The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-07-05

4
"The stranger was habited in a garb
darkly magnificent and foreign; his
headgear was of sable velvet, and its
nodding plumage overshaded his coun-
tenance; his tall and graceful form bent
over the maiden, and his accents bore
a blended tenderness and pride that
suited well the scene and season in
which they were heard. sand will
you never forget me beautiful Agathap'
and again the soft tones of the peasant
maiden whispered, never-neverw
"Look," said the manly wooer, as he
extended his athletic arm toward the
castle whose ruins are yonder in the
distance; s'look Agatha, at the halls Of
my fathers--when am fathless, may
that proud pile become ruin, and the
walls which once pealed with feast and
revelry, echo the dire note of the ra-
ven or the boding scream of the owletm
Sand oh! if indeed am one day for
gotten for nobler bride," exclaimed
the maiden, 81 will pierce my bosom
beside this rocky fountain, and nv life
blood shall flow forever, blended with
its clear wave legacy to her children" !"
"Be it even so, fair sceptic," said the
stranger, and he clasped her to his bo-
som and for while was silent.
"Yet wherefore should we partw as
ked the baron, after pause-tor it was
indeed the lord of our Canton who To-
we'd the maiden; "why wilt thou not fly
with mel" | will take thee to fair Italy,
and the nobIest and the greatest shall
do thee homage as the bride Of De
Maise."
sit may not be-" whispered the mai
den.
"Then farewell, gatha," and the no
Bile unwreathed the soft arms from his
neck and moved away.
sStay yet moment" faltered out
the fair one; the baron pointed to the
moon now high in the heavens, and the
maiden clasped her hands in agony
"Were any near to tell my father thar
yet live-that | am unworthy the
regret of his old age" she uttered faint
ly.
81 will do your bidding, Agatha, for
| have loved yonw said the young
sportsman as he rushed forward and
stood before them.
"With trembling fingers the maiden
detached small gold crucifx from her
bosom. SHE forgave his murderers,"
she said almost inarticulateIy.
"Will you indeed part with the holy
symbolic asked the youth in an accent
of reproach.
"And why should she not?" cried the
baron haughtly, and tearing gemmed
star from his own vest, he placed it on
,nc bosom of the maiden, "Agatha will
not regret the gift"
"But this" murmured the youth
"awayp' and The proud lord fro wned
fearfully on his young vassal, till he
turned aside and departed.
"Months passed; aad the old man
died, for all that once ende2red lie had
passed away, and the maiden was re-
memberrd only as bright vision.
Years sped on. Cne morning, an
aged shepherd marked something gilt
tering beside the rocky basin; he drew
near, and there lay lovely woman,
clad in white and flowing robes, and |
her brown hair wreathed with flowers
it was Agatha. And she had fulfilled |
her vow! A gemmed dagger was bu-
ried in her bosom, and the spring-wave
was died with her hearts best blood;
care had blighted the roses of her cheek,
and her lofty form was attenuated by
sorrow. She had been forgotten for a
prouder dame. But with the fortune
Of a peasant she had the soul Of an en-
press. Had she lived, the Canton would
have scorned her--as she died he pited
her; she felt it thus, and to such heart
it was no pang to die e!--she was laid
beside her father, and low grassy
mound no W wells alike her love and her
The baron returned not to his do
main; he fell in distant land, the VIC
tim of wild feud, died in a moment
Of intemperance-he fell, and left no
heir; and the castle Of his ancestors is
now the abode Of the night-raven, and
the owletw
The old man ceased, and | put aside
my tablets. Like the simple inmates Of
the Canton, pited Agatha, and could
not sketch her death scene.
ATMOSPHERIC RAILROAD.
AS this invention of modern penius is