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swered him in a friendly tone; on which Ivan | I will rase it all from my recollection.' And to a broke out into a long description of Mashenka's great extent he had succeeded. But the past caninerits and virtues, and the service she could do, not be wholly forgotten. The mind is not comand her present unhappiness, and entreated the pletely its own master. Mashenka's name had sergeant to plead for her. Well, that will I; and brought out of the past some thoughts, which I will lend you music for the wedding, if a wed- were more bright because they came forth from ding there be.' darkness. The visit to the shalash flashed upon Light was the step of Ivan as he hurried to Ma-him in striking contrast to all the other events of shenka's hut. But she could hardly hope the that inemorable and melancholy time. He longed dream, as she thought it, would ever prove a re-to see Mashenka, and he drove off to visit her ality. The gosudar will never consent. No, almost as soon as he heard of her arrival. Ivan, you will go alone; and you will leave me Milostivy had acquired influence, though he had to weep and to die!' The moment was, however, not amassed wealth. Adversity had made him a propitious one. The Emperor was very desi-thoughtful, and he restrained the momentary imrous of extending the military colonies. It was pulse which would have offered at once to change one of his most favored projects, and the sergeant the condition of Ivan and Mashenka. He wisely knew it. He spoke to the lieutenant above him; calculated that he could make them far more lieutenant to the superior officers; and authority happy by opening to them more widely the door was obtained for the celebration of the marriage, of future, though distant prosperity, than by and for the departure of the bride with her hus- any sudden or unexpected change. He desired band to the interior. I shall not tell you, children, Mashenka, whose delight broke through the all that passed on the journey. Ivan was a kind accustomed marks of servile respect with which husband, and Mashenka a happy wife. Severe, the Russian serfs salute their masters, to tell him and even cruel, though the army regulations of her story since she had quitted his ancient estate. Russia are, Ivan was never a defaulter, and the Many a time he passed his hand over his eyes presence of Mashenka enabled him to bear much as Mashenka told him of the distressing changes which otherwise might have seemed unbearable. in the condition of the peasantry since he left. But Mashenka did not tell all; for why should she give sorrow to a master who had never given sorrow to her or hers?

The military colonies were intended to unite the agricultural with the military life. Ivan was not only a diligent but an intelligent peasant; and Mashenka soon found that her former habits and

engagements might be beneficial to both. They had now also escaped from vassalage; for the moment a serf becomes a soldier, the right of the lord over his person ceases. Any profits he can make belong to himself, and the seignior cannot take them away. Ivan's good behavior soon led to his advancement; and he was allowed a small spot of ground to cultivate for himself. The day when he obtained it was one of the very happiest

of Mashenka's existence. In it she saw their future fortunes; and she was not deceived.

·

She was clearing away the snow one morning in winter, when an officer's kibitka stopped suddenly; and she heard Mashenka !' in a voice that seemed familiar to her ear. It was Count Milostivy. He was the commander of a regiment in a neighboring colony, and had heard that the Moscow mushroom-girl was only a few versts away He had passed through many scenes of vicissitude! but having, through the interference of some old acquaintance, obtained a commission from the Emperor, had entreated that he might be stationed at the military colonies; first, because he wished to remove himself far from all the scenes where self-reproach and sorrow went with him at every step; and, secondly, because he thought it was really a scene of great usefulness, where he might re-establish a credit that was broken, and regain the peace of mind that had long ago abandoned him. He had determined to forget the past, for in it there was no memory of pleasure. It seemed to him a dark and dreary spot, to which it was misery to turn. He avoided every occupation which could remind him of former scenes. 'I will begin,' he said, 'a new existence. I cannot alter the past, nor undo that which has been done; but I can make it as if it had never been. I can

Have you forgotten the mushroom trade?' inquired the count. No, indeed, my gracious lord,' answered Mashenka; and Ivan and myself have often thought that if I could be permitted'I know what you mean, Mashenka? You shall have permission and patronage too. It was for that I came. When the season arrives you shall be set up in the world.'

obtained mushroom spawn from different parts of The promise was faithfully kept. The count the empire. He studied the matter as if his own happiness had depended on it. He helped Ivan and Mashenka to various modes of culture. He added the observations of science to those of Mashenka's experience. He assisted them to produce and to sell their productions. The groundwork was again laid of a little fortune, of which Mashenka was not again to be despoiled. Year after year added something to their well-doing; and the count was enabed to recompense their meritorious efforts in a thousand ways. Ivan reached the highest grade among non-commissioned officers. So popular was he, that none complained of his advancement. Mashenka and he have many children; and they are the children not now of serfs, but of free people; for Ivan's term of military service is over, and he has been enabled to buy a small tract of land close to the colony, through the whole extent of which the mushroom-maid of Moscow is a title of fame.”

