Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-09

in a state Of distraction she knew that eNher
had ne elected to provide for my own safety,
or that had been so selfish as TO leave her 10
her fa,e-in either case she had no wish 10 es
cane the worst that could befal her. She was
utterly deaf TO the passionate entreahes OF her
friends and family, who with generous devo-
ton remained with her and urged and besousnt
her 70 secure her safety. When she saw me
glow Of rapture lighted her frame at The con-
viction that her fears OF my desertion we'e
croundless, and that had no, abandoned her
but the CLEAN Of joy was soon chased away,
by the recollection that the bell had already
toIIed for some time, and we were several mics
distan, from the place Of refuge. briefly ana
burriedly told her the cause Of my delay, and
enGeavored TO re-assure her by representing TO
he, the probability that sufficient time wouIo
vet be afforded for escape. There was no know
inp how long the bell would continue TO Toll IL
nigh, BE- for hours; then there was IS minutes
to spare after the bell had stopped oesough'
her. therefore TO enter the carriage when was
in waiting, and proceed with her friends, as RAJ
pidiy as possible, beyond the reach OF danger:
Here new difficulty arose ; she insisted 'hat i
should enter the carriage with her, and refused
to seek her own safety unless she could snare IL
with me. But with an Inconsistency which
may be pardonabe in dream, ! Imagined
that had some comparatively trlhing oflces
TO perform at my own room before could
denart, and refused 10 accompany her at
last, however, by 2ersusding her that the
bell would toll for some time longer, and assn,
ring her tina, / would follow as soon as could
arrange nv affairs, on swift s'eed which l
had in the stable would probably SOON over
take her, induced her 10 consent 10 go. The
carriage drove rapidly away, and heavy
weiehi was removed from my heart. now
FASTENED home, and began TO busy myself IN
earnes, preparation. but my agitalation was
such could not proceed as ] would; there were
lights TO be struck and the Under would not ig-
nile; there were papers 10 be found and could
no, tell where they lay; the deep solitude and an
overwhelming conciousness of the 2recarious-
ness of my situation, disturbed me so, that
me, with a thousand interruptions and unex
pec,ed delays amidst which often lisened TO
hear whether the bell sill! continued TO sound
Oh, with what JOY did perceive ever anG anon
as listened, that its solemn reverberstons con.
tinued TO fill my ears? A. length after the lapse
Of an hour, ere which calculated that she had
reac he'd place Of safety, my preparation was
completed. 1 paused Tor moment TO hear il
the bell continued TO loll-il struck II paused
again-five- twenty thirty SECONDS 10
hear if The stroke was, repcatec-no sound
reac he'd my earl then knew II had stopped
in fifteen minutes the catastrophe would take
place-des lioD--what was ro'be done? How
could reach The place Of safety in The brief
space allotted me? had yet one chance Of safe
~ left-my steed was swift and strong; and il
driven desperately, might ye, save mel rush
eG TO the stable where he stood Judge Of nv
horror when found that he was gone. Some
one, doubtless, deeming tina, the emergency
justified me deed had seized OF him TO secure'his
own flight. Twas now desperate; had no re-
source left, man and beast had fled from the
i'm pending crisis; had not even the poor con-
ISOLATION OF having companion ol my despair
The catastrophe was approaching, a terrible
storm arose; an Egyptian darkness FLIED the at
mostphere; though lurid ligh's were here and
there seen through the thick darkness, and 1t
SEEMED as il huge and uncou'h appear ances
W neither substantial forms or s.adowy i'm, ges
1 could not Ge,ermine) were flirtering in the air
with out-spreading dragon wings. Al this pc
Rod had supernatural power Of measuring
time /; estimated its lapse as accurately as If
had been watching cronomeier, but there was
a strange con,r ADDICTION abouI 1.-THE time on
The whole seemed long-pppressively long
yet each separate moment few by wi h unna,u
raj rapidity; such was the Intensity Of my ex-
citement that the. moments as they passed
seemed to be palpable, and in my desnair
yrasped after them as if hey had been tangible
lhings and had the power Of OBTAINING them
II ,bis state scarcely knowing what did, l
rushed madly forward-Deeming perhapse
tina, at this time OF supernatural terror, some SUI
pernatural accident, nigh yet place mt in safety
or that al least the danger might ne lessenrdby
approaching The place of refuge. In this way
run on ill, by my power Of measuring time, l
found that he last oud If the fifteen mnuie s
had expired, WHEN l sunk exhausted to the
ground--at This momrni-uh! how shall / de-
scribe The horrors Of that moment was
from my trance by running agains,
my own door post. II.
q TuE PENNSyIuANIIN -IInd.r the ,ha.a