The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-11-07

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bade me renounce my heretical opinions,
and adopt the tenets of the Holy Catholic
Church. This of course refused and
then demanded my instant release, stating
that such an insult 10 the person of an
American would not be long withoutredress
from my country. The old man regarded
me for a moment with derisiye smile, and
then led me into an adjoining cell, where |
beheld in endless pro(usion, instruments OF
torture, mixed with the dried skeletons of
men aud women, whose grinning skulls
were fearfulIy distinct. then learned that
] was in the room, of the Grand Inquisitor.
After minutely explaining the modes of ap-
plying the various instruments, and seeing
the cold drops OF sweat standing on my
brow, he informed me that my frieRds had
already received word of my having perish
ed in the Machangara river; and again, in
the name of his holiness the Pope of Rome,
he commanded me 10 ablure my religion.
gain refused. He then dismissed the
maidens, among whom | recognized lsa.
belIita as she cast an imploring glance be-
hind her | was again seized, and the
terrible screws applied 10 my thumbs.
eadeavored 10 convince myself that | was
the victim of some night mare, or that they
were merely jesting but the grandness and
of the scene, together with the
sharp pains shooting through my body,
gave fearful evidence of lis reality. ! had
often braved death before, but then natme
was the agent, and not mdn,-ihen my friends
would have been certain of my fate, nop
little imagining the terrible ordeal | was
for the sake of those truths
taught me By fond mother, years ago,
when ! was a lisping child. ] thought of
that mother, who, even then, perhaps, was
praying for the safety of her son. thought
of her as when with fearful eyes, and faint
ins Steps, she said "Albert, fear ] never
shall see you again Visions of gray
haired and invalid fa,her, whose stay | had
been, also hoated before my minds eye !;
and with them, the thoughts of brother
and sister, now thousands of miles away
In mental agony groaned bat instead of
plying me, my Iormenlors only smiled in
derision.
But a low, rumbliEg sound interrupted
the prayer which was being offered up 10
God for strength. The ground began TO
quiver ard undulale beneath my feet like
the waves of the ocean, and the noise in-
creased 10 the roar OF the hurricane. Those
around me fell upon their knees, began 10
tell their beads, and repeat the save
ering, louder than the fret, announced the
second shock. Apparently, the earth oscil-
lated 10 and fro like the pendulum OF a
clock. The adjacent volcanoes gave forth
their heated lava and fire amidst horrible
ihunderings, while The crash of the crum-
bling edifices above my head, and the
shrieks bursting from 10000 hearts, gave
evidence OF the fearful convulsions of Ma
lure. Then succeeded a silence as un-
earthly as the din a moment previous ]
called loudly 10 those who had surrounded
me, but no voice replied. The torches
were quenched, but an unearthly and sui
phureous haze filed The place. The band
of priests mad been swallowed up in a
yawning chasm at my side, which was
gradually filling with a black, murky sub
stance. Juan, my guide, lay beside me, a
falling pillar having instantly killed him.
Seeing female form some distance from
me in the posture of prayer. disengaged
myself from the painful thumb screws, and
fastened TO her. II was lsabellta, though
alas life was extinct. Over2owered by
my feelings, then sank TO the floor, court
ing death as the speediest relief from pres
enl suferings.