might be traced the marks of a deeply rooted sorrow. Her blue eye though wild and visionary was yet beautiful. Her complexion had an interesting JULIA DE RONCEVALLES. paleness, and her hair, of a light flaxen colour, hung down her temples, in Her On a summer evening while walk-artless ringlets, and shaded her cheeks, ing in one of those beautiful vallies which abound in the mountains of Switzerland, I was attracted by a female figure sitting on the banks of the stream that runs through it. I did not observe her till she was close upon me; and perhaps I should have passed her without notice had my curiosity not been excited by the elegance of her dress and the extreme beauty of her countenance. She was gazing upon the stream with a fixed look of contemplative meditation, but on my approach she turned round and fixed her eyes upon me in curiosity and wonder. She seemed to be about the age of nineteen, and her countenance was beautiful in a high degree. On the first glance, however, it was easy to discover that she was the victim of mental delusion; and that, in the midst of lovely features, was planted an expression which they were never meant to wear. It was impossible to survey her without interest, for in the midst of an illusive thoughtlessness that was spread over her face which to all appearance glowed once infinitely more profound than I ever witnessed before. Hurrying on therefore to the little inn of the glen where I lodged, I learnt the following particulars of this ill-fated beauty.. increased, and in her sixteenth year Her father was one of the first per-meanour of the humblest life, she possons in the canton of Berne, and be-sessed a noivete, an intelligence, and fore the breaking out of the French an irresistible wimingness of manners irruption had been one of the richest. which stamped her far above the or But being among those who abetted dinary level of her sex. Thus blessed the patriots of La Vendee he became more than others with the most desiran object of destruction to the hirelings able qualities Julia lived happy-the of Bonaparte; and so effectual were only child of her parents. The world their efforts, that, from possessing an and all its concerns were to her as an opulent fortune, he was reduced to ideal creation. She held no converse great narrowness of circumstances.- save with the few friends whom forHis estate was siezed and confiscated, tune placed around her. Nor had she and he himself thrown destitute upon any wish to widen the circle of her acthe world. In any situation this quaintanceship. The pomp of cities would have been a great calamity, but and the glare of courts never met her i was peculiarly so in his, as it in- eyes. They were accustomed to nobler volved not only himself but his wife objects: to the streams of her native and beautiful daughter in distress. rocks, and the surrounding Alps whose Often was he obliged to beg a night's clear summits were dipped in the blue shelter in the cottages of the peasantry; ether of heaven. and had it not been for their hospitality the once opulent and liberal Roncevalles might have perished from want. These distresses he would have borne with fortitude had he alone been the sufferer; but the thoughts of those who shared his grief, rung his soul with agony, and plunged him into un-mily and adopted him as his own fathomable despair. The tender frame Albert proved every way worthy the of his wife sunk at, length under these regard of his foster father, and turned misfortunes and she died. Ronceval- out a fine, stately, gallant youth. As les had now only his daughter to claim he lived under the same roof, he behis affection. Julia was the pride of came the constant companion of Julia, her father and of the wide valley where He was three years older-they grew she lived. While a child she was re-up like brother and sister and were marked for her extreme beauty; and educated together. Julia would wreath riper years but confirmed her claim to garlands of flowers and place them the title of the flower of Berne, by upon the head of Albert. The latter which she was universally known. too might often be seen climbing up Every month of her existence added the most dangerous precipices in fresh charms to her person, and ren- search of falcon's eggs for his young dered her more and more an object of mistress, while she, unconcious of his admiration. As the child insensibly danger, was laughing and amusing blended into the woman, her beauty herself far below. | Among the youthful friends of Julia was Albert de Nevarre, the son of a gallant officer who was slain while fighting in the forces of the republic. The latter had been the friend of Roncevalles, and in remembrance of their friendship, he took his son into his fa These changes were not unnoticed by Roncevalles, who now saw that the intimacy between Julia and Albert had been too long continued. With the penetration of experience he saw to what account this change was to be laid. He resolved to check it in time, for however much he loved-understand foreign customs, and the youth he never intended that he should aspire to the hand of his daughterb those hills whose distance almost mocks our sight. They are the boundaries of another nation? Within them lies our beloved Switzerland. On the other side lies the Kingdom of Italy. Have you never wished to go beyond these mountains to see other nations 5. One morning therefore he led Albert out to the top of a neighbouring hill which commands a vast prospect on every side. The wild summits of the mountains of Brunik appeared in all directions before the eye, rising in some places with huge splintered rocky pinnades shining like sparry colunms in the sky. In