by an uninterrupted flow of health, pleasantry, and good spirits. Time passed away unpercieved, and every hour. brought with it fresh pleasures, nor; and becomes a duty in me to apprise you of every danger which besets you. Be not to much shocked, my friend, by a discovery in which your happiness is in imminent peril. Your Jessalind is in constant!' At that expression Audley started, shuddered, and grew inflamed. Have a care,' cries : 'these are weapons too acute to sport with.' Amongst a few select freinds, who sometimes with their visits changed the domestic scene, Polydore, a young knight, had gained a great ascendence over the mind of Audley. He had cultivated in his princi-he ples the most punctual sense of honor, and inspired him with every military fervour for defence of that honor by arms. His readiness in rendering services, his alacrity in executing any project which he knew would please his friend, had entirely won the young Baron to him, and made him place in by arms; you know I am a sol him the utmost confidence and esteem. It was in one of those mo ments devoted to the sober joys of pure friendship, that he took upon himself the task of revealing to the young Baron a fatal, very fatal secret; nothing less than that his young wife had dishonored his bed. He prefaced it with the most solemn asseverations of truth, respect and esteem for his patron. My regard for you, my Lord, makes me jealous of ever injury done to your ho Halydore shewed a resentful look at this reply. Can you," said he, dispute my veracity? Then let the rest of the discovery sleep. If you think I injure her, my profession allows you the means of satisfaction dier.' The experience which Audley had of his sincerity gave him credulity. His thoughts were confused, his judgment confounded, and, amidst the distraction of injured love, and the shame of such dishonor, he gave way to an impetuous tide of jealousy and resentment. He was greedy of Hearing his own calamities and disgrace, and devoured the poisonous and destructive tale with vehemence. Polydore, appeared by such apology as Audley, in his confusion, could utter, was prompted to pursue the serenity of virtue sat smooth horrid history. "Ironside, your kinsman, who, from his earliest youth, hath been your intimate and hosom friend-'tis he that in jures you. The guilty hour of assignation is at hand. Is it not about the time that at this season of the year your wife visits the bath?" It is,' replied the Baron; and what then?' This winding walk,' says Polydore, 'will lead us to the spot undiscovered. I will attend you to the place, and leave you to be assured of my truth.' They hastened on; they arrived within sight of the bath; and Polydore departed. upon her brow; placed innocence becalmed her looks, whilst fond felicity was sporting with insuspicion in dimples on her cheek. Over his whole soul affection lay bleeding. While nature struggled to give birth to hope, the amulet, and Polydore's known faith, obstructed every passage but that at which despair was taken possession of him. The sound of several voices struck his listning ears! Now his mind was thrown into dreadful convulsions, and all his bosom blazed with resentment. His impatience did not allow him any time to think, and became insupportable; he rush Jealous moments are distracting; yet hope seized his bo-ed from his concealment, and bursting into the grove leading to the bath, discovered the disconcerted and alarmed Jessalind with the unfortunate Ironside. For jealousy, for inad som, and sometimes induced him to think this only a trial of his patience. Again jealousy frowned away expiring hope, and left his mind in chaotic confusion. Irresolute everyness, this was evidence suffimoment, yet with the most deliberate fortitude to resent the dishonor of his house, he stood motionless awhile, when looking on his breast, he beheld the amulet portending woe. In a few moments, as he stood thus concealed in his shady situation, he viewed the lovely Jessalind, without attendant, moving towards the bath. The cient. The emotions of Audley's breast stifled his words; he only had power left him to call upon Ironside to defend himself. He would have parleyed, but Audley rushed on. The terrified Jessalind fainted! Sword met with Sword, and in the bosom of Ironside the horrid steel was plunged! (To be Continued.) THE MONK OF THE GROTTO. A Tale: (Continued) "Towards the evening, the fever abated, and the physigian declared her out of danger. Laurina remained by the bedside of her young mistress, and passed the whole night watching over her, and endeavouring to console her. Towards five in the morning, Virginia called to her nurse, and after gracefully thanking her for the friendship and attention she had shewn, desired her to bring her pen and paper. Laurina hastened to obey her, but could not restrain her concern at the axcessive paleness which overspread the counte nance of the interesting object of her solicitude. sorrow, and a heart rent with grief, that Laurina, overcome by her sensibility, could not contain her tears. Verginia desired her not to interrupt her; and in about half an hour she called her, and delivering the two following letters into her hands, requested her to convey them to the Marchi ness. "When ties of so forcible a nature as those which attach your destiny to mine, have once been served,' she wrote to Eugenio, reproaches are useless -I will make none,- Remorse alone is all I have to leave you -sooner or later it weigh down your heart, as grief has oppressed mine! Unfortunate, misguided Eugenio! where will you find one who loves you as Virginia has done?one, whose soul so perfectly accords with your own?