to do. Nay, nay, I am not angry with thee. Kiss | bravo. He found Saltabadil busily engaged in remothou lovely, bruised flower."

me,

ving some stains from the blade of an ancient and weil-worn toledo.

"Ha, ha! monsieur!" said the gypsey," at last, then, you have some work for the Bohemian. Who is the man? I have an idle evening on hand, and am willing to earn a few golden crowns."

Right!" said the jester, in a low, smothered tone; "it must be done this very night. Name your reward"

"That, monsier, depends upon the rank of the person I am to deal with."

How!" said Triboulet, "have you a scale of charges?"

"Certainly. You would not have me remove an honorable virtuous gentleman as cheaply as I would get rid of a mischief making pettifogging lawyer? Nobility is also an expensive affair; for your lordlings carry swords, and one stands a chance of getting a thrust in return. A nobleman is worth the price of two citizens at least."

Do citizens play at this same game of stabbing?" "Ob, yes; in the way of luxury," said the Bohemian. Your small tradesman has the same passions as your great courtier; and pride, cowardice, and revenge, the vices by which I live, flourish beneath the city serge as deliciously as if covered with the new

On the banks of the Seine, within two miles of the city of Paris, was an extensive and dreary marsh, in terspersed with sedgy pools, and overgrown with rushes and long grass. About a hundred yards from the river's bank, stood a dark-looking solitary hut; its low mud walls evinced the dilapidations of time; and, but for the thin curl of smoke that escaped from the humble chimney, the passers-by would scarcely dream of the possibility of such a hovel being a dwellingplace for human creatures. Yet, in this miserable edifice, a Bohemian, named Saltabadil, had fixed his residence; and the exertions of his sister Magdelonne, had contrived to give something like a cheerful appearance to the interior of this wretched abode. Mag-fangled costliness of silk.” delonne was a beautiful dark eyed Zingaro-her black hair hung in curling tendrils adown her russet cheeks; a showy dress developed the beauties of her form, and the graceful playfulness of her actions added point to the attraction of her charms. Magdelonne earned a precarious living, by singing and dancing in the cafés and gardens, for the amusement of the Parisian idlers; and although but poorly requited for her exertions, such was her popularity, that few tavern-keepers refused admission to la petite Bohemienne.

Her brother, Saltabadil, dealt in stabs. His sword was ready at the sound of gold: he took upon himself the quarrels of those pusillanimous cavaliers who preferred the assassination of their enemies to the chances of honorable conflict.

"Do you not dread the torture and the gibbet?" inquired the foo!.

"Not I. I pay a trifle to the police, and they— never see me."

And how, master Bohemian, do you arrange your business?"

"According to the nature of my customers. I can accommodate them either at home, or in the street. For the latter, I have a long sharp sword, with which I can feel my way in a dark night; and for the home department, my sister-a sprightly girl, with a bright eye, and a pretty foot-she sings a little, and dances at the cafés: she entices the gallant home-a little opiate in his drink, and all is well. That is my quiet way of doing business. I keep no shop, and make no

The Bohemian had watched Triboulet in his mys-stir-nor am I one of those dirty scoundrels, who go terious transits between the Louvre and the house in skulking about with a dagger in their sleeves-banthe cul-de-sac, and, suspecting that no man would diui, whose courage is as short as their weapons. This wander disguised in such an obscure portion of the is my toledo, at your service;" and the ruffian exhicity unless influenced by love and revenge, had offer-bited the sword from the surface of which he had been ed his services to the jester, either to watch his lady removing the stains leit by the life-blood of his victims. love, or despatch his foe. Triboulet noted down the By your inquiries," continued the Bohemian, "I 'dwelling place of the Bohemian, wisely observing that should say that the deed of to-night were perilous." in this world of uncertainty, it was impossible to say "It is. When finished, it were well if you left how long a man might wish to retain his friends. Paris for a short ume. I have a pass ready for you," said the jester.

The fool, in his anguish, thought of the gypsey bravo, and determined to avail himself of his assist ance in the procuration of his revenge. He removed his daughter from the vicinity of the palace, and placed her under the care of the wives of some fishermen, who resided lower down the river. The sun was low in the heavens, and the barks of the fishermen were returning from their daily trips, when the jester shrouded himself in his mantle, and followed the windings of the Seine to the residence of the

Well! travelling is a gentlemanly recreation. Fifty golden crowns will insure your wish, and pay all my expenses."

"They are here," said Triboulet, as he placed a heavy purse in the gypsey's hand.

