rightly in appropriating so much of her father's fortune, then it was that she observed that among all her husband's acquaintance there was not one with whom she could the least sympathize. By degrees he grew colder and colder in his manner, and one morning, when she arose and went in search of him as usual, but could find him nowhere, her anxiety became extreme; the next day, the next night, and many days passed, and still no tidings of Gaëtano, and at length when she discovered that the few jewels which she had left were missing, the frightful certainty that her husband had quitted her for ever, at once took possession of her mind. Her only resource was now in her talents; she resolved to become an actress, and to take the name of La Pedrina, in order that her unworthy relations might not recognize her, and avail themselves of her exertions. She appeared first at Madrid, where her success was immense, and her beauty and talents drew thousands of adorers to her feet. Unluckily, the fame of La Pedrina soon reached Gaëtano's ears, and he left his hiding-place, and surprised his wife one day by a visit while she was at Barcelona. He knew too well the influence which he had over Inez, and he determined to exercise it to the full extent, for he was sure that her gains must be considerable, and was anxious to make himself master of them. How Gaëtano managed to justify himself to his wife I cannot imagine, but nothing is impossible to an artful mind, and Inez still loved her husband dearly, so that she longed for any excuse to be reconciled to him. He told her that he had just returned from Sicily, where he had been in order to prepare his friends to receive her as his wife; he said that his mother had actually accompanied him to Spain in order that she might the sooner embrace her daughter-in-law. Judge, then, of his distress when he arrived at Barcelona to learn that she was celebrated as an actress! was this the reward of so many sacrifices-of so much love! The poor Inez threw herself into his arms and breathed only words of joy, gratitude, and remorse. But when they were going to leave Barcelona, Inez's suspicions were slightly awakened by the anxiety which Gaëtano displayed to secure all her money and treasures, and to stow them in the carriage-she began to think he was much more occupied with her wealth than with herself. 64 Four days after a travelling carriage was seen before the door of the Hôtel d'Italie, an elegant-looking lady and gentleman were observed to alight by the passers-by: the former was La Pedrina, the latter was Gaëtano. A quarter of an hour after the young man left the hotel, and directed his steps towards the port. The non-appearance of Gaëtano's mother confirmed the fears which Inez unfortunately had soon began to entertain, and on his return from the port, she overcame her natural timidity sufficiently to explain all her apprehensions, and the consequence was that a most violent altercation ensued between them, which was resumed several times during the night. At sunrise the next morning Gaëtano was observed to look pale, disordered, and agitated, when he left his room; he gave numerous directions to the servants about some chests, which he wished to have placed on board a vessel, and accompanied them himself, while he carried in one hand a small and exceedingly strong-looking box; he paid the servants very handsomely for their services, said he need not detain them, and begged them not to disturb the lady till his return. The chief part of the day wore away, and the gentleman did not make his appearance; this so astonished the people of the hotel, that they went down to the port to look for the vessel in which they had left him, but they found that it had just set sail, and, in spite of themselves, they experienced a gloomy kind of presentiment. The unbroken silence which pervaded Inez's apartment rendered them doubly uneasy, and when they perceived that the door of the chamber was not fastened inside, and that the key was removed from the lock, they did not hesitate to force it open. A horrible spectacle met their eyes, the unknown lady was stretched upon her bed, and appeared as if she were asleep if she had not been bathed in blood. She had been stabbed in her bosom during her sleep, and the dagger still remained in the wound. When the medical men arrived they soon discovered that the unknown lady was not dead, though in the most dangerous state, and for many days it seemed impossible that she could survive. At the end of a month, though she was convalescent, the fits of delirium had not entirely left her, and in a short time it became certain that the poor creature had recovered her physical strength but not the use of her senses-she was quite mad. "Some sisters of charity undertook the charge of her, and bestowed every kindness and attention upon her. Her malady was not of a violent and morose nature, but manifested itself in fits of tender melancholy, and she was so sweet and gentle in her manners that she was the object of general pity and love. She often had lucid intervals, and by degrees they occurred oftener, and lasted longer, so that