The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-03-13


not hesitate! 1t was agitation, but not
doubt. II was deep, deep emotion, but not
hesitation 7"
"Then, thou lowest me :" he exclaimed,
pressing her eagerly, but ienderIy, to his
bosom; then, thon lowest me thou art
minc.-Dear, dear Blanche thou hast led
me back from the depth of folly and vice,
aud then hast rewnrded the effort with thy
self. A VOW will bind us at the ultar-a
vsw, too often broken, too often utterly for
got. Bun here, before thee as | kneel in
the sigh, of God, who sees us both take a
deeper vow (; TO dedicate my whole exis-
tcncc unto thee, to make thy happiness my
whole object, my whole cnsc /; not alone to
repay thee love Tor love, but to exceed all
Tint thou canst feel or show !. and prove to
thee, that the heart of Francis of Folk, like
the brigh, blade of the well-,empercd sword
r,ay have been dimmed for a while by The
breath of evil, but is still uDrusred, strong,
ard firm MS ever. My Blanche my own;
my only beloved ~
blanche bent down her head upon his
shoulder and wep. and agcs of smiles
were not worlh that one moment of tears
But other matters pressed for thought and
wv to'Vi toiu HtI, tuut uc Nub tucto WIu
three resolved companions, babiled MS pill
grn,s to tho shrine of 81. Jngo; that they
hid ob,ained hospitality Of tho governor Of
the castle, and that he had left his comrades
below, 10 nnusc that officer with story and
with song, while he had obtained leave to
wander round the rampar,s of The caslle.--
They were to repose there for Tint night;
his train was within few miles distance
and il Blanche, he said, aud her attendant,
would he prepared by half mn hour after
midnight, he doubted not, either by cor
ruption or by strntagem, TO obtain the
means of eilcc,ing her escape from the cas-
tie.
She promised md, after few moments
more, given to the ou,pourings Of affection,
he left her, To pursue his scheme. Blapche
could trus, in the girl who had nccompnni- ,
cd her thiiher; aud, ms soon as she entered
the chamber, she told her all. Their prep
Arations were speedily made; aud loug and
heavy seemed the hours I'LL the sun went
down behind the mountains.
I, The windows were open, and the sum
: 'ner Sir brea,hed sweet and mild but, in
moment or two after, borne on The wings
}, Of that ligh, wind, came sound from a
i midst tho rocky passes which led nwoy to-
o words Pampelunn.
Z Then creaked the ppr,culIis up /; dowR
fell the drawbridgo, aud there were tramp
ling feet and speaking voices iu the court
r below. The heart Of Blanche. of Navarro
SINK with disappointed hope aud iinagi-
= nation, too, us often cruel ss she Is kind,
now Ieogued with apprehension TO dednco
n Thousand evils from, those simple sounds.
The absence Of her lover from her brothers
! court, she hooght--ner did she think wrong.
y-might, by this time, have caused sus-
pcion. His steps might have been follow
ed, his pnih observed and messengers
might hive been sent to arrest him. or dc :
fent his purpose. Hope, the most timid.
though the most persevering Of guides, put
out her torch in terror and Blanche lean
cd her head upon the table aud wept.
At that moment, howeser, the latch of
the door was gently raised, and Francis OF
Folk stood before her.
"Qnick !" he exclaimed, "quick, Jenr-
est Blanche not moment of time is to be
lost Give me your hnnd, beloved Fol-
low your mistress quick, fair maid. But
first put on these pilgrims gowns"
"Alas aIns we are too late" replied
Blanche "thcro nre people in the court
below-some messenger is just arrived"
know il ulI," he unsw cred, know
il oil But the governor sleeps, well filled
with wine; have an order under his hnnd
TO give me exit by the posiern, at what hour
I please, accompanied by all my compnn-
ions. The soldiers ia the court are dspu-
ling whether they shall wake him: we
I ,,,n. I.ur niuu.I,o LAT, b,s
away"
Her heart beat high, her whole frame
trembled; tho inevitable step was to be TIA
ken I; the Ins, deciding net wns to be per-
formed which fixed her fate for ever: aud,
| together with that consciousness-whicl,a at
any time would have shaken her whole
frnme and moved her whole hcart-wcro
now combined danger and apprehension.
the risk Of disappointment, dsgrnce, mis-
representation, calumny.
Yet she hesitated not She loved and was
beloved aud the strong, ennoblng pass
ion, now, in the moment Of difficulty and
peril. supplied strength, and courage, nnd
| frmness, TO the weak frame and timid
heart. She cnst the clonk around her; she
drew the hood over her head she gave her
cold and tire milling hand to Frnncis Of Foix;
and, with quick but noiseless step, follow
ed him, rs he led the way along one Of the
corridors of the castle, and down the muni-
fold steps which brought them to ths lesser
court. The moon, raising her broad, gold
en- disk just above the dark masses OF tho
Distant Pyrennees, strcamed foil into the
court; aud, on the other side, appeared the
forms Of three men, parity concealed from
the windows Of the castle BY the shadow
Of the high wsll--parly exposed from a
break therein, prsctissd through the upper
part for the purpose Of giving exit, By somc
steps, 10 demi-lune. thrswn forward upon
a prsjsclion ef the roek.