The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-04-21

! still darker than the other, from the
undisiinguishablc depths of which
low groahs were heard to proceed.
They became gradually louder, and
finally a blood-staincd couch was
brought forward by two men. aud
on which lay bound another, with
ing in apparent agony:
- Take the dagger, brother.
(Said the President IN II hollow yc,
fierce tone Take The dagger. aud
strike the Aristocrat to the heart
j" Armand seized the weapon, and
advanced towards the couch. The
man who lay on 1t, and who seemed
suffering under the infection OF tor
ture. no sooner saw the uplIted wea-
pom. than he uttered shrek, which
seemed to pierce Corncliu's heart, Il
screamed aloud for mercy
- No mercy for the Aristocrat-
no hope for the Rnyalists. (cried
Armand } blood, blood, in the name
of our country and our revenge = X
with the last word he struck the
dagger FIJI against the snppliant's
breast. A stream of blood followed
the weapon as he drew il back--a
deeper groan issued from the body.
and both excCutionor and victim
were Instantly concealed by the
black curtain which fell between
them and the witness of the deed.
q Cornelius stood shocked with
establishment aud horror. A few
minutes of dreadful silence passed
over when the curtain was slowly
raised, and the mute attendants car
ried forth n dead body, the poignard
fast in its bleeding bosom. They
passed tie door, and CornelIus's
heart sunk as he heard the dead
weight ofthe corpse fall on the ear
then floor.
" The couch was again brought
forward, and on it lay another man,
apparanlly more exhausted or more
firm than the first, for he only heay-
ed heavy signs, and but half turned
his paIlid face, and scarce open eyes,
with Indifference or mscnsbility on
the scene.
a. Now, citizen, take the dagger
and rid the country OF one enemy
more, establishing your right to her
gratitude and our confidence. Take
up the dagger cried the president.
Cornelius, in the abstraction Of
terror, seized the weapon-advanc-
cd as it were lnstinctively towards
the couch-rased his arm while his
brain reeled--but started in instan-
taneous recollection oil the scene be-
fore him and of tie deed lie was a.
boet to commit. The dagger was
fallen from his hand, when the pros
trate man called to him in smother
ed whisper, inaudibie or unnoticed
by the persons at the table, and the
mute attendants, Strike fearlessly,
Curncllus-lt is /, Armand--there
is no reality in your blow wear
a Corslet, and your dagger's blade
runs up into its own hilt.--Strike =
"a puck conviction flashed acroos
Cornclus's mind. lie saw all was
a hidcops trick TO try the nerves Of
the proselytes. He struck at the
bosom Of The pretended victim. The
gr0an issued, and the blood flowed
and the curtain fell between him
and the council chamber.
" Armand sprang upon his feet, n
vas with our hero hurried by the
mutes into another room, where
brilliant lights showed party Of up
wards Of hundred young men, ca
rousing, eating, drinking and en-
ing themselves In strange contrast
to the frightiul ordeal through which
the uninitiated were made to pass.
This mockery of blood and horror
+ was used, as Cornelius had surmised,
to prove the courage and despera-
ton Of those who wished for admit
lance. Those who had gone through
the trial acted the parts Of the sa-
crifccd Arstocrats. Dead bodies
were procured from the hospitals y
burial grounds, and danger to the
actors avoided by spring daggers,
and concealed hrcast-plates while
bladdcrs containing blood were made
to burst by the harmless blows.
"Alter these initiatory horrors,
which many Of the highly-cxcited
youths would, in the hey-day of re-
publican frenzy, have gloried in had
they been real. the newly-admitted
member was all at once introduced