Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-02


shrink with fear whenever L hear it-I could
never bear to see such dreadful sight-it
would haunt me till the day of my death"
Does the gift Of prophecy, Involuntary
though il may be, lurk within us yet, Does
the soul dimly shadow out its own fate or
rather that of its frail or perishabls hsbita-
tion? Sweet Flavia unsuspecting, innocent
girl your lips then pronounced your own
doom as irrevocably as though you had been
some stern Sybil, delivering inscrutable, un-
questioned oraclss, not fair child in her girl
ish frock and sash, your brown hair, curling
down your straight, glossy shoulders, your
soft eyes shining through your bushes.
The betrothed pair were together TO visit
London.
But L shall not dare" said the girl, as
walking together in the old fashioned Dutch
garden she leant her young, sinless head on
her guilty lovers breast shall not dare
take such journey, for fear Of the highway
man, DeAontmorency.
rear not, my sweet Flayia; this breast
shall be pierced through ere DeMontmorency
shall cause one fear in thine
Richard, sweetest, why do you leave us
so early every, day at sunset have re-
marked. These are not London habits. All,
does any other than your poor Flavia attract
you Oh, Richard, must die if il should be
false"
Sweetest and best my purest love could
any win me from you? Were it a queen,
think it not 1.-the truth is, Flayia, L
have poor sick friend not far from here He
is poor, ill, and-I-r'-
Say no more, dearest. Oh, how much
more do 1 love You every day. How good,
how noble, thus to sacrifice" And the
blushing girl threw herself into her loyer's
arms.
And how different beat these two human
hearts-one pregnant with love, goodness
charity, and sympathy; the other, rank hy-
pocrisy-dark with unbelief
They came to town unmolested, you NAV
be sure; the stranger, because a few days
previously terrible affair had occurred. Old
Lord st. Hillary, the relic of the beau gar
cons OF former days, had been robbed and
maltreated. Men were by no means so ia
yored as the beau sex. Above all, family
Jewel OF immense value had been taken from
his person, and on recovering his wound and
fright, he swore vengeance. He took active
measures to fulfil his VOW.
The wedding was to take place at An old
relations, Mrs. Duchesne's house, and on lag
ging wings, that day at length arrived. The
marriage was celebrated, and the happy pair
were in the act of being toasted by the father
OF the bride, when a strange voice was heard
below; rude voices were appraised, oaths nut.
tered, and rush followed towards the festive
saloon. The company rose
"What is itl'' said Mr.. Hardcourt.
The door was broken open Cor answer. The
ofhcers Of justice filled the room. Two ad
vanced.
"Come, captain said they, {. the game is
up at last. It's an awkward time to arrest a
gentleman on his wedding day, but duty, my
noble captain, duty must be done
Entranced, frozen beyond resistance or ap-
peal, the bridegroom was fettered, and the
bride, she stood there, her eyes dilatIng till
they seemed about to spring from her head.
"My Richard, what is this"
"Scoundrel'," said Mr.. Harcourt, s'releasa
my son."
The men laughed. One of them was ex-
amining the necklace of FIavis. Ii contain.
cd diamond IN the centre worth a ransom.
Where did you get this, miss" he said.
Her friends answered, for the stricken c;rt
gift.
"Oh, oh This was the diamond Lord ST.
Hillary was so mad about. By your leaye.1
and the gem was removed from the neck il en-
circled.
She comprehended something terrible. She
bray for ?" said she.
Whom! Why the renowned Captain Mont.
A shriek-so fierce in its agony as 10 cau.s
the criminal TO rebound-struck the ears of
all present. Insensibility followed; Flayia
was renewed. So was her bridegroom-to
Newgate.
The trial was ooncluded-iusties was
peased-the robser was doomed And his in
nocent and unpolluted victim
For days her life had hung upon a thread.
But youth and health closed for a short time
the gates of death. She recovered. Reyivinr
as from dream she could scarcely believe in
the terrible event which, tonado-like, had
swept over her. She desired her father TO re-
venerable gray hairs whittier with sorrow M
Hardcourt complied. She heard the recital in
silence. Presently, clasPing her father hand.
Dear parent" she said, "when-when-12
She could utter no more; nor was IL peces-
sary. He comprehended her meaning but toe
we'll WV Wv
"The day after Tomorrow he replied.
Father, L must be there
MY Flavla. my dearest daughter
Rather, must be there. Do You remem
Der your Jest All, it has come to pass in Bit
ter earnest. L must be there"
Nor would she be pacifed; she persisted
Her physician at length urged them to give
gerous than denial
Near Tyburn, seats were erected Windows
ana balconies were let out to hire. One of
these last, the most private was secured, and
On the fatal morning, Flavia was taken thither
IN a close carriage, accompanied by her
parent, and an aged cousin. She shed no
'ears-heaved not a single sigh, but suffered
herself to be led to the window with strange.
mmovable calmness. Soon, shouts and the
swelling murmur Of a dense mob reached her
ears. The procession was arriving. The GAL
ows was not in sight, but the fatal cart would
pass close. 1t came on, nearer, nearer-more
Ike a triumph, that dismal sight, than a hu-
nan being Fastening to eternity.
She clenched her hands, and rose up, strain
ng her fair white throat to catch a glimpse
If the criminal Yes, there he was, dressed
,aily, the ominous nosegay Haunting in his
breast, dull despair in his heart, reaching
rom thence TO his face. As the train passed
Flayia's window, by chance be raised his hot,
cleared eyes, they rested on his bride, his
,ure, virgin wife. The wretched man uttered
yell of agony, and cast himself down on the
'ehicle. She continued gazing the smile fro
en on her face, her eyes CLASSY, motionless
ixed
They never recovered their natural intelIi-
'ence. Fixed and stony, they bore her,
tricken lamb, from the dismal scene Her