Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1841-08-24
Vol. L.


ball which had killed his father, and which the
had vowed TO wear amclet upon his heart TIL
vengeance should be satisfied lin despite Of all,
pIetro had been cnsnarei IN the sken bondage of +
love. Perhaps n refinement Of Italian vengeance,
sti more than Cecca's dark Italian eve, had in
spircd him with the idea of cntanging the aiiec-
ticns Of the child Of his btcrest foe Perhaps, too
the very contrast between his hatred for the father
and bis impetuous passion for the daughter, added
fuel 10 the flame. BE II as It MAJ, nc loved and
beloved. For many years. the two iarcilies ac-
tua,ed by spirit Of mutual hostility that deied all
hope Of rccOnc alton, had closed against each other
at the entrance OF their respective villages and
more than one brace Of vhzz,ng bullets had been
exchanged between the Tide.tes % the contending
parties. But Cecca vas woman. and fertile IN
cxpedlcnts; she was acquainted with the shortest
byroads the place OF rendezvous and Pietro could
have found his way thlther bllndfOd. Each night
the lover glided unperceved along the narrow path
way Of the village visit his beloved, and the tell
tale guitar PAID the homage OF many amorous lay
TO the shrine Of ms divinity. Love is a feeble
soner the patti that Cccca trod was strcwcd with
roses-so soft, sweet, she scarce could feel the
thorns. To love easy task to obtain her
fathers consent, more difficult than to level the
mountain with the valley Even had he consented,
Pietro had sworn that steel should never his
beard till life had been paid for life and Pietro
was of race, that. from sire to son, had never vi
oated an oath of blood. More than once poor Gee
ca had shuddsrcd a. the violence OF his impreca-
tons against ler frther. More than once, her gen
tie caresscs lad interpoSed between the lion and
his wrath-but Pietro might grapple with his
Guy in the fuest-and Cocoa night not &c there 90
soothc hum with her caresses
Ceccas ap'fehensions were but too well founded.
Her latter, Informed 10y some Jealous rival of the
lovers nightly meetings, watched Pictro IN his
path, uSulttd him with bitter taunts. and swore
that, Should again be found within the precincts
of the village, bullet should cllectually relieve hun
from his ovc.sck pains. Pietro's blood boiled with
Indignation. lie forgot Cocoa, hc thought of his
fathers sad fate 'fCor lad - observed my guide
'his hand unlucky-but he had his blow. swift
the thought OF vengeance that 'niamed his soul.
he discharged his carbne at the father Of his mis-
tress hlial affection turned aside the weI-intcnd-
ed aim, and the old man, though within a few PAGES
OF his assallant, escaped with 4 slight wound Pr
made for the forest and from That moment com
menccd the wandering existence Of a Corsican Ban
dlt-that miserable career generally tcrmnated by
the gend arms fsil and. during its brief span, at
iordrng 50 many displays OF energy and hcrOsm
worthy OF better cause.
Then commenced for Cocoa new existence
Confined to the narrow limits OF the village by the
suspicious of her father and the threats OF her
atons, she felt that her heart steeCd by perse
cution; aud the very sullernrs she endured Tor II
etro rendered HIM still dcarcr 10 her affections.
Closely watched during the day, each night she
quilted her seepess couch 10 bear some message OF
peace aud love 10 that for her had sacrificed all.
" ti cNcIlsN anxiety the eye watched the moment
of his coming and he not, her scading tears
moistened the pittance of food which the ford girl
had boarded for the outlaw subsistence. Cocoa
alone acquainted with the impcnctrable asylum
where her lover had found a refuge. The thunder
might roll over her head the rain might drench
her with It's rushing torrents the lo:iest pines rent
by the storm might impede her passage ;-still she
would climb the rugged path that led 10 PIetros
treat among the mountains. She scarcely knew Il
the night was bltter-if the blast loud. Poor
Cocoa F.! Whilst my guide told his artlcss tale IN
tremuous accents, that BETRAYED the emotions even
Of his rude nature, mcthought ! could still see her
loyely-her features still glowing with the angelic
express lon-the sublime beauty which generous self
devotion lends. Methought / saw her sweeping
along the valley with the swiitncss of the blast that
bowed her gentle head. or toing up the steep whose
Hnty path laccrated her delicate feet. Fancy con
iured mp her once gracious form, nightly cheering
the sad repair Of crime with one hour of peace
sharing her lovers hard damp couch-hs cold, ex-
haused frame pressed To hers-his icy forehead pill
lowed on her bosom-his aching heart soothed by
the voice OF her he loved Oh can the tame and
vulgar spirits that love with cold PROFESSIONALISM
measure ont affection with the rule and square oil
formal, selfish and sorded propriety-can the beings
with hearts narrow their vile systems, and ho
low as their hopes-the tratickers in love that bar
gain with their dull god even on the altar-can suci
conceive aught of the alteration. the world of ten
derness that filed the souls of two fond outcasts
isolated from their species by their affection ant
their guilt forced 10 conceal their unhalowed fam,
among the rude tenants of the forest in the sol
itudc of the mountain meeting with scorn thu
worlds scorn impassioned without hope, and dc
voted even in shame
\ sudden halt made by my guide reused M
from my mcditations. We had arrived at a sort o
+ rocky Platform commanding the view OF the who'll
valley. At the extremity a cavern, detende
by natural rampant mixture OF rock and BRAN
bic. NJ the entrance observed two wooden cross
es. There, as my guide informed me, was ! to fin
Cecca. There she re gned and revelled IN the vii
riot of a mind oycrthrOwn, ON that spot her lirh
of reason had been qlenched forever With emo
ton amounting almost u terror, approached -
she not there. y couch Of w.theret fern
, m.sshlpen cross, rulely carved IN the wall and
few faded flowers. were all the cavern conta ned
On the walls | could still observe the backene
marks of balls. In mourntul silence we seated orr
selves the fern at length, requested the guild
[, 10 continue BIS tale.
The lovers mystery was soon discovered. lie
proaches spared, they would have served but {
, awaken their precautions and Ike the tame an
NAL employed b., the hunter 10 ensnare his fellow
, Cocoa was destined II discover Pletr0s retreat
The following night she allowed 10 escape a
usual. and closely followed II this part of tn
/ narrative, my guide. sng abruptly, and with b.
r Italian vivacjty,-'There, said he, on that yer
B spot where you now seated, Cocoa too was sea-
, ed with Pietro by her side. The full moon lllum
mated the valley and the entrance OF the cavern TIA
b. interior of which was wrapped in profound obscur
Z ty.
b Il was one of those lovely summer gifts who's
T. refreshing breeze purdes the ar so sweeily ate
- the hcav.nezs Of sultry day. No sound was near