Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1836-11-17

Is not enough for q woman to be yirtu-
oos--she must be above the reach of
SANDER. For the whole term of her
probation. therefore, she proclaimed n
strict non-intercourse with The other
sex. She had females for cabinet min
isters and cbamberlains, through whom
she transacted all her public and pri-
vate concerns; and it is said. that ne
yer were the affairs Of the dukedom so
adroitly administered.
AL males were vigorously excluded
from the palace she never went out Of
It's precincts, and whenever she moved
abou, its Courts and gardens, she sur
rounded herself with body guard Of
young maids Of honor. commanded by
danes renowned for discretion. She
slept IN bed without curtains, placed
in the centre Of room illumin aied by
innumerable wax tapes. Four ancient
spinsters. virtuous N Virginia. perfect
dragons Of watchfulness. who only
slept during the daytime, kept vigils
throughout the night, seated in the four
corners of the room, on stools without
backs or arms. and with seats cut in
chequers Of the hardest wood, 10 keep
them from DOING.
Thus wisely and warily did the young
duchess conduct herself for twelve long
months. and SANDER almost bit her
tongue off in despair at finding no room
even for surmise. Never was ordeal
more burdensome or more enduringiy
sustained.
The year passed away. The last, odd
day arrived. and long, long day it was.
II was the twenty-first OF June, the
longest day in the year. II seemed as
IL il would never come to an end. A
thousand times did the duchess and her
ladies watch the sun from the windows
of the palace, as he slowly climbed the
vault OF heaven, and seemed still more
slowly to roll down. They could not
help expressing their wonder, now and
then, why the duke should have tagged
this supernumerary day TO the end Of
the year, as If three hundred and sixty
i've days were not sufficient TO try aud
task the fidelity OF any woman. II is
the last grain that turns the scale-the
last drop that overfiows the goblet-and
the last moment Of delay that exhausts
the patience. By the time the sun sank
below the horizon, the duchess was in
fidget that passed all bounds, and tho
several hours were yet to pass before
the day regularly expired. she could
not have renamed those hours in du-
rance to gain q royal crown, much less
ducal coronet. So she gave her or
ders. and her palfrey, magnifcenty ca
parisoned, was brought into the court
yard Of the castle, with palfreys for all
her ladies in attendance. In this way
she sailed forth just as the sun had gone
down. 1t was mission OF piety-a
pilgrim cavalcade 10 a convent at the
foot of neighboring roountain-to re-
turn thanks TO the blessed Virgin for
having sustained her through this lear
ful ordeal.
The prisons performed, the Autchess
and her ladies returned, ambling gently
along the border Of forest. II was a
bout that mellow hour Of twilight when
night and day are mingled, and all OBJ
jects indistinct. Suddenly some mon
strous animal sprang from out thicket,
with fearful howlings. The whole fe-
male body-guard was thrown into con.
fusion. and fled different ways. II was
some time before they recovered from
their panic. aud gathered once more TO.
,getheI; but the duchess was not 10 be
found. The greatest anxiety vas felt
for her safety. The hazy mist Of iwi-
light had prevented their distinguishing
perfectly the animal which had alright.
ed them.-Some thought il a wolf,
others q bear. others a wild man of the
woods. For upwards Of an hour did
they beleaguer the forest, without dar-
ing TO venture in, and were on the
point Of giving up the dutehess a. torn
to pieces and devoured, when, to their
great Joy, they beheld her advancing in
the gloom, supported BY stately cava-
lier.
He was a stranger knight, whom no.
body knew. II was impossible TO dis.
unguisb his eouhtenance in the dark /;
but all the ladies agreed that he was Of
q noble presence and captivating ad-
dress. lie had rescued the dutchoss
from the very fangs Of the monster
which he assured the ladies was neither
wolf, nor q bear, nor yet a Wild man
Of the woods, but a yeritable fiery dra-
gon, . species Of monster psculiarIy
hostile 10 beauhful females in The days
Of cbiYslry. snd winch all the efforts Of
knight erTaRtTy had not been able 10 ex-
iirpate.
The ladies crossed themselves when
they heard u the danger from which
they had escaped. and could not enough
admire the gallantry n the cavalier
The dutcAess would fain have prevailed
on her deliveTer TO accompany her to
her court but be had no time 10 spare,
being q knight Grant, who had many
adventures on hand. and many distress
I'd dansels and afflicted widows 10 Fes-
cue aad relieve ia VARIOUS parts u the
couniry. Taking a respectful leave.
therefore. be pursued his wayfaring
and the dutehess and her train retgned
20 the palace. Throughout the whole
say. the ladies' were unwearied IN
4 rhnanfsors fro rrnfraa 20 tla afraury.r