Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-07-20

! -A'NHN''N
You know my birthplace, my family,
my name. Years of unspeakable agony
have passed since last knelt in the con
fessional nook, or participated in the rites
of our holy church. l have blinded the
eyes of my fellow men, but have never
dared to fool my God, although L have
sighted his most dread commands.
Fhe last time that the grace of absolu-
ton was poured upon my soul, was be-
meath the humble fame of ST. Bernard S
hoSpice, in the autumn of 1871, when
received the attentions of the worthy son
of St. Augustine who presides over the re-
liYiouS duties ot the mountain convent. /
was on my way from my native Piedmont
, TO the residence Of brother in the most
romantic part of the Valais. A few days
sojourn NJ the hospital of the Great st.
Bernard relieved the monotony of my SOL
iIary trip. Would to Heaven that | had
perished beneath an avalanche of the eter-
nal SHOWS which hang upon the brows OF
the glaciers of this Alpine pass, ere L had
countered the party which shared with me
the hospita!ities OF the followers of the
African saint. The badge of st. Angus
tine is a flaming heart 1t was beneath his
roof that the unquenchable fires of love, of
hatred, and revenge, were lighted in my
breast.
A travelling party from the south of
France formed, with myself, the occupants
of the visitors domitories. An hours
commingling in the refectory of the hos
pilium produced general intimacy; and
before the expiration of the day, was OH
excellent terms with Monsieur and Mad
anne Cepiegle and their coquettish daugh-
ter, Mademoisselle Leontine, whose large
hands and feet, low brow, coarse black
hair, small eyes, and high cheek bones,
bespoke her maisSance GaSSe,. and her man.
ners betrayed the effects of ~ residence in
the vicinity of the Fau6omy 81. Ger
maine. Her parents were worthy folks.
possessing considerable 6adauderie, but
doting with exceeding partially upon
their forward Miss, who had been sent
from the rusticity of her provincial home
to receive the false polish of metropoli-
tan education. In strong opposition to
this pert French thing, there was fair
haired English girl, with pale, express
slye face, and light blue eyes of inde-
scrlbable beauty. She was modest and
retiring, but cheerful among her friends
and, at the first glance, loved her with
the fercest passion that ever entered an
Italian soul. Maria de We're was choice
specimen of Saxon beauty, and her men
tai qualifications we're worthy of the lovely
case III which the Creator had placed them.
She was attended by her father, gentle
man of the old school-polite, friendly,
and sincere. l have never imagined
greater hight of mortal bliss than the
privilege of calling De We're a father or a
friend-and of exercising marital au-
thority over his intellectual and fascinating
child.
There was another member Of the party
on the mountain--I have not forgotten
him-I cannot forget bim-for his face
is ever before me--and his blood lies
heavy on my soul The predestinated
curse of the Almighty settled on my heart
when first L beheld that mani
Excuse the weakness of this ebulIition,
holy father. You have promised me
peace; but you insist upon my making
clean breast before l can be allowed to
commence my atonement l have told
you my story, even now. You cannot
help perceiviDg that | murdered this un
named man for the love of the beauteous
Maria. 1 did so. Ills blood cries out
against me; the purple stream colors each