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itself: no pistols were at hand; this was unfortunate in the extreme: a servant, however, was dispatched to Paris, who, mounted on a fleet horse, returned by daybreak with a case I had left at my hotel there.

It was a soft morning in the early part of autumn; the day seemed to dawn with a mildness peculiar to the season; the sun was just rearing its head, as if to witness the tragic scene that was about to ensue. The place of rendezvous was a wood about a mile from the château. As we proceeded in our carriage to the spot, I could not help contrasting the happy countenances of the peasantry proceeding to market, with the feelings that agitated my breast. Happy creatures! thought I, if ye are far removed from the luxuries and enjoyments of the great, ye are also far removed from their cares and annoyances: the pleasures which fill your bosoms are perhaps not so exquisite as those which occupy the elegant world, but then your griefs are not so poignant; your injuries are forgotten in a day; your dissensions are healed, as they are formed, by a word! That stern notion called honour does not teach you bravely to shed your fellow-creature's blood to rid yourselves of a rival, or to give a proof of your courage!

We arrived on the spot a few minutes before the time appointed: our adversaries were not yet there, so that we had a few moments' leisure for conversation. "If I fall," said Beaufort, giving me his watch, "I beg you to preserve this in memory of your friend. Bear this," said he, giving me his portrait, "to Amelia, and tell her to cherish the recollection of one who, had he survived, would have thought the longest life

too short to be spent in devotion to her happiness." I rallied him as being too desponding, and said, "that I still hoped the affair would not terminate fatally." He observed, that he was perfectly resigned to whatever might happen, for he felt the inward conviction that he was most unjustly provoked to this combat.

By this time Delessert and his friend arrived on the ground, and apologized for having detained us. He said he had one request to make, which he hoped would be acceded to: that whatever the result of this affair might be, the cause for which they had met might for ever remain secret. I would not bind myself to any promise on the part of Beaufort, but contented myself with saying, that if nothing transpired to render an explanation of the affair necessary, I should certainly not reveal it: but this was a matter which must be entirely left to circumstances and my own discretion. He observed it was the protection of Amelia's character which induced him to make the request; but as it did not appear by his rash proceedings that he could have considered this as an object of great importance, all farther conversation was waved. The ground was immediately taken, the pistols were respectively handed to each party, and the signal agreed on given. Both fired together, and Delessert received his antagonist's shot in his right breast. He staggered and fell to the ground. We ran towards him, and expressed a hope that the wound was not mortal. "I do not think it is," said he; and addressing himself to Beaufort, he observed, "Should this wound prove my death, I freely forgive you. The love I bear to Amelia

never could brook the thought of a rival. I know that my affection is not repaid with the constancy it merits, but I must prove to her that she can never encourage another with impunity. I have some title to her affection. She bears a pledge within her" Here his voice became much enfeebled; he murmured the words" TOUJOURS FIDELE," and fainting from loss of blood, was borne from the spot.

riosity was on the alert to ascertain the cause. Rumour assigned a thousand reasons equally ridiculous and untrue; various were the means employed to extort the circumstances of the case, but without effect.

I was now perfectly assured in my own mind, that the tale exactly as Delessert had related it was true, and lamented his absurd infatuation for a woman, who, notwithstanding any favours she might have conferred, had now evidently become changed and unfaithful to him, and was wil

Regret that a fellow-creature's life had perhaps been sacrificed rendered us immoveable for some mo-ling to rid herself of an obnoxious ments; but the recollection that my lover, even at the expence of his best friend was still preserved to me life. But most of all I deplored the suggested the thought of immediate depravity of a woman who, under flight. Beaufort spurned the idea, the mask of innocence, could hope and was determined to await the con- or seek to entrap the heart of an unsequence of the event whatever it suspecting confiding man. Did she might be. "Let us remove," said seek to consummate this union in the I," at least till the nature of his rank deception in which it was begun? wound is ascertained: a few days may Could this be love to Beaufort, to enable us to decide what course to encourage his addresses at the imtake; our safety is endangered."-minent peril of his life from a des"No, not for an instant," was his re- perate rival, who had fought so many ply; "Fate may do her worst! Why duels for her sake? Delessert's fondam I spared for a life of wretched- ness for Amelia too filled me with ness? His dying words are not to be disgust; I ceased to pity him: his discredited; she is his mistress, and wanton exposure of her character, I have been grossly deceived." however true it might be, seemed a base means of securing her to himself. A suspicion of his conduct had perhaps reached her ears, and made her resolve on ridding herself of so dangerous a connection.

