Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-06
THE SECRET BANDIT.

There lived formerly in Denmark wealth,
noble who had an only child, fair daughter
The maiden lacked not suiiors, both for hel
beauty and amiabe qualities, and for the lands
she would one day inherit; but among them al
she selected one who was distinguished by his
handsome person and gallant bearing, nor less
so for his apparent riches, although he was I
stranger in those parts, and no one could tel
IN short, the day was fixed for tbril betroth
mcn,, upon which occasion msgni6cen, enter
,ainment was to be given by the nobleman,
1t CHANGED, however, that on the preceding
eve the maiden walked out, unaccompsnied BY
any attendant; and ere she was aware of the
distance she had wandered, had lost herself in
the inlrlcacirs Of d deep wood. At length meet.
irg with what seemed to be path, she pnrsu.
ed the track, but found tina, il conducted to a
dismal cavern, that extended Tor some way be-
meath the ground. Struck with wonder at its
romantic appearance, she determined 10 explore
il; and advancing onward, soon discovered a
spacious vault, that had every appearance Of be-.
ing inhabited, and that, too, not by hermit or
religious recluse, but by one who had TASTE for
wealth and Luxury. She next proceeded into
an inner chamber, where she saw shining
heap Of gold and silver, which, on examination,
she found 10 consist Of richly chased gobets
and other costly vessels, and gold coin. Con-
,nuing her search, she came to third cham
Der, where, 10 her exceeding dismay and hor-
ror, she beheld the remains Of human carscass-
es, dead mems bones, and hideous skulls. She
was now certain that she was in a retreat Of
robbers and murderers, and was about to make
her escape as quickly as possible, when the
sound Of approaching footsteps warned her to
conceal herself instantly behind kind Of pro-
iecting pillar at the extremity Of this chamber
of dea,h Hardly had she screened herself be-
fore robber entered, bearing in his arms the
dead Body Of lady richly attired, from which
he began to strip the Jewels and valuable orna-
ments While the barbarian was thus employ
ed, the maiden caught glimpse OF his features,
and cry OF horror nearly escaped her lips, as
she discovered them TO be those Of her lover.
He had now plundered the body of all but We
nv beautiful ring, when, in his Impotence to
get it, he cut off the finger with his sword, but
with such violence that it flew to some distance,
very near the spot where the maiden was con-
cesled. Fortunately, however, he did not stay
to search for it, but having heard signal from
without, hurried away to join his comrades -
For some minutes the maiden stood rooted 10
the spot with horror at what she had thus wit
messed, and dread for her own fate; al leng b,
he airing no noise whatever, she ventured from
her hiding place, and soon after stole out Of the
cavern, having first picked up the finger that
had been cut off, and succeeded in finding her
way home. where she found her father awaiting
her return in the greatest Anxiety. She excus-
ed herself by saying that she had wandered
much farther than she intended, bu, mentioned
not q word Of the cavern, or the scene she had
witnessed there.
On the following day the bridegroom arriv.
ed a, the castle, attended by several compan-
ions, all splendidly attired, and the lady wei.
coined him as be6tted one who was TO be her
future lord. AS they afterwards sat at the
festal board, and the goblet passed round each
guest reeited some legend or wondrous tale
At length it came to the lady's turn to be mar
rator; whereu2on she began to relate the ad-
venture Of damsel, who, having lost herself
in forest, took shelter within a cave that