Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-04
THH WEEKLY STAR

'"sisAs1 .ss Sho act 40 agents Whi ne allowed
commission O. twea'y pcr cent.
Cec1ie seated her father upon the grass.
and placed herstlf beside him. The ser-
want had not leit them above n few min
utes, when suddenly two men who had
been concealed behind banl ON the
other side OF the road. sprung out upon
them; one of them SEIZED the old De
Montemar, and, gagcing his mouth. 70
prevent him calling out, he was proceed
ing TO tie his hands, when a shot from
the gun or rConStantino laid him PROSTATE
on the earth. The other man, mean
while. had caught up the fainting Cecile
m his arms, and proceeded to carry her
with great rapidity across field toward
hut at some distance: but the moment
Constantine saw his shot had taken effect,
he fiex TO the rescue OF his beloved. loud
ly calling upon The ravisher at his peril
10 stop and release he lady. The former
turned, and seeing the prince was un-
arme,i. he laid the insensible Cecile on
the ground, and. drawing his sword,
rushed at once upon him: but Constan-
6no was prepared, and pulling out sti-
letto he always carried about with him,
he struck il with all his force into the
assassin's right arm, the pain Of which
obliged the latter to drop his sword and
staggered back, when Constantine in.
stantly possessed himself Of it. The
Conte di Lesino (for it was he) seeing the
victory lost, fed with the greatest precip-
itation, and was soon out Of sight. The
prince cared not to follow him; all his
anxiety was for Cecile, who had now be-
gun to revive. He burst not leave her to
call for help. but to his inexpressibIe re.
lief, he saw De Montemar's servant run
hing toward them, with whose assistance
he conveyed Ma1emoiselle de Montemar
10 the place where they had left her
father.
She had now recovered her conscious.
ness. but was nearly rclapsing again on
finding that the dreadful shock had been
100 much for the enfeebled frame of her
parent, who was so exhausted that be
could scarcely make any answer to their
inquiries. The carriage having now ar
rived, Constantine, at the earnest en-
treaty of Cecile, accepted seat i'm it to
Naples. Little conversation passed du-
ring the time: Cecile's looks, more than
words, spoke her gratitude: but her
father engrossed all her attention-his
faintness increasing SO much that they
were often obliged to stop, fearing he
would expire ere they could reach home
with him. On arriving at length at De-
NIontemars palace in the Chiaja, Gen.
stantino only remained till he saw .he
invalid carried to his room /: he then de-
spatched servant in all haste for a phy-
sician, and sent another TO inform the
Due and Duchesss de st. Marguerite of
the catastrophe: then pressing the hand
of the weeping Cecile. he took his leave,
saying he should return early the next
to inquire for them both. 1t
may be imagined that, after the agitating
scenes he had been engaged in, sleep did
aot visit his eyes, and the earliest dawn
Of day found him again at De Montemar's
door. The report the servants gave of
the latter was very unfavorable ne con-
tinued to sink, and the physician declared
it his opinion that he could not survive
another day.
While they were conversing together,
de Monten ar's maid en-.
tered with note, which she said she had
that moment been desired by her mis-.
tress to send to the Principe San Siyestro.
Constantine tore it open, and read these
words: My dearest father earnestly
desires to see you; lose no time, I beseech
you, in coming to u.s." He instantly
followed the maid TO the sick man 8 cham
Der, at the door of which he was met by
Cecile, who led him up to the bedside of
the dying De Montemar. The old man,
feebly turning bis eyes toward him,
stretched ont his hand, saying: "You
have saved my child from worse than
death, Monsieur, and there is but one
reward worthy Of you; | rejoice that nv
life has been spared long enough to do
you Justice. Take her," continued he.
uniting his hand with that of Cecile,
land may the blessing of an unfortunate
and repentant man rest with you BOTH
Then turning to the Duchesse de st.
he added: Retire, nv dear
friend, and take Cecille with you for
short time-l have some private instruc-
tions wish to give 10 the Prince. as nv
son, which it would only pain nv dar-
ling child to hear"
The ladies accordingly withdrew, when
De Montemar, addressing Constantine,
said: VIII you swear solemnly that
you never will make known TO my be-
loved Cecile what am going to reveal to
you! 1t would only increase all nv
other sufferings in these my last moments,
the idea that she would despise her poor
fathers memory; and | humbly trust that
my present repentance may in some de-
gree wipe away my SINS Nav L depend
on your secrecy g. Constantine eagerly
gave the desired promise and DE Monte
mar continued thus, - In me, Prince, you
behold the purchaser Of your fathers
bronze horse know you are acquainted
with all the circumstances of the trans
action, from the confession Of the old
priest who was my accomplice in the
guilty deed, so 1 need not repeat them to
you: but open fhatacsbinet, and touch
spring you till see at the back of it, that
may give you proofs of my Identity"
Constantine obeyed, and on opening the
secret drawer, he beheld to his amaze
ment the two small frames which had
- II Al q