ceiving smile, which, I believe, is ever my quickening or depression of the pulse by incipiblandest. ent illness is at once apparent in the voice. I glanced to catch another look at the Cin-"But perhaps she comes for others," I said to derella boots, but "the mice" were now nestled myself, and then aloud, “We are quite alone.” out of sight; so I tried to catch a glimpse of I felt my heart flutter as I said this, and her face, but the double vail still concealed it | walked to the door to see if Mrs. Bracegirdle by like an iron mask. chance might be at hand. My suspicions were verified-I found her very tidily gathering up shreds and smoothing my door-mat-that is all. I would not on oath say she was listening. Mrs. Bracegirdle was, I am sure, above this weakness of her sex. Nevertheless I resolved to close my door, which I had modestly left Mrs. Bracegirdle caught my eye, and looked a little queer out of hers. She "You will, no doubt, think me very bold, Sir, but I have called to ask you to prescribe for me!" "Indeed, Miss! Then it is a professional visit ?" For the benefit of my female readers I will describe her dress, premising that it was the month of September-near its close. In height she was about that of the Venus of Canova, which is five feet two inches-Beauty's standard. Her form was slightly but elegantly moulded, in just and poetical proportions with her "beauti-ajar as I entered. fully less" stature. Nothing in symmetrical grace could surpass the beauty of her neck, the lovely fall of her shoulders, the moulded roundness of her arms, which, betrayed by her sleeve, exposed itself at the wrist, adorned by a simple gold band for bracelet. Her hands were just like those elegant tapering-fingered affairs which we have presented to us every month in the pictures of the ladies who illustrate "the Fashions." They were nicely fitted by a pair of claret-colored gloves with gauntleted wrist-guards. She wore an open-work straw, which was trimmed with flowers of some sort, and straw, and buds, and claret-colored and lemon ribbons, and lace (I was never a hand to describe the bewildering graces of a lady's costume), all mingled together in bewitching confusion, producing a tout ensemble that would, without doubt, have set off the beauty of her face in the most charming manner, provided her face could have been seen, but that vail, falling from the front, destroyed all possible effect. Her dress was a greenish brown and claret plaid silk, very rich, and all flounced and hooped, and superb in its breadth; and over her shoulders she wore a handsome coral-colored merino shawl, with a border of needle-work in the most expensive style. In one hand she held a claret-colored wrought bag, with a cambric kerchief, elegantly embroidered, peeping out, half revealing a name, neatly enwreathed, of which I detected the letters, "Annie W....." In her other hand she held a claret-colored parasol, closed. Altogether she was very fashionably and elegantly attired, and with the most exquisite taste. "Yes, Miss, I am Doctor Dodwell. Can I be of any service to you?" I asked, trying to recall my uncle's instructions about dignity, coolness, and perfect self-possession. Without doubt I was a little fluttered. There seemed a sort of destiny in her entering my office, and I could not dismiss from my mind the idea that more would yet come of it than now appeared on the surface. "I am very desirous of seeing you, Sir, on some private matters," she said, in a voice like a flute-soft, tremulous, and rich. "Are we alone?" I wondered whether it could possibly be a professional visit. She seemed the incarnation of health and beauty; for that voice was in perfect tune-and the medical man knows that any "Unquestionably," with dignity and ease. This coolness quite put all my philosophy out of my brain. 'Pray may I ask what is your disease?" "Of the heart, Sir." I almost bounded two steps backward, I was so taken by surprise. "Of the heart?" "Yes, Sir. I am in love. I am told that love proceeds from causes over which medical men have control." I felt very doltish, and was for a moment dumbfoundered. Was this young beauty quizzing me? Impossible! I was too grave and dignified and self-possessed a person for that. I then recollected I had heard of persons dying of love, of hearts being broken, and all that. "Pray explain, madam. How can I help you?" “You had best feel my pulse, Sir. It is not for me to describe my disease. I came to consult your skill, and put myself under your hands for a perfect cure." "Bless my soul! Indeed, Miss ?" "Yes, Sir." And as she spoke she removed her glove, displaying a charming hand and wrist, and extended the pretty member toward me. As I delicately clasped it with thumb and finger I felt all sorts of emotions. I never experienced such sensations in touching a patient's hand before. In order not to let her arm fall to the ground, I was under the necessity of