"Now," she thought, "everything will be brought right."

The warm blood rushed, indeed, with a stronger current to Miss Chesley's own heart. The fate of a life-time rested upon her decision that moment. A hundred considerations to justify the disregard of the covenant rose before her. All that Emily had said, all that reason could urge, all that passion could plead, came upon her mind with the vehemence of a torrent. Yet, though shaken, she was steadfast. In a tremulous voice she replied, "I do not know what course would be enjoined by the wise and dispassionate; but this I know, Laurence, that the human heart seldom hesitates between the gratification of its most earnest longings and disappointment, unless duty be on the bitter side. There is always danger, even when no warnings intervene, in yielding to inclination; and whenever room is afforded for deliberation and doubt, they choose most safely who permit not the scale to descend in which the weight of self is placed. Far be it from me to change a purpose which honor and conscience alike command. I feel that I could stifle any passion however strong or engrossing, which should dare persuade me to wish you one jot less worthy of my respect and admiration."

"I might have been assured of it," said Seymour, fervently; "It was impossible that my dishonor and breach of faith could be demanded by a regard for your happiness and welfare. Released from this, the single fear which unnerved me, I can return to England a man. I bless you, Matilda, for the lesson your lips have given: without you I cannot, indeed, be happy; but it is in my power to be useful, and what higher privilege need a created being ask?"

Then the farewell was exchanged, almost silently and with little show of passion. Afterwards Seymour took Miss Marshall's hand, saying, "Accept my heartiest thanks for the sympathy which you have manifested, and for the kind and earnest counsel by which it has been accompanied; but the path she points out" -his eyes were here turned for an instant to Matilda" is best. Is it not so ?"

Emily, who saw him in the course of that brief interview brought from the brink |

conscientious resolve, could return no denial. When Seymour immediately after left the house, still preserving his calm, manly and thoughtful demeanor, Miss Marshall whispered to her friend, "I believe in truth that your way is best."

Seymour went back to Anderport-on foot as he came. When he neared the tavern the sound of many voices struck his ear. The cause of the unwonted confusion and clamor was at once apprehended; for the hour-it was noon-testified that the race must be over; yet it was with a sensation of pain that he saw himself obliged to encounter a scene for which the present state of his mind was so little fitted. There was no opportunity for retirement to his favorite moody solitudes ;the packet would leave in a very few hours, and go he must. It is necessary to anticipate him, and even to recur to the raceground.

There the proprietors of the horses, and a numerous throng besides, had duly assembled. Jordan was there supporting Buck Weeks. The latter, (now the excitement of the morning was over,) appeared too pallid and frail to direct the motion of his own limbs, yet was he depended upon to rule the mettled steed that pawed the earth as the stout groom who led him into the field was compelled to keep both hands on the halter.

"Have a bold heart Buck," said Jordan; "win this race and I'll make a man of you."

The lad returned a sickly smile, and said, "I hope the Grey will win, but as for me, I reckon I'm done up; I feel the notion coming on stronger and stronger; it aint good to break promises-there's no luck in it."

"Enough of this talk," exclaimed Jordan, almost savagely; "I believe in my heart you are going to knock everything to pieces by this cursed folly."

"No, I shan't," answered Buck Weeks, "I'll do what I'm able; and, I reckon, you'll say nobody could have filled them stirrups better. Help me up now-hold on there, Jake."

Three rounds had been made, and the fourth and decisive heat only remained. Gilbert Jordan was so well satisfied with the performance of the gallant Grey and his rider that he made large addition to his heavy bets. It was with intense anxiety, therefore, that he awaited the result. The trying and dangerous as well as critical moment had come. Gallant Grey, who combined swiftness with his great power of endurance, was apt to do well so long as his rider could afford to bear a heavy hand upon the bridle; but the least excess of liberty spoiled him. When the demands of the race no longer permitted the rider to hold him in, and when, on the contrary, it was necessary to stimulate his energies with whip and spur, then was the time of peril. On three previous occasions he had become quite ungovernable. Once he had pranced and leaped from one side of the track to the other till the race was lost. The next time he leaped the fence and ran off to his stable with a dizzy speed far exceeding his best achievements on the turf. At the third repetition of the hazardous experiment he threw his rider and returned to the starting post.

Buck Weeks, profiting by his own experience and sedulously tutored by Jordan, was fully aware of all the risks attending his situation, and did what he could to diminish them. Caliph, however, the other horse, was nearly a match in every respect for his antagonist; and Buck, though he postponed the desperate effort as long as possible, saw that it must be made at last.

