ing at full speed? If you have witnessed these sudden and surprising events, you may fancy my feelings, as says the respectable Mr. Yellowplush, when I was informed of Mrs. Grundy's public denunciation of my character. That I raged like the wild boar of Horace, and uttered unseemly remarks, is scarcely a surprising circumstance. I think if Mrs. Grundy had been a man I should have had her venerable blood. This was simply my feeling-I wished to find somebody that was responsible, and I found Miss Araminta Skoggins, and her three friends Seraphina, Angelina, and Sallianna. Do you comprehend the feelings of a man, my friend, who is mercilessly torn to pieces by such an inexorable triumvirate, presided over by Miss Araminta? You can't do any thing; you can not

tion-let me not doubt that now, above all, when | summer blackened suddenly by a thunder-cloud I see clearly much that then was dark to me. the vast wide ocean, while it heaves in calm Yes! how plain it is now to me that she almost and glassy rest, lashed all at once by storms-a kept pace with my own feelings, which gathered noble ship, with all sails set, the wind ahead, every day new strength; and let me be thank-struck suddenly aback by a squall—a merry ful for the affection of so pure a heart for one sleighing party hurled into the snow-a horse so unworthy. Josephine's was one of those na-reined suddenly upon his haunches while movtures which seem gifted by Heaven with a gentleness and tenderness so pervading that none with whom they are thrown in contact can escape their influence. She had the most ready and sympathetic memory, too-that rare memory of the heart, which revives the scenes and impressions of the past with such marvelous accuracy and ease. Her nature was singularly impressible to music, to beauties of nature, above all, to instances of moral beauty and goodness. I think she would have wished to have had Ethel's place when Colonel Newcome kissed that little maiden; and Little Dorrit would have had a sister in her, the poor Father of the Marshalsea a new daughter. She would weep like a child over a pathetic story, or melt into tears suddenly while Anna was singing "Katherine Ogie." Her laughter was as ready and as genuine; and re-resist, or remonstrate, or retaliate; that is not calling now, here in my silent apartment, the whole outline and detail of her character, I recognize even then in her a character of strange beauty, whom I think any man might be happy to find in his own daily walk, to cultivate and improve and purify him. Do you wonder that I fell more and more deeply in love, like an honest fellow? and dreamed more and more of her purity and beauty? and treasured up little things of hers-a glove, or flower, or ribbon? and even thought the day more bright, the birds' songs more entrancing, and the air more pure, when I heard and saw these sounds and natural sights with her-her presence giving them new loveliness and sweetness? Thinking of her face and figure now-of the true eyes and parted lips-I live again in the past, and feel that she was worthiest of all!

polite, and you are guilty, in so doing, of want of chivalric courtesy to one of the fair sex. You are checkmated, my friend-laughed at, insulted, despised, maligned-received with a titter when you enter, and a giggle when you depart. Go and gnash your teeth in private, and kick the chair which stands in your way across the room, and then go make Miss Araminta, as she passes, the most smiling salutation, and lament in retirement that the murder of a young man's reputation and his heart is not as yet a capital offense. There's your recourse.

You will perceive from the above allusion that I had come to mix up Miss Araminta Skoggins, in some singular way, with Mrs. Grundy. I will proceed to tell you how that happened. As I was passing on my way to my office, just after hearing of the dreadful peril my prospects I procured my license in due time, and then were encountering, I chanced to meet the symmy attentions became more and more unmis-pathizing Tom Lockup. Tom looked really takable. I must have had, my friend, the air of a "courting man," which species of individual is easily distinguishable from the herd. Whether the happy fellows carry the flower in their button-hole, with a jauntier air, as who should say, "I am going to see my sweetheart" --or whether the spring in their gait, the toss of the head, the twirl of the cane in the neatlygloved hand, convey the assurance that they are on matrimonial designs intent-on these points I can deliver nothing with precision. But I know full well that your genuine lover betrays himself above all the man with "serious intentions." Above and beyond all I know-and shall never cease to remember—that Mrs. Grundy suddenly arrived in town, and declared at a public tea-drinking that Josephine could never, with a proper degree of self-respect, permit the addresses of a young gentleman who had been guilty of such "conduct" as my own at college. My friend, have you seen a brilliant day in

