The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-28

words and gentle tones, and promised tina
he would see her mother on the morrow
iand, without betraying her secret, plead 70
delay in her nuptals.
As the weeping EHka rose from her knees
Odilo quilted the confessional, and his &C
knowledged sympathy and earnest name
brought comfort TO her heart. Togelhe
they traversed the chapel aisle, with SLOW
and nolseless steps; and when, at length
the maiden left the monastery, il was with :
tranquillized spirit and renovated hope.
No longer did the monk shun the castle
of Blattnlz. The Abbot had resumed his
duties near the wife of the Baron: but bv
mutual consent the conscience of his dauoh.
ter was committed to the care of Odilo: nor
was it long, ere, yielding to the unholy pas
sion which he had suffered TO overcome
alike his reason and his principles, the
wretched monk dared TO profane the Dnre
and innocent ears of Elika by the confession
OF his love. Unmitigated disgust and I'M
concealed contempt were the reply: the in
dlgnatlon of the maiden gave her strength !.
and she vowed, should he dare TO reDeat the
outrage, that she would expose him to her
father, and thus deliver him over 10 fate as
certain as it would be severe,
The answer to her bold threat was Iauoh
OF proud defiance: Odilo had her secret.
and one word from his mouth would cali
down upon her the curse of her naughty ia
ther, and ensure the sacrifice of her lovers
lie. He told her this with smile of bit
terness and triumph; and the gentle gill
was crushed and sienced by the fatal truth.
She could but weep and pray; while the
monk was touched only by her loneliness as
she knelt before him in her tears, and an
swered her supplcations with mockinps. or
with VOWS. When she threatened he shut
her mouth with threatenings still more vio-
lent, nor guessed he then how soon and how
fearfully his own would be closed forever!
Rendered desperate by his passion. OdiIo
endeavored to entrap the gallant Ilamer in
to snare which he had crafty laid. and
which would have terminated at once his
life and bis hopes; but fortune favored the
unhappy lovers; and when the monk ex-
pected TO see the page pass the mountain
detile, alone and unattended on a mission
from his lord, he beheld from his ambush thet
chief himself, surrounded by bis followers
galloping gaily towards the castle of Blan.
nitz.
Fooled, but only more resolved, Odilo mlde
last appeal to the ahrighted girl herself:
he cast himself at her feet; he clasped her
knees; he even wept in his turn: bnt his
sinful tears were odious to the Lady Elika,
and she babe him begone, with fierce
sparkle in her eye, which brought VOW Of
vengeance to his lip that he too soon full
filled.
From the presence of the outraged girl he
passed TO that of her father; and there, with
downcast looks and heavy signs, and words
that seemed to torture him in the utterance,
he betrayed his holy trust; and ere he left
the Baron, the fatal secret of Elika's love
was in the keeping of her Infatuated parent.
lllamer was for the moment beyond his
reach, for he had been dispatched by his lord
into distant province on a mission of trust
and danger; and this the monk we'll knew,
when he selected the moment of his trea-
cherry; but sumrnoning his wife and daugh-
ter to his presence, the Baron of BIattnitz II
overwhelmed them both with curses and re-
proaches, and Immediately hurried off a Il
trusted messenger to hasten the arrival Of
the chieftain, to whom he had pledged the
hand of the Lady Elika.
Already had the monk ascertained from
some of his creatures in the fortress ofZnio.
that the return Of lllamer was expected
within few days; and too we'll he knew 1
that the little solitary chapel OF Tour Lady
of Hope,.' was the tTysting place of the low
ers, where the page had always lighted a
taper upon the altar as signal to his be-
trothed that he awaited her presence: for al
this bad the too-confding Ellka betrayed ia
the confessional, where she had blindly
hoped to interest the monk in the issue Of
her love; nor was this circumstance likely
to be forgotten by the unworthy Odilo.
Anxiously, therefore, did the man Of evil
keep watch from twilight TO twilight for the
signal light; nor did he long watch in vain /:
for lllamer, who, during his brief absence.
which to him had seemed like an eternity.
had thought only of his love, had no sooner /
seen the daylight wane after his return to |
the stronghold Of Znio, than with all the i'm
patience of affection, he fastened 10 the /
shrine, and ignited the accuston-
ed taper.
Elikawas already at her easement, whence
she could look down upon the chapel; and
no sooner distinguished the faint beacon /
which summoned her 10 her lovers pre- |
sence. than quickly and stealihily traversing
the courtyard Of the castle, she applied ! /
key, Of which she had possessed herself 10
low door that opened from the walls. and
fastened TO the place of trvat