Three-fourths of the course were passed. The horses ran side by side, and the most practised spectator could not distinguish that either was a head's length in advance. It was an animated and exciting, though painful, sight. The lad who rode Caliph plied the whip and was, evidently, urging the horse to his utmost. Buck Weeks was leaning back in the saddle, his whip hanging unused from his wrist, while both hands grasped the bridle. There was a sudden change. The Gallant Grey dashed forward at a rate to which his former speed seemed like rest; - Caliph panting and straining was left far behind. Then arose the shout, "Hurrah, Buck! hurrah, Buck!" Jordan, whose ears were insensible to any sound, held his breath and leaned eagerly across the railing. In three leaps more Gallant Grey will reach the goal. At that instant his wild, ungovernable nature showed itself. He reared bolt upright; then, as the ready spur pierced his flank, he half wheeled and sprang to the futher

side of the track. The skill of Buck Weeks, equal to any emergency, returned him to his place ere it was quite too late. The maddened animal again reared, again the rowels were plunged in each flank. As that next leap should be directed the race would be lost or won. Just then a stirrup-strap broke; the hapless rider was cast from the saddle with prodigious violence, Gallant Grey tossing the bridle to and fro, and making many a wild curvet, dashed over the field; while Caliph shot by at an unbroken gallop, gained the stand, and was pronounced winner of the

race.

Gilbert Jordan ground his teeth together and turned in rage from the course.

"Don't you mean to see after Buck Weeks?" inquired a by-stander; "that was a dreadful fall, and I shouldn't wonder if his neck was broke."

"No!" shouted the gambler, harshly, "let him take care of himself;" and he accompanied his answer with a volley of imprecations upon the horse, the rider, and his own soul.

Others had more humanity or were less vexed by disappointments and losses. As they raised Buck Weeks from the ground the poor youth groaned and opened his eyes. Bearing him as gently as possible, for every motion seemed to cause acute pain, they took him to the tavern. There he was examined by a physician, who declared that an arm and two ribs were broken, and that there was also reason to fear his having suffered some severe internal injuries.

Buck Weeks received the information of his danger with great fortitude. "I knew it was a coming," he said, in a tone of mournful resignation. "A promise aint to be forsook without a judgment especially when it's made to them that haven't got living eyes to watch how you keep it. But it couldn't be helped, I reckon-I was bound to mind Gil Jordan's bidding. Where is Mr. Jordan, though? I'd like mightily to see his face so as to tell him that I aint sorry."

"Oh, Jordan's gone," answered some one-"clean gone and no mistake. Hewent off raving and tearing mad, and you needn't to trouble yourself about him, Buck; for, you may be sure, he don't care the value of ninepence whether you are alive or dead."

This news inflicted a sharper pang upon

give.

Laurence Seymour now came upon the porch. Learning what had befallen the race-rider, he entered the room where he lay and inquired kindly after his condition. Buck, on hearing the Englishman's voice, instantly raised his head, "You, likewise," he said, "have had something to do with Mr. Ander."

"With Reginald Ander?" said Seymour, much surprised.

"Yes," answered Buck Weeks, "and he's a queer body, too, to have dealings with, that's certain. Are you afraid to meet him?-I aint no, not a bit, for all what's happened. A promise is a promise, but there's things that ought to stand higher-I'm sure there are. He was wise and 'cute and talked what was rational; and the promises that he worked a fellow up to were for a body's good, I'm well persuaded, but the heart must be first served; and if it ever leads the wrong way, don't it pay for it afterwards in suffering? I think so-I wouldn't have believed that of Gil Jordan. Well, its all done up now, and I shant let it worry me. I tried to do what was according to right all along-even when the Grey jumped the track I managed as well as the state of things gave leave, and it wasn't my fault that the stirrupleather broke-was it? When that did give way I'm sure that if I had been a piece of the critter's back I must have been flung off. But I did what I thought I ought to, all through so let Reginald Ander say what he pleases."

"His mind is wandering," remarked several bystanders to one another. Just then, however, their attention was drawn to the outside. In front of the door a horseman had that instant drawn bridle. The eyes of all were directed to him. To many he seemed like one risen from the dead; but the hearty tone in which he replied to the cordial salutations that greeted him from every side left no room to doubt that Mr. Marshall was before them in life and vigor. As he dismounted, Seymour, who had descended the steps with eager haste, was the first to grasp him by the hand. "How do you do sir," said he, "I am rejoiced to see you. Your protracted absence caused us all at length to share the apprehensions of your family respecting

since by the news that your body had been found in a creek in South Carolina."

Mr. Marshall answered laughing, "if that's the worst news you have to tell me I shall be well contented. I do not know what body has been picked up-indeed this is the first I've heard of the story-but I feel quite comfortable with this I have with me. By the way, I wonder if our good landlord could not supply me with a little something to nourish it? I have ridden fifty miles this morning, and I know that when I get home my good folks will keep me so busy answering questions that I shall be allowed no chance to eat."

