Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-26

"Au rsroir, gentlemen" said the devil Mer-
eurius and once more fixed his tail round the
neck of his disappointed companion
The spirit of poor Rollo was sadly cast down;
the devil, on the contrary, was IN high good hui
NOR. He wagged his tail with the most satisfied
air in the world, and cut hundred Jokes at the
expense of his poor associate. On they sped,
cleaving swiftly through the cold night-winds,
frightening the birds that were roostiug in the
woods, and the Owls VINO were watching III the
towers.
In the twinkling of an eye, as it is known,
devils can fly hundreds of miles: so that almost
the same beat of the clock which left these two
in Champagne, found them lowering over Paris
They dropped into the court of the Lazarlst Con-
vent, and winded their way through passage and
cloister until they reached the door OF the prior
cell.
Now the PRIOR Roos brother, was wicked
and malignant sorcerer; his time was spent in
| coniuring devils and doing wicked deeds, instead
of fasting. scourging, and singing holy psalms
this Mercurus knew; and he, therefore, was ful-
" at ease as to the final result of his wager with
poor Sir Roger.
"You seem to be well acquainted with the
road, said the knight.
AZ have reason answered Mercurius, ''having,
for long period, had the acquaintance of his
reverence, your brotner; out you nave Hltfe
chance with him"
s'Aud why 2" said Sir Rollo.
ale is under bond to my master, never to
say a prayer, or else his soul and his body are
forfeited at once"
why, thou false and traitorous devil ~ said
the enraged knight; land thou knowest this when
we made our wager {"
Undoubtedly: do you suppose | would have
done so, had there been any chance of losing 90
And with this they arrived at Father lgnatius's
door.
THY cursed presence threw spell on my
niece, and stopped the tongue of my nephew's
chaplain l do believe that had | seen either of
them alone, my wager had been won."
Certainly. therefore took good care to 60
with thee however, thou mayest see the prior
alone, if thou wilt; and 10 his door is OPEN
will stand without for five minutes, when it will
be time to commence our journey"
1t was the poor Baron's last chance; and he
entered his brothers room more for the five
minutes respite than from any hope of success.
Father Ignatius, the prior, was absorbed IN
magic calculations he stood in the middle of
circle of skulls, with no garment except his long
white beard, which reached to his knees: he was
waving silver rod, and muttering imprecations
in some horrible tongue.
But Sir Rolo came forward and interrupted
his incarnation. s'I am, said he, tsthe shade of
thy brother Roger de Rollo; and have come,
from pure brotherly love, to warn thee of thy
fate"
"Whence earnest thou?"
.'From the abode of the blessed in Paradise"
replied Sir Roger, who was inspired with a sud-
den thought lit was but five minutes ago that
the Patron Saint of thy church told me of thy
danger, and of thy wicked compact with the
fend. Co. said he, ito thy miserable brother,
and tell him that there is but one way by which
he may escape from paying the awful forfeit of
his bond"
"And how may that be g" said the prior; "the
false fiend hath deceived me have given him
my soul, but have received no worldly benefit in
return. Brother! dear brother how may es
cape ?'
81 will tell thee. As soon as I heard the voice
of blessed st. Mary Lazarus 1.-THE worthy Earl
had, at pinch, coined the name of saint
left the clouds, where, with other angels, was
seated and sped hther to thee. THY
brother said the Saint, hath but one day more
to live, when he will become for all eternity the
subject of Satan; if he would escape, he must
boldly break his bond, by saying an ave-. +"
cit is the express condition of the agreement"
said the unhappy monk, Il must say no prayer,
or that instant | become Satan's, body and
soul"
cit is the express condition of the Saint" an
swered Roger, fercely: pray, brother, pray, or
thou art lost for ever"
So the foolish monk knelt down, and devoutly
sung out an ave. "Amenn' said Sir Roger,
devoutly.
s.Amen l'' said Mercurius, as suddenly coming
behind, he seized Ignatius by his long beard,
and few up with him to the top of the church
steeple.
The monk roared, and screamed, and swore
against his brother but it was of no avail, Sir
Roger smiled kindly on him, and said, EDO not
fret, brother; it must have come to this in year
or two"
And he flew alongside of Mercurius to the
steeple ton bit this time the deyu had not his tail
round has neck. II will let thee off thy bet"
said he to the damon, for he could afford, now,
to be generous.
81 believe, my lord,' said the demon, polite
", s'that our ways separate here Sir Roger
sailed gaily upwards while Mercurius, having
bound the miserable monk faster than ever, he
sunk downwards to earth, and, perhaps, lower
Ignatirs was heard roaring aud screaming as the
devil dashed him against the iron spikes and but
tresses of the church.
The moral of this story will be given in the Sc
addition