concerned when he saw my gloom, and, of course, demanded the reason. I informed him succinctly of the state of things, and wound up by declaring that I would seek out Mr. Grundy, and visit upon his head the slanders of his spouse. It was then that Tom Lockup looked mysteriously around, went to the windows overhead, next to the cellars beneath, and then, lowering his voice, uttered the mysterious and remarkable declaration that Mrs. Grundy was no less a person than Miss Araminta herself. It was not until he explained himself that I could take into my mind the full significance of this astounding declaration. His explanation was briefly this: that the words "Mrs. Grundy" were an English paraphrase for the voice of lying rumor, the tattle of gossips, the tongue of slander, picking a hole in his or her neighbor's coat and rejoicing in having a whole garment herself. Tom Lockup ended by declaring that the particular Mrs. Grundy who had

so kindly taken my reputation and affairs gen- | tage-his ribbon-knots fluttering, his hat, with erally in charge, was no less a person than Miss sweeping feather, arranged jauntily above his Araminta Skoggins and her least amiable friend curling hair? Do you see his golden smile, his Miss Angelina. heaving breast, his hands trembling with delight as he extends them with a graceful condescension toward Daphne, whom he graciously permits to love and accept him? Do you know what has induced honest Amyntor to think that he has only to ask for the young maiden, and receive his wish? Simply the fact that yesterday her cousin, Phillida, informed him that Miss Daphne would use nothing but patchouli-the perfume he had often praised and vaunted in her presence—and added that she thought poor Daphne was wasting and pining gradually away, because she could not win the heart she wanted. So Amyntor has determined to be magnanimous and permit himself to be the husband of the beautiful and sorrowful Miss Daphne; and he goes and proposes, and is discarded with a promptness rather mortifying and instructive, and from that time forth becomes a sadder and a wiser man. I did not think of Amyntor's fate, which had occurred under my eyes a week before, and boldly sought the presence of Josephine.

You may imagine my consternation when I had reluctantly come to Tom's conclusion-my indignation and astonishment. Had not Miss Araminta nearly reposed upon my bosom in hysterics of joy when I returned? Had not that young lady (by courtesy) declared to me that the "suggestive emotions of her heart on this occasion went near to strangulate her with felicity?" Was it possible that the mouth which had bid me call in often, now could bite my unresisting and unoffending self? I propounded these excited questions to Tom Lockup, with a flushed face and closely clenched hands, and then I uttered something like the philosophy laid down in the paragraph upon a previous page, as to the recourse one had against such adversaries. Tom Lockup smiled. I looked at him. There was something in his countenance so mysterious-a light in his eye so merry and yet so wicked-a turning down of the corners of his mouth, so indicative of possessing thought, of a fixed scheme, that unwittingly I was silent, gazing at him curiously. He quietly returned my gaze-his smile expanded into a grin-his left eye slowly and mysteriously closed itself, then opened again—and drawing me into his office he closed the door, locked it, and we were alone.

Of the long and animated conversation held on that eventful morning with Tom Lockup, I will not here speak: I will say nothing of it, further than to declare that Tom had conceived a brilliant idea—that this idea expanded itself into a harangue quite unusual with Tom Lockup-and that it was frequently interrupted, upon my part, by laughter. When I left the office, it was with a promise to return again that night; and then I went to my own apartment, and, with a shaking and cowardly heart, made one of the most eventful toilets of my life. Do you comprehend, my dear friend? If you do not, you are less penetrating than I think you are. I had determined to follow the philosophy of the old verse:

"Either his caution is too much,
Or his desert too small,
Who fears to put it to the touch
And lose or win it all!"

