bling about the romantic solitudes of Weehawk, then a sort of frontier between the white man and the Indian. Catalina was pressed to accompany them, and at last consented, although against the will, not only of the governor himself, who would certainly have forbidden it, had he been present; but he was a hundred miles off, and, in the absence of the governor, there was nobody equal to the governor's daughter. The morning was fine, and the party set out as happy as youthful spirits and youthful anticipations could make them. Here they rambled at will and at random, in groups, in pairs, and alone, just as it suited them: gathering together to take their refreshments, and again separating, as chance or will directed them. "Catalina had separated from the others, and wandered almost unconsciously, half a mile from the landing-place, by herself. Perhaps, when she set out, she expected some of the beaux to follow; but they stood in such awe of her, that not one had the temerity to offer his assistance. Each being occupied with his own pursuits and reflections, no one missed the young madam for some time, until their attention was roused by a shriek at a distance in the woods. After a momentary pause, the shrieks were repeated in quick succession, and almost immediately succeeded by the report of a gun. The little group of young people were struck with dismay, and the first impulse was to run to the boats, and escape into the stream. But, to do them justice, this was but a momentary selfishness; for the moment they missed Catalina, the young men prepared to pursue in the direction of the shrieks and the gun. At this crisis, a figure darted swiftly from the wood, bearing the young lady, insensible, in his arms; and, approaching the group, placed her with her head in the lap of one of the girls, while he ran to the river, and returned with some water in his hat. "Catalina soon came to herself, and related that she had been seized by an Indian, and rescued by the young man, who, all the young damsels presently discovered, was very handsome. He wore the dress of a gentleman of that day, which, sooth to say, would not cut much of a figure just now. He was accoutred as a sportsman, and had in his bag sufficient evidence of his skill. It was decided on all hands, that the stranger, having saved the life of Catalina, or at least, rescued her from captivity, was destined to be her future husband, and that her time was now come. Such prophecies are very apt to be fulfilled. The stranger announced himself as the son of the ancient and honourable lord of Pavonia, and was blushingly invited by Catalina to come and receive the thanks of her father, when he should return from the eastern frontier. But he only shook his head, and replied, with a dubious smile, Are you sure I shall be wel come?' "From this time Catalina became more languid and thoughtful than ever. When the governor returned, and heard the story of her straying into the woods, and of her deliverance, he swore he would reward the gallant young man, like a most liberal and puissant governor. But when, afterwards, on inquiring his name, he found it was the son of the lord of Pavonia, he retracted his promise, and swore that the son was no better than the father, who was an arrant splutterkin. They had quarrelled about the boundaries; his excellency claiming the whole of the river on the west side, up to the high-water mark, while the lord of Pavonia, whose territories lay exactly opposite the city of New Amsterdam, had the temerity to set nets and catch shad in the very middle of the stream. The feud was bitter, in proportion to the dignity of the parties, and the importance of the point at issue. The governor commanded his daughter never to mention the name of the splutterkin, on pain of his displeasure. Rumour, however, says that the young man found means to renew his acquaintance with Catalina, and that though she might never mention his name to her father, she thought of him all day, and dreamed about him all night. After awhile, the rumour died away, and the people began to think and talk about something else. Some of the young men, however, who happened to see the culprit that had dared to leap over the wall, against the statute, thought he had a strong resemblance to the youth who had rescued Catalina from the Indian. The young lady, as I said before, continued ill all day, and for several days after the condemnation of the spectre youth, who persevered obstinately in resisting any disclosure of his name, or his motives for scaling the walls of New Amsterdam. In the mean time the period for his execution approached, only two days of life now remained to him, when Catalina, with an effort, determined to bring her fate to a crisis at once. She se from her bed, pale and drooping like a lily, and tottering to her father's staty, stnk at his feet. Father," said she, will you forgive him and me?' Forgue thee, my daughter! I have nothing to forgive, so that is settled. But who is the other?' My husband.” Thy nosoand!" exclaimed the puissant governor, starting up, in dismay; and who is he?" The youth who is sentenced to die, the day after to MOITOW." “And who is he, in the devil's name-I had almost said?" exclaimed his excellency, in wrathful amazement. He is the son of the lord of Pavonia,' replied she, hiding her face with her hands. 