Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-12-01


| taken no person into his confidence he was
alone in his own counsel.
At dark on the following evening he issued
forth, muffied to the eyes in a woman's mantle
and hood, and left note at Don Alya's habi-
tation, containing an embroidered glove of
Isabella's and these words
81 have obtained the key to Yesales labora-
tory during his absence; be at the gate
hour after midnight, and you will be admitted
on pronouncing the name of Isabela.''
The assignation was promptly kept by Don
Alva. At an hour past midnight he left his
house alone; but he never returned to it.
Whittier he had gone none could say nor
could any trace of him be discovered. 1t was
supposed he must have missed his footing and
fallen into the Guadalquiver, near which his
abode was situated and that his body had
been swept away by the waves into the ocean.
Such an occurrence was calculated to pro-
duce great sensation in the place where ii
happened; and Vesale, recalled three weeks
after by the illness of his wife, found the dis
appearance of Don Aiva the theme of every
tongue. The altered appearance of Isabella
was attributed by Vesale to grief for the mys-
terious absence of Don Alva, and that convic-
tion took from him all pity for her suffcrings.
1t Glanced TO be the festival of Santa Isa-
bella, and to honor her patron saint, as well as
TO celebrate the return OF her husband Isabel
la put on her wedding dress, and seating her.
self by an open easement that overlooked the
AVA gardens, sue NdlCUeu lot MS coming.
But whilst her eyes were vainly fixed upon the
path by which she expected him to appear,
hand was laid on her shoulder, and turning
round she beheld Fesae standing beside her.
81 have ordered the supper to be laid in my
Study said he and taking her hand, he led
her away to the room in question, dismissed
the attendant and closed the door. Every
thing wore festive air; yet the repast was
cheerless. Perceiving that she had tasted
nothing, Yesalc poured few drops of elixir
in cup of Malaga wine, and presenting it TO
her:
oDrink this,'' he said, ,:sit is sovereign cure
for the disease you are suffering from.''
"Pledge me the Graught,' she replied, fill
ing up goblet from the same flask, and hand
ing it to him, s.and it will bring a quicker
healing to me. Let us drink to our absent
friend Andre"
Vesale accepted the offering, and they emp
tied their goblets together.
s.Talking of absent friends" said he, and
suddenly fixing his eyes upon her, ssvou have
not spoken to me of Don Alva dc Soils. Are
all hopes of hearing from him relingushed
He was braggart and libertine, and boasted
that no woman ever resisted his .seductionS,
that no husband ever suspected the injury he
was preparing for him.
Then grasping his wife by the hand, he led
her up to the door at the farther end OF the
room, and throwing the door wide, open,
vealed to her view a skeleton, suspended with
in, holding in one Of his bony hands one of
her embroidered gloves.
"Bchod, - he said pointing to the ghastly
spectacle, ssthe gallant and beautiful Don AIva
dc Soils, the object OF your guilty love--con-
template him we'll, if the sight can render your
few moments any happier, for you are about
to join him in another world-the wine have
given you was poisoned ~
When the last dreadful sentence, and its
most dreadful illustration fell upon her af-
frighted senses she became paralyZed with eX-
cess OF emotion, the scream which had risen
TO her throat, died there in strangling MUIR
murs, and sinking back, she fell as one dead
upon the arms OF esac.
She was not dead, however, he had not pois
oned her; that crime he had hcstated to com
init vet he none the less her murderer.
Convulsion followed convulsion, and at last
she died /; and, in that supreme moment, the
hour that preceded death, her husband, who
never quilted her, beheld one of those phe-
nomena which sometimes attend the dying.
Awakening from torpid slumber; conscious
ness and memory returned at once, and with
them 4 calm and courage she had never pos
scssed in the flesh of life.
"hndre,'' said the dying woman, fixing her
ewes on her husband, II am dying by your
hand, yet | am innocent; | never wro3ged
you by thought or by deed ''Don Alva pur-
sued me with his love and threats, but re-
pulsed them. / never loved but you l fear
ed and honored you as much as loved, but
dared not tell you of his pursuit. Oh, Andre,
believe my words, the dying deal not in false
hoods. Should be thus calm were | guilty ?''
VesaIe, sinking upon his knees, solemnly
protested his faith in the innocence of his
wife, and with choking sobs, abjured her to
believe he only feigned to give her poison,
that he could not nerve his hand to take her
life; but the terror of death, not death itself
was upon her. And while he yet spoke, Isa
bella murmured-
siThanks be to heaven for this,'' and draw
ing his hand towards her, laid it upon her
heart and as she did so it ceased to beat.
LEARNING AND aPPETITE.-lt has been well
known at least since the days of DIR. johnson,