The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-23

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deep silence of the cavern, heard nfai
the steps Of Leouora. The sound made
my heart beat violently, for in few min.
uies | should again see a human being
She appeared at last and | was affected
( to tears, and held out my arms 10 her. She
carried in one hand lantern, and in the
other IA basket filled with biscuits, bottles
of wine and syrups. Her course and
masculine face looked more forbidding
than ever; no ray of pity, no trace of feel
ing softened its cold and harsh expression,
She seated herself by my bedside, and in
a severe tone inquired about my illness. j
could not answer her; my voice was sufio-
Gated with sobs. Leonoro felt my pulse,
and then said had ro fever. She rose to
leave me, and seized her gown to detsin
her. then protested that could not live
in this dungeon, deprived of my child, and
shut out from the light Of day and The nir
OF heaven. | besought her to take pity on
me, and to give me my liberty, and restore
to me my infant, for which would mos,
amply reward her.
Az these words, I4conora fierrely inter-
rupted me, rs if had proposed to her a
and promised TO settle on her, when | re-
suned my property, much larger pension
than the Count would ever grant her, and
to present her besides with an immense
sum of money. "Bui," said Leonora,
how shall be sure you will do this ?''
My gratitude" replied |, shall guaran-
tee the certainty of your reward" "Bui
eyen," resumed Leonora, "if il was posi-
bic for you 10 forget what you have already
suffered, and that il was ! that betrayed
you into this dungeon, (in obedience, how
ever, to the orders of the Counr,) how will
you shield me from the Indignation of the
world. cannot restore you now to liber-
ty without risking the loss of my own, and
without betraying the Count my master,
and subjecting him to the punishment of
the laws. Therefore, cease TO cherish this
foolish hope, and never again speak to me
on the subject, or shall be obliged to in-
form the Count, and then you will be treat
ed with far more rigor than heretofore"
So saying, Leonora rose to depart. She
left me penetrated with grief and disup-
pointment. Suddenly an extravagant
thought restored to me all my energy. |
conceived the design of running after my
jailer, and escaping through the deor by
which she was TO pass. ] flew from my
chamber; heard the heavy steps of
Leonorl, md followed the sound. My
dog, who ran after me barking, prevented
Leonora from hearing me behind her, and
my feet being bare, they made but little
noise.
soon perceived the light Of the lantern
that Leonora carried, and speedily over
taking her, arrived at the first door of
the cavern at the same time that she did,
being Just behind her. With n palpiating
heart saw her take the key, apply it to
the lock and open the door; then at the
moment she passed through, ] sprang out
with her, so impetuously that ! threw her
down on the stairs, Emboldened by this
first success, darted up the staircase with
the rapidity of lightning, and in a moment
| reached the door at The top, Alas it was
fast.
In vain did | shake-rhe lock my feeble
hands had not strength to force it open.
Leonora, furious at my attempting TO es-
cape, and enraged at her fall, ran up in a
moment, aud threw herself upon me like a
honess seizing her prey. I made despcr-
ate struggle, which Increased her anger.
She held me in her strong muscular arms,
and tearing my handkerchieffrom my neck,
she used it to tie my hands behind my back.
| made the vaults resound with my shrieks,
and overcome with despair, ! tainted on
the shoulder of my cruel enemy. She car
ried me TO my bed, united my hands, and
left me to recover my senses rs i could.
On opening my eyes l found myself again
in my frigbtfu solitude. The profound ST.
lence Of the cavern made me shudder. My
dog slept TRANQUILITY beside me. ] was in
such deplorable depression, that his sleep
ing, while ] suffered so much, seemed to
add to my grief, and | awoke him.
felt myself bruised all over, and my hands
bore the marks OF Leonora's brutality; !
showed them TO my dog he licked the
bruises, and while this poor animal caress-
ed me, and seemed to share my sorrows, /
wept sadly but not yehemently, for | was
so weak and so overcome with fatigue, that
] could do nothing with energy. My mind
seemed enfsebled with my body, and for
several days lay on the bed in n state of
apathy. had fruit, water, and lemon
syrup on the table, and during all that time
did not go TO the wicket. When visited
II again, found two baskets instead Of one,
but neither of them contained any thing but
bread. In each was a note from Leonora.
In the first, she said, that 10 punish ne for
abusing her condescension, she would give
me nothing but bread for two weeks, and
that no preicnce Of sickness on my part,
should induce her to vIsn the again. In
the second, she told the that the Count had
returned from Madrid, and was 80 incensed
when she informed him Of my attempt to
escape, that he was going to have the door
that led to the cavern walled up, on the
pre,ence Of lie furnishing retreat for
thieves.
She said nothing Of my Alphonsine, and