Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-09-02
p l C C / o l. A.
THE PRISONER OF PENESTRELLA.
Or, Captivity Captive.
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
In the course Of his solitary meditations,
after Ludovico's departure, Charney was
compelled to admit that, in his relations
with the gaoler, the man of genius and ed
ucation had fallen below the level of the
man Of the people. To what wre,ched
subterfuges had he descended, in order to
practise upon the feelings Of this kind-heart-
ed and simple being He had even soiled
his noble lips with an untruth.
He was startled to discover the services
recently rendered by Ludoyico to the "po-
uera piccioIa." The boor, the gaoler, mo-
rose only when invited TO a breach Of duty,
had actually watched him in secret, not 10
exult over his weakness, but to render hi
a service; nay, by his obstinate disinterest-
edness, the man persisted in imposing TN
obligation on the Count de Charney.
In his walk next morning, the Count
hasiened to share, with his little favourite,
The cruise of water allotted TO his use not
only watering the roots, but sprinkling the
plant itself, TO refresh its leaves from do 81
or insects. While thus occupied, the SKI
became darkened by thunder-cloud, So 5
pended like black dome over the turre s
Of the fortress. Large raiu-drops began %
fall and Charney was about 10 take refure
In bis room, when few halstones, min
Cling with the rain, battered down on the
pavements OF the court. La pOvera pice, D..
Ia seemed on the point of being upfooteJ +,
by the whirlwind which accompanied tie
storm. Her dishevelled branches and leaves
shrinking up towards their stalks for pr D.
lection against the chilling shower, trembled
with every driving blast Of wind that how /
ed, as II IN triumph, through the court.
Charney paused. Recalling 10 mind the
reproaches of Ludovico, he looked eagerly
around for some object to defend his plant
from the storm; but nothing could be sec n.
The hallstones came rafting down with re-.
doubled force, threatening destruction to It's
tender stem; and, notwithstanding Char.
ney's experience of its power of resistan &c
against such attacks, he grew uneasy for lis
safety. With an effort of tenderness, wor.
thy Of father or lover, he stationed hin.
sell between his protegee and the wind,
bending over her, to secure her from The
hail and, breathless with his struvol az
againsi the violence of the storm, deyot ed
himself like martyr, TO the defence Of Ia
pieeiola.
AT length the hurricane subsidized. But
might not recurrence of the mischief bring
destruction TO his faVorite al some nome al
when bolts and bars divided her from her
proiecIori He had already found cause TO
Tembie for her safety, when the wife OF
Ludovleo, accompanied by huge mast n.
one OF the guardians of the prison occa.
slonally trayetsed the yard for a SINGLE
stroke with It's paw, or snap of lis mouth
might have annihiated the darling of the
philosophical captive; and Charney accor.
dIngly passed the remainder of the day in
connecting plan Of forthcntion.
The moderate portion Of wood allow ed
MN Tor fuel scarcely supplied bis wants in
climate whose nights and mornings are so
chilly, Ia a chamber debarred from all
warmth Of sunshine. Yet he resolved 10
sacrifice his comfort to the safety of the
plant lie promised himself to retire earli.
er 10 rest add rise later by which means
alter few days Of sef-denial, he amassed
Snhc'en' wood for his purpose.