My usually lively and mercurial friend sighed eavily, and then drawing a chair, sat down opposite e. Listen to me a moment, sir,' said he. 'Cast de your mortified pride, and answer me frankly. Do you really love my sister? Would you wish to ee her subjected to the alternative, either to become he wife of Don Carlos Alvarez, or else to be confined a convent, perhaps be constrained or influenced take the hateful veil? You alone can save her om this dreadful dilemma.'

My Yankee cautiousness was awakened, but I eplied, 'Ido love your sister, sir, and would do any ing but marry a woman who does not love me to ve her from such a fate as you represent; but still, r, I cannot perceive how that I, till lately unknown you, can have such an influence over you and ours. Is not your own power sufficient to prevent eh undesirable results ??

"I saw by the moonlight that my companion's res flashed with anger, but he made a strong effort control himself.

***I think not,' said I, decidedly, 'I go on board ful noblemen in the mother country. Horror-struck, -morrow.' we fled. The next day the whole city resounded with the fame of the so-called assassination. The government offered immense rewards for the discovery of the murderer. Since that time I hold my life, fortune and honor by the feeble tenure of Don Carlo's silence. His power over me is very great. I distrust him much. Unknown to but very few, I have a yacht lying at a little estate in a rocky nook at Point Yerikos, in complete order to sail at any moment. On board of her is a large amount of property in money and jewels, but still, alas! I should, in case of flight, be forced to leave behind the greater part of my patrimony, which is in real estate, which I dare not sell for fear of exciting Alvarez' suspicion. I live on red-hot coals. Clara alone detains me. It is true that she might fly with me, but she would leave her large fortune behind in the hands of her devil of a guardian. Now, with what knowledge you already have of my father's will, you can easily guess the rest. You are no stranger to me. I know your history, your family, your education, and, under the most felicitous circumstances, would be proud ***I do not wonder,' he said, a moment after, and happy to call you brother. Now, then, decide hat you are angry, Mr. Stewart, after the conduct, my madcap sister, or indeed that you deem it range to find yourself of so much importance sudn'y,' he added, a little maliciously, but I will exain the last matter to you, relying upon your honor. bout two years ago, I accompanied Alvarez to avana, upon some business relative to Clara's tate. While returning late one evening to our tel, we heard in a retired street the cries of a man in distress. Midnight outrages were then ry common in the city, and usually the inhabitants, Ley were not themselves interested in the issue, d very little attention to calls for assistance, and varez, upon my suggesting to him to go with me the aid of the lady making the outery, advised me consuit my own safety by keeping clear of the 2028, but when a louder cry for help reached my rs, I could restrain myself no longer, but started the scene of action. I soon perceived a carriage wn up before a house which had been broken en. Two of the professional bravos were forcing ady into this carriage, whom, by the light of the terns, I recognized to be an actress at the San tas. A gentleman in a mask stood by, apparently * commander of the expedition. I called to the hans to desist, but was hindered from attacking by the gentleman, who drew his sword and pt me off, while the robbers forced the lady into carriage and drove rapidly away. My antagonist med also disposed to retreat, but I was very angry 1 kept him engaged, until, growing angry in his n, he seriously prepared himself to fight. He was very expert swordsman, nevertheless in a few iutes I ran him through the body, and he instantly and expired. At this juncture Don Carlos step-so musically, that I hope you will not think I did

to try again. Clara shall not refuse you; she does not wish to do so; on the contrary, she loves you; but some of her oddness was in the ascendant tonight, and so it happened as it did. At any rate I can no longer trifle with my own safety, and have no authority or means to prevent Don Carlos from exercising unlimited power over my sister's actions. Good-night, señor, you can strike the gong when you wish for a servant and a light. I shall have your answer in the morning.'

1

up.

