The Heart's Secret; Or, the Fortunes of a Soldier: a Story of Love and the Low Latitudes.

he street, and above this are four ranges of boxes, besides seats in the parquet for six hundred persons. The gildings are elaborate and beautiful, and the frescoes are done by

is filled with the beauty and fashion of

jewelry and diamonds of the fair senor's and senoritas, casting back the brilliant light, and rivalled in lustre by the sparkle of a thousand eyes of jet. The gilded and jewelled fans rustle audibly (what would a Spanish or Creole lady do without a fan?)-the orchestra

ndisguised admiration at the picture of loveliness which met their eyes. Isabella herself sat with an easy and graceful air of unconsciousness, bowing low to the meaningless compliments and remarks of General Harero, and now smiling at some pleasantry of Ruez who was close to her side, and now again re

ndisguised pleasure, pointing towards the p

t is the first time he has been out on duty, I t

"and I don't think he's hardly able to be out

ds the soldier, whose arm and sword were now outstretched, in

ould think, to be o

inly think so,"

Ruez, "and though the surgeon told him to rem

himself, Master Ruez," said General Harero, who h

ly. "He's a noble fellow, and just my idea of what a soldier should be. Don'

ough enough for a thorough bred one, I think," was the reply of his superior, who was plainly watching Isabella Gonz

g evinced in his voice; "but I know, very well, that Captain Bezan is as brave as a lion, an

d the general, with

t means something," continued the boy, with not

, between facing an enemy with blazing gunpowder befor

n fight, general, as well as swim," said Ruez, rather smartly, in reply, while Isab

your friend's behalf," sa

e, but that of my dear sister and father," continued Ru

al Harero, biting his lips, as he saw that Isabella

x, even where she sat, yet it was only now and then that he permitted himself to turn his eyes, as though by accident, towards Don Gonzales and his daughter. He seemed to feel that General Harero was particularly regarding him, and he strove to be less thoughtful of Isabella, and if possible, more observant of his regular duty. It is the duty of the officer of the night for the occasion, to fill the

us to stay thus standi

aptain Bezan, and s

er, who had often turned that way, to the no s

ed the general, "should c

invites in a friendly manner the approach of a friend of the opposite sex. He could not be mistaken, and yet was it possible that the belle of all that proud assemblage deigned openly to notice and compliment him thus in public? Impelled by the ardor of his love, and the hope that

as he caught the young officer's eye, "glad to see

form his superior, and then bowing low and gracefully to

tively well, captain," s

l as ever, now," replied

his young heart, and aroused it to a spirit of emulation. With the privilege of boyhood, therefore, he sprang over the seats, half upsetting General Harero to get at the young officer's side, which, having acc

from your severe illness," said Isabella, reaching

Master Ruez has been a constant nurse to me, thoughtful and kind," he continued, as he look

with much interest for a moment, then turning to General Harero, he made some earnest and complimentary remark, evidently r

ranced by the tender vision of beauty that was before him. At the same moment some slight disturbance occurred in a distant part o

calls you h

dgement of the order, Lorenzo Bezan hastened to the quarter from whence the noise had come, and by at simple direction obviated their trouble immediately. But he

eturn, he again paused for a moment to exchange at word with the boy, and once more received a pleasant greeting from Isabella and her father. At this but reasona

t his own interest, and be best performing his ordin

o, and stopped here but for one moment," said the youn

ed General Harero, seeing that Bezan paused to assist R

al," replied the officer, b

quiet at his repeated insults to the young officer, "you so

and headstrong officers who do not well understand their duty, or rather, I may say,

e effect of the scene was not lost upon the high-spirited beauty. Isabella had marked well the words and tone of voice with which General Harero spoke, and she saw, too, the effect of his words upon the free, manly spir

venting the consummation of his hopes as it regarded the favor of the lady. He had long cherished a regard for the beautiful daughter of Don Gonzales, for her personal charms, as well as the rich coffers which her father could boast. As the reader has already surmised, he had been a constant and ardent, though unsuccessful suitor, for no inconsiderable period. It will not, ther

mand. You will report yourself to me, after morning parade, for such orders as shall be dee

young officer, with the us

of petty tyranny on the general's part, and for that very reason redoubled her passing notice and smiles upon Captain Bezan. The officer m

throwing himself into a chair, he recalled the whole scene at the theatre, from his answering Isabella's frien

ference that General Harero evinced for Isabella Gonzales, nor could he disguise the fact to his own heart that she cared not a farthing for him. It required but a very simple capacity to understand this; an

events, he saw very well that his commanding officer was decidedly jealous of him. He saw, too, that there was not any chance of matters growing any better, but

ollected that the latter taunt and threat had been given in the presence of Don Gonzales and his daughter. The malignity, the unfairness of this attack upon him at this time, was shameful, and deserved to be punished. Brooding upon these things alon

o assume an uncontrollable character; he could not bear to think that he had been thus insulted before Isabella Gonzales. It seemed to him that she would t

folly in me to pretend that I do not understand the incentive that governs you-the actuating motive that has led to these attacks upon me. In my duty as an officer I have never failed in the least; this you know very well, and have even allowed before n

he Spanish army, and to meet me on the platform of our individual characters as gentlemen, and render me that satisfaction for the insult w

mly considered the subject, he would never have been so imprudent as to send it to his superior. So long as he bore the petty annoyances of General Harero without murmuring he was strong, that the step he had now

and imprison the young officer. Consulting with the governor general, merely by way of strengthening himself, he took his opinion upon the subject before he made any open

breach of discipline. He was accustomed to judge of men and matters with care, and judiciously, and for this reason he now rested his head upon his hand for a moment, upon the table by his side, and after a pause of some minutes thus passed in silence, during which

I have lately promoted for galla

lency,

e should be guilty of

ange, exc

reason that has in

ro, as he saw Tacon's piercing eye b

r of challenge that

lency,

ll se

id the general, hoping not to have

ou please,

e, exce

nging his sunburnt check, to his commander-in-chief. Tacon read it slowly, pausing no

ve af

cer has dared to lift his eyes to one above his rank, and she ca

en guilty of a serious breach of discipline and must suffer for it

ay with secret delight, and at once taking such meas

ubordination, and quietly conducted him to the damp underground cells of the military prison, where he was left to consider the new position in which he found himself, solitary and alone, w