om, and another which the nocturnal visitor
carried in her hand, revealed a picture which might well chill the heart
of the most hardened:--it was a female in the first stage of youth, and
in whose lineaments could yet be traced the fading remains of beauty.
She grasped a dagger, and she came ready steeled for crime. Murder!--the
blackest deed of human depravity, revolting to the senses even when
instigated by the revengeful passions of man, but in a young and tender
female, unnatural, and full of horror. The figure paused, and cast
around a dubious and uncertain glance; her whole frame trembled, and the
weapon in her hand seemed ready to forsake its grasp. Alas! those
irresolute motions, bespoke her nature: it was woman, woman armed for
crime, but woman still. With noiseless step she advanced towards the
couch; she reached the spot, and gazed with fixed earnestness on the
sleeping Gomez Arias; a thousand gloomy thoughts expand on her pallid
brow; her dark eyes gleam with the flame of revenge; her livid lips curl
with the bitter smile of despair! With difficulty she draws the
oppressive breath, and violently shakes the hand that holds the shining
weapon. 'Tis a demon that directs her every motion, and imparts to that
melancholy and fading picture of youth and beauty, the darkest hues of
the fierce and frenzied passions.

But the gust of rage is passed. She looks again upon the sleeper, and a
deadly calm overspreads those features but lately fraught with
convulsive passion. Fixed to the ground, she now appeared like an
inanimate statue, and apparently forgetful of the dire purpose that had
brought her to the spot. Poor Theodora!--child of misfortune!--victim of
that intensity of feeling which nature seemed to have designed for thy
bane and ruin; thou wert guilty but of a single error, and is then that
error so severely to be visited! That heaven which made thee pure, and
beautiful, and lovely, did it intend that thou shouldst experience all
the horrors of the most malignant fate, as a counterpoise for the
possession of so may attractions; or was it only to be exemplified as a
warning to others, who, like thee, might be rich in beauty and
gracefulness, of the dangers which these gifts bring in their train!

Theodora had been guilty of one crime; if, alas! that deserves the name
of crime which is the genuine offspring of the sincerest heart. She had
loved, and loved with all the enthusiasm of devoted affection. She had
be