-a companion so necessary to thehappiness of your life?-Believe me. Eugenio, the remembrance of Virginia, and the tender scenes that are passed, will be ever present to your imagination. The new object of your attachment will never be able to replace that inex Virginia appeared calm :her large blue eyes, which u sually beamed with mildness and benignity, expressed the sad emotions of her troubled soul; her aubern hair floated in ringlets over her bosom, and the sweet smile which still play-pressible charm which a first ed about her pallid lips, im- love imparts. Let Rosalio, parted to her whole physiog- now perhaps so happy, tremnomy such an expression of ble at her fate!-Can she ex pect fidelity from you, after you have been unfaithful to your Virginia ?—No, it is impossible!-Oh Eugenio! you whom I fondly imagined was my only friend, can you have forgot those happy days in which we passed our infancy together?-Can you have forgot those days, in the more advanced period of our lives, when we seemed to exist but for each other?--Can you have forgot-But what do I say? Ah! if your heart has discarded the remembrance of those scenes-if the sad accents of sorrow which now escape mine, cannot move you, for Heaven's sake answer me not !-It is your love I demand !-Your pity, or your consolation would be insult. If you still love me a genio!-Can I write the detested phrase can you read it without emotion ?-Let your answer convey happiness, or be silent. Remember only that the latter event will be an assurance that happiness can never be my lot in this world; and, if such is your determination, receive now the eternal adieu of " VIRGINIA !" This letter was enclosed in an unsealed cover, and accompanied with a note addressed: to the Marchioness. Chance, Madam, has spared you the pain and embarassment which you must necessarily have experienced in disclosing my misfortune to me. The fatal contents of the letter of the Count Vizzani, which -if, duped by an unsubstan-accident threw in my way, suftial illusion, you have imagi. ned yourself actuated by that sentiment towards another with which I first inspired you, let not shame restrain you from confession of your error?With what delight, dearest Eugenio, should I pardon it! But reflect well before you write let not falsehood sully the letter of Eugenio to Vir. ginia; allow her to esteem you, though she may be compelled so renounce your heart? Renounce your heart, Eu ficiently explained that silence While Laurina was executing the orders of her young mistress, Virginia arose, dressed herself in a robe of white muslin, and binding her flowing hair with a black ribbon, proceeded to the park, where she abandoned herself to the gloomy reflections that oppressed her heart. Her tears would have afforded an alleviation to her profound sadness, but her grief was too great to allow her to shed them. She traversed the scenes where Eugenio had so often sworn to love no other than herself. Solitude had never appeared so dreadful to her. It was not that sweet melancholly which was inspir ed by the pleasing rememb went to the appartment of her young brother; but the perfect resemblance of the child's features to those of Eugenio, his innocent lisp and affectionate caresses so moved her tenderness, that, for the first time since the shock her heart had received, she burst into tears. || The infant clung to her neck, put its little arms around her, and wept to see her weep. She was pressing it to her bosom, and kissing it, when the Marquis entered: he approached his children, contemplated them with delight, and even addressed himself in tender accents to Virginia. 'Love her,' said the little rance of past scenes, and im Spanozzi,' tell her not to cry parted its influence to every object around her: regret, jealousy, and despair discomposed the whole order of nature; and the trouble which overwhelmed her heart, seemed to increase in proportion as she contemplated the different spots that had witnessed her former happiness. At the same moment he took hold of his father's hand, and drew it towards him. The Marquis embraced his daughter, whose beauteous eyes suffused with tears, sparkled with emotion of joy at his retura of parental affection, Fatigued by her walk, and appressed by those sensations to which her soul had been hitherto a stranger, Virginia returned to the Castle. To avoid her own gloomy thoughts, and amuse her attention, she The entrance of the Marchioness put an end to this interesting scene. She turned pale at the sight, and looked at the Marquis with a mixture of surprise and fear; but soon recovering herself, she approached Virginia, made enquiries concerning her health, caressed |