The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1852-03-04

1-s~..-ns-sss~ vs>srs-,as-~s--s-ss-s--~~s--
cause 20 consequence with the rariAi-
,y ct the voltaic spark. Ere tie
sound had done rumaling, she knew
the nature Of the calamity as distinct
iy as If m evil spirit hal whispered
in her ear. Nevertheless irresistible
impulse. ttat d,cadful attraction that
draws us il spite # ourselves 10 l.ok
on what Is horrible and approach 10
the very verge Of danger. imrclled
her to seek the very sisht .he feared
most TO encounter. Her mind IN"
deed. reco,led, but her limbs, as BY a
yolition superior 10 her own. dragged
her 10 the brink Of the abyss she hai
prophetically painted, where the real
ity presented itself with startlins (
resemblance to the ideal picture.
Yes shere ya*ned (ins cark chasm
unfashomable by the human eye, a
great gulf iixcd---pethaps, ctcrnally
fixed between herself aud the earth,
with all :, contained Of NEST dear and
preciols 10 the heart Of a wife and
mclh.r. Thrce-ouly three up
pcrmost steps Of the gisaa,ic stair
case still remained in their place, and
even these a, she gazcd at them sud,
denly plunged iato tie drcary void. g.
and after an interval which indicated
the frightfui dcpth they had to
plumb reached the bottom wi,h
u crash that was followed by A roll o.
hollow echoes from the sub.crranean
vaults.
As the sound ceased, the English
woman turned away, with a gasp and
visible shudIer. from the hcrrid
charm. 1t was with the utmost diff =.
cntty that she had mastered a me>
chanical inclination to throw herself
after the falling mass al impulse very
commonly induced by the unexpected
decent of large body from our own
level. Bat what had she gained:
Perhaps but more lingering and
Horrible fate--a little more time tc
break her heart in-so many more
wretchcd hours to lament for her lost
treasure her cheerful homc-her
married felicity-her maternal JOYS,
and to look with unavaiiins ycanir.s
towards Coblenz. But that landscape
had become intolerable and she has,
tily closed her eyes and covered her
face with her hands. Alas. she only
beheld the more wildly the house,
hold ina ges, and dear familiar faces
that dIstracting|y associated the past
with the present-for out Of the very
sweetness Of her life came intcnsey
bitterness. and from its brightest
phasc an extremer darkness, even as
the smiling valley beneath her had
changed into that Of the Shadow Of
Death. The Destroyer had indeed
assumed almost a visible presence,
and like poor trembling bird, con,
scious Of the STOPPING falcon. the de-
voted victim sank down and covered
on the lard, cold, rugged, roof Of the
fatal Tower.
The German Girl, in the mean.
while. had thrown herself on her
knees, and with her neck at full
stretch over the lower parap"t, looked
eagerly from east to west for succ5u
but from the mill up the stream to
the ferry down below, and along the
road on either side Of the river, she
could not descry living object. Yes
no -yes-thcre was one on the
mountain itself, moving among the
brushwood, and even approaching the
castle closer he came I; and ci2ser
yet, to the Tower Bu, his search,
whatever it was, tcnled carthward:,
for he never looked ny.
/ i!hcrc' come, glcich-quick"
and the agitated speaker hurriedly
bcckoncd to her companion in misfor-
tune. " mast make cry together,
aud SO loud as We can and setting
the example she raised her voice to
its utmost pitch lut tic air was so
raritica the sound seemed feeble even
. to herself.
I At any rate it did not reach the
Eyure below nor would a far louder
alarm, for that figure was little Krantz
the deaf aud dumb boy Of Lahnstciu,
who MAS gathering bunches Of the val.
/ ley lilies lor sale to the company at
the i'm. Accordingly. after dcsul-
tory ramble round the ruins, lie de,
sccndel to he road. ard slowly rro-
ceeied along the watcrsidc towards
the ferry. "herc he disappeared,
bjeber Cott = exclaimed the poor
gi.l =; i, too Gar 70 makc one hear.
So saving she sprsng to lcr feet,
and with her white handkerchief kept
waving signals Of distress, til! from
sheer exhaustion her arms refused
their Office. Bu, not one of those
pleasure parties 80 frequent Oh iine
summer days in tia, favoriic valley
had visited the spot. There MAS q
Kirch WEIGH q, NeJndor!, deru the
Rhine. and the holiday.nakers had
al, rncec1ed with their Clar.cteris tic