St. Paul weekly Minnesotian. (St. Paul) 1860-1861, 1860-11-09

secured. Elizabeth was oil cruel and Sc
we're disposition, and her hand-maidens led
no Joyous life. Slight faults are said to
have been punished by most merciless tor
lures.
One day, as the lady OF Csejta was ad +
mirns ut the mirror those charms which
that faithful monitor told her were fast wa
ming, she gave way TO her ungovernablc
tember, excited perhaps, by the mirror 5
unwelcOtne hint, and struck her unoliending
maid with such force in the face as TO draw
blood. As she washed from her hahdS
the stain, she fancied the part where the
blood touched grew winter, softer, and, as
It We're, younger. imbued with the cruel
ty OF the age, she believed she bad dicov-
cred what 50 many philosophers had spent
years in seeking for She supposed that
in virgins blood she had found the eIirr
rita, the fountain Of neyer-failing youth
and beauty. Rcmorseless by nature, and
now urged on by irrepressible vanity, the
thought no sooner flashed across her brain
than her resolution was taken: the life of
her iuckleSs hand maiden was not to be
compared with the precious boon her death
promised 10 secure Elizabeth, however,
was wary as well as cruel. At the foot of
The rock on which Cselta stood was a small
cottage, inhabited by TWO old women; and
between the cellar of this cottage and the
castle was a subterranean passage, known
only to one or two persons, and never used
but iii times Of danger With the aid of
lhese old crones and her steward, Elizabeth
led the poor girl through the secret passage
to the cottage, and after numbering her,
bathed IN her blood. Not satisfied with
lie tirSt ESSAY at different intervals, by the
aid Ui these acco;nplCes and the secret
passages, no les than three hundred maj.
dens we're sacrificed OF the alter of vanity
ant superstition.
Several years had been occupied in this
pitilcsS slaughter and no suspicion of the
truth was excited, though the greatest
pervaded the country at the dis
appearance OF so many persons. At last,
however, Elizabeth called into play against |
her, two passions even stronger than yani- |
ty and cunning. Love and revenge be |
came interested in the discovery Of the !
mystery, Among the victims Of Csejta |
vas a beautiful virgin, vino was beloved by, |
and betrothed to young man ofthe neigh
borho0d. In despair at the loss of his |
mistress he followed her traces with such
perseverance that in spite Of the hitherto
successful caution of the murderess he |
penetrated the secrets Of the castle, and |
bnrning for revenge. few to Presburg,
boldly accused Elizabeth Bathori of mur-
der, before the paiitine in open court, and
demanded .,udgme ent against her. So grave
m accusation brought against person of
such high rank, demanded the most serious
attention, and the palitine undertook to in
Vcstigate the case in person. Proceeding
10 Csejta, before the murderess
II her accompIices had any idea Of the &C
he discovered the still warm body
If a young girl whom they had been de
'troying as the palatine approached, and
lad not time to dispose of it before he ap--
them. The rank of Elizabeth
her punishment to imprisonment
or life, but her assistants were burned at
The stake
Legal documents still exist to attest the
ruth Of this circumstance. Paget, dis
inguished traveller, who visited Csejta
about 20 years ago, says "With this tale
reSh in our minds, we ascended the long
lill, gained the castle and wandered over its
'uins. The shades Of evening were Just
spreading over the valley, the gray walls
stood up against the red sky, the solemn
'tilluess of evening reigned over the scene;
md as two ravens, which had made their
'eSts on the castles highest tower, came
o"ards it winging their heavy flight, and
wheeling once round, each cawing q hoa,se
Welcome to the other, alishted on their IA
'oritc turret, [ could have fancied them
he spirits Of the two crones, condemned
o haunt the scene Of their former criues,
while their internal mistress vas cursed by
One more wretched DOOM"