alone avail. Hours have glided away, Varney had been the principal winner and Villiers had, more than once, eason and still he sits upon the same stone bench to suspect him of unfair play. His at with folded arms, heedless alike of the fast tempt to swindle me had convinced hin decreasing time before him, and the urthat those suspicions were well founded.ent intreaties of the good man at his side, I had witnessed the closing scene. The feeble light is wasting gradually, "I am now," said he, "utterly ruined and the deathlike stillness of the street and," he slowly added, "a murderer!" without, broken only by the rumbling of His mother and sister he dared not. some passing vehicle, which echoes could not meet. Indeed, it was eviden mournfully through the yards, warns him to me that at present he was unable to do that the night is waning fast away. The so; for the very idea was so distracting to deep bell strikes-one! he heard it; it has him, that convulsion after convulsion suc roused, Seven hours lett! and he paces. ceeded, until completely exhausted, he sank the narrow limits of his cell with rapid into a broken slumber, interrupted every strides, cold drops of terror starting on five or ten minutes, by the agonies of re his forehead, and every muscle of his morse and despair, as the image of the frame quivering with agony. Seven deceased Varney seemed to fit before hours! He suffers himself to be led to his his view. seat, mechanically takes the bible which Fever and delerium succeded. Mind is placed in his hand, and tries to lead and body gave way together, and, at the and listen. No; his thoughts still wanend of a week, I followed to the grave the der, The book is torn and soiled by use remains of him for whom all who knew-how like the book he read his lesson in him had anticipated a long career of hap at school just forty years ago! He has piness and honor. never bestowed a thought upon it since he My friend, my friend, how bright was left it as a child; and yet the place, the thy rising, how dark the close of thy life. time, the room, nay, the very boys ho played with, crowd as vividly before him as though they were but scenes of yester day; and some forgotten phrase, some childish word of kindness, rings in his ear CONCEIVE the situation of a man spending like the echo of one uttered but a minute his last night upon earth in a lonely cell. since, A CRIMINAL'S LAST NIGHT. He Buoyed up by some vague and undefined The deep voice of the clergyman Ye hope of reprieve, he knew not why-in-calls him to himself. He is reading from dulging in some wild and visionary idea the sacred book, its solemn promises of of escaping, he knew not how-hour af pardon for repentance and its awful deter hour of the three preceding days al nunciations against obdurate men. lowed him for preparation, has fled with a talls upon his knees and clasps his hands speed which no man living would deem to pray, Hush! what sound was that? possible, for none but this dying man can lle starts upon his feet. It cannot be know. He has wearied his friends with two yet. Hark! two quarters have intreaties, exhausted the attendants with struck-the third-the fourth. It is! Six importunities, neglected in his feverish hours left! Tell him not of repentence or restlessness the timely warnings of his comfort, Six hours repentance for eight spiritual consoler; and now that the illu- times six years of guilt and sin! He buries sion is at last dispelled-now that eter his face in his hands, and throws himself nity is before him and guilt behind; now on the bench. that his fears of death amount almost to Worn out with watching and excitemadness, and an overwhelmning sense of ment, he sleeps, and the same unsettled his helpless, hopeless state, rushes upon state of mind pursues him in his dreams. him, he is lost and stupified, and has nei An insupportable load is taken from his ther thoughts to turn to. nor power to call breast; he is walking with his wife in a upon, the Almighty Being from whom pleasant field, with the bright blue sky alone he can seek mercy and forgivness, above them, and a fresh and boundless and before whom his repentance can prospect on every side-how different from the stone walls of the prison. And A Spanish Story. she is looking, not as she did when he saw her for that last time, in that dreadful place, but as she used to when he loved DURING one of those evenings when brik her, long, long ago, before misery and ill-liant skies and gorgeous sunset illumina. treatment had altered her looks, and vice ted Madrid, an English colonel approach. had changed his nature, And she is lean- ed a Convent of the Franciscans, and, afing upon his arm, and looking up into his ter the usual signal for admission-"Que face with tenderness and affection-and se pase adelante"-was graciously re he does not strike her now, nor rudely ceived by the Abbess. The coolness of shake her from his arm. And oh! how the Nun's parlor was in delightful contrast glad he is to tell her all he had forgotten with the heat without. The colonel, alin that last hurried interview, and to fall though still smarting under the reccollec on his knees before her, and fervently be- tion of some exactions