LITMIR.BIZ

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its centre the cypher of herself and lord, surmounted by a coronet. At her feet knelt the Earl of Leicester with all the outward semblance of a god. One little hand rested confidingly in his, the other nestled amid the dark locks clustering over his high and polished brow. Ah! little did she dream of guile in her noble lord! How could she, when with such looks of love he gazed upon her – with such words of love delighted her trembling heart.

      The fawning villain, Varney, stood at a little distance behind the unconscious Amy, even then, as it seemed to me, plotting her destruction with the old arch hypocrite, Foster, with whom he was holding low and earnest conversation. Tressilian – the brave, good Tressilian – as if sworn to protect the lovely lady, leaned on his sword at her right hand, his fine eyes bent with a look of mingled admiration and pity on her ingenuous countenance.

      "The queen! the queen! – room for the queen!" echoed around. Hastily rising to his feet, and imprinting a slight kiss on her fair brow, the earl left his lovely bride, and was the next moment by the side of the haughty Elizabeth – England's maiden Queen.

      "Then, earl, why didst thou leave the beds

      Where roses and where lilies vie,

      To seek a prim-rose, whose pale shades

      Must sicken when those gauds are by?

      "But Leicester (or I much am wrong)

      It is not beauty lures thy vows,

      Rather ambition's gilded crown

      Makes thee forget thy humble spouse.

      "Last night, as sad I chanced to stray,

      The village death-bell smote my ear;

      They winked aside, and seemed to say,

      'Countess, prepare – thy end is near!'"

      "Thus sore and sad that lady grieved,

      In Cumnor Hall so lone and drear,

      And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved,

      And let fall many a bitter tear.

      "And ere the dawn of day appeared

      In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear,

      Full many a piercing scream was heard,

      And many a cry of mortal fear.

      "The death-bell thrice was heard to ring,

      An aerial voice was heard to call,

      And thrice the raven flapped his wing

      Around the towers of Cumnor Hall."

      It was pleasant to turn from a scene of such confiding love on one part, and base hypocrisy on the other, to look upon the honest countenance of Magnus Troil, who, with his daughters on each arm – the stately, dark-eyed Minna, and the no less lovely Brenda – were now approaching me. Behind followed Norna of the Fitful-head, in earnest conversation with the Pirate Cleveland. As I looked upon her tall, majestic person, her countenance, so stern and wild, rendered more so, perhaps, by the singular head-dress she had assumed, and her long hair streaming over her face and shoulders, I could no longer wonder at the power she had obtained over the minds of the ignorant peasantry and fishermen of Jarlshof.

      "Whist! whist! Triptolemus!" quoth Mistress Barbara Yelloway, pulling the sleeve of the Factor, "dinna be getting ower near the hellicat witch – wha kens but she may be asking for the horn o' siller, man."

      This speech had the desired effect; and the trembling Triptolemus hastily placed the bold front of Baby between him and the object of dread.

      Here, too, was Mareshal Dalgetty – and nothing but the respect due to so much beauty as was here assembled, I felt sure, could have prevented the appearance of his brave charger, Gustavus, also upon the scene. He was accompanied by Ranald of the Mist.

      With her little harp poised lightly on her arm, sweet Annot Lyle tripped by the side of the moody Allan, striving by her lively sallies to break the thrall of the dark fit which was about to seize upon him.

      Fair Alice Lee, and the brave old knight, Sir Harry, did not escape my notice – nor Master Wildrake, or the gay monarch, Charles, still under the disguise of Louis Kerneguy; and whose shuffling, awkward gait, and bushy red head, caused no small mirth in the assembly, as wondering to see one of so ungainly an appearance in such close attendance upon the lovely Alice.

      "Old Noll" had grouped around him in one corner the "Devil-scaring-lank-legs," the "Praise-God-barebones," and the "smell-sin-long-noses" of the day; but not finding any thing very attractive in that godly company, I passed on to where Isabella of Croye and the gallant Quentin Durward were holding earnest converse – not aware, unfortunately, that the snaky eye of the Bohemian was watching all their movements.

      I quickly stepped aside as I saw the miser, Trapbois, eagerly advancing toward the Lady of Croye, his eyes gloating over the rich jewels which adorned her person, and his long, skinny fingers seeming ready to tear the coveted gems from her fair neck and arms. Indeed, but for the presence of his stern daughter, Martha, I doubted whether he would not at least make the attempt.

      "Father, come home! this is no place for you – come home!" she said, in deep, slow tones.

      "Nay, daughter, I would but offer to serve these rich nobles for a small con-sider-ation; let me go, Martha – let me go, I say!" as placing her powerful arm within his, she drew him reluctantly toward the door.

      Suddenly a flourish of warlike music swelled through the lofty apartment – peal on peal reverberated around – and while I listened with awe to notes so grand and solemn, the music as suddenly changed its character. Now only the dulcet tones of the harp were heard, sweet as the soft summer shower when the tinkling rain-drops merrily pelt the flowers – strains so sweetly harmonious as seemed too heavenly for mortal touch. And as fainter and fainter, yet still more sweet, the ravishing melody breathed around, one by one the company glided out silently and mournfully – the tapestried walls gradually assumed the appearance of my own little parlor – the rich and tasteful decorations vanished —and where was I? Seated in my own comfortable rocking-chair, reclining in the same attitude as when so suddenly summoned forth by the gipsy carline. Truly,

      "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio. Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

      HOMEWARD BOUND

BY E. CURTISS HINE, U. S. N

      For weary years my feet had wandered

      On many a fair but distant shore;

      By Lima's crumbling walls I'd pondered

      And gazed upon the Andes hoar.

      The ocean's wild and restless billow,

      That rears its crested head on high,

      For years had been my couch and pillow,

      Until its sameness pained my eye.

      The playmates of my joyous childhood,

      With whom I laughed the hours away,

      And wandered through the tangled wildwood

      Till close of sultry summer day;

      My aged, gray, and feeble mother,

      Whom most I longed to see again,

      My sisters, and my only brother,

      Were o'er the wild and faithless main.

      At length the lagging days were numbered,

      That bound me to a foreign shore,

      And glorious hopes that long had slumbered

      Again their gilded plumage wore;

      Fond voices in my ear were singing

      The songs I loved in boyhood's day,

      As in my hammoc slowly swinging

      I mused the still night-hours away.

      And sylvan scenes then came before me,

      The bright green fields I loved

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