Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-09-02

way all the courage OF her sex, which
ever rises in proportion TO the emergency
that calls it forth, strung her nerves, nor
did one feminine emotion sicken her heart
till she beheld the prison gates close, and
shut her father from her eyes. Then bu-
rying her face in her cloak, she sank into
recess OF building against which she
leaned, and which commanded view of
the prison. Suddenly .arousing herself
from this agony of despair, she looked up
to heaven, calculating, "God Of the inno-
cent just and omnipotent Being, give me
thy aid % Fortitude Instantly renewed
her broken spirit; confidence in divine
support inspired the radiance of hope in
her heart, and she sat collecting her
Thoughts and resting her shaken frame, un-
noticed and unnoticing, though crowds
kept passing anu repassing where she sat.
The midday sun was riding high in heay-
en---twelve hours of unremitted and
unrefreshed fatigue had been passed.
when the creaking Of the hinges of
the heavy prison doors again called every
thought to her father. She saw the guard
issue forth with their superiors, "ranked
in authority" exerted for the worst of pur-
poses. All the pomp of military parade
was there. She drew her cap close down
over her face, and her cloak closer about
her form, and mingled in the crowd which
had began to intercept her view. Her
heart beat almost to sufocat as at few
PAGES whence she stood, she beheld her
father pass, followed by crowd of prison.
ers. She heard the word of command, she
saw them marshaledto the place of exccu-
tion; again she called upon the God Of the
universe, and sitting her emotions follow
ed.
Revolutionary executioners had grown
weary ofthe task of despatching their VIC
Tins one by one, and on the present oc-
casiOn, as on many others, the prisoners
were assembled in a crowd, in order to be
destroyed at once'by discharge of musk
etry. All was arraDged-the condemned
stood together-men upon the threshold
of eternity. Some closed their eyes (for
there were many who refused to have them
bandaged) as though to shut out the dread
iul view of the gulf before them others
looked up to heaven, where alone they
could hope for mercy. The muskets were
levelled---not breath was to be heard---
twas the awful pause which preceded the
signal of death---of murder rather, That
signal was on the commandant's lips, when
suddenly shrek was heard, and Adele,
from whose head the cap had fallen, leav-
ing her tresscs free to float apon the wind,
was seen to rush in the arms of her parent;
and the piecing agony in which she ex-
claimed, "My father |" as she sank on his
bosom, ilIed even through the breasts Of
the sanguinary ruffians around A pause
still more awful, still more touching, fol-
lowed, in which D'Azinval gazed in voice.
less emotion on his pale child, clnging to
him with convulsive tenderness and terror.
lie was bewildered with the food Of feel
ings that rushed upon him. There ap-
peared no time to save her, for he every
instant expected the thunder of death, when
a signal from the commandant stopped the
intended fire Heart-struck by the mag
nanimity, the self-sacrifce, the courage Of
creature so young and so lovely, he felt
as though he had been warned by voice
from heaven to perform an act Of mercy.
The prisoners were remanded to their dun
geon. The tears of hope, of gratitude, of
admiration, sprung into all eyes, as the un-
expected reprieve was pronounced. All
were moved but Adele; she, unconscious
that they were not still to be led to death,
graspins her father, moved onward like a
beautiful statue---as white, and almost as
cold Her fathers arm was round her
waist, and hers around his neck, while
her hand grasped his mantle, as though it
never would forego its hold. Suddenly
the grasp was loose -" 1t is he - she ex-
claimed, and sank fainting on her fathers
sustaining breast. Lorraine pressed for
ward, and entered the prison with them.
The gates closed on the assembled null
titude, while the commandant ordered Ade.
lie to be supported to his apartments, whith-
er her father and Lorraine, who mutually
sustained, accompanied her.
The sequel is soon told. Adele awoke
to happiness; her father was pardoned.
Lorraine, who after closing the eyes of
Cubal, had fastened, led by rumour to the
prison, re-conducted them to the cottage,
where, in few days they were united, and
where the happy D'Azinval lived many
years to bless his heroic daughter.