blue eye and light arched brow lent to the contour. She was resting her face upon her hand, and looking at the red coals in the stove before her ;-the others seemed to have just concluded a bit of country scandal, or the success of the sale of a secreted tub of hollands, from the pursing-up of their lips, and the satisfaction with which each appeared to lean back in her chair.

There," said the young woman, "in that very hollow of the fire, I can almost fancy I see my James on the deck of the Mary, looking through his glass to catch a glimpse of some distant sail. Ah! now it has fallen in, and all looks like a rough sea.-Poor fellow!" This was spoken in that abstracted tone of voice, that monotonous sound of melancholy, where every word is given in one note, as if the speaker had not the spirit, or even wish, to vary the sound.

"That's what I so repeatedly tell you of," said a fat old woman of the group; you will have no other thought; morning and night hear but the same cry from you. Look at me-is'n't it fifteen years ago since my William, rest his soul! was

shot dead while running his boat ashore on Romney Marsh? and am I any t y the worse for it? I loved him dearly; and when I was told of the bad news, I did' nothing but cry for whole days, but then it was soon over. I knew that fretting would'nt set him on his legs again: so Ï made the best of a bad berth; and though t if I should have another husband, all well and good; if not, why I must live and die Widow Major and there was an end of it,"

66

“Ah! neighbour,” replied the young woman, you knew the fate of your husband-you were acquainted with the worst you had not to live in the cruel suspense I endure: but if I knew that he was dead "(and her voice grew louder," while the blood rushed into her fair cheek)" I should think of him as much as I do now, and would think and think, and try to bring thoughts every day heavier on my heart, till it sunk into the grave."

This burst of affection for her husband was amen'd with a loud laugh by a young black-eyed, round-faced girl, sitting in the opposite corner, who, leaning over to

the speaker, laying one hand on her knee, and looking archly in her face, chuckled out-" Come, come! she sha'nt take on so; if her first husband is gone, Susan shall have a second to comfort her."

"A second husband, Anne !-No! no second husband for me. I could never wake in the morning, and look on a face sleeping on the pillow beside me, where had rested the head of one I had loved, and who was dead. No-I was asked three times in church, and married to him lawfully; and I am certain that, when a couple are once joined in marriage-and in true love their only separation is in death; and that is but for a time-they will hereafter meet, and never never part again."-And then she looked up with her sweet blue eyes, and heaved such a sigh, and smiled such a smile, that proved to her gossips how confirmed was her innocent belief.

"How fast it rains!" ejaculated a shrivelled old woman, who had hitherto remained silent. "How fast it rains!" -and she drew her chair closer to the fire. "It was just such a night as this when-What's that-the wind? Ah! 'tis a rough night; I suppose it must be near eleven o'clock.-Now, I'll tell you a story that shall make you cold as stones, though you crowd ever so close to this blazing fire. It was just such a night as this- "

"Gracious Heaven !" cried Susan, "I hear a footfall coming down the street so like that which I knew so well,listen! —No, all is silent.-Well, Margery, what were you going to tell us ?"

"Eh! bless us!" replied Margery, & you tremble terrible bad, surely ;what's the matfer ?"

"Nothing-nothing, dame ;-go on." "Well," said the old woman, it was just such a night as this-"

"Susan!" cried a voice at the door, in that tone which implies haste, and a fear of being heard-" Susan! open the door."

"Good God!" shrieked Susan," that voice!"-and all the women rose at one moment, and stood staring at the door, which Susan was unlocking. "The key won't turn the lock-tis rusty who's there?" she breathlessly exclaimed, as in the agony of suspense she tried to turn the key, while the big drops stood quivering on her brow. She trembled from head to foot-her companions stood like statues the lock flew back, the door opened-nothing was seen but the black night, and the large drops of rain which sparkled in the beams of the candle on the table." There is no one," said she,

panting for breath;" but as I stand here a living woman, 'twas his voice.-James! James!" she cried, and put out her head to listen. She heard quick, heavy footsteps hastily advancing at the end of the street presently a party of six or seven blockade-men rushed by the door, dashing the wet from the pavement in Susan's face. They passed with no other sound than that made by their feet, and were quickly out of hearing.

"I wish I may die," said old Margery, "but the blockade-men are chasing some poor fellow who has been obliged to drop his tubs; for I saw the blade of a cutlass flash in my eyes, though I could'nt see the hand that held it."

