True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-26

Jew, with ulgnlty, confronting Earlach'
"Spare yon innocent girl, if not myself,
the furyof the crowd on yonder blood-stain-
ell shore. Strike, and we will deem it
mercy" ~ sb'9taa ..ii b. egt. 9@
81 am not your executioner, old. man.
You and your daughter stall be brought be-
fpre, a. higher tribunul--that Of Mother
Church-to answer for the crimes laid to
your Charge" t@-,b .Ittt
"Tbcp, indeed, may we expect the most
cruel fate. For myself / care not these
old snews may be racked and tortured f; !
can endure the worst; but my innocent,
darling child, doom her not to anything so
fearful !-or," cried the old man, changing
his tone and attitude of supplicationto to one
Of fierce menace, "the bitlerest curses of
a father shall clcave to your house to the
latest generation !" s'r'e -S,3
"Place them in the boat, Hans, and see
they escape not" said old Earlach, sternly.
And taking his son by the arm, drew him
into the boat, and seated himself by his
side while they proceeded to the city.
Rudolph in vain entreated his father to
forego his determination Of placing Ben
Hassen and his daughter in the custody Of
the Abbot OF the Franciscans. He con-
essed the deep interest he took in the safe
ty of Zillah, thereby unconsciously increas-
ing her peril. Not that his father was cru
ell by nature, but the mental darkness OF
the age had ohscured his otherwise clear
understanding and the idea of his son be-
ing in love with Jewess, even were she
second Queen of Sheba, was something
so utterly startling and abhorrent to him,
that he could oscribe it to no agency save
that of magic. The Jews were said to be
addicted to the black art, and Earlach be-
lieved the accusation just. a, , @ai
Jr ,H@ -.3.3t @di 1p, '#'
lmmured in one of the cells of the Fran
ciscan Convent sat Zllah, despoiled of her
rich robes and glitteripg jewels, and habi-
ted in coarse serge garment, leaving only
the exquisite hands and throat exposed to
view. Her face was deadly pale, and she
looked, in her attitude Of detection, more
-. TO- B ~
like some finished pieceof sculpture than Q
breathing being. After being separated
from her father, she had fallen into such Q
deathlike swoon, that her captors at one
time thought she had escaped from thei
hands, and ut once ended her sorrows ant
her life. But sorrow and life, were still
\ strong in that young heart; the magnitude
lof the .affliction enabled her to endure it
bfor, after the first keen pqne, in the agony
of which the very semblance, of life passet
away, returning consciousness brought will
it a dull, leaden weight Of sorrow, by which
the acuteness Of the first feeling was blunt
ed. The rast, the present, and the futur'
were alike misty and indistinct to her; 1
troubled expression wouldat times agitatC
I'her deathlike countenance, and once o
iEtwice she pressed her lands upon her brow
as if attempting to collect her scattere'
thoughts, and to remove the sense Of op
I preston which weighed so heavily there
+ The grating of the door upon its rust.
hinges, as il was unlocked and opened
caused slight shiver to run through.t til
frame Of the unhappy girl but She did dno
raise her eyes or change her posture. 'A
i "Daughter Of an aecursed race,' sal
the monk who entered, "confess the dar
arts you have used to inthral the spirit @
| young Rudolph, of .Earlach, who now lie
bereft of reason, calling upon you in hi
madness, unable to shake off the fierce f
yer and spell by which you have enchapte
\ him. Confess, and avow your, penitence
ard peradventure the Holy Church may b
merciful," 20 ''I'"''i '."'''i ''''
i "Alas, dread sir, / have naught to con
fess.l 'Iknow no art save that loving to
| well, too rashly'; and woe is me that m
}, fatherhps thereby fallen into the handle .
, his enemes!" m rs lsa Gseadf &
!. = Here, for the first time, bitter tears Gov
cred her face, and trickled through th
slender fingers that, were pressed in agon
before her eyes.
The monk was touched, and, for one me
!. ment, the eloquence Of natufe was stronge
q llshan prejudice and fanaticism; but. walb
> Ling hastily to'ahd fro the littleeell, he dis
$ PEELED. theluneasy feeling. and, with lall'hi
/. previous sternness, babe her prepare toal
: pear before The heads of the church, wh
: had assembled to try her, or rather, to COZ
denim her TO such punishment as they chcs
tolaward a.e
! +, "My father May ! not see once moi
. my poor iatherl" said Zlllah. bescechingly
. Eyes, yes, said the monk, hurriedl
! "And let me warn you once again, yoI
! only chance Of escape from the fety dsai
]. awaiting you,iHby coRfsssibg freely ii
-sihrowius ycursslf upon tbsl msTcy.ofsi