Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-07-12

though only week woman, she evlnc-
ed no other sign Of horror or fear. When
the soldiers approached. TO seize her. she
shuddered for All instant, as if she already
felt fangs Of the lion; but Immediately this
trace of emotion vanished, and she signed
for them to lead on. Yet there was still
left one mortal feeling in her bosom. As
she stepped from the bar she shrouded her
| lace in her veil TO conceal it from the gaze
| Of the crowd.
To the lions with her Let her be
east 10 them at once. Ho ! for the amphi-
| tlieatre!' shouted the crowd. rushing tu-
| mnlluously after the condemned maiden
struggling and fighting with each other 10
get near that they might spi, on the pris-
oner. and now aud then Iashing them
sel> es into a fury so great that it was with
difficulty the soldiers could keep the mob
from tearing her limb from limb. The
slight frame of the maiden now shook per
ceplbly with terror, for though she had
nerved herself to face the lions. her virgin
delicacy shrahk from being made the VIC
tim of coarser and brulisher rabbe.
In this manner her conductors struggled
through the streets, until in sight of the
a,nphi,heal,e. Here, at the corner of one
of the ways, they were me, by vas,
crowd composed of the loves, mob of the
city, who hearing of the condemnation of
a Nazarene, had gathered together ripe for
mischief Led on by some of the ,ilesl
of their de,nagogues, they had resolved TO
assault, the officers in charge of the pris-
oner. tina. they nigh, sacrifice her more
summariy than by the lions in the arena
STAND back = said the captain of the
guard, unshea,hing his sword, as he saw
the threatening aspect of the crowd.
Down with him! cried one of the rab
Bile, hurting "A missile at his head. Give
US the prisoner, or you die with her.
.Close in men, close in = shouted the
officers undaunlediy You pay with your
lives tor the safety of the prisoners
The l,,le band gathered in a compac,
circle round the maiden. and prepared to
maintain the unequal contest.
Down with them ALL shouted one OF
The most prominent of the rioters. SOL
diers and prisoners-lhey are all secretly
ryaZarenes. D0wn wfr1 fnen.
With these words he headed rush OF
the crowd that bore back the scanty band
Of the sodiery, like feathers that are swept
by the gale. Stones and bricks. mean
while, filled the air. and though the sol,
diers were defended by shields. several
were wounded The prisoner, IN the on
sci, would have fallen victim to The mis-
sies of the mob. but for two OF the more
soldiery. who covered her with their buck.
lers. Thus pushed back by the rahbe,
the guards re,rea,ed agains, the wall of
neighboring house, and being now cover
ed in the rear, essayed with more hopes
of success to make good their stand until
succor should arrive from the city legion
aries.
Blu, the fu,ility of this hope was soon
annaren,. The mob swelled rapidly. ex-
tending far down the ,horoughfares on Ell
her hand. The whole city seemed up
There were doubtless among the crowd
many who were secretly favorable TO the
prisoner. and still greater number who
wished not 10 see her perish except by
lawful death, bat the more violent, II hol
most numerous, had attained the tempo
rarv ascendancy, and the others, uncertain
of. their power, were afraid TO move IN her
behalf.
More than half of the guard had now
fallen. the others were worn out q Woun-
ded. Soldiers began to murmur.
why should we die 10 protect, Tor an
hour or two, the life of Nazarene { saia
one of them. Comrades, let us surren-
der her to the people.
A sullen murmer of assentran along the
scan,v ranks. and the mob. hearing Tue
mu,inous words, desisted and broke I'M"
buzzas The maiden saw that her hour
had come. and sank shuddering to her
knees, lifting her agonized eyes TO heaven
in las. appeal. Suddenly over The deep
roar of The huzzas, rose the trumpe' %
cavalry. and the pavement seemed to the
knee,ing girl to rock beneath her, under
tho uamp of many horsemen. She start
Cd 10 her feet with sudden hope. The
shouts of The popuace had ceased stimuli
,oneou.lv. and now was heard, close a
Md The cla,,er of hoofs and the shril
sound of the trumpet. Like Hook o
sheen awaiting the approach OF wolves
s,,,od the late riolou,s mob; now silent
win black faces, and gazing agape at Inc
sudden appari'ion of the hoIsemen =;
Down they came, The solid earth shaking
,,nder Them while far in the van, on
harbed horse, rose their leader.
.Disperse ye knaves J he CRED IN
,a nsed 10 command, as he rose haugh
,lv in his slirrups. 'Disperse or we rld'
u W, down And turning 10 his troops HI
waved his sword and shouted,