Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1855-01-19

declared that the illness of the Counties
having resisted all the remedies he hat
known TO be most efficaceous, and being
accompanied by symptoms the most ex
traordinary, had given rise to The mos
horrible suspicious and the conduct o
Zuma had left no doubt on his mind O
the atrocity of her design, and had con.
frmed the idea which he had long enter.
tanned, that she had administered to the
Countess slow poison and that after.
wards upon being excluded from the
chamber Of her mistress, and thinking
that her youth and the care and medical
skill exerted for her recovery might final
ly triumph over the poison given with
such secrecy and management, she had
resolved TO consummate her crime by a
stronger dose.
Upon hearing this, the judges, full oil
horror, Immediately condemned the two
prisoners as guilty Of the crime Of pois.
oning, to suffer death by being burnt at
the stake,
Miryan heard his sentence with heroic
frmness, but Zuma threw herself at his
feet, bathed in tears.
1 have sacrificed thee, my beloved
husband she exclaimed. Behold my
remorse. o pardon me-.
% Zuma, cried Mirvan, accuse only
the barbarity Of our judges. Console
thyself, my Zuma, that ,hSlyrants who
have condemned US have delivered us
from a grievous yoke. In few short
hours we shall no longer be their slaves.
These words moved even the hard
heart of Azan, and he said 10 HIM:
'Mirvan, be at ease as TO the fate Of
thy son-he shall be as dear to me as if
he were my own
1t was about nine O. clock In the morn.
ing that orders were given for the prepa.
ration Of the fatal stake at which Mirvan
and Zuma were 10 suffer.
The Countess was at the point of
death. The physician had reported to
the viceroy that they had no longer any
hopes of her recovery, and that they
thought it was impossible she could sur
vire but few days longer. The Count
as we'll as Beatrice, at this distressing
news, was overwhelmed with despair,
and would not entertain the least idea Of
pardon to the wretched criminals. Else.
where Zuma was regarded as the most
eXecrable monster that nature had ever
produced, and all compassion for her
impending fate was looked upon as cul-
pable and misplaced. An offer of pardon
was made to Mi van upon making a SIM
cere ayowal of his crime.
Tell the viceroy,' said Mirvan 'lha,
if he offered me the life Of Zuma in ad-
dltion to my own, he should not obtain
another word from me-
The viceroy desirous Of being absent
during the execution, left Lima for a
country residence short distance from
the town, with the intention of not re.
turning till the evening.
During the period that the city Was in
CONSERVATION at the approach OF the fatal
spectacle, the Countess, who was igpo.
rant ct the fatal event about to take place
was still confined to her bed more weak
and suffering than ever-From the an.
xiety and agitation OF the persons who
surrounded her ever since an early hour
IN the morning. she felt at last that some
serious event had happened. She ques.
toned those about her She saw clearly
that Beatrice had concealed something
from her, and that she had imposed ST.
lence upon the servants and womeu that
attended upon her. Beatrice often left
the chamber to weep uncons,rained and
it was during one Of theses Intervals that
the Cnuntess questioned one Of the WON.
EN- SO closely and in So positive and stern
maner, that she at last discovered the
whole truth; and was also told that Mir.
avn and Zuma, far from denying their
crime, gloried in it. The surprise of the
Countess was equalled only by horror at
the recital OF this frigh,tul revelation.
She theu ordered litter to be inmedl-
ately prepared for her: in the meantime
with the assistance of her women, she
rose hastily and enveloped herself in a
large rope. The litter was in readiness,
anu notwithstanding .l.e .>~.- --a ~,
treaties of her friends and attendants
who ran and surrounded her. she laid
herself upon the litter, which was carried
by four slaves.
Thus couhed, with her face shaded
with a large white veil, the Countess
departed. The hour Of noon was a,
hand. At the same nomen, Mirvan and
Zuma, on foot loaded with chains. left
the prison on their way to the execution.
Suddenly the melanch holy sound of a
trumpet announced the approach OF the
victims. They set FIRE to the faggots.
They entered an alley Of plantations,
at the bottom of which roared the flames
Of the fatal stake; they already saw large
crowds Of Indians, melancholy and dejec.
ted. ranged round the blazing pile. each
holding branch of cypress as symbol
Of mourning, the Spanish guard surroun-
ding them All Of a sudding they heard
cries in ihe distance. A cavalier apper.
ed-he hastinged with all speed, crying.
"S,op, stop! the vice-qeen commands il;
she is approaching; she is here!"
AT these words the fatal preparations
were delayed. Zuma. clasping her hands
together, implored heaven; but her heart
sinking within her. she hardly dared an.