other quarters of the ridge arose vast rounded protuberances crowned on all sides with the shining glaciers whose sheets descending over the vallies appeared like seas of ice. The summits of many of the loftier peaks were completely covered with white fleecy clouds, which were perpetually hovering on the sides of the ridges, and investing with a downy etherial veil whatever spot they fell upon. The bright rays of the morning sun fell keenly upon the mountains. The vapours in many places were illuminated by his light, and lung like golden veils on their sides. Though in the plains all was silent, yet the distant rolling of thunder could be heard, like the voice of the, mountain spirit. The whole scene was so visionary, and breathed such an unspeak able charm over the soul, that it seemed to be the land of spirits-too pure, unearthly, and intellectual to hold communion with mortals. Albert,' says Roncevalles, laying his hand on the shoulder of the youth and pointing to a ridge of mountains which hung like clouds on the brink of the horizon, Albert do you behold make yourself a man? or do you desire to dwell for ever a hermit in this region of rocks and see no other sight but the ridges of Brunik and St. Gothard?" I wish' said Albert, to view the countries beyond these mountains. I wish to visit that Italy I have heard so much about, and oh how my heart beats to join my countrymen in the Austrian army. Your wish shall be gratified' said Roncevalles, presenting him with a commission in the Swiss division of the Imperial forces. Albert accepted it with astonishmenthe could scarce believe in its reality. It was nevertheless real, and his acceptance made him a soldier. The bustle of preparation though it blunted, could not deaden his feelings. Though he felt himself exalted as it were in the scale of manhood, and though his heart beat high at the prospect of a military life, yet he could not banish from his mind the idea of Julia de Roncevalles.-In his sleeping and waking hours she was ever present the angel of his thoughts. Her loveliness appeared to his imagination even more lovely. In proportion as the prospect of losing her increased, he invested her with new graces and charms. On the day of his departure, he conversed with her privately for a short time. In de spite of the awe which he had long felt, he seized upon this, the only op portunity he had, of revealing his heart, He avowed his love, she wept and acknowledged her's. The days of childhood started in retrospective review before their eyes. Albert pressed her to his bosom. She sobbed and wept would not perpetrate? He saw before him murder and lust daily committed, on the innocent. Every day some new tale of Gallic brutality rung on his ears every repetition of these ener ormities made him tremble the more for his beloved daughter. On this account he felt a relief when Captain Jarnot, a respectable French officer, who had repeatedly seen his daughter, offered to take her in marriage. The It was exactly three years after his proposal which before he would have departure that Roncevalles was stripped turned from in disdain, was, in his of his possessions. The French dy-present situation too precious to be nasty in that deplorable time extending neglected. That opportunity of saving to Switzerland carried its usual ruin Julia gone, she might be undone for along with it. The opulent lord of leagues of territory after many hardships was reduced to take up his habitation in a lowly cottage, and here with Julia, he passed a precarious and humble life. His daughter as usual, was the ornament of her station, and shewed herself equally calculated to shine in palace or in cottage. Though deprived of her former splendour, nothing could deprive her of her elegance. Instead of sinking under misfortune, she only seemed to rise above it, by comforting her father. While the old man was wrapt in sorrowful meditation she would snatch up her lute, and accompanying it with her voice, pour forth the most blythesome airs. Though her heart was breaking at the misfortunes of her parent, she constantly wore the aspect of cheerfulness. These arts of Julia revived her father's spirits. They made him endure misfortunes gone by, but they could not hide the prospect of those which might follow. He trembled for his daughtér; for among the lawless banditti by which he was surrounded, what security had he that so much beauty and innocence could escape? what pledge, that there was any sanctuary so sacred they might not defile--that there was any cruelty however enormous that they ever. Need it be told what were her, thoughts on receiving this proposal what the contest between love, fear, and duty, which agitated her bosom. Would Jarnot brook refusal from one in her defenceless condition. If she dared even to hesitate, what power could prevent him from seizing her and using her as hundreds had been used. If she wed him her lot she knew would be unhappiness if she refused him it would be dishonour. In the midst of these conflicting thoughts, the image of Albert perpet ually haunted her mind. She wept bitterly on account of him-she gazed with fondness on his picture which hung round her neck. He was so beautiful, so kind, so faithfulthe companion of her early years could she leave him? no it was impossible. But then what could she do?she could never be his. He was a rebel Swiss who had fought against the French, and to appear among them was destruction. She tried to drive away his memory from her breast, but it was in vain. His image glided perpetually before her, and would not be denied. The night before her marriage wasto be consummated she was sitting alone in the cottage. Her father was at the |