he stopped, leaning against a tree, as though observing
the various groups of citizens, who passed in their picturesque
dresses. His eye, however, was occasionally turned upon the houses
upon the opposite side of the street, and with a glance of stealthy,
but eager inquiry. At length the well-known form of the beautiful
"lepera" appeared at the window, who, holding up her hand, adroitly
signaled the officer with her taper, fan-like fingers. The signal was
answered. She had scarcely withdrawn her hand inside the reja when a
dark, scowling face made its appearance at her side, her hand was
rudely seized, and with a scream she disappeared. The young officer
fancied he saw the bright gleaming of a stiletto within the gloomy
grating.

He rushed across the street, and in a moment stood beneath the window.
Grasping the strong iron bars, he lifted himself up so as to command a
view of the inside, which was now in perfect silence. His horror may
be imagined when, on looking into the room, he saw the young girl
stretched upon the floor, and, to all appearances, dead. A stream of
blood was running from beneath her clothes, and her dress was stained
with blood over the waist and bosom. With frantic energy the young man
clung to the bars, and endeavored to wrench them apart. It was to no
purpose, and letting go his hold, he dropped into the street. The
large gate of the house was open. Into this he rushed, and reached the
_patio_ just in time to catch a glimpse of a figure escaping along the
azotea. He rushed up the steep stone stairway, and grasping the
parapet, raised himself on the roof. The fugitive had run along a
series of platforms of different heights, composed by the azoteas of
houses, and had reached a low roof, from which he was about to leap
into an adjoining street, where he would, in all probability, have
made good his escape. He stood upon the edge of the parapet,
calculating his leap, which was still a fearful plunge. It was not
left to his choice whether to take or refuse it. A pistol flashed
behind him, and almost simultaneously with the report he fell forward
upon his head, and lay upon the pavement below, a bruised and bleeding
corpse. His pursuer approached the parapet, and looked over into the
street, as if to assure himself that his aim had been true, then
turned with a fearful foreboding, and retraced his way over the
azoteas. His fears, alas! were but too just. She was dead.

TO GUADALUPE.

BY MAYN