Butte record., 1854-05-20
NUMBER %

Generous girl you have conquered"
exclaimed Norma, pressing her in her
arms. $50, and may your noble pur-
pose be accomplished !"
Once again the scene changes, snd
represents the temple of Irminsul To
this fearful spot Norma, whose stormy
passions had been calmed by the gentle
whisperings of hope, suggested by the
affectionate Adelgisa, had come to await
the anxiously looked-for return of the
young priestess AS easily excited by
hope as by fear, she already saw Polio
won back by the pleadings of revived af-
fection, fastening to renew his vows of
love, and to assure the future safety and
happiness of herself and children, and.
with this ecstatic thought, the smilc
again played around those compressed
lips, and the frown disappeared from the
majestic forehead but the sudden ap-
pearance Of her faithful confident. Clio
tilda, soon dissipated these visions delight.
and plunged her anew into the deepest
dispair. Clotilda came but to announce
the utter failure of Adelgisa's pious pur-
pose; her tears and prayers had been
alike powerless TO move the heart of Pol
liza. Excited by her beauty, and deter
mined abjuration Of his love, he had
vowed to carry her of even from the al.
tar's foot.
"Traitor perjured man am still
all-powerful here, and can prevent your
sacriligious design. Let him die, since
he will have it go ;" and, rushing pre-
cipitately towards the iron buckler, she
struck thrice Its loud responding
sounds quickly brought together crowd
of priests, bards. Druids, and warriors,
anxious and eager to know the cause of
this hasty summons. Waving her hand
majestically, to still the angry murmurs
of this human sea, Norma, with calm,
firm head, ascended the sacred altar Of
divinatior.
"Wherefore, my daughter, hast thou
summoned us :" inquired Oroveso.-
"Why sounds the buckler of Irminsul,
What does our God command bis SER
wants to perform 20
"War! bloodshed utter extermina-
ton of our enemies to strike and spare
not :" cried Norma, in voice of tbun.
der. "Let the battle-cry be raised, and
the war-songs be sung! War! war
your God commands it. Gaul is rich in
various; they are numerous as the
frooS IF Tho forasxs La H. -~v.~Ia L.
dyed to the hilt in Roman blood! May
the Latin eagle fall to the earth, crushed,
torn and shattered and may the follow
ers of the great Irminsul offer its blood.
stained fragments in triumph on his al
tar! Go! your God at length speaks
his commands ; he bids you 60 forth and
obey, and spare not Obey, and victo-
ry is promised you.'
"But," exclaimed Oroveso, "the sac
riice is not complete we have as yet no
victim to offer up
"Never has the altar of our God wait.
ed for human blood" responded Norma.
with immovable calmness "a victim will
be sent at the right moment"
Loud cries interrupted the further di-
rections of the Pythoness. An individ-
ual had been surprised in the sacred in
closure set apart for the young novices
of the temple and the crowd were drag
ging him, amid cries, and threats, and
execrations, before their priestess. The
beating heart of the outwardly-calm sibyl
told her too we'll who had thus dared his
fate.
"Vengeance, thou art mine" e1-
claimed the naughty Norma, as Polio
was brought before her.
"Rash mortal" cried Oroveso, plao-
ing his sword at the strangers breast,
"What daring motive has instigated thee
thus to intrude into our most sacred pre-
cNcts 20
''Strike, but question me not" is all
the answer vouchsafsd.
"Stand aside ~ exclaims Norma
"No other hand than mine must strike
the blow !" And siezing the dagger Of
Oroveso, she rushed towards the procon.
sui, but at the moment when she should
have dealt the blow, sudden hesitation
seized her.
"Why this pause :" inquired the aged
priest.
"My father" rejoined Norma, 81
would first interrogate him as to his mo-
tives in coming hither. Let all retire,
that I may question him alone"
So soon as the dispersion Of the crowd