"My dear papa, (cried Julia) you are certainly mifinformed:Ellen is not capable of fo mean an action,"

"I will not be answered, young lady-Retire to your apartment, and leave this matter to me.".

In pity, my lord, order the carriage, and follow Albert to Maple-mount."

master, he adds, The chaife is now waiting to convey us to the land of Hymen.

"I was ftaggered for a moment; but recollection foon convinced me it must be a forgery:-but, as I could give no account of her retreat, I could not vindicate her conduct; and, had. I fhown the letter which was left for me, it would have been deemed the effect of her artifice more effectually to deceive.me.

"The gentlemen foon left the room; and, nearly at the fame time, lord Severn entered it. He came to inform us that Albert was fet out towards London, and that he intended inftantly following him-he begged us to be compofed, for that he would do all in his power to ferve his friend.

"I am come, (said he) at his requeft, to inform you that he is fafe, and gone in fearch of Ellen."

"He agreed with us in thinking the reports fo injurious to Ellen were the fabrications of fir John, of whom he has the most defpicable opinion.

"Oh, make yourfelf perfectly eafy, madam.-Sir John will not fight him:-he has given me his word he will not.-La Roche will "Dear Severn (faid Julia, riúng take care of him, and he will return from her feat, and prefenting her improved. He is a maniac expe- hand), how you rejoice me by your perience must cure.' confidence in my poor Ellen!-It "Finding my fituation excited fois-it muft le all'a falfehood; and little fympathy, I withdrew to the her virtues cannot be eclipsed by chamber of Julia, whom I found the calumny.-Truft me, he will greatly indifpofed. rife brighter from the mift they have thrown around her."

"At dinner fir John appeared, and made a great mérit of his forbearance in not fighting my fon, who had actually fought him for that purpose.

Then he has been with you, fir ?"

"Yes, my lady."

"And whither is he gone?" "To London, in purfuit of his charmer (faid the unfeeling wretch); but he will have a fine dance; for has fairly distanced us all."

"At least (cried Severn), my fweet girl, we will never condemn her, till the condemns herself."

"He foon after departed, loaded with our bleffings.

"ANOTHER day is paft, and no news of my fon.-Sir John is here conftantly; but I fhun him as much as poffible. I am loft in conjecture, fhe-Surely Ellen cannot have deceived me. My dear friend, if it is poffible, do endeavour to trace thefe loved fugitives, for

"Here he produced a letter, faid to be written by his valet, and fent to him exprefs; in which, after begging pardon for fupplanting his

"That he is fled from perfecution, but without a companion. -My life for her conduct!-As for this ftory, it is too bare-faced to be a moment thought of.Can the infolent affèrtions of fir John be of fufficient confequence to ftamp in-cion; but, recollecting the necefity famy on the character of mifs Rutland

diately to London; and, at the houfe of Mr. Harris, the late agent to my father, (whofe addrefs I inclofe, with a letter) you will find a fafe afylum; where I am certain they will be proud to contribute to your comfort. The dreary month of November is faft approaching, which will hurry us to the capital.

PET

Yours, &c. LAURA MERIONETH. (To be continued.)

A NOVEL,

FROM THE ITALIAN.

and

years, eafily perceived the occafion of his conduct. It was the common report that Timbreo was one of the king's favourites, and that there were few men in the court who had greater merit than he; whence he was univerfally honoured efteemed. Fenicia, therefore, obferving, in addition to this report, that he had the appearance of a gentleman, both from his apparel and retinue, and that he was handfome, young, and well-bred, began to regard him with favourable eyes, and, as far as was confiftent with decorum, to return his falutes. The count became more enamoured every day; and the oftener he faw her, the more violently he felt his paflion to be inflamed; fo that at length, finding himfelf no longer able to ftruggle with his love, he determined, by every means in his power, to attempt to gain the poffeffion of the lady. In every inftance, however, he failed of fuccefs; for to every letter and meffage he fent, Fenicia

