The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-28

In the garret of the house in which Nor.
daunt and Jacob were discussing her fate
upon her pallet of straw, reclined theil
unhappy victim. A greasy lamp diinly
| illumin ated her dismal abode.
She was .robed in dress of dark tex
ture. Her face was deathly pale; her eyes
brown color, foated in one dishevelled
mass upon her neck and shoulders; ye
Notwithstanding the ravages that time and
cruelty had made, traces of beauty tha
was once pre-eminent, were still percep
iibe.
The unhappy woman did not slumber
that precious boon 10 the afflicted seemed
to be denied her. She rose from her rude
couch and sank upon her knees.
"Father of mercies!" she exclaimed
clasping her hands in an attitude of pray.
er. ''Why is the boon have so long and
ardently sought for refused me? In vain
| supplicate. | have prayed for death as
sure relief for all my sufferings, and yel
it comes not. Why am thus set apart
for misery? Why does he who should
have loved and cherished me, thus perse.
cute me? He shall not attain his wishes
Nc, Nc the gold for which he thus tortures me
never shall be his. He has stained his
hands already with the blood Of my dar-
ling Adela, and he will not shrink from
another crime. He will kill me and then
| shall be at rest!'
She sprang to her feet as distant
sound fell upon her ears, and listened
intently.
"Footsteps upon the stairs" she MUIR
INJURED, "it is Mordaunt - he comes.-
Heaven help and strengthen me in the
hour Of trial."
A key grated in the lock--the door
opened, and Mordaunt entered. He ad-
vanced to small table on which the lamp
was placed, took from it sheet Of paper,
(near which was pen and ink-stand }
and examined it, turning with a scowl OF
disappointment, he exclaimed, .fercely-
alt is not signed, madam!''
.'lt never will be, Mord aunt
"Beware, madam; you should have
learned. by this time, that | am not to be
triHed with. | assure you, solemnly, that
you will never leave this apartment alive
so long as that paper remains unsigned ~
"Then kill me at once for | will never
sign any OF my child's birthright''
.sYour child is dead.''
.'How am | to be convinced Of that?''
I'll tell you so, that is enough"
at is not enough unless you also tell
me that you murdered her!''
Enough of this cried Mordaunt.
sternly. 81 am determined to possess the
estate of Elmbury Write but your anne
at the bottom of this paper. and will re-
store you once again to society. You
shall exchange these rude walls for a lux
urious home beneath the roof of Elmbury
Castle"
"Why should revisi, the scenes of my
happy youth?" asked the lady, bitterly
"To recall to my mind that beneath the
spreading branches of the lofty trees thai
deck the park, Mordaunt first spoke to me
Of love, and won my willing consent to be
his bride? Wtefe are all those protesiations
of thy undying love nowl How was ! to
know that so fair form contained so base
heart2 Would you have me return to
Elmbury. to remember how cruelty was
deceived? Alas! there is no need These
sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, this vast
ed form, this breaking heart attest. toe
we'll, how potent is my memory. Shall
return to Elmbury to fancy that. in every
whispering wind hear the voice OF my
infant Adela, prattling her joys in limo
cent glee, and then to spring with eage
steps upon the lawn. and find nothing
there but the rustling leaves! Oh God
the very thought is agony! No, dreary
as this rude garret is, still it is Paradise
compared to what Elmbury would be IL
my forsaken, desolate hearth
| Exhausted by her emotions, the lady fel
weeping upon her pallet.
"Adela.' said Mordaunt, calling her b,
name for the first time-for tine mother ant
child bore the same name-"Adela, thi
is Madness
"Pity me, then, ere my brain turns for
ever,
"sign the paper, and all shall yet b
WE'LL
She did not reply, and when, after
moments pause, she lifted her head h
was gone. &