OR, WEEKLY THE VISITOR. 'TO ALFONSO. Unwilling to attribute treachery to a mind perhaps unstained with vice; yet impressed with suspicions so evident, it would betray not only folly but excessive rashness longer to reside within the reach of threatning destruction. A carriage attends at the door to convey me across the Pyrannees: in France I shall be safe from the pursuit of my enemies; but with arms extended and a heart disposed to listen to the calls of friendship. The writer of this note has important news to unfold, and such as are highly interesting to your happiness. Throw aside that criminal indifferance to your prosperity become so manifest, by your neglecting Morad's injunctions. It is a slavish prejudice that begets jear. 'Along with this I remit you a trifling sum of money to defray the expences of your journey. You [NO. 4. will find me at Perpignan-hasten thither your curiosity may be well repaid. 'Yours, "How unfortunate!' exclaimed Alfonso. This letter must be from the stranger alluded to by Morad, and to-morrow I must depart for Andalusia with my mother -It shall be so,' he added after a short pause, we'll change our route. The duke and Bernard shall continue ignorant of my plan. It will be easy to conceal the direction of our journey. This mysterious writer may have a knowledge of my mother: his intelligence must affect us equallyperchance my father calls! The parcel next claimed his attention. It was a rouleau of one hundred and eighty doubloons! Such a sum, too,' said Alfonso, 'proclaims the affluence of the stranger. It will be more than abundant for all our expences. I must cast off suspicions unworthy of me.' ་ He found Miguel anxiously waiting for his return. You must to the duke, my son,' said the monk. The happy issue of your visit to the convent will be pleasing to his ear: he can now support the motion of a carriage, take one with the obligation which binds you to my heart I feel an attachment 10 you and hasten his removal to Sar-my deliverer. I am growing old agossa. Tomorrow morning we must pursue the advice of our sister Agnes. and infirm; your society will cheer the decline of years. I am not insensible of an excess of caprice too inseparable from the infirmities of old age; and I have the vanity to accommodate yourself to my foibles, and to acquire a taste for the life I mean to court without entertaining the faintest idea of independance. I submit to the argument you have adduced; and tho' I regret our separation, the hap piness of beholding my niece will beguile the hours of your absence But, my son, you have not informed me whether you was pleased with Violante. Is she not a charming girl? but I'll not offend your diffidence. If you can love Violante and inspire a mutual sentiment you know my pleasure!' The returning health of the duke was indeed productive of great hap-imagine that you'll soon learn to piness to Alfonso. Strange as it seemed, on his arrival he found him in excellent spirits and free from danger; in the evening he had the pleasure of placing his friend in safety at the ducal palace in the city. On the road thither Alfonso hinted his desire to join his regiment, combatting the objections offered by Aranza with promises of a speedy return. 'I am unwilling, said he, to assume the uniform of a corpse I have never joined. Some men might ridicule this whim; but it is a delicacy I cannot conquer. Suffer me but to draw my sword at the head of my troop, and I shall return to Saragossa proud, indeed,of the honor of my command, and the patronage of my colonel. Do not my lord, deny me this request; it is an indulgence I must ask, and I shall set out to-morrow for Andalusia, grateful for all the kindness your bounty so highly merits.' This argument had its weight, and the duke consented under an assurance that he should return without delay. In the future,' he continued, you must reside with me. Next to my Violante you rank in my affection. Apart from Alfonso had frequently impart ed a desire that the duke should be made acquainted with Bernard. This was a favorable moment to effect it; and in the course of the evening he introduced his friend" This interview was not calculated to prove so desirable as the good intentions of Alfonso aimed to ef fect. From their recent conversation Bernard had no room to doubt Violante's impressions on Alfonso; nor were the friendly assurances of Agnes any consolation to his hope. From the hints thrown out by the duke, Violante was as11 suredly the destined bride of Al fonso. It was no alleviation of his fears that he had made even the first impression upon her heart :-without family or fortune adequate to the expectations of Aranza, he beheld no chance of obtaining a sanction to their alliance. however in the conflict of anxiety hope, faint as it was, sat invitingly in the perspective and he resolved to abide the issue. The love he bore Violante was too refined to excite in him the honorable means. Still, His practice of disInsufferable as it was to endure suspense thus cruel, he was armed against the insinuations of a selfish passion. He might influence her consent to an elopement, but there was a degree of meanness in the attempt repugnant to his thoughts. idea of honor was peculiar and romantic the benevolence of his heart would have prompted his as sistance to a friend in the attainment of a similar