The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-03
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1853.
Hermann seated himself near the win

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low, and told her all.
She listened with terror and shame
Thus, then, these passionate letters, these
burning words, this bold, obstinate pur-
suit, had, after all, not been inspired by
love! 1t was money only that inhamed
his soul! How could she, who had only
a heart to offer, make him happy! Poor
child she had been the blind instrument
of robber-of the murlenr of her bene
factress. In the agony Of her repentance
she wept bitterly. Hermann gazed upon
her in silence; but neither the tears of
the unfortunate girl, nor her beauty, rcn.
dered more touching by her grief, could
shake his iron soul. He had no remorse
in thinking Of the death of the countess.
One sole reflection tormented him-the
irreparable loss Of the secret from which
he had expected his fortune.
After long silence, Lisabeta exclaimed,
you are an assassin-a monsterm
81 did not mean to hill her." he ans
wered coldly "my pistol was not loaded"
They remained for some time without
speaking, or even looking at each other.
Daylight at length broke, and l. sabeta
extinguishcd the candle which flickered in
the socket; and pale grey light stole
into the chamber. She wiped her eyes,
which were drowned in tears, and turned
them towards Hermann. He was still
sitting beside the window, with his arms
folded, and his brow knit In this attitude
he forcibly recalled the portrait of Napo-
leon; and the resemblance, as she remem
bered what Tomski ha said, made her
shudder.
At last she spoke. "How," said she,
shall get you away! l thought Of
your going by the secret staircase, but to
do so you must pass through the countess
bedroom, and | am afraid"-
"Tell me only how shall find the stair
case, and l will go alone"
She rose, searched in drawer for a
key, which she gave to Hermann, with
the necessary instructions; lie took heI
staircase, 1a and entered @ dfhei the sisSaal a le tbs
countess. She was seated in her fauteuil
perfectly rigid; her features were not in
the slightest degree contracted. He epaused
and gazed at her for some time, as it tc
assure himself of the fearful reality he
then went into the empty closer, and fee!
ing the tapestry, discovered small door
which opened on q staircase, at the bottom
of which he found mother door, whicl
the key in his hand readily opened. TIL,
next moment he was in the street.
Three days after the fatal night, at min
o'clock in the morning, Hermann went t
the convent of Procaschka, where the las
offices were to be paid to the mortal re
mains of the Countess Anna Fedotovna
He felt no remorsc, and yet he could no
. disguise from hiiuself the fact that he wa:
AS is usually the ease, superstitious; anc
in the persuasion that the dead counte,
had the power of exercising malign il
, fluence over his life, he had thought I
appcase her by attending her funeral.
The church was full Of people, and /
had some difficulty in getting n place.
The body was stretched upon rich bi
, under canopy Of velvet; the hands we
=, crossed upon the bosom, and the DIRE
was of white satin, with head-dress
lace. Around the bier the family we
% assembled; the servants in black caftar
y with ribbons on their shoulders bearil
= devices, and each holding long tape
:, the relations--children, grandchildren, al
III great grandchildrerl-all in deep MOURN
u No one wept-tcars would have be
looked upon as an atfectation. The co,
oy tess was so old, tina. her death could 81
l prise 10 one, and she had long been CT
OH sidcrcd rs no longer belonging TO I
world. 4 celebrated preacher pronounC
er- the funeral oration. In few simple a
touching words he described the death
the just, who had passed long life in G
fying preparations for christian end
Ter THE angel Of DEATH" lie said, ''ca'T
ed her off in the midst Of her cheerful 6
ne, pious meditations, and in the expectat
'y. Of he bridegroom Of midnighE WI
ess the service was over, all the relati
mt, moved forward to take their last fare,
ing of the deceased. After them in long |
she oession, came all those invited to the C
for mony. The servants OF her liouseho
,et- succeeded, and among them was an
her housekeeper Of the same age OF the &C
at tess, who advanced, supported by two
all men. She was not strong enough
lily kneel, but tears fell from her eyes "
far. she bent to kiss the hand of her mist
she Hermann proceeded in his turn tow
ady the bier. He knelt for a moment on
sue marble fiags covered with branches o.
noe press. He then roso, and, pale as d'
him ascended the steps Of the bier, and be
UNI his head; when suddenly 1t SCENE
ever him as IL tho dead countess looked at
even with q derisive expression, and wi
b.r eve. Hermann rose with a
door movement, and fell backwards on
cred. pavement, from whence he was qu
Dliuo raised by the bystauders. Az the
an - moment Lisabesa Ivanoyna tainted ,
pIied she stood in the body Of the chur
n IL: These accidents disturbed tho cere
for a few moments; the assistants
~ pered among each other; and on
a the chamberlain, near relation OF u
ceased, murmured in the ear Of an
a all l1isbman who stood near him. ths
Il ~ LA 49,. 49,