This was neither the right place nor the right time for them to give expression to their mutual surprise. The two greeted each other silently with a scarcely perceptible nod of the head, accompanied by a tender glance on the part of the youth, and a sweet blush and joyous tremor on that of the lovely Lucy. The old acquaintances renewed their former friendship on this strange occasion without exchanging their sentiments, and engraved each other's portraits on their hearts. Had they been at liberty to give expression to their feelings, they would certainly have burst out into the exclamation: “Oh, how handsome and tall you have grown!"

were children. At that time she passed whole | fine-looking youth. Under circumstances so days at the castle of the Egertons, and partici- altered occurred the first meeting of the forpated in all the games and amusements of the merly so intimate young friends after their long highborn young people. She even attended separation. their lessons very frequently, and in this manner Lucy had received an education such as is to be found only in exceptional cases among persons of her class. Her father, morose old Henderson, had arrived here years ago from a distant country, and settled in the neighborhood of Ludlow Castle. His wife, who had died since then, had nursed Alice Egerton in her infancy; and thus the two girls, of the same age, grew up together. Their friendship continued even after Mrs. Henderson's death; but for a long time past. these intimate relations had been interrupted. The older Mr. Henderson became, the more stubborn and sombre became his temper, which had always been strongly tinctured with melancholy. The neighbors attributed this change, which did not escape them, to the loss of his beloved wife; for while she was alive he was by far more sociable and kind in his own peculiar way toward his fellow-men. Gradually, however, he retired more and more from the world, and broke off all intercourse with the inmates of Ludlow Castle, who had done nothing to justify such neglect. The Countess of Bridgewater especially had always manifested the greatest kindness toward the Henderson family, and lavished favors and presents on little Lucy. These kindnesses were rejected now by the rough widower with insulting haughti-pect of her former playmate filled her heart. ness; and he allowed his daughter no longer to hold intercourse with her aristocratic playmates and friends.

In the presence of this large assembly, however, they were obliged to repress any such utterances; but the more silent their lips remained, the more eloquent was the language of their eyes.

Under such circumstances, a moment often decides the course of a whole human life, and the inclination violently repressed for the time soon seeks and finds an opportunity to reveal itself in its full extent and irrepressible intensity. Never before had the young girl appeared so charming and desirable to the youth; never had lovely Lucy had an inkling of the passion with which the unexpected as

Both longed to approach each other after so jong a separation; both felt irresistibly drawn toward each other. No one in the whole as sembly, and least of all old Henderson, sus

hearts. Only a remnant of his former gratitude, perhaps, induced the old Puritan to in tercede in behalf of the youth.

Despite her tears and objections, she was finally obliged to yield and give up the inter-pected what was taking place in these young course which was so dear to her. Years had elapsed since then, and Lucy had become a blooming young girl, while her friend Thomas, whom she had always preferred to his elder and graver brother, was now a vigorous and

Thomas was so embarrassed on account of his wonderful meeting with Lucy, that he for

got its immediate cause and his still by no means pleasant position. Henderson's words, however, had evidently produced an effect decidedly favorable to him. The immediate bystanders assumed a more peaceable attitude toward him, and no longer uttered any threats against him. Both the reverend minister and the chivalrous Overton even fixed looks of sympathy on the more rash than guilty youth. "I am glad," said Overton, "that so good a man as our friend Henderson bears testimony to the truthfulness of your words; but this does not yet explain or excuse your uncalledfor intrusion into this asylum. How did you get here?"

their tormentors knows no compassion. For this reason, you cannot blame either them or myself, if we ask of you some better security than the mere name of Egerton and the wormeaten escutcheon of your ancestors."

"I hope you will be satisfied with a nobleman's word of honor," replied the youth, gnashing his teeth, and scarcely able to restrain another outburst of his rage.

