Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-11-22
themselves mo,ionless, and respecting the
of 4 il,..n..

~ Ho'eWeUt vi curiosity animated every
counenancc on the appearance of Victor.
He gave orders to unfastcn the condemned
capives, and fastened himself TO loosen the
cords which secured Clara prisoner to the
chair. She smiled mournfully. The officer
could not help lightly touching, in the pro-
cess, the elegant and fresh arms of the young
maiden. lie looked with admiration on the
dark wealth of her hair, and her 1.-the for ~
for she was indeed all Spanish complication,
slightly dark and Spanish eyes, with long
curved lashcs and pupil blacker than a ra-
VEINS wing.
Have you succeeded?' she said to him,
with one Of those uneralsmiles in Which there
is still something of the young girl.
Victor could only answer with a groan.
He looked, in turns, at the three brothers,
and at Clara. The onc--the eldest--was
thirty years old. Small, not well made, with
lauehty and dlsdainiul air. he still was not
wilhon, certain nobleness of manner, and
did not seem entirely "A stranger to that deli
cncy of sentiment which once made the gall
lan,ry of Spain so celebrated. He was
named Juanito. The second, Filipe, was
about twenty years old. lie resembled Ca-
ra. The third was not above eight. A
painter would have found in the features of
Raphael something of tina, Roman constan-
cy which David has given to the children in
his republican pages. The old marquis had
IA head covered with white hairs, which sccn-
ed to have escaped from some picture of Mu-
rillo's.
At this, the young officer shook his head,
despairing of seeing the Generals bargain
accepted by either of these persons. How
ever, he summoned courage to confidc it to
Clara. She shuddered at first, but quickly
resumed her calmncss of counenance, and
went to throw herself on her knees before
her father
'Oh! she said to him, make Jnanio
mands you shall give him. We shall be con-
tented
A sensation Of hope thrilled through the
aged mother but as soon as, leaning over
towards her husband, she had heard the hor-
ribIr disclosure of Clara, she tainted.
Juanio understood the whole, and he
sprang like a lion in bis cage.
Victor took i, upon hinselfto send away
the soldiers, after having obtained from the
marquis his assurance of entire submission.
The domestics we're led away and delivered
to the cxecu,oner, who hanged them ALL
When the family had no other spectator
than Victor, the old father arose.
'Juarito ! SAID he.
.)uanto, understanding his fathers COM
mnnd, made no other reply to it, than by an
inclination of the head expressive of refusal.
lie sank back upon his chair, and looked at
his parents with dry and terrible eye.
Clara came and sat upon his knees, and
with cheerful air
Dear Juani,o,' she said, passing her arms
around his neck, and kissing his eye-lids, iii
YOU knew how much sweeler tins death would
he to me bestowed by you, should not have
20 submit to the odious touch Of the execu.
toner's hand. You will rescue me from the
evils that awaited me, and-dear Juani-
to, you were not willing to see me belong TO
any one-well, them
The velvet soliness of her eyes cast Il
glance Of fire upon Victor, as though to re-
awaken in Juanito's heart his hatred of the
French.
Courage y said his brother Philip to him
otherwise our family is extinct
Clara suddenly roses the group which had
gathered round .uanito opened and he saw
his aged father erect before him, who cried
with solemn voice:
'Jnani,o, | command you y
The young Count remaining mo,ionless
his father fell upon his knees to him. In
voluntarily, Clara, Raphael, and Philip mi-
ta,od him and all, with hands ou,strctched
towards him who was to save the family from
oblivion, seemed to repeat the fathers word
My son, can you be wanting in Span
iard's energy, and true sensibilily? Will
You leave me longer on my knees and
ought YOU to think of your own life, or your
own suffering Madam, is this my son 2
added the old man, turning round TO the Mar.
chionpss.
He consents y cried the mother, in des-
pair for she perceived Juanito make mo-
ton of the eyebrows of winch she alone un.
dcrstood the meaning.
Mariquia, the second daughter, was or
her knees, pressing her mother in her feeble
arms; and as her eyes were streaming will
hot tears, Der li!le brother Raphael came tc
rebuke her.
AT that moment the confessor of the castle
entered. He was Immediately surrounded
by the whole family. They led him to Ju-
anlto. Victor, unable longer to support this
spectacle, made sign to Clara, and hasten
ed to attempt a last eflor. with the general
He found him in an excellent humor in the
midst of the feast, and drinking delicious
+ wine with his officers, whose conversation
was beginning TO sparkle with merrment.
An hour after, hundred of the principal
inhabitants Of Menda were assembled on the
terrace. according TO the order Of the Cen
eral, to be witnesses to the execution of the
Leganes family. detachment of soldiers
was stationed to guard the Spaniards, who
were ranged under the scanods from which
the domes,ics of the Marquis had been hung,
so that their heads nearly touched the fee,
of these martyrs. AT thirty PAGES in front
of them stood block and flashed sclme,cr
The execuloner was there, in case Of re-
fusal on the part of Juanito.
Presently, in the midst of the most pro-
found silence, the Spaniards heard the ad-
yanc;no slams If saveraI Dersons tho mo,