great hopes were entertained of the ultimate recovery of her reason. As she was perfectly quiet, she was allowed to wander for hours where she liked, unattended and unwatched, so that at length she took advantage of this freedom to run away; and this happened two days before Christmas-day. Her kind friends immediately endeavored to trace her. At first they had no difficulty in following her route, because she was in the habit of dressing herself up in some faded and theatrical garments, of which Gaëtano had not thought it worth while to rob her; but at Mattaro they lost all clue of her, and they at length concluded that she had destroyed herself. The wonder which her disappearance created in the minds of every body ceased at the end of two or three days, and in a few days more the affair was no longer mentioned. "I dare say," said Pablo, after a pause, "that you have heard of the strange tradition connected with the Château Ghismondo. Well, up to the year 1812, the present generation had not witnessed any thing to verify it; but on the Christmas-eve of that very year, there was no doubt that there were some extraordinary persons feasting, on the occasion in the château. The apartments which had been so long gloomy and desolate, were observed to be brilliantly illuminated, and some passers-by distinctly heard sounds of revelry, and a beautiful female voice pouring forth the most enchanting melody. The government, who were little disposed to share in the popular credulity, ordered a strict search of the old castle to be made; not that they believed it was inhabited by demons, but they imagined it might be the rendezvous of conspirators. The result of the visit of the officers of justice was, that it confirmed the reports re specting the mysterious guests, for remnants of the feast were found, and a great many empty bottles of wine. (At this portion of my friend's narrative, I could scarcely restrain a smile, for I remembered Boutraix's unquenchable thirst and immoderate libations.) But what was still more extraordinary, an officer actually found a poor mad girl in one of the subterranean vaults, and who, far from endeavoring to avoid him, flew towards him, and exclaimed-' Is it indeed you? Oh, how long I have waited for you;' when she was brought out into the light of day, however, and discovered her error, she burst into tears. You must already have guessed that the young girl whom I have just mentioned was 'La Pedrina.' She was immediately sent back to Barcelona, and placed under the care of a physician, who was particularly skillful in the kind of malady under which she labored. He was rewarded for his care and attention to her, by seeing her perfectly restored to her right mind." "In the course of time she appeared on the stage again, with what success you know, for you witnessed the bursts of rapturous enthusiasm with which she was greeted last night. Though, when she recovered, she was closely questioned about that memorable Christmas-eve, she never could distinctly remember any thing relating to it; but she did not seem surprised that she had been found in the Château de Ghismondo, as, during her lucid intervals, she had often wandered in its neighborhood, and gazed with interest on the dwellingplace of her forefathers." The emotion which I displayed at the conclusion of Pablo de Clauza's story, astonished him exceedingly, and rendered him not a little curious. In consequence, I was induced to relate to him all the curious circumstances connected with that extraordinary Christmas-eve of 1812. With these you are already acquainted, and Pablo de Clauza's account of the actress will, I think, sufficiently prove to you that the ghost by whom we were visited in the château was of a very harmless description, though I am sure you must find ample excuse for three young officers being somewhat startled by so unexpected a guest. My friends thanked me heartily for my story, and our little party broke up for the night. From "Fraser's Magazine." A TROT ON THE ISLAND. ALL the vicinity of the Centreville Course —not the stables and sheds merely, but the lanes leading to it, the open ground about it, the whole adjacent country, one might almost say was covered with wagons stowed together as closely as cattle in a market. If it had been raining wagons and trotters the night before just over the place, like the showers of frogs that the country editors short of copy fill a column with, or if they had grown up there ready harnessed, there conld not have been a more plentiful supply. Wagons, wagons, wagons every. where, of all weights, from a hundred and eighty pounds to four hundred, with here and there a sulky for variety,-horses of all styles, colors, and merits-no sign of a servant or groom of any kind, but a number of boys, mostly blackies, about one to every ten horses, who earned a few shillings by looking after the animals, and watching the carpets, sheets, and fly-nets. The only other movables, the long-handled short-lashed whips, were invariably carried off by their proprietors. Whips and umbrellas are common property in America; they are an exception to the ordinary law of