"A nobleman's word of honor, perhaps, might satisfy me; but those men yonder will demand additional security. They know what it is worth since the first nobleman of England, King Charles, has broken his word and violated his sacred pledges more than ten

"That is easily explained. I lost my way times." in Haywood Forest."

"I believe you, as your whole bearing breathes youthful sincerity, and as I cannot imagine that you have come hither for the purpose of watching or even betraying our meeting."

"Sir, I believe my name alone is sufficient to protect me from any such suspicion," cried Thomas, vehemently.

"I will admit that,” replied Overton, whose calmness and firmness contrasted strikingly with the rash vehemence of the youth. "But who warrants us that you will not betray hereafter what you have seen here? You may purposely or rashly communicate to others what an accident made you discover."

This was too much for the deeply-mortified youth. Brought up in sentiments of unbounded loyalty, he could sooner bear insults heaped on himself than the least attack upon the honor of his king. With a cry of rage, he broke loose from the men who held him, and rushed upon Overton, after having previously wrested his sword from the hands of the Puritan who had taken it from him. Overton avoided the impetuous lunge of the furious youth by a skilful turn. At the next moment he had likewise unsheathed his sword, and one who beheld the firmly-knit form of the man, his strong arm, the coolness and composure of his whole bearing, and compared it with the blind fury and scarcely-developed form of the youth, could not for a moment entertain the slightest doubt as to the issue of this unequal

"Sir John Overton!" exclaimed Thomas, crimsoning with indignation, "only my present helplessness allows you to use such un-contest. chivalrous language. By the escutcheon of my ancestors, had I my sword at my side, I should call you to a bloody account for this insult." "You would do better to repress your somewhat proud and impertinent language. Look around; these good people here are not in a very playful humor, as you have found out already. Their safety, their property, nay, perhaps their lives are at stake, for the cruelty of

Only the predilection which the English entertain at all times for scenes of this description, and respect for courage and manly deportment, prevented the assembly from interfering between the two. Despite their Puritan austerity, these grave men had preserved their former relish for such spectacles. The circle widened at once, that the two fencers might have sufficient room. The duellists, so unlike

worthier representatives of their respective advantages.

each other, stood in the centre and crossed | manhood seemed to measure their strength in their flashing swords. All around reigned this arena. Neither could hardly find again anxious silence, which even the worthy minister did not venture to break by a word of peace. Thomas attacked his adversary with his customary wild impetuosity, so that Overton had enough to do to ward off the strokes and thrusts showered down upon him in rapid succession. At first the calmer Overton seemingly intended to remain entirely on the defensive; but no sooner had the impetuous youth rashly exhausted his strength, than the practised swordsman turned this advantage to account and gave up his passive attitude.

The contest had lasted a considerable time, when the cool Overton thought it was best to put a stop to it. In doing so, however, he by no means intended to inflict great bodily harm on our courageous Thomas. With keen-eyed sagacity, he seemed to account the many advantages which the rash valor of his adversary offered to him. He parried quietly and skilfully the stroke which Thomas levelled at him, and then, with his full strength, struck the sword from the youth's hand before the latter was able to prevent it. In doing this, he could not avoid inflicting on Thomas a slight wound, whence the red warm blood trickled down and fell in dark drops on the green turf.

No sooner did Lucy perceive that the friend of her youth was wounded, than she uttered a

The spectators followed the course of the contest with increasing suspense, and their flashing eyes and flushed faces plainly indicated that a majority of them were no strangers to the profession of arms. A murmur of applause burst from the crowd whenever Overton parried a stroke of his adversary with the coolness peculiar to him, or skilfully evaded one of his furious lunges; just acknowledg-piercing cry, and sank, fainting and with eyes ments were likewise rendered to the courage closed, into the arms of the bystanders. of the youth, but the homage thus paid to him was blended with expressions of the dissatisfaction felt at his haughty conduct. But no one contemplated the scene with more intense agitation than charming Lucy Henderson. She had advanced as close as possible to the duellists, and watched them with flushed cheeks, trembling limbs, and breathless suspense.

