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“THIS 5S TRUE LIBERTY WHEN FREE-BORN MEN—HAVING TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC—MAY SPEAK FRE FE.”

ei

—Binton’s huripipas.

MVERATORE. be THE LOVE SBCRET.

‘dward is to be in London next week,

Stee

@id Mra. Raveseworth; and! trist, El- lea, that you will meet him with the

frankness he is emtitled to receive.

Ellen Hamilton, who stood behind the ehai¢ of her aunt, did not make any ab- ewer.

Kdward’s father,continued Mrs.Ravens- orth, was your father’s own brother. A man of nobler epirit never moved on En- glish soil; and! hear that Edward ie the werthy son of a worthy sire.

If he were as pure and perfect as an angel, aunt, replied Ellen, it would be all

@ same iv me. I have never seen him,

end cannot therefore meet him as one

who has a right to claim my hand.

Your fathergave you away when you were a child, Eijlen; and Edward comes oa to claim you by virtue of thie bethro- While I love the memory of my father, and honour him as a child should honour a parent, said Ellen, with much serious- ress, | do not admit his tight to give me away in marriage while‘d was'yet

marriage contract worthy of asiy maiden’s love. Only the heart that yields a free eonsent\is Worthy having, wand the ‘than Who wébid take any other 4s ‘utterly un- worthy of any woman's regard. By this rule l jadge Edward to be"tthworthy, no reatter what his father may have been.

Then you mean, said Mre. Ravenaorth,

deliberately to violate the solemn'contract made by your fathér With the father of Edward?

I cannot receive Edwatd as sayihing but @ stranger, replied Ellen. It wil not mend the érror of my father for me to commit a ‘still greater one.

How commit 2 still greater one? in-

‘quired Mrs. Raveasworth.

Destroy the very foundation of a true marriage —freedotn of chdice and consent. There would be no freédom of choice on nia pait, and no privilege of consent on mine. Happinese could not follow such 4 wrton, and to enter into it would be do- ing & great wrong. No, aunt, I cannot receive Edward in any other way, than as a stranger—for such he is.

There is a classe in your father’s will that you may have forgotten, Ellen, ssid her aunt.

That which makes me pennyless, if I do not marry Edward Hamden?—I have not forgotten it, aunt,

And you mean to brave that conse- quence } |

In a choioe of evila we always take the least, Elien’s voice trembled.

Mrs. Ravensworth did not reply for aome moments. While she sat silent, the halfclosed door near which Silen atood, and towards which her aunt’s Sack was turned,softly opened, and a handsome youth, between whom and Ellen glances of inteUigence instantiy passed presented the startled maiden with a beautiful white tose, and then noiselessly retired.

{t was nearly a minute before Mrs. Ravensworth resumed the light employ- ment in which she was engaged, and as

she did so she said—Mrony a fooiish young gitl gete her head. turned with these gay gallants at our fashionable watering-places, and imaginee that she

won @ heart, when the object of her vain regard ever felt. the throb of a truly anselfish and noble impulse. é The crimeon ned on Ellen’s cheeks and brow, as she lifted her eveq, che saw herself ina large avirror opposite, with hor auat’seaim eyed steadi-

i'y fixed upon her. To turn her face

ofan instant. Ina few momente she exid

jcemember to have seen him here before.

woice.

‘jaunt, replied Ellens but if you wish te a child.; Kad mozeover 1 do not think the mau who would seek to consummate such a:

CHARLOTTETOWN, JUNE 23, 1851.

ah

partly ore: 0 that it could no longer be reflected from the mirror, was the work

——Let yeuth and: foolish girle get their heads turned if they will; butd trust I am in no danger. en

I am not sure of that ! Those who think themselves most eecure, are generally in. the greatest danger. Who isthe youth with,» honyou danced lastevening? 4 don’t

His name is Evelva. There was a’

elight tremor ia EXlen’s voice. How came you to know kim?

I met him here last season, and 1) danced with him last night. Was there;

any harm in that?) The maiden’s voice,

had regained its firmness. ‘

I did’pt say there was, returned Mrs. Ravenswofth, who again relapsed intd silence. ‘Not fopg ¢fter she said—i think we shall retura to London on Thursday.

