cute his design. Two of them seized hold of his arms and pinioned them down, while the third endeavoured to wrest the musket from his grasp. In the struggle the piece was accidentally discharged. The woman raised a shrill scream as the report reveberated through the room; while taking advantage of the confusion of the scene, the old man, perhaps seeing that resistance would be in vain, sought safety in flight. Tom Starboard was a person of uncommon strength and activity; but he had three active and resolute antagonists to deal with, whose united efforts soon forced him to yield. His arms were tied behind him, and in that condition he was conveyed across the river, and thence to the Police Office, a rabble, as is usual on such occasions, hooting and hallooing at his heels.

While these occurrences were transpiring, our hero had remained immured within the walls of the prison to which we lately saw him committed; and after the first fever of shame and agitation had subsided, he had time to reflect upon his situation, and on the course of conduct which it would be proper for him to pursue. The worthy magistrate, as soon as he was released from the duties of his office, had called to see and converse in private with the youth, in whose behalf he began to feel a warm interest; and to him Charles Wilton made a full and frank confession of the occurrences which had been the primary cause of his present difficulty. On his arrival in the city on the previous evening, not knowing what to do, as his baggage containing his letters and credentials, had been left upon the road, he had rambled out for the purpose of visiting some of the most prominent places of public amusement. In one of these he encountered a former acquaintance, whom he was induced to accompany to a gaming table. At first it was his intention not to hazard any thing on the chances of the

game; but having been induced to transgress this prudent resolution, he at last entered into a full participation of the excitement of the scene, in which he was so far successful that he rose from the table a winner to a considerable amount. The acquaintance who led him to the place, on the contrary, had lost every thing, and, being by this time somewhat inflamed with wine, began to make injurious insinuations against the sole remaining guest in the apartment. Charles Wilton had endeavoured to sooth him; but this seemed to have quite a contrary effect from that which was intended, and provoked a blow. Enraged at the insult, he returned it with his sword-cane; a scuffle ensued, in the confusion of which the weapon became unsheathed, and his antagonist, staggering towards him, fell upon the point, and sunk wounded and bleeding to the floor. Recalled to his senses by this unlookedfor catastrophe, he entreated his friend to fly, assuring him, that in the event of the wound proving mortal, his reputation should be cleared from stain. Charles Wilton, distracted at the thought of what he had done, complied, and rushed out into the street. Unknowing whither he went, for a long time he wandered about at random, until he at length reached the river side, where Tom Starboard was just preparing to shove off in his boat. The reader is acquainted with the rest.

The magistrate, as soon as he heard this relation, took immediate means to ascertain the state of the wounded man, and after a short absence, returned with the cheerful tidings that the hurt was not only not mortal, but extremely slight, and that it was with difficulty he could persuade his antagonist of the previous evening from accompanying him in person, to express his apologies for the ungentlemanlike conduct of which he had been guilty.

It is needless to dwell longer on the events of this story. The entire innocence of Charles Wilton being

thus made apparent, he was immediately released by the same worthy magistrate who had committed him; and, except that he was shortly after called on for his evidence in a suit of "The People, vs. Thomas Starboard," he has never, from that time to this, been cited before a criminal tribunal. The arrival of his trunks, which happened a day or two after his release, enabled him to substantiate his character beyond the possibility of a doubt, and it was with great pleasure that, on looking over his letters of introduction, he found one addressed to the excellent magistrate, to whose kindness he had been so largely indebted.

The criminality of Tom Starboard was fully established by the most incontrovertible evidence. The gentleman whom he robbed was enabled to come inte court by the time that the trial took place, and swore positively to the identity of the notes which the constables had found in his possession. Many other circumstances equally strong appeared against him, till they at last had the effect to induce Tom to withdraw his plea of "not guilty," and throw himself on the mercy of the court. He was sentenced to the State Prison, where, for aught we know, he remains to this day.

The acquaintance of Charles Wilton, whose rash conduct at the gaming-house had nearly cost him his life, soon recovered from his wound, and took every opportunity, while he continued in this city, to correct the unfounded rumours which grew out of the circum- stance. He was a wild and thoughtless fellow, however, and soon after lost his life in a duel with a Spanish officer, in the West Indies.

About two years since Charles Wilton was united in marriage to the blooming daughter of the magistrate whom we have had occasion to mention so often. I dropped in to see them one evening during my last visit to the city, and found Charles dandling a chubby-faced,

rosy-cheeked little fellow on his knee, while his Catharine sat beside her work-table, busily engaged in em broidering a cap for the little rogue's head. They are indeed a happy couple, and I hope they may long live to enjoy the good things which Providence has bestowed upon them. This story of The White Hands, I got from Charles's own mouth, who often laughs at the sagacity of the honest constable in perceiving that white hands were not quite in character for a sailer-though he usually adds, in a graver mood, that his conduct at the gaming-house was certainly, NOT QUITE IN CHARACTER.

THE MISTAKE.

-Haply for I am black,

And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chamberers have :-Or, for I am declined
Into the vale of years;-yet that's not much.-

Shakspeare.

IT was in that beautiful season of the year, when the extreme heats of summer have passed away, and the delicious days and more delicious evenings of autumn have succeeded; when the air is filled with music, and the fanning breeze bears health and fragrance on its wings; and when the darkened hue of field and forest, though still unfaded and lovely in their verdure, whispers that, like all things earthly, they are hastening to decay-it was in such a season, not many years ago, and in a romantic country place, that the incidents of the following tale occurred. Twilight had commenced her melancholy reign, in a valley of the Catskill mountains, though the lingering glory of the sunken sun was still glowing, like a flood of molten gold upon their summits, when two persons, a young man and woman, issuing from the shadow of the woods, by a little path, seated themselves on the fallen trunk of a tree, beside a stream that rippled at their feet. The female appeared to be about twenty years old, and was arrayed in the simple and modest attire, which is one of the most common characteristics of our country maidens. She was not beautiful; yet she possessed, in a high degree, the indescribable charm with which the rosy cheeks and laughing eyes of woman are always accompanied, when those roses are bestowed by health and exercise.