Moments in Life.

OH, there are evil moments in our life,
When but a thought, a word, a look, las power
To dash the cup of happiness aside,
And stamp us wretched!

The Gladiator. they waited the result with breathless suspense. STILLNESS reigned in the vast amphitheatre, and A low growl of satisfaction now announced the from the countless thousands that thronged the noble animal's triumph as he sprang fiercely upon spacious enclosure, not a breath was heard. his prostrate enemy. But it was of short duration: Every tongue was mute with suspense, and every the dagger of the gladiator pierced his vitals, and eye strained with anxiety towards the fatal portal, together they rolled over and over, across the where the gladiator was momentarily expected to broad arena, Again the dagger drank deep of enter. At length the trumpet sounded, and they the monster's blood, and again a roar of anguish led him forth into the broad arena. There was reverberated through the stately edifice. The no mark of fear upon his manly countenance, as Nazarene, now watching his opportunity, sprung with majestic step and fearless eye he entered. with the velocity of thought from the terrific emHe stood there, like another Apollo, firm and un-brace of his enfeebled antagonist, and regaining bending as the rigid oak. His fine proportioned his falchion, which had fallen to the ground in the form was matchless, and his turgid muscles spoke his giant strength.

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Adventure in Italy.

A British officer, travelling in Italy, arrived one evening at a small village, much fatigued and in need of refreshment. Applying for it at the door

struggle, he buried it deep in the heart of the infuriated beast. The noble king of the forest, faint "And I am here," he cried, as his proud lip from the loss of blood, concentrated all his remaincurled in scorn, "to glut the savage eyes of Rome's ing strength in one mighty bound; but it was too proud populace. Ay, like a dog you throw me to late; the last blow had been driven home to the a beast; and what is my offence? Why, forsooth, centre of life, and his huge form fell with a mighty I am a Christian. But know, vain fools! ye can-crush upon the arena, amid the thundering acclanot fright my soul, for it is based upon a founda- mations of the populace. tion stronger than the adamantine rock. Know, fools! whose hearts are harder than the flinty stone, my heart quakes not with fear; and here I swear, I would not change conditions with the blood-stained Nero, crowned though he he,-not for the wealth of Rome. Blow ye your trumpet-of a capanna, provisions were set before him, and I am ready." a bed prepared for the exhausted wanderer, for The trumpet sounded, and a long, low growl which hospitalities he paid little or nothing. Next was heard to proceed from the cage of a half-day, his host offered to put him in the right road to famished Numidian lion, situated at the farthest the place he intended to visit; and, during their end of the arena. The growl soon deepened into walk, the officer asked him several questions a roar of tremendous volume, which shook the respecting the state of Italy, Italian towns, Italian enormous edifice to its very centre. At that mo- government and police, etc., concluding by inquir ment, the door was thrown open, and the huge ing the profession of his guide, and how he mainmonster of the forest sprung from his den with tained himself and family:-" Signor," replied the one mighty bound, to the opposite side of the man," sono rubatore bandito," and he plucked from arena. His eye blazed with the brilliancy of fire! his vest a concealed stiletto, advising the astonas he slowly drew his length along the sand, and ished traveller, to hasten forwards, lest he should prepared to make a spring upon his formidable meet with ladri less honorable than himself, assurantagonist. The gladiator's eye quailed not; his ing him, however, that all that confided in him for lip paled not; but he stood immovable as a statue, protection and kindness, were safe, and certain of waiting the approach of his wary foe. At length, receiving it. the lion crouched himself into an attitude for springing, and with the quickness of lightning, leaped full at the throat of the gladiator. But he was prepared for him, and bounding lightly on one side, his falchion flashed for a moment over his head, and in the next it was deeply dyed in the purple blood of the monster. A roar of redoubled fury again resounded through the spacious amphitheatre, as the enraged animal, mad with anguish from the wound he had just received, wheeled hastily round, and sprung a second time at the Nazarene. Again was the falchion of the cool and intrepid gladiator deeply planted in the breast of his terrible adversary; but so sudden had been the second attack, that it was impossible to avoid the full impetus of his bound, and he staggered and fell upon his knee. The monster's paw was upon his shoulder, and he felt his hot fiery breath upon his cheek, as it rushed through his widedistended nostrils. The Nazarene drew a short dagger from his girdle, and endeavored to regain his feet. But his wary foe, aware of his design, precipitating himself upon him, threw him with violence to the ground. The excitement of the populace was now wrought up to a high pitch, and

