The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-12-09

it an instant; it is but chance in myriad, but
best trust To his mercy With tho words he drew
back bar after bar, and threw the door wide opOnand
therel there the very threshold, with his swart c
catrzed features and short square athletic form sheath>
ed scale armor ofa strange device, with the hdeous
Charntean head cleaning out grim and awful from his
breasplae, and the strange sword' all iron, hit and
blade and guard and scabbard".hls weapon and his
God firmly grasped in his right hand but yet 5ood>
less-.lhere stood the dreadful Hun!
"Death," he exclaimed "death to all who resist,
in tones snguary deep and stern and solemn, 'mercy
10 those who yield theml'
DO with US as thou wilt, great king" re-
turned "Aureus steadily, lowering as he
spoke his swords point -''bu spare our wo
mems honorw
''Down wi h thy weapon. or die, "ROman!"
Numbered the monarch, -p.:Idug forward as
he spoke and raising his sword hIgh.
"The terms great Atlilla?" -
Death for reslstance!-Nlercy for surren-
deI! IA kings love for fair women" shouted
the Hun, enraged at finding opposition where
he dreamed not of meeting any, and his blood
fred almost beyond endurance by the exqu-
site charms Of tho women whom he could
clearly see beyond their few defenders,
"lhen die, Aureius! die as becomes Ro-
man-and4 by the Heaven above US both,
will die with you" exclaimed Julia, netved by
despair to courage.
ala! wit lhou2" exclaimed Auila; "Oue-
gsus, reserve that grl who spoke so boldly,
and that black haired maid with the jevelled
collar, for the kings pleasure! Make IN, Huns,'
he added in an appalling shout, kill, enjoy,
WIN; but leave this dog 10 me' and with The
word he aosaled sword in hand the new
made husband. One deadly close charge, and
the four defenders were hewn down, yea! hswn
limb from limb by hundred weapons; and
thon what followed was too terrible for words,
eno1gh! all that war has most horrible -mur-
der and agony and violation, IN their worst,
most accursed shapes, reigned there, and re-
yelled fenda lncarnatet
Onegisus had seized the bride and the 9th.
or wreiched girl indicated by the king, and they
were for the moment safe among the tumult--
aud sill AurelIus and Atlila fought hand 10
hand, unwounded, and we'll paired, perilous
and deadly duel. And ever as she stood there,
unconscious Of the helllsh deeds that were in
progresc round her, she gazed with calm,
fearless eye upon her bridegroom. Onegisus
had her grasped firmly by the left arm, and as
| che neither strove, nor shrIeked, nor s,rug-
gsd, but stood still asa marble statue, he
thought no more about II, but gazed himself
with all his eyes upon the combat. At last, as
il by mutual consent, The champions paused
for breath.
"Thou art brave, Roman said the Hun, in
his deep, stern, low tones, not seeming in The
least degree disturbed or out of wlud--"Attila
loves the brave! Live and be fee!"
"Hor honour, mighty Atila--my young
BRIDES honor; be merclfn aud generous as
thou art brave and NOBLE"
"Choose, fool!'' the king exclaimed in a
voice resembling moro the grow OF famish-
ed tiger than any human sound; "choose be-
tween life or dea;h2
| death or her honor!
"Then die; IDIOT, Roman!" sneeted the 9TH
or, and with a fearful cry, grinding his teeth
till the foam flew from them as from the usks
of hunted boar, he leaped upon Aurelius.
Three deadly blows were interchaDged, and at
each blow wound; but al the fourth, Attlla's
sword descending like thunderbot, shivered
the Romans blade into a thousand pieces, and
gancing from his helmet, alighted on his
shoulder, end Glove deep inte his chest! he
staggered forward, and at the next instant met
met the swords point driven home by tre-
mendous thrust into his very vas. Head
long he fell fell backward; but.as he fell, his
glazing eyes turned fearfuy towards his low
ed Julia, they glazed fast, but he saw, and
smiled in dying, and died happy! For, as The
last blow fell, she saw tho fight was over, and
by sudden movement, the less expected from
her complete and passive quietute, she snalch>
ed a long knife from the gnde Of Onegisus,
and before he we'll knew what she had done,
much less had time 10 prevent it, had stabbed
herself three times, each time MORALLY, into
her virgin bosom.
"Husband," she cried, 81 come!" true to
my word, Aureius am thine now, all lhine!"
and as the horror-s!ricken Hun released his
hold upon her ann, she darted forward, and
threw herself upon The bosom Of her brave
lord. ConVuIsivo'y in the death sPasm, his
arms closed about her.
| And in that act
And agony her happy spirit fed
|
OLD NlCK's BREATHING HoLEs.-A Mr..