The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-14

j tL4Oul III ACNl6W Que Oy Uu6S duu uSI u6dIt
beat quick as she felt that this sleeping
stranger was already more dear TO her than
any among them. She approached yet
nearer; she could see the breath escape
from between his parted lips, and an Occa-
sional sigh heave his broad bosom; she knew
not why she did so, but she echoed each as
she marked il. She wished that he would
awake, and yet she feared his waking; and
at length she unclasped from her wrist
costly bracelet, and laying it beside him,
cautiously concealed herself among the IN
derwood.
Her tread, light as it was, disturbed the
rest of the sleeper, and he spVang suddenly
from the earth with his naked dagger in his
hand, and glared around him, in search Of
the intruder; but after a moments survey,
he smiled scornfulIy, as though in contempt
of his own terror, and stopped to gather up
his weapons. Beside them lay the bracelet
He started as he saw it, and eagerly raised
it from the earth. q thought that my prac.
tised ear could not have been deceivedn he
murmured; 'the ransom is already paid but
where is the prisoner2 would wager
thousand ducats that she is not far off. By
ST. Hubert, shall have merry mornings
hunting, or my star is an unlucky one in
deed.'
The pursuer was more subtle than the
pursued; an involuntary movement BETRAYED
the hiding place of the lady: and ere ten
minutes had elapsed she was standing be-
side her captor, under the same tree beneath
which his hunting weapons were still lying
And who was her captOr? To him she
was no mystery; he knew her as he drew
her forth from her retreat; and vague and
brilliant hopes at once crowded across his
brain. But who was hee
}, Fear me not, lady, he said blandly, as he
threw off his furred and embroidered habit,
in order to form a seat for her beneath the
branches, while he stood before her in a
tight hunting vest of chamois leather: Fear
me not; one glance at your beauty has made
me your slave forever. You ask me who
am; | am your Vassal, ready to do willing
homage, and good service, when need u.s.
But your name f'-urged the lady.
The stranger smiled as he raised her Jew.
elled hand to his lips: what care you for q
namef will not ask you for yours
A deep flush passed over the brow and
bosom of the maiden, and something like a
tear rose to her eye: but her pride was
, quenched; and though she felt the taunt,
she sorght not to resent it.
, You are right she said meekly; names
, avail little; but you will surely tell me some.
J thing Of your history
| would you ask me how many deer | have
J slaughtered, and how many masses have
/. said since the last festival of ST. Stephen9
was the laughing rejoinder; 'for have nc
other tale TO tell. My history will commence
from the moment when gathered up this
precious bracelet And he drew it out
' from his bosom, and pressed il to his lips.
/; And thus in mystery she learned to love
t him, and then he told her all. He was 8
r man Of violence and rapine, and his life was
e forfeited to the law; the wildwood was hi.
y home, and robbers were his associates; bu
IS she shrank not at the tale; to her the law.
,r were nothing, while he was all in all; anC
d she loved him the more that, like her, he
); hated the world, and that none must know
d his retreat save her, and those who shared
Is it. Once they talked Of securing her gold
10 and flying to another land; but his compa
10 mons vowed themselves TO betray him shoul'
D. he attempt it: for her wealth secured II
N prosperity of the band; who, freed from til
IS necessity of plumber, passed their time /
1t hunting, or in idling among the shadows {
ne the forest.
On But winter came at length; and althoug
u the robbers could secure themselves anon
al the caverns of the mountain, the lady Coul
n no longer wander forth to meet her love
We as she had been wont to do; and thus, rel
ot- dered incautiOus by long security, he stOl
de to her dwelling 10 pass the hours beside HI
y; which had flown so swiftly among the a
;u- tGmnal woods.
In The tradition tells that he was man
pa most surprising beauly-tall, and strOE
and stately; and once seen, more surely T
The cognized than other men; and thus, indee
for it proved; for ere long he was seen descen
ide ing the mountainsand an ambush was forI
for eG TO take him as he returned to his fore.
ois- fastness. Many were employed in his ca
he tnre, for his prowess was a prOVerb in d
fa- country; and he sold his liberty dearly, al
rye verified all the tales that had been whispt
hat ed Of him; he flung off three or four of
me captors, and even dreamt Of escape; b
rye numbers gathered about him on all sid
iIk, and, with bursting heart, he felt At leng
rel that all was lost.
ced Great was thelexultation Of the crowd W
dragged him back, bound and bleeding, il
re- the city. TO the gibbet!-TO the gibbe
sed was the cry Of the citizens, who had 10