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

ooked out upon the Plato, and over the Gulf Stream and outer portions of the harbor, where the grim Moro tower and its cannon frown over the narrow entrance of the in

upon a couch in her room, and half sighing, half dreaming while awake, was gazing out upon the waters that make up from the Caribbe

sing, she approached the window to discover the cause of this singular sound. The noise that had excited her curiosity came from the next chamber, evidently, and that w

ther, that you are so depressed?" asked the be

eart," said the boy, w

tinued, gently parting t

r? do you not know already?" he asked,

ggling to suppress a sigh, while she turned he

that to-morrow Captain B

les, with an involuntary sh

agely, "do you not know that we have been t

la, quickly, as she turned her beautiful

thus upon him at that moment, felt the keen and searching glance that he bestowed upon her. She felt like one in the presence of a superior mind; she could not realize her own sensations. The boy seemed

ste

l, R

Bezan l

haps

e does l

s pos

u," continued the

f that?" she asked, wi

to persecute him as he has done, and it is that wh

's pause

her. "Have you not yourself intimated that Captain Bezan

ly girl, breathing more quickly, and half amazed at

re relapsing into his former

overnor-general, Ruez?" as

es

o no e

that if he were to pardon one such breach of military discipline as Captain Bezan a

nly for one single moment," murmured Isabel

at his sister's words, and with an undisguised expres

I could see him with propriety, you kn

r you to do so, if you d

uez?" said his sist

pass will serve for you w

in size; besides, yo

or the turnkey," interrupted the boy. "They do

in the way of one of my sex," added

rammelled. His coarse breakfast of rude cassava root and water was brought to him at a late hour, and having partaken of sufficient of this miserable food to prevent the gnawings of hunger, he now sat musing o

me, and the boy loves me too well to neglect me now, when I am so near my end. Hark! is that his step? No; and yet it must be;

ng hinges, and the turnkey immediately closed it after the new comer, who

d begun to fear that you would not come to-day. You know you are the only being I see, except the turn

o not welcome me very cordially," said Isab

struck by an electric shock, "Senorita Isabella Gonzales, is it possibl

cap from her head, her beautiful hair fell into its accustomed place, and with a slight blush tinging e

y," said the prisoner,

Captain Bezan, do not

mer comrades are to pierce my heart with bullets. I cannot remember my fate, lady, since you have rendered me so happy. You have shown me that I did not mistake the throne at whic

nstrations in his favor, and drawing close to her side, he pressed her hand tenderly to his lips. The touch seemed to act like magic, and aroused her to present consciousness, while she started as if in amazement. All the pride of her disposition was instantly aroused; she felt that for a single moment she had forgotten herself, and to retrieve the apparent a

son to its full height, "I came not hither to hear such talk as this from you, nor to submit to suc

ace instantly became the picture of despair; for her words had planted that grief and sorrow in his heart which the fear of death could not arouse there. Eve

you my most earnest thanks for your great services to our family. You know to what I refer. I need not tell you," she continued, with a quivering l

e and self-control, a tear trembled in her eye,

is own mind the meaning of all this as contrasted with the repulse he had just received, and with the e

you a thousand ti

t understand you,"

disguise its truth. Ah! why should all th

aid Isabella Gonzales, struggling once

dy?" repeated the

answered the proud girl

have loved-what a chastening influence it has produced upon my life, my comrades, who know not yet the cause, could tell you. To-morrow I must die. While I hoped one day to win your love, life was most dear to me, and I was happy. I could then have clung to life with as much tenacity as any one. But, lady, I find that I hav

bella, hesitating, and ha

l, l

life could hope to be united to one in mine?" asked Isabella Gonzales, with a half averted face and

you are

in Bezan, and your own go

, do not frown; true love never despairs-never is disheartened-never relinquishes the object that it loves, while there is one ray of light yet left to guide it on. It did seem to me now, when we are parting so surely

ngs, but covering her face with her hands, she wept for a moment like a child. Prid

ly one who has endeared himself to me and mine by such important service as you have done. Do not think that tears argue aught for the wi

re pure, beautiful, and good at heart, but that pride, that only al

ir

enorita

you now, captain. It is neither fitting that I should hear, nor that

ore by instinct than by any comprehension

urning when at the door; "on the contrary, I am by no means unmindful of my indebtedness to you; but

aw to me," replied th

he slot where she had stood, with apparent amazement. He could not realize that she had been there at all; and hardest of all, that she had left h

ath! I would that th

depths of despair, he rose and walked his dreary cell in

thought them not so very at high, so very impregnable. I would not, could not, have believed that she would have left me thus. It was our last farewell. She might have been more kind; might, without much

ded me to all other influences; and, too truly, I feel it, blinded me to reason also. Isabella Gonzales, the belle of this brilliant city, the courted, beloved, rich, proud Isabella Gonzales; what else might I have expected, had one moment been permitted to me for reason

his head to sink upon his breast, s