American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-03-01

Al my c"Sheb Wy iOie' M" " 1ocie
moi three hours since, when Annette ar.
ranged the jewels"
The count laughed mocklngly. and his
brow grew even darker than before. At
that moment, the bell Of the chapel tolled
solemnly, called all to pray for the dying.
"Look down" sPiatAe equpt stsrnly.
and be held his wife on the very verge Of
the broad stairs.
She did look, Just az Mepjour sprang
out of the courtyard. Francis was fasten-
ed to bis tail ty ropes. He was very pale
and looked up at her as If to implore mer-
cy. II was but an instant. The. horse
sprang forward iu terror. and went with
bis burden quite over the precipice.
The cohnless shuddered. "Whst does
this. what can this itean?" she asked.
at means, Ida Of Toggepgsburg. that
the base servant has received his punish
ment. That Of bis Still baser mistress
shall pot be long delayed. Ny vengeance
shall, be speedy as sure"
"She shall have time for confession"
said a stern voice, and Father Martin step
ped to the side oil the countess.
at will be short" said the count
Hastenl l give you but ten minutes to
make your shrift."
The countess knelt, and the priest draw.
ing crucifx from his bosom lifted it be-
fore her. "Iknow not for what am &C
cused, father" she said. II am limo, ent
Of crime. yet my spirit is not pure enough
to 60 thus Unexpectedly TO it's God without
a fear"
do you repent, daughter? .,,.
II do, answered the countess. "In this
awful morent, I hope only that some
merit greater than mine may purchase the
forgiveness which SO much need"
The priest knelt in prayer, but the SER
wants Of the counts passions appeared, and
rising, the countess said firmly. II au
ready for whatever awaits me. D God in
to Thy hands l commend my spirit"
The count made a signal. The mer
fitted his wife in their arms. and hurled
her over the battement. For a few min
utes not sound was heard bit the tolline
Of the bell and the murmured prayer o
:. the priest. Suddenly two or three Of tn
men rushed through the gate and looked
down into the abyss below. The wavinI
! garments Of their mistress had caught, a
; she fell on some trees which grew from
crevice in The rock, "She livesl" the.
shouted The glad tohes were thunders,
from the courtyard. They echoed III tn
halls. They rang oft from the countess
apar ments. They were repeated by th
wsrders on the watch-to#er. -.
"a miracel A mracle!" exclaimed th
priest. "Now, count OF Toggeuburg
shudder at the crime which you hav
committed against the Innocent H
rose as he spoke, and hsstenet down th
dark, winding stairs; but the opunt passe'
. him. His wife's escape from. death was
in that superstitious age. sufficient proc
Of her innocence; and besides, at the mo
, ment when she seemed lost to him hi
Jury cooled, and he began to be sorry 70
what he had done,
a Already ropes had been procured.
9 servant Of the countess fastened one en-
Q about his waist. gave ihs other to a Stou
/. soldier, and let himself down over tn
g rock. He alighted am ong the bushes, too
. his mistress in his arms, aud they wei
2 drawn up together. The count hinse
a received his wife, and bore her, quite il
d sensible, to her own chamber, where b
t helped 10 chafe her hands, and bathO be
t forehead with perfume waters!
9 She was i'll long time, and when st
n recovered, she became nun in CONVEX
n of Flschingen; for she ceased to love Il
husband whom she had found TO be {
!. passionate and cruel. .
= Before she left the castle. the raven WI
o proved to have been the cause of the NH
;. chief, and was punished with death f'
his thieysh tricks.