"This alacrity pleases me, monsieur," said the Bohemian; his eyes glistening with delight at the sound of the coin. "Few gallants have the courage to trust Saltabadil with the cash beforehand; and you shall

"Hush!" said the jester. "I have sent a letter to "I see him, father; how handsome he appears!my victim, as from a female, making a rendezvous at gracing the warrior's dress—and, like the glorious sun, your house this evening. He will not fail in his at-gilding even this wretched hut by the splendor of his tendance. He must not return."

night, I will hurl his lifeless carcass over yonder bank,sey Saltabadil, now placed his arm round the waist

The hunch-back returned to his daughter, and remained with her, in her humble shelter, till the night had sufficiently advanced to shroud them in its dark-ceived me? to repeat to this bold wanton, the words ness; when he directed Blanche to accompany him to he has already sworn to me." The distracted girl the old house in the cul-de-sac, for the purpose of ma-retired from the vicinity of the house, and gave vent king the necessary preparations for their final flight. to unrestrained grief.

The thunder reverberated through the heavens, and flashes of fire played along the waters of the Seine, as this devoted girl hurried on her path of love. Long ere she reached the hovel, the heavy rain had penetrated her disguise, and drenched her to the skin. She peeped through the chink in the wall-the royal "Come this way, then; and satisfy yourself of the Francis was not to be seen; and her heart beat fiercely folly of such infatuation." with delight, as she contemplated the probability of

his escape.

An agony of fear succeeded the thought | face to the door, if you would not see his blood. He dies this instant."

of hope-perhaps the assassin's knife had already done its work.

Magdelonne was seated at the table, bearing her face upon her hands, and gazing at the lamp as its flame flickered in the gusts of the wind that penetrated the crazy walls; while her ferocious brother was folding some golden coin within the doublings of a soldier's belt.

"He sleeps soundly," said Saltabadil, with a grin of triumph. That opiate never fails in its effect." “Ha!” thought Blanche,“ then there yet is time." "I have been thinking, brother," said Magdelonne, that you shall not kill this young officer-you have no personal grudge to satisfy."

"Were I to listen to your ridiculous stuff, I should kill nobody. I have received a magnificent sum for his death-and on the delivery of his body, that sum is to be doubled. The thing is clear enough-the man must die."

'He shall not," said Magdelonne, with an air of determination. "I will wake him, and let him go." "Good girl! good girl!" said the attentive Blanche. "Get thee to bed, wench, and leave me to my work; 'tis almost midnight, and I shall barely have sufficient time."

"I will shriek for help," thought Blanche. " Oh, no, no-if exposed, the ruffian would denounce my father —my suffering, heart-broken parent! I must not injure him."

Saltabadil raised his enormous sword, and moved towards a small recess, shaded by a tattered curtain, and containing a truckle bed. On this low couch, the sovereign of France was lying, under the effects of a powerful opiate. Magdelonne flung herself before the entrance of the recess, and, seizing her brother by the arm, said, in a low and resolute tone; " You pass not here! I have been compelled, by dire necessity and meagre want, to sanction countless deeds of sin; but this man's life must not be added to the damning list."

The ruffian hurled his sister to the other side of the hovel, and advanced to the bedside with uplifted weapon.

"Oh, God!" said Blanche, "I cannot see him perish thus. Stay thy sacrilegious hand! Help! Murder! in the name of mercy, help!"

With almost supernatural force, the distracted girl beat against the door; the rotten fastenings yielded to her blows, and she sunk senseless across the hovel's threshold. The Bohemian had dropped his sword upon the first alarm, but hearing the puny voice, and witnessing the stripling form of the intruder, he lifted her body into the interior of the hut, and barricaded the door against all comers who might be attracted by the shrieks for help.

Meanwhile, the jester, with rapid strides, was hastening to the scene of vengeance. There was an unearthly flash of triumph in his eye, and the mad gnawing of the nether lip told of a mind but ill at ease. There was a reckless daring in his gait, as if he defied the fury of the storm. "A monarch bleeds to gratify a fool! Roll on, thou heavenly messengers of fate, and with thy sulphurous flash, startle the foul delinquents of the earth! to me, thou bring'st delight, fit music for the grandeur of my great revenge! thy elemental war seems harmless mockery to the raging tumult that now tears my heart. Methinks I could bestride the thunderbolt, and traverse the astonished world, the demon of vengeance and despair."

Triboulet, with noiseless tread, approached the hut of the Bohemian, and knocked cautiously at the door. Saltabadil appeared, and, seizing the hunch-back by the arm, whispered, "The deed is done. The money and the pass-”

"Are here! but the body—"

"'Tis close at hand. Do not come in-I will bring it to you."

The Bohemian returned into the hovel, and the hunch back, with a maniac gesture, exclaimed; "Now, "Silence, fool! or share his fate," said the gypsey, Francis the First, you will meet your fool for once lifting his sword. without a jeer-without a biting jest."

Her determined manner disconcerted the Bohemian, and, lowering his sword, he gazed irresolutely in his sister's face.

