"can you tell me of my first love, the dying swain, whose vanity thinks every one in love with his fine form, and a face as smooth as his tongue, when he is preaching of his dear mother, as he calls her an hypocritical wretch as she is? Let me hear something of him."

"Perhaps I may tell you what may be unpleasant to you; but return to-morrow at this time, and be it what it may I will tell it you."

66

Isabella returned home, rather surprised at what the fortune-teller had informed her respecting the soldier; and thinking her clever at having already told her so much, retired to bed, with her mind agitated with a hundred different projects to rid herself of Francisco, should the old woman inform her again on the following day that he would not easily resign her. Why should I hesitate," said she, as she tossed and turned? "How can Francisco be compared with the handsome soldier, who has plenty of money to boot? And it will be like Francisco's vanity and impertinence to think I should withstand such a chance for him, with his few cows and bit of land, and preaching mother to watch every action. No, no, not I; the soldier for me." The next morning Isabella rose, very little refreshed for her night's rest, and seeing the stranger in the course of the day, who pressed his entreaties for a speedy marriage, completed her hatred for Francisco.

At the time appointed, Isabella again set out for the fortune-teller's hut; the old woman soon perceived the

of

perturbation of her mind. "Beware," said she, what you are cherishing in your breast. If you marry your first love, happiness awaits you; but should you ever venture on the stranger who has so lately appeared in the village, the greatest misery and wretchedness will befal you. Your first lover will soon return, and claim you as his own, according to the plighted vows you have exchanged; therefore take no further steps to destroy that peace, which, once fled, is very, very seldom ever regained."

"Would he might never return," replied Isabella. "The roads are bad, and the company along them none of the safest. Would thy happy prediction of his safe return were the finding his corpse by the road side. Dost thou know of no way, dame," said she, slipping a Oribe into her hand,-" dost thou know of no way, I say, that I might rid myself of him?"

"When thy fate becomes complete, since thou art so rash, will I take my due," replied the old woman, returning the piece of money. I can tell you no more, than that thy first lover will return home by the south side of this forest to-morrow by sun-set; then is thy time for happiness or misery."

The old woman said this with so solemn a tone that it made Isabella shudder from head to foot, and the words vibrated on her ear-Then is thy time. "Is there, then, a possibility," thought she," of ridding myself of Francisco? The south side of the forest is very bushy and

thick with trees; I could easily give him a deadly thrust from behind one, `and it will only be imagined to be some straggling bandit, who, having been disturbed, left him without robbing him."

With these horrid thoughts Isabella hastened homeward; but meeting in her way with the stranger, who again pressed her to name the happy day in which he might look forward to call her his own, the day was fixed; it was the one following that in which she meant to drench her hands in the blood of Francisco, who had been concealed by his mother, and having heard all, was now too well convinced of the wickedness of Isabella's heart; and both him and his mother were certain, by her saying "was there no possibility of ridding herself of him?" that she intended stopping him in the forest; but being upon his guard, he felt not the least fear of meeting her, should that be the case.

His mother, who was determined on being with her son in the hour of danger, set off, accompanied by two of the police, to whom she had recounted the whole history, about mid-day, to that part of the forest where Francisco would pass, being, as Isabella had before said, very bushy. She had not been there long before she perceived Isabella coming, armed with a large knife, towards them. At the expected time Francisco arrived, who, keeping a pretty good watch on all sides, soon perceived a glittering blade among the bushes, and as he passed, Isabella, little thinking he was aware of what

was coming, aimed a deadly blow at him, which, had it taken effect, must have been mortal; but Francisco being young and vigorous parried the blow, and catching Isabella by the wrist, drew her from her hiding-place. "Behold in me, false girl," he exclaimed, "both Francisco and the stranger, to whom, after murdering me, you intended to have been united to-morrow; and see if you can recognise-for she had now come forward-in my mother the fortune-teller, whom you would have bribed yesterday."

She was now with difficulty,-for her rage knew no bounds, conveyed home, by the two men who had been eye witnesses of all that had happened, to her father, who had been a long time in an ill state of health, arising partly from grief from his daughter's ill-treatment. He was dreadfully agitated at so unexpected an account; the noise soon spread through the village, and Francisco was soon congratulated by almost every villager on this narrow escape.

Isabella, a short time after, through rage and disappointment, died raving mad, and her father soon followed, leaving to Francisco his little all, who being tired of the place, which he had indeed cause to dislike, resolved to follow that occupation he had so lately assumed, and settling all upon his mother, left his native village, where all his earlier hopes were blighted, to seek in a foreign country that peace he could never after find at home.

THE CYPRESS CROWN.

A TALE.

THE promises of peace, which for many months had been depending, came at last to be fulfilled. The army returned home; with seriousness and solemnity they entered once more the liberated and wonderfully rescued capital.

It was on a Sunday morning. Since day-break, young and old had been pressing through the streets towards the gates. The guards could with difficulty keep any degree of authority in the storm of unrestrained and irresistible joy.

Crowded, squeezed, and as it were, twined and twisted through each other, stood this expectant assembly; and as the wished for moment approached, became the more deeply and inwardly affected. There was scarcely a sound audible in the multitude, when at last the powerful yet melancholy voice of the trumpets gave their first greetings from afar. Then tears fell from a thousand eyes; many a breaking heart was chilled; and on the lips of