"Don Pedro left the room in great agitation, and soon after I retired to bed. I lay a long time thinking over the events and revelations of the evening; love and pride alternately held the mastery of my determinations. I loved Clara well and truly, and sympathized with her and her brother in their unfortunate situation, but I had been virtually refused once, and my pride revolted from accepting the hand thus forced into mine by the misfortunes of its owner. At last, as the clock struck three, I fell asleep, still undecided. The sun had first risen in the morning when I started from an uneasy slumber. I dressed myself, passed through my window to the verandah, and down to the water, where I bathed, and returning through the garden entered an arbor and stretched myself on a settee, the better to collect my thoughts. "I had been here but a very short time when I heard voices approaching me, and upon their drawing nearer, I perceived Don Pedro and his sister engaged in earnest conversation. It was now too late to retreat, for they were approaching me by the only way I could effect it, and I was upon the point of going forth to meet them, when they paused in front of the arbor, and I heard Clara pronounce my name

ard when we removed the mask from the wrong, when told that I drew back, determined to e of the corpse, I found to my consternation that I listen, and thereby to obtain a hint whereupon to act. I killed the Count, an aid-de-camp of the Clara leaned upon her brother's arm, who had eviFain-general, and a son of one of the most power-dently been expostulating with her, for his voice was

earnest and reproachful, and Clara's eyes looked as that it was his sister with whom these liberties had been taken, extremely satisfied.

"I came immediately to the conclusion, in my own mind, to defer any farther labial demonstrations, "Can love him!' cried Clara passionately, 'oh! and felt rather foolish; but Clara arranged her dress Pedro, if you only knew how I do love him!'

Here the mate paused, and gave several very at a certain window of Alvarez' house, Pedro wi energetic puffs, and lighted a new cigar.

hour's start! Those chaps in Stockholm are almighty particular about your health, if your papers show that you left Havana after the first of June, and so, to pull the wool over their eyes, and save myself a long quarantine, I was intending to stop at Boston and get a new clearance, so it'll be no trouble at all to set you all ashore, for Don Pedro and his sister will not wish to go to Sweden; and my second mate, I suppose, will want to get married and leave me. Now, Ben, my boy, that's what I call a XX plan; no scratch brand about that; superfine, and no mistake, and entitled to debenture.'

'Excellent, indeed!' replied I.

'Well, after dinner, we'll give you time to tell your girl all about it, and to kiss her once or twice; but you must bear a hand about it, now I tell you, because we must be out of that bloody pirate's way when he comes, and there's a sight of work to do aboard.'

"After dinner the whole matter was again talked over and approved by all, and then the skipper and myself took our leave and went aboard.

the round-house, if he had started for the city, it would have been suspicious.'

"The skipper called the crew, who were principally Yankees, upon the quarter-deck, and in a brief speech stated the case in hand to them. Now, my men,' said he, which of you will volunteer to go with Don Pedro Garcia and Mr. Stewart?'

"Every man offered his services. We chose six lusty fellows, and supplied them with pistols and cutlasses. Don Pedro gave them a doubloon a-piece, and to each of the rest of the crew a smaller sum. At eleven o'clock we descended into the boat and pushed off for the shore. The night had set in dark and rainy, with a strong breeze, almost a gale, from the south. The men rowed in silence and with vigor, but the wind was ahead for us, and when we landed at the end of the mole, behind a row of molasses-hogsheads, it wanted but a few moments of twelve. Leaving two men for boat-keepers, Don Pedro and myself, with the other four, traversed the silent streets until we stopped in a dark lane, in the rear of a large house, which appeared to front upon a more frequented street, for even at that late hour a carriage occasionally was heard.

steps.'

Now, hist!' whispered Pedro, 'listen for foot

"As Captain Hopkins had arranged, we finished our freight on Friday evening, and in the night Pedro came off to us with a boat-load of baggage, pictures, heirlooms, and money. The next day we cleared at the custom-house, and in the afternoon hove short "We strained our ears, but heard nothing but the on our anchor, loosed our sails, and made every clang of the deep-toned cathedral bell, striking the preparation for putting to sea in a hurry. A lieu-hour of twelve. A moment after a window above tenant from the castle came off with our blacks after us opened, and a female form stepped out upon the dark, and while he was drinking a glass of wine in balcony. the cabin, Don Pedro, most unfortunately, came on board. I heard his voice and started to intercept him; but he met me in the companion, and seizing ne by the hand, exclaimed, 'Well, Stewart, you are all ready to cut and run, I see; by this time tomorrow I hope we will be far beyond reach-'

me

"Hush! hush! for God's sake! I whispered, pointing to the companion; 'there is an officer from the castle below.'

