The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-09-11

shall I,I Gcor." TO give orders that the
roy.l bar-c he prepared ?" said the Lady Ar
abrlla.
"No-srnl hithcr the messenger
"IIi,hrr:" questioned Arabclla mindful
ct the ds.rra, which til. royal person still
exhibited.
fc, here. and thus '" replied Eli<,hcth,
and u bitter smile swept over her face ~ she
interpreted the look OF her attendant.
Filled with wonder that almost amounted
To CONSERVATION, ArabrlA went forth to sum-
r.pn III" m.,,cns-r Elizabeth received him
At the door of her chamber She had folded
i cloak around her person, bat her cray hair
yelling the a.cd brow that had never been
PRESENTED to til. sazc OF mortal man before,
withou, the disguise Of art and "A blaze OF Jew
els, she pnt u few brct questions 10 hun:
Come You 70 the palace by water"
BY water, may it please your highncss.
7rp;i"d the man.
And your barge is here"
1T is ROW in waiting. aud the tide serves"
Lead on :" said the Queen. "Arabclla
i,.lo~ rs with tie boy: and YOU" she added,
turnin. to the guard. go attend us to the
water, and then sir not from the gate till our
return" and til. Queen walked on with a
degree OF strength and energy which startled
thoxc who had witnessed the fccblencss that
had III .rkcd the few last months of her life.
As they went forth into the open air, Ara
bella moved close to her royal mistress. Let
me draw the hood somewhat over Your maJcS-
~. head" she pleaded, for the wind was trI-
ding with those snowy tresses, and it panied
the Young girl to SEE how careless the proud
old Queen seemed of an exposure TO which
she had always been SO sensitive.
"Nay-the cool wind does me good, repll-
cd Elizabeth, and with a firm step she de-
sccndcd to the barge. and took a scat upon
one of the cushions.
Midnight dark ncss lay upon the river
clouds. heavy and black, were hcaped over
the shv; and the shores, save here and there
a solitary light from some residence, lay IN
profound night. Amid this wilderness OF
gloom, the barge swept rapidly downward
with the tide. The flow of the waters, heavy
and monotonouS was all the sound 10 be heard:
no word was spoken, save when the old
Queen babe the rowcrs make more speed.
At last the barge drew up by a flight Of
step. that led to spacious garden half sur
rounded by the wings of fine old mansion
house. Through one Of the tall windows a
light streamcd forth upon the blacknes>, faint
and dim, as il some lamp placed there were
just expiring.
go on to the sick ROOM" said the Queen,
as her conductor would have taken her to an
other apartment, that her presence might be
announced STAY YOU below, Arabrlla; We
will see this dying countess alone :" and, with
a firm step, Elizabeth mounted the stair>,and
found herself in the chamber of death.
4 huge bed. canopicd with masses of pur-
rio velvet, SO deep tinted that it seemed black
in the .ivo", o.ouu d. INC rAtic'nr, "a tne
chamber; and upon it lay the pale form of a
woman struggling in her death agony. 4
group OF persons stood around the bed, silent
and awe-strcken. Toward this group Eliza
beth moved slow, upri. ht, and ma este.
tits the Queen" cried the dying coun
tess, lifting her thin hand God has ha'
mcrcv. 1t is the Queen-and can no,
die"
Leave US" said Elizabeth, waving he
hand The next moment she stood alon
with the dying.
Countess of Nottingham, you have ser
for the Queen-and she is here What hav
YOU to say of Essex: In what can YOU
death bed confessions concern one whose fa
is now sealed!"
The Countess of Nottingham claspcd h,
pale hands, and held them imploringy t
ward the Queen Those hands were almo
transparent, and, as the light fell upon thc'
upon one OF the fingers it revealed rub
glowing like spark of fire upon it. Eliz
bcth's eyes fell upon the gem, and instant
she became pale as the woman who lay pre-
trate before her, pleading, with mute cI
qucnce, for mercy.
"Woman," she said, grasping the pale ha
Of the dying countess, and bending her cy
close to the ruby, whose light made the he;
tremble in her bosom Woman, how cal
you possessed Of this ring
The Countess of Nottingham closed |
eyes, to shut out the terrible anger that CO
vuIscd the aged face bending over her dca
pillow her lips moved again and again,
fore they could utter word At length $
spoke, bnt feebly and very low. The Que
bent her head close to those pale lips. II
her thirsty ear mi ght drink in every sylla
of the confession they were whispering. 5
held her breath-and wild, fierce EXPIRE
ION, like that of wounded eagle, came to
eyes. When all was told-when the dy
woman opened her eyes, and, with look
most touching entreaty, besought mercy
the fraud which had brought the noble h,
of Essex to the block-then the volcano VIII
her words had excited in the old Quee
heart, blazed forth. Elizabeth stood upri.
the inhrmities of age were swallowed up
her mighty wrath her lips grew Iivid
eyes burned as with ire-and every ne
in her body seemed hardening into iron.