practiced upon him, seech her pardon for all the unkindness was willing to be pleased with the cakes and cruelty that wasted her form, and and ice which were served up, and with broke her heart! much benignity, awaiting the entrance of The scene suddenly changes. He is on his daughter who was a boarder there. his trial again; there are the judge and The Abbess, a woman of reading and adjury, and prossecutors, and witnesses, just dress, entertained her visitor with a sight as they were before. How full the court of her books and curiosities. is-what a sea of heads-with a gallows, "Yet," said she, "Cabellero Inglez, we too, and scaffold-and how all those peo- have not much to show. You, who have ple stare at him! Verdict, "guilty!" No travelled, must have seen far greater matter, he will escape, The night is dark things than these, the sacred Salt-pans?" and cold, the gates have been left open, The colonel bowed. and the next moment he is in the street "The holy Crows?" continued the su flying from the scene of his confinement, perior. like the wind. The streets have been "Of Lisbon," said the officer, "which cleared, and the open fields are gained, followed the body of Saint Vincent from and the broad, wide country lies before the cape, and tore out the eyes of his mu him. Onward he dashes in the midst of derers," darkness, over hedges and ditches, through "The very same!" exclaimed the ab mud and pools, bouuding from spot to bess, greatly relenting in her mind in fa spot with a speed and lightness astonish- vor of the heretic before her. "And the ing even to himself. At length he paused. feathers from the wing of the arcangel He must be safe from pursuit now, He Gabriel!" she added, with a more solemn will stretch himself on the bank, and sleep and enquiring look. till sunrise. But the Englishman, who began to be A period of unconciousness suceeds.impatient for the appearance of his daugh He wakes cold and wretched. The dull, ter, had seen this wonder also; and he gray light of morning is stealing into his certainly would have been edified by the cell, and falls upon the form of the aiten- reverent mention of every relic in Chris dent turnkey. Confused by his dreams, tendom. had not his child, a girl of four he starts from his uneasy bed in moment- teen summers, rushed hastily to his em ary uncertainty. It is but momentary. brace. Many, and rapid were the enqui Every object in that narrow cell is too ries which passed on both sides, as to frightfully real to admit of doubt or mis- friends far away, and matters of general tako. He is the condemned felon again, interest to both; but it did not fail to strike guilty and despairing; and in two hours the officer that there was a gloom upon more he is a corpse. Impromptu to a Lady. the countenance of his youthful darling which ill accorded with her tender years, and the lively expression and buoyant spirit, habitual to her. He turned to the abbess, but could discern no change in her steady unchangeable brow, and it was not until the announcement of his return most seductive aspect. No longer shroud, home had increased the paleness of her ed in the convent's gloom, she fluttered cheek, that he ventured to ask an expla- her fan and adjusted her mantilla with .nation. the fullest delight of novelty. Whilst her "I think I can satisfy you," said the father enjoyed his puchero, she chose the abbess. "We cannot answer for events fruits and sweetmeats of the desert.. She which are in the hand of Providence; dressed, paid, and received visits, laughed but the idea of parting from her parent and talked like Senorita of the great city, has no doubt affected the child for an in- sauntered on the Prado, and in due time, stant. To say the truth,"-and there she appeared at the evening tertulia. spoke with an air of determination,-colonel was delighted, and hoped for "your daughter is about to enter upon her complete success; the only disappointing year of probation: she has decided upon circumstance, was the tenacity, with taking the veil." 66 The which his daughter hung to the mor ning mass. He consoled himself, however, with the stirring spectacle of a bull-fight, which took place about this time. "The veil!" exclaimed the colonel. "She has chosen for the better," ob served the superior, regarding the min gled emotions of her visitor with dignified On the evening already spoken of, indifference; and, instead of being wed- there was a concert and a ball. The stiff ed to the world, has chosen Christ for her style of the musicians displayed itself in husband." mournful dittas, and the minuet, performed "Intolerable!" cried the Englishman. with slow, stately solemnity, was the grasping the hand of his daughter, and clief d'œure of the dancers skill. But rising to depart." there was neither bolero, nor merry fan"Softly," returned the abbess, still un dango, nor stampings of the feet, nor moved; you do not, perhaps, know the snappings of the fingers, nor did the cho customs of our country. Although about rus send forth its cheering sounds to in to be a novice, she may be permitted to spire the dancers. There was enough, leave us a while, in order to see the coun- however to raise new ideas in the heart