Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-11
dare not shall be missed if l linger here
but fly instantly or you are lost"
"And leave my father 7"

"Whcrc is hc2
I'm the adjoining chamber"
"Call him, then, but lose no time"
The young lady knocked at her fathers
door. lie was not yet retired to bed. She
hurried into his room, and told him of the
fearful warning she had received. The
Count returned with her into her chamber,
followed by Casper. His questions soon
drew the truth out of the embarrassed ans
wcrs Of the woman. They were to be in
troduccd after midnight, when the attendant
of the Princess and rest of the travellers
were sleeping, and would be an easy prey.
"But we can barricadc the inn, we can de-
fcnd ourselves" said the Count.
"What when the people of the inn arc in
league with the bandhtil"
"How then are we to escape? Can we
not order our carriage and dcpartl"
"San Francisco for whatl TO give the
alarm that tho plot is discovered! That
would make the robbers desperate and bring
them at once. They have had notice of the
rich booty in the inn, and will not easily let
it escape them"
"But how else are we to 20 off,"
HViC 10 q HUISC UtIilIu tlc IIuS SdIu
the woman, "from which the man has just
dismounted who has been the aid of part
of the band who were at distance"
"Onc horse and there are three of us !"
said the Count.
"And the Spanish Princess !" cried the
daughter anxiousl y-"IIow can she be cx-
treated from the dangcr?"
'Diabolo what is she to me p said the wo-
man in sudden passion. 1T is you come
to save, and you will betray me and we
shall all be lost. Hark!' continued she, Il
am called-I shall be discovercd--one word
more. This door leads by a staircase to the
court yard. Under the shed, in the rear of
the yard, is small door leading out to the
fields. You will find horse there, mount it
make circuit der the shadow of ridge
of rocks that you oil see-procced cautious
ly and quietly until you cross brook, and
find yourself on the road just where there
are three white crosses nailed against a tree;
then put your horse to his speed, and make
the best of your way to the village, but re-
collect, my life is in your hands--say nothing
of what you have heard or seen, whatever
may happen at the inn.'
The woman hurried away. A short agi-
tatod consultation took place between the
Count, his daugter and the veteran Casper.
The young lady seemed to have lost all APP
prchcnsion for herself IN solicitude for the
safety of the Princess. TO fly in selfish ST.
lcncc, and leave her to be massacred' A
shuddering seized her at the very thought.
The gallantry of the Count, too, rcvotcd
at the idea. He could not consent to turn
his back upon IA party of helpless travellers.
and leave them in ignorance of the danger
which hung over them.
But what is to become of the young lady,
said Caspar, 'if the alarm is given, and the
inn IS thrown into a tumut! What may
happen to her in chance medly aflray7'
Here the feelings OF the father were reused,
he looked upon the lovely, helpless child, and
trembled at the chance of her falling into the
hands of rullians.
The daughter, however, thought nothing of
herself, The Princess, the Princess only
let her know her danger. She was willing
to share it with her =
At length Caspar interlered with the zeal
of faithful old servant. No time was to be
lost-the first thing was to get tho young la
dy out ofdanger. 'Mount the horse he said
to the Count, take her behind you, and fly !!
Make for the village, rouse the inhabitants
and send assistance. Leave me here to give
the alarm to the Princess and think we
shall be able to stand siege until you send us
aid
The daughter would again have insisted
on staying with the Princess
'For what!' said Caspar bluntly. you
could do no good-but would be in the way
-wo should have to take care of you m
stead of ourselves.
There was no answering these objections,
the Count seized his pistols, and taking his
daughter under his arm, moved towards the
staircase. The young lady paused, stepped
back and said, fatcrng with agitation, 'There
is young cavalier with the Princess-her
nephew-perhaps he may
81 understand you Mademoisellc," re-
piled old Caspar with significant nod; not
hair Of his head shall suffer harm if
can helpit.
The young lady blushcd deeper than ever;
she had not anticipated being so thoroughly
understood by the blunt old servant.
"Ihis Is not what | meant" said she hes
italing. She would have added something,
or made some explanation, but the moments
were precious, and her father hurried her
away.
They found their way through the court
yard to the small postcrn gate, where the
horse stood, fastened to ring in the wall.
The Count mounted, took his daughter be-
hind him, and they proceeded as quickly as
possible in the direction which the woman
had pointed out. Many fearful and anxi-
Gus look did the daghtcr cast back upon the
gloomy pile of buildings; thelights which had
icebly twnhled through the dusty easements
were now disappearing, sign that the house
was gradually sinking to repose; and she
trembled with impdsicnce, lest succor should
not arrive untilthat repose had been fatally
Interrupted.
They passed silently and safely along the
skirts of the rocks, protected from obscrva-
ton by their overhanging shadows. They
crossed the brook and reached the place
where three white crosses nailed against
tree, told of some murder that had been COM
mittcd there. Just as thcv had rcacbod The