Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-06-06

That my keen knife not the wound il makes;
no Tor heaven % peep through the blanket OF the dark
knight Of the Cross bid thee holdi
Or my good steel shall lay thee cold;
Yes, hel.hound of ncarnate shape,
Thou'rt foied." II. L. BURROWS
The night approached, which was to behold
the consummation Of our narrative Poor
Alice! she had set there for hours, but no re-
lief seemed to come near her, horrible SEN
sation crept over her frame soon after the
rufiian's departure the room was lighted on
ly by the dusky rays that scarcely lived
through the metal shutter How terrible
indeed, was her situation. She had now been
held in the strong clamps Of the curious chair
for number of hours and her limbs were
fostering, and her head swimming.
When OFlannagan, having thus heartlessly
confined the delicate girl, returned, it was
past noon, and Alice, from excess of pain had
tainted. Instantly releasing her by means
ola concealed spring he gently lifted her
from the chair, and laid her upon the floor.
Sprinkling few drops of water upon her
face he anxiously watched the course which
her features would take. Gradually she re-
covered her consciousness, and as she looked
into the face Of her prosecutor she shrank
back, and with voice that would have mel
ted heart of stone implored him to have
mercy upon her. He assisted her to rise,
but no sooner had she gained her feet, than
she tottered and sank again to the floor. The
ruthan's ieelings-if he possessed any
smote him, as tenderly laying her upon a
rough couch, he sat himself by her side.
"Well, my child |" he commenced in hvp.
ocritical tones-G" how do yoa RcI nowf Are
you better That chair was little incon-
venient know, but was afraid you might
wander away, and / should thereby lose a
fortune"
"Oh sir what have done to merit this
treatment? ] have harmed none in the
world. Ont sir, have pity upon me, it's so
cruell Why not kill me at once? Such
agony-oh my brain is turning. Mother
Mother !" and the delicate Alice overcome
again by the horrible cramping which her
body had Undergone tainted again in the
arms of the ruffian.
0Flannagan was alarmed, and well had he
occasion to be, for Alice was truly suffering.
The close confinement which her frame, slight
by nature, had endured the burning fever oc
casoned by the terrible exciting thoughts
that revolved continually in her mind; the
demands of Nature, for the captive had TASTED
no food nor quenched her thirst since the pre-
vious night; all conspired to throw her into
critical position. Yet, so it was ordained
ny IIONlhOHI6 lut IlOLlVG was
postponed when he gazed upon the witherins
form Of the beautiful maiden; his assassins
nature was gone and he half relented tn,
promises he had made to the Alderman.
When Alice had again recovered, she wa
too weak to offer resistance to her persecuto
and she reclined upon his arm, with her heat
leaning against his bosom. She felt now n
danger, for grim death would have been wei
coined to relieve her of her mental and phys
ical anguish. O'Flannagan looked upon tn
girl, and his eye met the pleasing, heart
breaking gaze of hers, and he could not stan
il, he turned his eye away.
"Your name is Alice Rowand, you say
"lt isl" muttered Alice, almost maud
bly,. ....
"Your father married Fannie Effinghau
who resided in the Laroch estate in Ireland.
YES" was her low answer.
Does he still liveE
"Six months ago, sir, saw him last, an
then he was alive"
"Your mother p
"She also lived"
"Where are they now r'
81 know not"
BE careful, girl; mark me now, yol
life depends upon the answers you give m
warn you, for you lie in imminent DANCE
Do your parents live, and where are they
$50 help me God, know neither fact"
"When saw you your father last?"
1T has now been some seven montI
since have been separated from him by Il
burning Of his house. have not seen hi
from that time nor do know if he lives );
he does, know not where he is"
"Girl, you are i'll, but this answer must
forced from your lips by torture. Again,
saw where are your parents Y'
"By the Supreme Ruler, | know not
Pray, give me watern
The rufiian handed her glass of wat,
which she drank with avidty.
"You need refreshments, too"
0'Flannagan setting out little table
the lounge, took a plate from a cupboard
which was half loaf, and setting 1t by
side, bade her eat
When she had fnished-and she could ,
but little-she sank exhausted upon
couch and closed her eyes. She was suff
ing the most intense pain, and with Difficult
she stroye to suppress the means that wol
give vent to her feelings.
"You suffer p said 0'Flannagan but
will all be over in time. shall leave v
Free but attempt not on your life to escs
from this house. When you are hung
behold enough to satisfy your cravings;
ter is convenient, and now | ask again,
you or do you uot know the residence
your parentsg
81 have told but the truth, so help
God r. was the faint answer that the
could scarcely breathe.
"'Tis sufficient, girl; but it will be a
hour to you when you tell that to another
have pity on you, and leave you now. /