at he was)--'and all the harder now that I
find _you_ take such an interest in it.'

'Oh! thank you,' replied Sarah.

[There was the slightest perceptible hauteur in her tone, and the
slightest perceptible drawing in from her previous pleasant, free
manner--only the slightest.]

'For,' continued Hiram, lifting his eyes and looking at her boldly, as
if not noticing the remark, 'if you take so much interest in my mission,
you will be forced to feel some sort of interest in me.'

'If you _succeed_, why, I will say yes,' replied Sarah, with entire good
humor. 'If you do not--'

'I accept the alternative,' interrupted Hiram, 'but do not forget your
pledge.'

Here Mr. Burns came in, and the two proceeded at once to business. He
did not see Sarah again.

It was at a late hour that Hiram left the house. With Mr. Burns's aid he
had mastered the whole subject, accounts and all. He was happy. Once as
he walked along he turned and cast his eyes up at the window. I do not
like to think of the look which flitted across his face. He nodded
significantly, and went on his way.

Louisa Hawkins opened the door for him the moment he put his foot on the
step.

'Where _have_ you been?' she whispered, 'I was so frightened. I
persuaded _them_ to go to bed. Did you think I would be waiting for
you?'

'I was sure of it, Lily.'

'You _were_, weren't you?'

They went in and sat half an hour in the parlor together. But Hiram gave
her no inkling of where he passed the evening.

The next day our hero started for New-York. Of his adventures there, and
the result of his interview with Elihu Joslin, we will speak in another
chapter.

KENTUCKY.

The Dark and Bloody Ground of yore,
Kentucky, thou art that once more.
But where is he who gave the name--
The Indian? Lost like meteor's flame!
Gone, as the bandits soon shall be,
Who brought the name again to thee!

LITERARY NOTICES

LIFE AND LETTERS OF WASHINGTON IRVING. By Pierre Irving. Vol. II.
New-York: G. P. Putnam. Boston: A. K. Loring. 1862.

We have perused this second volume of 'Irving's Life and Letters' with
even greater relish than the first, and return sincere thanks to its
editor for the zeal and skill shown in his work. Such compilations, when
not _very_ well done, are proverbially dull; it is therefore the highest
compliment which we can pay to say that the work thus far is extremely
interesting. We have in it, as in the brillian