Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-09-04

proach me.
He was dressed in plain black clothe.
and in his hand he held light stick.
II beg your pardon, Signor,' sad he
in polite manner, and with great softnes
of tone 4 beg your pardon for intrudine
myself upon your company. But it is no
often that see any visitor so far up"
My dear Sir! beg you will make ne
excuses" | replied Il was just admirinl
this scene below
"Ah yes, t is glorious sight"
GLORIOUS say, rather, terrible one.'
Terrible, perhaps, to you but do no
be surprised if lsay that to me it is lovely
absolutely lovely T.
And he spoke, a smile OF bewi.ching
beauty crossed his features
Il suppose your tastes are different from
those Of many people, sianor. have moi
such feelings. But may ask you il you
are often here p
"Oh, yes | live here" he replied.
waving his stick arotnd II live here. -
thought that he meant me TO UNDER
stand that his home was on the mountain,
where very many villas are situated
"And should suppose" continued
THAT you are often on the summit"
'Oh yes, | am here always"
"Alweys! what strange fascination it
has for you /"
cit has ! it has' said the gentleman
ooh fearful and his voice grew low
and hollow-ra terrible fascination p
was silent.
II will Ql you. said he, sitting closely
by my side, and turning his eyes full to-
ward mine. II do not wish YOU to in
form any one. Promise me that you will
not
had not noticed his eyes before, bu:
saw now that within their depths there
cleaned Strange and sinister Ii ght.
] promised him and at the same un-
easily drew back farther from he edge.
"Hell then, Signor,o said he, ~ am
king here rule Mount 1Itna %
aYes?" answered. d little alarmed at
his words, and attempting TO smile.
YES am king here. In me you Ae
the Being who causes the lava to pdur
forth, and overwhel.n the regions below.
| have lived for centuries. The spirts.of
the deep obey me: see =
He leaped up from the ground. There
was a fearful fire in his eye, his nostris
were dilated his pale face became as white
as marble, and as bloodless, save that OF
either cheek there glo~ed a deep red
spot3
"see I" he shrieked Wildly and loudly
'4sGrits of the deep arise Ha !-yon-
deY-see them they are comng-in
eHuds--enrobed in thunder garments
see p
| leaped up from the ground: I gazed at
him.
Hefhrew off his hat wildly and it Tell
fandown in the abyss. He flung off his
GOAT and threw it away.
"Signor,' said |, in hopes that a mild
tone might make him calm, "Siggor, the
Winds obey you. Let us CO.
go? Where? Is not this my home
Is not this my palace' Saw you not my
servants! You are nv guest ~
,'Will you not sit down and tell IN
about your home 7" said I, shuddering.
mo ! there are secrets that can never
be spoken. Can you understand them p
Who are you, 4 mortal that you dare TO
ask p
walked slowly toward the narrow pas
sage of land-the bridge But he saw me,
and stood upon it. could not go.
eCan this all be pleasantly thought 1
An awful thought passed through mt,
which ffoze my hearts blood
Pleasantly There he stood, my wild
companion, his eyes blazing, fixed pierre
lngly on me, his hands clenched his
mouth ioaming, every sinew i'll his body
worked up. He stood, screaming, laugh
ing. q Con! was alone with ma
nlec
aYou are to go with me-" he cried.
Where q
There. have come to carry yon to
my home He pointed with a cold,
slaky smile down toward the unfathoma-
bic alb, IS whence assembled the terrible CO.
lumn of inky and sufocating smoke.
gazed at him: Tor there was some ele-
ment OF fascination in his CLASSY stare,
which forced me, compelled me, to gaze.
There was a cold smile upon his lips, which
were all bloodless, and disclosed, as the.
parted, his mouth and tightly teeth.
There is my home-thcre; and have
come to tax you with me. Ha hal
how happy you will be Come !!
Still gazed; while my heart throbbed
with slow but terrible pulsations.
He advanced one step toward me.
looked all around. The spell was bro
ken which enchanted my gaze. looked
all around: at the blue sky above, at the
scorched earth around at the horrible
chasm beneath. There was no hope
Oh ! could but leap the space which
separated me from the main cliff Could
but do it - but could not there
was no hope!
What do you not answer! he cried,
suddenly lashed into fury by my silence,
and stamping his foot in frenzy upon the
rock. DO you not answer Then must
carry you with mel!
The maniac sprang toward mel
With all my energies reused INTO frantic
a, lion, with every sinew braced, and eve
- - nse1 10 contracted, placed my foot
MneS pasye7s Above 'hs loose sandy
soil, and endeayored 20 meet the s i:,,.
With wild scream, which arose 'hfiihnS-
" into the air, his eyes all Sloodshot. ms
mouth toaming, on he came. He struck
me-his arms surrounded me in fearful
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