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THE TELL TALÉ.

THE ROSE OF THE VALLEY. OH! well did Lauretta merit this pretty cognomen, for the roseate bloom upon her cheek, that varied with every emotion of her innocent heart, far surpassed the rich red hue of young love's favourite flower, and her gentle breath was more sweet than its fragrant odours; while in the bosom of her kind affectionate family, she was as a choice bouquet, wherein her tenderness the even tenor of her gentle disposition-her virtue, and her amiability appeared pre-eminent.

creased with their years. They were wont from the first dawn of their remembrance, to regard each other as brother and sister, and as such their affection was unhidden, unrestrained, and unremarked; for few know aught to the contrary, and no swain regarded Augustin as a rival; who used to smile at the shy and awkward advances of the smitten shepherds, and enjoy their confusion-but of later years, when the suitors of Lauretta began to swarm around her, like tuneful bees about a fragrant honeysuckle, the simple mention of a rival's name, though he were un-. favoured, or even rejected by Lauretta, caused in his breast a most disagreeable sensation, to which he was heretofore a perfect stranger. His cheeks were alternately crimsoned and blanch

Lauretta marked his solicitude, and the evident alteration in his manners. His sprightliness was constrained; he became pensive and abstracted; and whenever she addressed him, there was a hesitation-a nervous tremulousness in his replies, that surprised her.

Who could behold so much natural grace and loveliness without admiration; and who could admire and not love? The rustic adulation, the importunities, and the avowals she unwillingly re-ed by these indefinable emotions; ceived from everyswain, who was and in lieu of pressing his pretty unfortunate enough to gaze upon cousin, as formerly, to listen to her irresistible charms, would the declarations of her sighing have rendered any but the simple suitors, his chiefest care was now and unassuming Lauretta, vain, to prevent their approach. cruel, and coquetish; but she was too kind and generous to delight in the pangs her beauty had inspired; and in lieu of ridiculing, sympathised in the woes of those for whom her heart could not experience a reciprocal affection. But notwithstanding the apparent insensibility of the young Lauretta's heart, she entertained (although unconsciously) the tenderest passion for her own cousin and companion. Augustin was an orphan, and had been left in the helplessness of infancy to the care of his uncle, who had educated him as his own son, observing with feelings of genuine delight, the budding affections of the little cousins, which grew with their growth, and in

She loved him too well not to experience great inquietude at beholding so strange a transformation; and only solicitous for his happiness, with all the genuine frankness of her disposition, she kindly demanded the cause of his apparent uneasiness, expressing her concern that any fault in her should be the unintentional cause of it, and promising to be directed by him in any way that he might deem most

essential to their mutual happi- simple Lauretta to permit her to

ness.

Such affectionate advances naturally produced a declaration of his long cherished flame, and his new-born fears; when, for the first time, Lauretta discovered in the expression of the young Augustin's sentiments the reflection of her own. Their virtuous passion was reciprocal, and they were happy. Their days glided on in the most perfect felicity, and all around was like an eternal spring, where all was flowers and sweets, and joyful sunshine,unclouded by any petty cares or jealousies. But the fairest flowers fade, and the mildest spring tide is oft followed by a rigorous and gloomy winter. In the delightful forest surrounding the blooming valley, where the lovely Lauretta dwelt, there was a small spring of pure water, which gushed from a gravelly mound, and supplied a murmuring brook, which meandered through the forest. This simple element was the chief beverage of the frugal shepherds, and to this silent and sequestered spot Lauretta daily repaired to replenish her pitcher. One day, on arriving at the spring, she was startled by the appearance of a stranger, who held the bridle of a beautiful courser, which was slaking its thirst in the limpid waters. She was about to retreat, but the stranger turning suddenly round, observed her, and smiling, courteously bade her advance.

His gentle manners instantly calmed her fears, and she modestty approached. With a confusion which only gave additional lustre to her native charms, she filled her pitcher, and curtseying, was about to depart. But the stranger experienced too much pleasure in the contemplation of the

retire so hastily. He was a young, handsome cavalier, attired in the most hastily habiliments, which added to the naturally grac ful and symmetrical proportions of his elegant figure and withal gifted with such bland eloquence, that although the simple and blushing rustic would have fain hurried from his presence, he devised such pertinent questions, and conducted himself with so much unassuming ease and gallantry, that her natural politeness would not permit her to leave him abruptly and unanswered. After detaining her several minutes by his inquiries, he thanked, her in the most gracious manner, and mounting his courser, bowed to her, while his handsome and manly features were illumined by a smile of ineffable expression, and putting spurs to his impatient steed, he gallopped off as fleetly as if he were borne on the wings of the wind, and vanished from her sight. On her return, Láuretta encountered her cousin Augustin, to whose anxious inquiry. of what had occasioned her unusually long stay, she replied, that a noble stranger had arrested her to ask his way, and was about to relate to her lover the wonder and admiration his gaudy trappings and apparel had excited in her artless breast, when the passing shadow of jealousy, which for a moment darkened Augustin's brow, checked the utterance of her astonishment, and put a seal, upon her lips. But for that whole day the vision of the cavalier haunted her imagination; for never had her eyes beheld such a gorgeous habit as he wore, or her ears listened to such a pleasing flow of mellifluous words as he uttered. He seemed to her rather

like the apparition of some fairy knight of her favourite legends; than a man of this world; and that same night, too, her teeming fancy depicted his form in her dreams.

