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 áll, low and anxious whispers trembled. Now shone the first gleams of armour through the open gates.-Scattered flowers and garlands flew to meet them; for every tree had paid its tribute; every garden had granted a share from its variegated treasures. A lovely child, stationed in a high bow-window, raised its round white arms on high, and receiving from its weeping, turned-away mother, a coronet of leaves, threw it down among the passing troops beneath. A lancer, who happened to be the first to notice this occurrence, good-humouredly took up the wreath on his lance, while he playfully nodded to the fair little angel above. He had his eyes still directed in this manner, when his commanding officer, riding on, exclaimed, "Ha! Wolfe!-a cypress wreath! How came you by such a thing -it may be thought an unlucky omen!" Wolfe put the crown on his right arm, however, and not without some discomposure rode on! After a long tedious delay, employed in putting up the horses in the regimental stables, giving them water and provender, the quarter-billets at last were distributed. Wolfe, on receiving his ticket, had the mortification to perceive that it directed him to the house of a well-known rich butcher! His comrades wished him joy-rallied him on the good eating which awaited him; and profited by the opportunity of inviting themselves frequently to become his guests. He, meanwhile, took off his schako* *The square cap worn by the Prussian Lancers. in silence, twisted the billet among its golden tassels, and twice passing his hand through his luxuriant locks, he said, not without considerable vexation, "this, forsooth, is rare luck! No doubt the rich miser is well enough known! I heartily wish, however, that I had been quartered anywhere else!" "Ha, ha! what a silly fellow you must be!" cried a bold knowing comrade"what is it to you, pray, if your host is a miser or a spendthrift? Only let him be rich enough—then a soldier is sure to be well off. However, you must begin with politeness and address-every thing depends on good management." "That is very true, I grant you!" said Wolfe, as he threw his knapsack over his shoulder"but there are a set of people in the world on whom all politeness is thrown away, and who have no heart nor feeling for man nor beast. If ever I meet with a butcher's waggon in the streets, full of miserable animals tied and bundled together, and see how the poor beasts lie there over and under one another, groaning sometimes, so that it cuts one to the heart, and mark how the fellows plod on behind the cart in utter indifference-whistling perhaps all the time, I have much ado to withhold myself from falling on, and beating the scoundrels heartily! Besides, to say the truth, I have had enough of blood and slaughter, and begin to be disgusted with the whole trade!" "Oh!" cried his laughing companions, "Wolfe cannot bear the sight of blood-thou chicken-hearted fellow ! THE CYPRESS CROWN. 219 -And when did this terror come upon thee?”—“Don't His comrades began to laugh at him more than ever, He had not gone far when he found the street and the number. Already at a distance he saw a gigantic man in his shirt sleeves, standing under the door-way. His countenance of a dusky yellow complexion, was quite shaded over by coal-black bushy projecting eyebrows; the small eyes, devoid of intellect, appeared to watch the rolling vapours of a short pipe.-One hand was placed in the waistcoat-pocket, the other seemed to dance up and down the silver knots of the pipe, which rested ever and anon on his goodly person. Wolfe saluted him courteously, and, with a modest bow, showed him his billet, VOL. I. X |