The wind had gradually subsided during the last half hour, until it had nearly died away. The fresh air, with the exercise of walking, produced that racy and dancing stir of the blood, which all action, whether evil or noble in its nature, raises in our veins. The full moon now rose in all the splendor of its matchless beauty, and bathed in silvery light the gorgeous piles of snow-white clouds that calmly reposed on the surface of the dark blue sky. The walk was too pleasant to be of long duration, and before it seemed a moment had elapsed, I found myself on the marble steps of the house to which I had been directing my course. At my aristocratic pull of the door-bell, a servant immediately made his appearance, and to my inquiry if Mrs. D---- was at home, he answered in the negative. "Did Miss ---- accompany her, or did she remain?" said I in a hesitating tone of voice. "_She_ is within," said the servant, and he forthwith ushered me in. In a few moments Miss ---- entered the room, looking as fresh and beautiful as Aurora "when first she leaves her rosy bed." It is useless to trespass upon the patience of the reader by giving a prolix account of a scene he has read of in every novel, romance, or tale, that has been written since the time of Clovis. Be it sufficient to say, that with "accents sweet" I poured forth the impassioned tale of my love--and with all that eloquence which love (and the hope of the five thousand per annum only) could have inspired. My suit was accepted; and to escape the vigilance of my aunt, it was agreed that she should attend the fancy ball the next evening, habited in the costume of a "Novice," at which place I should meet her as Young Norval. Soon as the clock should toll the hour of twelve we should leave the "festive scene," while all would be too busy to notice our departure. Immediately we were to repair to the residence of my aunt, when, after changing our dresses for some more suitable, we should hasten to a country seat about twenty miles distant, possessed by a near relative of mine, where we should be united in the holy band of matrimony. This arrangement being made, with a heart buoyant with hope, and an elastic tread, I soon regained my apartment. And "Now the latter watch of wasting night And setting stars to sweet repose invite;" but the high excitement under which I had been, banished "Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," from my pillow. * * * * * Conformably to the plan arranged between Miss ---- and myself, I drove to Mrs. M ----'s at the usual hour, and halted some distance from the house, in the rear of about a hundred carriages. The rooms were already full when I entered--and after being announced in character and introduced to the lady of the house, I mingled with the motley crowd.