over the book for some time, proceeded:--

"Yes--one of them is Shawn-na-Middogue; but he's an outlaw--and that
courtship is at an end now."

"Wid me, it is, sir; but not wid him. The sogers and autorities is out
for him and others; but still he keeps watchin' me as close as he can."

"Well, wait till I look into the book of fate again--yes--yes--here
is--a gentleman over head and ears in love with you."

Poor Grace blushed, then became quite pale. "But, sir," said she, "will
the gentleman marry me?"

"To be sure he will marry you; but he cannot for some time."

"But will he save me from disgrace and shame, sir?" she asked, with a
death-like face.

"Don't make your mind uneasy on that point;--but wait a moment till I
find out his name in the great book of fatality;--yes, I see--his name
is Woodward. Don't, however, make your mind uneasy; he will take care of
you."

"My mind is very uneasy, sir, and I wish I had never seen him. But I
don't know what could make him fall in love wid a poor simple girl like
me."

This was said in the coquettish consciousness of the beauty which she
knew she possessed, and it was accompanied, too, by a slight smile of
self-complacency.

"Do you think I could become a lady, sir?"

"A lady! why, what is to prevent you? You are a lady already. You want
nothing but silks and satins, jewels and gold rings, to make you a
perfect lady."

"And he has promised all these to me," she replied.

"Yes; but there is one thing you ought to do for your own sake and
his--and that is to betray Shaivn-na-Middogue, if you can; because if
you do not, neither your own life, nor that of your lover, Mr. Woodward,
will be safe."

"I couldn't do that, sir," replied the girl, "it would be treacherous;
and sooner than do so, I'd just as soon he would kill me at wanst--still
I would do a great deal to save Mr. Woodward. But will Mr. Woodward
marry me, sir? because he said he would--in the coorse of some time."

"And if he said so don't be uneasy; he is a gentleman, and a gentleman,
you know, always keeps his word. Don't be alarmed, my pretty girl--your
lover will provide for you."

"Am I to pay you anything, sir?" she asked, rising.

"No, my dear, I will take no money from you; but if you wish to save
Mr. Woodward from danger, you will enable the soldiers to, arrest
Shawn-na-Middogue. Even you, yourself, are not safe so long as he is at
large."

She then took her leave in silence.

It is not to