e deer, and sound
of bugles rattling through the trees, and rousing echoes which go
flashing through the hills, and filling the whole universe with
jubilant laughter. Every mood has something offered for its
entertainment in the grand autumns of our Blue-Ridge dominated land:
chiefly the thoughtful, however, the serene and happy.

You dream there, under the boughs all gold, and blue, and crimson.
Little things which obscured the eternal landscape, pass away, and the
great stars, above the world, come out and flood the mind with a far
other light than that which flowed from earthly tapers and rushlights.
The heart is purer for such hours of thought; and as the splendid
autumn marches on with pensive smiles, you see a glory in his waning
cheek which neither the tender Spring, nor the rich, glittering Summer
ever approached--an expression of hope and resignation which is
greater than strength and victory. Ah, me! if we could always look,
like autumn, on the coming storms and freezing snows, and see the
light and warmth beyond the veil!

Verty went on beneath the autumn skies, and through the woods, the
rustle of whose leaves was music to his forest-trained ear; and so
arrived at Apple Orchard as the sun was setting brightly behind the
pines, which he kindled gloriously.

Redbud was seated at the window; and the kind eyes and lips
brightened, as the form of the young man became visible.

Verty dismounted and entered.

"I am very glad to see you!" said Redbud, smiling, and holding out her
small hand; "what a sweet evening for your ride home."

Redbud was clad with her usual grace and simplicity. Her beautiful
golden hair was brushed back from the pure, white forehead; her throat
was enveloped in a circlet of diaphanous lace, and beneath this, as
she breathed, the red beads of the coral necklace were visible, rising
and falling with the pulsations of her heart. Redbud could not have
very readily explained the reason for her fancy in wearing the
necklace constantly. It was one of those caprices which every one
experiences at times;--and so, although the girl had quite a magazine
of such ornaments, she persisted in wearing the old necklace bought
from the pedlar. Perhaps the word Providence may explain the matter.

To the girl's observation, that he had a fine evening for his ride
homeward, Verty replied--Yes, that he had; that he could not go by,
however, without coming to see her.

And as he uttered these words, the