The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-02-19

kept watch at night OYER 1us' sleeping camp in
the mountains, my feelings have been reused
almost to fever, sIH
We at length shifted bur ground. and deter
mined to make a desten, upon the road be
tween Terracina and NEpl%s- In the course
Of our expedition, we shss ID a-day or two in
the woody mountains whic., rise above Fro
sinone. cannot tell W, aow felt when I
looked down upon the m, and distinguished
the residence, ct R6s>.l u determined to
have an interview with her. but to what Pur-
| poser copld not expect that she would quit
| her home and ACCOMPANY me in my hazardous
life anon. the mountains. She had been
brought TIP too tenderlv for that !; and when !
/, look ed upon the women who were associated
| with some OF our troops. ! could not have
.. horne the thoughts Of her heing their compan
ion All return To nv former life was like
wise hopeless: for price was set upon my
head Still determined to see her: the very
hazard and fruit!eSsness Of the thing made me
! furious to accompli it
II is about three weeks since ] persuaded
our captain to draw down to the vicinity Of
Fresinopc. i'm TIE hopes Of entrapping some OF
its principal inhabitants and compelling them
to ransom We were living in ambush to-
wards evening, not far from the VINEYARD Of
Rosetta's hther I stole quietly from nv
companions. and drew near to ,econnoi'rr the
place OF her &, equent walks. How nv h art
beat, when among the vines behe'd the
cleaning of a white dressl knew it must
be Roseta's; it being rare for any female Of
the place to dress in white. advanced Sc.
rretlv and without noise, until putting aside
the vines I stood suddenly before her She
uttered piercing shrek hut ! seized her in
nv arms, and put nv hand upon her mouth.
and conured her to he silent 7 poured out
all ho fra If off In
nounce nv mode Of life, 10 put nv ate into
her hands TO flv with her where we might
i've in safety together Instead &c love; hor-
ror and alright took possession of her breast
She struggled partly fromnv grasp, and flied
the air with her cries IL an instant the cap
:ain and the rest Of the companions were a
round us would have given any thing at
that moment had she ben safe out Of our
hands. and in her father house The cap
tain pronounced her prize, and ordered that
she should be borne to th. mountains re-
presented to him she WIS my prize--that
had previous claim to her-and mentioned
my former attachment He sneered bitterly
IN reply observed that brgands had no bust
ness with village intriGues and that. according
to the laws of the troop, AL spoils OF the kind
were determined Nv lot. love and jealousy
were raging in nv heart, hut | had to choose
between obedience and death ! surrendered
her to the capt ain, and We made ior the noun
tains
She was overcome by alright and her steps
were SO feeble and faltering that 1t was neccs
sarv to supper, her. could not endure the
idea that nv comrades should touch her. and
assuming forced tranquility, begged that she
mi. hit he confidcd to me, as one To whom she
was move accustomed The captain regarded
me FOR moment with |. sestcbing look but
bore it without finchng. and he consented -
took her in my arms she was almost sense
less Her head rested on my shoulder. her
month was near to mine felt her breath on
m? face. and il seem ed % fan the flame which
devoured me On God to have this glowing
| treasure in my arms. and yet to think it was
not mine!
We arrived at the foot of the mountain
assembled it with difficulty. particularly where
the woods were thick but would not relin
quish nv delicious bunhen. reflected with
| rage however. that must soon do The
thoughts that so delicate a creature must b.
| abandoned To my rude companions, maddeneC
me. ] felt tempted the stilet,o in my hand
to cut nv wavthrough them all. and bear he,
of in triumph Iscarcely conceived the idea
before saw its rashness: but nv rrain was
fevered with the thought that any but mysel
| should possess her charms. endeavored &c
outst,ip my companions bv the qnickness o
my movements, and to get little distance a
| head, in case any favorable opportunity Of es
cape should present. Vain effort! The voice
] OF the captain suddenly ordered a halt
trembIed. but had To obey. The poor CIR
partly opened a languid eve, but was without
| strength or motion laid her upon the grass
The captain dartcd on me terrible look u
| suspicion, and ordered me to scour the wood,
with nv companions. in search OF some shep
herd who might be sent TO her fathers to de
mand ransom.
saw at once the peril To resist with VIC
'epce was cer,ain death but to leave her alone
in the power ofthe captaiD!-- spoke out then
with fervor. inspied by my passion and my
despair. ! reminded the captain that ! was
the Trst TO seize: that she was my pi lze, and
that my previous attachment TO- her should
make her sacred among my companions
insisted. therefore, that he should pledge me
his word to respect her otherwise should
refuse obedience to his orders. Ills only re-
ply was. TO cock his carbine and at the sig
nal NV comrades did the same. They laugh
cd with crnety at nv impoent rage. What
could do! felt the madsess OF resistance
] was menaced on all hands, and my compau-
ions obliged me TO follow them She remain
ed alone with the chief--yes. alone--and al
most lifeless
Here the robber paused in his recital. over
powered by his amotIons Great drops o.
sweat stood on his forehead he painted rathcr
than br athed, his brawny bosom rose and
fell like the waves Of troubled sea. -
When he had become little calm he continu
ed his recital
was not long in finding a shepherd, said
he. ran With the rapidity OF s5deer, eager,
If possible, to get back before Wat DREADED
might take place bad left TN companions
far behind, and reloined tbetra sforc they bad