ost passionate
attachment. It is a somewhat curious fact, that she kept him wholly
from any knowledge of her political alliances; and never was man more
indignant than he when she was arrested, or more confounded when the
proofs of her guilt were drawn from her person. His offence consisted
in his resistance to the authorities who seized her. There was not the
slightest reason to suppose that he knew or participated at all in her
intimacy with the patriots and Bolivar. He was tried along with her,
and both condemned--for at this time condemnation and trial were words
of synonimous import--to be shot. A respite of twelve hours from
execution was granted them for the purposes of confession. Zamano, the
viceroy, anxious for other victims, spared no means to procure a full
revelation of all the secrets of our heroine. The priest who waited
upon her was the one who attended on the viceroy himself. He held out
lures of pardon in both lives, here and hereafter, upon the one
condition only of a full declaration of her secrets and accomplices.
Well might the leading people of Bogota tremble all the while. But she
was firm in her refusal. Neither promises of present mercy, nor
threats of the future, could extort from her a single fact in relation
to her proceedings. Her lover, naturally desirous of life,
particularly in the possession of so much to make it precious, joined
in the entreaties of the priest; but she answered him with a mournful
severity that smote him like a sharp weapon,

"Gomero! did I love you for this? Beware, lest I hate you ere I die!
Is life so dear to you that you would dishonor both of us to live? Is
there no consolation in the thought that we shall die together?"

"But we shall be spared--we shall be saved," was the reply of the
lover.

"Believe it not--it is false! Zamano spares none. Our lives are
forfeit, and all that we could say would be unavailing to avert your
fate or mine. Let us not lesson the value of this sacrifice on the
altars of our country, by any unworthy fears. If you have ever loved
me, be firm. I am a woman, but I am strong. Be not less ready for the
death-shot than is she whom you have chosen for your wife."

Other arts were employed by the despot for the attainment of his
desires. Some of the native citizens of Bogota, who had been content
to become the creatures of the viceroy, were employed to work upon her
fears and affections, by alarming her with regard to persons of the
city