The next day she again ventured to the spring; but there was neither cavalier nor horse at its brink. She sighed unconsciously with disappointment, and looked around her as if she hoped to behold the agreeable vision but she returned unsatisfied.

A week now passed away in the charming company of her beloved Augustin, and the stranger was almost forgotten, when on one of her usual visits to the spot, she beheld an embroidered glove, which she well remembered to have seen worn by the handsome cavalier. He had then certainly revisited the spring, perhaps, (whispered vanity,) in the expectation of beholding her again, and had probably dropped his gauntlet accidentally, or as a token to challenge her regard. Lauretta blushed and looked around her; she believed no eye remarked her, and taking up the glove she playfully displayed it on her own little hand,and, pressing it to her rosy lips, cautiously replaced it.

A sigh startled her, and abruptly turning her head she beheld the gay cavalier smiling at her elbow. Her face and neck were crimsoned with blushes, and her eyelids drooped in confusion. She would have precipitately fled, but he placed his hand upon her arm, and stayed her with gentle force and intreaty

With an apparent feeling of devotion, he placed the glove she had saluted in the breast of his silken doublet, and vowed, by the beauteous lips that had honoured

it, that he would wear it next his heart, till that heart cease to vibrate with the purest sentiments of affection for the angelic creature before him; a change which oblivion's death alone had power to effect.

These, and a thousand other tender and flowery expressions, were rehearsed to the trembling Lauretta. She became alarmed at the ardour of his language, and earnestly prayed him to release her.

With the most moving instances that tongue could utter, he conjured her not to be offended at aught that the most unbounded love had urged him to; and intreated her, as a sign of her forgiveness, that she would repair thither on the morrow, and alleviate the wounds her cold unkindness had so cruelly inflicted." He dropped on one knee at her feet. Lauretta hesitated; but happily her beating heart warned her of the impropriety of giving encouragement to the stranger's suit, and she hurried hastily away from his dangerous presence. For several days after this occurrence, she took the precaution to visit the spring at a much earlier hour than ordinary, and. eluded the cavalier. But on one occasion, being unfortunately detained by some domestic occupaton considerably beyond her time, she was tripping gaily along, and was just on the point of crossing a stile, which lay in her path to the place of her destination, when the distant clattering of a horse's hoofs struck upon her startled ear, and gazing in the quarter whence the sounds proceeded, she beheld the cavalier riding towards her.

Escape was in vain; she sat down upon the stile, and over

come by her feelings, she burst into a flood of tears. The ca valier was presently beside her; his language calmed her innocent apprehensions, and he assured her by the most sacred vows, that her happiness was his sole aim; that for worlds he would not injure her; and offered such sincere assurance of the purity of his intentions, that her fears were abated, and Lauretta, already dazzled by the brilliancy of his seductive eloquence, and prejudiced in his favour, began to listen to him with more composure, and some degree of pleasure.

Alas! from that ill-fated day, the pure simplicity and affection of Lauretta gradually yielded to the influence of vanity, and ambition. Augustin was no longer cncountered with smiles of joy and love; the poor deluded girl began to regard him as a being inferior to herself, and unworthy, of so valued a treasure.

The simple rustic beheld the change with sorrow; but his, honest remonstrances were only met by unfeeling badinage and heartless repartee!

So lamentable an alteration was remarked with grief aud wonder by all who knew and loved her. But her levity and lightness were soon succeeded by a still more melancholy calm; she sighed, and wept, and filed from the consolations of her friends to indulge her grief in solitude.

But Augustin, notwithstanding the cruel manner in which she had slighted, and eventually deserted him, still entertained for her the truest, fondest affection; and with a breaking heart, (delicately abstaining, from pressing his own suit,) followed her in her wanderingswith unremitting zeal, and exerted all his honest elo

quence, in suing her to make him lier contidant. But she was deat to the friendly voice that was once her chief delight.

By degrees, however, her griefbecame more tranquil, and gradually resolved itself into a settled gloom. Her fond parents knew that she had loved Augustin, and were resolved to press their union, in the fond hope of beholding their beauteous Lauretta smile again; they proposed it to her. The warm blood glowed once more in her pallid cheeks, and her eyes swam in tears. With a sigh which seemed to burst from the inmost recesses of her sorrowing heart, she mournfully refused her compliance with their wishes.

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Augustin knelt at her feet, and clasped her cold trembling hands in his; he looked piteously in her woeful countenance, but he offered no other intreaty than his expressive looks conveyed.

At last, overcome by the urgent entreaties of her parents, Lauretta reluctantly promised to acquiesce in their request, and the delighted Augustin embraced her with the fondest demonstrations of affection, and shed tears of joy. Lauretta wept too; but they were joyless tears, that dim-` med the lustre of her lovely eyes.

The day fixed for the celebration of their nuptials arrived. All the inhabitants of the happy valley were busied at early dawn in decking themselves, or their blooming daughters, who were to escort the bride and bridegroom to the neighbouring village church; each accompanied by some favored youth who had won, or aspired to the conquest of her affections. With hearts fluttering, or palpitating with sympathy for the tears of the lovely

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