The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-02-27

evening, so soon as it is dark. | wi
contrive to steal out to the fountain il
! the sycamore grove-meet me there a
eight-your pretext of absenting your
self from home will prevent the princes
from suspecting that We"
Here the voice became fainter, as tn
person speaking moved towards an op
posite door; the footsteps of maj
were plainly 10 be distinguished movins
in the same direction. Helena couit
hear nothing more; she strained he
eyes to the crevice of the door a
which she was stationed. but saw no
thing. Her heart overfowing with tn
multuous passions she was for a mo
ment tempted TO burst open the door
and confound the guilty one who hau
presumed TO rival her in her husbands
love. Listening again, she felt assured
that the room was empty, and mo.
ment's reflection showed her that by a
few hours delay she might render her
vengeance more signal and complete.
She therefore returned in the same
stealthy manner to her apartment, shut
herself up, and took measures accord
ingly.
Her determination was to prevent tfte
possibility of Anastatia quitting the
house, and then TO disguise herself in
the dress of serving damsel and to
personaie her perfidious attendant at
the>rendezvous, in the sycamore grove,
which she had heard arranged by her.
These meditations were interrupted by
message from the P ince. apprising
her that he should be absent FROM no ne
the remainder of the day, and should
probably not return till late at night:
and this message, all additional proof
Of the calculating treacheIy which
her faithiess husband scrupled not 10
exercise towards her, was the last drop
that overhowea the cup The exaspara-
ton Of her outraged feelings knew no
bounds, and she remained IN solitude il
her apartment, that no member of the
family might notice her agitation.
An hour before sunset AnaStatia was
summoned TO her lady's presence. and
received an ordsr To remain near her
aud finish some embroidery with which
she herself had been occrp pied.
Not daring 70 disaber, ani hoping to
finish her task before The hour Of her
appointment with her lover had arrived.
he young girl sat down 10 her work
With nuwonted aiacriiy The room in
which they were was an upper cham
Der, and formed the last of spacious
suite, having no entrance but through |
he apartments that preceded it. NOT
ong after AnaStatIa was seated at her |
frame, the princess arose |
md Quilted the room. locked the door
# it, and leaving her attendant close |
prisoner there, with no possibility OF |
,gress until she herself should releas Sc |
Ter, she proceeded to Anastatia's cham
Ter. where she selected a suit eff her
clothes, hastened 10 disguise herself in
hem. and throwing veil over her
lead. qaitted the house and directed
ler steps towards the trysting place.
II was late in the autumn: the days |
we're shortening Visibly. the evenings
we're cold and gloomy, night closed IN
Immediately after sunset, and there
vas no moon TO illumine the chill. dark
ky. Helena was the first to arrive at
he place OF rendezvous; and under
he influence of her slumbering sus-
lcion. she fancied. when she found
erself there alone, that her scheming
ad been discovered, and that her hus-
and would defeat her plan of ven-
eauce by not appearing, but a few
snfficed to undeceiye her. A
uick, light step approached. What
agerness was in that tread, and how
did her heart throb as sheI
stened TO it. The obsc lrity was so
omplefe, that she could not discern
ven the outline of the person who
rev near, but the perfume of amber
rls. with which her husbands hair aud
were always nnpregnated.
GATED upon the air: and a IaE. coun-
,rfeited voice, breathed forth the
ords-" Hist, Anastatia! Are YOU
ere, love7o directed her towards him.
She stretched forth her hand with a
hispered Yes" and grasped some-
ing which she recognised as the en-
-oldered katten worn by the heads of
lie princely house of c.. In the
axt moment the arms of the inpa- ,
ent lover were thrown around her,
I'D she was drawn towards him in !
lssionate embrace. Transported to /;
ry by the tender endearmetlt, which
e knew was not intended for herself. !
1t for an unworthy rival, and breath +
g only the deadiiest vengeance for ,
II wrongs. the outraged wife thrust r
sr hands into her bosom. drew thence =
poniard, and raising it on high, !
unged il into the faithless heart that .
,at against her own. The blow was
,alt with such unerring aim that the I
ctim could only utter an indistinct 5
v, and, relaxing the grasp with which 5
, held her SO closely embraced, fell 5
,avily to the ground. Helena drew /
If breath, and listened for a moment: 2
gurgling noise in the throat Of the :
man was all that she could a
Then followed a death !
ze silence. Terror and rem0rse sud- +
My overcame her for the deed, :
hich in moment Of frenzied ex- !
Iement she had perpetrated, tuning q
silly from the fatal spot. she rushed b
ward her home. 4