The best and most approved historians and chroniclers prefer rather to give results. We know that Roland wound his horn at Roncesvalle, and died from hemorrhage of the lungs; we scarcely stop to inquire how all the contention came about. Let me, therefore, omit a description of my interview with Josephine, who paid me the compliment to cry and blush with indignation when the slanders of Miss Araminta were repeated to her by a cowardly and tremulous voice. Of course, as my cousin and friend, she took my part against Miss Araminta, but what did I gain by that slight circumstance?

On the next morning a young man might have been seen languidly dragging his feet along down the village street, with a face of so much mournful gloom, and harassing disappointment and grief, that every one who met him noticed it, and asked him the reason for his gloom. I replied-for you will understand this little historical romance personage was no other than myself-I replied to all such inquirers that nothing was the matter, that I was not gloomy; and then I passed languidly on, leaving my questioners under the very natural impression In a word, I had determined to go and tell Jo- that some most horrible disaster had befallen sephine that I loved her dearly and tenderly, me. At the corner I met Miss Araminta. I and that her answer must make me entirely would have bowed and passed on, but she stophappy or completely miserable. For months I ped me with that art for which she was so fathought I had been taking every day a deeper mous. What was the matter? Any reverse of hold upon her affections, and the above verse, fortune? Was I unwell? Was I the recipient which has led many a gallant fellow to precipi- of the news of any death? Was I—was Itate declaration and consequent ruin, was about was I-? No, I was not, with many thanks to be responsible for the act of another youth in for such kind inquiries and so much tender soaddition to the rest. Strange that young lovers licitude. I was quite well and happy, and all are so blind! Passing strange also, that they were well whom I cared for and loved; herself build hope often upon foundations of the merest among the rest I was glad to see, and then I shifting sand. Do you see Amyntor yonder, sighed.. Miss Araminta sighed too. Had I walking on air, as it were, toward Daphne's cot-met, perhaps, with any disappointment-in-a

-my affections?

ing question with a groan. Miss Araminta
grew bolder.
Had that singular young girl,
Josephine, discarded me? I looked at Miss
Araminta for a moment in speechless agony,
drew my handkerchief from my pocket, and
covering my face to suppress all exhibition of
my feelings, tore myself away in silence, and
buried myself in my apartment.