The vanquished Thomas stood blushing and disarmed before his triumphant adversary. Overton, however, was not inclined to follow up the advantage which he had obtained. He magnanimously lowered his sword, which he sheathed with his wonted calmness. His chivalrous conduct did not fail to exert a soothing effect upon the youth. Overton had given him his life, which had been at his mercy. The feeling of gratitude which animated him, however, was dimmed by the mortification of his wounded vanity.

The decision was still in doubt. What was wanting to the youth in strength and practice, he made up for by his impetuosity, while Overton supplied his lack of fire by his caution and skill. It was a wonderful spectacle-to behold the blooming Thomas, with his waving blonde ringlets, his flushed face, and his slender form, fighting with the heavy-set Overton, whose face did not betray even the slightest emotion. No "Let the silence which you will observe in greater contrast could be imagined than that regard to what you have seen here be your presented by the impetuosity of the one and ransom. You will give me your word of the calmness of the other. Youth and mature honor as a cavalier that you will do so."

"You have spared me," he said, in a tremulous voice. “According to the old-established custom, I am in your debt. You may fix the amount of my ransom."

"I promise upon honor not to betray you." | They would have unhesitatingly committed a "You must not inform anybody of this mysterious hiding-place which an accident caused you to discover, nor even speak of it to your nearest relatives. Whenever and wherever one of those present here may meet you, you swear that you will feign not to know him?"

"I swear."

"And now you are free, and may leave the place, and return by the same road by which

you came."

crime when their safety was at stake. They murmured aloud now, and it required Overton's whole authority and the soothing eloquence of the venerable minister to prevent them from taking further steps. They wished to pursue Thomas and yet carry out their cruel purpose. To justify this, they quoted a number of passages from the Bible, especially the Old Testament, which they interpreted after their peculiar fashion.

While the men were discussing in this manner, the compassionate women attended to Lucy, who had not yet recovered from her swoon. They fetched water from the neighboring spring in the vessels which they had brought with them, and sprinkled with it the pale cheeks and forehead of the young girl. A few experienced matrons, in the mean time, rubbed fragrant forest-herbs, by whose piquant ethereal odor they wished to arouse her slumbering vital spirits. At length their united efforts succeeded in restoring Lucy to con

The youth proceeded immediately to avail himself of the permission thus given to him, and leave the meeting which he had disturbed. It was with the most varied feelings filling his heart that he set out to retrace his steps. Shame and mortification at his discomfiture took the foremost place among these feelings. Though obliged to render homage to Overton's magnanimous conduct, he wished to meet him soon again, sword in hand, and measure his strength with him under more favorable circumstances. His prejudices against the secta-sciousness. She opened her eyes wonderingly, rianism of the Puritans had been increased rather than lessened by his meeting with them. Only the image of lovely Lucy Henderson shed a pleasant light on all the clouds rising in his soul. He thoughtfully entered the path which was to lead him back to his sister Alice.

The pious congregation, too, was in a state of anxious suspense and absence of mind. The service had been interrupted and disturbed by the events that had taken place. Some of the Puritans were not at all satisfied with Overton's conduct. In their opinion, he ought not to have contented himself with the mere parole of the haughty youth, but should have demanded of him a solemn oath on the Bible. The more fanatical in the assembly went further, and censured Overton for allowing Thomas to depart on any conditions. There were among them men who did not even shrink from the thought of a bloody deed.

and turned her first glance to the spot where the duel had just taken place.

"Where is he?" she breathed, in a faint voice, on not beholding the youth.

The wondering women deemed this, to them, incomprehensible question a new wandering of her mind, and were unable to answer it, or even interpret it correctly. It was only from the lips of her father that Lucy learned the fate of her playmate, and that he had left the place without sustaining any severe injuries. This agreeable news brought about her speedy recovery, and she was able to accompany her father when he departed with the whole congregation and returned to his home.