4

bour hastily, and flew to give assistance to the sufferer.

'What ails you, my good father?' she inquired in a melodious voice, and with a look of benevolent anxiety.

Abællino pointed towards the arbour; Rosabella led him in, and placed him on a seat of turf.

'God reward you, lady!' stammered Abællino faintly; he raised his eyes; they met Rosabella's, and a blush crimsoned his pale cheeks.

Rosabella stood in silence before the disguised assassin, and trembled with tender concern for the old man's illness; and oh! that expression of interest ever makes a lovely woman look so much more lovely! She bent her delicate form over the man who was bribed to murder her, and after a while asked him in the gentlest tone-- Are you not better?'

Better?' stammered the deceiver with a feeble voice ;--' better?--oh! yes, yes, yes!--you you are the Doge's niece! the noble Rosabella of Corfu ?'

...

'The same, my good old man.'

'Oh! lady... I have somewhat to tell

you... Be on your guard

...

start not

what I would say is of the utmost consequence, and demands the greatest pru

dence--Ah! God, that there should live men so cruel--Lady your life is in danger.'

The maiden started back; the color fled from her cheeks.

'Do you wish to behold your assassin ? -You shall not die, but if you value your

life, be silent.'

Rosabella knew not what to think; the presence of the old man terrified her.

Fear nothing, lady, fear nothing; you have nothing to fear, while I am with you --Before you quit this abour, you shall see the assassin expire at your feet.'

Rosabella made a movement, as if she would have fled; but suddenly the person who sat beside her was no longer an infirm old man. He, who a minute before had scarcely strength to mutter out a few sentences, and reclined against the arbour trembling like an aspen, sprang up with the force of a giant, and drew her back with one arm.

"For the love of Heaven,' she cried, 'release me! Let me fly.'

'Lady, fear nothing; I protect you.'-Thus saying, Abællino placed a whistle at his lips, and blew it shrilly.

Instantly sprang Matteo from his concealment in a neighboring clump of trees,

and rushed into the arbour. Abællino threw Rosabella on the bank of turf, advanced a few steps to meet Matteo, and plunged his dagger in his heart.

Without uttering a single cry sank the banditti-captain at the feet of Abællino; the death rattle was heard in his throat, and after a few horrible convulsions all

was over.

Now did Matteo's murderer look again towards the arbour, and beheld Rosabella half senseless, as she lay on the bank of turf.

Your life is safe, beautiful Rosabella,' said he, there lies the villain bleeding, who conducted me hither to murder you. Recover yourself, return to your uncle the Doge, and tell him that you owe your life to Abællino.'

Trem

Rosabella could not speak. bling she stretched her arms towards him, grasped his hand, and prest it to her lips in silent gratitude.

Abællino gazed with delight and wou der on the lovely sufferer; and in such a situation who could have beheld her with out emotion?---Rosabella had scarcely numbered seventeen summers; her light and delicate limbs, enveloped in a thin white garment which fell around her in a

thousand folds; her blue and melting eyes, whence beamed the expressions of purest innocence; her forehead, white as ivory, overshadowed by the ringlets of her bright dark hair; cheeks, whence terror had now stolen the roses; lips which a seducer had never poisoned with his kisses; such was Rosabella, a creature in whose formation partial nature scemed to have omitted nothing which might constitute the perfection of female loveliness-Such was she; and being such, the wretched Abællino may be forgiven, if for some few minutes he stood like one enchanted, and bartered for those few minutes the tranquillity of his heart forever.

By him who made me,' cried he at length, oh! thou art fair, Rosabella; Valeria was not fairer!'

He bowed himself down to her, and imprinted a burning kiss on the pale cheeks of the beauty.

'Leave me, thou dreadful man!' she stammered in terror; 'oh! leave me !'

Ah! Rosabella, why art thou so beauteous, and why am I ... Know'st thou Who kist thy cheek, Rosabella? Go! tell thy uncle, the proud Doge, 'Twas the

Bravo Abellino.'

He said, and rushed out of the arbour.

C

CHAPTER VII.

The Bravo's Bride.

IT was not without good reason, that Abællino took his departure in such haste. He had quitted the spot but a few minutes, when a large party accidentally strolled that way, and discovered with as tonishment the corse of Matteo, and Rosabella pale and trembling in the arbour. A crowd immediately collected itself round them. It increased with every moment, and Rosabella was necessitated to repeat what had happened to her for the satisfaction of every new-comer.

In the mean while some of the Doge's courtiers who happened to be among the crowd, hastened to call her attendants together; her gondola was already waiting for her, and the terrified girl soon reach. ed her uncle's palace in safety.

In vain was an embargo laid upon ev ery other gondola! in vain did they ex