, 1863-12-19


joyOusly, "thou hast not lied. Tonight
young Branxholm's bride shall sit within
my bower"
He dashed the spur into the side Of his
fleet stecd, and, although Marion and her
attendants forsook the chase and fed, as
they perceived him, yet, as though his ia
miliar gave speed to his horses feet, in a
few seconds he rode by the side Of Marion,
and, throwing out his arm, lifted her from
the saddle, while her horse yet flew at its
fastest speed, and continued its course with
out its fair rider. ..
She screamed aloud, she struggled wildly,
but her attendants had Hcd afaf of, and her
strength was feeble as an insects in his ter
rible embrace. Heheld her upon the saddle
before him
"Marion! fair Marionw said the wizard
and rufian lover, "scream nOt-struggle not
be calm and hear me. l love thee, pretty
one! love thee" and he rudely raised her
lips to his. "Fate hath decreed thou shalt
be mine, Marion, and no human power shall
take thee from me. Weep nOt-strive not
Hear ye not! Hove thee-love thee iercely,
madly, maiden, as she wolf doth its cubs
As river seeketh the sea, so have sought
thee, Marion; and now thou art mine-fate
hath given thee unto me, and thy fair cheek
shall rest upon manlier bosom than that
of Branxholm's beardless heir" Thus say
ing, and still grasping her before him, he
again plunged his spurs into his horses
sides, and he and his followers rode furiously
towards Hermitage Castle.
He locked the gentle Marion within
strong chamber; he
"Woocd her as the lion woos his bride"
And now she wept, she wrung her hands,
she tore her raven hair before him, and it
hung disheveled over her face and upon her
shoulders. She implOred him to save her,
to restore her TO liberty; and again, finding
her tears wasted and her prayers in vain,
she defed him, and invoked the vengeance
of Heaven upon his head; and at such mo-
ments the tyrant and the reputed sorcerer
stood awed and stricken in her presence
For there is something in the majesty of
virtue and the holiness Of innocence, as they
fash from the eyes of an injured woman,
which deprives guilt Of its strength, and
defeats its purpose, as though Heaven lent
its electricity to defend the weak.
But, wearied with importantly, and find
ing his threats of no effect, on the third
night that she had been within his castle he
clutched her in his arms, and, while his vas
sails slept, bore her to the haunted dungeon,
that the spirit might throw its spell over
hor and compel her to Iowa him. lie nm
locked the missy door, The faint hOwls Of
the dog were still heard from corner of
the vault. He placed the lamp upon the
ground. He still held the gentle Marion
to his side, and her terror had almost mas
tered her struggles. lie struck his clenched
hand upon the huge chest, and cried aloud,
esprit, come torthw
Thrice he repeated the blow-thrice he
uttered aloud his invocation. But the spirit
arose not at his summons. Marion knew
the tale Of his sorcery-she knew and be-
lieved it--and terror deprived her Of con-
sciousness. On recovering, she found her.
self again in the strong chamber where she
had been confined, but SOULS was not with
her. She strove to caka her fears; she knelt
down and told her beads, and begged that her
Walter might be sent to her deliyerance.
1t was scarce daybreak when the young
heir Of Branxholm, whose bow no man could |
bend, and whose sword was terrible in battle, |
with twice ten armed men, arrived before |
Hermitage Castle, and demanded to speak |
with Lord Souls The warder blew his |
horn, and SOULS and his attendants came |
forth and looked over the battlement.
"What want ye, boy" inquired the wizard |
chief, "that, ere the sun be risen, ye come |
TO seek the lion in his denl"
~ come, replied young Walter, boldly, |
Gin the hamc Of our good king, and by his |
authority, to demand That ye give into my
hands, safe and sound, my bctrothed bride,
lest vengeance come upon thee"
"Vengeance! beardhngP rejoined the
sorcerer; "who dares speak Of vengeance on
the house Of Soulisg or whom call yc king?
The crown is mine--thy bride is nine, and
thou also shalt bc mine, and dogs death
shalt thou die for thy mornings boasting
To arms~ he exclaimed, as he disappeared
from the battlement, and within n few min
utes hundred men rushed from the gate.
Sir Walters little band quailed as they
beheld the superior force Of their enemies,
and they were in dread also Of the sorcery
Of Souls. But hope revived within them
when they beheld the look Of confidence ON
the countenance Of their young leader, and
thought Of the strength Of his arm and the
terror which his sword spread.
As hungry tigers spring upon their prey,
so rushed SOULS and his vassals upon Sir
Walter and his followers. No man could
stand before the sword of the sorcerer. An
tagonists fell as impotent things before his
giant strength. Even Walter marveled at
the havoc be made, and he pressed forward
to measure swords with him. But, ere he
could reach him, his few followers who had
escaped the hand Of SOULS and his host fed
and left him to maintain the battle single
handed, Every vassal Of the sorcerer, save
three, pursued them; and against these
three and their charmed lord young Walter
was left to maintainthe unequal strife. But,
as they pressed around him,
@Backp cried Souls, trusting to his
strength and to hischarm; ''frOm my hand
alone must Branxholm's young boaster meet
his doom. II ismeet that / should give his
head as toy to my bride; fair Marion"
"Thy bride, fcnd. exclaimed Sir Wal
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