"My bonnet! my bonnet!" cried Susan; there has more befallen this night than any here can tell. 'Twas his voice-stay in the house till I come back 'twas his voice !"-and she ran out through the still driving rain, in the direction of the party that had just passed. They took the street that led to the cliffs; not a light was to be seen; Susan reached the cliffs; the wind blew fresh and strong off the sea, and the rain appeared abating. She thought she saw figures descend the heights; and quickening her pace, stood on the edge, straining her sight to distinguish the objects flitting to and fro on the beach. She heard a faint "hallo!"-the sound thrilled through every nerve-it was the voice she had heard at her door. She returned the salute, but the buffeting of the wind choaked her timid cry. The halloo was repeated; Susan listened with her very eyes. Her distended fingers seemed grasping to catch at sound. Å sound did rise above the roar of the breakers and the rushing of the wind it was the report of a volley of carbines fired on the beach. Susan screamed, and sunk on the edge of the cliff, overpowered with terror and anxiety. Quickly there was seen a flashing of lights along the coast, and men running from the Martello-towers to the beach, in disorder. Then was heard the curse for curse, the clashing of cutlasses and discharge of arms, and the hoarse shout of some of the smugglers, who had succeeded in putting their boat off from the shore with part of her cargo, which it appeared they had been attempting to work.

"

Susan well understood the import of these dreadful sounds, and recovering from her fright, was striving to ascertain from her station the position of the parties, when a hard breathing of some one, apparently exhausted, arrested her attention. It seemed to issue from beneath, and looking over the summit of the cliff,

she perceived the shadow of a man, cautiously ascending. He had almost accomplished his task, and was grasping a jutting fragment of stone, to enable him to rest a moment from the fatigue of his attempt. Susan heard him pant for breath, and sigh heavily. She thought it was a form she knew she bent over the edge, and held her breath in the very agony of hope and fear. The figure stood with his back to the cliff, and looking down on the beach, ejaculated, "Oh, God!" It was one of those moans which betray the most acute suffering of mind, which thrill through the hearer, and create that kindred overflowing of the heart's tears which makes the sorrow of the afflicted more than our own. Susan heard the sound, and breathlessly answered-"Who is it?" The figure sprung upwards at the response, and exclaimed "Susan!"

"James! James!" she cried. He caught a large tuft of grass to assist him in darting into her expanded arms, when the weed broke-a faint cry, and the fall of a body, with the rattling of earth and stones, down the steep, were the sounds that struck terror, and madness, and dismay through the brain of poor Susan.

She attempted to call for assistance, but her voice obeyed not the effort, and, in the delirium of the moment, she sprang down the cliff; but, fortunately, alighting on a projection, and at the same time instinctively catching the long weeds, was saved from the danger her perilous situation had threatened; but still she continued her descent, stepping from tuft to stone, reckless whether she found a footing, or was precipitated to the base. She alighted in safety on the beach: an indistinct form lying on the shingle met her view. "James! James!" she cried, "speak! let me hear your voice for mercy's sake tell me, are you hurt?"

No answer was returned; she grasped his hand, and felt his brow; but, on the instant, started from the form in horrorthe hand was stiff, and the brow was deadly cold; and then, as if all her powers of utterance had become suddenly re-organized, she broke forth into such a cry of anguish, that it pierced through the noises of the night like the scream of a wounded eagle. A pistol-shot was heard; the ball whizzed past the ear of Susan, and harm lessly buried itself in the sand of the cliff. A party of the blockade rushed towards the spot, and, by the light of a torch, discovered the poor girl stretched on the body of a smuggler. They raised her in their arms-she was quite senseless; and holding the light in the face of the man, they saw that he was dead.

"She's a pretty young creature !" said one of the men; "it's a pity she could'nt let her sweetheart come to the beach'alone, for she seems almost as far gone as he is; what shall we do with her, Sir?"

This was addressed to a young man of the group, wearing the uniform of a midshipman, and whose flushed and disordered countenance proved that he had taken a considerable share in the late desperate encounter.

Take her to the tower, Thomas," said he; " she may assist with her evidence the investigation of this affair. The body of the man must also be carried to our station, for I dare say we shall grapple some of the rascals before the night's work is over. Our lieutenant has ordered the boat to be pursued that put off in the scuffle; and, as some of the cargo is now lying about the rocks here, we must look out for another squall."

One of the sailors sustained the still senseless Susan in his arms, while the corpse followed, borne by four others on their carbines.

"This fun was not expected, Infant Joe," said one of the men to the gigantic figure who carried Susan in one of his with as much ease as he would have conveyed a child, and who, in mockery of his immense bulk, had been so nicknamed.

arms,

"No," was the laconic reply.

"I think," continued the other, “twas your pistol settled that poor fellow, for he lay in the very point of the woman's scream when you fired."

"Yes," said Joe with grin, " mayhap it was; and I wish each of my bullets could search twenty of 'em at once as surely and as quickly."

