The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-17
CAMDEN, SOUTHCAROIINA, MAY H. 1850.
the slight girl arose and stood erect before the



man of storms.
"Did you think she said, because bent
to you that an feeble? You gave food to
this frame, but you feed not my heart you
gave me not love, nor tenderness nor sympathy,
you showed me to your friends, as you would
your horse. If you had by kindness sown the
seeds of love within my bosom; ifyou had been
father to me in tenderdess, | would have been
to you-a child. never knew the time when
did not tremble at your footstep; but will DO
so no more. would gladly have loved you.
trusted you, cherished you; but l feared to let
you know had heart, lest you should tear
and insult it. Oh, those who expect love
where they give none, and confidence where
there is no trust, blast the fair time ofyouth,
and lay up for themselves an unhonored old age.
The scene termnatedby monsieur's falling down
in fit, and Amelie's being conveyed tainting
to her chamber.
"That night the castle was enveloped by
storms; they came from all points of the COM
thunder, lightning hail, and rain! The
master lay in his stately bed and was troubled;
he could hardly believe that Amelie spoke the
words he had heard: cold-hearted and sell
fish as he was, he was also clear seeing man,
and it was their truth that struck him. But
still his heart was hardened; he had comnan.
ded Amelie to be locked into her chamber, and
her lover seized and imprisoned when he came
to his usual tryste. Monsieur, | have said, lay
in his stately bed, the lightning, at intervals,
illuming his dark Chamber. had cast myself
on the floor outside her door, but could not hear
her weep, though knew that she was resting
against the Intel of the door, form passed
through the solid oak from her chamber, with.
out the bolts being withdrawn. | saw it as
plainly as see your faces now, under the In
fuence of various emotions; nothing opened,
but it passed through shadowy form, dark
and vapory, but perfectly distinct knew it
was La Femme Noir,' and trembled, for she
never came from caprice, but always for pur-
pose. did not fear for Amelie, for La Femme
Noir' never warred with the high-minded or vir
tuous She passed more slowly than l am speak.
ing; along the corridor, growing taller and taller
as she went, until she entered monsieurs cham
Der by the door exactly opposite where stood.
She paused at the foot of the plumed bed, and
the lightning, no longer ftful, by its broad
flashes kept up continual illumination. She
stood for sometime pertel'ly motionless, though
in a loud tone the master demanded whence
she came, and what she wanted At last, du.
ring a pause in the storm, she told him that all
the power he possessed should not prevent the
union of Amelle and Charles. heard her voice
myself; it sounded like the night.wind among
fir.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 i'll violence, anu
the masters rage kept pace with the war OF ele-
ments. The servants were trembling with un-
defined terror; they feared they knew not what;
the dogs added to their apprehensions by how
ling teartully, and then barking in the highest
possible key ; the master paced about his cham.
Der, calling in vain Oh his domestics, stamp.
ing and swearing Ikea maniac Atlast, amid
flashes Of lightning, he made his way to the
head of the great staircase, and presently the
clang of the, aarm.bell mingled with the thun-
der and the roar of the mountain torrents: this
hastened the servants to his presence, though
they seemed hardly capable Of understanding
his words-heinsist on Charles being brought
before him. We all trelnbled, for he was mad
and livid with rage. The warden, in whose
caro- the young man was, dared not enter the
hall that echoed his loud words and heavy foot
steps, for when he went to seek his prisoner, he
found every bolt and bar withdrawn, aud the
iron door wide open: he was gone. Monsieur
seemed to find relefby his energies being call.
cd into action; he ordered instant pursuit, and
mounted his favorite charger, despite the fury
of the clements. Although the great gates
shook like III aspen.lcaf, he set forth, his path
illumcd by the lightning; bold aud brave as he
was his horse, he fonnd it most impossible to
get it forward; he dug his spurs deep into the
flanks of the noble animal, until the red blood
mingled with the rain. At last, it rushed mad
ly down the path to the bridge the young man
must cross and when they reached it, the mas
ter discrrncd the floating cloak of the pursued,
a few yards in advance Again the horse re-
belled against his will, the lightning flashed in
his eyes, and the torrent seemed Il mass OF red
fire; no sound could be heard but of its roaring
wators; the attendants clung as they advanced
to tho hand rail of the bridge. The youth, I'M
conscious of the pursuit., proceeded rapidly;
and again reused, tho horse plunged for
ward. On the instant, the form OF Lii Femme
Noir' passed with the blast that rushed down
the rayiue; the torrent followed in her track
and more than half the bridge was swept away
forever, As the master reued hack the horse
he had SO urged forward, he saw the youth
kneeling with oustretched arms on the opposite
l.l I,o,l;,,, IN trrotifu1n fnr his dnlivnr.n MOO