The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-14
THE LADY In BLACK,
By MRS. 8. c. HALL.

l
they came from all points of the compass-thunder
lightning, hail and rain The master lay in hi
stately bed and was troubled; he could hardl
believe that Amelie spoke the words he had heard
| cold-hearted and selfish as be was, he was also
cear-seeing man, and it was their truth that struc
him. But still his heart was hardened he hat
! commanded Amelie to be locked into her chamber
and her lover seized and imprisoned when he cam,
to his usual tryste. Monsieur | have said Law II
his stately bed the lightning, at intervals illumin
ing his dark chamber. | had cast myself on the
floor outside her door, but could not hear her weep
though knew that she was overcome with sorrow
As sat, my head resting against the Intel of the
door, form passed through the solid oak from hel
chamber, without the bolts heing Withdrawn.
saw it as plainly as see your faces now, under the
influence OF various emotions; nothing opened, bu,
it passed through "a shadowy form, dark and
yapory, but perfectly distinct knew it was La
Femme Nsir, and | trembled, for she never came
from caprice, but always for purpose. did moi
fear for Amelie, for La Femme Noir never warred
with the high-minded virtuous. She passed
slowly, more slowly than | am speaking, along the
corridor, growing taller and taller as she went on
until she entered Monseur's chamber by the door
exactly opposite where stood. She paused at the
foot of the plumed bed, and the lightning, no longer
ftul, by its broad flashes kept up continual iliu-
mlnatlon. She stood for some time perfectly motion
less, though in a loud tone the master demanded
whence she came, and what she wanted. At last.
during pause in the storm, she told him that all
the power he possessed should not prevent the union
of Amelie and Charles. | heard her voice myself:
it sounded like the night-wind among fr-trees-
cold and shrill, chilling both ear and heart
turned my eyes away while she spoke, and when
looked again she was gone The storm continued
to increase in violence, and the masters rage kept
pace with the war of elements. The servants were
trembling with underlined terror; they feared thew
knew not what; the dogs added to their apprehen.
sion by bowling fearfully, and then barking in the
highest possible key; the master paced about his
chamber, calling in vain ON his domestcs stamping
and swearing like maniac.
AT last, amid flashes of lightning, he made his
way to the head of the great staircase, and pres-
emily the clang of the alarm bell mingled with the
thunder and the roar of the mountain torrents this
hastened the servants to his presence though they
seemed hardly capable of understanding his words
he insisted on Charles being brought before him.
We all trembed-for he was mad and iyid with
rage The warden, in whose care the young man
was dared not enter the hall that echoed his loud
words and heavy footsteps-for, when he went to
seek his prisoner he found every bolt and bar with
drawn, and the iron door wide open: he was gone
Monsieur seemed to find relief by his energies be-
Ing called into acon he ordered instant pursuit and
mounted his favorite charger, despite the Storm
despite the fury of the elements. Although the
great gates rocked and the castle shook he set forth
his path ilumned by the lightning bold and brave
as was his horse, he found it almost impossible to
get 1t forward; he dug his spurs deep into the
TANKS of the noble ANIMAL until the red blood min
gled with the rain. At last it rushed madly down
the path to the bridge the young man must cross
and when they reached it, the master discerned the
floating cloak of the pursued, few yards in ad-
vance. Again the horse rebelled against his will,
the lightning flashed in his eyes, and the torrent
seemed mass of red fire no sound could be heard
but OF It's roaring waters the attendants clung as
they advanced, to the hand-rail of the bridge. The
youth, unconscious of the pursuit, proceeded "a
pidly and again reused, the horse plunged forward
On the instant, the form of La Femme Noir' passed
with the blast that rushed down the ravine The
torrent followed in her track, and more than half
The bridge was swept away forever. As the mas
Ter refined back the horse he had so urged forward,
ne saw the youth kneeling with outstretched arms
On the opposite bank-kneeling in gratitude for his
iellverance from his donLle peril. All were struck
With the piety of the YOUTH and earnestly reioced
1t his deliverance though they did not presume to
ay so, or look as if they thought so. never saw
70 changed person as the master, when he re-en-
cred the castle gate. His cheek was blanched-
lis eye queled-his fierce plume hung broken over
his shouder-his step was unequal, and, in the
voice of feeble girl, he said Bring me cup of
vine was his cup-bearer, and for the first time
n his life, he thanked me graciously, and in the
'aress nearly hurled me across the hall. What
'assed In his retiring-room, | know not. Some
aid the Femme Nor' visited him again; cannot |
ell did not see her; speak of what saw, not
# what heard. The storm passed away with a |
clap of thunder, to which the former sounds were
,ut as the rafting of pebbles beneath the swell of
| summer wave. The next morning the monsieur |
ent for the pasteur. The good man seemed terror
stricken as he entered the hall but monsieur filled
lin quart of gold coins out of leathern bag, to |
epair his church, and that quickly; and grasping
lis hand, as he departed, looked him steadily in the
ace. As he did so, large drops stood, like beads,
pon his brow; his stern, coarse features, were |
trangely moved while he gaZed upon the calm, |
ale minister of peace and love. 'You, he said, |
bid God bless the poorest peasant that passes you
n the mountain; have you no blessing to give the |
master of Bohean 2
on the blessing may give-may God bless you,
nd may your heart be opened to give and to re-
eive'
"' know l can gve,' replied the proud man
but what can receive!'
"' Love- he replied. All your wealth has not
rough1 you happiness, because you are unloving
The demon returned to his brow, but it did not
emain there.
60 You shall give me lessons in this thing he
aid and so the good man went his way.
"Amelie continue close prisoner; but change
anne over monsieur. At first, he SHUT himself up
n his chamber, and no one was suffered to enter
is presence he took his food with his own hand
ON the only attendant who ventured to approach
is door. lie was heard walking up and down
he room, day and night. When we were going to
eep, we heard his heavy tramp; at daybreak,
nere it was again; and those of the household
Tho awoke at intervals during the night, said it
'as unceasing.
-" Monsieur could read. All, you NAV smile but
those days, and in those mountains, such men as
lie master did not trouble themselves or others with
nowledge; but the master of Rohean read both
attn and Greek, and commanded THE BOOK he
ad never opened since his childhood TO be brought
lm 1t was taken out of its velvet case and
arried in forthwith and we saw his shadow from
thout, like the shadow of giant, bending over
HE BOOK ; and he read in it for some days, and
e greatly hoped it would soften and change his
ature-and though cannot say much of the soft
hing, it certainly effected great change; he no
niger stalked modify along the corridors, and
anged the doors and swore at the servants he the
lther seemed possessed of merry devil, roaring
1t an old song:
Aux bastions de Geneva nos cannons
Sont banquet;
Sill quelque sttaque les feront ronfer,
Viva! les cannonieHp
nd then he would pause and clang his hands to-