ORIGINAL.

Lines on an Infant's Death.

ADIEU, Sweet babe !-thy breath has flown,
And left thy form to rest;
No anxious cry or piteous moan,
Can now disturb thy breast.
Calm and serene, thy marble brow

In placid sweetness lies;
No pearly drops are glistening now,
We've closed thy little eyes.
Thy pallid cheek lies cold and still,

Thy lips in silence prest;
Thy palsied limbs prepared to fill

Their final place of rest.
Thy life was but a fleeting dream,
The dawning of a day,
Which cast a momentary gleam

Of light, to fade away.
But who could wish thy longer stay,
When pain and sorrow were thy doom?
Resigned, we see thee borne away
In silence, to the lonely tumb.

S. E.

ORIGINAL.

ISADORA MARNESQUE:

Or, Tom Stanfield's Tribulation.

My lady had attained to a most perplexing epoch in life, and her daughter Isadora, too, pertinaciously adhered to her teens, and was in a fair way to be chained to them for the next century or more, while her 'mamma' had almost despaired of staying the inroads of the despoiler, since in sober veracity, all the little yet vitally important requisites of the toilet, within the knowledge of the unblest fair, were assiduously obtained and industriously applied to her human face divine,' in order to mel

ISADORA Adelia Fitz-something Marnesque, was shrew, and a villanous taste in her deceased unfortunately bereft of her father at an early spouse, the beauty of her youth notwithstanding. age. He had been a merchant, and had acquired Proud of her wealth, herself and daughter; punca handsome fortune in a few years, by a singular tillous and unique in her views of etiquette; a subtact in business, and while he lived enjoyed him-scriber to the whimsies of the beau monde, and to self with the zest of an epicurean. Every luxury the elegancies of the Malaprop school. At the that wealth could obtain, was his. He had a demise of her worthy husband, and indeed long splendid town residence, and an equally splendid after, scandal ever busy, insinuated most maliciouschateau, a costly equipage with every unnecessary ly, that tears lived in onion that watered her sornecessary; an indispensable quantum of obse-row,' a very invidious insinuation, cast back as it quious, congeeing sprouts of Afric's burning deserved to be with compound interest into the sands,' who seemed endowed with wonderful om- teeth of her defamers; others, not a whit more nipotence, bouncing like catachouche at the word charitable, hinted that she was known since the of command, as the wants or caprices of the Gov- sad catastrophe to indulge very liberally in orauges, ernor, Governess, or vice-Governess, demanded. whereby, they meant to infer that the pealings of A peep in the attic might have gone far to con- said luscious fruit, being compressed twixt the vince one, that in the midst of wealth they were in thumb and finger in the immediate neighborhood want, if a few cart loads of bell ropes, that lay of the eyes, a portion of the acid was therein ejectcosily in a corner might attest, enjoying the bles- ed! but this I take to be of a piece with the other sings of retirement from their indefatigable perse- malignant inuendo. cutors. The overwhelming extent of their acquaintance too, might be estimated by a glance at the card-racks, drooping as they did with the abandance of cartes de visite,' of which they were very scrupulously relieved at the end of each week, and their luxuriant produce religiously bestowed into a flour barrel-a special recipient, be it known. Alabaster, a colored lad, a shade darker than sin, was appointed master of ceremonies at the grand entrance, but being a novice in refinement, was properly instructed in the mysteries of his of-low the asperities of two score and five, into the fice by his senior mistress-the principal features of which were-to certain individuals when occasion required, and to others who required no occasion, he was to turn necromancer, and declare them invisible; and, a solemn injuncton, that if an audacious mendicant, set all propriety at defiIsadora might now have been twenty, though ance by venturing his plebeian face within the im- she averred and her 'ma' persisted, in seventeen; perial precincts, to send the beggarly thing away betraying thereby a remarkable deficit in point of with a flea in its ear' This and a duodicimo memory-played (?) that much abused instrument, more. Ally soon committed to memory, for he the piano and sung to it with a deal of pathoswas a ready negro-responding to his honored painted shadowless boquets-tortured French and mistress' duplicity and uncharitableness with "O Italian desperately, wrote heart melting sentiment, yes, missus, me twig um right one, sartain, and tripped the light fantastic toe 'with commendno blush neda," displaying at neda an array of mas-able grace, and sobbed over the pages that chroni ticators of sinister seeming and doubtful purport. Poor fellow! he was being fashionably educated. Mistress Arabella Marnesque, when young was reputed handsome, how true it was, it is not necessary to inquire; but now, heaven save the mark! she wore a most acrimonious or vinegar aspect, which when convulsed with a smile, was a rank caricature of double distilled verjuice; and to hazzard a look at her while laboring under the paroxysm, was to thrill through every nerve and involuntary screw your own particular physiog nomy by a strange sympathy; she was long, acute and cadaverous, with a terrible mop of flaming hair, in which she seemed greatly to rejoice. On the whole her outward person bespoke the

