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Annie ran back to her apartment in a flutter of emotion. "Sheldon there!
and he came from _that office_! Business brought him,--what would come
of it all?" She dared not hope or anticipate. She dared not think at
all; and, throwing her graceful form on a sofa, she commenced tearing
some water-color paintings she had lately been executing, into strips,
and twisting them into gas-lighters.

Meantime Sheldon was snugly bestowed in a cushioned seat beside his good
friend, the doctor, who was plying him with a thousand questions
concerning his affairs, prospects, etc. After he had become satisfied on
these points, he recollected Sheldon had mentioned some business as the
cause of his sudden visit.

"What was it you said about business bringing you so unexpectedly?" he
inquired. "So, I would not have enjoyed this pleasure had inclination
alone biased your feelings!"

"You wrong me, sir," returned Sheldon, "by such an insinuation. I would
have visited you in the summer, in any event. I merely intended to say
business hurried my arrival. Our magazine, several months ago, issued a
set of prizes for the best poem and tale. The articles have been
received, and I commissioned to award the authoress, who, it appears, is
a resident of your city."

"Indeed!" said the doctor. "Then we've a literary genius among us. What
is her name?"

"She writes under a _nomme de plume_."

"And what is that?"

"Woodland Winnie."

The good doctor sprang to his feet with such remarkable quickness as to
overturn the tray of oranges on the stand beside him, and they went
rolling over the carpet in all directions, while he clapped his hands
and roared again and again with convulsing laughter. Sheldon was
dumb-founded.

"Good!" exclaimed the doctor, in a tone of gleeful chuckling. "Ha, ha,
ha! I declare I shall die a laughing. So cunning, the witch,--never to
tell me!"

"Do you know the lady?" asked Sheldon in amaze, gazing on his friend's
extravagant demonstrations of mirth and joy.

"Better and better!" roared the doctor. "Do I know her? Yes; she has
been an inmate of my mansion for the last _six_ months. Why, boy, she is
an angel;--as gifted, as beautiful, and as good as all the beauty and
genius put together. She has warmed my old heart and filled my house
with sunshine."

"You will do me a great favor to introduce your humble servant to this
paragon of excellence."

"Exactly! I'll do it all in good time; but take another orange, man!" he
said, extending the empty tray to Sheldon. "Zounds! where are they
gone?" he exclaimed, perceiving the dish to be vacant. "Have I eaten
them all?"

Sheldon could not forbear laughing now, as he informed the doctor of his
accident, which called forth another burst of merriment.

"Well, you want to see this lady?" he said, when it had subsided. "I'll
bring her to you in a jiffy;" and the gleeful doctor departed on his
errand.

Sheldon paced the floor uneasily during his absence; but he was not kept
long in waiting. He soon heard steps descending the stairs and, whirling
a chair so as to give him but a side view of the entrance, sat down to
await their coming. The doors slid open, and he became aware of a light,
graceful figure, in a dark, crimson robe, leaning on the doctor's arm,
and approaching with fairy-like steps. The setting sun was throwing a
flood of radiance through the heavy folds of purple damask, and filling
the apartment with soft, dreamy light as they paused before him.

"I have the pleasure of presenting to you 'Woodland Winnie,' Mr.
Sheldon," said the doctor.

Sheldon raised his dark eyes slowly to the lady's face, and there, in
the genial light of that mild spring evening, stood Annie Evalyn. He
started as if an electric shock had shot through his frame. She trembled
and blushed, and the old doctor roared and shook with laughter at
Sheldon's speechless surprise; but the latter soon recovered himself and
greeted Annie with respectful cordiality, offering an apology for his
surprise, by saying he was not prepared to behold a former acquaintance
in the fair authoress. She returned his salutations with grace and ease,
while the doctor continued to laugh immoderately. So pleased was the old
gentleman with the part he had enacted in the scene, that he actually
consumed twelve oranges, and despatched a servant for a fresh supply.
Sheldon could not avoid stealing a glance at Annie as she sat on the
sofa before him. The dark chestnut curls were lifted away from the
expanding temples, and the delicate marble complexion, relieved by a
just perceptible tinge of rose on either cheek; while the beautifully
imaginative expression of the full blue eye, the curved lip and nostril
speaking the free, dauntless spirit, and the exquisite contour of the
light, graceful figure, yet somewhat taller and thinner than when he had
last seen her, all conspired to assure him it was no timid, shrinking
girl he beheld, but the lofty, talented, accomplished woman. Back came
the old love and admiration ten-fold stronger than ever. The doctor went
out to look after his oranges. There was a silence. It was growing
oppressive. He rose and approached the sofa.

