Butte record., 1854-05-20

ern dwelling. Eagerly she embraces the
two pledges of her love for Polio, and
whom she had reared thus far in utter
concealment and safety from all pryine
eyes. At once happy and miserable in
the title of parent, she contemplated her
children with mixed pleasure and pain.
For them she feels mothers tenderest
love, while, for their father, a rising con-
viction of his unworthiness inspired her
with feelings OF Indignant love and out
ragged affection, which was in some meas
ure reflected upon his innocent babes,
and made them for the time objects of
mingled hatred and deep affection That
Polio mediated some deep design she
felt convinced; she had heard of his re-
call 10 Rome, and dreaded his abandon
ing her. with her otfsprings, to all the
horrors of her situation. Unable to bear
the cruel images thus conured up, she
determined to seek Polio, and termin
ate at once suspense more dreadful
than the most frightiul certainty. When
about to quit her hut, she was met by
AdelgiSa, who, pale, trembling, aud
bathed in tears, threw herself at her feet,
inploring, with deep sobs, pardon for the
heavy, bitter siu she had contemplated,
of quitting the sacred priests Of Irmin-
ul,-of having wickedlv, sacrilegiously
forfeited her vows, aud bestowed upon a
mere mortal the entire love and affections
vowed to the great Irminsul alone. As
the weeping culprit raised her eyes to-
wards the countenance Of the Judge be-
fore whom she thus poured out her sor-
rows aud her sins, ray Of hope darted
into her desolate soul, as she caught the
look of pity and commiseration with
which the hitherto stern and inhcxible
priestess was beholdng her. Alas =
Norma's own heart and saddened feelings
rendered her but too well able to sym
pathize with the lovestricken girl before
her and, thus encouraged, Adelgisa rap
idly details the rise and progress of her
love, each word bctraying both the puri-
ty and depth Of her passion. Norma
generously lays aside her own woes while
consoling the sorrowtul Adelgisa, whom
she raised from the ground, kindly par
doned for her past lapse from duty, and
promised to absolve her from her VOWS,
that her love mis- ght no longer be crime.
Still. vague and undeniabIe present.
ment Of i'll stole over her as she list, ned
70 the young priestess' recital Yet
this individual spoken of by Adelgisa,
and by her described as so grand, so no
bic, majestic, and love-inspiring-who
could this be Alas her memory could
furnish but one name, and ma sdness was
in the very thought that it should be that
one
But" demanded Norma, impetuous.
ly, 'know you not the name of him to
whom you have surrendered your love -
'Alas !" sighed the fearful girl, "your
question but increa,es my guilt l have
dared to love one of my country's direst
foes he who has my heart belongs not
to our land, but is child of Rome.''
Rome unhappy girl But pro-
ceed. Who or what rank holds he p
"Behold him - shrieked Adelgisa.
pointing With her finger to the proconsul,
who at that moment appeared on the
threshold, speechless with confusion and
diSmay at finding the two rivals togeth-
er.
"rhis this :" exclaimed Norma
"Say not so. Poor, unfortunate girl -
Oh look once more, and tell me you are
mistaken but kill me not BY asserting
that tits Polio you love, and to whom
you would fain unite your destiny !"
Overwhelmed and crushed beneath
the frightful revelations, Norma seemed
incapable of rightly understanding what
was passing around her; and it required
Adelgisa's oft-repeated confirmation of
the wretched tale ere she could bring
herself to trust the evidence of her SEN
ses.
"Oh! misery woe woe /. unhappy
being :" uttered the priestess, in voice
so deep, SO unearthly, as to strike terror
to the guilty soul OF Polio. He would
have left the spot, but Norma caught
him by the arm exclaiming-
"Lover, without faith or truth parent,
devoid of natural feeling for your off,
spring, think not to escape me there is
no place SO secure but my vengeful arm
shall reach thee. Know'st thou not, too,
that my rival is in my power' AND
would'st thou dare -
81 dare do all things -
At these words, Polio, breaking from