66.

"We walked to the sky-light and looked down. Diablo!' muttered Pedro, with a start, 'do you think he heard me?'

"No, I think not; the skipper and he did not cease conversation. The steward is so glad to get back amongst his crockery, that he was kicking up a devil of a row in the pantry; that may have drowned your voice.'

"If he did hear me I'm ruined. He is Don Sebastian Alvarez, a nephew of Carlos', and dependent on him; he has watched me closely for three months. What is his errand?'

"Pedro, whispered the musical voice of Clara, is that you?'

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"Yes, yes-hush! Mr. Stewart is here, and some of his men. Are you all ready?'

"Yes,' replied Clara; 'but how am I going to descend?'

"Catch this line, which I will throw to you,' said I, making a coil.

"The fair girl caught the line as handily as-asa monkey, I suppose I must say.

"Now, haul away,' I said; there is a ladder bent on to the other end, which you must make fast to the balustrade.'

"What!' cried Clara, quite aloud, 'a ladder!— a real, live rope-ladder! how delightfully romantic!' "Hush! hush! you lunatic!' said Pedro, in a hoarse whisper.

"Oh, Pedro!" continued his sister, "just think how droll it is to run away with one's lover, and one's brother standing by aiding and abetting! Oh, fie! I'm ashamed of you! There, now, I've fastened

"He brought off our cook and steward, who this delightful ladder-what next?' have been confined in the castle.'

"Well, I dare say all is right; he is a lieutenant in the castle, and there is nothing strange in his being here on such business; but I'll keep out of sight.'

The officer soon came on deck, shook hands with Captain Hopkins, wished him a pleasant voyage, and then went down into his boat, ordering the men to pull for the castle.

"I ascended, and taking her in my arms, prepared to assist her to the ground.

"Am I not heavy?' she asked, as she put her arms about my neck.

"My God! boys, I could have lifted twenty of her as I felt then.

"This is the second time, señor, that you have helped me to the ground within a week; now get me on the water, and I will thank you for all

**All right, I trust,' cried Pedro, emerging from at once.'

"In a few moments more all danger will be be- enough now, if you only keep quiet, and if you don't hind us, dearest.'

"Clara leaned upon my arm, enveloped in a boatcloak, while we rapidly retraced our steps to the boat, which we reached in safety, but, behold, the men whom we had left were missing. Hardly had we made ourselves sure of this unwelcome fact when a file of men, headed by the same officer who had boarded us in the evening, sprang out from behind the molasses-hogsheads. In a moment more a fierce fight had begun. I seized Clara by the waist with one arm, and drew my cutlas just in time to save my head from the sabre of Carlos Alvarez, who aimed a blow at me, crying, 'Now, dog of a Yankee, it is my turn!'

"In the name of the king! in the name of the king!' shouted the officer-but it made no difference, we fought like seamen. Clara had fainted, but I still kept my hold of her, when suddenly a ton weight seemed to have fallen on my head; my eyes seemed filled with red-hot sparks of intense brilliancy and heat; the wild scene around vanished from their sight as I sunk down stunned and insensible.

you'll slip your wind yet. Shut up your head, take a drink of this stuff, and go to sleep.'

