail its approach with joy, or whether it shall behold me exiled for ever from the spot whence I have seen it sink."-He turned away his head as he concluded, as if to hide some emotion he strove, but was unable to controul. "Speak, Emily," he continued, with look averted: "I need not acquaint you with the fondness of a heart you have long read; nor need you be informed that my earthly happiness is bound up in-" here articulation failed him; and he could only say again-" Speak, Emily."

The sources, whence we derive the subject of our story, do not furnish us accurately with the maiden's reply. All we have been able to learn is, that, after a long and impassioned pause, she declared her unalterable purpose of giving her hand only to him, on whose arm she could lean with confidence through the journey of life-who would be at once her protector, and her companion in travel to her Redeemer's rest -and who would worship with her, by the way, at the altar of propitiation, in sincerity

and truth. In such terms, however, was her answer couched, as betrayed, while they would have thrown a veil over, her tenderness; and conveyed to the anxious listener the silent assurance, that there was one bosom, at least, on earth, that beat in unison with his own. "And what, then," said Alphonzo, either misunderstanding her, or feigning to do so, and reading in the death-like paleness, that overspread her delicate and expressive countenance, the latent affection with which she was contending-"am I to see my beloved Emily no more?"-snatching up his hat, which he had laid on the seat, and moving as to depart "Farewell, then, Emily:-O must I say, for ever farewell?" In her turn, Emily, trembling and agitated, now became an unconscious supplicant. Rising, and taking hold of him-"Did I say so, Alphonzo? Do forgive me, if I did."" Farewell," he repeated, gently disengaging himself from her grasp.-"O Alphonzo! and will you, then, break my heart?" said she, bursting into tears, and sinking upon the seat.

The youth, deeply moved, turned, and approaching her, took her passive hand in his, and pressing it, bedewed as it was with tears, to his lips, uttered, in a tone softened by a thousand sensations warring within-"No, Emily: I should indeed be more than cruel, could I do aught of violence to a heart so gentle.-But, for the present, I must say farewell."

Night was now advancing, and the shades were thickening round. All was still, however, and Alphonzo, as he hurried along the winding path towards the spot where his servant waited with his horse, fancied he could hear her sobs, as he stopped at intervals, mingled with faint cries of "Alphonzo, Alphonzo;" until they gradually died away in the distance, and he could catch them no more. He then quickened his pace, threw himself into his saddle, and was ere long again within the walls where he had received his birth. Here, retiring to his chamber, he thought of Emily's reproof. He was not so little conversant with the labrynths of woman's heart, as to dis

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