I replied to this languish- and Dr. Thomas W, otherwise Tom Lockup, respectively. You see these ladies had maligned and insulted us-uttered the most unworthy slanders concerning us-endeavored to render us miserable throughout our youth, by turning against us the fond and tender hearts which loved us. They had bitterly aspersed our very honesty-had magnified the thoughtless imprudences of young manhood into degradHave you seen the leaves of autumn suddenly ing and bestial vices-had, in a word, stabbed us caught up by a strong wind, and dashed through cruelly and mercilessly with envenomed tongues, the air until the atmosphere is darkened by and then rose up in the morning to repeat these them, and the sky covered? I make use of calumnies with added and more mortal poison. this natural simile to describe the storm of re- All this had they done unto us; but we had ports and rumors which immediately rose around concluded not to recollect it-to kiss the hands me, and which finally increased into a settled which stabbed-propriety forbids me to add, and regular hurricane, the burden whereof was the lips which slandered. We were going to -"Discarded! discarded! discarded!" In marry these charmers in order to monopolize twenty-four hours the whole village knew that their tender natures-the School for Scandal Josephine had discarded me. I kept in my office would, of course, end with a duplicate marriage. -I hid myself-I was seen nowhere. You see My friend, the story is done-the plot has I was discarded, and I was afraid of meeting Miss reached its denouement—the audience is invited, Araminta. Let me not dwell upon this trying assembled, and awaits the rising of the curtain time, however let me tell you how I curbed on the last scene of the last act. The invitamy agony, and took a rational view of life. tions to the performance were written upon enWill you believe that the first person I went to ameled cards, which were tied together by white see after my retirement into the shades of priv-satin ribbon, and the whole was inclosed in an ate life was Miss Araminta. Why not? She embossed envelope, sealed with a silver wreath had asked me to call often, and in my sorrow | encircling clasped hands. These cards conveyher lively conversation was a diversion from ed the astounding information that Mrs. — my grief. I found Tom Lockup there, who Josephine's mother, would be pleased to see the seemed to have been affected by a like feeling recipient on Thursday evening next, at nine with myself. I forgot to say that three days o'clock; and as though there might be some after my discardal he was discarded in like impression that Josephine, Anna, and their manner by Cousin Anna, and had met with a friends, Dr. Thomas W- and myself, were like storm of celebrity. Naturally he sought, not glad to see the visitors, our names were in the pleasant society of the lively Miss An- written upon the cards. That was the last gelina, the means of recovering that gayety scene, my friend. You now understand what which he had exhibited with such miserable made Tom Lockup wink his eye and draw me ostentation on the day we talked of Mrs. Grun-into his office; you know the origin of our newdy and maligned Miss Araminta. The miser-ly-conceived admiration for Misses Araminable fellow no longer winked and laughed; he ta and Angelina, or rather our mere friendly groaned and almost shed tears. Like myself jests and frequent visits, which they chose to he required solace, and he sought it. Need I construc into love and matrimonial intentions. say that he found it in the innocent and infan- It was not our fault that the whole village betile prattle of Miss Angelina, that charming lieved us really their fortunate suitors; they reyoung girl, almost that child? She soon heal-ported that fact themselves, did these fair laed his heart-it was said that Miss Araminta dies. You know all this now-you understand was rapidly healing mine. Ill-natured persons all, especially how I was discarded. I am glad declared that Miss Araminta and Miss Angelina that the trick of my little narrative made it nethemselves spoke of the probability of their hav-cessary to omit all description of the scene on ing soon, reluctantly, to change their condition. Miss Araminta finally was heard to say, that she had greatly misunderstood me-that, as she had sounded my character, and discovered what wealth of affection I possessed, she had no doubt that her union with me would be happy; and the consequence of these remarks was the as-ly villagers came early and went away late, and tounded impression on the part of the villagers that Miss Araminta and myself were engaged. The very same was said of Tom and Miss Angelina-which, I fear, was also incautiously let slip by that amiable young lady. Thus, at the end of a month, it was thought that Miss Araminta and Miss Angelina were preparing to enter the blessed state of matrimony with myself | Grundy?

that occasion. I would be loth to speak, even to you, of the beating of that tender heart, of the tears in those kind, beautiful eyes, as the gentle head declined upon my heart. Josephine and myself were married on the same evening with Tom and Anna, and all the friend

gave us joy and wishes for our happiness.

I am mistaken in saying that the whole village was present. Miss Araminta and Miss Angelina were indisposed, and sent regrets. Could it have been a miff on their part, all because no invitation was dispatched to the dear friend residing with them-venerable Mrs.

THE DOPPELGÄNGER. LBERT LACHNER was my particular friend and fellow-student. We studied together at Heidelberg; we lived together; we had no secrets from each other; we called each other by the endearing name of brother. On leaving the university, Albert decided on following the profession of medicine. I was possessed of a moderate competence and a little estate at Ems, on the Lahn; so I devoted myself to the tranquil life of a propriétaire and a book-dreamer. Albert went to reside with a physician, as pupil and assistant, at the little town of Cassel; I established myself in my inheritance.

