Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-14
THE EVENING STAR.
THE PRIESTS STRATAGEM.

Il
IL mustbe understood, ha- ali this dia! ovure
was carried On IN low, subdued voice, not
much above 4 whisper, though excited and
animated IN me extreme; and II was is much
Win me oeslgn Of assuming a more easy posi-
t7n-ior ne had been bending over the bed all
The Nblle-as Il was 20 enable him 10 hear
bitter, thai he preIate softly drew a chair 10
her sioe and seated D. nseIf while saving
daughter, there Is evidently some mystery
here, and would fathom II. Now in the first
place who Is this kinsmaH you speak Of! he
Yes, It's he-'
Well, / am no sccompiice of his
"Ob. do you speak n lyn' and she bent pom
him glance OF such deep sUPpiica:lOn, that
his heart was touched.
Daughter, believe me. Ny words are the
words of TRUTH
ne Sec, am young, too young TO die
Willingly, II lis IN my power; but, You for
get, am perfectly ignorant OF your situation
Now, II yon would De more plain, more ex-
Il wIlI-you shall know alI-Iook-, I'm 70
this time AZ should be remembered, she had re.
eounterpane; but now as she spoke, she yio-
lsEiy threw the cover from her but half rob,d
person. and bare arms, one of which she held
Up 10 mas startled gaze, pointing the while,
With the trembling hand of the other, to a
bloody dyed baRdage that encircled IL lust
above the elbow.
"Leok. Do you see that. fa;herl From that
wound my precious life is TO pour out-by that
means am TO die
Are you frantic woman. What do you
meanr'
all You shall doubtlessly Judge by all this
sylsndor you see in these apartments, that /
am one of The so-called royalIsts, or nobility of
France, recalled oy an ediet OF the present
Emperor Napoleon-and rightly, too, for I
am-further, you are aware, that there has
lately been several attempts made by our party
70 asSassinate the Emperor, or a. least, such
- the report, Also, that il is suspected, thar
even al this moment there are several secret
e0cIetes of coDspirators, now plotting for the
same object Well. II is because CHANGED 20
discover The dastardly purposes of one OF these
dsspicable cliques, and betrayed that knowl.
edge 70 the proper source, that am now
doomed 10 suffer this DEATH
sOh, IMPOSSIBLE
May, say not father, for such is the truth,,
But, how then il IL possible that You have
been prevailed upon 10 betray your people
and your own interest so much!" and the old
man looked incredulous.
Truly, 1t does seem improbable, and 1 must
tell all
Certainty and he looked as he was, graft.
NED at the prospect OF having his suspicious
proved false.
"Yes, will even tell You that continued
she, while faint blush TOR an instant sufrused
her fair cheek. Ills thus: though born, as i
have said, 8 royalist- l am one no longer az
heart; for 1 loved, and he who Taught me 10
love taught me also 10 love liberty better than
all the vain pomp and display Of despotfsm.
for he IS one of the people-an humble sous
lieutenant, IN The army Of Napoleon. Twas
my love for him that prompted me 10 diyulge
aseeret which involves even kinsman, who
urged on by revenge, and fear, also, a hone
10 thus claim all possess on earth.in companv
with his associates, sat in Judgment on nv
declared crime, and doomed me to be bIed 70
DEATH
Most horrible, But have you NO parents.
brothers, or family TO interpOse, ana save
your
"None-nene. All fell victims 10 the wrath
Of the republican-all are gomez
"But, how IS II that am called in to confess
you, truly, there seems 10 be some regard for
Your feelings and welfaren' ana again a shadow
fitted over the grave countenance Of the eau.
tons and far seeing priest.
''Oh, do You still doubt me! Listen. il WAS
mus They had commenced their hsllish deed,
attended by fendish physician, who even
bled me till L tainted, when the flow was
stopped, and revived; but, during thar faint.
ing spell, the spirit OF my mother appeared to
me, and charged me to be composed. tor in
that lay my salvation. i did not understand
II then, but do now, for 1 then thought She
meant my spiritual salvation, whereas II now
proves. she meant my life. However upon
recovering, requested tina. a sonfessor might
be sent for. They all al once abruptly obiactsd
Ill AT length melted their hard hearts, though
apparently republican, and after much de-
bate concluded TO send for you. Ny brother
then departed, and you came"
Most wonderful
You are here. father, by the direct inferno.
siuon OF providence 20 save me-will Won do
III Wv
Il wilir' exclaimed our friend, with marked
emphasis, Tor lie Row felt that he was really
an instrument in the hands OF God ..If yoI,
can but succeed in delaying their helllsh work
one half hour, you shall be saved. But did
they not make you wear not 10 reveal aught
&c mel"
They did; but on this question OF life,
deemed such perjury no sin.
1t Is not, and ! absolve you. And now
tell me where you are-that is, in what street
Is this residence. Tor -
That cannot, father, for 100, like Won.
was brought here blindfoded, and by force
"Ah! that Is serious obstacle. know not
streetF' 0
NO, they are blocked in on all sides, though
open 20 the lIgnt of heaven"
"Ah' what am to dor and the old nan
length he exclaimed
Il have it'll have 1t, Quick, give me a nice.
Ui me blood stained oandage about your arm
out penknife from beneath his robes and cut
OF piece, saying. in his hurried tones, "NoW
DO You manage, while am gone, to defer their
operations TOR half an hour-iust one half
hour-anC you are sayedr'
As ne ceased he replaced his knife put the
eandage over his eyes, but fixed il so he could
see lltte IN advance OF his path; then crush
ing The bloody bandage close with has hand,
which was then thrust under his cloak, ne took
ms position by the table. and saying,
s iake courage; daughter, you shall be
opened, and in stalked the masked stranger.
Are you done. father said he
nave, my SON. sne mas confessed"
wei and good. There is the pay for your
trouble"
Saying which he placed a purse weighing
heavy OF gold into the priest hand and then
Jed nm down several flights of stairs through
nails. round turniugs, I'LL Suddenly the priest
beheld the light OF the hall entrance gIancing
through on the floor N his feet. Seeing this he
slightly elevated his head that he might see the
door IN advance AZ a glance he saw that it
was large; massive, with small fiuted columns
each side between IL and the wall
ms was Just as he expected, and lust a. he
wanted IL as Will be seen: for as he reached
The door, which was opened, a. before, by a
servant IN livery, who stood to one side and
behind, as wa the custom, 70 let them pass he
suddenly pretended 10 slip and fell for wa re-
and oy this means forced his conductor ahead
OF nm. n he same time catching for the door
case as II 20 stop his fall.succeeded in SHINING
ne blOOd-stalned bandage between IL and the
slde-pillar without being observed. Excusing
MS II" zwareness, he grasped his Conductors
arm again, and passed out 10 the cab. INTO
which both then seated themselves and once
more tney were driven rapidly along
AT what place would you prefer L , be So,
down = inc uired the stranger
.'At the barricade s.. Antoine,
Ill shall be so. By-the-by, most holy IA
tier, was ;he :aIr lady meek and penitenTp,'
seek not 10 know the secrets Of the church.
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