The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-06-04
foa II GAZETTE.
THE OLD TRUNK,
No. IX.
THE LADY BANDIT
Concluded.

kSUNCSbUS0.f
The hands of Rodolph and bis band
were stained no more with blood; the pro-
per,y, and not the lite OF the passing ira
weller became the object of their pursuit.
This change was wrought by Elvinrosa !;
twas woman heavenly woman, vino sol
tened their savage hearts, and babe them
feel as men, they looked up to her with an
idolatrous reverence, they would nave
died 70. her, and blessed the hand that
aped the grateful blow.-Such, godllke
Virtue! is thy omnipotent influence : lhou
art beauteous even in The form OF sinking
age, aud bright as day in the sacred tears
tSat trickle from the withered cheek: yet
when youth add loneliness, when CONAN 5
brow becomes thy smiling throne, when
her honied lips bespeak thy awful dictates,
man needs must kneel, De cannot out
adore
The genial season of the year had COW
arrived, and lovely May had clothed the
lap of earth With smiling honors. On a
fine night beautiied by an Italian sky,
gloning with all Ibe mingled hues OF the
rainbow, Rodolph and bis fair bride were
seated upon little promontory, at a shor;
distance from the entrance to the cavern
hall, the whole of the band, as was then
not unfrequent with them. were IN tor the
night they lay 10 groups around al a re-
s~pectful distance, aud their arms glitte9Ing
in tbe moon beams as they occasionally
turned, seemed bright as the "hre-ny
lamp" of evening.
Elyinrosa, leaning upon the bosom OF
the chief, had been earnestly engaged
- III Skn s,,hktosy ~ arCtrnoAt and tho
endearments Of affection, in endeaVsring
10 induce him 10 quit his law!ess mode OF
hying-He pressed her fOndly to his DO
SON, and kissed from her cheek the falling
tear, pure as those which stream from
weeping angels eyes /; he told her IN the
softest accents Of melting love, that no
thing bat the uncertainty of the tate OF his
brave and faithful followers could possibly
prevent him from indulging her IN her
wishes. that she mad already almost bu.
manized them, and that as soon as they
had attained that degree of better feeling
which would render them BIT 10 miDgle
with the world, be would distribute, the
general stock among them, and seek hap
piness with her 10 some more propiuous
land. Hours bad rolled on during this 10.
teresting~ colloquy, and Rodolph was about
20 pass the watch word for the night, when
an alarm shot was heard from a distant
borseman : ITO arms to arms J! was the
immediate signal; and the scene lately SO
peaceful, so soft and silent, became the
theatre of hustle and armed preparation.
The robber who bad fred bis caEbine Q
came rushing in with terror and dls!rac-
ton in his looks : "We are lost = he cried,
upon the heights beyond the ravine a
hundred horsenen are approaching with
wild rapidity, headed by two men OF lot
ty mein and glittering dress-sone traitor
has conveyed to them the knowledge OF
secret pass, for they have taken the hid
den road and seem we'll acquainted with
the means of access to the cavern
Rodolph felt astoundsd at this appalling
intelligenee-not that he ap%preheadeG
death, or feared the foe. but the tate OF
Elvinrosa il he should fall-O, how dread
fully uncertain! He clasped her TO his
breast fear not love-" he cried, as she
sunk faintiRg into the arms Of her attsn.
dant, " danger and ] are sworn friends :"
and pressing her pallid lips be mouoted
his neighiug steed Wheel to the right
Rogardo," cried the bandit Shiet, take
with you fifteen men, cross beneath the
craggs, aud piant yourselves amid the
shades OF the old oak trees beloT, as the
enemy pass. each single his man, and lei
your cxrbines tell land you, Rogardo,
mind that you select their leaders - AXE
my arms, they are better than y~ours--hand
me my pistols Polins; away, Regardo, OIL
you'll DOT gain the pass and with these
hurried orders, his second 10 command iA.
mediateiy disappeared, Rodo,ph now
placed himself at the head of the balance
10 the band, whilst Madeline conveyed
the almost expiring Elvinrosa into the ca.
vern. The detachment under the imme-
date c~ontroul Of the Bandit Chief a.
mounted to about twenty men, all devoted
to him from personal affection, and from
that degree OF respec. which a high
minded and brave man always MIST
conmaGd from the interior multitude
the mooa as # unwilling TO behold the
bloody sight of what was about 10 deform
the face Of the earth, suddenly shrouded
herself behind ali impenitrable cloud. the
wind gfew high, and the distant waves
Sf the roaring ocean. sounded with a dirge
like melancholy. Rodolph. as he rode
rapidly on, felt a solemn sadness gather.
ing round bis soul, his spirits were op-
presssd with a load. which all the exer.
tious of his energetic mind coul l mo- shake
of: he iahSle3 thu sW eets of odour breath.