So soon! Ellen spoke in « disappointed

Do you find it so very pleasant here ? said the aunt, a little ironically. I have not complained of its being dull,

return on Thareday, | will be ready to accompany you.

Soon after this, 'Dilen Hamilton left her aunt’s room, and Went to one of the draw- ing rooms of the hetel at which they were Staying, where she sat neat the bow-’ window that overlooked the beautiful’ promenade. She had been here only a few minutes, when she was joined by a handsome youth,to whom Kilen said— How could you venture to the door of my aunt’s parlour? I’m half afraid she detected your presence ; for she said, im- inediatel;; afterwards, that we should re- turn to Londen Oa the day after to mor- row.

So soon? Well, I'll be there next week, and it will be strange if, with your consent, we don’t meet ofien.

Edward Hamden is expected in a few days, replied Ellen, her voice slightly fal- tering.

Her companion looked st her search- ingly for a few moments, and then said, You have never met hin!

Never!

But when you do meet him, the repug- nance you now feel may instantly Vanish. A shadow passed over Ellen's face, and she answered in a voice that showed the remmark—the tone of which conveyed more than the words themselves—to have been felt'as a question of her constancy. Can one whose heart is all unknown to me, one who must think of me wits a feeling of dislike becadse of bonds, and, prove a nearer or dearer friend than 2

Ellen did not finish the sentence. But that was not needed, The glances of re- buking tenderness cast upon her compa- nion, expressed al! that her lips had failed to titer,

But do you not know me, filen, said the young man. :

My heart says Ne was Ellen's lowly spoken reply.

Evelyn pressed the maiden’s hand, and looked into her face with an earnest lov- ing eXpression.

Mrs. Ravensworth, to whose care E!- len had been consigned, on the death of her father, had never been pleased with the unwise contract made by the parente of her neice and Edward Hamden, ‘The latter had been for ten years in Paris and Italy, travelling and pursuing his atudies. These being completed, in obedience to the will ofa deceased parent, he was about beteniitg to London to meet his future wife. No correspondence had ta-

{ natural. contract; and from the time of’

Edward's letter,which announced to Lrs, Ravensworth his proposed visit, it was: piain that his feelings were as little in- terested im his futwre partner as were hers $n him. During the <wo or three days thet Mrs. Ravensworth and her niece remamed at the watering place, €!len and young’ Evelyn met frequently; det, ae far as Possible, at times when they supposed'the particular attention of the gaunt would not

% be drawn towards them in stch a manner

08 to penefvate their love-secret, When at length they parted, it wae ‘with an ‘wn- derstanding that they were to meet ia ‘London.

‘On arriving there the thoughts of Ellen ‘reverted ‘hore directly to the fact of kd- ward Hamden's approaching visit, and, in spite ‘of all her € to remain undis- turbed im Wer feelings, the near approach of thid @vent agitated her. Mrs, Ravens- worth frequently alluded tothe ‘subject, and earnestly pressed upon Ellen'the con- sideration ‘of lier duty to fer parent, as well as the’conséequences that must follow her distegatd of the contract which had been meade. But the more the talked on this subject, the more firm was Ellen in expressing ‘her determination not to do vuilence to her feelings in a matter so vi- tal to her hatipiness,

The ‘day at length comé.upon which Edwetd Hatiden was to arrive. Ellen appeared em the morning With a disturbed air, % was plain to the'closely observing eyes of her ‘aunt, that she thad not passed a night of refreshing sleep.

they had fetired from ue breakfast table, where bat ‘Tittle food ‘had been taken, that yin itt tiot exhibit towards Edward, on meeting him, any of the pre-conceived and unjust antipathy you entertain. Let your feelings at least remain uncommnitt- ed foror againet him.

Aunt Hannah, it is useless to talk to mem this way, Ellen replied, with un- usaal ‘warmth. ‘The simple fact ofan ob- ligation to fove pits a guif between us. My heart turns from him as from an ene- my. 1 will meet’him with politeness; but it mast be cold and formal. To ask of me more, is 16 ask what I cannot give. [ wish that fie Possessed the maniitYess I should have had, if similarly sithated. Were this 80 1 should now be free by his act, not my own.

