Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-04-06

death that the noble Durazzo donors them
with has presence lie may scarce expec,
from the weakness Of female nature the iron
nerve OF his warriors.
Nay, am here.' muttered the Duke. in
a tone as conciliatorv as his haurb,y nature
would permit, i am here as your friend.
Nay, hear me out; my counsel can pre-
serve you even yet, from the death YOU are
TO die, and yon dropping dame from fortunes
more terrible than death
The expression of sullen scorn on philip
pas speaking cOunteuancc. vanished into
one OF intense grict at the allusion TO her
grand. daughter.
Thou say'st wei" she cried; n thous,
and deaths would endure to free this lamb
from the grasp of the wolf! will endure
thy counsel, aye, and thank thee, if 1T yield
aid! Spcak--what may be done?'
Disclose the names of your accomplices
~ this matter said Durazzo, slowly, and
hxi7T his eyes on her face. We wot well
the pros was conceived BY higher than
thou confess, and vii! thee and this lady
all shall yet be well =
The Caa1ese lifted her 5.cs to those nf
the Duke, gazing as though she woGld read
his very soulful his own quailed before
their indignant flash God reward thee
said she, according TO thy evil though,
And OH may the Holy Virgin protect my
royal mistress from thy base devisingsr
Dhrozzo felt his unholy purpose detected,
stripped bare to the glance of virtuous alb
horrence. lie strovc to cover his confu
sion beneath compassionate remons,ranca.
Woman he replied, your hardihood can
not shield the guilty; confession will save
YOURSELF
How gracious is your Highness !! re.
turned the victim with concmptuous
smile; who shall say that aughl bu,
prlncey compassion and cIemency hath led
the lofty Dnrazzo to parley with the con.
demned? Who shall say he shows not true
zeal for the honor of his Queen, whose
realms ne would Inherit? Who shall saw
Your obs,inocy be upon your own hcad.'
sald the Duke muttering curses as he
strobe away; but. returning almost imme-
dia'ely. he pointed to the half Efeless form
ofSancha.
wit thou cast away also her chance OF
safety? The young and the fair love no,
to part with life
Even to her. was the unmoved reply,
life would be worthless if bought by false.
hood!' And the procession moved on.
1t was, in truth, Il moving spectacle to
see that aged dame, whose years, even had
she been less innocent, should have arrest
ed the arm of whose long SER
vices had won the affection of roval bosoms
who had seen mobiles at her feet, and
controlled by her influence the destlnes of
an EMPIRE dragged to an infamous death
Haunted in her last hours by enemies and
persecutors--yet silently enduring all. anX.
ious only to shelter and sustain the ialnling
one beside her--and, literally, to smoo,hc
her passage to the grave! The rabble
surrounding the car emula,ed each the
other IN heaplng coward insults on the
head OF the victim dust was flung upon
her as she passed every tongue upbraided
her : and the execratons, and shouts of
rejoicing over the downfall of the supposed
sorceress ard murderess, at times rose TO
perfect yell of fury. Il was often with DIFF.
ficuty the guard could open way, so ca.
gerly did the misguided populace throrg to
vent the rage that had been artiulIy reused
among them.
There was one, however, who wcpt Bit
ter and burning tears at the tidlnCs Ofthcir
fate one who would have knel; humby
before the rudest of these rude ministers,
prayed, as for the boon Of life, for permits
sion to embrace for the last time the be-
loved sufferers: yet was that solacc denied
her! In agony OF spirit that detied all
consolation, IN paroxysms Of despair that
terrified her attendants, Joanna paced
the floor of her apartment the whole
of that fatal night. Coldy, bitterly, she
repealed the enlreaties OF her womcn--spur
mig every offer at reef--till the dreaded
dawn brought TO her cars the hat cful shouts
OF the populace--the din of preparations
the hoarse sound of the bells changing the
death peal, followed by the ompous silence
which told that the fearful tragedy was
even then enac'ing The Revision Of
feeling overpowered her ; PROSTATE on her
couch she lay, the succession Of quick con
vnlslve sobs that burst from her bo2om
alone marking her sens Iblity to meEtp suf
ferlng. One by one the hours passed +;
the occasional tramp of cavalry, as they
swept along the street, would arouse her
for moment, to sink again IN the dellrlum
of wretchedness.
Meanwhile work was wrought upon
the sea. shore--in the very smi,a of that
lovely sky, the tairest of the inhabitants of
earth look upon--whch caused the hearts
of men to shudder, and banched the bodies,
cheek even among the prosecutors. 1t was
done the decrepit Philippe, racked by
lortures that would have Frustrated many
vigorous frame, and subdued many a
manly spirit. but which had been poweress
to extort murmur from her lip, was borne
towards the place of final execution. San.
cha was not with her the strength OF the
younger had sunk under he ghastly iphlc
tons OF her judges, aud she had been with