viewed the gorgeous ceremonies which appeal so | planted to the crowded walks of fashion. Still I sought strongly to the senses-as the full clear voices of the this happiness in like scenes—still it eluded my grasp; sisters, swelling so musically, and blending so exqui- but the gem wealth and power refused to yield, flashed sitely with the deep-rolling organ, floated majestically upon me from another source. I clasped it with the through the magnificent building-as the glowing hues fervency and enthusiasm of my temperament, believed of the noble paintings, which seemed almost endowed it unfading, enshrined it in the foldings of my heart, with life, breath and being, met my eye in whatever where its lustre was not quenched till base perfidy stole direction I turned-as the golden censer swung to and it thence, whispering, 'how false is earth!' fro, emitted the rich and overpowering fumes of incense, I buried my face in my hands, and in adoring humility, knelt reverently to the spirit of that religion in which I had been reared, in which I then dwelt, and which I soon learned to love with a fanaticism of whose extent I was not then sensible. "I was the petted favorite of the whole sisterhood-my faults were overlooked-my offences palliated-my virtues, and they were few enough, applauded and magnified--that greatest ornament of the christian character, 'a meek and quiet spirit,' being scarcely assumed by me. "The time was now approaching when I must exchange the manners of the wayward and spoiled child, for the bland and courteous address of the young lady. I wanted but two years of seventeen, and that was the period assigned for my leaving the convent and going to reside with my mother's brother, who had been appointed my guardian, and whose home was in Venice. During this interval, I threw aside my childish ways, applied myself with intense vigor to my studies, devoted a portion of my time to the acquirement of accomplishments, and all this, with so much success, that when my uncle arrived to take me home with him, he expressed himself delighted with my attainments. "My uncle was childless, and after he was bereft of his wife, he adopted as his son a young nephew of hers, Antonio Bandini. This young man commonly resided with my uncle, but at the time of my arrival at Venice it happened he was absent. "After I had been many weeks established at my uncle's house, I casually heard Antonio's return was expected the next day. That night, a rich, melting voice was wafted through my window-a gondola paused in its watery path, and the dark, Italian eyes of a graceful knight errant were raised towards my apartment. The serenader was Antonio Bandini ! "From the first hour of our intercourse, sprang an attachment on my part of passionate idolatry, at whose absorbing character I oft trembled, and in the consciousness of being beloved, I enjoyed a bliss too unalloyed to endure. It was bright summer, and the fair bride of the Adriatic glowed in renovated beauty beneath the kindling sunbeams. Yet day, in its glare and pomp, its hum of life, had not for me the seductive charms of the still night, when in all its starry loveliness, it descended like a veil upon the proud city, throned on her hundred isles.' Then the gondola of Antonio came to warn me my hour of happiness was nigh. Buried in its rich cushions, gliding through a path of stars, Antonio the while breathing into my ear the voice of song, in his full, melodious tones, or whispering those impassioned, half-murmured words, which so beautifully and witchingly clothe a lover's vows, I yielded myself to a dream-like happiness, fearful lest a breath might sever the golden tissue in which I had wrapped myself. "It was a sad morning to me when I bade farewell to the gloomy old convent, and prepared to accompany my uncle to a place of which I knew nothing. Weeping, I tore myself from the embraces of the sisters who crowded around me, praying the holy Virgin to protect and bless me. I threw myself in an agony of tears beside my uncle, in the heavy lumbering coach, and as the dark mass of building in whose walls I had spent so many years, grew gradually more dim in the distance, "On one occasion, when I had revelled in the perfec as I at last strained my eyes in vain to catch a parting tion of my bliss, and the lateness of the hour admonished glimpse of the venerable pile, I leaned back in my seat us to seek the marble steps of my uncle's palazzo-on and yielded, unrestrainedly, to my distress. My uncle returning, the sounds of music arrested us, and as the did not seem flattered at this exhibition of