Litchfield enquirer., 1853-07-14


she continued, shuddering. "there il IL T.
and. holding up her hand as she spoke.
the crimson blood that stained il atlOsI-
ed the truth Ct some fearful deed being
connected with her my sterious self>aceu-
saiiOn.
Helen. dearest love-" said the Boy.
ard. in soothing accents. something has
terrified you; but you are safe now-I
am here to protect sou. Tell me, what
is the meaning Of this agitation Z? What
is the meaning Of this blood 9'' :.
You,-- Anastatia l. the sycamore
grove y she uttered, in broken cr;es.--
Were you not there, now--iust now 10
meet her ?" 20
The prince shook his head 10 silent
CONSERVATION.
"Whom have | murdered, then 2"
burst from the lips OF the unhappy wo-
man. with a thrilling shrek; and starts
ing from her husbands support. she fed
with the speed Of maniac, towards the
fatal spot from which sho had recently
returned.
The prince and his attendants follow
ed her--some of them bearing lighted
torches; but such was the speed: which
the frenzied state If her feelings lent to
her movements. that they only overlook
her at the moment Of her reaching The
fountain. There she suddenly stopped.
rs though rooted to the spot. and. shud-
dering. pointed to The ground. The
prince advanced hastily TO her side his
attendants followed. and, raising their
torches. discovered at the margin Of the
fountain the body of man extended on
his back. and wellering in his blood. The
CHASTITY face was tu' ned upwards, and as
the glare of the torches fell upon il, an
exclamation of horror fell from the lips
of all present. and Helen. leaning for
ward. recognized her victim. with Thrill
Of agony which caused all the blood TO
chill in her veins. and her pulse 10 stand
still. At that one glance the whole truth
flashed upon Der with terrible clea' ness.
until she comprehendrd, when too late.
the fatal error into which her blind and
mistaken suspicious had plunged her.
There lay her son. her only child-he'
beloved Demetri-batked in the blood
that welled forth from the death>wound
her muI derous hand had inflictedl He
it was. then. whose boyish passion had
been recip'oca'ed by her young attend
ant he it was for whom Anastalia had
devised the love meeting, which had that
morning changed her own jealous fears
in'o dreadful certainiies. He it was, oh |!
God. upon whom her imaginary wrongs
had been so barbarously avenged The
similarity Of name. Of dress. Lad deceiv-
ed her. Why had she not thought Of
this before? Why? Does suspicion
ever pause TO reason or reject ? Is moi
jealousy blind as love (whose da,x sha
dow it is said TO be p All this parsed
through her mind with the rapidity OF
lightning. as that one awful glance re-
vraled 10 her the extent Of her crime.
No words escaped her lips; but, as il
struck by thunderbolt. she fell heavily
for~ ard, and lay PROSTATE. and 10 all app
pea'arce lifeless. by the side Of the brlo>
we'd son whose lite had fallen Sac, ifice
TO the rash and ungovernable suspicious
If the jealous wife.
The first use that Helen made of he,
returning faculties was to cast herself at
ths feet Of her husband and make full
confession Of the feelings which had d'i-
ven her to commit SO desperate deed
imploring death ut his hands in expiration
OF her crime. But death. which would
have ter minated her earthly ,orments was
boon which the exaspeia:ed husband
was resolved not to grant her.
"Woman." said he. "you shall live
to die thousand deaths every day. You
shall live to curse the day you were born
You shall live 10 expisle. in lingering
tor ments Of mind. the misery you have
inflicted on me-"
And inArxible in his dete minaiion. he
ed TO the Rock Of Babake. whore. in q
rudely constructed st..ne chamber she
WAS condemned to drag out her misera-
bic existence. without being suffered m
exchange u word with any human being
and with no companionship save her own
wretched thoughts. Her senses failed
under her severe punishment /; but mad>
ness. instead Of bringing oblivion 10 her
woes. seemed to have impaired new ac-
iivity to her faculties Of suffering. Ev-
~ evening. rs darkness covered the earth
the poor maniac fancied herself again an
actor in The dreadful scene which stained
her soul with the foul guilt Of murder;
and the frenzied shrieks she uttered DUR
ing the night we've heard f'"m afar. wa"
king the echoes Of tina. dreary solitude
until daylight brought with j. tempo
rary occasion of her agonies in the calm
Of exhaustion. ....... ......
One day. at last, when the attendant
who daily brought her supplies OF food
entered her PRISM. she had disappeared.
Every part Of the Rock was searched,
but no vestige Of her vas 10 be found
nor could any trace be discovered 10 nc
nos.ma fsnr hAr ssa ve arioaaa aV,an iahmenk.