Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-29
PIC CT A..
THE PRISONER or FENESTRELLA,
Or, Captivity Captive.
CONCLUDED.
CHATTER XXI.

| Oiadly would the Count de Charney have
fenounced his liberty for the remainder Of
his days, could he have secured the sentence
Of passing them at Fenestrclla, between Te-
resa Girardi and her father He no longer
deceived himself lie felt that he loYsd
Teresa as he had never loved before. A
sentiment to which his breast had hitherto
been stranger, now penetrated into its
depths, impeiuous and gentle, sweet aud
stimulating, like some acid fruit Of the
tropics, at once sweet and refreshing. His
new passion revealed itself not only BY trans
port hitherto unknown. but by the serene
glow Of holy tenderness, embracing uni
versal nature nay. the grea, Lord aud
Creator Of nature and natures works. His
brain, his heart, his whole existence, seem
ed 10 dilate, as If TO embrace the new hopes,
projects, and emotions, crowding on his re-
generate existence.
Next day. the three friends met again be-
size Pieciola; Girardi and the Count occu-
plying their bench and Teresa a chair Of
state, placed opposite them by the pallaniry
of Ludoyico. She had brought with her
some task Of woman's work. some strip Of
delicate embroidery. over which her soft
couniennnce inclined, her graceful head
following the movements Of her needle and
every now and then raising her ewes and
suspendinp her work. 10 in,erpose ,ome
playful remark in their grave dissertation.
Al length suddenly rising. she crossed over
towards her father, threw her arms round
his neck, and pressed her lips repeatedly to
his revered locks
The conversation between the tvo die.
putan,s was moi renewed. for Cbarney IVA.
already absorbed in profound meditation.
He could not forbear inauiring of himself
whether he were beloved in return by TIE.
resa Ia question which produced two con.
fiiciinr sentiments in hi. bosom. He fear.
ed TO belieye-he rembled TO doub, The
flower his gift-so carefully preserved
the emotion evinced when their hands were
accidentally united ON the knees of The old
man.-the tremor with which she had liz.
tened to the recital of his impassioned
dreams. this was in his favour. Ru,
the words breathed with so tender an in.
hexion Of voice had been pronounced in
the presence Of her father VIVA, sense.
therefore. dared be assign 10 her tokens Of
compassion. her deeds OF kindness and de.
sotion! HAD she not Afforded proofs oil
the sane goodwill beiore they had even met
before even an interchange OF looks and
words had taken place between them =
What right has he TO interpret in his favour,
the indications OF feeling he has since de-
tected IN her department
No matter; Of his own attachment, At
least, he Is certain. Hen only loves lie.
resa, but has sworn within his heart OF
hearts TO love her through life and death
substituting for an ideal image, hencelor-
ward suPerfiuous, one oil the most charming
realities Of human nature.
but the attachment OF which he is thus
conscious is a secret to be preserved in the
inmost archives OF his soul It would be a
SIN, crime, to invoke the participation Of
Teresa IN his passion. What right has he
TO imbitter the happy prospects Of her life 7
Are they not destined to live apart from
each other she, free, happy, in the midst
oil a world which she embellishes and where
she will doubles soon confer happiness on
another IN the bosom Of domestic life
whiie ne, IN his solitary prison. must conse-
crate himself 10 eternal solitude and eternal
regret Tor his momentary happiness.
MOI ms passion shall be sedulously con-
cealed. He will assume towards Teresa
u'rardi the deineanour OF person wholly
indifferent, or satisfy himself with the calm
demonstrations Of prudent and eqaable
friendship. II would be too deep misfor-
tune Tor hhm-ior 6ofh-were he TO succeed
in engaging her affections.
Full oil these fiue projects for the future,
the first sounds that met his ear on the
cessation Of his reveries, were the following
sentences in,erchanged between Teresa and
her father, The former of whom was exerilng
all her eioquenee TO persuade the old man
that the moment Of his liberation was at
hand !; while Girardi persisted in expressing
a conviction tina, the remainder Of the year
would expire without producing any nate
rial change in his destinies. 81 know the
dilaioriness Of public functionafies," said
he; know the vaccillalions of government.
So little suffices as pretext for the suspen-
sion of justice, and the cooling of great
mans mercyP
III such is your opinion" cried Teresa,