feeling on tide of melody came swelling nearer and nearer, increas my part, and as the emotions of youth are almost as ing in its deep and exquisite pathos, we were aware soon lulled as excited, I exerted myself, and not unsuc-it issued from a gondola which was advancing towards cessfully, to repress the grief which had crushed for the us. The low tinkling of a guitar was quite drowned time my natural exuberance of spirit. in the floods of that superb voice, and as the gondola neared our own, we discovered the tones which ceased not, though they softened as the boat glided slowly by man and two children were its occupants. We could see that the songstress was beautiful, and her rounded arm thrown over the guitar, reposed in the bright moonlight with the polished purity of marble. "At the close of the third day I found myself in the princely palazzo of my uncle, where a suite of apartments was appropriated me, and where I found my-us, proceeded from a lady, who with a solitary gentleself encompassed with every gorgeous luxury which my inordinate love of pomp and display could desire. I needed no solicitation to plunge in the vortex of pleasure, and soon resigned myself delightedly to the brilliant and intoxicating homage my station and attractions commanded. With an exultant step and beaming brow, I might be seen in the halls of festal mirth, the gladsome laugh seeming to spring from a light heart, and wooing 'joy's echo' from every bosom. Yet there were moments when I felt happiness dwelt not in the glittering throngs of the great, that the flowers scattered so richly o'er life's highways, refused to yield freshness, fragrance or beauty, when trans-V "Who can they be?' and 'I cannot tell,' were scarcely spoken by us before we were at my uncle's palazzo, the other gondola having passed onwards, the voice of its music melting in the distance. "It was not many weeks after this occurrence before my uncle suddenly determined to visit Naples, and take me with him. Antonio of course formed one in our party. It was while there that I became known to Mr. and his daughter, and that intimacy commenced which has been the solace of my remaining days. | drinking in every tone which was warbled from the Of this acquaintance, however, I shall speak more dewy lips. At this I was not surprised, for with his hereafter. "My uncle soon established himself in elegance at Naples, and among the first of our visiters came Lord Vernon, an Englishman, who, with his family, was spending the summer in the environs of Naples. His wife accompanied him, and her bland and courteous manners so fascinated me, that I accepted an invitation for the ensuing evening at her house, with a degree of pleasure warmly expressed by me, and as gracefully received by her. "Under the guidance of my preux chevalier, Mr. Wallingford, I now arose to join the mirthful groups which were clustered here and there, through the walks of the beautiful garden, and whose silvery laugh of glee came o'er the ear like an outbreak of music from the spirit of glorious night. natural talent, his cultivated taste, such melody could not but be worshipped. The air the musician was performing, was one of melancholy, touching pathos, and as it ceased, and she was preparing to rise from the seat she filled so gracefully, I wondered not at the halfplayful, half-serious opposition this mouvement excited. She was unanimously urged to retouch once more the magic chords, and again she was enthroned the enchantress of the group. Sweeping her hand o'er the strings of the harp by way of symphony, there came a gush of "Mirthful music resounded through the noble halls to gay, sportive song, full of wild archness, in striking which we had been bidden-flashing lights wreathed contrast with the impassioned strains so lately breathed. with increasing brilliancy the bright throng congre- Ere its murmurs had ceased; ere the sighing of harpgated there the soft breeze, whose wings were laden strings was hushed, the songstress had vanished in the with the perfume and breath of summer, stole languidly throng. I soon learned she was Miss Templeton, through the open windows, when we advanced to make a portionless relative of Lady Vernon, who filled the our salutations to the elegant mistress of the revel. capacity of instructress to her ladyship's children. She introduced me to many persons who surrounded "The harp was again touched that evening, but not her, and on vacating her seat by my side, it was imme- by the same 'cunning hands.' The fair gouvernante diately filled by a young Englishman, Theodore Wal-appeared no more