desire; but having no more than his own interest to consult, and not hurried away by a blind sympathy for another, that heart revolted at the suggestion. The subject of conversation at the supper table chiefly regarded the convent of St. Clare. The case of Mariana,of course, became a topic of interesting speculation. Alfonso affected as little attention to what was said as was consistent to avoid suspicion. Bernard became unusually warm in animadversions upon the unprincipled conduct of the marquis, dwelt rap ed. Alfonso blushed-Bernard sigh- Equally as he once imagined nature "He is indeed in love,' continued the duke. had formed the persons of Violan. te and Mariana, soon were his eyes accused of excessive indifference, and the tender sympathy 'I know it well,' replied Ber- discovered by Mariana at the short nard with another sigh. You know it?' said Alfonso with prying curiosity. 'Hold, my son,' cried the duke, do you blush that Violante shall be your bride? tale he told, prepossessed him in an equal degree in favor of her mental charms. She loved him for the dangers he had past and; he loved her that she sympathised in them. He knew not why she could so attract; but the eye, so recently the sport of equivocating uncer Alfonso smiled at the oportunity afforded him to avoid the keen eye of the other and thanked him fortainty, no longer fixed upon Vio the honor he intended. lante. His was a distressing case, but there was no escape from the cruel alternative. No longer doubting the attachment of Alfonso, who in his turn was equally persuaded of the affections of the other, Bernard sud-promised to meet Morad. Him denly exclaimed, 'good night-?' and hastily quitted the house. The morning of the day which was to witness the happiness or the misery of Alfonso, succeeded a long and dreary night. Sleep bad visited his pillow but to rack the imagination with horrid dreams. From the table to his bed he carried along with him the observations he had made upon the comportment of Bernard. To doubt his friend's undiminished attachment to Mariana was without the shadow of belief; and was he encompassing the baseness of robb. ing such a friend of such a jewel? alas! 'twas now too late to unlearn the written lesson of the heart. The hour arrived when he had he found, and having satisfied his mind that the stranger, whom Morad had sought in vain, was the author of the billet he had received, he divulged the happy discovery of his mother and the plan he had resolved to adopt. This evening was the period fixed for carrying it into execution, and Morad was directed to have a carriage in waiting on the banks of the Ebro, as the convent bell tolled for vespers-they separated for the day, and Alfonso returned to the duke for directions how he should proceed in his intended visit to the convent. He was desired to consult with Miguel, and to be guided by his advice. To him he now repared and having with him a second let ter purporting to be the duke's he proceeded once more to the convent with a peremptory demand of Violante. (To be Continued.) From the Phil. Repertory. LAW. methodist church, and is at pre sent a local preacher and class reader. It also appeared that, beside exhorters, and class leaders, there are two descriptions of preachers in the methodist church, namely lo-. cal and stationed. Both are called preachers; but, nevertheless, with respect to their clerical avocations they are very differently situated. The stationed preacher, for the du ties he performs, receives a regular compensation; but the local An action was brought forward preacher officiates occasionally and Jast week, in the court of common receives nothing for his services. please, before judge Rush, which These local preachers, it is well we deem it not improper to nonce know, so far from being altogether as it involves a question which ministers of the gospel, are univermay be considered as somewhat sally men of business, mechanics, interesting, in a general point of merchants, shop-keepers &c. and view. The circumstances of the in fact deyote no more of their case were these: Mr. Lemual time to religious duties than what Green was elected, by the proper may be properly called their hours authority, a guardian of the poor of leisure, or that portion of their for the Northern liberties; but, on time which is not necessarily emthe plea of being a clerical char-ployed in their respective trades or acter, refused to serve, and claimed exemption from the operation of the law under which he was called upon to discharge the duties of his office. The penality incured by non-acceptance of the appointment is sixty dollars, and for this sum Mr. Green was sued by the guardians of the poor, who it appears, did not feel themselves authorized to exempt him by the special law under which they acted. It appeared in evidence that Mr. Green had been successively appointed a deacon and elder in the callings. Mr. Edwin, on behalf of the guardians of the poor, read the law. on the subject, which makes no exception in favor of any character or profession; but requires 'every substantial house-holder' to serve as a guardian when regularly appointed and which, when he has once served,exempts him from any service in that capacity, in fu ture.. This, however, was considered a case in common law; and it was ably argued by Messrs. Todd and |