supporting the warm, soft little hand in my own. It felt like a young, warm robin-redbreast, and it palpitated for all the world just like a little timid turtle-dove. To this day I have not the least idea how many times her pulse beat in a minute. I had lost my presence of mind so completely that I forgot to take out | promise, Sir?" said the sweet voice, the tones my watch to time it. I think, though, I must of which thrilled through and through my heart. have held that little hand full five minutes, pre- I was captivated by the voice and feet too. tending to feel the pulse, and all the while rev- "Yes," I said, boldly, "on one condition." eling in the delightful possession. I only wish- "Name it, Sir!" she said, quietly. ed it had been her little foot! But doctors don't usually feel for pulses in a lady's foot, however beautiful and small. Slowly she withdrew her hand, seeing I retained it longer than was necessary, but not as if displeased. "That you unvail !" "No. I mean you shall take me on your own theory of beauty. If you will run the risk, there is my hand!" And she extended that bewitching little hand which I had held in my palm like a palpitating "I know of no cure," I said, smiling, "but and fluttering bird. I grasped it, pressed it, to prescribe the young gentleman." pressed it to my lips, and, moved by a sort of I heard a merry laugh behind the vail, and it fascination, I answered, set me quite at my ease. 66 Why, I do not know you!" "Yet I have often seen you. My heart is yours. You alone can heal the wound you have caused!" I was confounded. I feared I was the victim of a quiz. I was perplexed what to say or how to act. The mystery of it all piqued my curiosity, while my heart and imagination were both ensnared and made captive by the invisible beauty; for beautiful in face I knew she must be! And in love with me! Who could she be ? And I rose many degrees in my own self-esteem at the idea of being fallen in love with and by the owner of such pretty feet! "Will you tell me who you are, or remove your vail ?" "I will marry you, that is-if-if you can show me evidence of your respectability-of your position! Pardon me, but you know that—” "I perfectly comprehend you. Expecting this demand, I am prepared to meet it;" and opening her reticule she handed me a note. It was from my uncle the M.D. There was no mistaking nor forging his oddly-shaped handwriting. It read as follows: 66 "DEAR JACK,-The bearer is every way your equal. If you marry her, you will not compromise yourself." "So, then, my uncle is in this affair," I said, laughing. "My friends mean I shall put my theories into practice. I will marry you!" I said, desperately, and almost fearing she would change her mind. "Let us exchange rings in mutual pledge," she said, behind that horrid vail. The exchange was made, and I then said, "Will you now let me seal my promise on your fair lips." "Yes;" and she removed slowly her vail, and I started back with horror. Never before had "Not now, I have heard that you have re-man beheld so ugly a face! I felt as if I should peatedly said you would marry me for the beau-fall through the floor. I fairly staggered with tiful smallness of my feet, and not ask to see my the shock not only to my nerves but to my theface!" ory. "Who in Heaven's name are you?" A I was confounded! What she said was true! loud and mirthful and triumphant laugh from I had said so to Hamilton, and half a dozen oth-behind caused me to turn round, and in the wide ers! Had they sent her hither to challenge open folding doors I beheld my uncle, my fond me to keep my word! It could not be that one Harry Hamilton, and my Puritan aunt, and half so lovely and lady-like could be a party to such a dozen of my friends and relatives, who seemed a scheme! Yet how did she know that I had beside themselves with joy. said so! Perhaps some one I have told knows I stood amazed. I saw I had been victimher, and told her; and she is really in love ized! I regarded the stranger before me with with me! anger as the chief party to a conspiracy against These and other thoughts ran rapidly through | me, when suddenly I saw the ugly visage, which my mind. She seemed to await my decision. was an admirably-fitting mask, fall to the Suddenly I clasped her hand, and said, earnestly, ground, revealing the lovely, beautiful, laugh"Will you marry me?" ing, charming, mischievous face of my fair "Yes." "But you don't know me?" cousin! When the uproarious excitement had a little "Well enough to know you would make me subsided, and every body had laughed at me as happy!" "The very words of Mrs. Bracegirdle," I said to myself. "Now if I commit myself, and she proves as ugly as sin! But that is impossible! She must be beautiful! I have full faith in her pretty feet. What I have said, since she has come to me on the faith of it, I will abide by! I shall be sure to have a beautiful wife! But-" "Am I to hope that you will redeem your VOL. XV.