The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-02

AN ITALIAN ADVENTURE.

Gun ftrtless when l reached leffaeinanu,
Tn. inn was all gloon M light was,
| brought TO the door ! Ne callrd-nunr
heeded---we entered the hnuse--steps and
voices sounded tumnltuously sbo,..--My
servan, aud myself gioprd up The staircase
and made our way. guided by The noise
10 large cherries room. One btass
lamp stnnd on the lung tahlr. The hosi,
the landlady, The cook, some vile sb,rii,
some postillions, sotue maids. and two u
three sp.asaats weie all crow dcd around
an elderly gentleman aud lady, whom, 10
a moment, perceived To be English.
We have all heard Of the W. of mothers
hertaved by the ss, ers of their sucking
babes, AID we think IT caunot he surpas-
sed perhaps not, but how shall this ago
nzed father be painted IN words? He
was a helpless invalid, seated IN chair
from which he could not rise but his i'm
ploring cry--his gray lock. dlsordered his
phrenzied eye-the tearhg open of his
vest, and rhe nervous grasping of his ho.
ssn,--ihe Upheld purse, aud The loud re
ward of his fortune and the nadden,ng
exclaim, Marla Maria--my daughter,
! my daughter his wife embracing him
with cuasulsi,e tears. and silent ; aud all
ihe lockers on talklng,or smiling with com
pusufr the lean aud salop shirri, hard,
indifferent. aud canning the fai host sl,es-
| king awkward comiurt; the Positions
laug lg the peasants sowing and tht
wonr alone with Any redeeming compass
sion in their eyes. lsoon gathered the
cause of his afilletoo; his daughter had
he.n seized SINCE his arrival nj the inn, and
1 -, n nj. 10 h.n
they was IN vain tn, J told him that, on the
morrow, she would certainly be restored
To hum safe on payment OF the ransom
might demand. .Nop, nop he would
pay any Thug, il h. sbltl would follow,
aud bing her back noW The idea Of
his daughter amo 3 brlgaods, even Tor II
momeut, wa Anguish, torment.
Eagerly too offered rev Yards, aud ur-
ged them To Their u ty--a guide To lead
me, or merely 10 po,ot he path, | would
30 II stapliJ aud alolt Would carry the
ransom, and bring back hrs daug ter
They smiled az me Id aud contemptu-
ously-sald il Is as late-I was a stranger,
., shoul. not talk II going among IN.
ugsnds--alone Too. They Ianshed--and
cursed them, and went out armed but
the rain fell heavy, aud dark, aud Devil
drringly. lcUud not see yard before
mel shouted but heard no sound
save the wild wind, aud tn loud sorf roar.
] came In again, anu ~eot to The father,
where hs sat by untasted tood, IN -lleni a.
Harmed agony, and took bis hand IN mlne.
anu pro -. .,,s morrow. and baase ..sa mop,
and cheer up and he looked AT mo thank
| nj fhr,biUh hia hill, h. h.,
mourned aloud. All had left the apart.
ment but one little dark-ey led brow maid
and she made a slgn to me To so forth wl,l
her AND when We were alone IN the cor
rldor, She asked me. -" Have you cour.
age p i" For any thing that eau serve o.
save this Lady" Then go to your slice.
ping chamber, and persuade the old peo
t pie To 20 To bed and at one O'Clock, nh.r
the moon rises, arm aud when you heal
a pebble strike your easement, drop your
self from The window It Is long fall, bu
the gIouna is soft. have known Older
ihan you 10 leap II down safe"
Ii was with difficulty could prevail on
the father and mother Ia retire 10 thelI
chamber aud on no account could they
be persuaded 10 do more than lie DOVE
I
IL was pear midnight When got 10 my
room, and | lay looking al The window
that might catch the very fist GUNNER
of The RISING moO0. Tar rain fell less hea-
Why, aud al length ceased altogether; aud
the moon rose red aud crescenled. i fell
down and fixed my pistols hflner IN my
= broad IoiD ghrlh, and drew tighter the 81 ap
Of my sword-belt and thought a payer
and then felt hunoteJ aud animated by
the enterprise. A black cloud had long
hung over me this was like the bright
breaking through oi the blue sky ;-iallIeI
aud daughter--they would thank aud bless
me-l might perchauce anchor MY poor
; heat in that quiet family or at all events
| should save glrl, RELEASE captive, aud
give JOY To the hearts ot aged parenls-uI
i should die.
NO, no mot die on an errand of mer.
cy--no, not dIe--or # did, 'twere well sc
, to find my grave"
The yebble struck light and short upor
/, the window IN "a moment Was by The
SIDE Of my cunductress from the peaked
|, food Of thick brown fishers jacket iopk
r I'd out her resolale eyes, aud her Whit,
teeth shone smIIlugl, out, shrn she saw
|, how lightly and actively | made the drop
ping reap from the high window.
3" Follow me" said she, +" as softly and
SILENT, as you can do exarilI AS do.
tell you they will mol ransom thls 6rl. II
Is black Sebastian who carried her oil.
know him but she is safe yet my Gun
ming aud your courage viii match them
know black Sebastian"
followed her step by step, up par
: row mountain pam. Now The wet earth
slipped beneath ol" tread-now We had
, to catch at fragment of rock, nov at a
shrub for support. Ii was an hours toll
we did mol speak.
The peru and the pride of enterprise
were alike new and delightful. My mind
was busy lmagns out the heures OF the
bandIii. pictured their start oi surprise,
their fierce assault, the clash of steel aud
the sound of shot aud screwed my cou-