Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-21

ed, one morning, for the mountain shrine
never thinking that there might be
spies around her, and telling every one
where she was going, and why.
Unconscious of this, pretty Carlotta
hastened on her way There had been
much rain and the mountain road was
slippery In MANY places, and the roots of
trees and bushes protruding bare and
brown upon the slopes above her. Now
and then dislOdged stones, or even fallen
trees, lay in her way, but she was nimble
and strong and gained the shrine of Our
Lady of Pity at last. There she made
her offering and knelt down and prayed
that she might be kept safe in her hum
BILE home until Beppo came back across
the sea to claim her, and that the Counts
power to harm her might not equal his
will
And while she prayed the evil eyes of
the rich man were npon her, as he hid
beblnd the foliage which grew thick
about the great stone statue of the Ma
donna. There she stood holding the car
ven infant Jesus in her arms, seeming to
smile upon the maiden as the sun made
her stone face white as snow against the
glossy green Of leaf and brown OF rock
and earth behind her Carlotta felt as
though she were answered. 'Maiden,
hear Il maiden's prayer" might have fall
en- from her lips had she but ever read
Scott, and been in the habit of making
poetical quotations.
And she also smiled in thankfulness,
just as triumphat laugh fell upon her
ear, and from behind the bushes sprang
the count and his servant.
Carlotta started to her feet and stood
petriied with terror, and the nobleman
laughed loud and long.
Don't scream, my beauty" he said.-
sit would be useless You see we are
two men; you but woman. My car
riage is down the path yonder, ready to
drive you to a certain cage mean to
keep my new bird in 1t is o very pret-
ty one, and you shall be treated well, if
you are not to illnatured. But have you
there | will. AM not in the habit of be-
ing outwitted, and what like generally
becomes mine by fair means or foul
You have your choice to come quietly or
be taken where you must go by force"
"Quietly !" screamed Carlotta. ''No-
you may kill me, but will never go with
you! Rather will cast myself down
the mountain ~
"Only we shall not Permit you to do
So" said the Count. "Come, my beauty;
if you knew how I adored You, you
would forgive me little trick to gain
you. a fig for Beppo!'' forget him, and
be happy with mel"
tHappy with your % cried Carlotte.-
Oh, Madonna, have mercy-save me
from him !''
''The Madonna knows what is good for
you; you see," said the Count. "Come,
Ito his servant) take her other arm, we
may find ourselves interrupted by travel
ers else. We must take her to the car
riage"
The servant advanced-So did the Count.
Carlotta, in an agony of terror, ching to
the carven robes of the Madonna"
Save me r' she cried. ''Oh, save me,
Our lady of Pity r'
The Connt laughed and drew nearer.
Carlotta strove to interpose the statue
between herself and his outstretched hand
1t was very close to the bank, wet yet
with the recent rain, and shook little,
as she felt, under her clapping hands.
Madonna, save me from him: she
screamed again.
And the Count cried
Delay no longer, fellow. Drag her
down and gag her if she does not stop
screaming This is useless folly, girl"
Both were close to her The hands of
all three touched the stone Madonna. In
her excitement and terror CaFlotta essay
ed to push the Count from her instead,
her palms in some way smote the Madon
na. What happened then Carlotta hard
ly knew,-a crash, an oath. cry-a
sudden breaking, dashing, rumbling-a
horrible yell-then silence.
She stood alone upon the torn and bro
ken earth, clinging to the bough Of
young sapling Alone The Count was
gone, his servant, and the stone statue OF
the Madonna, which, loosened by the
rains, had been displaced in the struggle.
1t had fallen on the two men, and all
three had rolled together down the noun
tain.
The Lady ofPity had saved her suppli-
ant in very truth-saved her for the hap
piness and humble honor which awaited
her as the wife of her loving BeppO.
The servant was dead and when they
picked the Count up from amongst the
fragments of the Madonna, a sort of
crushed fragment Of man himself, they
thought the servent's the better fate.
But Providence willed that he should
live to repent-lying helpless, his pride,
and power, and beauty, and grace, and
gallantry, all over forever; SO that, years
after, at his dying hour, he sent for Car
lotta and begged her forgiveness.
81 meant you harn," he said, "but l
have suffered for it. The Madonna sa-
we'd you. Pray to her for my soul"
And in his will he left the sailor and
his wife sum which was q wealth to
them, and died repentant.
SMART REToRT.-DurIng a speech made
in Salem, Mass, General Butler was fire.
quently interrupted by persons present
while speaking of negro soldiers and