Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-01

the assembly, and left the door, which shu,
loudly behind them; an instant after the
echo of their footsteps was los, in the cavern.
: The Cavern was filled with darkness so
thick that the fiambcau which the young ad-
venturers carried scarce afforded sufficient
light TO recognize each other, leaving all
around them involved in the most frightfnl
obscurily. The young maid, hanging upon
the arms Other hardy cousin, gazed fearfuIly
around, stopping at intervals, saying,
Henry, listen do you not hear some one
walking at the farther extremity ? Surely
some one recedes into The depth of the cav
ern in proportion as we advance
mo replied the young man (; it is but the
echo Of our footsteps, which roll confuscdly
under the root
DO YOU not hear two unknown voices
speaking, the one the voice Of a man which
responds to the voice of women2 Oh, Hem
~ tins time | am not deceived-they are
even now repeating our very conversation
1T is an error still responded the young
man with sweetness, there are but two per-
sous in this cavern, you aud me. That
which you hear is but the echo Of our words
prolonged in the silence
'Oh! but still l~isten,' responded the Young
maiden, pressing convuIsively the arm other
lover. These wl,isperings, which are silent
as we are silent, and these two shadows
which have followed us without ceasing since
we left the aperture Of this cold subterran-
can, which, glide along the corners Of the
roof, and which now stop as we stop, and now
bury themselves in the darkness-look !
nj, oo, hoor,.c,1 ct:tl ,,,t,,, ID ,,o,, f,ar
and iremble whilst so near me How has
the delusion of a fable been able to strike
so unfortunately your Imagination? What
vagaries have fastened themselves upon your
soul? What frighlful decisions of the optic
are able to deceive you so cruelty! You
are afraid. From whence proceeds this fearl
Alas this strange noise that you hear A.;
this shadow which pursues and terrihes you
all emanate from yourself. 1t is your
shade which has taken exaggerated propor-
tons /; it is your voice which is exiinguished
when you have ceased to speak. What is
therefore this powerful nothing which has so
much influence over you? Why tremble
you without knowing why at the sound of
your own Footsteps, and the echo of your
own voice, or at the vague murmurings Of
the wind? Hath God imposed upon woman
a struggle incessan, and terrible between the
spiri, and the vision Z The life offs woman
is of itself but a life oftears and fears. You
have your days Of conrage. From whence
comes it, therefore, that vain chimeras make
you tremb!c, and that you dare not confront
the phantoms which proceed from You alone?
For all the e%lories of the world, why do you
not call your natural pride to succor and save
you from the despo,ism of fearr
At these words of disdain the young maid
recovered herself, and taking the lambeau
from the hands Of her cousin, said gaily,
Henry, thy reproaches have given me
hearth am going to run TO the other extrcm-
ity ofthc cavern in order to verify tina, which
thou hast said of me-
Whilst she advanced alone before Henry
there came to his Imagination n fatal though,
a foolish IDEA, "A whimsical caprice. which,
in traversing the brain, serves to blast and
destroy forever his future happiness.
Henry wished to prove the courage of his
cousin. He glided silently along in the dark
ness, passed her, and concealed himself IN
the ocscnri'y. The poor girl cndcavosed ic
sing, hut still eazed in quiet around her
Suddenly she stopped, she saw a c%olossa
shadow upright and moving before her. She
closed her eyes, and remained Supplied ane
speeches.. Soon after she hazarded anolh'
err glance, and saw still the phantom which
had crossed its arms, and remnined immova.
BILE and upright, at an angle Of the cavern
her voice returned ; she uttered a fearful
shrek and sank TO the earth. Henry ran t.
her assistance. He explained himself. HI
was to late-he found her dead!
Il have killed thee = cried he, 'oh m,
bride, my sister! waited for thee willis
here below, thou now wa,'est for me on high.
Behold, Madam, the simple history whic|
| have promised you. If chance should Leaf
> you TO the scene of this sorrowfnl disaster
you will see near the cavern IA tomb, wher,
sleep the young lovers as in a nup,ial bed
mysteriousled concealed IN the midst of tut
} Of trees.
You may act as you please towards thos
you love and worship; before the fnnera
: stone yon will be able to count around 20
! the names of those which once were dear
: but there is nothing more desolating than t
: travel alone, and above all 10 feel yourseI