From the Philadeiphia Saturday Courier.
The Bridal Eve.


"A LEGEND,

ny GEORGE LtPpARD. rso
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| ~ 0kOh*E AlFFAAD, ESQ,


One summer night, the blaze Of man,
lights, streaming from the windows of a,
old mansion, perched yonder among tn,
rocks and woods, flashed .hr over IN.
dark " aters Of Lake Champlain.


In quiet and comfortable chamber o
that mansion, party 81 British officers
sitting around table spread with win,
and viands, discussed topic of some in.
terest, if it was not the most important II
the world, while the tread Of the dancer.
shook the floor Of the adjoining room.


Yes, while all was gaiety and dance
and music in the largest hall of the ole
mansion, whose hundred lights CLEANED
far over the waters Of Champlain--here
in this quiet room, with the cool evening
breeze blowing in their faces through the
opened windows, here this party Of Brit.
ich officers had assembled to discuss their
wines and their fsvorite topic.
That topic was-the comparative beauty
Of the women Of the world.


"As for me-" said handsome Young
Ensign, Il will match the voluptuons
forms and dark eyes Of Italy against the
beauties of all the world!"


"And l." said bronzed old veteran.
who had risen TO a Colonelcy by his long
service and hard fighting, sand have q
pretty lass Of daughter there in England,
whose blue eyes and sfaxen hair would
shane your tragic beauties of Italy into
very ugliness."


81 have served in India, as YOU all must
know" said the Major, who sat next 10
the veteran, land will confess that
never saw painting or statue, much less a
living woman, half SO lovely as some of
those Hindoo maidens, bending down with
water-lilies in their hands; bending down,
by the light Of torches, over the dark waves
Of the Ganges." 4


And thus, one after another, Ensign,
Colonel and Major, had given their opin-
ion, until that young American Refugee
yonder, at the foot Of the table, is left to
decide the argument. That American
for blush to say Handsome young
fellow as he is, with face full Of manly
beauty, deep blue eyes, ruddy cheeks, and
glossy brown hair, that .AmeIi ican is a Re-
+fugee, and Captain in the British army.
He wore the handsome scarlet coat, the
glittering epaulette, lace ruffles on his bos
ON, and around his wrists.


"Come Captain, pass the wine this way!"
shouted the Ensign, "pass the wine, and
decide this great question! Which are the
most beautiful: the red cheeks of merry
England, the dark eyes Of italy, or the
graceful forms Of Hindostan?"


The Captain hesitatsd for moment, and
then tossing off bumper Of old Madeira,
somewhat flushed as LepWas with wine,
replied:


"Mould your three models Of beauty,
your English lass, your Italian queen, your
Hindoo nymph, into one, and add to their
charms, thousand graces Of color, and
form and feature, and would not compare
this perfection OF form and loveliness for
single moment with the wild, artless beau
ty of-an aD,cricdn girl.'


The laugh of the three officers for a
moment drowned the echo Of the dance in
the next room.


Compare his American milk maid with
the woman of Italy!"


''Or the lass Of England!''


''Or the graceful Hindoo grill"


This laughing scorn Of the British off,
GERS stung the handsome Refugee to the
quick.


''Hark ye!' he cried, half rising from
his seat, with flushed brow, but deep
and deliberate voice. "To-morrow mar
ry wife, an .7merican girl. 70 night,
at midnight, too, that American girl will
Join the dancers in the next room. You
shall see her-you shall Judge for your
selves! Whether the American woman is
not the most beautiful in the world!''


There was something in the manner Of
the young Refugee, more than the nature
Of his information, that arrested the atten-
tion Of his brother officers. For mo-
ment they were silent. a.l


''We have heard something Of your
marriage, Captain" said the gay Ensign,
'.but we did not think it would occur so
suddenly! Only think of ii! Tomorrow
you will be gone--s --settled-verdict brought
in--sentence rassed--G married mani
How will your lady-love be brought to
this house tonight? ! thought she resided
within the Rebel lines?"


"She does reside there! But l have
sent messenger-a friendly Indian chief,
on whom ! can place the utmost depen-
dence-to bring her from her present
home, atthe dead Of night, through the for
est, to this mansion. He is to return by
twelve; it is now half-p eleven!" = y


Friendly Indian!" echoed the veteran
Colonel, "Rather an odd guardian for a
pretty woman! Quite an original idea Of q
Dueana, | vow!'


''And you will match this lady against
the sorld for beauty?" said the Major.


"Yes, and if you do not agree with me,
this hundred guineas which | lay upon the
table shall serve 'our mess for wines, for
month to come! But if you do not agree
with meas without a doubt you will
then you are to replace this gold with an
hundred guineas OF your own. ia


ssAgreed! It is wager!" chorussed
the Colonel and the two other officers.


And in that moment while the door,
way was thronged with fair ladies and gay
ofiic ers, attracted from the next room by
the debate-as that young Refugee stood
with one hand resting upon The little pile
of gold, his ruddy face grew suddenly pale
as q shroud, his blue eyes dilated until