meum and tuum, and strictly subject to socialist rules. Woe to the owner of either who lets his property go one second out of his sight! "Now then, Snowball!" quoth Benson, as a young gentleman of color rushed up on the full grin, stimulated to extra activity by the recollection of past and the vision of prospective" quarters,”"—" take care of the fliers, and don't let any one steal their tails! I ought to tell you," he continued to Ashburner, leading the way towards the big, dilapidated,* unpainted, barn-like structure, which appeared to be the rear of the grand stand, "you wont find any gentlemen here, that is, not above half-a-dozen at most." "I was just wondering whether we should see any ladies." Benson pointed over his left shoulder; and they planked their dollar a-piece at the entrance. inside, was that he had never seen such a Amid this wilderness of vagabonds may Ashburner's first impression, when fairly be seen grouped together at the further corner of the stand the representatives of the dilapidated can, with strict propriety, be applied to gentlemanly interest, numbering, as Benson had predicted, about half-a-dozen. Losing, A very critical friend wants to know if the term a wooden building. with his yellow blouse and mustache to | of it, are half-a-dozen notorious pugilists, and match; Tom Edwards, in a white hat and similar characters, who, doubtless on the trowsers, and black velvet coat; Harrison, good old principle of "set a thief," &c., are slovenly in his attire, and looking almost as enrolled for the occasion as special concoarse as any of the rowdies about, till he stables, with very special and formidable raises his head, and shows his intelligent white bludgeons to keep order, and precise eyes; Bleecker, who has just arrived; and suits of black cloth to augment their dignity. a few specimens of Young New York like him. Benson carries his friend that way, and introduces him in due form to the Long Islander, who receives him with an elaborate bow. Ashburner offers a cigar to Losing, who accepts the weed with a nod of acknowledgment, (for he rarely opens his mouth except to put something into it, or to make a bet,) and offers one of his in return, which Ashburner trying, excoriates his lips at the first whiff, and is obliged to throw it away after the third, for Charley Losing has strong tastes, will rather drink brandy than wine, any day, and smokes tobacco that would knock an ordinary man down. The stranger glances his eye over the scene of action. A barouche and four does not differ more from a trotting wagon, or a blood courser from a Canadian pacer, than an English race-course from an American track." It is an ellipse of hard ground, like a good and smooth piece of road, with some variations of ascent and descent. The distance round is calculated at a mile, according to the scope of turning requisite for a horse before a sulky—that being the most usual form of trotting; for a saddle horse that has the pole,* it comes practically to a little less; for a harness horse (especially if to a wagon) with an outside place, to a little, or sometimes a good deal more. Around the inclosure, within the track, (which looks as if it were trying hard to grow grass, and couldn't,) a few wagons, which obtained entrance by special favor, are walking about; they belong to the few men who have brought their grooms with them. Harrison's pet trotter is there, a magnificent long-tailed bay, as big as a carriage-horse, equal to 2′ 50′′ on the road before that wagon, and worth 1500 dollars, it is said. Just inside the track, and opposite the main stand outside, is a little shanty of a judge's stand, and marshalled in front A horse "will go to the pole" in such a time, means that he will go in double harness. A horse "has the pole," means that he has drawn the place nearest the inside boundary-fence of the track. "To come off at three o'clock," said the hand-bills. It is now thirty-five minutes past three, and no signs of beginning. An American horse and an American woman always keep you waiting an hour at least. One of the judges comes forward, and raps on the front of the stand with a primitive bit of wood resembling a broken boot-jack. "Bring out your horses!" People look towards the yard on the left. Here is one of them just led out; they pull off his sheets, his driver climbs into the little seat behind him. He comes down part of the stand at a moderate gait. Hurrah for old Twentymiles-an-hour! Trustee! Trustee !" His action is uneven, The old chestnut is half-blood; but you would never guess it from his personal appearance, so chunky, and thick-limbed, and sober-looking is he. and seemingly laborious; you would not think him capable of covering one mile in three minutes, much less of performing twenty at the same rate. No wonder he hobbles a little behind, for his back sinews are swelled, and his legs scarred and disfigured—the traces of injuries received in his youth, when a cart ran into him, and cut him almost to pieces. Veterinary surgeons, who delight in such relics, will show you pieces of sinew taken from him after the accident. That was six or seven years