ave no one behind you who will
mourn your loss?' asked her military judge, with cruel irony in his
tone; for it was known that she was engaged to marry a young and
handsome colonel of the Republican army."

"Who was she?" I exclaimed eagerly, my heart sinking as I heard the
doctor say this; "what was her name?"

"Donna Paola Salabriata," he answered. "Without being allowed to take a
last farewell of her friends, or to communicate with any one, she was
led out into the great square, followed by a party of soldiers,"
continued the doctor, not observing my agitation. "She entreated as a
favour that her eyes might not be bound; and facing her executioners,
she stood with her arms crossed on her fair bosom, without for a moment
exhibiting the slightest fear. I could not have believed that any woman
would have shown courage so undaunted, and yet be so gentle and modest
in all her actions. Stoical and indifferent as I am, I could scarcely
refrain from shouting `To the rescue!' and rushing forward to preserve
her; but I remembered in time that I should certainly be shot did I make
the attempt. And so, rooted to the spot, and feeling as if I were
turning into stone, I waited till the fatal word should be given. Could
any being in the form of man, as he beheld that young creature in all
her maiden beauty, utter that word? Could those swarthy soldiers,
savage as they looked, pull a trigger to deprive her of life? Yes! and
the officer--who perhaps was a husband, perhaps a father--in a loud
voice, which sounded to me like the shriek of a demon, gave the order to
fire. Then came the rattle of musketry and a cloud of smoke; and the
fair young girl, pierced by a dozen wounds, sank lifeless on the ground.
The officer advanced to ascertain that she was dead, followed by the
soldiers, to plunge their bayonets into her had she shown any signs of
life. But death had been merciful; and the still lovely corpse--for not
a shot had struck her countenance--was placed on a bier, and carried
away for interment."

As the doctor finished his thrilling narrative, unable longer to
restrain myself, I burst into tears, at the thought of one so young, so
lovely, and so devoted to a noble cause, having been thus cruelly put to
death. My heart bled, too, for young Colonel Acosta. I reflected on
the agony he must endure, the bitter desire for vengeance which must
animate his bosom. I little fancied at the time that he was my cousin,
and tha