in the halls of revelry during the lingford, whom I had casually seen at Venice, and who evening; but as I bent over the instrument she had had advanced towards me on my entrance, in order to relinquished, and listlessly struck its chords, through renew our passing acquaintance. He was endowed the open window near which I sat, was borne the with a mind whose rare attainments were only sur- music of her peculiar voice, and two figures which passed by his superlatively modest and unassuming flitted past in the bright moonlight, disclosed to me deportment. In the rare fascination of his conversa- Antonio and his lovely companion, Miss Templeton. tion I soon became so absorbed, that I was even deaf to the loud triumphal air which was waked from the harp by a masterly touch, and it was not till the sweet exquisite notes of a rich voice broke on my ear, at first tremulous, but gradually swelling in its delightful melody, that my attention was diverted from my companion. I started, for I had heard it before. I could not mistake its music; it was the voice which had been breathed from the gondola at Venice! I quickly arose, requesting Mr. Wallingford to lead me to the part of the room whence it issued, and as we threaded the labyrinth of the crowded apartment, I briefly stated to him the circumstances under which I had hearkened to its notes before. 'I am a stranger here, as well as yourself,' remarked he, 'and dazzled by the bright coloring with which you have gifted your adventure, 1 am dying of curiosity to behold your syren; of course she must be gloriously beautiful, and—but la voici,' exclaimed he, as we reached the circle which encompassed the songstress, and as it opened to admit us. Seated at a harp, her white arms thrown around the instrument, whence she drew such magic sounds, I beheld a fair girl, who appeared totally unconscious of the passionate admiration she elicited from the listening group. She seemed luxuriating in the sublimity of song. Apparently she was in delicate health; for her cheek, though wearing the roundness of youth, had none of its freshness; an air of languor reposed in the depths of her eloquent eyes, which were 'brightly, darkly, beautifully blue,' and the long jetty lashes oft drooped o'er the colorless cheek, like shadows resting on the snow. She was dressed simply, and without 'the foreign aid of ornament,' save a gemmed dart which restrained the luxuriance of the shining hair, and sparkled with regal magnificence in its bed of rich darkness. "The splashing of a fountain, with its sound of refreshing coolness, wooed us to where its sparkling waters tossed themselves in the moonbeams. On the edge of its marble basin, reposed the fair, rounded arm of Miss Templeton, her eyes watching the glittering spray, which ever and anon broke beautifully over the hand that seemed inviting its caress. As we approached, a rose dropped from the girdle of Miss Templeton. Antonio stooped to recover the withered treasure, and as he gallantly pressed it to his lips and placed it in his bosom, the half-whispered compliment which followed, was wafted towards the spot where I had momentarily paused. "Henceforward,' said he, in his own bland tones, 'this is a talisman to me-sweeter far than any rose in eastern climes that nightingale e'er warbled to.' "The next moment we were beyond the sound of their voices and the murmur of the fountain. A few hours more, and the gaudy pageant had vanished. "During the many months of our prolonged sojourn at Naples, Antonio, though strictly devoted to Miss Templeton in public, was apparently happy in our betrothal; for in private he spoke with impassioned rapture of our approaching union, which was to be solemnized at an early period after our return to Venice. Thus, if my tenderness suffered, by seeing him always at Miss Templeton's side, when the world's gaze was on him, the perfume of his homage and professed adoration for me, the balm of his oft reiterated and burning vows, when that gaze was withdrawn, were not without their "Antonio was one of the circle around her, and seemed lulling influences. VOL. IV.