The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-28

ITALIAN looked At her in sulky silence, and
went on as if intending to obey but when the
vehicle reached the turning Of the road, he
was evidently about to pursue the way which
had been forbidden. Mary Of Mantua, how
ever, stopped the carriage. and trying 70 raise
her gentle voice into the sharp tone Of dis
pleasure, asked how he dared 70 disobey.
The man replied surliIy, because i was
the best road and be would certainly have
driven on, had not the old servant who al
tended upon her interfered 10 enforce his mis-
tress's command. Even his authority the
driver was inclined to resist |; but while win
true Italian carelessness of time, loud words
ana exal gerated gesture, the two were argu-
ing there came sound Of horses galloPing.
IL was what the driver wished and expected,
and, looking up the road, he saw body Of
some Twelve mounted men coming at full
speed. Mary saw them, too, and terror and
anguish took possession Of her heart. As they
came on, however, there suddenly appeared
other figures in the road between her and
them. From amongst the trees and vince
yards poured out little band on foot and
horseback, and at their head, managing his
fiery horse with grace and ease, he whom she
had seen at the convent not an hour before.
OF her he now took no notice, but standing
firm in the way, formed with his band barrier
between her and the coming horsemen.-Ihe
driver still paused, though she besought HIM
to 90 on, and she could behold swords crossed
and pistols fred, and one or two horsemen fly
up the road again. She saw not well which
party had the advantage, but the driver judged
more clearly, and .smacking his whip, drove
down the road he had been ordered to take.
New agitation now fell upon Mary Of Man
tua as she approached the abode Of her uncle;
and as drawbridge after drawbridge, gate after
gate were passed, she prayed TO heaven ior
strength and prudence TO save herself rom the
dark horror Of his love.
She had not seen tho Duke Vincenzo for
many years, and had long forgotten him, SO
that imagination drew her own sketch froin
the rumors and stories of the day. twas now
twilight, and she was ushered up the long
flight Of marble stairs--afterwards destroyed
in the cruel sacking Of the city--and then INTO
cabinet, where she remembered having
played in the days Of her childhood when her
father was living and Duke Of Mantua. 4
now seemed smaller but more gloomy, though
It was well lighted, and on the opposite SIDE
sat one whose appearance at once marked OUT
the Prince. He rose and advanced towards
her as different being as it was possible to
conceive, from all that she had previously FAM
cied. Tall, graceful, handsome, though in his
decline, and tho sickness-perhaps vice
had worn all the rosy lines of youth away,
and left nothing but the shadow Of beauty be-
hind, his appearance was certainly far more
preposssssing than Mary Of Mantua had ex-
pected. Nevertheless, there was something
in the expression Of his countenance-some-
thing in the fixed and criticising gaze with
which he looked upon the lovely creature be-
fore him, that made an involuntary shudder
pass over her frame and when he took her by
the hand, and as her uncle kissed her cheek,
she thought of the warning she had received,
and Of him who had given it.
The Duke was not long ere he spoke upon
that theme which she most dreaded to hear;
but he spoke not in the terms which might
have been most painful to her. He traced it
but as matter of court necessity; he talked
of his marriage with her as a thing that would
benefit the state. Princes he said must be the
slaves 10 their duties, and though he doubted
not that one SO young and beautiful as herself,
it must be somewhat painful to unite herself
to a man in the decline of life, yet he was sure
that she would make no opposition to that
which would set at rest for ever all the con-
tending claims on Mantua and Montferrat.
So well and wisely had her unknown coun-
seller hitherto advised her, that Mary followed
his directions in this also to the letter. She
showed no repugnance, but bending down her
head with the ingenious blush Of modesty up
on her cheek, she replied as he had dictated.
The Duke seemed pleased; perhaps it was
more than he expected, and he replied with
sanguine expectation that his divorce would
not now be long delayed, after which dispen-
sation would be easily obtained. There was
one thing which Mary besought him earnestly
to grant, which was, that she might return on
the morrow to the convent where she had
passed her early days.
The Duke consented; but while he spoke,
he old attendant, who had ever remained at
ached to her, was admitted by page, and
bending low, he related to The Duke the adven-
ture which had befallen them on the way, and
commented bitterly on tho treachery Of the
driver. The Duke sent for his secretary and
whispered word in his ear, and as he was
leading Mary to the hall where supper waited
them, there came through the windows the
sound Of loud volley and one shrill piercing
cry. The Duke moved gracefully on by her
side without a change Of countenance, but
Mary turned deadly pale, and on the follow
ing morning another servant drove the vehi-
Gle that contained her back to the convent.
1t was about noon, when she arrived, and
the busy nuns surrounded her like swarm Of
bees. They were all eager to hear tidings
without, but they were soon satisfied; and at
the same evening hour at which on the day
before she had watched the fair prospects Of
the Mantua plains, she again stood by the ta-
BILE of stone in the convent garden, and the
stranger was by her side She thanked him
eagerly, and often gazed upon the bright and
glowing countenance that gazed with tender
admiration upon her again.