Seeing Yhat all she urged made Ellen more strongly opposed to the young man, Mrs. Ravensworth ceased to speak upon the subject, and the former was teft to brood with a deeply disturbed heart over the ap. proaching interview with one who had come to claim a hand that she resolutely determined fot to yield.

About twelve o’clock Mra.Ravensworth came into Ellen’s room, end announced the artival of RdWard Hamden. The maiden’s face became pale, and her lips quivered.

If 1 could but be spared the interview! she murmired: but that is more than | can ask,

How weak you are, Eljen, replied her aunt, in a tone of reproof,

{ will join you in the drwing room in halfan hour, said Filek, speaking more calmly. |

Mrs. Ravensworth retired and left Ellen again to her own thoughts. She sat near- ly the whole time she had mentioned. Then rising hurriedly, she made a few changes in her attire, after which ahe de- scended to the drawing-room with a step that was far from being firm.

So noiselessly did she enter the apart: ment where Hamden awaited her, that neither her aunt nor the young man per. ceived hor presence for some moments ;

ken place between the parties td this ua-

{ trust, my deur ‘h:ece, she said, after}

and she had tithe to cRamine his appear- ance, andtp read the lincaments of hia half-averted face. While lie sicod thus

observing him, hercowntenance

Mashed, aud she bent forward witha

of surpride and eayerness. A: this

sonia eens eo

otvet ae ion ee — vely clainted en, striking hey

‘hands t fr, the moment he tured te

warde ax an

lips. te Evelyn, but Namden. Ott parents ua while We were yet

too g to give or withtiold consent, Both as We grew older, feh this pledge av a heart-sickening constratnt. But we met as strang and | saw that you were all way séal coulddesire. 1 sought your affection, and won it. No obligation bat love now binds us. |

The Young man then torted'to Mrs. Ravensworth, and ssid— Yoo see, madam, that we bre not strangers.

Inste#@ of looking surprised, Mrs. Ra- vensworth smiled eatmly,and ant wered— No—it would be ar if you Were,

Love-tokens don’t gewerally pass, ndr fa- miilar meetings take place,between stran

rs.

Love-fokeng, Aunt Hannah ? fell from the lips’ of Ellen, as she turned ‘partly away w. Hamden, and looked inquit- ingly at Per relative.

Yes déar! returned Mra, Ravensworth. White roses, for instance! You Baw your awn blushing face in the mirror, did you not!

‘The mirror! Then you saw Kdward pre: sent the rose ? | And did you know me? inquired the young man.

One Who knew your father ss well se I did, could not fail to know the son. [ penetrated your love se¢ret as soon as it was. known to yourselves.

Aunt Hannah! exclaimed Ellen, hiding her face un the neck of her kind relative, how have I been deceived !

_ Happily, I trust, love! Yeturned Mrw. avensworth tenderly. .

Most happily! My heart swells With

gladness almost to bursting, camé mur-

muring from the lps of the joyful’

maiden.

ALEXANDER DUMAS.

There is a certain noted author, whose pen is worth # California placer, so proli- fic is it, whose eXtravayance would ex- hauat the Pactolus if it flowed through hie house. Now this literary Hercules was early one mérning visited by an hussar and two assistants, who avuwed their purposé of seeing him safely to Prison, on account of a certain debt, they being in fact only deputies of the guard de commerce. He attempted to discuss, to negotiate, to en- treat—but all to no purpose; the officer waé polite and inexorable. the orders were formal, the writ r gularly isstied; 1200 france must be forumcunmiay, or ine door of the prison Chiiy would close upon him. How was he toextricate himself?

“You will at least go with me tomy bookseller 7” said the author, perceiving a ray of hope.

“ Certainly, Monsieur, any where you please, ! am at your service until sunset.”

The whole entered a coath,were speed- ly conveyed to the bookseller’s, where the debtor alighted, and, accompanied by hie three satellites, made known hie object, which was to procure an advance of 1200 francs on his forthcoming wurk.

“Sorry to refiise, my dear Dumas,bat the fact isyou know our exptess terms may bring the gost iu ddvance. In exchange.

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