-50 "To say how fête succeeded fête, amusement crowded upon amusement, were the detail of the next fleeting weeks. I lived more in the future than in the present; more in anticipation than in actual enjoyment. "One morning as we loitered over the breakfast table, my uncle threw a purse of gold towards Antonio, saying, with considerable asperity of tone "I heard no more; hurrying to my apartment, I appeared no more that day. I could not doubt I was deserted by the only being who had breathed life into the fervency of love my heart held; and in the mingled emotions of anguish, pride, indignation, that heart seemed scorched. I shed no tears, but I was not the less miserable for that. In the silence and darkness of night, while I brooded over my own wretchedness, heavy footsteps in the hall and an unusual and confused murmur of voices aroused me. I listened--I heard the name of Antonio. Breathless, I sped to the top of the marble staircase. The body of a wounded man was borne slowly and heavily through the lordly hall-the dark blood dripping on the polished floor. My uncle followed it with a stern sorrow. I could not disguise from myself the fatal truth: it was Antonio Bandini! and as I gazed on his pallid features, (for I had descended ""Since I must support you in your folly and extravagance, wonder not that I do it hesitatingly—grudgingly; and be not surprised, when I say my fortune, however ample, must soon be dissipated by these successive and exorbitant demands on it. Your note of last night, while it solicits this sum towards the discharge of debts which press so heavily upon you, says not how they have been incurred. Antonio! I have that confidence in you, to believe they have not been contracted by play!' I arose ere my uncle paused, and as I looked towards Antonio, ere I left the room, I saw that he red-to the hall) whose unearthly hue appeared more corpsedened to the brow, and that fierce fire played in his flashing eye. "I felt no desire to intrude in the examination of that course which had elicited so sharp a reprimand from my uncle. I heard their voices high in altercation for some time after I had retired, but at length there was stillness, and supposing the breakfast room vacated, I hastened there for a volume into which I had been looking, and which I had left there. As I withdrew the rich folds of the velvet curtain which separated this apartment from an adjoining one, I started back on beholding my uncle and Antonio still within, and in a low tone conversing so earnestly, that they did not observe my intrusion. My uncle's first words arrested me: "Poor girl! she has then been the victim of a perfidy as base and unfeeling as it is consummate and artful. The words that followed were not heard by me, for they were muttered in Antonio's ear, with an indistinctness for which my uncle's violence of emotion (for he appeared alarmingly agitated,) accounted. "Antonio started from his seat, and with a threatening gesture exclaimed-'Madre de Dios! immolate my love, my plighted faith, at the shrine of wealth, of worldly aggrandizement! sacrifice the pure, fresh affection of a young trusting heart, to the cold selfishness of a woman whose idol is pomp, whose worship is herself!-never! never!' and as he flung himself back on the regal cushions of the chair, whence he had started, its massive frame seemed to quake with the tremor of passion which convulsed him. My uncle passed his hand slowly over his eyes, groaned seemingly in bitterness of spirit, and approaching Antonio, said like from the purple stream which rolled sullenly over "I involuntarily shrank from her, for I felt it was to her, in part, I owed my wretchedness-she had stolen from me the heart I had learned to love so utterly. "Tell me,' she exclaimed, 'for the love of God, tell me where they have taken him?' "It seems she was passing the house as Antonio was borne to it, and the rays of the lamps falling on his countenance, she had recognised him, alighted from her carriage, and in frantic despair, rushed into the hall through which she had beheld him carried. Her vehement ejaculations continued, notwithstanding my silence, for I spoke not, in answer to her inquiry. At length she arose-'I will go and seek him;' and as her eye fell on the dark spots which marked the progress of the wounded man, she shuddered. She was passing on, when I caught her arm, and remonstrated of "Miss Templeton, what will the world, what will Lord, Lady Vernon say, if it is known you are here, at this hour, unattended, and with the avowed purpose seeing a gentleman, who, at the most, is only your lover?' "I do not reproach you for ingratitude-I do not speak of my gifts to you-I recall not the hours of your youth, your manhood, when I fulfilled with yearning affection every office of the kindest parent-I appeal not to your duty to me-but earnestly, tenderly, imploringly, do I ask you to think of the heart which has yet never dreamed of unhappiness, never imagined sorrowof the noble spirit which has been nurtured by the very breath of love of the young, bright form, springing