The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-30


sine some drops to compose her. He then
requested the Countess TO retire, and leave
us to repose after our recent agitation. He
closed the curtains Of the bed, that the hehs
might net injure the eyes Of Alphonsine.
MS they bad nearly her whole life opened
only in darkness. He had the windows
shut, nnd ordered that the glasses, pictures.
and all the brilliant objects in the chamber
should be covered with green gause as soon
as possible. The apartment was Iighted'
only by single lamp. covered with shade
and placed behind screen. Inis. the niece
Of The Countess, insisted on watchins all
night In the room.
Alphonsine was excessively agitatsd and
slept but little. Sometimes she sat up in
the bed and gazed on me with delicht;
sometimes she opened the curtains to look
round at the chember, and the light of th~
lamp, dim as !, was appeared % her daz-
z''ng. Several times she clasped her hands
and exclaimed, Oh how happy l am !"
Early in the morning when the physician
came in, she seemed afraid of him, and hid
her face on my shoulder hut she caresscd
inis, and asked her If shu was not an an-
gel.
| The questions Of Alphonsine we're innu-
mernble, and her admiration was unbound.
ed. As soon as she wns up and dressed.
she went about the room examining every
thing in It, and all was considered .beauti-
ful. When our dinner was brought "a us.
il was long time beforc she began 10 eat
il, 90 much was she occupied in ado,iring
every thing that was on the tablc---the CHI
no, the glass. and the silver and she said
in her simplicity, What can there be in :
heaven that is moro beautiful .hsn these
things!" l explained to her tha, what she
now saw was the work only Of man, but
that the work Of God, and the beauties of
nature, which she wns yet to see, were far
superior to oil the wonders Of art.
Her idea of distance was 30 imperfect,
that she extended her hand 10 reuch objects
that were at the fsrhest end Of the room !;
and she could not recognize at sight tho
same things that had always been familiar
to her touch. She showed Qrsst desire 10
pnss through the donrs whenever they were
opened, but word from me always check.
ed her curiosity.
tho particulars Of the sudden death Of her
unworthy husband, who had made ber ex-
'remely unhappy from tho time she was
married to him. He died in Madrid and
shortly afier the Countess, with her niece
mud nephew came to the castle Of MoutaI-
van, to pass there the period oftheir mourn
ing. They found the house-keeper Leono.
ra sick |; and the physician said she seem.
ed 10 have something on her mind. The
confessor OF the Countess went TO visit her..
and exhorted Leonora 10 unburthen her
conscience.
She then with much agitation confessed
TINT she had yie'dei to the bribes and per-
suasions Of the Count de Moncnlde, and
had consented in joining in his plan Of i'm
muring me aud my child in the wants Of
the castle, and reporting US TO have Eper-
ished nj sen, that by this means he might
enjoy our estates. But ns Lconorn ros-
sessed some sense af religion, she could
not prevail upon herself to treat US with all
the ricor exacted by tie Count, who hoped
to shorten our existence by adding 10 our
suffcrings; for which reason he interdicied'
the Use Of light, thinking il impossible We
could live long in total dark ness. He also
forbade Lconora to visit us in our dungeon,
VI W sec ub w uus tcst tNc tlgut vi OUT
misery should induce her to reIent. For
this reason, as much, us to preclude the
possibility Of our escnpe, he had the door
at the top Of the stairs walled up and the
trop-door through which The basket passed
wns ut distance from the staircase, and
every way inaccessible from below.
Several yenrs had elapsed, and the Count
finding on one of his visits to the castle that
his csptives still lived, told Leonora that he
would the next day prepare the Countess
Diana's food, and carry it himself to the
trap-door. Lconora's suspicious were I'M
mediately reused and in the manner I
have related, she saved my life, by pre-
viously warning me not to taste my thing
that came in the Counts basket; and tho
justice Of her apprehcnsions was proved, by
tho fate OF the poor little dog. that died
from Iapping the poisoned milk.
The Count was much disappointed when
Re found that his atrocious design had fell
ed and Lconors, knowing the cowardice
Of guilt, deferred him from say further At
tempt, by threatening to make public dis
closure Of oil that he had already done,
and delivering him up to the punishment Of
the law.
This was the substance Of Leonora's
confession 10 the priest. Shc professed
great pcnitcncc for having SO long conceal
ed aud abeucd The villainy Of the Count
and begged that the confsssor would inn
mediatcly take measures to effect the re-
lease of ihe prisoners. Afier having made
the disclosure, Lconora, whose illness had
been caused by the remorseful sosdings Of
an evil conscience, said she felt herseIf 20
muck better that she could leave her bed
and guide the dsliveTers Of the Couutess
Disns to the dungeon.
The priest then went directly 10 The
Countess de Moucslde, end acquainted her
with this surprising discovery. The
smszemeut Of that smisbIs lady could on