blooming freshness of seventeen. But alas! with what effect,-it was like placing the radiant robes of an angel on the figure of a witch, or powdered pearls and the delicate hue of the rose on the face of Medusa.

cled the piteous fates of the heroes and heroines of fiction. Thus her mind, naturally good, became poisoned by an entire abandonment to this class of works; always identifying herself with the last character she read and wept over, and was as romantic and absurd for weeks after, as the model portrayed by the ingenious author. See her at a ball or other public place of amusement, if you were a stranger to her idiosyncracy, and your interest and sympathy would be enlisted; you would probably pronounce her a beautiful and melancholly creature, in whose gentle bosom rankled. some secret sorrow,' sitting apart indifferent to the pleasures that surrounded her, smiling now and then with unspeakable sweetness; her head peu

sively resting on her transparent hand; the luxuriant golden curls kissing her polished neck, with two or three, particularly, so disposed as to fall in convolutions on her tempting cheek. At another time you would exclaim, Heavens! what a dream like being,'-the embodied emanation of thought! The sweetness of a seraph with the majesty of queens! At another-but stay; every occasion claimed a character, and my reader, like Tom, might be sorely embarrassed to find her.

finding one among them who knew her personally, and through whom he might hope for an introduction; what was he to do? how should he act? were questions more easily asked than answered. And who was that repulsive looking old lady so outrageously bedizzened with the last importation of fashion and fabric; powdered profusely as if she had been in collision with a miller's meal-bag, and the rifled rose struggling through the farinaceous panoply; she speaks to the angel as if she were her aunt,—she must be her aunt.

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At last Harry Mountford was espied in conversation with a lady, and as soon as the tete a tete ended, Tom hastened to him, to elicit, if possible, information. 'Harry! my dear fellow, I'm glad we've met-how are you?-hope you are well-confounded lucky I happened to see you-would'nt have missed seeing you for the universe-just come with me for a moment if you can and tell—”

"I can't," replied Harry, "leave here for the thousandth part of a moment, 'pon honor-just secured the honor of a lady's hand for the next sethas merely stepped to speak to a friend and will be here in a moment, so can't really. Excuse me."

"Well," said Tom, "can you tell me who that superb girl is yonder?-ah! half a dozen have intervened, there-there! now you may see her."

"There are so many," answered Harry, laughing," that if your description is not more concise, egad! I must give it up."

"Well you see that gorgon, that sphynx with forty feathers in her head, that intolerably grim woman?" "I do."

"Excellent. I mean the lady in conversation with her."

"Oh! I think her name is Marnesque; Isadora Fitz-something Marnesque."

"What perfection, isn't she? and the tall woman she speaks with?"