I was delighted with my home; with my garden, sloping down to the rushy margin of the river; with the view of Ems, the turreted old Kürhaus, the suspension-bridge, and, further away, the bridge of boats, and the dark wooded hills, closing in the little colony on every side. I planted my garden in the English style; fitted up my library and smoking-room; and furnished one bedchamber especially for my friend. This room overlooked the water, and a clematis grew up round the window. I placed there a book-case, and filled it with his favorite books; hung the walls with engravings which I knew he admired, and chose draperies of his favorite color. When all was complete, I wrote to him, and bade him come and spend his summer-holiday with me at Ems. He came; but I found him greatly altered. He was a dark, pale man; always somewhat taciturn and sickly, he was now paler, more silent, more delicate than ever. He seemed subject to fits of melancholy abstraction, and appeared as if some all-absorbing subject weighed upon his mind-some haunting care, from which even I was excluded.

I found his views on the subject more extended than any I had previously heard. To mesmeric influences he attributed all those spectral appearances, such as ghosts, wraiths, and doppelgängers; all those noises and troubled spirits; all those banshees or family apparitions; all those hauntings and miscellaneous phenomena, which have from the earliest ages occupied the fears, the thoughts, and the inquiries of the human race.

After about three weeks' stay, he left me, and returned to his medical studies at Cassel, promising to visit me in the autumn, when the grapeharvest should be in progress. His parting words were earnest and remarkable: "Farewell, Heinrich, mein Bruder; farewell till the gathering-season. In thought, I shall be often with you."

He was holding my hands in both his own as he said this, and a peculiar expression flitted across his countenance; the next moment, he had stepped into the diligence, and was gone. Feeling disturbed, yet without knowing why, I made my way slowly back to my cottage. This visit of Albert's had strangely unsettled me, and I found that, for some days after his departure, I could not return to the old quiet round of studies which had been my occupation and delight before he came. Somehow, our long ar guments dwelt unpleasantly upon my mind, and induced a nervous sensation of which I felt ashamed. I had no wish to believe; I strug gled against conviction, and the very struggle caused me to think of it the more. At last the effect wore away; and when my friend had been gone about a fortnight, I returned almost insensibly to my former routine of thought and occupation. Thus the season slowly advanced. He had never been gay, it is true; he had Ems became crowded with tourists, attracted never mingled in our Heidelberg extravagances thither by the fame of our medicinal springs; -never fought a duel at the Hirschgasse-nev- and what with frequenting concerts, promeer been one of the fellowhood of Foxes-never nades, and gardens, reading, receiving a few boated, and quarreled, and gambled like the rest friends, occasionally taking part in the musicof us, wild boys as we were! But then he was meetings which are so much the fashion here, constitutionally unfitted for such violent sports; and entering altogether into a little more soci and a lameness which dated from his early child-ety than had hitherto been my habit, I succeedhood, proved an effectual bar to the practice of all those athletic exercises which secure to youth the mens sana in corpore sano. Still, he was strangely altered; and it cut me to the heart to see him so sad, and not to be permitted to partake of his anxieties. At first I thought he had been studying too closely; but this he protested was not the case. Sometimes I fancied that he was in love, but I was soon convinced of my error: he was changed-but how or why, I found it impossible to discover.

ed in banishing entirely from my mind the doubts and reflections which had so much disturbed me.

One evening, as I was returning homeward from the house of a friend in the town, I experienced a delusion, which, to say the least of it, caused me a very disagreeable sensation. I have stated that my cottage was situated on the banks of the river, and was surrounded by a gar den. The entrance lay at the other side, by the high road; but I am fond of boating, and I had constructed, therefore, a little wicket, with a flight of wooden steps leading down to the wa

After he had been with me about a week, I chanced one day to allude to the rapid progress that was making every where in favor of mes-ter's edge, near which my small rowing-boat lay merism, and added some light words of incredulity as I spoke. To my surprise, he expressed his absolute faith in every department of the science, and defended all its phenomena, even to clairvoyance and mesmeric revelation, with the fervor of a determined believer.

moored. This evening I came along by the meadows which skirt the stream; these meadows are here and there intercepted by villas and private inclosures. Now, mine was the first; and I could walk from the town to my own gar den-fence without once diverging from the river.