in this moment of trial. Had her own life been in question, she could have pleaded eloquently; but, oh! what is our own danger compared to that of a loved one

One of the men advanced, and laid an arm on her husband's shoulder, the sight acted like electricity on her frame; she bounded from the earth, and with the fury of a lioness about to be robbed of her young, sprang upon the soldier, and pushed him with surprising strength, the strength of despair, from his position, then turning round she flung herself on her husband's neck, and twining her arms tightly around him, and resting her burning cheek against his cold face, sobbed hysterically. Even the stern soldiers were affected at this sight, but their duty was obvious; and again rallying, they approached the unhappy pair, and strove, as gently as possible, to separate them. The wretched husband aided them in their endeavours, and with difficulty unclasping her encircling arms from his neck, and resisting her frantic efforts to renew her

hold, he gave her in charge to one of the men, and then quietly surrendered himself to the others.

His hands were immediately bound, and without once pausing to note the fearful struggles of his wife in the grasp of the soldier who detained her, he walked resolutely to the door; it was opened, and t'e party passed from it into the open air. At this juncture, the wife by a desperate effort freed herself from her thraldom, and rushed after them into the garden-they were already on the road, and her failing limbs refused to bear her farther. She screamed faintly, and extending her arms in the direction of the receding figures fell heavily on the ground. Her husband's ear had caught that cry of agony, and he hurried his pace, covering his face with his hands. There was not a dry eye by this time amongst the men, so infectious is genuine sorrow.

Teresa and the soldier had followed the unhappy wife into the garden, and had reached her just as she fell on the earth. They raised her

and bore her back into the house, when the man left her with Teresa and proceeded to rejoin his comrades.

. Her recollection soon returned, and with it the memory of her bereavement. For some time she raved wildly of her husband, but at length Teresa succeeded in partially soothing her, by leading her to talk of her past life

Her husband Giacomo Renni was the only son of an industrious and excellent couple. He had but one sister, the poor little dumb girl, and he had always been remarkable for his tenderness towards this little sister, and his dutiful conduct to his parents.

The Renni family were the happiest as well as the most thriving in the district where they lived. No cows gave so much milk as theirs, no sheep produced such fine wool, no vines were so fruitful. Their cottage was the neatest and prettiest in the surrounding country, and their garden contained the finest vegetables and the choicest flowers.

Giacomo Renni was as handsome as he was

good and kind; all the young damsels in the neighbourhood were wont to put on their sweetest smiles when he was seen approaching them, and many a heart cherished a secret tenderness for him. His light brown hair fell in glossy curls around his handsome face, and his gray eyes, with their dark fringes, gave a peculiar and interesting expression to his countenance; but Giacomo seemed to be inaccessible to the tender passion, and the bright eyes and sunny smiles of the adjacent belles were insufficient to thaw the frost of his bosom. The truth was, that he was too much occupied to dream of love.

There was an old couple who lived very near to the Renni family, and the man dying suddenly, his widow began to feel lonely, and accordingly sent for a niece of her's, one of a large family, from some distance, to serve as a solace and companion to her.

From the moment of Elisa's arrival at the residence of her old aunt, all the other damsels of the country who had been talked of for sweetness and beauty, were neglected and forgotten,

and Elisa reigned undisputed. But she dreamed not of conquests or admiration. She was

a

modest, gentle girl, whose whole thoughts were devoted to the care of rendering her ill-tempered aunt's life comfortable, and thus proving her gratitude for her adoption, being one of a numerous and poor family. Her kindness and exemplary patience in bearing the old woman's taunts, were soon as much commended as her beauty, and many were the offers of marriage she received; but Elisa was fastidious in her way, and amongst those who sought her hand, none pleased her. At length she attracted the attention of Giacomo Renni, and from that moment no one could accuse her of indifference or coldness of heart; she was proud of his notice, and when he told her that she was dearer to him than anything on earth, she felt that his affection could hardly equal that which she entertained for him.

They were married, and she was replaced by a younger sister in the cottage of her aunt. They were a truly happy couple, and for some