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

.The princess p calculated her hus
band, bewildered at the sight of he
t disguise and her violent emotion. an(
raising her from the ground. "Wha
J means this frenzy. and why are yor
SO strangely disguised q
But she answered him not. Will
her dis ended eyes wildly fixed upon
him. she passed her hands repeatedly
over his bosom, and mnttered to her.
self: No poniard, no wound and vel
| struck him there, and felt his hut
blood gush forth upon my hand And
see,' she continued. Shu idering. there
1t 50 and holding up her hand as she
spoke. the crimson drops that stained
it attested the truth of some fearinl
deed being connected with her mystic
/ riouS self-accu ;ation.
Helena" dearest love-" said the
Boyard, in soothing accents, ''some-
thing has terrified you ;-bnt YOU are
safe now-I am here to protect YOU
Tell me what is the meaning of this
agitation = what is the meaning of
this blood q
You, Anastatia the sycamore
'ofE- oitI ultVlCN. III DIUhSI ClieS.-
Were you not there! T! now-just nov,
to meet her"
The prince shook his head in silent
CONSERVATION.
Whom have I murdered, then z"
burst from the lips of the unhappy
woman, with thrilling shrek: and
starting from her husbands support, she
fed, with the speed Of maniac, to-
ward the fatal spot from which she had
recently returned.
The prince and his attendants follow
ed her-Same of them bearing lighted
torches; bat snch was the speed which
the frenzied state of her feelings lent
to her movements, that they only over
took her at the moment of her reaching
the fountain. There she suddenly
stopped, as though rooted to the spot.
and, shu dering. pointed tothe ground.
The prince advanced hastily to her
slie. his attendants followed. anH.
raising their torches. discovered. al the
margin of the fountain. the body of
man extended OH his back, ali welter-
ing in his blood. The ghaStIy face was
turned upwards. aud as the glare Of |
IN torches fell upon it. an exclama-
ton OF horror fell from the lips of all |
present. AMI Helena, leaning forward. |
recognised her victim. with thrill Of |
agony which caused all the blood to
thrill IN her veins and her pulse to
stand still. AT that one glance the
Whole truth flushed upon her with ter
llbie c!earneSs. till she c0mprehended. |
when too fa1e. the fatal error into which |
her blind and mistaken suspicious had |
pluHgei her There Law her son her
only child-her beloved Demetri.-
bathed in the blood that flowed forth |
from the deafh-wound which her mur-
derouS hand had Inflicted He il was
then, whose buyish passion had been
reciprocated by her young attendant;
he It was for whom AnaStatia had de-
vlSei the love-meetimg. which had that
morning changed her own jealous fears
into dreaif certaintieS He it was.
Dh, God! upon whom her imaginary
wrongs had just been so barbarouSIy
avenged! The similarity of name.
of dress, had deceived her. Why had
she not thought of this before? Why
Does suspicion ever pause 10 reason or
effect! Is not jealousy blind as love.
whose dark shadow it is said to bea-
All this passed through ner mind with
he rapidity of lightning as that one
lwful glance revealed TO her the extent
If her crime. No words escaped her
ips; but. as if struck by thunderbolt.
he fell heavily forward. ard lay pros
rate, and to all appearance lifelesS. by
he side OF the beloved son whose life
lad fallen sacrifice to the rash and {
lngovernable suspicious of the jealous
vife
The first use that Helena made of !
Ter returning faculties was to cast her |
elf at the feet of her husband, and c
make full confession of the feelings
which had driven her TO commit so des-
'erate deed. imploring death at his
ian Is, in expiration of her ime But
cath, which would have terminated o
er earthly torinents was a boon which
he exasperated husband was resolved
ot to grant her.
9 Woman" said he," e you shall live /,
} die thousand deaths every day! d
'ou shall live to expiate. in lingering n
'rments of mind, the misery you have :,
affected on men :
And, indexible in his determination.
e caused his unfortunate wife to be
to the Rock of Babake.
here, in rudely constructed stone
she was condemned to drag d
ut her miserable existence, without Il
elng suffered to exchange a word with a
ny human being, and with no com P
save her own wretched n
ioughts. Her senses failed under her y
svere punishment: but madness. in
cad OF. bringing oblivion to her woes. n
semed to have impaired new activity d
, her faculties OF suffering. Every :,
vening, as darkness came over the
arth, the poor maniac fancied herself b
gain an actor in the dreadful scene n
hich had stained her soul with the I'm
'ul guilt of murder, and the frerzled
lrieks she uttered during the night !. :
ere heard atar. waking the echoes L
that dreary solitude, until daylight s.
ronght with it temporary accession t:
her agoalss III the calm nf eyhans- d