A tumult was now gathering in his bosom, the pain of which can only be felt by those who have had the misfortune to lose " at one fell swoop" every thing they prized on earth. The world was now to him but one uniform blank, dull waste; all his fond projects of delight were changed to wild despair. A woman's infidelity was about to complete that havoc, which, but a few moments before, I rejoiced that the pistol had spared.

The wound which Delessert had received was fortunately pronounced not mortal, and his health continued. to improve slowly. Not so with Beaufort; the wound which had been planted in his mind preyed dreadfully on his feelings. His fine form, the admiration of every beholder, wasted The news of a duel having taken visibly. His bright eye, which had place was very soon spread, and cu-penetrated many a heart, grew dim

and hollow. His spirits, which had || of detestation. It is worse than des rendered him the charm of every so- ception, it is complete criminality: ciety in which he moved, had sunk she consented to receive your love into utter dejection. He totally se- at the moment her honour and virtue cluded himself from the world, yield- were irretrievably lost; and that not ing entirely to that grief which had only at the price of your happiness, taken such deep root in his soul. but perhaps of your life, which she would not have blushed to have made the sacrifice of her guilty passion, and thus have committed the crime of murder."

By this and the like reasoning I hoped to restore his mind to its for

The only person who did not long remain ignorant of the reason for which Beaufort and Delessert had met on the fatal morning subsequent to the ball was Amelia herself, whose conscience, now awake to all the horrors of her situation, easily interpret-mer tranquillity, but his affliction was ed the cause of every thing which had happened. From that moment she shrunk from public gaze, and became filled with anxiety and fears lest the affair should become known: so great was the shock her feelings experienced on this occasion, that her life was at one period despaired of. But she did not rightly know or appreciate the sentiments of those who possessed her secret: death would have been preferred in its most frightful shape, rather than that one word should ever have escaped the lips of Beaufort which suspicion || might even have glanced at. His love for Amelia unfortunately re-nerally yield to the hand of time, mained, though she had ceased to deserve it.

I endeavoured to make him shake off so unworthy a feeling, and pointed out to him the folly of entertaining one spark of affection for a degraded woman. "My friend," said I," you have much to blame yourself for in this business: it is your own thoughtlessness and want of knowledge of the world that renders your situation so unhappy; you must not be surprised at being deceived. Consider for a moment the nature of her conduct towards you, and you must cease to think of her but with feelings

too deeply seated to be easily removed. "With all the enormity of her conduct," said Beaufort, "I love her beyond what I have power to express. She is too beauteous to be forgotten, and even now I can scarcely reconcile myself to the thought, that such perfidy can be allied to such divine qualities. Her very face is that of an angel; innocence and meekness are portrayed in her features; the language that falls from her lips would ensnare the heart of an anchoret and even a sceptic into firm belief."

The wounds inflicted by grief ge

though there are hearts which corrode with melancholy recollections, and there are sorrows which work in silence on the soul, making but little visible outward ravage, compared with the consuming workings within. This was the nature of Beaufort's grief, and a letter which he received from Amelia, instead of assisting to dispel it, completely achieved the misery of my unhappy friend. It ran thus: "A calm has succeeded to the noise of inquiry respecting the late duel. I may now address you, though on a bed of sickness; neither the removal from which, nor any

earthly circumstance, can ever bring repose to a mind whose misery is consummated in this world. My friend-dare I still call you so?-the maddening love I felt towards you made me strive to gain your affections at any risk. My life still hangs on that affection, and though I love you, I must possess it or die. Tell me it is fled, and let me expire upon the word!

"Your silence, your secrecy regarding the whole transaction, is a charity I do not deserve; it is an indulgence which kills me: still it leaves a faint gleam of hope upon my mind, that you do not utterly despise me. O God! if life could efface the wound I have given to your noble spirit, I would yield up mine with joy; but even this consolation is denied me, and the reflection of the irreparable injury I have done you must remain my everlasting torment and regret.