"But satisfy at least, sir," said Seymour, our more moderate and less exacting curiosity, while dinner is on the travel from the kitchen to the table. Explain the mystery of your detention."

"There's no mystery about it," replied Mr. Marshall, taking a seat on the porch. "That stupid captain of the schooner, instead of putting me ashore as he promised at Charleston, or in the vicinity, kept directly on to New Orleans, pretending that the winds or some other nonsense prevented his stopping. I am rather inclinded to believe that he was asleep or drunk when he passed the coast, and was too lazy to turn back. I have returned from Louisiana as quick as I could, stopped one day only at Charleston, performed all my business in that time, and am now here waiting for dinner."

"Did you return in the same packet that took you out?"

"Very far from it I assure you," said Marshall; "I would not trust the rascally captain again. When I told him, too, that he should not have a shilling in payment for the passage out, the impudent fellow smiled and answered that he did not expect anything. But what has been going on in my absence? Poor young Ander's dead I understand. I knew he was in a bad way when I left, but I had no idea that his notice was so short as it has proved."

"Yes he's gone," said one of the company, " and as he died intestate, Eugene Ander's eldest son will get the property."

"Eugene's fiddlestick," responded the old gentleman, "why Mr. Surecase here could have told you better, and Higgs, and Draper, too!"

Many eyes were now turned upon the three individuals enumerated. Surecase the lawyer spoke. "Of course I knew there was a will, and that it was put in your possession, Mr. Marshall; but the testator, when I drew it up, requested me to say nothing about it till the time came for its execution. So it is evident that professional honor made it incumbent on me to preserve silence."

"And as for Draper's part and mine," said Higgs, "we witnessed the will, that can't be disputed, but it was'nt for us to be telling tales out of school. Liars and lawyers are all one word they say, so it would have been a hard case indeed if professional spunk could do more for Mr. Surecase than honesty could do for us. Mr. Ander made us promise to keep our lips tight for a while."

"Tell us then what the will is," exclaimed a dozen voices together.

"The document, I suppose," answered Mr. Marshall, " is safe in my desk at home, but you will hardly be satisfied to wait till I fetch it here, so I may as well tell you the substance of it. Where are you going Seymour ?"

The young Englishman who had risen from his seat, replied, "I return to England in the packet which leaves this afternoon, and it is time I was preparing my little baggage-I will stop, however, sir, to hear you through before I make my farewell."

"You act wisely," rejoined Mr. Marshall, "and to reward your patient attention to an old man's prattle I will be very brief. The short and long of the matter is, that the whole property is bequeathed to Laurence Seymour and Matilda Chesley, and their heirs."

"Is this really so?" said Seymour, suppressing his agitation.

That seems nonsense now, by your leave friend Surecase, to tell a legatee he need not pay a debt to himself."

The lawyer, anxious to vindicate himself from the suspicion of a blunder, hastened to say in a tone raised considerably higher than usual, "I am not answerable for that; Mr. Ander would have it written just so."

A feeble voice from within the chamber was now heard to utter, "what's that about Mr. Ander ?"

To Mr. Marshall's look of inquiry, Seymour answered, "it is Buck Weeks; he has had a bad fall from a horse."

"Is it indeed," said Marshall, rising and entering the room, "I have news for him too. Ander charges you, Seymour, and Miss Chesley, to take Buckner Weeks under your care and instruction, and if he should prove worthy, to establish him comfortably in some honest business. What do you think of that Buck?"

The youth was at first somewhat bewildered by the suddenly communicated information, but as soon as the case was made clear to him, answered, "well, Mr. Ander's the best leader after all, and here's one that means to stick to him henceforth, that is if I live, and I reckon I've got some physic now that's a big sight more healing than 'intments and plasters."

Such was the manner in which the Ander estate came into the possession of the Seymours. As to the note of which black Achsah was the bearer, inquiry revealed that Mr. Ander had given it to her nearly six weeks previous to his decease, with the direction to put it into the hand of Laurence Seymour when he should make his next visit to Miss Chesley. Secrecy was enjoined till then, and so successful was Reginald in the choice of all his agents that the old woman, as has been seen, fulfilled her charge with the most exemplary fidelity. It may be added, that some expressions dropped by the captain of the schooner gave ground for the shrewd conjecture that Mr. Marshall's involuntary voyage to New Orleans was not altogether accidental. What Reginald's object was in subjecting his heirs to such a trial as he did can only be guessed. Perhaps the best explanation was that given by Buck Weeks.