ETER king of Arragon, being with his court at Meffina, in Sicily, had, amongst the other gentlemen and barons who compofed it, one who was called Timbreo di Cardona; whom the king highly efteemed for his excellent qualities, and particularly for the valour which he had on all occafions difplayed. This Timbreo became deeply ena-replied, that the was determined to moured of a young lady named Fe- preferve her honour inviolate, and nicia, the daughter of Lionato de that marriage alone fhould induce Lionati, the most elegant and beau- her to refign herself to him. Thofe tiful woman in the country; and in anfwers much afflicted her lover, and a fhort time his paffion was fo much the more fo as he had never been inflamed that he was not eafy but in able to prevail on her to keep either her prefence, and he wifhed to live his letters or prefents. He deteronly for her fake. Having been mined, notwithstanding, to gain poffrom his infancy in the fervice of the feffion of her; and fecing that her king, and done his duty faithfully refolution was fuch, that he could and honourably both by fea and only fucceed by making her his wife, land, he had been richly rewarded; after much deliberation, he refolved among a great variety of other gifts, to demand her of her father; and the king had lately created him though he thought he was debafing Count of Collifano, and prefented himself by the match, yet, fuch was him with lands, which, together the violence of his love, he deterwith a penfion which he had fome mined not to delay his purpofe a time poffeffed, made his income ex- moment. He immediately, thereceed twelve thousand ducats. Tim-fore, communicated his defign to a breo accuftomed himfelf to pafsevery day by the house of his miftrefs; and when the appeared to his view he efteemed himself a happy man.Fenicia, who, though, young, poffeffed a degree of prudence above her

gentleman of Meffina, with whom he had contracted an intimate friendfhip; requefting him to make propofals to Lionato.

The old gentleman rejoiced at fuch a profpect for his daughter;

and

ance of Timbreo, immediately, without confulting his family. replied that he felt hinfelf honoured, and would with the greatest pleasure contract an alliance with fuch a man. On his return, he communicated to his wife and daughter the promife he had made. Fenicia was pleafed that her chafte love would have fuch a happy termination; and her countenance beamed with delight. But fortune, which never ceases to perfecute the human race, foon found the means of impeding the nuptials, fo much defired by both parties. -It was publicly reported in a fhort

and knowing the rank and import | Fenicia had been, for fome reafon or other, mutually concealed.. Girondo then conceived the defign of fowing the feeds of difcord between Timbreo and his miftrefs, and of breaking off the match by fuch means; after which, he propofed to demand her hand himself, and had no doubt of fuccefs. This abfurd and iniquitous intention he refolved to put in effect; and having found at man fit for his purpofe, who was blindly devoted to his pleafure, he opened his mind to him. The perfon whom Girondo thus chofe for his confidant, and afliftant in his wicked defign, was a courtier of a bafe mind, who delighted more in doing mifchief than in promoting good actions. Having received his inftructions, he went early the next morning to Timbreo, whom he found alone, walking in his garden; having entered the garden, he was courteously received by Timbreo. After the common falutations, he entered into converfation in the following manner;

time that Timbreo was contracted to Fenicia; which report was received with great pleafure by the Meffinefe, as Lionato was univerfalJy efteemed for his goodnefs of heart and friendly difpofition; but above all, it was highly agreeable to the family of the Lionati.

"My good lord, I am come thus early to fpeak to you on things of great importance, in which your honour is much concerned; and fince it is probable that what I have to communicate may be highly dif agreeable to you, I muft request you will pardon my boldne fs, as my good