-No. 89.-XX much as they could, I clasped the bewitching Fanny, my cousin (her name was Frances Annie), in my arms and cried, "Let him laugh, my friends, who wins! But," I added, with a look of doubt, "what about the Bible and your mother, cousin ?" "Here is mother, let her speak for herself," said Fanny, smiling, and looking more beautiful (the pretty-footed witch!) than I ever saw her in my life! Confound that clever mask! | locked the folding-doors and slipped out the how thoroughly it deceived me! "Why, I have found that it is not in the Bible, only in the last part, put in by nobody knows who, that cousins sha'n't marry," said her mother; "and only in the old English Bibles; so when I saw how it was, and that Fanny loved you, and you would have married her if you dared, I gave my consent; and to please your uncle and some others we got up this little deception; and Mrs. Bracegirdle, being let into the secret three days ago, let us in by the side door into the parlor." "Yes, Doctor, I couldn't refuse 'em, so I un TH keys. You know I asked you this morning if you hadn't better take a wife!" The result of this innocent conspiracy of my relatives, heartily seconded by Fanny, who knew I had loved her from boyhood, was that I got the best little and most beautiful wife in the world, choosing her, after all, by her pretty feet; and so establishing my favorite theory, that (confound that ugly-visaged mask, it well-nigh killed me on the spot!) a pair of pretty feet can belong only to a lovely face and person, on the principle that "ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL." Monthly Record of Current Events. UNITED STATES. and August as the months which presented the most favorable weather for the work; but several eminent shipmasters give the preference to October. The Company which has undertaken this great work has a capital of £350,000-say $1,750,000, divided into shares of £1000 each. The entire cost of the cable has been $1,388,000, in addition to a large sum for machinery, electrical apparatus, and other expenses, which has probably absorbed the remainder of the capital stock. HE failure of the attempt to lay the Atlantic Telegraph Cable is the most noteworthy event of the month. It had been intended to commence. the operation on the 3d of August-just 365 years from the day on which Columbus set sail from Palos on his voyage in search of the New World. But owing to a slight accident in landing the cable, the sailing of the expedition was delayed until the evening of the 7th. Up to this time every thing had gone on in the most satisfactory manner; the electric current had been passed through the whole length of the cable, and experiments had removed all doubt that any obstacle would arise from the submersion of the wire. Early on the morning of the 10th, the water began very suddenly to grow deeper. In the course of eight miles its depth increased from 550 to 1750 fathoms; and soon after it reached 2000 fathoms. This occasioned an additional strain upon the cable, causing it to run out with a speed greater than that of the vessel. The retarding force of the breaks was accordingly increased to prevent the too rapid paying out of the cable, which still, however, continued to run out much faster than the vessel advanced. At this time there was a strong wind and a heavy sea. At a quarter before four on the morning of the 11th, Mr. Bright, the Engineer of the Company, who had personally superintended the working of the machinery, was obliged to go to another part of the ship, leaving the brakes in charge of another person. In a few moments he heard the machine stop, and when he returned he found that the cable had parted at some distance from the vessel. Of the cable 335 miles had been paid out, being fully 100 miles more than the ship had run. The vessels at once returned. The Engineer, in his report to the Company, attributes the break solely to the amount of retarding strain put upon the cable, and says that had the machine been properly managed it could not possibly have happened. There is, he says, no ground of discouragement; but, on the contrary, there are added reasons for confidence in the ultimate success of the enterprise. He sug-stitutional Conventions in Minnesota have agreed gests several improvements in the machinery used for paying out, but says that the construction of the cable itself has answered every expectation; and were a new one to be made he should not recommend any alteration. It was not decided, at our last advices, whether another attempt shall be made this season, or whether it shall be postponed another year. Lieutenant Maury fixed upon July During the month of August elections for State officers and members of Congress have been held in different States. In Kentucky 8 Democrats and 2 Americans have been chosen; in Tennessee 6 Democrats and 2 Americans, with two districts doubtful; in North Carolina 7 Democrats and 1 American; in Alabama the whole delegation, 7 members, are Democrats.