thoughtless, motherless girl! It was but a jest, a child's sport; the letters which no doubt surprised and shocked you'- Letters,' exclaimed Ormond in amazement what is all this?' Adelaide stopped, much agitated; a sudden thought seemed to dart into her brain-her eyes lighted up joyfully, and she said with quickness and animation Yes, a jest-only a jest; it was an unfit present-only return me the scarf, and you shall have the choice of my jewel-box,-or your own cameo,' added she, with archness, if you will?' But Ormond too had his sudden thoughts; and without reply he darted like an arrow towards the house, pursued, but unsuccessfully, by the fair supplicant. He quickly gained his own apartment, unfolded the scarf, and after a close search discovered in the very middle, in letters so fine, it was no wonder they had hitherto escaped detection, (being formed of a single hair,) the words Ormond and Adelaide twined together. Depositing the precious document in his bosom, he ran back to the garden,— The ring, Adelaide,' cried he, almost out of breath, supposing I was inclined to make the exchange, is it still in your power? have you preserved my keepsake?' Adelaide held up the palm of her hand, and he perceived with exstasy that she had never ceased to wear it, the cameo

6

having been merely turned downwards, so as to make the ring resemble a plain hoop.

We lament that it is not in our power to pursue the conversation further, and many pretty things we are afraid are thus irrecoverably lost to the reader. The last words we could gather from any authentic source were- Tell me, dearest, by what power you threw this spell over my heart, even before I knew you as you are, good as you are beautiful, admirable as—' Hush, hush, hush, it was "NATURAL MAGIC," said Adelaide, hiding her face in her lover's bosom.

THE CAST-AWAY.

ONE dark, stormy night in the year 18—, the family of Mr. Stuart of Ard was watching with anxious interest the fate of a vessel which had been driven by stress of weather into the loch of that name, and was now seen working her way through a navigation peculiarly difficult at this season, and seldom attempted at any time by vessels of so large a burthen. It was evident from her manœuvres that there was no pilot on board capable of directing her course; and the sea ran so high that it was impossible to afford any assistance from the shore.

Mr. Stuart's house, although at some distance from the banks of the loch, commanded from its elevated situation a complete view of the whole, extending even to the sea; the spectators had therefore witnessed from her first entrance the operations of the unfortunate bark. She was at this time nearly opposite, but only dimly visible through the increasing darkness of the night;

while the beacon-fires which now kindled on the rocks, as her situation became more alarming, casting their red glare over those black and troubled waters, the minute-guns falling with their startling and ominous sound on the ear, amidst the heavy swinging of the storm, the shouts of the people on the shore, whose torches were seen flitting among the rocks, and the fainter voices heard at intervals from the vessel, shaped out by the excited imagination to shrieks of terror and unavailing cries for help, added an appalling and progressive interest to the spectacle. Mr. Stuart had hastened to the beach some time before, and the servants having followed one by one, his sister, a maiden lady, and his daughter, now found themselves alone by the open window. Their alarm increased, while it became every moment more evident that the vessel would be dashed in pieces upon the rocks; and as a thousand shocking details crowded into her fancy-the cries of the drowning seamen— their cold and mangled bodies tumbling among the surges in a hideous mockery of life-the groans of the survivors, left torn and bruised only to perish more lingeringly on the beach -Leslie Stuart hid her face in her aunt's bosom in an agony of apprehension. But when a fearful sound from the shore, followed by her aunt's startling shriek, had proclaimed that their worst

anticipations had been realized, the energies of her woman's spirit returned, and springing on her feet, she flew to the scene of calamity, there to take the post of her sex by the side of suffering and death. The miseries of that dismal night were not confined to the strangers, for when Leslie reached the shore, and was watching with breathless interest the efforts made by a young man, the son of her nurse, to save one of the passengers who had leaped from the vessel and was now faintly struggling with the waves, an unexpected sea struck the gallant fellow, just as he had succeeded in dragging the exhausted swimmer upon the rock, and dashed him from the insecure footing he held, into the foaming deep. His efforts to regain the rock were made with admirable skill and self-possession, and for a long time their result was doubtful. But at length his strength began to fail, and he was seen gradually receding from the land; the inarticulate cries he had from time to time uttered, apparently endeavouring to make his comrades comprehend some plan he wished them to pursue, but which were stifled by the waters hissing about his head and gurgling in his throat, now became fewer and fainter; at last, when hope was just expiring, a huge billow threw him within reach of the rock, and a shout of joy burst from his friends ;-but his strength was