go
forward with more reluctance, had I not perceived the fair Lilian
gliding out of the cabin, and proceeding in the same direction! Two or,
three of the bars had been replaced by the clerical visitor; and she had
gone, apparently, to remove them. Was it simple courtesy, or a pretence
to speak with me? My heart heaved with a tumultuous joy, as I fancied
that the latter might be her motive. When I reached the entrance, the
bars were down; and the young girl stood leaning against one of the
uprights--her round white arm embracing the post. Envied piece of
timber!

"Promise me, we shall meet again?" said I, bending down, and speaking in
a half-whisper.

She looked back towards the cabin with a timid glance. We were not
observed. The two men had gone into the horse-shed. In her fingers, I
noticed the flower of a bignonia. She had taken it from among the
golden tresses of her hair. Her cheek rivalled the crimson of its
corolla, as she flung the blossom upon the saddle-bow.

"Promise me!" I repeated in a more earnest tone.

"Yes--yes!" she replied in a soft low voice, that resembled the whisper
of an angel; and then, hearing noises from the house, she passed
hurriedly away. "Yes--yes--!" cried the mimic thrush, as I rode on
through the tall tulip-trees. "Yes--yes!" repeated a thousand rival
songsters; or were the sounds I heard but the echoes of her voice, still
pealing through the glad chambers of my heart?

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

AN ERRAND OF LOVE.

This second purchase and payment rendered necessary a communication with
my Nashville friend. Fortunately, Swampville had a mail; and, to avail
myself of it, I rode direct for the settlement. On my return, I found
the river-town, figuratively speaking, on fire. Short as bad been the
period of my absence, it had been marked by an incident of no ordinary
character. That morning's mail had conveyed to the settlement the
intelligence of a rare and interesting event--the discovery of the _gold
placers_ of California. I had heard rumours of this before--only half
believed, and not yet reaching to Swampville. Returned emigrants from
California were now reported, as having arrived in Saint Louis and other
frontier towns--bringing with them, not only the full account of the
gold discovery, but its confirmation, in the shape of large "chunks" of
gold-bearing quartz, and bags of the yellow dust itself. The marvellous
tale was no longer questioned, or doubte