"What have I forfeited? all which is honourable or dear in life! But

what did I attempt to gain? all that is most precious of heaven's gifts! What are the means I have employed? they are too horrid to think of, much more to repeat!

"I could fly with you to the uttermost end of the earth and be your slave, did I but know that you could forgive me. Did I but dare to think you do not curse me, and still remember me with kindness, I would cherish that life which is now ebbing fast from me. But tell me what you think of me? Heap upon me the reproaches I merit, or say one kind word, and thus bid me live or die!"

To this letter Beaufort sent an answer full of kindness and feeling; his generous heart was incapable of reproach. He at last adopted the only advice and recommendation I could give. The next morning saw him on his route to a distant country, there to seek that forgetfulness of his woes which could alone contribute to his relief.

GHOST STORIES.-No. IV.

THE ILLUMINATED CHURCH AT NEISSE, IN SILESIA.

THE following narrative is given || cleared out their church at Neisse, in the words of Lieutenant-Colonel they quitted the town altogether. Weisse, of the Prussian artillery, who, at the beginning of the present century, resided at Wesel.

Not one of them was left, when the commandant of the fortress gave express orders that this church should be turned into a magazine of provisions; but at the same time he di

During the Seven Years' war, being then in garrison in the fortress of Neisse, in Silesia, I was an eye-rected that care should be taken to witness of a singular and exceedingly leave the high-altar unencumbered, mysterious phenomenon which oc- and not to injure it, on account of curred at that place. By command the beauty of its construction. of Frederic II. of Prussia, the Jesuits had been obliged to remove into the country, for the purpose of continuing there the instruction of youth. When therefore they had completely

A rumour suddenly spread through the town that a bright light, which illuminated the whole church, was seen at night upon this altar. People thronged from all quarters to witness

this wonder, and curiosity induced above-mentioned place. Judge then

me likewise to go to see the light. For two successive nights I endeavoured to reach the place from which it might be perceived, but in vain; the concourse was too great, and I felt no particular call to elbow my way into the midst of the crowd.

On the third evening, when the commandant himself repaired thither, I was lucky enough to arrive in his suite at the envied spot where the miraculous light was to be viewed. I must confess that it threw me into no small astonishment to find every thing tally so exactly with the accounts which I had heard. The whole church was so light that every object within it might be distinguished through the windows. It looked as if the light proceeded from the high-altar. The commandant immediately ordered the key to be brought, and the church opened. I, with many others, accompanied him to the door, and our astonishment was infinitely increased when, on opening it, we found the whole church in profound darkness, and could not discover in it the least trace of light.

The commandant was therefore necessitated to send for lanterns, that the church might be examined. Nothing whatever was found that tended in the slightest degree to elucidate the mysterious affair. Neither could the people in the street perceive any light while we were in the church; according to their assurance, it disappeared the moment the door was opened.

It seemed therefore that for this time nothing more could be done,

of our surprise, when we again saw the church as brilliantly illuminated as before, so that every object, and especially the altar, appeared perfectly distinct through the window!

It may easily be supposed, that even among the reflecting portion of the spectators opinions differed widely on the subject of this extraordinary sight. The multitude considered it as an omen that peace would be speedily restored, and that the king would then permit the Jesuits again to perform their devotions in this church as they had formerly done.

To make an end of the matter, the commandant ordered sentinels to be placed the following night in the church. This was done, but no discovery ensued. That night the church remained in darkness, and no light was perceived either from within or without: but no sooner was the precaution of posting sentries omitted, than the light was again discovered on the altar, and the whole interior of the edifice appeared illuminated.

The commandant then issued a proclamation, offering a considerable reward to any person who should discover and satisfactorily explain the nature of the mystery. Two days passed, and no clue was obtained; but on the third a private belonging to the garrison desired to speak with the commandant, and promised in the most positive manner to solve the mystery to his entire satisfaction.

The same evening the general, ac

and we accompanied the command-companied by a numerous party of ant back to his residence. To this inquisitive persons, repaired at the end we were obliged to pass the usual time to the place near the

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