circumstances, and on the spur of the moment; and so great is the want of witnesses throughout the whole transaction, that, in addition to his remorse for taking away the life of a companion in so trivial a quarrel, and the loss of his thumb, which was amputated in cousequence of his wound, large odds are offered at Brookes's that Mr. -, one of the most promising members of the aristocracy, will swing on the scaffold!"" When he had concluded, a shout rose from the audience that might have awakened the dead.

"Do you hear, Marian ?" said Miss Thom, her voice broken by sobbing—“ Do you understand, my poor lassie?" Marian kissed her friend's cheek, and pressed her in her arms.

"Your sympathy with me, ladies and gentlemen," resumed the stranger, "is very gratifying,"-and his voice faltered-"very delightful to my feelings; and it encourages me to think that you will not be displeased to hear the paragraph, which this morning gave a new turn to my spirits: Sir William B, strange to say, is in a fair way of recovery. The case took an almost miraculous turn at the moment when it was expected to terminate in death. He has recovered his speech, and completely absolves his antagonist from any thought of dishonour. Mr. - in the meantime is supposed to have taken refuge in Banffshire; but all the country papers in the kingdom are requested to copy this paragraph, that wherever he is, he may at once return to his anxious friends, and to the society which he adorns !' And now, gentlemen, all I have to

H H

add is, that as Lord Fife, whom I have the honour of knowing personally, is expected to-day at Duff House -perhaps is already arrived — I shall very speedily be able to offer you a satisfactory confirmation of my story."

"There's nae need-there's nae need!" cried Mr. Thom-"we're a' fules, every one of us, Mr.-Sirmy lord!—and sae ye maun just dinner wi' me and my brother fules! and forget it a'."

"Forgive my warmth," said Major Lovat, extending his hand-" but, by my honour, there is another subject on which you and I must have a precognition by and by. In with ye, lasses—in with ye. Friends and neighbours, adieu. Ay, ay-skreigh away-up with it—hurra! hurra! hurra!"

That evening, after dinner, when Mr. Thom began to look wise and talk oracularly, he said apart to Major Lovat

"What do you think I found when I shook the fellow Franks by the hand? That he has nae mair thoom than your daughter's joe! And wha do ye think has eloped frae the town to-day? The jaud wha did a' but swear to the identity of the stranger and the thief! And what do you think she confessed aforehand? That Franks himsel' was the Bravo o' Banff!"

"And what do you think," said the Major, "was put into my hand two minutes ago? Have you speculation enough in your eyes to read? No: then let me put on my specs and try."

'Major,

'Being now fairly out of your clutches, and being willing to save the present or any future prisoner, when it can do myself no harm, I avow myself to be the sole author of the Banffshire robberies. The opportunities were obtained by means of gallivanting; but the ladies themselves were ignorant, till too late, of the use I made of their good nature. My gratitude would have secured you from any attempt, had I not been provoked to it by the taunts of one of my dearies, who reproached me with attacking other people's property when I dared not lay a finger on that of the brave and fiery Major Lovat. Finding myself here accidentally the other night, I made a second attempt, partly out of pique for the loss of my thumb: but I do assure you-and having assured you I care not a straw whether you believe it or not-that if I had succeeded in carrying off the spoil, I should have sent it back to you next day, with the compliments of your loving friend and servant,

'FREDERICK FRANKS.'

All we have to add is, that the precognition with which the stranger was threatened by Major Lovat, was duly gone into, and ended in the young couple being sent for trial, handcuffed together, and transported.

THE LOVER AND HIS MISTRESS.

BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.

HE.

THE wild streams down the linns are leaping,
The whirlwinds through the cedars sweeping,
The lightnings hot o'er heaven are rushing,
The lowering clouds like fountains gushing;
And gray-haired men are moved, and laying
Their brows to kindred earth and praying;
Whilst I, in spite of flood and fire,
Thy mother's wrath and kindred's ire,
Am come to love, not to upbraid ye
With broken vows.-Awaken, Ladye!

SHE.

The smell of flowers in sunshine springing,
The sight of laverocks heavenward singing,
Twin-lambs 'mongst scented rushes lying,
The sound of mournful music dying,
The taste of June's rose-lips, when gaily
She gathers dew by sweet Barncaley,—

The smiling sea to Solway's daughters,

Whose loves are on the treacherous waters,—

Are not so dear as this thy proving

That man has faith in woman's loving.

HE.

Has faith! Ay, strong as heaven when warring
With trembling earth and ocean roaring;
Strong as the red-winged rushing thunder,
Which cleft like chaff yon oaks asunder;
Ay, strong as hatred long while cherished,
Or thoughts of vengeance fed and nourished.
But, gentle one, 'tis late; and truly
This sweeping blast breathes not of July,
With meek starlight and soft dew dropping:
Heaven's windows and not thine are open.

SHE.

'Tis sweet 'mid early scenes to wander,
O'er dreams of vanished love to ponder;
'Tis sweet in thought to take the measure
From present joy of future pleasure;
Sweet to recal chaste hours of wooing
With one once loved, as now I'm doing,
When all was smiles and joy and gladness—
To doubt was weak, to fear was madness:
Cold looks from him were ta'en more kindly
Than smiles from some: love sees but blindly.

HE.

Now come, ye tempests, thick and thicker-
Ye levin gleams, flash quick and quicker—
Let night wax sevenfold dark and eerie –

I deem it sunshine when I'm near ye!
Mind'st thou, fair one, when none were weeting,

The rapture of our first love meeting?

The stars shone so that heaven grew lighter,