-In Missouri Mr. Stewart, Democrat, has been elected by about 300 majority over Mr. Rollins. This election is noteworthy on account of the position of Mr. Rollins, who is himself a slaveholder, on the slavery question. He said, in the canvass, that he was in favor of submitting the subject of future emancipation to the laws of climate, of emigration, of labor, and of production. He would offer every inducement to emigration from the North and the South; and if, he says, "this emigration, in the course of years, brings about such a disproportion between the white and the black races, that it is no longer the interest of the people of Missouri to continue it a Slave State, then let it go." His own opinion is, in view of the high northern latitude of the State, and of the constantly increasing disproportion between the white and black population, that, in the course of time, it will become the interest of the slaveholders themselves to abolish the institution.-The Democratic candidates for Governor have been elected in Tennessee, Alabama, and Teras. In Vermont a Repub lican Governor has been chosen.-The new Constitution for Iowa has been adopted by the people, rejecting the clause allowing colored persons to vote, which was voted upon separately.-The two Con upon a State Constitution to be presented for the suffrages of the people of that Territory. It provides that slavery or involuntary servitude shall never exist in the State; that the liberty of the press shall remain forever inviolate; that trial by jury shall extend to all cases at law; and that no religious test shall be required as a qualification for voting or holding office. All male persons of the age of twenty-one years, of the following classes, who have resided in the United States one year, and in the State four months next preceding any election, are entitled to vote: White citizens of the United States; white persons of foreign birth who have legally declared their intention to become citizens; those of mixed white and Indian blood who have adopted the customs and habits of civilization; and those Indians who have adopted the language, habits, and customs of civilization, and shall have been pronounced by the Courts, after examination, to be capable of enjoying the rights of citizenship. The election to decide upon the adoption of this Constitution is to be held on the 13th of October.-In Kansas there now appears to be a growing disposition on the part of the Free State men to vote at the coming election. At a Convention held at Grasshopper Springs, August 26, resolutions to that effect were almost unanimously passed. Mr. Robinson has been brought to trial on the charge of having acted as Governor under the Topeka Constitution, and acquitted. This were elected without their intervention. body would soon assemble, and it is the duty of the President, in the state of incipient rebellion which exists, to employ the troops of the United States, if necessary, in defending the Convention while engaged in framing a Constitution, and in protecting the voters in the free exercise of the right of suffrage, when it shall be submitted for their approbation or rejection. The President expresses perfect confidence that Governor Walker will employ the troops only to resist actual aggression or in the execution of the laws, and this not until the power of the civil magistrate shall prove unavailing. Following, he says, the example of Mr. Madison toward the Hartford Convention, "illegal and dangerous combinations, such as the Topeka Convention, will not be disturbed unless they shall attempt to perform some act which will bring them in actual collision with the Constitution and the laws, and in that event they shall be put down by the whole power of the Government." A "National Emancipation Convention" met at Cleveland, Ohio, August 26, in order to devise a plan by which the slaves in the South should all be bought up by the General and State Governments for the purpose of liberating them. A so In reply to an inquiry from the Government of Bavaria, the United States Attorney-General says: "There is no statute of the United States which prevents either a native or naturalized citizen from severing his political connection with the Govern-ciety was formed to advocate this measure, among ment if he sees proper to do so, in time of peace, and for a purpose not directly injurious to the interests of the country." The Treasury Department has just paid between two and three hundred thousand dollars to Maryland, as interest on half a million of dollars, which amount the United States became indebted to Maryland during the war of 1812. The principal was discharged between the years 1818 and 1822. A number of citizens of Connecticut, among whom were President Woolsey and Professor Silliman of Yale College, addressed