The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-05-16
FOR THE GAZETTE.
THE OLD TRUNK,
No. III.
THE LADY BANDIT.
FOR THE

THE LADY BANDIT.
On high and stupendous preclpice, sit
uated amidst the most rocky and danger
Gus part of the Alpine mountains, the
form of a man by the clear moonlight
beam of a cold December night. was dis
tjnctly Il be discerned clothed in the
wild costume of predatory strife, he SEEM
ed in the almost Unreasonable distance,
TO be the dark god of war, perched upon
the hiohes, pinnacle OF earth. His bright
flashing eve was tutently fixed upon and
almost seemed to penetrate the shades ola
sloomy ravine which lay below. extending
far beyond the power OF human vision,
The form cfthe nocturnal solitary was
of that lofty cast, which constitutes the
reflection OF manly elegance ; uniting the
beauty of an Adonis, with the nerve and
strength of Hercules. he seemed formed
by the partial hand OF nature, to become
the ruler and director OF the actions ct
men. His y was of that piercing hazel
hue, which he beholder looks upon with
a nameless dread; and ins.inc.ively folds
his hands upon his breast, TO hide the Sc
crets of bis Utmost soul.
Such was Rodolph the lonely tenant of
that stupendous height, where eagles a.
lone might be supposed to dwell I; such
was Rodolph the fearful and, the
fearless leader of the most powerful band
OF Robbers that ever awakened the ter
rors of the midnight traveller, or infested
the secret passes of the Alps,
His lofty step as he strobe from one ey-
tremity of the precipice to the other, the
repeated pressure Of his glittering hilt,
and the occasional display of a poignard,
which sbene in the moon beam with a sill.
yer brightness, bespoke an agitation 0!
feeling arising from no ordinary cause.
RodoIph had been the heir OF wealth,
the inheritor OF diguihes and titles Datu-
rally brave. be had rushed into the field OF
war with all the advantages OF courage,
GOODNESS and discipline; sc consequence
was inevitable. he rose high IN the army,
and.was among the first il the estimation
of his monarch, lauded At court, respected
IN the field, beloved by the ladies, and en-
We'd by the men; he became the object
oi hatred 20 the latter. OSmond of Fonta-
line. whose life had been twice saved by
the intrepid Rodolph, was the first in
wardIy to repine al the good fortune ofhis
preserver; but by many acts OF apparently
devoted friendship. he succeeded 10 i'm
pressing Rodolph with the bic hest notions
OF his integrity and honor.
The cbiet favorite and prime minister
oG the reigning prince, was the Chevalier
Arnold possessing with great talsnts a
naughty ADD domineeging disposition
Arnold knew no motive but self sggran-
diZenent, and to his lust for earthly hon
ors would have unbesi.atlnglv sacrificed
every earthly affection. He looked with
an Argus eve UPON the accommodating digni-
ties OF the youthful Rodolph, he saw with
what rapidity he increased IN the love and
confidence of his 70 less youthful sOveF-
eign, aud with al industrious maagnity,
determined at every risk TO crush the in
fantile germ Of mCnarchical favor in its
earliest growth. Policy however, taught
him the necessity OF combining his views
g. such narrow b0uadS thai in their eysntua
failure, although suspicion might rest upon
him detection never could he determined
therefore TO pursue that media course OF
conduct, which could not until his plans
were completely matured, injuYe him in
the estimation of any OF the parties con-
cerned. His repeated attempts, though
guarded with a machiyalisn ~exactness, a.
gainst every thing which might appear
overt on his part. could not influence the
king so far as to discountenance in the
slightest manner his heroic fayorIte. Des-
pairing of success in this course Of policy,
he resolved at length 10 extend his own
already powerful interest and also the
grandeur and opulence of his W fam
ily, by a matrimonial connection between
the high born and wealthy RodoIph, and
his own daughter the young, and lovely
Elyinrosa.
To effect this end the young uaiden
was brought from the retired scenes of a
distant convent, TO display her varied
Charms before %voluptuous court. As Arm.
old anxiously desired they had their full eff
tsst upon the enthusiastic Ro9olpb; at the