Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-03-14
d5riginal HnraI GaIe.
TwRITTES FoR TEE JOURNAL.
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fcopyRIGHT SECURED
CHAPTER XN.
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Wretched man! The pangs of guilty con-
science are lashing him. y thousand scOrpi-
ons have fastened themselves upon his soul.
Every inlet Of light to it is Blocked up, while
legions OF black, hideous monsters have their
revels there. Those deep, blue eyes-those
innocent eyes-haye pierced his soul through
and through, like barbed, poisoned daggers.
And thou art young! yes and noble, gen.
erous, and brave. But, ah to think, that in a
form just developing itself into such manly
proportions-into symetry, and grace, and
beauty seldom rivalled-to think, that such a
form should encase a soul SO black, cruel, and
detestable! But the best may fall and fall on
ly to rise again, better and wiser. We must,
therefore, be sparing in our censures.
This young man, however, could endure the
intense, bitter agony ofhis soul no longer. and
after remaining for am hour, with despairng
looks, he had rushed from the hall Of the court
The trials progressed, rather more slowly,
however, than usual. The Emperor seemed
lsngaid You would said, perhaps, stupifcd
with drink or excessive debauchery.
He managed, however, to send several to the
fames-to their crowns of rejoicing.
Three only remained, Vertitia, and two old
men.
"stand up !-ycu.'' said the Emperor, at
length.
Fertitia rose to her feet.
The Emperor drowsed back in his seat
while ard then, with an effort at rousng him
self up, he Gag. his bieery, blinky eyes at her
for time.
Yertitia hung ker-haad, and endeavored to
conceal her face with her hands.
.sSoldiers .-ho!ioa, there 81 say, soldiers!
dye hear? You may take this nice look
ing thing back TO prison, or use her for your
pleasure, TO night. Dye hear - saying which,
this brutal monster, rose 10 his feet, and stag
gered from the hail, followed by his guard.
The crowd mostly followed, and rapidly dis
persed, as it was a late hour Of the night.
a; the last words of the Emperor, Yertitia
had tainted, and fell from the block, upon
which she had just a moment before seated
herself. Several of the more rude, beastly-
looking soldiers had gathered around her.
She lay for some time insensible; at length,
she opened her eyes but seeing the monsters
bending over her, she shrieked, and again
swooned away.
1t was some time before she revived-only
when the soldiers had raised her up, for the
purpose OF carrying her from the hall. She
made faint resistance, and attempted to
break loose from their hands. But, poor Yer
titial thy yirtuous efforts were fruitless.-
Their hands grasped her struggling arms like
vises, while they laughed and shouted like de-
mons.
With Vertitia and the two poor old men,
they have entered the square. The fires have
burnt down, and nothing was visible to the
eye, save few glowing chunks, and piles Of
whitened bones, or half consumed bodies
The spectators and participators in these dread
full scenes have mostly gone, with the excep-
tion OF few loiterers here and there.
The square is filled with dense, suffocating
smoke, and the odor of the burnt and half
burnt bodies is nauseous and offensive in the
extreme. No marvel, that the crowd had fed
as soon as possble-even those whom duty
might have compelled to remain.
Then, the heavens were in their wrath
Great, black clouds were gathering over the
scene. The thunders were rumbling in all di-
rections, and forky lightnings were playing of
their freaks all through the air. The night
was unusually dark; and, for the present, 81
iehce and death seemed TO hold joint and
pndisturbed reign over the city.
he soldiers, entering the square, halted
a moment; and, after short consultation, four
of them hurried off with the two old men to-
wards an adjacent prison, while the two re-
maining ones, laying hold of Vertitia, drag
ged her from the square, and pnlled her after
them up narrow, filthy street.
Yertitia pied, begged, prayed screamed-
go take me to the flames, Do throw me into
the flames. o. dear, blessed Jesus have ner-
cy-mercy - and her voice died away. and
she became insensible.
On they carried her-dragged her-in the
most indecent, brutal manner.
The thunders were roaring, cracking, and
crashing in the heavens, like the quick dis
charge of flying artillery; while the vivid
flashes Of lightning were enough to have ap-
pailsd the stoutast hearts.