FOR THE USE AND AMUSEMENT OF BOTH SEXES.

Saturday, May 23,.....1812.

At that moment his mother entered the apartment; she over-let Violante go-but REMEMBER, heard the conclusion of the senseignior, the condition of my contence, and by the signs she made Alfonso understood the necessity of adopting the plan already noticed.

'The duke,' he replied, is not governed by a disposition to insult

evening prayer the good old Morad will have a carriage in waiting for us. Shall we go to night pos itively?"

Positively, my son,' replied Agnes; Mariana has given her consent; but I have explained to her the necessity of secrecy, and even Violante must be ignorant

come to fulfil his promise.' She blushed, and smiled, and wept at once-tenderly he took her handit trembled as did his own; her head sunk upon her bosom-that bosom heaved as did Alfonso's-neither had a word to utter-both steodentranced.-Exquisite sensibility!--The danger of interruption prompted him to be expli cit-now she strove to disengage the hand he held- And will Marianäleave her--?” said Alfonso,the kiss imprinted upon her finger gain at night your object may be stifling the word he wished, but construed for such a purpose. At 8 o'clock I shall expect you.'

of our intentions. You will now conduct Violante to the duke. I shall conceal her departure from the abbess, that when yon come a

dared not utter. This little privilege,' he sighed, 'I stole for love

Now her eyes meet his-again she blushes--my mother perceives the attachment of her son

'Your mother! exclaims Mariana.

'Yes, Agnes!

Violante received her deliverer-can Mariana--but Mariana————’ with a palpitating heort; but when she heard the success of his efforts, the transports of ecstacy knew no bounds. Mariana hailed his presence with a smiling countenance; and now assured of Violante's happiness she shared in the general joy. A message from the abbess at that moment summoned Agnes from the room, and Violante followed to prepare for her immediate departure. Now was the moment of mutual confession come! Mariana, confused in this unlooked-for situation, run toward the door.

'Agnes your MOTHER!' she adds with a smile of satisfaction, pausing still doubting By hea vens!' he exclaims, 'she confirms my hopes!'-Now claspt in each other's arms he impressed upon her lips the transports of his soul!

cation of arromantics brought back the scattered senses; and when capable of speech she desired all to leave the room but me. O Agnes!' she cried, terrible have been the conflicts of my guilty soul. speak to me! that I may hear a human voice and know that fiends do not rack my feeble limbs ;speak, that I may know I live-one word will save me from a world of torture!

and die! This night, Agnes, must witness a solemn festival. Seven was the hour Francisco saved me from an awful death: seven the hour he died, and seven be the hour I kneel upon his grave! I know the way?'

Such,' continued Agnes, 'is the determination of the wretched abbess. The tomb of Francisco is in the vault of the Inquisitionfrom some unknown cause she holds a key to that abode of horror I must attend her, but I shall not fail to return to you in time. Be here, Ahmed, at the hour you mentioned: Mariana, your forti. tude must not forsake you have confidence in me, and Ahmed will lead us both to happiness.'

How keenly I pitied this guilty wretch!' continued Agnes; her race is run; to-morrow's sun will light her to eternity! After every soothing effort to control her perturbed spirits she thus began Agnes, I owe you much; but the hour of retribution is arrived :— painted in horrid imagery, I have read the volume of my life-page succeeding page, from first to last, is blurred with crime: and the compiler of my infamy, as if infected with my vices, seemed to weep o'er his poluted hands. Horrible vision! never will it vanish from my sight, but by its eterns! presence gnaw my repenting hours! I feel the agonies of death come fast upon me. O that the truly penitent may have a pardon! This night, Agnes, you must accompany me to the tomb of Francisco. Tis a pilgrimage I owe the manes of a godlike man :--by me he fell by me pardon must be sought. Kneeling o'er the ashes of Francisco, I'll confess me of my sins, and having prayed forgiveness, back to my couch I'll come

Violante was now ready to accompany Alfonso. Affecung as the parting scene: Much as she sought her liberty, the idea of deserting such esteemed friends embittered the pangs of separation. She little knew how near the peried of their own confinement. Agnes, sympathising in the distress she witnessed, hurried Violante from the room and saw her pass the convent gate unnoticed.

The interview between the duke and his niece was a scene tender as the last was affecting. He had not seen Violante from a child :— that she was a lovely girl report confirmed: but he beheld her surpassing all his fancy taught. Her return to the world was like a new era in his life. He hailed it as an

auspicious omen, and before an hour had passed in her society, he discovered such a flow of animal spirits as evinced the speedy termination of his convalescence.

Violante's presence he supposed might induce Alfonso to defer joining his regiment for awhile: but in this he found himself mistaken. It was vain to oppose his determination and orders were given for a splendid entertainment in honor of the day.

suppress his feelings, conscious as he was of the duplicity of his own conduct.

You will return, Bernard?' cried the duke, perceiving him to follow Alfonso to the door.

'Not to-night,' answered Bernard, I am particularly engag ed.'

'Where' exclaimed Alfonso, suspicious of interruption.

I am on duty, he replied, 'farewell may you be happy!'

The night was dark and uncom. fortable. Not a star was visible: the vast canopy of heaven, wrapt up in deep obscurity, Alfonso's eyeturned inward on his thoughts to hold a solemn conclave in the mind. At such a time the good man gropes his way uninfluenced by aught but personal security. The wicked, appalled by the con

The hour of Alfonso's engagement at length drew near. Affecting was the leave he took of his generous benefactor. Violante stretched forth her hand-this was not enough: in the niece he beheld the attachment to the uncle nor did he forget it was the friend of his beloved he was addressing: he embraced her because it would be gratifying the duke, pleasing to Mariana, pardonable to the company, and inoffensive to herself.-jurations of his guilty conscience, 'Twas! Bernard alone felt dis- sees nothing but an array of hideous satisfied by the step. To him Al- imagery. But Alfonso, doubly fonso next presented himself: armed, had a double impulse to still might their friendship have urge him on; his love and the been preserved entire-still both rescue of a mother, felt the power. had separated happy; but neither ful auxilliary of his tried scimitar possessed resolution to own his se- and the undaunted resolution of cret. Both obstinate to the last his mind. The solemn knell warnthey forged the fetters of their owning the Franciscan monks to evenaffliction they shook hands;-ing prayer, at once broke in upon 'twas impossible for Bernard not the peaceful stillness of the gloom to perceive the agitation of Alfonso, but he ascribed it to a cause the most oposite. It was equally impossible that Alfonso

anon was heard the direful im port of St. Clare-wild was his fancy now :-there stood the lovely should! Mariana despairing of his promis