Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-01-07


duce great sensation in the place where it
happened; and Vesaie, recalled three weeks af-
ter by the illness of his wife, found :he disap-
pearance of Don Alva the theme of every
tongue. The altered appearance of Isabella
was attributed by Vesale to grief for the mys-
terous absence of Dou Ava, and that convic-
tion took from him all pity for her suffer-
in2s.
1t chanced to be the festival of the Santa
Isabella, and to honor her patron saiot, as we'll
as to celebrate the return of her husband, lsa-
bell put on her wedding dress, and seating her
self by an open easement that overlooked the
Alva gardens, she watched for bis 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 bebeld Vesae standing beside
her.
al bave ordered the supper to be laid in y, i..ay
study" said he and taking her hand, he led
her TO the room in question, dismissed the at
tepdant and closed the door. Everything wore
festive air; yet the repast was cheerless.-
PerceIving that she had tasted nothing, vesale
poured few drops of elixir in cup of Mala-
ga wine, aud presented it to her, saying
tDriuk this, it is sovereign cure for the
disease you are suffering from"
"rledge me the draught," she replied, FL
ling Up goblet from the Same flask, "and it
will bring d quicker healing to me- Let US
drink to our absent friend, Andre"
Vesale accepted the offering, and they emp
tied their goble,s together.
ssTalking of absent friends,' said he, and
suddenly fixing his eyes upon her, ''you have
not spoken to me of Don Alva &c Soils Are
oil II y, sboI1
He was braggari and ibertine, aud boasted
that no woman ever resisted his scducnons, that
no husband ever suspected the injury he was
preparing for him"
Then grasping his wife by the hand, be led
her up to the door at the farther end of the
room, and throwing the door wide open, reveal
ed TO her view q skeleton, suspended within,
holding in Que Of its bohy hands one of her
embroidered gloves.
"Beh0ld," he said, pointing to the CHASTITY
spectacle. "tLe gallant aud beantlful Don Alvai
de Soils, tue onlecL or yo.5r gully lOSv,
template him we'll, il The sight render your
few moments happier, for you are about TO jun
him in another world--the wiEe have gwen
you was poisoned ~
| When the last dreadful sentence, aud its
more dreadful illustration fell upon her sf-
frighted senses, she became p,ralyzed with cx-
cess of emotion, the scream which had risen 10
her throat died there in struggling murmurs.
aud sinking back, she fell as Que dead on the
/ arms OF Veeale.
! She was not dead, however; he had not pni-
soned her; that crime he had hesitated to con-
nit; yet he was none she less her murderer
/ Convulson after convuision, and at last she
! died, and, in that supreme moment, the hour
! that preceded her death, her husband, who uev-
er quilted her, beheld one of those phenomena
which sometimes attend the dying. Awaken
/ lug from torpid slumber, CONSCIOUSNESS aud
memory returned at once, and with them cslm
! and courage she had never possessed In the
flesh of life.
"Andre," said the dying woman, fixing her
eyes on her husband, 81 am dying by your
hand, yet am innocent; / never wronged you
! by thought or deed; Don Alva pursued me with
his love and threats, but repulsed them
never loved but you. feared 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 falsehood. Should
be thus calm were | guilty?"
Vessle, sinking upon bis knees, solemnly pro-
tested bis faith in the innocence of bis wife,
and with choking sobs, abjured ter to believe
ho only feigned to give her poison, that be
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, Isabella muir
mured--
"Thauks be to heaven for this" and draw
and as she did so it ceased to beat.