Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-05-17
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, NAY II, ls44

we shall find refuge-some rock Of the
desert that shall give Us shelter And the
actors fal.ering voice = his very look and
gesture. showed how much he was in ear.
nest.
Let me continue resumed Camilla |:
! have yet little more to say And
she spoke again $50 In The seclusion Of
my convent, sill though. Of my wrongs.
and looked forward 10 THE hour; for
knew it would GOMEZ knew that we
should meet again. heard Of you'll
traced your course--t never lost sight of
you through all your varied career. And,
francesca, spite Of all the past, in mine
own heart knew you loved me still. As
you say, that was an idle passion--a mo-
men.ary caprice bat his-the love you
bore, and bear for mel knew would re-
turn in all its first force, when i,s return
would be in vain And so it was. heard
of Your anguish when you learned .ha,
you had lost me-your rejection of all
confort-your turning in disgust from the
light love whose wi,cheries had caused
your falsehood and I fel, was partly
revenged. Then ! heard how you aban.
doncd your lucrative profession-your
hoh1e==your native place and flung your
self upon UNIV orlly pursuits; seeking ref.
uge in dissipation. from your own misef-
able thoughts. In the knowledge of villa.
those thoughts must have been, l was a.
gain avenged.
Al last, you became an actor; and your
praises and your triumphs rang forth on
all sides. heard them. too and knew
that in The routine Of your profession you
would visi. Milan ) and long have waited
for the day !; but it hath dawned at last.-->
len years have elapsed-.en weary years
through which ! have cherished my de-
termination and my desire; both now
NEE. with their fulfilment. I have waited
long a, first fate seemed against me. l
heard a, the commencement Of every sea-
son, that you were TO visit Milan; for
many seasons suffered disappointment
for YOU came not. AT one time, some al
tera,ion in the arrangements Of our theatre
prevented your intended appearance; a.
another, an acciden. detained you in Rome;
a. another some enchan,ress held you to
her That was, perhaps, an added
were il!.-And then wepi; feared tina,
you might die-I feared that death nigh.
come between me and my purpose. But.
slowly as the hour came, it came a. last.
Aud here the nun paused: bu. the actor
made no remark.
'Unul this morning. l, for these ten
long years, have never left these walls.
Our rules are not strict-many induIgen-
ces are ours. have claimed few Of them
and, save the glimpse Of sky through the
narrow easement (and she pointed, as
she spoke, to the grated Window 'and
save the mono,onous prospect beneath il
II have never since my first entrance
here. seen aught Of the fair face Of The ex>
,ernal world. But this morning, borrow
ing the dress of lay-sis'er, went forth
upon my mission and thou knowest how
s.e~aaLnl / SAW The once again; the
same, and yet so changed
She advanced more closely towards him
and laying her hand upon his arm. she
looked earnestly into his face.
Time hath touched thee but the stern
characters traced by passion are most Wis.,
lille upon Thy brow. Am I changed, Fran
cesco!'
.Ah, no beau.iful-beau,iful as ever,
yet SO pale
Camilla continued: TO night l met you
on the threshold of the garden entrance.
hen we entered the building. it was my
hand that closed upon your own. guided
you to this my dismal home. am here
The light from the waxen tapers stream.
ed upon the fair. lovely coun'enance Of
the nun, upon her coarse dress. upon her
shrouding veil. The ligh, from the wax
en- .apers streamed upon the splendid fig
ure Of the actor. upon his glossy. raven
hair upon his rich attire, twas a p!ctu-
rescue contrast. The same ligh. brough.
into strongly relief the costly cruciiix,
with lis elaborate carving. with the un-
changeable expression Of mingled love and
suffering depicted with such master-skill
upon The mo,ionlces and marble face.
Was i, you, indeed, Camilla, that met
me a, the door! should have known the
touch Of those small fingers; but | thought
no. thou vert so near me. believed thee
dead. little thought tonight would
give us 10 each other once again. On,
Camilla hear me plead! lie. US fly togeth-
er!
francesca, it may not be. have
longed for this meeting. only 10 bid thee
farewell for ever. have no longer any
dream Of earthly love; am the bride Of
heaven. and my hopes have long been
Au.a Laua Iii thae hilhaf oh Erances.