ago: since then he has solved a problem for the trotting world. "There," says Benson, with a little touch of triumph, " is the only horse in the world that ever trotted twenty miles in an hour. I saw it done myself. He was driven nearly two miles before he started, to warm him up, and make him limber. When the word was given he made a skip, and though his driver (not the same that he has now) caught him before he was fairly off his feet, he was more than three minutes doing the first mile, which looked well for the backers of time; but as the old fellow went on, he did every mile better than the preceding, and the last in the best time of all, winning with nearly half a minute to spare." From "Fraser's Magazine." pect. inside, was that he had never seen such a A TROT ON THE ISLAND. collection of disreputable-looking characters in broad daylight, and under the open sky. ALL the vicinity of the Centreville Course All up the rough broad steps, that were -not the stables and sheds merely, but the used indifferently to sit or stand upon; all lanes leading to it, the open ground about around the oyster and liquor stands, that it, the whole adjacent country, one might filled the recess under the steps; all over almost say was covered with wagons the ground between the stand and the track, stowed together as closely as cattle in a was a throng of low, shabby, dirty men, difmarket. If it had been raining wagons and ferent in their ages, sizes, and professions ; trotters the night before just over the place, for some were farmers, some country tavernlike the showers of frogs that the country keepers, some city ditto, some horse-dealers, editors short of copy fill a column with, or some gamblers, and some loafers in general; if they had grown up there ready harnessed, but alike in their slang and “ there conld not have been a more plentiful "rowdy asThere is something peculiarly disasupply. Wagons, wagons, wagons every-greeable in an American crowd, from the where, of all weights, from a hundred and fact that no class have any distinctive dress. eighty pounds to four hundred, with here The gentleman and the working man, or the and there a sulky for variety,-horses of all "loafer," wear clothes of the same kind, only styles, colors, and merits-no sign of a in one case they are new and clean, in the servant or groom of any kind, but a number other, old and dirty. of boys, mostly blackies, about one to every coats and crownless beavers of the Irish The ragged dressten horses, who earned a few shillings by peasants have long been the admiration of looking after the animals, and watching the travellers; now, elevate these second-hand carpets, sheets, and fly-nets. The only other garments a stage or two in the scale of presmovables, the long-handled short-lashed ervation-let the coats be not ragged, but whips, were invariably carried off by their shabby, worn in seam, and greasy in collar; proprietors. Whips and umbrellas are com- the hats whole, but napless at edge, and mon property in America; they are an ex- bent in brim; supply them with old ception to the ordinary law of meum and trowsers of the last fashion but six, and you tuum, and strictly subject to socialist rules. have the general costume of a crowd like the Woe to the owner of either who lets his present. But ordinary collections of the property go one second out of his sight! of oo are relieved by the very superior appearance of the women: pretty in their youth, lady-like and stylish even when prematurely faded, always dressed respectably, and frequently dressed in good taste, they form a startling relief and contrast to their cavaliers; and not only the stranger, but the native gentleman, is continually surprised at the difference, and says to himself, "Where in the world could such nice women pick up those snobs?" Here, where there is not a woman within a mile, (unless that suspicious carriage in the corner contains some gay friends of Tom Edwards',) the "I was just wondering whether we should congregated male loaferism of these people, see any ladies." "Now then, Snowball!" quoth Benson, as a young gentleman of color rushed up on the full grin, stimulated to extra activity by the recollection of past and the vision of prospective "quarters,”—“ take care of the fliers, and don't let any one steal their tails! I ought to tell you," he continued to Ashburner, leading the way towards the big, dilapidated,* unpainted, barn-like structure, which appeared to be the rear of the grand stand, 'you wont find any gentlemen here, that is, not above half-a-dozen at most." Benson pointed over his left shoulder; and they planked their dollar a-piece at the entrance. A very critical friend wants to know if the term without even a decent-looking dog among them, is enough to make a man button his pockets instinctively. Amid this wilderness of vagabonds may Ashburner's first impression, when fairly be seen grouped together at the further corner of the stand the representatives of the dilapidated can, with strict propriety, be applied to gentlemanly interest, numbering, as Benson had predicted, about half-a-dozen. Losing, a wooden building. |