to the President a letter, complaining that Governor Walker of Kansas was employing the troops of the United States to enforce the execution of laws in that Territory which had never been made by the people; and representing that the President was thereby held up to the world as violating in an essential particular the oath which he had taken to support the Constitution of the United States. The President returned an elaborate reply, affirming that the validity of the Territorial Government of Kansas had been recognized by Congress, and was as well established as that of any other Territory; that it was his duty to prevent its being overturned by force; and that he had ordered the troops to Kansas for the sole purpose of acting as a posse comitatus to aid the civil magistrate to carry the laws into execution. The necessity for sending troops to Kansas, he says, reflects no credit upon the character of the country; but the blame rests upon a portion of the people of the Territory who, unwilling to trust to the ballot-box for the redress of grievances, undertook to create an independent government for themselves. Such a principle, if carried out, would destroy all lawful authority and produce universal anarchy. Slavery, he says, exists in the Territory under the Constitution; but when the people proceed to frame a State Constitution, it is their right to decide whether they will continue, modify, or abolish Slavery. The law passed by the Territorial Legislature for the election of delegates to frame a Constitution was fair and just in its provisions; but numbers of men refused to vote, and the members of the Convention whose leading members are Gerrit Smith, Elihu Burrit, Professor Silliman, and President Hopkins, of Williams College. The American Association for the Advancement of Science held its eleventh annual meeting at Montreal, commencing August 12. Among the papers presented were the following: On the Zodiacal Light, by Charles Wilkes, U.S.N.; Observations on the Zodiacal Light at Quito, by Rev. George Jones, U.S.N.; On the Influence of the Gulf Stream upon the Climates of the Atlantic Coast, by Dr. Wynne, of New York; On the Alleged Influence of Solar Light on the Process of Combustion, by Professor Le Conte, of South Carolina; On the Formation of Continents, by Profess or Peirce, of Cambridge, in which the idea was advanced that the form of the Continents was owing to the action of the sun; and on the Prevention of Counterfeiting, by Professor B. Silliman, Jun. The invention of photography had given rise to new and dangerous counterfeits of bank-bills, to guard against which it was proposed to print them in two colors, between which there was no photographic contrast. Professor Silliman, after examining various plans suggested for this purpose, brought forward a note printed in black carbon ink upon a green tint, made from the sesqui oxide of chromium; both colors being unchangeable by any means now known to chemists, so that the note was safe from alteration, while the want of photographic contrast between the colors rendered it impossible to produce a fac-simile by photography. A division is likely to take place in the New School Presbyterian Church. The Southern members feeling aggrieved at the course in respect to slavery taken by the late General Assembly, held a convention at Richmond, Virginia, commencing August 27. Resolutions were passed declaring that all censures against members on account of their being slaveholders are contrary to the examples and teachings of Christ and his Apostles, and a violation of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church; that the relation of master and slave, as such, is not a proper subject for discussion in Church judicatories; that there is no prospect that this discussion will cease in the General Assembly; | Nicaragua; and no settlement of the question of and that, therefore, the Presbyteries opposed to the the Transit route has been made. Honduras and agitation of slavery be requested to appoint dele- Guatemala are suffering from cholera, small-pox, gates to meet at Knoxville, Tennessee, on the third and famine. The survey for the Honduras Railway Thursday of May, 1858, to organize a new General is reported to be making favorable progress. Synod. A proposition to unite with the Old School British Honduras a bitter feeling is springing up body met with little favor. against the Americans. In In Chili a law granting an amnesty to political offenders has passed the Legislature by a twothirds vote, in spite of the strenuous opposition of the Government.