Caroline looked astonished.

Ellen, without

seeming to notice her surprise, proceeded, "in the present state of my feelings I wish particularly to avoid observation and remark. The avowal of my engagement with Mr. Westall, and your friendship, will give me a right to share with you the care of our father. Should he not recover, the secret shall never be divulged-it is enough that I know it-for worlds I would not cast a shadow over his fair name.

In assigning her motives, Ellen had avoided any reference to what she knew must be Caroline's wishes on the subject. Caroline felt this delicacy to her heart's core; she was subdued by the pure goodness of Ellen; she felt the influence of the holy principle that governed her sister's mind, and penetrated with a poignant contrition like that which made the Egyptian king exclaim, 'truly, I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you;' she sunk on her knees-the pride and haughtiness of her soul were vanquished-she stretched out her arms with an almost oriental abjectness. Ellen raised her and clasped her arms around her. It may not be too much to say, that the beautiful sisters were a spectacle at which heaven might rejoice; for they seemed to embody penitence and perfect love.

"Oh Ellen!" exclaimed Caroline, as soon as she could speak, "is it possible that you will not after all triumph over me? Can you forgive my

23*

slights-my insults? Can you forget the wrong I have done you?"

"All is forgiven-all forgotten,” replied Ellen ; ، think no more of it, Caroline. Let us now think of nothing but how we shall best minister to our father's restoration; for this we will unite our hearts and efforts. Let us go together to his room."

"Yes, I will go-I will do every thing you ask of me, Ellen," said Caroline; but first tell me, for I never can speak on the subject again, first tell me where those papers were found. Did Lilly give them to you?"

Ellen could not satisfy Caroline's curiosity to know the particulars of her servant's unfaithfulShe could only inform her that the pacquet had been found in her apartment.

ness.

The truth was, that Lilly, during her northern summer, had formed too intimate an acquaintance with the mountain nymph, sweet liberty,' and had conceived too strong a friendship for her to be willing ever again to leave her dominions.

She had, too, in imitation of her mistress, been carrying on a snug love affair of her own with the servant of a West India planter then at Lebanon. Miss Redwood's clandestine arrangements were the signal for the execution of Lilly's plans, and they afforded an insurance from the danger of immediate pursuit-the only security she needed.

Lebanon is a border town, and the boundary line of New-York once passed and Massachusetts en

tered, Lilly was assured of the protecting hospitalities of the people of her own colour; and it had even been hinted to her, that in case her retreat was discovered, the white inhabitants would be very backward to enforce her master's rights.

Thus encouraged, Lilly availed herself of the propitious moment of Caroline's departure, subtracted the purse from the dressing-case, and not wishing to encumber herself with any superfluity, she left the dressing-case, and in her haste left it open, and made good her retreat.

What particular grounds there might have been in this instance for the intimations given to Lilly, we cannot say; but it must be confessed, that our northern people are quite careless of the duty of protecting slave property, and that they manifest a provoking indifference to the rights and losses of slave-holders. Indeed, so notorious is their fault in this particular, that their southern brethren seldom run the risk of an irrecoverable loss by exposing their servants to the danger of an atmosphere infected with freedom; and those among them who possess the greatest abundance of these riches, which emphatically take to themselves wings and fly away, prudently make their northern tours attended by white servants.

The sisters found their way through the dimly lighted passages to their father's apartment. Westall met them at the door; he perceived, at a single glance, that all was right between them.

"Thank heaven," said he, "you are both here; your father has just pronounced your names," "Is he conscious ?" whispered Ellen.

"I do not know; but he seems quite calm and refreshed."

Caroline and Ellen approached the bed together. Mr. Redwood looked at them with an expression of surprise and inquiry, and a slight convulsion agitated his face. They both bent over him and kissed him. He joined their hands, clasped them in his, and raised his eyes-peace, gratitude, and devotion, spoke in them. He said nothing; he seemed to fear the effort to speak. After a few moments he relinquished the hands of his children. and closed his eyes. Tears stole through his eyelids, and a sweet serenity overspread his counte

nance.

"This is heaven's own peace," whispered Westall; "the world cannot give it—the world cannot take it away."

THE night and its afflictions, which we have just faithfully recorded, passed away, and joy came with the morning. Mr. Redwood's condition was already much amended. He experienced, to its full extent, the restorative power of happiness. His disease had been more moral than physical, and it yielded to moral influences.

Without superstition one might have believed that Ellen possessed a 'healing gift,' so beneficent was the effect of her vigilant care. She was constantly at her father's bedside, ministering to his mind and body, and performing all those tender and soothing offices which the sick so often feel to be more efficacious than the most skilfully compounded drugs.

She never left her father's room but for the purpose of renovating her strengh and spirits by a few turns on the piazza with Westall. If her lover