Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-14
aNEuporE OF THE PARTISAN POLLOK

whose whole life was spent in doing COED both
70 the souls and bodies Of his fellow ere atures,
and holy consistency ard dignifed courage caus-
ed him to be beloved by the good, and respected
even by the most abandoned character. One
cold, dark winters night, the bell at the old
cures door was rung loudly, and lie, although
in bed, Immediately rose and opened the door,
anticipating summons to some sick or dying
bed. ........ ..... .1 II
A parsonage, richly dressed, with his fea-
lures partly coscesled by large false beard,
stood outside. Addressing the cure in a cour-
teous and graceful manner, he apologized for
his unreasonable visit. which, as he said the
high reputation Of Monsieur had induced him to
make. t.
"a great and terrible, but necessary and inev.
table deed, he continuea, is to be done. Time
presses; q soul about TO pass into eternity i'm
ploreS your ministry. II you come you must
allow your eyes to be baIhaged, ask no ques-
lions, but consent 10 act simply Us spiritual con-
soler OF dying woman. If you refuse 10 &c.
company me, no other priest can be admitted,
and her spirit must pass alone. app
After momen. Of secret prayer, the cure am
swsred, 4 will go with you. Without asking
any further explanation. he allowed his eyes to
be blndaged, and leaned or the arm of his sus-
picOus visitor. They both got into a coach,
whose windows were imedately covered with
wooden shutters, and then they drove off rapid
~. They seemed 10 go long way, and make
many doubling and turnines ere the coach drove
under wide archway and stopped. .
]. n, SiS time not single word had been
exchanged between the travellers, and ere 4 cy
got out the stranger assured himself that the
bandsge over his companions eyes had not
been displaced, aid then taking the old man re-
spectfuly by the hand, he assisted him to agn,
and TO ascend the wide steps of a staircase, as
far as the second story, A great door opened
as if of itself, and several ,hickly carpeted
rooms were iraversed in silence. Al length
another door was opened by the guide, and the
cure felt his bandage removed. They were in
a solemn looking bed chamber; near bed, halt
veiled by thick damask curtains, was small
table, supporting two wax lights, which feehly
illuminated the cold, death like apartment. Tie
stranger, le was the Duke de-, then bow
ing TO the cure led him towards the bed, drew
back the curtains, and said in solemn tone:
Minister Of God, before OH is woman
who has BETRAYED the blood Of her ancestors
and whose doom is irrevocabIy fixed She
knows on what conditions an interview has been
granted her; she knows too, that all SUPPLE
lions would be useless. You know your duty,
u. !c Cure; leave Won to fulfill it, and will
retuan TO seek you in half an hour
So saying he departed, and the agltated priest
saw lying on the bed young and beautiful girl,
bathed in tears and battling with despair, and
. .. t. NO investigation 70 j!f6eT' Bts ,RG
unhappy creature declared herself bound, by a
terrible oath, to conceal her name, besides, she
knew not in what place she was
Il am, she said, the victim Of a secret family
tribunal whose sentence is irrevocabe More
cannot tell, l forgive my enemies, as trust
God will forgive me, Pray for meH'
The minister of religion invoked the sublime
promises of the gospel TO soolhe her troubled
soul, and he succeeded. Her counienance ar.
ter time became composed, she clasped her
hands in fervent prayer, and then extended them
towards her consider.
As she did so, the cure perceived that the
sleeve Of her robe was stained with blood.
My child, said he, with trembling voice,
what is thisY
Father it is the vein which they have al
ready opened, and the banddage no doubt waA
IarelesSly put on ....
AT these words sudden thought struck the
priest. He unrollrd the dressing, allowed The
blood 10 flow, stepped his handkerchief in l..
then replaced the bandage. concealed The stained
handkerchief within his vest, and viii, pered:
Farewell, my daughter, take coura e and
have confidence in God!
The half hour had expired, and the step Of
the terrible conductor was heard approach.
ing. .. . ..-...
am ready, said the cure, and having allow.
ell his eyes covered he took the arm of the Dlkr
de-, and left the awful room, praying.
nwhile. with secret fervor.
Arrived at the foot of the staircase, the old
man succeeded, without his guides knowled
in slightly displ~cing the thick bandage so as to
admit partial ray Of lamp light. Finding him
self in the carriage gateway, he managed 70
stumble and fall. with both hands forwards to-
ward dark corner. The Duke fastened TO
raise him; both resumed their places rsthe car.
risge, and after passing through the same tor.
tuOus route the cure was set down in safely at
his own door,
Without one moments delay he called his
servant. .... r...... ..r
Pierre, he said, arm yourself with stick, and
give me your support; must 60 to the minis
ter Of police.
Soon afterwards the official gate was opened
to admit the we'll known venerable pastor.
Monssgnsur he said addressing the minister
Stsrrible deed will speedily he accomplished,
if YOU are not in lime 10 prevent it. LIT your
agents visit before aybreak every carriage
gateway in Paris; in the inner angle OF one OF
them will be found blood stained handk eEchel
/ The blood 10 that Of . young female, whose
murder alPeady begun. hAS been mirlculouslV
suspended. Her family have candennet iherr
victim to have her weiss opened one by one, and
thus to perish slowly in eXpiaton OI y fault al
ready more than punished by her mortal agony.
Courage, my friends, you have ssaready somr
hours. May God assist yOu-l can only
pray. .r ...