so gladly in life's path-ere you bring desolation on that heart, contumely on that spirit, the blighting hand of grief to wither the rare loveliness of that form. One word more, Antonio, and I am done. By your extra-her. vagance, my fortune is—' "And what is the world, what Lord, Lady Vernon to me, when Antonio is dying? Think you, I respect the forms of that world which would banish from the pillow of an expiring man- -but I lose time,' added she, checking herself-every moment is golden now.' So saying, she would have gone on, but I still detained "Miss Templeton, think one moment before you adopt (shall I say it ?) indelicacy of conduct. Antonio | resorted for comfort, but from it I received not that is well attended, and your presence will only tend to agitate and embarrass him. Why persist in it? You, who are only the' "Wife of his bosom !' interrupted she quickly, as she shook from her the arm those words had palsied. My heart's pulsations seemed stayed-a cold tremor passed over me, and I felt as if the earth was sinking, with me on her bosom, into that abyss where hope never comes. The delirium of love fled before the reality of such treachery; indignation nerved my fainting form, and with a pride I sought not to conceal, I followed to his apartment the one who had avowed herself his wife. That apartment, which one moment before I would have shunned, I now longed to enter. I reached the door, just in time to hear him exclaim, as Miss Templeton rushed in, passionately throwing herself into his embrace- peace which I had so bitterly proved the world cannot give.' Before the dying gift of my mother, I poured forth the agony of my spirit; but unclothed in humility, trusting to that very suffering, and not to the Saviour, I found no consolation. During this time, Ida V- was my constant companion. I veiled from her the tale of my grief, but my religion was known to her, and by many arguments she sought to lead me from the darkness of superstition to the light of that faith on which the Sun of Righteousness, with healing in his wings,' had arisen. My agitated mind imparted its fever to my body; long, painful, and violent illness seized me, and the very day that Antonio Bandini, now recovered from his wounds, sought his home without my uncle's house, I was prostrated by the fever which had revelled so long and so fiercely in my veins. Ida now came daily, like a messenger of mercy-the beauty of “Mia cara vita.' His voice was low and very weak, her religion seemed waked into voice, in her meek, but tenderness spoke in those few words so softly gentle, affectionate manner; and I have often, as with breathed. The stains of blood had been removed from her countenance of heavenly peace she moved noisehis face, and his matted hair hung heavily on his tem-lessly about my sick chamber, asked myself, 'can ples, contrasting fearfully with the hueless, deathlike heresy, which I have been taught to despise, grant these complexion. As my shadow darkened the threshold, he looked towards me, and a smile of demoniac triumph broke over his face-the expression of a fiend crossed his colorless features. I quailed not beneath it. With that haughtiness I could so well assume, I flung back his look; with a contempt which should have withered his heart, I coldly returned his smile-and saying, 'I now leave you to the care of your wife, as I perceive she has gained your apartment,' I passed with unbending pride from the presence of the heartless traitor, whom I then saw for the last time. sweet fruits, while I, nourished on the very bosom of the holy mother church, almost a fanatic in my zeal for her, am doomed to suffer without alleviation, without abatement? Where are the consolations of my religion?' Then, repenting my murmurings, I sought forgiveness for them, not grasping the cross of Christ as my only hope, but trusting in the rigor of renewed penances, relying on my own 'good works!' I will not detain you by dwelling on the gradual process of my passage from death unto life; how I struggled against the effects of Ida's conversations; how I strove to convince her of the fallacy of her own faith, and the heavenly origin of my own; how I oft dreamed of re "When I had departed, my uncle followed my steps, and on his bosom I wept tears, wrung from unspeakable anguish. His affection was now my only remain-claiming the heretic, wooing her back to the true fold, ing solace, and infolded to his heart, I inwardly vowed to cherish that affection with unswerving tenderness. It was from him I then learned Antonio's desperate passion for play, and that the wounds