The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-16

you WISH 10 see Them! They are very
curious. That door opens into a gallery,
which will conduct us TO IA staircase, by
which we can descend into these cayerns."
At these words she drew from her pock-
ct large key, tied with a blue ribbon, and
advanced towards the door, us if to open it.
l stopped her, for l was overcome with
grief and fatigue, and had no desire to ex-
plore the vaults at thar late house. ! a.
gain threw myself on the bed, and in an
agony of tears, implored Leonora to let me
see my child. AT last she said" You
cannot see her. If must tell the truth,
the Count has already conveyed Katrina,
with the child, and Martin, to little cot
,age which has been prepared for them in
the forest beyond the castle, where they
will live with the infant, (Which is to pass
I for iheirs,) aud you must be satisfied to re-
i main in confinement. The Count has
/ brought you here in secret, but he wishes
every one to suppose that you aud your in
/ fant pershed III the storm on your voyage
TO Bilboa. Do you not understand, that
at your death, (whether real or supposed, }
your cousin, the Count, inherits this castle,
and nearly all your other property Is it
then surprising, that he should wish to put
YOU out of the way
! ] scarcely heard 10 the end Of this dread
ful communication, before my senses de-
serted inc, and sank into fainting fit.
When recovered, found thar Leonors,
who was standing beside the bed, had un-
dressed me, aud in IA pcremptory tone, she
ordered me TO cease my complaints, and
le, her go TO sleep, or that l should have
cause to repent it, She then drew the
curtains of my bed, and prepared TO retire
TO her own. | lay gazing mt her through
the curtains, but not conscious, of any
thing | saw, so much was l absorbed in
my own grief, till saw her take out of
the pocket the key with the blue ribbon,
and put il in the draw of small tabie that
stood near her cot. was suddenly struck
with the thought, that if | could possess
myself Of this key, lsmight unlock with it
the door that led to the vault, which re-
collected her telling me bad an outlet into
the garden. Through these caverns hop
ed TO be able to make my escape; intend
/ ing 20 seek the cottage 10 which my child
| had been sent, and to endeavour to engage
Katrina, to assist me in flying with my in
fant TO somo place of refuge, where we
should be safe frem the power otthe Count
This plan once conceived, l revolved it
upon my mind till had arranged il so that
l could not but hope that it would be sue
cessful. ] saw Leonora light the night
lamp, set in The chimney, and afterwards
90 to bed. In about quarter of an hour
| knew by her breathing that she was in
sound sleep. then rose and dressed
myself as softly as possible, and opening
one Of my trunks, took from it my money
and few jewels, and concealed them n
bou, my clothes. My large jcwel.box had
been seized by Leonoru, almost as soon ms
| / arrived, and she Ind carried it out of the
room on prctence of locking it up. j had
with me little dog, which had been given
me by my husband, and which now low
ed next to my child, and could not think
Of leaving Azor behind. awoke him by
my carresses, and made signs that he must
be pc 'fectly quiet. The faithful animal
understood me, and lay with his head up
on bis fore paws, watching me in,ently.
but not presuming to move.
! l approached on tiptoe the table that
stood by Leonora's bed my heart throb-
bed so violently that rould scarcely breathe.
| opened the drawer, and took out the key,
1 ! went to the door that communicated with
the gallery; put the key into the lock,
which opened easily, aud without the least
noise. took lighted taper in my hand,
and my dog under my arm, and passed
through the door, which closed after me,
and it made no sound whatever
Afcr going down flight of stairs, ]
found myself in long narrow gallery, at
the end Of which saw another door that
was fastened only by hook and loop OF
! iron. ] opened it without difficulty, and
saw long staircase, which | cautiously
descended. II had more than two hundred
steps; and when reached the bottom,
found myselfin vault or cavern oil prodig-
ious extent, in which ! hoped to discover
the outlet into the garden.
wandered a long time about the lower
part Of the cavern, but finding no openlng'
directed my steps towards the other extrem-
iiy, which gradually ascendcd. ] walked
slowly, and looked round auentiyely on ey.
cry side, when suddenly heard the sound
of falling water. This sound made me
start with Joy, for doubted not that il came
from the garden, and tha, the outlet OF the
cavern was near. turned to the right, and
I entered recess formed by walls OF rug
ged rock.-IIere found n cascade or foun-
tain descending from sn immense height
near the top Of the cave, and falling behind
an enormous mass Of broken rocks, where
the water propabIy preeipitating itself down
the slope, opened passage through the
stones. and trclsled out into the garden.
All my search for an aperture through
which might escape, proving Intellectual,
I left the recess and found my way TO the
fourth of these vast vaults. After walking
some distance, ] was surprised to find un-
der my feet a straw mating, and to see
that not only the floor was covered with 1t
DO, also the walls. advanced, bu; my