NEW YORK, MAY, 1839.

4

Original.

THE DELUDED.

a set of teeth, as even and white as if chiselled from mother of pearl.

"A grimacy for thy boasting, brother of mine," he said, in a banting tone. "See; Black-heart bears himself firm and strong, while there lies thy boasted courser fairly worn to death. Beshrew me! but I think him better fitted for the battle-field than the road."

Giving his own beast a triumphant pat on the neck, the youth dismounted, and throwing his bridle over a bough of the chestnut, proceeded to his unhorsed companion. But his jeering smile gave place to an expression of con

It was in the summer of fourteen hundred and twenty-cern, when he saw the look of distress with which Dunois nine, during the wars which the Duke of Bedford carried strove to assist his exhausted steed to regain his footing. into France, that a horseman, weary and travel-worn, It was in vain that Dunois exerted himself to reaniemerged from a gap in the hills which walled in a luxu-mate the fallen courser; that he patted his reeking riant valley on the borders of Loraine. The stranger haunches and drew his hand caressingly, and with words could not have numbered more than twenty-four years, of encouragement, down his soiled and panting neck. and though his doublet of coarse fustian, fulling hose, The poor animal made one fierce struggle-rose on his and pointed shoes, linked to the knee by a chain of base shoulders and threw out his fore hoofs with a desperate metal, proclaimed him as little above the common pea- muscular effort-every sinew was stretched, and the big sants of the province, there was a graceful ease in his veins worked like knotted serpents over his ample chest. bearing, and a lofty expression in his clear blue eyes, that He fell, and lay like a stricken warrior, panting in the belied the humble dress in which he journeyed. Other dust, his large, expressive eyes turned toward his master indications of rank were also discernible; for though a with a look of almost human appeal. Gathering strength saddle-cloth of coarse, dun-colored frieze nearly envelloped for a fresh exertion, he raised his head like a wounded his horse, it could not conceal the firm and graceful pro- lion, again buried his delicate hoofs deep in the gravel, portions of the high-blooded animal, nor the haughty and made another mighty effort. It was in vain; the tread with which he spurned the turf lining his path sinews, which laced his body like whipcords, relaxed, and while occasionally, as his motion disturbed the ample he fell slowly forward, the blood oczing from his distended saddle-cloth, a glimpse of golden fringe and rich crimson nostrils, and the flesh quivering on each slender limb, housings was betrayed. like thick grass stirred by the wind-one throe, and the generous animal lay stark and dead on the highway.

The traveller looked on the body of his prostrate steed for a moment, and then dashing his gloved hand over his eyes, turned sorrowfully away.

"What! whining over a dead horse?" exclaimed the first-mentioned traveller, laying his hand kindly on the other's shoulder, "fie, man; think him an Englishman, and rejoice that the ravens will banquet so merrily."

"Nay, Charles, this is unkind. The poor beast was my father's last gift; my mother loved him and—” Before the sentence could be finished, the two were

When the traveller reached the mouth of the gorge, he looked back as if for some loitering companion; then, checking his horse under an old chestnut which grew a little from the highway, he drew off his heavy buff gloves, and, doffing his cap, commenced fanning himself with the tuft of heron's plumes appended, while with his disengaged hand, which betrayed his gentle breeding by its whiteness, as well as by the large diamond which burned on one of the fingers, he carelessly ruffled up the heap of rich brown curls which fell in damp masses over his forehead. Directly, he was joined by another wayfarer, habited like himself, and, apparently, but little his supe-joined by a third personage, who drew up under the rior in years. In the features of the two, might be detected that indescribable similitude which often characterizes members, however distant, of the same family; yet, those of the latter, were chastened by a sedate and thoughtful expression, that contrasted, perhaps, to his disadvantage, with the sparkling animation which was the peculiar beauty of the other's. His eyes were black and lustrous, and his whole appearance was that of a man who, young in years, had partaken largely of the vicissitudes of life. His horse, which fell little short of the foremost in beauty or speed, had evidently been injured; for he halted painfully with one of his fore-feet, and just as he reached the chestnut, stumbled, and fell to the ground. The prostrate horseman disentangled himself from his beast, and strove by every means in his power, to encourage the poor creature to arise, while the first comer sat enjoying his perplexity, with a good-natured smile just parting his healthy lips, and displaying

chestnut, but remained a little apart, as one who belonged to the same company, but could not claim equal companionship with the others. His courtenance was bold and rosy, while there sat a twinkling expression in his quick grey eyes, which bespoke him as one of those, who, by imitating the follies of others, contrive to turn them to their own benefit. He was worse mounted, but more gaily attired than those who preceded him. His doublet and hose were of tarnished crimson velvet, slashed and pointed with orange. His shoes were more decidedly pointed, like the inverted bill of a hawk, and the high, square cap of crimson cloth, was banded and fringed with silver lace; and on each of the four corners, a small bell of similar metal, emitted a tinkling sound at each tread of his horse, proclaiming him as one of the fools or jesters, who formed an appendage to most of the noble families of France at that period. He looked warily at the two travellers a moment, then throwing off