Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-06-03

our ears, and rolling through the dark and rude
| chssms of the cavern, reused the brigands from
their slumbers, and instantly unsheathing their sa-
bres and pistols they prepared for a deadly conflict.
The noise soon ceased, and whilst | stood screened
from the presence ofthe robbers by a projecting
rock, for the first time | had an opportunity of dis
covering the ferocious aspect Of our vile ~entertai-
ners. and it filed me with consternation,i in the midst
Of which, but for the presence Of Antoniette, and her
timely admonitions, ! should by improper exclama-
tons have exposed myself to their gaze. "Hush,
hush," said she, "speak not for thy life, for if thou
shouldst utter ausht 10 arrest their attention, thy
doom is fixed, and with me thou wilt fall a martyr
to thy imprudencc." The ~brigands, US the noise
ceased, were once more lulled into security, and af-
ter having offered repeated libations to their
Bachanalian God, again stretched themselves upon
the ground, and mur;erinS a few imprecations, fell
into the embraces Of the dull God.
A death-like silence peryaded the cavern, save
when the ripping Of the waters which flowed
through it, broke the silence of the hour; and ma
ture herself seemed prepared to witness the dread
full deeds Of blood which the midnight hour was
destined to witness. As gazed from behind the
rugged rock which had screened me from the view
Of the inmates of the dismal cell, ] saw Alelselo,
with slow but careful strides, moving on towards
the sleeper,, whilst the dull and scarcely gliu,mer
ing rays Of the lanthorn which directed his foot
steps, gave to his blanched and reeve counte-
nance, n haggard aspect. His form was wrapped
in a sable mantle q monAish cowl covered his
head from his neck was suspended the Cross OF
Jerusalem, whilst a miniature image of st. Ste
phen adhered firmly to his bosom. In his right
hand %glittered a long and pointed ~stiletto, Ghich
4" ever and amor" he raised to his head, and address
ing the Holy Saints and Martyrs, exclaimed-"Hit
be good that perform this deed, be with ne ye
heavenly hosts-but if it be sinful in thine eyes,
thou pure and perfect spirits, then let my hand be
stayed, and on me let the a~venging hand Of Jeho-
yah fall with all It's vengeance. For thy sake, and
not mine, do ] attempt this act, and for these, thy
fair daughters, they who have never offended thee,
do ! now encounter peril and If it be good in thy
sight, Oh! God Of Hosts, let this dagger drink deep
in the red fountains OF these i~nfdels-these foul
murderer.." The long and matted beard, which
" swept his breast, " added to the sublimi;y Of his
appearance; and the sackcloth which envelopcd
him, and the crucifx, and the waxen image, and
the sacerdotal knife which slittered in the rays of
the lamp that directed his steps, amidst. tie laby-
rinths Of the cavern, rendered him at once an OBJ
believe that he who seemed more like an holy Be-
n~edictine, than a murderer, was incapable o fdepri-
wing a human being of the little joys of silIunary
existence. He had now approached the 81 ot where
reposed one of the brigands, and gently bending
over HIM, he kissed the crucifx, and touching the
ments from his bosom, and having cautiously ascer-
tanned the pulsations OF his heart, thrust the, dagger
up to the very haft in the breast of the sic eper.-
The wretched brisand uttered a faint groan; and in
a moment, that God who gave him existence sum-
moned him to the bar Of his tribunal. Thus with
slow, yet sure and steady strides, paced Alenselo
through the interior of the cavern, conveying, with
unerring aim, death to the sleepers-who, in repo-
sing on the rocks Of flint, fell into the embraces of
never-ending sleep: and they who at the setting Of
the sun, lived to riot and ~dissipate on earth, woke
at his dawn,to enjoy the sweets Of Heaven and Para.
disc, or to experience the torments of an eternal
He'll. When Alenselo had completed the work of
blood, he fell speeches. upon the ground, where
he remained motionless till the kind hand OF Antoi-
nette had administered to him resuscitating nos
trums. Then, ~revivips, he gazed wildly around him,
and beheld with horror the direful scene presented
by the bloody cavern, and the lifeless corpses which
were strewed upon the floor. "My God my
God !" calculated the unhappy man, " why hadst
thou not stayed my hand-why not have cut me of,
ere | had performed these deeds Of bloodshed, at
which my heart revolts. Father of everlasting
mercies, forgive me forgive him who knew not
what he did-have mercy on a wretched murder
sr." In the midst of hi, CALCULATIONS, anal the out
pourings Of his sorrows, q loud huzza was again
heard at the entrance of the cavern and instantly
the slittering of the torch-light told the approach of
some one not acquainted with the history and char
acter Of our dismal cell. P. HENNIPEN.
four limits will not allow US to publish any more
of this chapter. 1.-THE readers of these tales should
continue to find fault with Mr.. Hennipen for not in
dulging their curiosity with the full development of
his story, we ask them to transfer their censure to
our account. The tale will be continued.-Edifor
Lit. Cadet
TIGHT DRESSING.