Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-09-13
From The World Of Fashion.
The Nnn's Doom,
BY II. SHINES.

Near the town of Aspetia, in the romantic land J
OF SPAN, stands a large square, dark.looking
house, with nothingio relieve the baroness ofthe
high walls but "a few holes A,ith cuttings, and
wmch bear the appearance rather of loopholes
than of windows, 1t is scarce strong enough for
aprson, nor does it resemble convent from Tho 4
absence Of steeple. The supersructure, which Z
rs nlrealaty, however, nunery, crowns an emf.
nence.at the centre OF the town. There isisome-
thing so gloomy. about the tower--somethine SO
fall ofyagne and awful mystery, that / slniddered
inyolntarly when beheld it and when. some
time afterward, came to learn one of the deeds
which these gloomy walls had witnessed was al
most tempted to believe in supernatural Influences,
so vague and chill bad been the emotion of horror
which, len on behoding that antique building for
ithe FIRST time, "A ~, .,s,l = -. Z,
The story was related 10 me by an, old. Iadr.' 4
ho il her youth, had been isinlnfa a this aoiis
vent Tor many years Never shall / forget the
tone and gesture with which she spoke as follows:
There was lady in our convent, who, during
the two years that had elapsed since her arrival. \
had scarcely exchanged word with anv of the
nuns. She remained constantly secluded in Ter
cell, except when summoned by the tolling of the
bell 10 join in the devotions of the community in
he choir. She was Stunned and avoided bv the
rest Of the nuns, who supposed that some terrible
crime oppressed her conscience; for a calm and
gloomy despair sat upon her pale brow, and gave
a wild yet melancholy expression to her beautiful
and d2nfed features, Her figure was lofty and
noble, but emanciated with suffering Her prayers
and religious duties were repeated and performed
with usual fervor
Often had remarked with feelings of commits
Grafton, her wasted form thrown into an attitude
OF humble and carnestsu application; her pale though
beautiful features formed into an expression of the
most poignant grief; her eyes raised 10 heaven,
n, oil b., Inv, uN
long remain with her arms crossed upon her breast
and motioness as statute, with the convulsive
quivering of her lips. Suddenly she would throw
herself upon the ground in paroxism of despair,
and sob aloud, pronouncing some narculate
words, as if complaining of her total incapacity to
qucll the fearful tempest raised within her breast
by the conflict fopposed and unconquerable feel
ngs. Again would she strive to raise her heart
to God; but in vain. She found no reliefin prayer;
and in her utter hopelessness, finding that even
Religion could not mitigate her tormens, she
would fall exhausted, and lie extended on the
ground, deep signs rendng her bosom, and invols.
ing death TO put an end to her miserable and
wretched existence.
Compassonating her suferings, | essayed 10
offer her some consolation. She was moved by
sincere expression of my pity and perceived that
| also was unfortunate. The similarity of our
feelings and mislortunes instinctively drew us to-
wards each other, and l soon gained her friend
ship, and learnt the cause other grief
Her name was Amelia she was the daughter
of the Count B.. Her crime had been the
forming a strong attachment towards young off
Ger in the a1my-a man District honor and princi-
pies, but whose family and prospects were, unfor-
tunately below the notice of the proud Count of
3, who would have thought himself dis
graced by such an alliance. He forbid his daugh-
ter TO speak 10 her lover or even think of him;
she ontreated he scnly repeated his commands
and left her; he was dsobeyed; the enraged
Count brought her to the convent and forced her
to take the veil, threatening fshe refused to cause
the officer to be assassinated. This had determin-
cd her and she saved her lovers life at the sacri-
of her liberty and her happiness
Fortwo long years she had struggled inef1ectu-
ally to forget, and to God, to whom she had con-
secrated her exiseece,a heart pure and free from
all worldly affections and regret But, alas new
er could she succeed in erasing from her heart
the fond memory of her lover; which notwith-
standing all her efforts TO the contrary, continued
to hold entire possession of her soul. His
image haunted and persued her everywhere It
was in vain for her to seek consolation in PRAYER
her thoughts would still wander away from her
God, and dwell upon her lover And this con.
slant conflict between love and religion-and the
tormens to which she imagined herselfto be doom
ed for the future-was the canker which wore and
wasted her form, and withered her strength, whilst
the burning fever within Aer breast ragged on una.
bated