Halt," cried the officer who was conducting the party; "if I mistake not I perceive a body of men, creeping on their hands and knees, at the foot of the cliff. Out with your torches, or we may be fair marks for a bullet."

The men instantly obeyed, and, at the same moment, discovered their progress was interrupted by a gang of armed smugglers, who instantly commenced a practical argument for the right of way by furiously attacking the blockade. At the first fire, the ponderous bulk bearing the light form of Susan 'reeled and fell with its burthen on the earth; and a smuggler was seen to rush wildly through the chaos of contending beings, hewing his passage with a short broad cutlass, and apparently having but one object in view. A retreat of the smugglers, and the consequent advance of their antagonists, brought him to the spot where Susan, still senseless, lay wound in the

sinewy arm of the prostrate man of war's man: He endeavoured to disengage her from his grasp; and, on placing his hand on her neck, he felt that his fingers were straying in warm and still oozing blood. He trembled, and gasped for breath:there were two beings senseless before him -one must be seriously wounded, perhaps dying or dead. He dragged Susan from her thrall, the action was followed by a groan from the man, who faintly rose upon his knees, and made a grasp towards the female with one hand, and drawing a pistol from his belt with the other, discharged it at random, and again fell exhausted. The report was heard by some of the still contending party, and forms were seen hastening to the spot, but the smuggler had safely ascended the cliff with Susan, and sitting on the summit, wiped the drops of agony and toil from his brow, and placed his trembling hand upon her heart. At the first he could discover no pulsation, he pressed his hand firmer against her side, and with a cry of joy sprang upon his feet he felt the principle of life beat against his palm. He again clasped her in his arms, and, with the speed of a hound, ran across the fields leading from the edge of the cliffs, darted through the church-yard there, till his quick step was heard on the stones of the paved street. The inhabitants were at their doors and windows, anxious to catch the slightest word that might give them some intelligence of the conflict; for the reports of the fire-arms had been heard in the town, and all there was anxiety and agitation; but the quick questions were unanswered, the salutes were unnoticed the form that rushed by them was heard to gasp hardly for breath, and they were satisfied that something desperate had taken place. The smuggler gained the street Susan had set out from; the women, and others who had joined them, were gathered round the door of the house, waiting with breathless impatience her return, and various were the conjectures of the night's events, when a voice, whose tones all knew, was heard to exclaim" Stand o' one side there; a chair! a chair!" They made way for him in an instant, he darted into the house, placed Susan in the arm-chair, and dropped on the floor, with his forehead resting on his arm.

"James!" the women cried, 66 are you

hurt?"

They received no reply; but his convulsive panting alarmed them; they raised him from the ground, while one of the women lighted a candle. At that moment a scream of dismay escaped from

:

Re

all those who had stood listening at the door rushed in, and were horror-struck on beholding poor Susan lying apparently lifeless in the chair, her face and neck dabbled with blood; but she breathed, and not a moment was to be lost. storatives were applied to both, the blood was cleansed from Susan, and to the joy of all, not a wound could be perceived. James had now sufficiently recovered to stand and bathe her temples: he kissed her cold, quivering lips-she slowly opened her eyes-the first object they rested upon was her husband! She started from the chair, and gazed at him with a mingled expresson of terror and delight. James, seeing the effect his appearance produced, pressed her in his arms, where she lay laughing and crying, and clasping him round the neck, till the shock had subsided, when she sat like a quiet child on his knee, reposing her head upon his shoulder. None had as yet ventured to ask a question, but all impatiently waited till Susan should break the silence that had followed the confusion of cries, tears, and wonder. But she seemed to have no other wish on earth-she was in her husband's arms-beneath their own roof-and that was question, and answer, and every thing to her. James appeared restless, and attempted to rise; but the motion was followed by the close winding of Susan's arms round his neck. Then, as if suddenly resolved, and chiding himself for some neglect, he started from his seat.

rr

"Susan," said he, you are better now; keep yourself still till I return—I shall be but a few minutes."

"No, no," cried Susan, grasping his arm with both her hands- not againgo not again. I shall be able to speak to you presently; don't leave me now, James."

"You must'n't persuade me to stay," replied he; "I left the crew fighting with the blockade when I saw you in that fellow's arms; but I must go back again, for life and death are in this night's business. One of us has been shot, poor Peter Cullen drowned-he would drink in spite of our orders, and fell overboard. I tried to save him; but I'm afraid he lies dead under the cliff, just where I first saw you, Susan, when I lost my footing. But I must go back, and see the end of itnow don't gripe me so hard, Susan-I must go. I dare say all's lost —but I must go."

He struggled to release himself from Susan, when a smuggler rushed into the house, pale and exhausted; he flung himself into a chair, and throwing a brace of pistols on the ground, exclaimed