Blanche clasped her hands in fervent thankfulness How can I calmly listen to the impending fate of him who owns my heart," thought she," whilst this poor girl, who loves him not, willingly perils life in his behalf."

Saltabadil's eyes lighted upon the golden earnest he had received from Triboulet, and his courage rose. "Hark'ee, wench," said he, "I have a good mind to cuff thee; but we have seen too many curious sights in company, to dare defy each other. I would humor thy foolish whim, but gold is scarce-'twill soon toli twelve, and the hunch-back will then demand his prey."

Saltabadil reappeared with the body, well wrapped up in a large black mantle. "Lend me some assistance for a moment, monsieur. Had we not better fling him into the river at once?"

No, no! place the corse on this bank, and leave me."

"I intend it. Magdelonne can answer all inquiries here. Farewell, monsieur. Do not throw him in here, the river is too shallow, and the splash might awaken the attention of the patrole. Lower down, near the bridge across the ditch, you will find deeper water." In a few seconds, the ruffian's form was lost amidst the distant gloom.

Triboulet had placed the body on the ground, and kneeling beside it, thus addressed his senseless victim. "The mightiest of the kings of the earth is at my feet-at the feet of his slave-his jester! Hail, Francis the First! the witty, and the brave! thy poor deformed buffoon bids thee hail! What, not a word! has the

"Grant but an hour," said Magdelonne. "Impossible. Move from the curtain, and turn thy despised Triboulet dumb-foundered thee? still silent!

then hear me, if thou canst-Dog! where is my child? | in my great revenge? who have we here? darkness, more valuable, in her innocence, than thy jewelled black, impenetrable darkness! no stars! no light to Thou didst steal her from me, and returned, show the face of the worthless corse before me."

crown.

her disgraced-dishonored! Dost thou hear me, king? 'tis I, thy slave! the clod whom thou hast daily kicked and buffeted—'tis I who have caused thy lowly state! I wished thy life—a little gold, and, lo! I have it. I, who did lick thy feet, have struck thee to thy heart as thou hast done to mine! Now, Francis the First, sovereign of France! Duke of Milan! to thy watery grave, and see whether the fishes of the Seine will venerate thy kingly corse."

The storm burst forth with renewed violence, as Triboulet lifted the body from the earth. A gleam of light from the opened door of the hovel attracted his attention, and a footfall sounded on the green sward. The jester replaced his frightful burden on the bank, and crouched low in the marsh grass beside it, for voices were heard in the direction of the ferry path, and the form of the comer from the hovel was distinctly visible.

As Triboulet snatched off the huge black mantle that inwrapped the body, a blaze of electric fire burst from the clouds, and played along the river and the surface of the damp marsh. The king shaded his eyes from the force of the lightning's flash; but Triboulet, who had been gazing earnestly upon the form before him, suddenly recognised the features of his Blanche, and fell senseless on the ground.

The king hailed the patrole who were advancing by the river's side, and their torches were lighted at Magdelonne's lamp. The intercession of the gypsey girl, in behalf of Francis, had been unavailing, till Blanche's abrupt entrance; her incoherent speeches proved her acquaintance with the Bohemian's murderous intent. To insure his safety, it was requisite that the listener should be slain; and Saltabadil, to conciliate his sister, agreed to spare the sleeping monarch, and pass off the body of the supposed page upon

"Who goes there?" was the challenge of the ad- the hunch-back as the corse of his expected victim. vancing party.

Triboulet slowly recovered from his swoon, and

"France and Valois," exclaimed the jester, giving glared, with bloodshot eyes, upon the scene around the pass word of the night. him. The pallid face of his murdered child, looking "Ah, Triboulet, my fool, is that you?" said the more deadly in the dim torch light, attracted his wandering gaze, and sobs of deadly agony burst from his swoln and livid throat.

king.

Heaven and earth! have I been deceived? or is it the spirit of the slain rejoicing in its freedom from the worthless clay. Dread spectre, hence; nor mock the lonely rapture of this hour."

"Art thou mad, fool? explain this folly if thou canst. he. "I feel it now-his malediction is fulfilled!" What hast thou there before thee?"

and the heart-broken jester fell lifeless on the body

OH, let the sweet-leaved geranium be
Entwined among thy clustering hair,
While thy red lips shall paint to me

How bright its scarlet blossoms are.
'Tis but a whim-but oh! do thou
Crown with my wreath thy blushing brow.

Oh, twine young rose leaves around thy head,
And I shall deem the flowers are there;
The red rose on thy rich cheek spread,
The white upon thy forehead fair.
"Tis but a whim-but oh! entwine
My wreath around that brow of thine.

Not love thee!-from that blessed night,
That first sweet hour our young eyes met,
There where my heart acknowledged light,
With which its hopes should rise or set.

THE SPIRIT OF NATURE.

BY J. JONES, BALTIMORE.