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


! spot where the various roads met. To this
e abode was Blanche Of Naverre borne by
those who escorted her; and the orders
4 which wero given, in her hearing, to the
captain of the fortress, into whose hands
she was delivered, showed her that she was
: ihenceforth a prisoner, condemned unheard,
and punished, Though innocent. The only
: thing that marked her brothers love, or her
brothers consideration, was, that the apart
ments assigned to her were spacious and
, arranged with taste, for her convenience.
: She thought, however, Of Francis of
, Folk she thought of him often, kindly aud
tenderly sbc thought Of all that he would
suffer from her absence. She loved to let
, imagination pic,ute his occupations, his
thoughts, his feelings. II became solace
to her, an enjoyment, TO be alone and think;
and, IN the perfect solitude wherein she llv-
ed, where no eye could see her, no scornful
J glance draw matter for n deriding laugh
, from the feelings Of her heart, she would SIT
: and let the expression of those feelings pass
us they would over her countennuce, with
out one effort 10 repress them now show
ing themselves in the dow neast ego OF mel
ancholy, now sparkling in one dewey tear,
Wv" S'e""'E soi't iuto ~ bi'sbt sulo W
hope aud confidence.
, Thus passed the hours; till, Mt length,
I one day, when in the midst of her musings,
she had given way To oil she felt, nnd
name--now the more deeply beloved from
having been dwell upon lsng in the solitary
companionship OF memory--the nnme Of
Francis of Folk, tremble6 on her lips, her
r ear caught tho sound of u quick coming
r step, and, turning round, she behe!d, in her
very chamber, man wrapped in long
' pilgrims robe. Her hear, beat quickly bu,
the next moment he himselfwas n, her feet.
Blanche " he said, Blanche do
you forgive me for what I ionsl Do you
: forgive me for having sought you here--for
s having risked the ,sfscovery Of oil the love
Il l bear you, in order to free you from the
k unworthy ,hraldom in which yon are held -
o Can you doubt it 7" she replied, Oh,
1t Francis can you doubt TINT this is mo-
: ment Of Joy 7"
IS lie pressed his lips upon the small hnud
10 he held, and then rcplied,-" Andye,, denr
70 Blanche, do you consider all that must BE-
"a if you would now obtain your freedom by
Z: the means that have prepared Thnl
90 me not ungenerous enough, think mo no
&c base enough, 10 seek to toke the slighles
'r, advantage of the shameful persecution Il
s- which you have been s1brcied, in ofde
Va even to obtain happiness for myself
speak but because thy pure and viriuou'
I'd name is now as dear to Francis of Fol,
he even Ms to yourself; and would ot,-no,
IS not for earth, aud NIL that earth cnn give
o, by any net or deed Of mine, bring, howev-
,e cr unjustIy, one stain upon that clear un-
ID spotted fame. Hear me, therefore-heai
{, me! II Blanche Of Navurre flies with
10 Frnncis Of Folk, she must determine TO be-
It come his wife as soon ms they hive togeth-
= er broken the binds with which tyranny
u has CENTRALIZED her. Safe, indeed, shouId'st
= thou be, dear Blanche" he added "safr,
Z as u sister or child, from word or deed,
d or thought, that could offend thee, wer
!, thou to wander with me, alone, prosecuted,
:r unprotected, throughout the world and,
d were MS hnppy-had ! been as wise, as
Is many another man hns been, thou might
J. est do SO without fenr Of blame or of re-
proach. But Francis Of Folk has made for
1t himself an evil name, which ages Of virtue
,r will scarcely purify and l fenr,-oh /
3 fear to ask thee to fly with me, even from
l. persecution and injustice, unless thy cen6-
e ding heart can trust 10 thr deep love thou
ri hast inspired, and thy hand become mine
% as soon as we are free"
N Blanche had turned pale, and then a.
J. gain red ard now she sat with downcna
o eyes, and cheek once more bloodless and
@ white as marble. II was not that she fenr-
10 ed it was not that she doubted my longer !;
= il was not even that her heart hesitated in
Il. FL
u that she loved him she knew, she felt that
IT she wns truly beloved. But it was the
very depth Of such fcelings; it was the
q very strength Of the passion in her heart
q 1t was the very intensity of the emotion III
h her bosom, that bIanched her cheek and
e caused her knees to shake.
% Francis Of Folk saw, but comprcle nded
!. not entirely, the agitation that she suffered.
. Oh, Blanche !" he said, gently twinIng
9 his arms around her, doubt ine, doubt
e me not Could you but tell the change
d that has taken place in my heart could
e you bJt feel how deeply. how totally, how
. through every thought and feeling am
n changed, you would not fear to trust me,
: even with the treasure of yourssf-Let rne
D show thee how | nm changed Let me
$ tell tbee,-let me dare TO tell thee, that the
: time has been when the shameless renown
}, Of having iriumphed over thy purity would
e have been no uDwelcOme sound to my ears.
O Yet now pledge thee my honor and my
!. soul that | would sooner any one should
o call Francis Of Folk a coward, than that
: one stain should rest upon Blanche Of Ma
: varre :"
81 know il, I know it!" she replied
J. "i have heard tbes spenk ], when thou
g ihoughtest tbs, no enrs heard thee bu, those
Il Of scoffers. l have heard thee, Francis,
s asd my heart has thanked thee. ] know
j. that thou vii. eve me know thou viii
II be true to- me doubt Thee no longer; !