He
returned to America in the frigate, and I have since been told that he
had received a gunner's warrant, in consideration of his long, and, in
his way, faithful services and many wounds; for I believe he had been
wounded in almost every naval engagement during the last war.

* * * * *

THE RIVALS.

* * * * *

THE RIVALS.

In the neighborhood of Genoa, there lived some years since an old
gardner, who, by dint of most unwearied industry and great skill in his
vocation, had acquired sufficient property to enable him to purchase the
farm that he had hitherto occupied as a tenant. His name was Pietro
Morelli. He had no family but an only child, his daughter Bianca, at the
time of our story in her nineteenth year, and who assisted her father in
such branches of his occupation as were not inconsistent with her sex.

Bianca Morelli possessed all that peculiar beauty for which her
countrywomen are celebrated; namely, regular Grecian features, a clear
brunette complexion, a profusion of raven black tresses, and soft,
languishing, and most intelligent black eyes. Her form was tall,
slender, and graceful, while her disposition was amiable and gentle as
her face was lovely. The beautiful Bianca was well known, and admired by
most of the inhabitants of Genoa; and her sweet face and modest
deportment were always, with them, irresistible inducements to purchase
her fruits and flowers, when she accompanied her father to market, or
visited the city alone.

It so chanced one day, that a party of Austrian officers, who had
recently been quartered in Genoa, rode out to old Morelli's house, to
enjoy what was to them both a luxury and a novelty;--eating fruit fresh
gathered from the trees and vines.--Old Morelli was by no means
ambitious of this honor; he was too firm a friend to his degraded, but
still redeemable country, to desire any intimacy with the military
myrmidons of her Austrian despot; so that, notwithstanding the grave and
correct moral deportment which is said to be the general characteristic
of the Austrian officers, and of which he was aware, he saw their
approach to his humble dwelling with a vague feeling of distrust and
anxiety.

Among his military visitors was General Baron Plindorf, one of those
"gallant militarists" that abound in all standing armies; who