of which he was then suffering, had been inflicted by one of his reckless associates, who, exasperated by his own losses, and suspicious of Antonio's success, had charged him with unfairness. Word succeeded to word-menace to menace--the cold blade of the dagger was unsheathed— they fought, and soon exhausted by loss of blood, Antonio fell. While his companion sought safety elsewhere, be was borne to his home, covered with wounds, and burning with vengeance. "From my uncle I also gleaned (though he had just learned it,) the corroborated intelligence of Antonio's elandestine marriage, many weeks before, to the fair English girl, whose beauty and song had enchained him from the first moment he had beheld her, though the purity of that beauty, the heavenliness of that song, had failed to impart their elevating influences to his sordid mind. "Although my affection, deep and beautiful, and trusting as it had been in its worship, was now changed into contempt and detestation, I do not say I suffered whence she had strayed, and as often found myself obliged to relinquish the sweet hope; how at last the fabric I had so proudly reared against the advancement of heresy, the strong hold to which I had fled for refuge from its encroachments, gradually tottered and sank, while I, its baffled, but repentant inhabitant, bowed before the superiority of a foe, against whom I had combatted so long and so unavailingly. My Bible was, after some time, read with unprejudiced eyes; prayer became a source of sacred pleasure; I leaned on my Saviour for redemption, no longer on my own weak efforts. Ida saw this change, and the cords of friendship were tightened. Though I was nominally still a Catholic, she knew I possessed many sentiments in common with herself, and doubted not I was a pilgrim in the same strait and narrow way.' "The few weeks immediately succeeding my recovery, were fraught with fresh sorrow to me, but I did not again sink beneath its accumulating burden, for an Almighty hand upheld me. "My uncle, who often visited me during my illness, seemed always sorrowful. To the ingratitude of Antonio I attributed this depression, but as he was increasingly sad, as his countenance bore the traces of deep anxiety, I began to suspect other causes operated to produce his uneasiness. My conjectures were, however, ended, when one evening my uncle summoned me to a private interview, and at some length, with a quivering lip and blanched cheek, he told me he was not master of my uncle's signature; claimed and received my whole I wondered not it had sped death's shaft to the heart of my dear, kind uncle ! a piaster! From what I had heard of his conversation remaining property; insuring the success of his villainwith Antonio, to which I have already alluded, I was ous scheme, by concealing his actual marriage, and inclined to believe the extravagant courses of his nephew causing the report of his betrothal to me to be revived had involved him in some embarrassments, yet I never where it was readily hearkened to. The cold, calcuimagined he was inextricably entangled. I scarcely heed-lating policy of the villain, was apparent throughout! ed my uncle, as he proceeded to explain minutely how he had been so suddenly hurled from the very pinnacle of luxury; my mind was engrossed with another sub- "With the brand of forgery, Bandini fled from his ject: my part was taken; and as he went on to deplore, country, his home, his wife; and the daring valor of a for my sake, the necessity of resigning his magnificent pirate's life shrouded the iniquity of those acts which establishment, I threw myself at his feet, exclaiming, induced him to take refuge in a perpetual home on the 'Never, my dear uncle! never shall it be said I luxu-deep seas. Ida and her father were the first to offer riated in the splendor of wealth, while one who had the balm of sympathy to one who had so bitterly expethrown around me the fostering care of a parent, pined rienced 'the vicissitudes of life.' Yielding to their in the bitterness of want: that I revelled in the enjoy-solicitations, offered in the fervor of friendship, I ac. ment of those comforts which had been wrested from cepted the guardianship of Mr. V—, and when he him. I have wealth, uncle-I want only sufficiency-decided on returning to America, it is not to be wondertake the rest, I implore, I supplicate you-and thinked at, that, without ties in my native land, I clung to not, in your last years, to deprive yourself of those pos- that protection which their affection had thrown as a sessions to which you were born the inheritor.' My