"I have erred, Annie," he said, in a low, mellow tone, fraught with deep
sorrow and contrition.

"We are human, Frank," she answered, very softly.

It was not the words, but the tone, the manner, that convinced him he
was forgiven. He sat down beside her, and there, in the deepening
twilight of that spring evening, what a holy happiness was rising over
the ruins of wickedness and crime! Who shall say how much holier, purer,
and more elevated for the trying ordeal to which it had been subjected?

CHAPTER XXII.

"To all and each a fair good-night,
And rosy dreams and slumbers bright."

We are winding to a close. In the delicious coolness of a summer
evening, Aunt Patty sat upon her lowly stile, her head drooped pensively
on her withered hand, as if absorbed in deep meditation. The sound of
approaching footsteps aroused her, and directly a light form was at her
side, while a soft voice whispered in her ear: "You are thinking of one
from whom I bring tidings."

It was Netta Wild, accompanied by her husband, who carried a small
package in his hand.

"Ay, yes! true, Netta, I was thinking of Annie," said the old woman,
rising, and beckoning them to enter, while she bustled about and lighted
a candle. "So you have brought me news of her?" she continued. "I always
know when I'm going to hear from hinny, for I'm thinking and dreaming
about her all the time for three or four days before the tidings come."

"You should have had bright visions of late, Aunt Patty, if they are to
tally with the truth," said Netta. "Annie has won the prizes."

"Has she? Do tell!" exclaimed the old woman, her face glowing with
pleasure.

"Yes, and here are the magazines containing the articles," answered
Netta, untying the package; "but this is the smallest part of her good
fortune; there's better news yet to be imparted, Aunt Patty. Sit down
here close beside me while I read this letter,--it is for both of us,
she says."

Aunt Patty hitched her chair close up, remarking, as she did so, that
"the best news she could hear of hinny was, that she was coming back to
her old aunty."

"Well, she is coming back," said Netta, "but not alone; in brief; she is
married, Aunt Patty."

"O dear! O dear!" groaned the old lady in agony; "I have lost her
forever, my darling, darling Annie!"

"No you haven't," said Netta; "for she says it was in the bargain that
she should never go from her dear old aunty while she lived, but always
be near to cheer and console her declining years."

"O, the hinny love!" said Aunt Patty, brightening at these words.

"And she describes her meeting with Sheldon (for he is the bridegroom);
of his being one of the editors of the magazine for which her prizes
were written; of his surprise at finding to whom he was awarding them,
and the explanation, and awakening of the old love, which quickly
followed."

"We are married, Netta," she writes, "and are all bound eastward, as
soon as Dr. Prague can close up his affairs in this city, as he proposes
to accompany us, and spend the remainder of his days near your kind
father. He says he has no ties to bind him to the western country. You
will take this package, containing my prizes, to aunty, and read this
letter to her. Tell her she must use the note enclosed to buy her a
smart new dress, and get you to make her a high-crowned cap with an
extra pinch in the border, in which to receive her Annie's husband."

The old woman laughed and cried by turns, and said, "'Twas not much use
to rig up such an old, withered thing as she was; but then she would do
all as hinny wished."

George and Netta stopped awhile to chat upon the expected arrival. Netta
said, "The young couple could live in the beautiful stone mansion George
had just completed, and which was now wanting a family. It was built in
Gothic style, and most romantically situated, only a little distance
from the Parsonage, in a delightful grove of maples and elms. She had
been wondering who would occupy it, but never dreamed it might be Annie
and her noble husband."

Thus they talked and planned; Aunt Patty all the while half wild with
excitement and expectation. At length they took leave, Netta promising
to come next day, and assist in making the new dress and smart cap.

* * *

Onward they came, on the wings of the flying steam-steed. Onward they
came, a happy trio; the good old doctor, boisterous in his glee and
satisfaction, looking first on Annie, then on Sheldon, and bursting
again and again into peals of exuberant laughter; so wonderfully pleased
was he with the success of his first attempt at match-making; for he
appropriated to himself the whole glory of cementing the union between
his two favorites. The only thing that caused anxiety or solicitude
during their journey was a fear lest the good old gentleman, in his wild
abandonment of joy, should forget himself, and eat so many oranges as to
endanger his precious existence. But, happily, their fears proved
imaginary. No such catastrophe occurred to mar their felicity, and the
little party safely reached the hospitable mansion of Parson Grey, and
were received with every demonstration of joy and welcome by the
expectant inmates. Aunt Rachel was in her highest cap, and soon
commenced preparations for the bridal supper, on which she had expended
her utmost, and expected to derive much commendation therefrom; but now,
Annie, little whimsie! overturned all her hopes at once. She had set her
heart on eating her bridal supper with Aunt Patty at the rock cottage in
Scraggiewood, and Sheldon declared it _his_ wish too.

