The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-01-21


loathed the followers of one whom his nation
) stigmatizes as the false Messiah. Yes, the Jew
would have acted, if possible, sterner part
than a Virginius, he would have strangled his
only and beloved child, ere he had seen her pol
Iuted by an union with Christian.
ShaksPeaFe's wherry glided on, and in few
minutes, having entered The deep shadow of the
arch, he landed on the vide, projecting startling.
Jessy's sleeping apartment was far above but
the girl, unknown to her father had the key
/ OF lower chamber which opened upon small
balcony; and thence lei herself down into the
arEls Of the raamored poet.
Shakespeare resigned his sculls to his young at
tendani, who knew his duty too well to listen
to the conversation of the lovers. The beauti-
lei Jewess was wrapped in a velvet mantle,
boTdered with minVer. Her large. dark, pas
sionate eyes were now raised to the heavens,
! spangied With stars, ard now fixed in melting
tenderness on him who sat by her side. And
thus they gfided on soft light above, murmur-
ing waters mountaineering in tremulous
whispers, and experiencing in those stolen
moments OF recprocated affection all the bliss
that man is capable Of wringing from the fleet
ing hours Of this ftvered existence
We shah rot detail al length the conversa-
tion which passed between Shakespeare and his
Jessy. Thus nightly they had met, and brea-
thed their VOWS Of faith, and in each others
i presence bad i9rgotlen The world aud its cold
restrictions. 5essy only iremblrd lest her fa-
ther should discover her amour for rarely day
passed witheat Aiaaasseh's bitterly reyiliog and
heaping cures Oh the Christians,
''lf thou de- love noe" said Shakespeare, pres
sing the naidel's hand, 'Hhou wilt never again
enter the hahsation of one, who, harsh, bigoted
and cruel, is uworthy to call thee daughter.-
Jessy dear ose, fond one! true one flee with
me- this nighs. will protect thee against
| thousand fatters. This bosom shall be thy
home; and, il reiufn, Thy love shall be my para
disc"
s'Not yet, said The girl, tmidiy; Il will pray
to him-I VIA strive to bend his willard,
perhaps he viii relent. Moreover, harsh
though be bsY love my father, and would nos
t-.-.-l
tby vow-continue 10 love me. as l worship
thee, and, whatever beside, I shall be happy"
The moon had nearly set, and deep gloom
was falling over the river. Jessy was anxious
to return, and the wherry shot back to the
bridge.
As they approached the bridge, Shakespeare
DeFceived the figure of man standing on the
broad siairl.ng beneath the Jews residence.
1t is only a watchman, love; there he is gone;
he has snruna. doubt not, into his boat
Jessy trembled, bat the man had indeed dis
appeared around the butlress, giving them rta-
son 70 believe that he was no othe- than the 10
,nviIoal named. The beautiful Jewess was
lifted by Shakespeare out Of the wherry; the
startling was damp through the spiashing OF the
tide, and he threw his rich doubet on the wood
work for the girl to step upon.
aFarewel, love, forget me not,'' whispered
the poet Of Avon, kissing Jessy's forehead; bn'
at that instant Shakespeare started, for he iel
his arms seiz-d and COMPRESSED as in vice BY
a sinewy hand, while words like the fOllowin!
were hlssed in his car:
i "Chrisian deg helI-hound have | f0un
# thee -
Shakespeare, by violent effort, flung the hu
: man virer from him; and as the setting moo
;. shed glimmering ray through the grant
!. arch, he recognized the athe- OF Jessy II
= first impulse was to draw bis sword, but he IN
f s,antly placed rein on his inclination 10
a Hebrew was so conyuSed by the passion thi
r raced within him, that, for some minutes, h
J. was unable TO address his trembling daughter
her lover :the former taking advantage OF IN
:, silence Of her father, fell on her knees betoI
r. him. and beseeched bin 10 restrain his ange
- Rnt the Jew waved his hand, while his fury
IS. length burst forth in words
ct 0Beqone thou disgrace of Thy tribe th'
n, reproach to thy father or [ shall sIay thee
The girl, shuddering and oFeawed, crePt
- the little balcony, and in a few moments diSa
IL peared. The Jew seemed suddenly TO have i1
: med resolution his eyes, in the darknes
70, The night, burned like Goals OF fire ne mute
=, Cd incoherent words, and sna'ching from
,is gaberdlnea long dagger, lie dashed io'~aI
ire exclaiming
ITO s.Unbeliever contemner OF The law oil N
Ter ses oppressor of our race it will be no crI
,u- 10 send thee now to that hell whittier II
- would'st but go at last !"
sht sThe dagger grazed Sbakspeare's breast
TO the next moment he snatched 1t from the IN
er- rated Hebrews hand.