There lived then at Meffina another young gentleman of a noble family, whofe name was Girondo Olerio Valentiano, who had gained great reputation for valour, and was one of the most magnificent and generons men in the court. This young nobleman, having heard the report, was very much diftreffed, as he had for fome time admired the beauty of Fenicia, and was fo defperately enamoured, that he deter-intentions and zeal for your happimined not to live, if fhe were mar- nefs prompt me to this proceeding. ried to another; and having refolved Now, fir, to the bufinefs itfelf: I to demand her in marriage, he no heard yesterday, that you had confooner heard he was promifed to tracted a marriage with the daughter Timbreo, than he was ready, to die of Lionato de Lionati. Take care with grief. Finding no remedy for of what you are about, and have his affliction, he fuffered his paffiou fome regard to your honour. I fay fo far to get the better of him, that, this to you, becaufe a gentleman of without liftening to the dictates of my acquaintance paffes two or three reafon, he determined to attempt to nights in the week with her, and is obftruct the marriage, by means in-violently beloved: this very evening confiftent with the character of a gen-he has an affignation there; and I, tleman and a man of honour. He had been, in every campaign, the companion and intimate friend of Timbreo; but their affection for

as ufual, accompany him. If you will give me your word that you will not attempt to moleft either my friend or me, you shall be convinced

tc-night

to-night of the truth of my affertion, My friend has poffeffed the lady for many months. My zeal for your welfare, and gratitude for the many benefits I have received from your kindness, have induced me to difcover this affair to you: now you may act as you think proper; it is fuffcient for me to have acted as my duty directed me."

day and night; hither fonetimes Fenicia retired, to enjoy the beauty of the garden. The family refided in another part of the palace, which was very large, fufficient not only for a private gentleman's retimie, but for the court of a fovereign prince,

This c: der being established, the crafty agent departed, and returned to the perfidious Girondo, whom he informed of every thing he had done with Timbreo; at which Girondo was greatly rejoiced, thinking his defign would fücceed even beyond his expectations. The appointed hour being come, the traitorous Girondo ordered one of his fervants, whom he had already inftructed in his part, to drefs himself

Timbreo was thunderstruck with this narrative, and fo afflicted that he nearly lost his fenfes. After having hefitated a fhort time between his love and indignation, at length a juft refentment, as it appeared to him, overcame his paffion, and he addrefied himself to the young man as follows: "My friend, I fhall confider my-magnificently, and perfume himself felf as eternally obliged to you for with the most delicious perfumes. the regard you have manifefted for This domeftic and the young man my honour in fo friendly a manner. who had spoken with Timbreo, toI hope to have it in my power together with another fervant carryreturn the obligation, and to fhowing a ladder on his shoulders, pro you how fenfible I am of your friend-ceeded to Lionato's palace. hip. At prefent receive my warm- It would be a vain attempt to en-“ eft thanks, and rely on my future deavour to defcribe the various emogratitude. Since you have volun- tions which agitated the mind of tarily offered to how me what I Timbreo in the interval. The too fhould never have imagined, I re- credulous and unfortunate lover, queft you, by the kindnefs which blinded by jealousy, ate little or has induced you to reveal the cir- nothing the whole day, and appearcumftance, that you would freely ed rather dead than alive, to pallid accompany your friend as before; was his complexion, and his eyės”: and I pledge the honour of a gen-funk in his head. Half an hour" tleman that I will do no injury either to you or him, and that I will never reveal the fecret, fo that your friend may peaceably enj y his good fortune, I ought undoubtedly to have been more cautious at ficit, and to have examined carefully before I made propofals."

before the appointed time he went and fecreted himself in the ruins, fol that he could eafily perceive every thing that pafied; ftill believing it impoffible that Fenicia fhould have refigned herself to the arms of an other. He faid, however, to himfelf, that young women are fickle, The young man replied, "Sir, inconftant, and fond of novelty; to-night at three o'clock, be near and now condemning, then excufing Lionato's houfe, and conceal your-her, he remained attentive to every felf in the ruins which are oppofite motion. his garden."

One front of Lionato's palace faced this place, in which there was an ancient apartment, whofe windows were conftantly open both by

The night was not very dark; but every thing was in profound tran quillity, when he began to hear the found of foot-fteps, and a confused murmuring of voices. He imme

diately