Parson Grey was of opinion the young couple should be left to act their
own pleasure in the matter, and all finally coincided; Aunt Rachel with
some disappointed looks, that Aunt Patty's oaten cakes should gain the
preference to her rich, frosted loaves; but she reflected that her
sumptuous banquet could be displayed and partaken of some other day; and
so she smoothed her brow and joined the rest in wishing Frank and Annie
a pleasant walk to Scraggiewood.

As evening closed in, the happy couple, arm in arm, and unattended, took
their way over the rough forest path. Annie had so much to tell of her
early years passed there, and he was so intent on listening, that they
were close upon the cottage, ere they seemed to have passed over one
half the distance.

"What a wild, weird spot!" he exclaimed. "No wonder you have such
glorious fancies, love."

Annie motioned him to be silent; she had caught a glimpse of her aunt
sitting in the porch.

"Come quick," she said, and in a moment they stood before the startled
old lady. Annie flung her arm over her neck and said: "Here's Annie and
her husband come to Scraggiewood to take their bridal supper with their
dear aunty."

The old lady returned her darling's embrace warmly, but looked rather
abashed and disconcerted at beholding so fine a gentleman; but when he
advanced and shook her heartily by the hand, expressing in eloquent
words his gratitude to her for rearing so bright a flower to bless his
life, she gradually regained her composure; and with the young couple
roaming round the hut, out under the trees, and away into the woods in
the clear moonlight to search up Crummie, for Annie said, "Frank must
become acquainted with all her friends,"--the joyful dame set about
preparing a repast. She managed to get on her new gown and cap while
they were out, for their sudden arrival had surprised her in her
homespun garb. Annie noticed the change soon as they were seated at the
table, and, though Aunt Patty thought she needn't, remarked upon it at
once.

"When did you find time to make that fine toilet, aunty?" she asked in a
roguish tone.

But Aunt Patty turned the point well. "Why, dear, seeing you were so
particular in your letter that I should spruce up to receive you and
your husband, I thought I could do no less than respect your wishes."

"Ha! ha!" laughed Sheldon; "you are well answered for your pleasantry,
Annie."

Thus they discussed their simple meal with mirth and good-humor. Aunt
Patty's batter cakes seemed to have received an extra fine touch, and
the cream and butter were such as a king might relish, Sheldon declared.

When the meal was over they sat down on the stile, Aunt Patty, at
Annie's request, drawing her chair close beside them. Then they talked,
and told her how much they anticipated living in the great mansion so
near to Parson Grey; and they would come every week to see her; and a
hundred other fine plans Annie formed, laying her head all the while on
her husband's arm, as he twined wild flowers among her dark curls, and
laughed at her lively sallies. Aunt Patty declared 'twas a sight angels
might envy, their love and happiness.

The moon rose high above the tall forest trees, casting a mild, holy
radiance over the scene. And thus we leave them;--and thus we
say--"Good-night to Scraggiewood!"

ALICE ORVILLE;

OR,

LIFE IN THE SOUTH AND WEST.

CHAPTER I.

"Adown the lovely waters,
Behold the vessel glide,
While beauty's fairest daughters
Gaze on the laughing tide."

"She sought no notice, therefore gained it all,
As thus she stood apart from all the throng
Of heartless ones that passed before her eyes."

The Mississippi--river of majestic beauties--with the green, delightful
shores, elegant plantations, and dense forests of tall cotton-wood and
dark, funereal cypress, overhung with the parasitical moss, gliding
panorama-like before the enraptured vision! How proudly the mighty
steam-boats cut the turbid water, bearing the wealth and merchandise of
those productive lands to the numerous towns and cities that adorn the
banks of the majestic river!

It was a lovely night in early June, and the guards of that queenliest
of all queenly boats, the "Eclipse," were thronged with ladies and
gentlemen just risen from their evening banquet in the sumptuous
dining-saloon. They were passing Baton Rouge, and many an exclamation of
delight was uttered, not only in admiration of the lovely scenery around
them, but that they were so happily near the terminus of a journey,
which, despite the splendid appointments of the boat, was fraught with
danger, and occasioned more or less uneasiness and anxiety in the bosoms
of all the passengers.

