Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-09

form, rendered I highly probably, as Vertitia
thought, that she had once moved in the high
er circles of society. But any inquiry upon
the subject just then, she felt might be out of
place, if not, perhaps, an intrusion upon the
treasured memories Of heart, which she
| would not for the world purposely wound
She was soon, however, relieved; for the wo
man herself, as if in anticipation of her desire,
| broached the subject as follows
''You may think it queer, pretty stranger,
that we live in this wild, lonely place. But
! I'm happy here as l would be anywhere
else. It's not the place, you know, that makes
one feel right. Sorrow is in the heart, and we
cOnnot leave that behind US. Dannus, and Let
ia there, have often wanted me to go to Rome;
but tell them, / must take my broken heart
with me, and they say nomore about it. Yes,
| yes-I can never forget it;-that despairing
| look he gave me, as they dragged him out of
the door there; and then the cutting and slash
| ing of their swords, as they hewed him to pie
ces, is still ringing in my ears
Here the woman shuddered, and her eyes lit
| up with q strange wildness. Vertitia felt
alarmed, and earnestly begged her to desist
IRON saying any thing more.
| eyes, yes; l must tell you. It's no harder,
| you know, to speak Of ones troubles, than to
think Of them. And so l must tell you ALL"
Vertita assented, by casting her eyes anx-
| iousy around her moment, and then fixing
them silently the earthen floor; while Let
ia sat, with fearful eyes, gazing into the gath
ering shades of night.
| M,
| Rome. Ny parents both died when was young,
and left me an heir to a large estate. was
their only child At 18 years of age / was
| married to young man Of rank and fortune,
and the person of my earliest love. He was
thought to be the handsomest man in Rome,
| and myself the most fortunate of women. And
so [ was; for kinder husband and more affec-
| tionate father, never was. My years glided
away smoothly and happily. 1 knew no want
no care-no sorrow.
Ny husband had long held high and re-
sponsble Office under his sovereign, the duties
of which he had ever discharged with the ut
most fidelity. At length, howeve, plot was
discovered against the Emperor's life, inwhich
my husband, though innocent, became, by
most singular circumstance, implicated. l say
he was innocent, and his innocence was proved,
| and the Senate, to wipe away the stain from
his family, had it publcaly announced in the
Forum. But, it was too late-yes, too late!
| With several Of the nobility, he had been az
rested, tried, and condcmned to death.
Ny son--it was him brought yeu here-gain-
| ed access into the Tower in which his father
was confined, the night before his DEATH In
| what way he managed to get into that black,
horrid place, cannot tell; for l can never get
him to speak about it. But about the middle
of the night, he-came home, carrying his IA
| ther in his arms. He could not walk, for his
| feet and hands were tied. In moment, how
| ever, the fetters with which he was bound
were lying on the floor, andmy husband caught
me up in his arms. cannot tell you any more
| of what happened just then, nor for long
| time after, for my senses had left me. About
daylight, when my senses returned, L found
myself in my sons arms, and my husband at
his side. They were going at almost run.-
But knew not where we We're. The country
and every thing looked strange.
About this time, 1 observed they left the
road, and struck into the forest. There was no
| path, and in many places it was hard getting
through, so dense were the bushes and trees.
Ny son, however, still bore me along, some
| times resting me in one arm, while, with the
other, he parted the thick, matted branches,
to open up way. Ny husband, I observed,
by this time, was barely able to support him.
self, and get along.
We travelled on long time, till, at last,
was set down in the midst OF these old ruins
| Ny son then Immediately left, bnt returned
again during the night, bringing with him
some food, and some other things. The next
| day they set about erecting this cabin, and
which was soon completed, just as you see it.
| l felt happy; for was happy with that hus-
band and son anywhere. Letta there wasn't
born then-not for three or four months after.
But, oh my happiness was brief, and my joy
at my husbands deliyerance was soon cut
short, My son had returned to Rome one day,
| to bring away, if possible, some of our things.
| In the meantime, the place of our retreat had,
| in some way, been discovered. know not
how. But was setting just where am now,
with my poor, dear husband at my side; when,
the first thing we knew, company Of soldiers
stood right there before the door. 1t was just
| getting dark like it is now. Ny husband sprang
| to his feet screamed and fell down there.
| still had my senses, however, but was unable
| to speak or move. The soldiers rushed in, and
| seized my husband, and dragged him out there,
and then round the corner there. Just as he
passed out of the door, he turned his head
| round, and gave me that look; and, 0, horrid.