You speak of Antonio--dear girl, with me the secret is hallowed. He is yet here; his whole thoughts are of Julia--from my description only, he has drawn your picture, which is the most striking in the world; and nothing can tear the dear emblem from his keeping. He called here yesterday in his phaeton, and insisted on my riding a few short miles in his company: I assented, for I knew it was to talk of my friend. He already feels your worth, and handed me the following verses, which he begged me to offer as the sincere homage of his heart. He intends accompanying my father and me to town next winter--provided I go. "Oh! charming image of an artless fair, "Whose eyes, with lightning, fire the very soul; "Whose face portrays the mind, and ebon hair "Gives grace and harmony unto the whole. "In vain I gaze entranc'd, in vain deplore "The leagues that roll between the maid and me; "Lonely I wander on the desert shore, "And Julia's lovely form can never see. "But fly, ye fleeting hours, I beg ye fly, "And bring the time when Anna seeks her friend; "Haste--Oh haste, or Edward sure must die. "Arrive--and quickly Edward's sorrows end." I know you will think with me, that these lines are beautiful, and merely a faint image of his manly heart. In the course of our ride, during which he did nothing but converse on your beauty and merit, he gave me a detailed narrative of his life. It was long, but I can do no less than favour you with an abridgment of it. Edward Stanley was early left an orphan: no father's guardian eye directed his footsteps; no mother's fostering care cherished his infancy. His estate was princely, and his family noble, being a wronged branch of an English potentate. During his early youth he had to contend against the machinations of a malignant uncle, who would have robbed him of his large possessions, and left him in black despair, to have eaten the bread of penury. His courage and understanding, however, conquered this difficulty, and at the age of fourteen he was quietly admitted to an university. Here he continued peacefully to wander amid the academic bowers, until the blast of war rung in his ears, and called him to the field of honour. Edward was ever foremost in the hour of danger. It was his fate to meet the enemy often, and as often did "he pluck honour from the pale-fac'd moon." He fought at Chippewa--bled at the side of the gallant Lawrence--and nearly laid down his life on the ensanguined plains of Marengo. But it would be a fruitless task to include all the scenes of his danger and his glory. Thanks to the kind fates which shield the lives of the brave, he yet lives to adore my Julia. That you may be as happy as you deserve, and happier than your