The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-10-04

For many minutes AaS"'s~@e
ting the scene before her: and while alter
nasely listening to the thrilling harmony OF the |
nirhtincale, and lending an ear to the Pensae
,,,,,ru,nT Of the fountain as Il dashed into its
sralntured reservoir, she inhaled the baimy
D,rfume Of the orange-trees that nOurlsneo
hcneath her window. While thus engaged, ]
her particular attention was attracted 0y Paie
gl;n,mering light, similar to that produced ny
the glow-worm or wandering FREELY, which
apneared for moment among the trees ll'dl
surrounded the fountain, and was then ioSI d.
midst the bushes it shOne again IN the snruO-
berry. and from its height and steadlness' MISS
Greville imagined that it came from lantern
borne by one of the slaves or domestics' oa'-
is6cd with this idea, she proceeded 10 Fe.pe-
ruse and envelope her various communlca-
tions. but. before the conclusion OF ner tasK'
she was disturbed by low noise at the door
of her apartment, resembling the motlohs I"
one who was endeavorlng secretly 10 remove
the fastenings. 1t ceasedtor snort space OF
time. and was then renewed with more eau
tion than before; Louisa listened atten'Veiy'
II was impossible to doubt the circumstances;
and rising hastily from her chair she crossed
her chamber, and throwing open the door OF
the small room in which her attendant usual
" reposed, she whispered her name IN low
Int distinct tone: no answer was re'"r.ico'
and surprising that she slept profoundly MISS
Greyilie stepped lightly to the oed-sioe' anu
undrawing the curtains, t0uno 10 her aston
;Shment that Zarilda was aosent. otrucA
mute with undesirable apprehension at the
disappearance of her attendant wnom she
had seen retire into that very room when she
had dismissed her for the night, Louisa $1,000
with N
fears = till, convinced of the existence OF some
deep laid scheme of iniquity, she hew TO Inc
hell that communicated with MRS. RusseHs
apartments, but, in confirmation Of her worst
alarms, the wire had been drawn, ana tue
robe. Welding to her grasp. fell useless TO- the
floor. At this instant the door gave way'ano
was gradually opened; in speechless conster-
nation Louisa, extinguishing her hght' sPrans
into recess in the wall, SO placed as 10 De
screened from immediate observation. There,
concealed behind some tapestry, she aWaiteo
with narrowing anxiety the result OF TINS eV'-
DENLY hostile intrusion. A man, muliieo IN
horseman's cloak, with a large nat Drawn
over .hissface, and dark lantern IN MS manu.
entered the chamber; he was followed oy an
old mulattO woman, who carried iaoyss
travelling dress, and on whose couhtena"ce
the lineaments of every dark and tempestaons
passion were most legibly impressed. Tread
ing warily on tiptoe they approached the oeo'
and lowering the lamp, the man uttered We
he,nent exclamation of DISAPPOINTMENT on q's,
covering that it was vacant. Louisa $ Dio"o
ran chill in heryens, for the voice, ana ts'e
features, across which the light OF the lantern
had fallen, were those of MaitraVers; out
sense of her danger suspended the cry of nor
ror that lowered on her lips, and holding her
breath till the very arteries IN her temples
night visitors, who. tbf0Wlng round tnem a
hasty look, crossed towards the inner apart
ment. Thanking heaven for her escape,Lou-
lisa vas about to fly from her concealment and
seek the protection Of the household, when
the raising of the window sash once more
compelled her to shrink within its friendly
obscurty. With CONSERVATION nearly allied
to delirium, she gazed on this new source OF
alarm. A negro, apparalled in the hablments
of slave, advanced his head into the room,
and. CHANGING his eyes warily around him,
sprang lightly upon the floor; but he as in
stantly retreated behind the heavy folds OF
the curtains, for the lantern borne by Maltra-
yers flashed its faint rays through the door
way. With dark and fearful incnaces the
latter re-entered the chamber, and8while his
female associate, with taper in her hand,
hurried silently down the stairs leading to the
interior of the mansion, he set the light upon
the. table, and commenced deliberately to
search the apartment. Certain that her re-
treat would immediately be discovered, Miss
Grevillc summoned her whole energy to meet
the event but her faculties were indeed
paralysed by terror and establishment, when
She beheld the negro steal from behind the
curtains, and, drawing a glittering poniard
from his vest, prepare to stab the unwary
Maltravers to the heart. A cry OF irrepress-
ible horror burst from her lips; the negro sus-
pended his blow, and Maltravers starting and
turning round, confronted his most inveterate
enemy, Morengo. To fly wasimpossible, for
as tiger springs upon its prey, so did the
African rusllDto the throat of Maltravers: the
gage was for life and death; and in mortal
coil struggled The assailant and the assaed.
Gripping each other with deep and terrible in
/, tent, the combatants vainly attempted each to
hurl his opponent to the ground! equal pow
er maintained an equal conflict, and for some
seconds the adversaries stood painting and
breathless from the violence of their exertiOns.
Again they closed and renowned the deadly
contest; and bone and nerve and muscle were
strained to the utmost, when both falling at
the threshold of the apartment, Maltravers
pressed with giant-force the neck of the pros
trate African: there was but one moment be-
tween life and eternity ;-the negro released
his right arm and hand, his dagger cleaned
in the air, and swift as lightning was buried