shield around me, and prepared to seek a home in anouncle kissed my brow, as he gently raised me from my ther and strange clime. kneeling posture, spoke warmly of his gratitude, but firmly and resolutely rejected my offer. I pleaded, but in vain. I dwelt on his kindness-his generous kindness: I offered him my fortune as his right. He was deaf to all my prayers. While I acknowledged the nobleness of his motive, I deplored his pertinacious firmness; but drying my tears, I quitted his presence, and before another eve had thrown its glory over our regal home, my uncle was again its rightful master. The clamor of the claimants for his noble possessions, was appeased by my gold, and though my vast heritage had dwindled to comparative competency, by the dis- | charge of what I deemed my sacred duty, I lamented not its loss: 1 was happy in the consciousness of acting a christian's part. "Although my inestimable and noble young friend, Mr. Wallingford, would fain have persuaded me to link my destinies with his own, I shrank from perilling my happiness again on the deep of affection, where it had been so fearfully wrecked; and my heart, withered and blighted, my fortunes clouded, my spirit crushed, were unworthy of one so gifted, in whose book of life every page glowed so bright and fresh. As he accompanied us to the vessel which was to bear us over the billowy deep, and as he pressed my hand in parting, the prayer of a broken heart almost burst into utterance for his undying happiness. After our last adieu was exchanged, I felt that the sadness of departure was gone, although fair Italia, with her burnished skies, the land of my fathers, was fading before the lingering gaze of the exile." 1 "I now began to hope no farther blight might enter our circle, but I was mistaken. A few days after the occurrence I have just related, I was aroused at an Nina soon became too weak to join our friends below early hour, and requested to go to my uncle's apart-stairs. Ida shared with me the sad duty of administerment. Tremblingly I obeyed. As I entered the cham-ing to the meek sufferer, and not unfrequently would ber, my uncle's valet, who had opened the door to me, ask permission to read to her, which was always readily passed quickly into the adjoining room. Hastily I ad- accorded. The book constantly selected was the Bible, vanced to the centre of the apartment, and not seeing and with clasped hands, and closed eyes, every word any one within, I walked to the bed-side, pulled aside seemed to be eagerly drunk in by the dying girl. The the curtains of the bed, gave one wild scream, and fell | Catholic only existed in name, and this was not destined senseless by the side of my dead uncle! When I reco-long to continue. Since the avowal of her sentiments vered, I was still alone with the departed; my eye fell to me, I was in daily expectation of a formal renunciaon an open letter, which apparently had been recently read, and which rested on the coverlid. I started to my feet, and with a dread foreboding I could not suppress, I glanced over its contents. It was from an old and tried friend of our family at Venice, and as the horrible truth it told was slowly revealed to me, I felt my fears had not whispered falsely: Antonio Bandini had given death all its sting, to the one who had loved him so blindly. I ceased to read; I stood immoveable. The last drop was added to the cup of agony, which had so long overflowed--that cup which sparkled so gloriously in life's early spring-time. By the corpse of him who had been all to me-the last of my house-the last of my kindred-I knew I was not only friendless and desolate, but I learned in that fatal letter I was a beggar also. Antonio Bandini had counterfeited my own and |tion of her faith ; but it was not until a short time before her death that this occurred. There, in that chamber, over whose threshold the destroying angel was hovering, Nina Genovesi abjured the Romish religion, and partook of the communion; after which a sweet and holy calm seemed to pervade her soul; every thought was detached from earth, and in perfect, uninterrupted peace, she awaited the approach of "the last enemy," fearing not her conflict, but believing the “dark valley and shadow of death" was but a passage to the realms of unfading glory and undying bliss. Every word which fell from her lips was tinctured with these feelings, and as we watched her, languishing and withering, like a fair flower untimely crushed and blighted, such a glorious halo seemed playing around the beautiful ruin, that the tear was quenched, the prayer to detain her |