try." of the English maiden. She had seen the "Indeed!" exclaimed the officer. world-the gay world; had smiled with "A day will then be fixed for the cere- the joyous, and chattered with the merry, mony; and if the vow be voluntary, the Nature, aroused within her, shrank from judges will then pronounce it valid. You the approaching ceremony of the convent, will, in that case, be unable to separate the false wedding, the chaplet of dying her from the love of Heaven, which is pe- flowers, and the cold, cold chill of solitude. culiarly shed over the votaries of Saint The thrill of freedom bounded through Francis." her veins she was not a novice: even "Madam," replied the colonel, a little the white veil had not yet encircled her recovered from the various feelings of brow, nor had the priest with gilded robe sorrow, anger, and astonishment, which pronounced upon her the sentence of death. had overwhelmed him, "My daughter Her father beheld her altered bearing, shall indeed see the world, and, which is and gazed with increasing pleasure on more, her own country, where we disdain his wakening child. It was arranged decoying unthinking youth into toils which that an evening saunter on the Prado disguise a life of pain." should conclude the pleasures of the day. Thus saying, he withdrew from the But just before the colonel and his daugh haughty salutation of the abbess, and was ter retired from the entertainment, the eye soon among the busy haunts of men. of the latter rested for an instant upon a About a week after this, the father cavalier in gay attire in the midst of the and daughter were present at an enter throng, whose earnest gaze had been suctainment of one of the grandees of Spain. cessful, and whose apparent melancholy The colonel had, in the mean time, been was in high contrast with the joy evinced endeavoring to divert the intended novice by the rest of the party. An uneasy agifrom her purpose, by displaying the world tation immediately assailed the object of her view. in its most cheerful, and this eager gaze, and hasty flutterings of VOL III-24-3 the fan betrayed her emotions. They there stood before her a young man, with were not the feelings of intimacy, nor of a swift sparkling eye, deeply embrouwed encouragement, which warned the ap- with the olive of his country, and sembre proach of the cabellero. As he drew as when he appeared among the dancers. ncarer, the lady reddened, then grew pale, "Zelmira!" he exclaimed, assuming a and urged the speedy departure of the mild tone little accented with the passion. Prado. of his eye. Her wish was complied with, and in a "That name-Zelmira!" ejaculated few moments, the Parseo, with its rows the trembling girl. of elm and chesnut-its fountains and ima- "Zelmira," said the stranger, with a ges, became the scene of action. Here, somewhat sharper accent, "ill news tracongregated in one grand assembly, was vels quickly. You cannot be so lost?" the populace of Madrid, rich and poor, He paused, and his voice seemed to fail." horse and foot, gay and grave, lovers, and "How, senior ?" exclaimed the maiden. kings, and princes, and people. Did you "Yonr convent vows," replied the see a hundred fans at the consort or the cavalier. ball, here were a thousand, speaking their various languages, far and near, with swer. marvelous precision. Were there hun "I have made no vows, was the an Nor pledge to me?" returned the other dreds of brilliant eyes at the theatre, the with a piercing look. bull-feast, the balconied Alcaia--here were "Are you not going home?" he continthousands frought with the blandishments ued, the tones of anger being now preof a southern climate, and glaucing won-dominant. ders beneath the omnipotent fan. The "Have mercy on me, cavalier!" said Englishman's daughter, for a moment, the lady, "My father is this instant seeking was enrapped by this vision of enchant- me. He will be distracted at my absence. ment. The gaudy throng thickened, the Let me depart." white mantillas multiplied, the cassocked "Zelmira," said the stranger, "You priests grew more numerous, the graceful shall go; but, you must promise me to step of the Sapnish women became more keep your pledge. The veil, the veil Zel animated, the Parseo was in full life, and mila." the dusk lowered, many anxious couples I will not take the veil, cavalier," replimight be seen imparting by ward and ed the Englishman's daughter, recovering gesture the fullest revelation of their her presence of mind. "I was a dupe." mutual feelings. "A dupe! and cavalier! These are But the scene of joy is not forever.