to repose. A slope in the landscape, upon which the obah was situ ated, led to a bank where the soft gleams of the moon loved From an elevation near this spot might be seen the whole of the Turcoman encampment,―tent rising over tent in various succession, intermingled with cattle,-and the accessories belonging to a wandering community; the whole commanded by the abrupt and conical hill, upon which was situated the village-fort, where resided the Khan. By the mysterious light of the moon these objects were softened down, into an undefined mass of deep shadows and looming forms, all save the buildings, whose sharp and angular lines cutting the sky abruptly, acquired a size and importance, to which they were not entitled. In front and far away, even to the banks of the solitary Caspian, was spread an immense, and apparently interminable plain, the horizon of which was lost in vapour. It was a sublime object, filling the mind with ideas of vastness, and carrying it onwards with increasing awe to regions unknown. The rare and occasional sounds striking the ear during the solemnity of the night told the hearer that, however indistinct the landscape appeared before him, yet that, in fact, it teemed with population. Ever and anon the drowsy tinkle of a camel's bell was heard, caused by that solemn and passive animal rousing himself into momentary action; but few and rare were the sounds proceeding from man himself.. The lovers met at the above-mentioned spot; and, after their first ebullitions, Roshunek said, «Tell me truly, for my head is bewildered by the thousand things I hear in our obah of you and your nation,-first tell me, what I dread to hear, how many wives have you in your own country, and how many slaves ? » « Do not believe a word save what you hear from me, Roshunek, said the Englishman. First, to ease your mind, let me assure you that I have no wife; and that, even were I married, it would be to one wife only. To have more than one is with us punishable by law." O my soul! O happiness! Yours is the country for me, » exclaimed Roshunek. I should poison any woman who dared to love you. We are Tartars, and a Tartar maiden is taught to hate and poison. But you have said nothing about the slaves. » Slaves are totally forbidden,» said her lover. « Dear Roshunek, you have little to apprehend on the score of rivalry.» "Can this be true?» exclaimed the astonished maiden in rapture. "Where are your virtues, and where our impurities! O my soul, and lord of my heart! I will go whither you go; for I feel you are true. You saved my body from death, you shall now save my soul. But tell me once more, will you continue to love me; or, loving me whilst I am young, will you not reject me when old, leave me to be poisoned by your women; or compel me to marry one of your men slaves? » 1 The Englishman smiled, and said, «Even were I so base as to act thus, our law would protect you until the very hour of your death. » Cannot you, then, beat me, pluck my hair, and set other women to beat me?" said Roshunek. " No, no, my love; you will find all things different in my country," said the Englishman. n «Oh, my soul! yours is the country for me. But let me ask one more question, she continued. Do your women labour as we do? Do they load and unload the baggage and tents on a march? Do they spin goat's hair when they are at rest? Can they make bread, and understand the qualities of butter?" Our women, » yours do. » said the Englishman, do not labour as Can they shave a camel? inquired the maiden, with eagerness. "I fear they cannot even do that, said her lover. the maiden: « in that could I but show you They can't ride as we can," said we are unrivalled, I am sure. Ah, how I can ride!» Having struck upon this subject, Roshunek, who, although far from having made up her mind to leave her parents, and follow her lover to England, yet, with that confidence which the uprightness of his conduct had in spired, addressed him with increased ardour, and unfolded to him all the secrets of her heart. «You cannot upbraid me, I am sure,», she said, if, impelled by the longings of my heart, I tell you what perhaps you do not know, that it is a custom among us Tartars, when our parents are inexorable, that we are then at liberty to act for ourselves. We take the first opportunity of flying to the next obah, the lover on horseback, the maiden behind him, and, when that is the case, our parents must yield their consent.." Why should we not, O my soul, do the same ? » .i. 1 Let me speak to you openly, said the Englishman ; I must not deceive you, You must know my final determination, Roshunek. I cannot abide here any longer: I must immediately return to my own country, or die in the attempt. If you love me, you must help me. This is the first test I require of your affection; the next is, that you do not refuse to accompany me. » The love sick maiden looked wildly into his eyes as he made this declaration. She knew not what to say; but, after many heart-sinkings, could only stammer out professions of eternal attachment, with assurances that nothing should ever separate them. Long did they converse upon this all-absorbing subject, and at length it was resolved that Roshunek, whose sway was unlimited throughout the camp, should contrive to gain possession of her uncle the Chief's favourite horse, whose powers of speed and endurance of fatigue were greater than those of any other in Turkistan; that on a certain night they should depart, and taking flight, direct their steps towards Meshed, where, once within its walls, they would consider themselves safe. On the night when the above-mentioned project was to be put into execution, Roshunek had so managed matters, that the horse in question was tethered in a piece of pasture-ground adjacent to the obah; there her lover was to proceed with saddle and bridle, and every proper equipment; and there they were to meet, mount, and depart. She glided from her tent with beating heart and faltering steps, considering how desperate was the undertaking in which she, an inexperienced girl, was about to engage, delivering up herself to a man of a different nation, and an infidel to her faith ;-but love, allpowerful love, was there, ready to account for every difficulty, and never did that passion rage in a more powerful manner than in the heart of the Tartar maiden. She came-they met-they repeated their vows he placed her behind him, and straightway they shaped their course for the high road leading to the sacred city. His success was without a check; and he entered the gate of Meshed, with an exclamation of thanksgiving. In accordance with the wishes of his lovely bride, he sent back the horse by a trusty messenger, bearing letters and presents, which they imagined would mitigate the pain caused by Roshunek's flight. 59 i What took place among the Tartars upon finding their prey was gone we must leave to our reader's imagination. When they discovered, in addition, that the Chief's horse, the pride of Turkistan, the one famous beast, the winner of every prize, the hero of every chappao, was absent, a general cry of «To horse to horse,!» was heard to ring throughout the camp, and every man's foot was soon in his stirrup, with orders to scour the country round even into the very heart of Persia, until the animal should once more neigh in the stables of the Khan. Showeth how a girl was consoled for the loss of Beauty, Romance, and the general stock in trade of sweet sixteen; and how Time laughed thereat. That Time's a knave is an ancient saw, To cheat each dupe and to break each Law Of Fate he leadeth the threads along, And wieldeth the ruthless shears- A maiden is gliding through the dance- Ho! Music-Lights-in a maze of mirth In every note hath a new charm birth, But list awhile to the alien notes That dark eye swims in tears, And a shadow above her gladness floats, A vision of Thirty years. » ༈ ༦ ཉྭ་ ། ་ ་། ༄ Ho! ho!» saith Time with a croaking laugh, «Now-now-it is thine Hope's bowl to quaff, Though stately measures above thee din, |