The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-04

4 =
your love- and she turned down one of the
walks which led to the Villa He stood gaz
ing after her until she disappeared, then q
slight rustling was heard among the orange.
trees which fronted the arbor-the clustering
boughs were gently parted, and fair and
graceful girl, with eyes and hair as dark as
the raven night, was by his side.
Ma Belle = burst from his sealed lips, and
passing his arm around her, they walked in a
direction opposite to the one Inez had taken.
At length they emerged from the labyrinth OF
trees and flowers, and stood where
"The moonlight, glaneing
Ger fair. quiet sea,
And bright waves dancing
In their fairy like gIeo.'
Look, my Isabella, at those dark blue
waves, how their gentle bosoms heave to the
moons chaste rays, while they seem TO WOO
her soft and silvcly light with tones Of wild
and witching melody. Think you. dearest,
that swelling cadence is but the echo of the
mermaids strain or the evening song Of the
sea shell 2
It's some tabled monster Of the deep, who
has fallen in love with, and imprisoned a
beautiful Peri, whose ETHEREAL song cannot
bear confinement in the narrow caves of CO.
rail- and she's signing away her bright ex-
istence in this sweet and melancholy song,
whose music is drawn from pearl harp
But look, Harold, towards Venice--see her
marble palaces glancing in the moonlight, and
almost fancy can hear the busy hum of
the maskers. Can aught be more lovely,
dear Harold, than an Italian ever
Yes, my beautiful, will tell Won what is
Tar Irva ,yxI l. II. !
words in the maiden's ear that called warm
blush to her cheek, like the glow on summer
rose.
This is strange infatuation of st. Glars,
Isabelle, said her lover, after pause. Il
do not like it, neither will humor his way.
wardness longer. doubt the effect it will
have on Inez when she learns the deception
that has been praciised upon her. How pale
and sad she has been ever since the report OF
his death. 1t seems cruel not to undeceiye
her and think, were q woman, and my
betrothed husband doubted the strength and
consistency Of ,coman's lone, would - but
how would you act Isabelle?'
i will tell you, Harold-from that moment
should cease to love, or, still loving, nothing
could induce me to become his BRIDE
You have echoed my sentiments but
the gondola should be here by this--list! do
you not hear the dash of oars Ay, there II
is'-and while he spoke, the fairy thing shot
past them, and then giving sudden sweep,
rounded at the foot Of the marble stairs on
which they were standing.
To Venice, Signor y said the gondolier.
To the 'Hermit's rock replied Harold.
The man started, crossed himself, then Dip
the boat glided away as swift and noiselessly
bosom.
why did you start at the mention Of the
sHermit's Rock Z" said the lady. (Woman's
curiosity is proverbial.
It's a fearful story, lady but -- did
you never hear the legend of the Hermit's
Rock ~
Never
Perhaps you can tell it us, Francisco,
said the gentleman willing to indulge the
lady.
It's fearful story, as said before, your
Highness'-and here he crossed himself re-
peatedly--' but if twill please the Signora to
hear il, l have no objection to tell it'-and
after repeating an .aue Marie, he com
menced.
You see, your IIighness, it was many
years ago, long before can remember, that a
HOLY Father (may the blessed Virgin grant
repose to his soul) took up his residence in the
cavern Of the rock, tit was not called the
.Hermit's Rock then.) Well, the father was
very young and would have made as hand
some cavalier as any in Italy, but that he
preferred the cowl to the sword and plume
m LII IN hIS
cell, and all he ate, the peasants used to leave
at the foot Of the Lady's Leap Well, your
Highness, he had lived there about two months
without speaking to a soul, when, one bright,
sunny day in summer. tiny gondola, with
rover, was seen approaching the rock, and
presently lady sprang from the boat
Whence she came, no one knew, but they
said she was the most beautiful being that
ever was beheld with mortal eyes-as lovely
as the Signora, only her hair was fair, and it
s,reamed in the wind like waves Of liquid
gold but her eyes-her eyes you never could
tell the color Of. Indeed, they were so bright,
one could not look upon them. She never
walked, but bounded from rock to rock like a
fawn, and they gave her the name Of the Ga
zelle Lady, Indeed, she was more like
some bright vision Of a dream than an inhabi-
tant Of the earth. AT first the Hermit avoided
her, but every morning, before the dew was
off the flowers she was there--her wild laugh
ter echoing among the rocks, sometimes re-
sembling the low tones Of an Eolian harp, al
others, ringing wild and shrill, like hunters
bugle. They say il was her laugh, your High
ness, that drew the Holy Father to her, for
none who came within the sound could resist
it. She surely must have been the Evil One
himself and came to tempt the saint, as he
found nothing else could draw him from his
| pious seclusion Morn after morn, and eve
after eve was the tiny gondoa, with the Ga
| zelle Lady, seen TO approach and leave the
| rock, and she was often seen with the Fathers
hand grasped in hers, attempting to draw him
towards her boat. he all the time struggling to