The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-04-20

whom ! took a greater interest.
A secret understanding had existed for
some time between them, when an expIa-
nation was brought about bv an order
from the old gentleman to his proteqe to .
JON the Austrian aImy-to which he had I
been early destined. Such a rude and /
abrupt discovering of the ties of wears.
was not to be contemplated without pas
siOnate emotion.
Perhaps they might never again be-
hold each other, and, in the meanwhile,
she was at the absolute disposal of her
father. No means were left them but to
fly, and trust to the forgiveness of her
parent for the future. They ought to
have known on how fraiI q reed they de-
pended for support; but youth and pas
sion blind the sense. The youth in his
ramblings amid the neighboring forests,
had formed an acquaintance with a monk,
who had left his convent, preferring the
life of a rccluse in the woods. He used
frequently to bring the old man game,
and to do him a variety of little kindness
es, which had insensibly stolen on his love.
To the monk did the youth confess their
passion, and their fixed determination, So
Letting him, by the love he bore him, to
join their hands. This at last the old man
consented to do: and likewise to inter
cede for them with the father. In the
dead of night, the young lovers stole forth,
accompanied by devoted female atten-
dant, and, before daylight, they reached
the hermitage, where the monk bestowed
on them the nuptial benediction. So far
all was calm; but, in the delirium of love-
little did they contemplate the frightful
storm, engendered by pride and contem-
ned authority, which was shortly to burst
on them in all its horrors.
"'In the morning, the house of the Nea-
pOlitan presented a dreadful scene of COM
motion. Immediately the flight of his
daughter was made known to him, the
old noble became reused to fury. A mes
senger was despatched to Naples for his
son, and the police of the city were placed
in active search after the fugitives, who,
it was supposed, had taken refuge within
its walls. The son lost no time in attend
ing the summons Of his father. and al
though less furious than the latter, it
could be easily seen 10y his pale cheek and
sternly compressed features, that deadly
revenge had taken possession of his heart.
The strictest search was made at Naples,
but in vain: and the brother. fancving
their hiding place might be nearer than
was supposed, placed spies in every direc-
ton with promise of large reward for
their discovery.
Meanwhile the monk, who was not
suspected, concealed the lovers in his her
mitage, which was commodious, and. with
out suffering them TO stir abroad, brought
them news of the proceedings from with
out. In this manner many DAYS elapsed: ::
| the monk intending after the first parox-
| ysm of rage had subsidized, to confess to
the old nobleman the part he had taken
| in the affair. and solicit pardon for the
! young people. An incident, however,
| counteracted his good intention. One
| evening, about eight days after the lovers
had become inmates of the hermitage,
! they We're seated together, conversing
with the monk on their future prospects,
when they beheld the easement, which
had been slightly opened to admit the
air, drawn back by an unknown hand,
and broad swarthy face presented itself
to their view. An exclamation of Joy
burst from the lips of the intruder, who
at the same moment disappeared. The
| lovers instantly became alive to the crit
| cal position in which they were placed
The young man sailed forth, but could
obtain no trace of the individual who
they Immediately concluded was some
| spy employed for their detection Not a
moment was to be lost. The monk gave
them a note to the superior of his con.
| vent at Sorrento and bade them hasten
thither, where they would at all events
| be free from violence His good offices
he engaged to employ in the meantime
with their father, and visit them as occa-
sion would permit Affectionatelv they
took their leave of their kind benefactor,
and with aching hearts, and foreboding
of peril, bent their way to Sorrento.
"Giacomo was acquainted with every
path, and, by following the intricacies of
the forest, hoped to reach their asylum
before the alarm could be given. He little
considered how swift were the movements
of hate and revenge and little thought
that his path, even then, was tracked by
bloOd-hounds, who were guiding the fell
pursuers to their prey. The man who
opened the easement of the hermitage
was indeed an agent of the young count
who had been attracted thither by the
sound of voices, and finding who were
within, flew to communicate his intelli
gence, and obtain his reward. To pre-
vent escape, he placed others around tC
give intelligence on his return.
"'Arming himself in haste, and mount
ing his swiftest horse, the brother few t.
the hermitage, accompanied by desper
ate companion, who, if freport spoke truth
had more than once been engaged il
scenes of blood. The scouts at the hermi
tage placed them in the track, and, riding
at their utmost speed, they were not lonj
in overtaking the unhappy fugitives.
1.-The lovers had by this time traverse'
the greater part of the forest, and ha,
gained that very bridge, when they hear,
the appalling sounds of pursuit. Wha
was the horror of the already fainting Lau
retta on turning, to behold her brother
his horse wreathed in foam, and his pallit
countenance but too faithful an index c
the emotions of his heart! BY the supe
rior swiftness of his steed he had far out
stripped his companions, and was ther
alone to confront them. For momen
, the blood rushed quickly to the heart {
Giacomo, as he beheld his pursuer; but
unconscious of crime, and not fearin
mortal man, he placed himself on tn
bridge before his wife and her companion
and boldly waited the event This wa
the work of an instant. Riding up to tn
: very foot of the bridge, and leaping frol
! his steed, he cried, rushing towards Ii
opponent, Dog of a pauper! we are we
met is it for such as YOU to dishonor
? noble house? Defend yourself, lest | sta
I, you where you stand
: "'Listen but for a moment to what
have to urge, cried Giacomo, but he w
f answered with a deadly thrust from IL
I weapon of his antagonist. For a few S
a conds they were engaged in despera
: strife, but the superior address of GiaC
o mo quickly displayed itself. He bore |
3 adversary backward, disarmed him, al
. forced him on his knee: when the fla
: of pistol was seen, quickly followed
: the report. The sword of the youth f,
from his grasp, and he reeled gaspil
q against the side of the bridge His vii
who, in the first impulse of terror, was
one almost bereft of life, at this dreadt
= moment seemed to regain all her enc
gies Rushing to support the dying yout
- She covered him with her body, and I
!, ceived the blow of poniard, dealt by h
J.! brothers hand, deep in her bosom N
!, dear murdered husband" were the on
: words she uttered as she fell dead on h
: already lifeless form. The ball whiC
= pierced the heart of Giacomo was dlrect6
: bv the companion of the young coun
who arrived at the moment his patron a
= Deared in danger, and risked the sh'
7 with so fatal precision. The assassin
| seeing what was done, and thinking to 5
Il cure their own safety by the silence
their victims plunged sword into IL
!. heart of the unfortunate Lauretta's fait
6 full attendant, who, overcome with terrC
!, was lying senseless near her murder,
i mistress She passed from insensibili
i into death. They then dragged the b
Il dies from the spot on which they h,
! fallen, into the dell, and, mounting the
" horses, flew to escape the justice due
: their crime.
|. 1t was some days before the MOI
d learned, at his convent at Sorrento, tn
n, his young friends had not arrived. Fei
1t ing some mischance, he instantly soug
h the old nobleman, and contessing /
share in the elopement of his daught'
n begged to know if they had been int
n, cepted by orders, and what had becor
m | of them. The old Neapolitan was IN
u state of anxiety bordering on madne
mt and now bitterly repented his pride al
IS fatal precipitation iii summoning his SO
as He had heard nothing of him since
in left on the fearful night of the pursuit.
wv The alarm was quickly spread aroun
or violence was suspected; and the count
lie people dispersed themselves in every
nj rection, for milesN around, to obtain
a. dings. 1t was my fortune first to cr
lis this very bridge, and | observed traces
an blood, which might, however, have be
it spilled in the chase; but my dog insta
tic ly set up an unusual cry, and, followi