- -The revolution in Peru is at a stand-still. The revolutionary forces are at Arequipa, closely watched by the army of the Gov A body of deserters from the army of Walker, numbering 260 men, arrived in New York August 19. They left San José July 14, under the auspices of the Costa Rican Government, marching overland to the River Serapiqui, which they descended on rafts to San Juan, whence they were conveyed to New York by a steamer. They were in great dis-ernment, but neither party seems to have sufficient tress when they arrived, most of them belonging to the South and West. strength seriously to annoy the other. GREAT BRITAIN. Parliament was prorogued August 28. The Indian mutiny absorbs the greater share of public attention. In the course of a warm debate in Parliament, Sir De Lacy Evans contended that the preparations made by Government were wholly inadequate to the emergency. He urged that dépôts of coal should be formed along the sea-route, in order that troops might be conveyed by steam from Canada and the Cape of Good Hope, and that the regular army should be recruited from the militia. Mr. Disraeli affirmed that the insurrection was not a mere military mutiny, and that Government was not acting with sufficient vigor and promptness. The Indians are becoming exceedingly troublesome all along our western and northwestern frontiers. Colonel Sumner reports an engagement with the Cheyennes, August 29. Three hundred war-Lord Palmerston replied that Government was riors were drawn up to oppose the advance of our troops. Being charged by cavalry they fled, and were pursued seven miles. They lost a large num ber of men; our loss being two killed and several wounded. Their village, consisting of 170 lodges, was burned.-In New Mexico an action has taken place with the Coyatero Indians, who lost 41 killed and 45 prisoners; our loss was 7 wounded.-The Indians in Iowa have been fighting among them-ative, the ex-King, had fallen. They were assured selves. On the 1st of August, a party of Chippewas attacked a detached band of the Sioux, took 30 scalps, and retreated down the Red River. Hon. Thomas J. Rusk, United States Senator from Texas, committed suicide a few weeks since. Since the death of his wife he had been very much depressed in spirits. He was one of the ablest men of his party, and his name has been mentioned as a probable candidate for the Presidency. He was 52 years old.Rufus Wilmot Griswold died in New York, August 27, aged 42. He had been a printer, editor, and clergyman; but was best known by his works connected with American literature. The principal of these are "The Poets and Poetry of America,' ," "The Prose Writers of America," and "The Female Poets of America."-Margaret Rine, the last slave in the State of New York, died recently on Long Island, at the age of 79 years, SOUTHERN AMERICA. raising troops as fast as possible; that 30,000 men had already been sent out; and that in the event of affairs taking a decidedly unfavorable turn, Parliament would be asked to indicate more decided measures.-The Queen and Princes of Oude, now in England, presented a petition to Parliament, expressing their regret at the revolt, and at the suspicions of complicity under which their rel that he was entirely innocent, and prayed that the charges against him might be made known, so that he might establish his innocence.-In answer to an inquiry made in Parliament whether the Government was about to comply with a demand from the Government of France to expel certain French refugees who had taken refuge in England, Lord Palmerston replied that no such demand had been made, and that they had no power by law to grant any such application. FRANCE. The three Italians, Tibaldi, Bartolotti, and Grilli, charged with conspiring against the life of the Emperor, have been tried, convicted, and sentenced, the first to the galleys for life, the two latter to deportation for fifteen years. The evidence against them consisted mainly in letters found in their possession detailing the plans of the conspiracy; in the lodgings of Tibaldi were also found a number of poniards, knives, and pistols. Bartolotti is said to have made a complete confession to the effect that in London he had two interviews with Mazzini and a Frenchman who he supposes to have The insurgents, who are reported to be ev-been Ledru Rollin, which resulted in his being sent ery where successful, are composed of the extreme to Paris. His mission, he said, was not to take the radical party, who had been defeated at the late life of the Emperor, but to remain on the watch to election, fraudulently, as they allege.-General ascertain at what hours he went out. Grilli st Santa Anna denies the authenticity of the mani- first denied every thing; but on being informed festo bearing his name, noted in our Record for that Bartolotti had confessed, said that he considAugust. ered himself absolved from his oath, and would tell From Central America there is little of import-all he knew. His orders were to kill the Emperance. The Costa Ricans still hold possession of or, and in confirmation of his story he revealed In Mexico Señor Comonfort is elected President by a very large majority.-A revolutionary outbreak is announced as having occurred in Yuca tan. |