Apart from the crowd, leaning over the balustrade, her dark eyes riveted
on the lovely prospect passing before her vision, stood a young girl of
perhaps fifteen summers. Her form was slight, and a profusion of black,
wavy ringlets floated over her small shoulders, while in all her
movements was visible that singularly beautiful grace of motion, ever so
attractive, and which is noticed only in very finely-constituted
organizations. She stood apart from the hilarious groups around her,
evidently

"In a shade of thoughts that were not their thoughts."

Her simple grace and self-possession, and the indifference manifested to
the flattering attentions bestowed upon her by the gentlemen during the
voyage, had rendered her an object of peculiar interest with them, and
provoked no small amount of envy and invidious remark from the weaker
sex.

"Look there," remarked a freckled-faced lady in blue and yellow, to a
counterpart in red and green; "see Miss Pink o' Propriety, as the
captain calls her, standing out there alone, to attract some gentleman's
notice."

"Of course," returned miss red and green, sneeringly. "I hate that girl,
she puts on such airs. And travelling alone, in charge of the captain
and clerk, shows what she is plainly. There, look! The bait has
taken,--Mr. Gilbert is caught!" and the rainbow ladies joined in a loud
laugh, as a fine-looking gentleman approached the fair, abstracted girl,
and accosted her.

"Always flying your crowd of admirers," said he, "and hiding in some sly
nook. Please tell me some of your pretty thoughts, as we glide past this
lovely scenery, Miss Orville."

"The recital of my poor thoughts would not repay you for listening,"
said the young lady, with a pleasant smile.

"Now I may consider myself dismissed, I suppose," remarked the
gentleman; "but if you don't tolerate me, you'll have to some other of
my sex; for naught so charms us contradictory human bipeds as
indifference to our gracious attentions, and we always pay our most
assiduous court where it receives the smallest consideration."

"Well, if you choose to remain and entertain me with your company--"
commenced the fair girl.

"I can do so, but you prefer to be alone," interrupted the young man;
"is not that what you would say?"

"As you have been pleased to give expression to my unexpressed thoughts,
I'll abide by your decision," she remarked quietly.

The gentleman bade her good-evening, and walked away, looking somewhat
chagrined by his easy dismissal. On the fore-deck he found the clerk of
the boat.

"I've just come from Miss Orville," he said, falling into step with the
latter. "You are a lucky fellow, Mr. Clerk, to have such a lovely being
entrusted to your care."

"She is a sweet young lady, indeed," said the clerk. "I was never
trusted with a charge in which I felt more interest."

"No wonder. Half the gentlemen on the boat are in love with her, and she
is so mercilessly indifferent to all their blandishments! Yet she is of
an age to love flattery and adulation."

"She appears like one whose heart is preoeccupied," remarked the clerk.

"But she is too young for that to be the case, I would suppose."

"Love is restricted to no particular age."

"She is from the north, too, and the maidens of those cold climes are
less susceptible to the influence of the tender passion than the
daughters of our sunny shores," pursued Gilbert.

"Less susceptible it may be," answered the clerk, "but once enkindled,
the flame seldom flickers or grows dim. Northern hearts are slow to wake
and hard to change. I was raised in Yankee land, Gilbert, and should
know something of Yankee girls."

"True, true; but where do you say this young lady is going?"

"To New Orleans."

"And do you know where she will stop in the city?"

"At the residence of her uncle, Esq. Camford."

"Possible? I know that family well."

"Indeed," remarked the clerk; "then you may have an opportunity to
pursue your acquaintance with Miss Orville, in whom you seem to feel
more than ordinary interest."

"Why, yes," said Gilbert, "I believe I'm in love with her at present;
but then I don't make so serious a matter of a heart affair as many do."

Gilbert was a wealthy southern planter, of rather easy, dissolute
habits, yet possessed of some redeeming points.

"With good luck we shall hail the Crescent City to-morrow," remarked the
clerk, at length, as he stood regarding the speed of the boat with
admiring gaze.

"Say you so?" exclaimed Gilbert. "I must have a last game of euchre
to-night, then;" and he hurried into the saloon to make up a party.