66 6 And thou art married to that splutterkin ?' 66 6 Yes, father.' “* * Then I shall take care to unmarry thee. The knot the parson tied, the hangman shall untie, the day after to-morrow, or I'm no governor. But who dared to marry thee against my will?" "He did! then the Dominie shall hang by the side of the splutterkin. Go to thy chamber-to thy bed-to thy grave; thou art no daughter of mine.' "Poor Catalina crawled to her bed, and wept herself into a temporary forgetfulness. The next day she was so much worse, that the old nurse declared she would die before her husband. The governor kept up a good countenance, but his heart was sorely beset by pity and forgiveness, which both clung weeping around him. He went so far as to sound some of the council about pardoning the young man ; but one of them, who was suspected of looking up to the fair Catalina, talked so eloquently about the safety of the city and the public good, that he was fain to hold his tongue, and shut himself up, for he could not bear to see his daughter. "At length the day arrived, big with the fate of poor Catalina and her unhappy husband. She sent to her father, for permission to see him before he died; but the governor, after a sore struggle, denied her request. 64 Then, indeed, he is no longer my father," cried Cata lina, and, sinking upon her bed, covered her head as if to shut out the world. Presently the bell tolled the hour of sacrifice, and its hollow vibrations penetrated the ears of the mourning wife. In spite of her weakness, and the endeavours of the old nurse, she started up, and, rushing towards the door of her chamber, exclaimed wildly, I will see him-I will go and see him die.' But her strength failed her, and she sunk on the floor. In the meantime, a scene peculiarly interesting to the fortunes of Catalina was passing below. The proud, obdurate, rich old lord of Pavonia, had heard of the capture-the condemnation of his only son. For awhile his pride and hatred of the governor of New Amsterdam almost choked the thought of entreaty or concession to his ancient enemy. But as the time approached, and he heard of the situation of his son, and of his unfortunate wife, who had never offended him, his heart gradually relented. When the morning arrived, and he looked across the smooth river, from the long porch fronting his stately mansion, towards the spot where his son was about suffering an ignominious death, he could restrain his feelings no longer. Calling for his boatman and his barge, and hastily putting on his cocked hat and sword, he embarked, crossed swiftly over the river, and landing, proceeded directly to the big house. He demanded an audience of the governor, "The old splutterkin is here too-but let him come in, that I may be satisfied the old dog is as miserable as myself,' said the governor, with tears in his eyes. "The lord of Pavonia entered with a stately bow, which was returned in as stately a manner by the governor. "I come,' said Pavonia, I come- and his voice became choked, to ask the life of my son at your hands.' 666 Thy son has broken the laws, and the laws have condemned him to death, justly.' "I know it,' said the other but what if I pay of his ransom?' "I am no money higgler.' the price "But if I surrender the right of the river, to high-water mark?' "What!' said his excellency, pricking up his ears, wilt thou? and the shad fishery, and the diabolical gill nets?' Yes-all-all,' said the other, to save the life of my 666 only son.' The governor hastly directed his bell-ringer to call the omnci ugether, and mi ne priposition before them. The OILCESSOR VAS IResistadue, and the council decided to pardon the son, in común ha de fcher executed the deed of reinqustment de cat so, and the young man was forthwith set at Inerts.” - It is time for me to retire," said our good grandfather ←- so I must cut short my story. The meeting of the husband and his farful we took place without witnesses, and none was ever able to describe it. Catalina speedily recovered, and lived to see her children's children play about the room by dozens. The lord of Pavonia and the governor of New Amsterdam continued a sort of grumbling acquaintance, and dined together once a year, when they always quarrelled about the fishery, and high-water mark. In process of time, their respective fortunes became united in the person of the winged monster, and formed a noble patrimony, some of which I inherited with your grandmother. “ Jan Sol underwent many a joke, good, bad, and indifferent, about the winged monster. But he continued, to his dying day, to assert his solemn belief, that the young lord of Pavonia and the spectre were two different persons. Many a time and oft did he frighten his wife and children with the story, which he improved every time he told it, till he was at length gathered to his fathers, as his fathers had been gathered before him. He had enough people to keep him in countenance, for there were hundreds of discreet citizens, who treated all doubts concerning the appearance of the winged monster, with as little toleration, as do the good folks of the town of Salem, the wicked unbelievers in the existence of the great sea-serpent." ON THE LATE MR. SHORT AND MRS. LONG. Nature with thee should seem to sport, J. R. P. |