Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-03-06
THE WEEKLY sTa.

of which was triangular, and skilfully sh arp
ened. He appeared TO amuse him self by feel
ing ITS point now on the end Of his finger, and
then on the palm Of his hand. The Countess,
suck struck by this new and unexpected scene, cast
ner eyes down, and awaited the termination
with ineIpressible anxiety.
madame, you must die :"
nat mean you ?" cried the Countess
eeI,lned at his words, and the hollow tone with
"nicn they were pronounced.
.L., iepeat IL, Madame, you must die, and
'NTI Ni'noet noise, without complaint"
inen seiIlng Der by the arm. he stabhed
her in the side She feIl fainting W. ~
came to her senses, she was upon tSe he'd snS
dressing had been put upon the uopns
Inc Count was alone with her in the ron, re-
eyes steadfastly fixed on her, his lins nsrtad
with q slight smile. He appeared bapnv IN
observing the different impressions wro1gbt
by fear or pain upon his victims counten-
anoe.
II have changed my mind, Madame, ~ said
he, when he saw she had entirely recovered
from her insensibility, "you shall live; but
your life will depend altogether upon your
discretion. Atthe slightest whisper of what
has passed, or may hereafter pass between us,
L shaii know how to insure your silence for
ever
The Count continued his usual life. Every
day, after returning from the chase, he went
up TO his wife's apartment, and curiously ex-
amlned, but without speaking, the wound he
had made. One evening, when il was nearly
closed, after carrying the point of his dagger
from one part to another of the Countess BODY,
doubtless to increase her agonizing suspense,
he inflicted new stab, skilfully directed. AZ
the same time commanding her. on pain OF
instant death, TO utter no cry The wound
made, he appeared for some minutes TO reyel
with delight in the sight Of the spouting blood.
He then cOoIly applied the bandage as before
This second wound healed, he every success
sive fortnight made a fresh one, and alyeys
with the same calm and inexpressible cruel
ty. No one in the castle suspected the true
cause of the alarming and progressive state of
weakness shown by the Countess, who was
almost always confined TO her bed.
Meanwhile, nothing could assuage Rein.
bur's sanguinary monomania. The Countess
beautiful body was no longer sught but one
horrible ulcer, furrowed as it was by her hus
bands dagger. Although the wounds were
not deep, (the monster, with a refinement of
cruelty, taking especial care that they should
not be mOrtal,) yet they were so numerous
that they threw the poor victim into a violent
fever, and her life was in imminent danger
The Count, after much indecision determined
to call in the surgeon, after threatening
his wife anew, with the whole weight of his
vengeance, if she betrayed his Internal secret,
and strictly enjoining the surgeon not TO en-
deavor to find out the cause of his patients
illness. He, like every body else in the cas-
tie, imagined the Countess to be in q cOnsump-
tion, from the austere, secluded, and my steri-
Gus life she led. Well skilled in his profession,
be soon traced her situation to a more extra
ordinary reason. A man Of beneyolence ami
intellect, and great admirer Of her virtues
and resignation, he succeeded in wringing the
secret from her. Without leaving the castle,
he Informed the authorities Of what had taken
place. One afternoon, "a he returned from
the chase, the Count found the castle yard
filled with cavalry Arrested, and taken 10
Buda, he was tried, condemned and be-
headed.