"Hilloa, Reams!" said he to a foppish-looking fellow, lying at length on
a rosewood sofa, intent on the pages of a yellow-covered volume which he
held above his perfumed head; "come, have done with 'Ten Thousand a
Year,' and let us have a last game of cards. We shall be in New Orleans
to-morrow, so here's our last chance on _la belle_ Eclipse."

"O, give over your game!" yawned the indolent Reams. "I'm better
employed, as you see."

"No!" returned Gilbert, "I'll not give over; if you won't play, I can
find enough that will. You are a cowardly chap, Reams; because you lost
a few picayunes last night, you are afraid to try your luck again.
Where's that young fellow, Morris?"

"What, the handsome lad from old Tennessee?" said Reams, languidly
passing his taper fingers through his lavender-moistened locks; "he will
never hear of any cards save wedding ones tied with white satin, for he
has been for the last half hour on the guards in earnest conversation
with that pretty Miss Orville."

"The deuce he has!" exclaimed Gilbert with a blank expression, as he
walked away with a hasty step, leaving Reams to adjust himself to his
book again. He soon collected a group of card-players and sat down to
his game; while young Wayland Morris and sweet Alice Orville promenaded
the hurricane deck, and admired the beautiful scenery through which they
were gliding, from the lofty pilot-house, conversing with the ease and
freedom of old acquaintances; for thus ever do kindred souls recognize
and flow into each other wherever they chance to meet in this fair world
of ours.

CHAPTER II.

"My mistress hath most trembling nerves;
The buzz of a musquito doth alarm her so,
She straightway falleth into frightful fits."

It was the dinner hour at the splendid mansion of Esq. Camford, the
silver service duly laid on the marble dining-table, the heavy curtains
drooped before the broad, oriel windows, and an odor of orange flowers
pervading the apartment as the light breeze lifted their silken folds.
Colored servants, in snowy jackets and aprons, stood erect and prim in
their respective places, awaiting the entrance of their master's family
and guests. At length there was a bustle in the hall, and a loud, burly
voice heard exclaiming,

"Here, Thisbe, you black wench, run and tell your mistress to come into
the drawing-room in all haste. Here's an arrival; her niece, Miss
Orville, just in on the Eclipse. I was down on the levee, to see to the
consignment of my freight, and run afoul of her. Run, you nigger, and
tell her to come here quick."

"Yes, massa," and off patted the woman to impart the summons, while
Alice stood indeterminate on her uncle's threshold.

The servant plodded up a long pair of stairs, and tapped thrice at the
door of an apartment, e'er she was bid in a peevish voice to "come along
in, and not stand there foolin'." The woman entered timidly.

"What do you want with me?" snarled the fine lady from the depths of a
cushioned chair, her white fingers playing with a richly-wrought Spanish
fan.

"Massa says come down in the drawin'-room to see a nice young lady, Miss
Orful, or some sich name, what's just come on the 'Clipse, that signed
away all massa's freight," said the woman with a profound courtesy.

"What gibberish is this?" said the lady, in fretful humor; "go and tell
your master to come here this moment. I declare, my nerves are all
a-tremble, and my life is worried out of me by these stupid niggers. Get
out of my sight, and do my bidding!"

The servant disappeared instanter through the door.

"Where is your mistress?" bawled Esq. Camford, when she reaeppeared in
the hall.

"She says you must come to her this minute, for she is e'en-amost
nervousy to death," answered poor Thisbe, in a shaking voice.

"Come to her? Thunder and Mars! didn't you tell her her niece was here
waiting a welcome?"

"Yes, massa. I tell her there was a nice young lady here, what come on
de 'Clipse."

"O, Lord! these fidgety women!" exclaimed Esq. Camford, impatiently. "I
hope you are not one of the sort, are you, Miss Orville? But come into
the parlor here, while I go up and rouse your aunt."

"I hope, if she is sick, you will not disturb her on my account," said
Alice, somewhat alarmed at the commotion her arrival had occasioned.

"Thunder! she is not sick, I'll wager; that is, no sicker than she deems
it necessary to be to produce an effect. I'm anxious you should behold
your cousins,--four in all; three youngest at school. They'll be home at
dinner, and it is already past the usual hour. Thunder! is dinner ready,
Thisbe?"

"Yes, massa, and a waitin' mighty long time too."

"Well, as I was saying, you must see your cousins, Jack, Josephine and
Susette. Our oldest daughter is over to Mobile for a few weeks. Pheny is
about your age, and you'll be great friends, no doubt; that is, if you
can romp and flop about pretty smart; but I must go for your aunt."

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