But it is time you should know who Tom was. Tom Stanfield was an artist: he had been a pupil to an eminent painter, and was attaining a high degree of excellence, and wherever a fine painting, a masterly production of the chisel, or a superb production of nature in the form of woman was to be seen, there too was Tom to be seen. He had been educated at Cambridge-studied medicine for a term, changed his mind and abandoned the healing for the limning art. When I say that he was twenty-three, quite a handsome, tall and keen eyed fellow, with not an atom of romance in his composition, nevertheless rather the swell' than the unalloyed matter of fact gentleman; an initiate in the profundities of gallantry—of an old and highly respectable family, boasting no patrimony, and depending for subsistence on the skill of his pencil: when I say this, it is all that may consciously be asked, and you will rest content with this sketch, imperfect as it is, until I have time to do him justice in a finished picture. I should state however, that he was a Baltimorean, and had taken up his residence in this city but a short time prior to an eventful evening in September 183-, when at a ball, Tom, whose tribulation I am about to relate first saw Miss Isadora Adelia Fitz-something Marnesque. He had expended full three hours and thirty minutes at his toilet, and finished his labors with perfect satisfaction, when his college chum, Theophilus Tremayne, who had effected his triumphal entry into Gotham but a week or two before, called for him as per appointment; and in due time both arrived at the ball. The room was handsomely decorated and brilliantly lightedthere were as yet but few there; soon the rattling of carriages as they rolled over the rough stones, announced the coming of the lovers of the graceful three,-company flowed in and the ladies-bless them!-walked like fairies, arrayed for the bridal fete of their queen. Merry hearts, laughing eyes, wreathed smiles and graceful forms were to be seen in every direction. Tom was bewildered, and well might he be; he had never seen such a galaxy of beauty; every moment the influx became greater, and being a highly susceptable ed into their carriage by an old gentleman in black chap, lost his heart a thousand times and recalled small clothes and powdered hair, and away they it as often, to bestow it on one of superior charms. drove. He sprang into a hack, gave Jehu orders At last came Isadora Marnesque; now indeed was to follow at an unsuspicious distance, and when he enraptured-lost!-never had he beheld a being they stopped, to drive up vis-a-vis, descend from his so truly heavenly, and in a desperate moment, re- box, adjust the disordered harness, and in the meansolved to expunge from the canvass his almost time, anxiously inquired from the window what in finished Nymph reposing,' soundly berating in the deuce had happened, accidentally noted the bitterness of heart the impotence of his vaunted house; whether a two, three or four story; blind "Oh! that I knew her," said he mentally. shutters, close shutters or no shutters; how many "What a spiritual creature! Nature has excelled pumps and trees there were in the neighborhood, herself in this transcendent creation!" How with their several localities. It was moonlightshould he get acquainted with her? The list of his the house stood on the illuminated side of the street, acquaintances was so limited that he despaired of it was carefully scanned and there could be no

art.

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"Her mother I believe."

"Good Heavens!" ejaculated Tom. Is the young lady a resident?"

"O yes-yes."

"And where does the goddess sojourn ?" "In G―, street somewhere, but precisely where I know not."

"I ask no more," quoth Tom, grasping his hand until Harry bit his nether lip in anguish. "I won't detain you a moment longer; here's a button off your coat by-the-bye."

This bit of information was by no means satisfactory; he determined to ascertain more, and when at a late hour much of the company had retired, saw Isadora and her maternal monitor hand

of the lady.

mistake. He drove on as soon as repairs had been | he that his flight of fancy was a fair representation made, presented the obliging coachee with a V,' and wended his way home.

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Sleep that night was a stranger to his eyes-he could not close them; all thought was absorbed in the dear creature who had so disturbed his funcy and entranced his soul. His studio was in his dwelling; he proceeded to it, lamp in hand; there on the easel set his Nymph reposing,' it was a superior effort, certainly his chef d'œuvre ;—he gazed upon its lovely face and faultless form with unmixed horror. Mistress Marnesque stared from the former, the latter was as ungraceful as a hippopotamus, and as out of drawing as a chinese landscape; a shocking amalgamation of colors with the line of beauty playing the truant. So he fancied. He grasped, in his frenzy, a huge brush dripping with sombre, refuse paint, and-no he didn't, good reader; he bethought himself, was wiser, controlled his impetuosity and deferred its annihilation to a future period.