"Capt. Hopkins left me, and, anxious as I was, I soon fell sound asleep. When I awoke I felt much better and stronger, and teazed the skipper so much, that he at last ventured to tell me that after I had been struck down by a sabre-cut over the head, Don Pedro, also badly wounded, and Donna Clara, had been captured by the soldiers. The two boat-keepers also were missing, and one of the others left, either dead or badly wounded, on the mole. Our other three men, finding themselves overpowered, suc ceeded barely in gaining the boat with my insensible form, and pushed off for the ship. Capt Hopkins, upon hearing their story, had no other alternative but to cut an run, and favored by the strong southerly gale, he managed to make good his escape, though fired on by the castle before he had got out of range. In the hurry and confusion my wound was not properly attended to, and a brain fever set in, under which I had been suffering for a week; but the kind care of Capt. Hopkins and Mr. Smith, and the strength "When I came to myself, I was lying in my own of my constitution, at last prevailed over the disease. berth aboard the ship. I felt weak, faint, and dizzy, Dismal as was this story, and the prospects it unand strove in vain to collect my thoughts sufficiently folded, my spirits, naturally buoyant, supported me, to remember what had happened. My state-room and I determined that when the ship should arrive in door was open, and I perceived that the sun's rays Boston I would leave her and return immediately to were shining brightly through the sky-light upon the Cuba, to make an effort for the release of my friends. cabin-table, at which sat Capt. Hopkins, overhauling Wild as was this resolve, I grew better upon the the medicine-chest, which was open before him. I hope of accomplishing it; and when we anchored off knew by the sharp heel of the vessel, her uneasy Long Wharf, after a tedious passage, I was nearly pitching, and the cool breeze which fanned my well. fevered cheek, that the ship was close hauled on a wind, and probably far at sea. I looked at my arms; they were wasted to half their usual size, and my head was bandaged and very sore and painful. Slowly and with difficulty I recalled the events of the few hours preceding that in which I had lost my senses-then I remembered the mélée on the mole. Evidently I had been severely wounded, and while senseless been brought off to the ship. Then came the inquiry, what had been the fate of Clara and her brother. Were they safe on board, or were they captured or killed in the fracas? I hardly dared to ask the skipper who still sat at the table, with a most dolorous face, arranging the vials and gallipots. At last the suspense became intolerable.

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Captain Hopkins,' said I, but in a voice so weak that it startled me. Faint as it was, however, the worthy skipper started to his feet, and was by my side in an instant.

"Glory to God!" he shouted, snapping his fingers. I know by your eyes that reason has hold of your helm again. You'll get well now! IIurrah! D-n, though I mus'n't make so much noise.'

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But, Captain Hopkins-'

"Can't tell you any thing now, you're too weak to bear it; that is-you know, Ben, good news isahem! dreadful apt to kill sick people; and you've been horrid sick, that's a fact. I thought four days ago that you had shipped on a voyage to kingdom come, and was outward bound; but you'll do well

"Notwithstanding the advice of my friends I made arrangements for an immediate return to Matanzas, but the day before my intended departure the Paragon arrived from that port; and I learned from her officers that Don Pedro was closely confined, awaiting his trial for the murder of Count , the result of which would be, without doubt, against him. Clara, believing the general report of my death, had entered the Ursuline Convent to begin her novitiate; and I was told that if I was to be seen in Matanzas, the garrote, or chain-gang, was all that I could expect. Your father then told me that if I would consent to accompany Captain Hopkins, he would sail in my place to Matanzas, and do his utmost for his nephew and niece. I could not help but see the wisdom of this arrangement, and acceded to it. We sailed from Boston to Stockholm, from thence to Rotterdam, and from thence to Batavia. A freight offering for Canton, we went to that port, and from thence came home, after an absence of two years and a half. In the meantime Don Pedro had been tried, and sentenced to death; but by the exertions of your father, who wrought faithfully in his behalf, his sentence was commuted, first to twenty, and then to twelve years in the gallies, or, as it is in Cuba, the chaingang. His efforts to see Clara, in order to disabuse her mind of the belief of my death, was abortive; and she, after finishing her year as a novice, took the veil--and she is now a nun in the Ursuline Convent at Matanzas, while her noble brother is a slave,

WHITE CREEK.

BY ALFRED B. STREET.

[This is a picturesque little stream in Washington county, State of New York. It flows through the broad and beautiful meadows of the Hon. John Savage, late Chief Justice of the State.]