Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-21

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lowed her rest by night or day. The third
the fourth day had elapsed, and she began /,
feel that sickness of the heart which proceeds
from delayed hope. On the evening of tn,
fifth day, after having walked on the terrace
and watched with eager eyes across the coun
try until overcome with fatigue she was fol.
lowing her nurse who had retired to the house
for vesper prayers, a gentle "Hist, hist p and
her name repeated in n subdued voice. arrested
her steps She turned in the direction of the
sounds, and saw in the garden below the ter
race an old gardener, who invited her to de-
scend. Surprised at so unusual an invitation
she however went down to the garden by u
flight Of steps that led from the entrance of the
terrace. The gardener, instead of awaiting
her approach, walked on towards the high
walls that surrounded the grounds, nor stop
ped until he reached n cluster of trees that
shut out all view from the house. Stefania
followed him; but what was her alarm, when,
on reaching the spot where he had passed, she
found a man in armor standing in the dense
shadow of the trees A scream died on her
lips, but she would have fled, when the war
rior, grasping her arm, made himself known
as the messenger of Lamberto.
"Lady, you must excuse the means we have
employed and be SILENT said the man.
"But what means this?' asked Stefania, re-
covering her breath. "How are you here in
secret? Where is my Lamberto?'
ga very short distance, impatiently awaiting
your arrival" was the answer
SLOW is this, sir?" said Stefania "even at
the hour of the day il is, the doors of this
house are open to my afiianced--why comes
he then by stealth?.
"Alasl lady, things are changed, fearfully
changed Lamberto has incurred the displea-
sure ofthe Emperorand ofHis Holiness the Pope
Your marriage is forbidden, and another des-
tiny and another husband await you"
"Lamberto is my ailianced-our VOWS have
been plighted, and will have no husband but
him." said Stefania energetically, although
trembling in every limb and joint at SO horrid
and so unexpected an announcement
"He expected no less from you, lady, and
thus has dared to oppose to the force and vo-
lence that may soon be employed against him
and you the resources of ingenuity and secre-
cy. He expects your coming at house not
far distant from these garden walls, and holy
friar is with him to perform the marriage cere-
mony"
$50 suddenly so mysteriouslyw mused
Stefania.
"No other way is left, lady When once
married-once his-neither Emperor nor Pope
will separate you but now it is for you to de-
eide, and that instantly for every moment may
render impracticable his well-laid plan, whether
you will be his, or lose Lamberto forever"
81 cannot lose him dare not flee to him
thus Alasl alas and if | stay here may
never see him more p cried the agitated bride.
"Ofa certainty you never will But why
hesitate, fair lady, and throw away your only
chance of love aud happiness? Away, away
with me, and in few minutes you will be in
the arms of an adoring husbandn And the
And the secret envoy gently pulled her, hut
half unwilling as she was, towards the garden
wall.
"l,ut my father-my affectionatc fatherp'
cried Stefania with anguish-and my fond mo-
ther within Oh l cannot leave my darling
mother thus u
at is impossible she can accompany you;
but each instant your escape to Lamberto may
be prevented, and he has sworn by every oath
not to survive the disappointment of this his
last and only hope"
"0h, must consult my motherl cannot
depart without her blessing Faid stefania,
while tears rained doFfn her youthful cheeks.
"This would ruin all; hnd the messenger,
continuing his gentle fose brought herNto the
foot OF the lofty wall. NJ tsR not stood
there an instant, when the voice of the old
nurse on the terrace was heard calling the
name of Stefania. "0h, let me returhl-lct
me return !" prayed the lovely maiden to the
soldier, who now held her arm faster than be-
fore y.
"And lose Lamberto foregcr2" whispered
the man significantly. 'No! it must not be,
there Barnabo!"
At his NJ tn. old gardener glided beiEeen
them and tie wall, and opened low iron
door that gave egress TO the banks of the Ii
ber The warrior clasped Steiania in his arms
in two strides he was beyond the garden
walls-the iron door was closed, and this half
voluntary elopement, half forcible abduction
was completed. Stefania wept and wrung her
hands-she could not return, nor could she
walked forward. The warrior took her light
weight in his muscular arms, and carried her
down to the edge of the river but before he
could place her in boat prepared for their
flight, she had tainted
When she recovered as from a confused
dream, she found herself gliding rapidly be-
tween the dark rough banks of the Tiber, and
the armed man by her side. She hid her face
in her hands, and had only strength to say
"oh, whittier are you conducting me on this
cold, deep river?"
"To husband" was the brief reply
The boat soon stopped at an ancient quay,
now much dilapidated, where SteElna was
made to descend. Not hundred yards from
the landng-place, massy, time-worn ediice
reared its head in the uncertain and darkening
twilight.
"Your husband awaits you there" said the
WARRIOR "that is to be your temple of IIy-
men,
"Alasp said Stefania "it looks more like a
tombl"
But at the same time, the thoughts of her
near approach to Lambcrto, and her ardent
-, ,,,I,ts a