"Come, come," said Theophilus, "you're fairly caught, acknowledge it sans prevarication: tell the truth and shame his majesty."

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'No joke on my veracity. She's infinitely handsomer than the prima donna-appropos to prima donna-do we go to the Park this evening, Cinderella and the Tempest." Enough, call upon me an hour hence and I'll honor you with my inestimable company; any thing to cheat the lagging hour." At the expiration of an hour his friend waited upon him, and they proceeded to the Theatre: crowds were pouring in-benefit night-the cur

A few weeks elapsed, during which he diligent-tain rang up and the play went on; the house was ly sought some one who knew and could introduce him to the family, or if not to that one in paricular, to a branch, or their friends, by which he would be enabled, doubtless, to effect his ardent wish; but no-fate was unpropitious, and he felt himself emphatically in a quandary. He paraded the promenades, but alas! in the multitudes there was no Isadora. He was sitting in his room, one very pleasant afternoon, completing a sketch from rocollection of his fair enslaver, when Theophilus entered; Tom was so rivetted to his work, that his attention was not directed to his visitor, until the latter catching a glance at the portrait, inquired

thronged, not a vacant seat was to be seen, save a reservation in the box adjoining that in which our hero and his friend were sitting. Tom looked with unerring certainty at every lady in the house. whose appearance was more than ordinarily attractive, and then carefully repeated his scrutiny, embracing all, well favored or ill-favored, attractive or unattractive; but only to ensure his disappointment. Having at length satisfied himself that Isadora was not present, he directed his attention to the performance, when a movement among those who were obliged to stand at the box-door, betokened the entrance of fresh visitors. Both turned their heads in that direction, and—it was no illusion-and the fair Isadora and her Hebe-like mo"Ah! how do you do, Tremayne," said the artist ther seated themselves in the before stated vacancy, wheeling suddenly round in his chair, evidently attended by the old gentleman in black small taken a l'improviste; and passing his fingers care- clothes and powdered hair. Tom's heart played lessly and with affected ennui through his black locks, slightly yawning at the same time-"Who hop skip and jump,' and at times, seemed not in vain trying to effect an escape. Tremayne have, Oh!-yes, ha! ha! a-I-a mere flight of fancy I assure ye—a hem! quite happy in expres-tance of the case demanded winked both his eyes touched him slyly with his cane, and as the impor

who he had there.

sion."

"

Very," said his friend, with a quizzical contortion of face and waggish look of the eye, as he continued: "I opine I have been bewitched with the incomparable original."

"Poh! nonsense! its bona-fide a creation of my own."

"Don't tell me that Tom,-lay not the flattering unction to thy soul.' I've seen her, face to face, I am confident: where," said he musing, "did I see her." He paused with his forefinger on the tip of his nose.

"If you have seen her more than once, you're a happier fellow than I am," sighed the lover.

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By Jove I have it," roared Tremayne, "ha! ha! good, good! ha! ha! capital hit."

"Who do you pretend to say it is," asked Tom hastily, and a little confused, if one might judge by the flush of his cheek.

"Who? who? a pretty question truly-who other than the charming creature who ran away with your senses at the ball ?"

Tom smiled for his success was highly complimentary to his genius, and not a little gratified was

simultaneously. It was answered by a smile of equivocal meaning, and face like the sun seen through a thundercloud. They could not by their proximity to the observed, exchange a word, and consequently, what was said, passed through that dubious medium, the language of the eyes. The first piece was drawing to a close,-the air close and suffocating-many retired to the saloon to breathe a purer atmosphere; others, at the sacrifice of comfort, were unwilling to lose a note of the delightful syren; and others again, fumed through a semi-death, solely that they might see their dollar's worth. At this moment, Isadora fainted and her mother caught her in her arms, so much alarmed, as to be incapable for some moments of uttering a syllable; and the old gentleman seemed paralyzed with astonishment and awe, believing that she really had expired.

Tom stated that he was a physician, and proffered counsel in this emergency, directed her to be conveyed-nay assisted in conveying her to the saloon, restoratives were applied and she soon returned to consciousness. He attended her to the carriage, and as she was still very ill, Mrs Marnesque invi

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