respected in the village, you will be considered in a very different light should your scheme not succeed, which I am confident it never will."

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Francisco," replied the widow, "I am determined upon it, and desire you will do what I require of you; and without you do, you shall never have Isabella at any rate, for you well know her father will not allow you to have her without my consent; and unless you enter into my project you shall never have it!"

Francisco now readily acquiesced to his mother's wishes, for he felt rather alarmed at her last speech. There was only now to go to the nearest market-town to purchase their respective metamorphoses, which, as I before mentioned, being tolerably well off, they were enabled to do. They now took their different ways back, Francisco to the village, and his mother to the forest, where, taking up her abode in a small hut, her skill in telling future destiny soon became known.

The appearance of Francisco in the village as a stranger, caused, as is usual in most parts, not a little curiosity, and the old and young flocked round to welcome him, especially as they heard he was going to settle there in a short time. The stranger mixed in all the village amusements, and soon, as was proposed, distinguished Isabella above all the other village maidens. Isabella, finding herself noticed above the rest, as was so unusual, and which well pleased her vanity, and proud, haughty temper, now wished to forget Francisco, and more par

ticularly as the stranger began to talk of marriage. The fame of the old fortune-teller having got pretty well round the village now reached Isabella's ears, and she, thinking it a favourable opportunity to know what she should do in case of Francisco's return, determined on paying her a visit. With this intention she set out for the forest, and soon reached the hut of the old fortuneteller, who soon recognised Isabella. “Would thou, too, child, seek to know thy future destiny?" said she, addressing her.

"In faith, good dame, it is for that I came hither. I am rather unpleasantly situated, and wish to know what the fates will determine for me."

woman;

"Thou had best not search too far," replied the old "the bad thou knowest may be borne with, but to unravel thy future destiny may drive thee to desperation."

"Pr'ythee no preaching, mother, but to business, and let me know my destiny, whether it be good or bad.” The fortune-teller, well knowing her son's success, had no difficulty in laying before Isabella what she thought was only known to herself. You are certainly," said the old woman, very fickle; it will be rather against your first lover's inclination to resign you so easily as you imagine into the hands of another. I advise you strongly to relinquish him, who I see by the book of fate has served under Mars."

Isabella started: " and what," said she, laug

"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."

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

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 bribe 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 per ceived a glittering blade among the bushes, and as he >assed, Isabella, little thinking he was aware of what