Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-01-25
CHAPTER 7

~
Il trying suspense-Nicholds before his cap
tice-he effect Of the 6loc-Gn idiot-coTds
of.tearful import.
Three days passed after the incidents re.
corded in our last chapter occurred, and they
were days of painful suspense to the captive
maiden. Her food was brought to her by a
miserable, decrepit old Creole woman, from
whom she could obtain no satisfactory infor-
nation respecting Nicholas or her fellow
captives. Two horrid reflections were ever
preying on her mind first, that her lover
and the Captain had been cruelty executed
by the pirate and, secondly that she had
taken the life of the Pirate with her own
hands in a moment of selfdefence. She was
miserable she knew that if Nicholas was
living she was doomed to be his unwilling
wife, and if he was dead she was a murder
ess. Either was horrible! And the unccr-
tainty that hung over it, like n dark, heavy
cloud, drove peace from her bosom and sleep
from her eyes. In vain she tried to obtain
some information from her old Creole atten-
dant her dark, withered lips were sealed,
and she moved about the room and waited
on the captive maiden, as if she too, was
doomed to some horrible end. On her knees
before the old woman, with tears in her eyes,
did the captive implore and cntreat her to
wi LS tiS NOAtb . VSo fkNNoS
md had she killed Nicholas? To all her en-
quiries the old woman laid her skiny hand
on her sunken mouth and spake not a word,
but her deep, black eyes sparklcd with a mis-
chievous and suspicious d~eviltry.
On the morning of the fourth day of her
Imprisonment the door opened, and Nicholas
stood before his captive. He looked pale,
his head was bound up and q wild expression
cleaned from his CLASSY eyes. Agnes trem-
bled as his strange orbits fixed their glaring
gaze upon her. She saw that there was some
fearful change in her prosecutor. That pierre
ing wildness His lips qivered. A vacant
and blasted scenery oyerspread his hardened
face. For several minutes he stood with his
arms folded on his breast and that same
changeless expression Overspread his features,
Throwing his long arms wildly above his
head he gave vent to a silly gibbering laugh
An idiot! A mailman rushed through the
mind of the captive. Shut up in a close room
dethroned his reason! o! Heavens, suct
horrid ey,s! They were riveted upon her
She sanA back from their searching gaze ant
she crJuched in the farthest corner of tn,
room. Nicholas paced the floor round AM
round he measured it with rapid strides
now stopping In the centre and sending u
a cry of disconsolate woe, more like the moa,
Of some tnOubled beast in the forest dingl
than human voice. The heart of the car
tive quivered in her bosom and a chill {
death seemed trembling on its strings
Nicholas seemed not to notice her roun
and round he walked chattering foolish an
disconnected phrases. Now peeping undt
the tables, now STOPPING to examine the sof;
now carefully looking between the leaves
his books, as if searching for some lost tret
sure,-now feeling the glass and silver plat
l now picking up the stringed instruments
music and sweeping his fingers over them
r wild and discordant notes, then snatching I'll
strings from them and shattering their cost
structure on the floor at his feet. His ey,
rested upon Agnes and a smile, cold ar
glistening like ice, overspread his face
He sprang before her and leveled his fling
1 In deadly precision at her, then exclaimed
AHA! she has not flown; there's n
pretty bird!
!, His reason seemed to return when |
eyes rested upon the fair maiden, and
: sank upon his knees before her. In passio
ate strains he addressed her:
Lady, see me an humble suppliant
your feet. l offer you my whole heart-r
l. Iove-my soul, if indeed there be such
q thing in human bosom. Take it without
h rival tits yours wholly and complete. Y
shall be my princess my GQd-my life
my existence-my all! My every thous
L YOU shall sway at your will, and | will
your slave if you will but grant me half
love l feel for you, and be my wife. | ha
IT countless riches at my command, and all t
IS will l lay at your feet to use at your pie
@ ure. Now, do you consent to be my wife
In a low, tremulous, yet decided tone,
replied Nicholas St. Clair, how can /
Is -. -, lnuo r,o2 How ,1noc uoV1r ooti,
prove it? l have told you that | could
Of love you, that a life with you would be m
horrible than death in its most agoniz
We form and most protracted endurance. ]
% know nv heart was given to another ere
met, since which your presence and acti
- have rendered me miserable. You kI
Ne that l am torn from my parents and frer
p and Gagged up here in your hateful pris
or and vet you say you love me! If you 10
o. me, Nicholas, you would give me libe
mr. again you would give me back my {
+ jacques, and would send me to my faith
home. Such love as you profess for n
cannot understand, neither can l return
lrp l can never be your wife, neither will
led YOUR leman. You have my decision, anC
we It serve YOU for ayel Teaze me no n
in with your opportunities. fl must be a
&C oner forever, let your old Creole alone
!, me. Come not near me youself; your
he presence is hateful. A wife, a mistres
YOU I'll never be if forced to it, my life
Ter. my own power, and it shall be sacrifice
If a my own hands before my virtue shall
lall polluted !!
A Nicholas had raised to his feet ere
maiden ceased to speak, and he listene
t~entively to each word as it fell from
yes lips then a CLEAN of rage shot from
lde, eyes, his lips were closely compressed
M his manner plainly evinced that she w
ade be put to a trying test. He raised his f
ms. to his forehead and replied
That fall makes me q little FOOLS
80 times, lady; l know it and feel it wor
here like a red hot iron in my brain,
lim am calm now-listcn to my words for
Il a are true:
n at You have seen fit to slight my ofe
g to love and gold. You have treated my P
over you with silly contempt-you
scorned me as though were a weak
| am not to be triAed with-you have
nay my vengeance-you boast that you can
nave ali l may see fit to heap upon you. Yo
your il the power of a man now who carr
an for cries and tears. No power of ear
and hell can snatch you from my talons!
will yet regret the words you have sp