The North-Carolina standard., 1843-04-12

your marriage may be happy, it is necessary that
you should send your intended bridegroom to
me. On his firmness and courage, under the
proofs to which shall subject him, depends your
future welfare
The young lady, Donna Isabella, was delight
ed with this answer to her applications.
the extent of the sorceress' knowledge in one re-
spect, she had no doubt but the latter could en-
sure her welded happiness, or at least ward OFT
any impending evils by timely warning. elf
our happiness depend Oh the frmness and cour-
age of Giacomo, we must be happy, for he is as
brave as the Cid.''
"Go, then," answered Calakena, and tell him
to come hither tomorrow evening. But you also
must come, and before him."
"Why before him, mother :" asked the visit
ant
Because it is essential to the proof to which
he must be put" said the fortune-teller:; "and
above all, it is requisite that he should not be a
ware of your coming hither. The charm would
be rendered of no avail by his knowledge of your
presence
The lady Isabella entered her equipage and
went home in all haste. She strictly obeyed the
instructions of Caakena, telling GiacOmo only
so much of what had passed as the sorceress
desired To please his fair young mistress,
Salvadi readily consented to visit the cabin of
Calakena. At the time appointed, he went thi-
ther accordingly.
On the following morning, Giacomo Salyadi
stood as prisoner before the chief magistrate of
Saragossa, in the presence of an eager and whis-
pering crowd The hands of Salvad were tied
behind his back. On the court table, in front of
the bench of justice, there lay some linen and
portion of female attire, stained deeply with blood
In glass beside them portion of the same
fluid.
The alcacIe mayor first broke silence, by ad-
dressing the accused. "Giacomo Salvadi,'' said
the magistrate, s'your are charged with the as
sassination of Donna Isabella, your own betroth-
ed bride. Have you any defence to offer or ex-
PLANTATION to givc?''
eyes, SIR" replied the accused, in low but
firm tones.
''Speak then,' said the alcade; ''and may
Heaven enable you to justify yourself and clear
up this dreadful transaction ~
The accused commenced by q statement of
what has already been detailed here, describing
Donna Isabella's visit to the sOrcercss and the !
request made to himself that he also !
should visit Calakena's cabin. Il went tEithcr,"
continued the accused, ''and, as directed, nearly
at the hour of midnight. The sorceress met me ;
at the threshold of her cabin. ''Yeu are well
come, said she; you must now come with NE to
some distance from this place. But iii the first
place, let me ask if you have firm bold heart ?"
L think have was my reply. Then let us
hence answered the sorccress; and desiring me =
to follow closely, she walked away from the
cabin. The night was rather dark, the light of
he moon being bat feeble. We walked on with
out stopping, for nearly quarter of all hour, un-
i'll we reached the court of the church of Pillar.
Calakena here made me enter into low and
L. t. IL Al, II
t a table with black cloth upon it, conceal
ng something. An empty glass and a poniard
stood on another table or shelf.
'Gacomon said the sorceress, in a low bat ;
mphatic voice, ''if you would be happy; strike
hat poniard through the CLOTH i
81 hesitated. 81 know not" said [, "if =
ught to do such thing without knowing T
Coward" muttered Calakcna, "you would
ommand destiny, and yet your arm trembles at S
uch a petty trial!'' G
''Thinking that, at the most this trial could C
My be foolish and fruitless piece of mumlne- l
Y, become ashamed Of my weakness, and lift L
1g the poniard, stuck it into the middle Of the
lack cloth. Horrible to relate, blood immedia-
ely burstin stream through the aperture made "
y the weapon, in one instant after the stroke J.
'as struck, and before could recover from the j
hook consequent upon its results, Calakena, who y
du Tile glass III ner Halu, dartcd forward, and II
aught some drops of the flowing blood into it. IL
''To thy health, Giacomo SaIyadin' cried Il
he, with the voice Of a triumphant demon, as tt
he raised the glass to her lips; sit is Mlrianctte d
'ho drinks to thee!'' h
SIN the sorceress now recognized woman tf
,ith whom had been acquainted many years L
efore, and who, when had left her, had sworn T.
liter vengeance against me. But l had no time tn
attend to her, for ere her frantic words were III
tered, quick as herproceedings were, the black =,
9th had been cast off, and found woman on i;
lie table, uttering her dying moans. The mean ~
g of the soceress was now made but too clear 7
me. The victim my betrothed bride, m
ISABELLA! From her simple lips, Caakena had ar
armed my name and my intention of marriage. l
I'd had prohted by Isabellas belief in her magi-
ii powers, to bring to this retired place, and to
eliver her over to the knife with which she had
med me.'' ~
''This is the TRUTH" said Gacomo in conclu- r
on Gas regards intention, am INNOCENT Of &c
is murder as the newborn child'' d d
Several witnesses came forward when Gia- H.
'mo had concluded, and testified to several ne
'ints in his favor. While Giacomo hung in w
5ony over his bleeding BRIDE the sorceress had to