Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-08
DAILY EVENING STAR
i LsMoTHEREs TO DEATH
] A Tale of the ConfessjO,,a M

I
The preparations had been made for a
grand festival in the Church of the Mag.
daien, at Girgenti, and, according to the
usage On such occasions, the whole in
terror was decorated with. flowers and
tapestry. The work rkmen had Quilted the
sacred edi6ce in body at midday: and,
throughout, reigned that solemn and Pc
culiar -stillness which, in the temples of
the Catholic, faith, is felt to, exercise an
Influence the most edlfying and sublime.
Two gentlemen paced to and fro in the
long aisle which skirts the north side OF
The building; they were conversins in
subdued tones, and seemed to regard the
cool shady church as being well adapted
for the purposes of a'public promenade.
One ofithem, who might eof the age of
about fifty, was ef,obust frame, tail, and
strongly built, with Icounteaance
thoughtful and somewhat stern, but in
which no single passion seemed to have
left trace. The other, of slender figure.
and in the first bloom of manhood, whose
handsome features were characterized by
an expression the most intellectual and
refined turned his dark. almost feminine
eyes with an earnest glance in every di-
rection, as ifhe had something of especial
interest to communicate. It was the
architect who had designed and superin-
tended the decorations fer the fete Of the
ensuing day. He had but recently com.
pleted his studies at Rome. His name
was yGiulio Balzetti.a ai On sudden,
the younger man stood still marquis, y
he. said, in that confidential tone
which is used in addressing q person
with whom one is in the habit of daily
intercourse, q will .impart to you-half
in jest-a secret which, | believe, is known
to no human being except myself. You
have, perhaps, heard Of the strange tricks
which are sometimes played upon build
ers by that law of nature which regulate es
the Transmission of sounds, and which
modern science has denominated tAcous.
ties'-played upon us, indeed, when we
have the least reason to expect Or deserve
them. Through an every day occurrence
by the merest accident was lately
made acquainted with the singular fact
that from this spot, On the very slab. of
white marble on which We are standing.
the slightest whisper at the ether extremi-
| ty Of the, aisle-I mean in the last Of the
confessional boxes which you see lis dis
tinctly audible though person stationed
on any other part Of the intervening
ground nd-how near soever to the place
whence the sounds proceeded-would not
be able to catch single word. Remain
Ir.-1, c>,, f,,
proceed to the confessional. which I have
indicated, and you will indeed be wonder
struck by this extraordinary freak of
Nature eel. i,~.4.s
The architect FASTENED away; but he
had not proceeded many PAGES, W hen the
marquis heard significant whispcr-the
purport of which suiiced in an instant
to agisate his whole frame with the most
fearful emotions. lie stood transfiscd to
the ground, as thoug III be had been touched
by a wand of enchantment-his features
pale and rigid as the marble; while the
extreme attentiy eness portrayed in his
ordinarily tranquil visage betokened that
some tidings of awful impor. were falling
upon his ears He moved not a limb:
he scarcely breathed; he was like one
standing on the brink Of the precipice,
in the horror of an impending fall into
the abyss, and his rolling eyeballs and
visibly throbbing heart were the only
signs of existence. ..-.' 81.
Balzetti was now seen returning. 1.-The
experiment cannot be tried at present.
he said, with smile, before be reioined
his companion. 's The confessional is at
this moment occupied, and, as far as
could observe, by lady closely yelled
but-gracicus heavens marquis, what
has come over you on sudden 2''
The marquis pressed one finger upon
his lips, in the manner usual with Itat-
ians, and continued in the same immoya-
BILE position. At the end of few min.
utes he drew deep sigh-the statue then
becameinstinct withlite, and stepped forth
from the magic CIRCLE -a,l |.'..s.
'lt is nothing, my dear Giulio,'' he
said, in his usual familiar tone. ''Above
all things, do not imagine that am SUI
perStitious !; but to speak candidly, the
surprising and mysterious nature Of your
communication has affected me in a way.
l cannot explain. Let us be gone. shall
soon recover myself in the open air." As
he spoke, he took the arm Of Balzetti "a
miliarly, and accompanied him beyond
the city gate to the public walk, when,
after few turns, the two gentlemen
separated. '' ''@' 49, ~ - 4
1--WE shall see you to-morrow, after
the ceremony, at the villa,' "a said the no.
bleman. g Farewell" -l~ - .-srgs
10 At an early hour on the following
morning, the marquis opened the deor: of
the ante. chamber of his wife S apartment.
At the same moment the femme de cham
bre, her looks .betrayiDg the utmost as
tonishment and alarm, entered the room
by door on the opposite side. 49,.
Has your lady rung the bell! z" ask
ed the marquis. .,. So ,., y..a -
"Not yet, your excellency," answered
the, girl, curtseying and blushng very
deeply -. =. p 1''
"Then wait here until you are sum.
moned," returned the marquis, opening
the door which led from the dressing
room into the bed.ciAmber. He as on |
the poiRt of stepping within the latter,
when his young and beautiful wife stood
before him in . morning robe, hastily
thrown on, As she had risen from her
bed. 81 The mA4nis paused--it might be
in momentary resistless transport OF
dmiratioy, of her charms. hrf rE;tbo,,,