The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-12-11

n 81 told you not BEFORE" answered the Frencl
: man, "because your revenge will now be compile,
think you not the disgrace of being impoverishe
9 will be far greater to the knight than to the pag'
Believe me, to be as this Stanley will to-morro,
be, shall drive the iron into his very soul"
"NIy lord, am convinced. Your advice sha
be followed-and now let US talk of the court c
Fnnce.'
That very day, TO his utter astonishmcnt, an
while his heart was high with hope, Stanley re
ceved stern intimation through the mouth of tn
Ears cOnfessor that ere Tomorrow night his pa
tron would expect him to leave the castle. ThC
message was couched in terms that allowed of nc
expostulation. Stanley was thunderstruck Nc
reason was given--no opportunity for explanation
was to be permitted, and naughty refusal, couch.
ed in the most oppfobious language, and which
stung Stanley to the very SOUL was returned TO hi,
some moments, so great was his surprise, after re-
ceiyng this last message, that the young knigh,
could not find words to speak, shame at the insult
cast upon him, love for his patron despite his in
justice, and wild suspicion that his affection for
Blanche had something to do with his present situa-
ton, were the emotions chasing each other through
his bosom, and claiming his tongue in silence But
at length he recovered himself sufficiently to re-
member that the messenger still stood gazing Gu
riously upon him, and with naughty air, bidding
the man begone, and say that the call should be
obeyed, he strobe proudly from the hall, left the
castle, and sought the refuge of the wood for so-
tudc.
The tempest of emotions that now ragged in his
bosom deiied all description. One moment he
thought of making his way lorcibly to his patrons
presence, and then his proud spirit repealed with
ndgnity the degradation of further bcsccching for
justice where he had met insult. Then his thoughts
reverted to Blanche, and with Borrowing scnsa-
ton he felt that all hope of winning her was over
find friends powerful enough to advance him against
the cnmity of her father, or how could he hope to
wed Blanche while her parent remained his perse-
cutor !? Then he would torture himself in imaain-
ing what was the cause of his offence, for surely it
was no fault to love Blanche if he took no unnlan-
y advantages of his situation to win her affections
in return, and that he had not done So he felt that
he might challenge the word to deny Now and
then suspicion would flash across his mind that,
in some way other, the count had been the cause
of his disgrace, and clcnchng his dagger he would
VOW to avenge the wrong upon his naughty rival.
Yet still he could arrive at no conclusion. A sus-
picon of the truth never for moment crossed his
mind: had it done so, the morrow's sun would have
seen one or both of the rivals dead.
81 know but one thing" at last he said, and
that is THAI have been grievously wronged. Some
one has deceived my kind bcneiactor, but time
alone can undeceive him. Yet my detractor ,who-
ever he be, shall yet rue this days work. will
have vengeance on him, if ever discover him.
BY day or by night, in camp or al rcve, here or in
a foreign land let me but learn who has thus cross
ed my path, and by the saintcd purity of my moth
er, will make him pay bitterly for this day 'swork.
am young-I am of as proud lineage as any in
the land! am beltcd knght-and though poor
and unirlcndcd, feel that with this arm and the
love of Blanche, can carve out my own fortune.
The motto of my fathers is "NEvER DESPAIR"
and that motto | will never forget. Ay! ay!"
he continued bitterly shaking his clenchcd hand
on high, "my revenge will yet come, and proud
Frenchman if thou hast had a hand in these insults,
either thou or shalt de- And for few mo-
men,s, overcome by the intensity of his passion,
he paused.
1t was stern picture, the one presented by the
young knight, as he stood there with frowning
brow, and lips rigidly compressed, while thou
sand wild plans of revenge, on he knew not as yet
whom, chased each other in rapid succession thro'
his mind. Only Michael Angelo could have done
justice to him. All that was stern, all that was
impassoned, all that was noble in Indignation shonc
from his eye, and was stamped in every neamen,
of his counlenance. In looking on that stony face,
over which wild exulting hope of ultimate re-
venge seemed yet to prevail, you might have ante
dated the lines OF byron:
But if we do but watch the hour,
There never yet human power
Which could evade, If lnoreiyon,
The patient search and vigil long
OF him who treasures up wrong"
"But Blanche" he continued directly, "what
will she think ofall this! Can they come between
our love? All! may not she have seconded this
disgraceful deserlion But no! wrong her pure
nature. She loves NE still Yet may never see
her more. Oh!' he continued passionateIy, ''would
that had never met her, dearest loycliest Of thy
sex, or else that now had the rights which are
mine by BIRTH and might wed thee as an equal
But this is idle When | should be acting am
repining. But it is over. Yesterday was boy:
today am man. ! will see Blanche once more
to tell her of my exile, 10 learn whether she will
still think of me and disbeHeve what they may say
against me, and then bidding farewell to yon I'M
grateful towers, will 90 forth into the world to
learn the worst il can do for me-"