-cold words compared with our usual Amid the forest of heads, the maiden of converse," returned the Spaniard. "And. the convent fancied that she saw that you will not take the veil ?" countenance from which she had so lately "You are angry, sir," said the maiden. shrunk; and, now that evening had thick." But am 1 not a free woman! Would ened the multitude, she distinctly noticed you not have played the traitor with me? the cavalier, in no very distant group, and Your countenance at present, senior, is felt assured at the same moment that she not exactly in keeping with the winning colud not possibly escape him. Terror smiles you practiced in the convent." and surprise overcame her, and at this "Dios cried the carbellero, plunging juncture she lost her father's arm. He his hand into his bosom-"another word, had stepped aside to see an acquaintance, and-but you will not go?" he added, and was soon lost in the retiring crowd. softneing once inore the harshness of his Meanwhile the stranger advanced, and, speech. by a motion which it was evident the lady "Signor," said the girl, I must follow dared not disobey, beckoned her forward my father and his fortunes." to the garden of the Retio. Like a bird "Then I have a tale to tell, Zelmira," charmed by the envenomed snake, she said the Spaniard, dropping his hands, slowly followed, and when they had reach- and leaning his head towards his compan ed the silent shades where an occasional ion, "Which will best suit your father's saunterer alone disturbed their privacy, Jear. You understand me." The malignant expression which ac- vailed without a clue. The gay cavalier companied this remark was well under- with the sombre countenance was not, of stood by the lady. The blood rushed course, again seen in Madrid. Not a to her temples. breath of suspicion waved against any one. "And I have a tale, too, senior," she A lusty gentleman, indeed, had been ob exclaimed, with a slow still voice, as if served in the Retiro, rather late on the whispering into the ears of the confessor, previous evening, but who could dare -a tale for the Prior of St. Augustin; raise the slightest whisper against the and I go to tell it." person of Royalty? After a certain inter"Ha! what-the Prior of St. Augus-val. the afflicted father, having determi tin !—I have it," cried the stranger in ned to return home, engaged a place in broken accents. "The truth flashes up- the diligence for Seville. A great dog on me—I am betrayed. Nay, do not go," which guarded the interior of the vehicle he added seizing his captive, and again having been unchained, the word "arre" thrusting his hand desperately into his was given, and the mules galloped forbreast. "Yet let me understand-you ward. There were numerous passengers; would say I am not what I seem-whis- some young candidates for the priesthood, per again-you hesitate, Zelmira. Then a merchant from the south of Spain, and I cannot spare you." a priest who was understood to have obtained the situation of Prior at a monas Here we must close the scene. Early tery in Seville. The lifeless, arid plain on the next morning there was a crowd which surrounds Madrid being passed, the in the garden of the Retiro. The body of party began to talk of the robbers who a young woman was found in the private infest the roads toward the South. walk, where we left the carbellero and the Whether rateros, or petty banditi, or colonel's daughter. She had been appa-salteadores, regular thieves, mounted or rently dead for some hours, but the stab on foot, they were equally to be dreaded. of a poniard in her bosom was very evi- In England, robbery is much discoursed dent. The Alcalde was sent for, a tall, of, but by comparison rarely happens, and stiff-looking man, with a host of atten- seldom, if ever, on the road. In Spain, it dants, who made the most minute inquiry is not unusual to speak feelingly of road into the catastrophe, while their master plunderers, and travellers are not unfreput his finger into the wound of the de- quently visited with the reality of their receased for greater satisfaction. Happy hersals. So it turned out on the present was it for the young woman that death occasion. Passing over a solitary waste, had already pressed upon her, since she a loud cry of "A tierra boca abajo, la might have lain weltering in her blood dron,"* saluted the ears of the party. This till these awful ceremonies had been ac- demand is seldom resisted. The mayoral, complished; and even then, as it is not or conductor, submitted with a good grace, common for Spaniards to touch an assas- and four men armed with muskets and sinated person, her sufferings might have pistols began the work of rifling, with an been of still longer duration. She was ease which showed how well they were at length recognised to be an English wo- accustomed to such scenes. No one, howman, and the reader needs hardly to be ever, was apprehensive that blood would informed that she was the unfortunate be shed, till, at length, it came to the boarder at the Convent of St. Francis. priest's turn to be robbed, and he of all In Spain, as in other countries, wealth others was the least likely to be ill-used. will do much. The colonel, after the fi.st But the leader of the band, whether attrac transports of his grief had subsided, was ted by an apparent hesitation on the part zealous in his exertions to discover the of the prior, or fearing that his party had murderer. He spared no expense to se delayed too long, or from whatever cause, cure the slayer of his child. The crim- rode up to the monk. He had no sooner inal, on the contrary, if possessed of done so, than he found reason to examine money, can go far towards defeating justice where his prosecutor is not rich. *To the ground-mouth downwards-thief, o Büt upon this occasion, entire silence pre-thieves--ladrones, |