The new era., 1860-09-20

'Well, they may wrap themselves up
in their pride; I'm sure they are no bet
ter than we, for they neither live in a
castle nor wait upon lord; and I'D
rather have two arms than one, and two
eyes than one, and a good round come
ly nose. rather than one battered up
with bullets; and besides he is lame,
this old frightful soldier, and has nothing
to boast Of The lady to be sure is
beauty, but that is only her misfortune,
for she can never be great lady,
A servant one day came to Marcolini,
saying: Il do believe the old soldier is
conjurer, for saw him, only last night,
standing in the tempest on the outer wall
of the castle, and expected surely it
was spirit of darkness, when the light
ming glances showed it was the old SOL
dier himself, looking toward the castle
with a terrible look, and muttering
something which | believe boded no
good
Meanwhile, for year they lived
quietly by themselves, the old soldier
and Marina his daughter. The former
had been seriously i'll, for several weeks
when one day, feeling very much
strengthened and improved, he solicited
his daughter to accompany him to the
river side. 1t was with difficulty they
proceeded-he leaning on her for sup
port. Feeling faint, he requested her
to sit down, and Marina sitting on a
moss-covered stone, supported the head
other aged, afflicted father. Watch
ing as she had been accustomed to do
lately, the workings Of his countenance,
she saw that his eyes were fixed upon
the castle opposite, while tears were
slowly making their way down his face
Without speaking, her own eyes filled
with tears, and flowed over, mingline
with those of the old man. He raised
his eyes to hers, and seeing her emotion.
he said sorrowfully:
Marina, my child. l am very soon to
die. This conviction would be pleasing
to me, but that | am to leave you alone
in the world. tremble for you. | see
the dangers to which you arc exposed
you, alas that my child should be lef
thus! Marina, have something to tel
you ere | die, which have longed t
tell you many times, but my tongue ha
refused TO speak what was dwelling oil
my heart. You are the image of he
whom loved, and whom so early lost !;
and here he raised his hand to brusl
away the tears that coursed his cheeks
when an appalling change came owe
: his countenance. Casting upon Marin
a look Of unutterable, yearning love
and making Intellectual efforts to speak
he gasped, and struggled, and died.
Marina, for few moments, compre
hended not the truth; suddenly the m
r otion overwhelmed her and uttering
piercing shrek, she bent over him t
see fhe breathed not yet, and frantical
, ly called him by name. Her shrek ha
called the attention of Edvardo, tn
r young lord of the castle, who had bee
out in quest Of game, and, Fastening t
the spot, he met Marina Monaldi fo
! the first time. He recognized the oil
| solder, having frequently met him i
! his rambles, and was shocked at tn
situation in which he found him. Hi
, attendants bore him to the cottage, an
: Edvardo accompanied Marina, who wa
3 almost stupe fed with grief and horror
i Edvardo, who had ever been inser
8 sible TO every charm Of woman, was sac
: dened for Marina, in this her irrepaI
: able bereavement, and her desolate ST
j, uation. He addressed kind words {
! her, which awoke in her all the graf
# tude which young heart, under sue
J, circumstances, could not fail Of expe
: iencing. "4'@
yl The last sad duties to her father ha,
ing been performed, the days followir
d were such as were unparalleled in b,
y hitherto darkeaed existence. She hs
: no pleasing memories, such as you
o delights to return to-, and dwell upo
l. Her childhood had been spent in ascha
70 table school, in a small village not 4;
,, distant fromL london. where she had be.
d placed by order Of the government,
E whose military service her father 3 W
t. engaged Here she had remained 1
vi herTsixteenth year, when the old .soldi
l. came, and claiming her as his child, :