The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-25
happy in love, and despised, what peace Is
there for thee at Zurich ?"
crew white to the lips as be spoke.

"Do not tempt me, said with tears.
But as l spoke the sound OF music came
waited to US by the breeze, and saw AMBROSE
and Beatrice seated il a little boat, noatln9
down the lake. he toycd with her long halr,
and she leaned upon him as he sat and ever
aud anon he touched the flute he held, piping
forth sweet slow music, with ripping laughter
aud gentle kisses FOR his lnterlude.
l bid behind The trees but her laughing
face and his glowing lips passed so close, that
nay eyes looked into theirs, ana saw tne love
in them, and my heart grew bitter as gan.
cred Ia nv ear: H..
'.Zillah, T. and only, can give thee tho
secret desire of thine heart. promise tnee
that wonder careless woman shall never be the
wife of Ambrose, and his love shall return TO
thee, only eonsont to come into England anu
be my WITCH"
and in an evil moment I consented hastily;
And the knight, STOPPING, took my nanu anu
kissed it, ,,
Il will never leave thee or forsake thee, Zll,
lab" he said in his rich mournlul voice.. "and
7 will crown thee with wealth and honor
''What are these to me" answered, 'Wnen
there is no one in the wide world VINO loves
me?"
..Power is love-" returned the knight. "We
will gain power, and the world will come to our
feet"
I did not heed him. I was thinking OF
Beatrico's careless grace; I was thinking OF
the passionate heart Of Ambrose given TO ner
the heart that might be mine.
20, Sir knight, lot not thy promise fall me-
l said wistfully.
towards him, he pressed bus lips upon my
brow.
Ambrose bid ME farewell sadly.
ssrhine is the face l have known and IoVed
the longest, Zlah," he said. 81 shall miss
thee sorcly when thou art gone.'
s'What! with Beatrice Damer as consola-
ton?" asked bitterly.
answered, aud he turned away With weary
lock.
And so we parted; with wild hope in my
heart, and lie with fear in his.
1t was L weary journey by Sea and land De-
fore we 1ea he'd The castle Of my, klnsman.
But I epoak not Of tins, nor OF ths stately
riches Of his house; speak oalJ OF secret
chamber in the eastern tower, wherein rem were S
crucibes, and consers and s.rang2 hres, ana
things which dare not toll or. Hero too were
couches OF Persian silk and eabroldcred hanR-
iaas. and carpets Of tapestried work, so sou
that a football was never heard. There was no
window, but costly lamp, ever alight, hung
from the ceiling, and sweet perfumes nlIeo tae
air alYaTs
In this plgce did nv evil kinsran practlce
his entertainments; and though in all these
was his aid and helper, 1 speak truth wnep
say knew uaught of ther1. For when enter
cd the secret chamber at dead OF night, hy
acnscs sank into deep sleep, and remem-
bcred not what uttered or what saw.
The baron had said oourteousy 10 my
fnthor:
"Paipt as leisuroly as it liketh thee, and sit
at thine own table; but as for thy dauGnter,
her mother was of nv blood, and shall treat
her as q kinswoman." ,5.
t'My wifo could not be of your kin, my lord;
she was but 4 servant returned my latnef, anu
his face palcd rangcly. a .,,o
s;I care not what sho was, answered. tHc
baron. Say no more"
SO he told his household was klnswoman.
and he gave me jewels and silks, and all things
BETTING lady; but felt these were given
me fer nv witcneraft, and l had my pltter-
So by day was the lady Zillah. honored as
an innocent maiden; but at night k lew was
witch. lii tho blessed sunlight, wneh rseu ;as
from that strange sleep, used no wltcheries.
Only, knowing had the power, haVo some.
times charmed away the pains of the SICK, not
thinking did an ovll:-.-.---,.c5r- owl: :,----p.,,
through me- and in u year he was belted earl; I.
Then spoke to him OF his premise, ahe asheo
to go back to my own land.
"rhe painter Ambrose shall come to Eng
land" he answered. ~ have kept Ey word
with thee. The king, at my request, has grant,
ed to Beatrice Damer her fathers lands, ana
te mas slvon to me the wardship OF her ana
them: and sho snail not marry the painter"
was amazed at this news and sorroWful,
fearing Ambrose would be gricyed.
Have patience, Zillah," said my klnsman.
ssI have told thee thou shalt have tho desire OF
thine heart"
So waited in gloomy patience. And soon
after this the earl went up to court, returning
after a while with great retlnue OF lords ana
ladies', and among those his young son, wan,
sickly boy, with gentle beauty on his 1ace.
Have sail my kinsman was wldoWer!
'It would not suit thee, Zillah, to mingle
with this gay company" he said, $50 keep thy
chamber till they be gone."
Thus I found myself prisoner; yet T1en tne
CAV company went out with hawk anu hound,
stole down into the garden and walked alone.
or crapt on through the trees to the huts OF
the poor, and hoaled them OF their sickness
with herbs and spells; and l sang dlttles TO
them, or told them wild stories that grew upon
nv brain through loneliness. These were my
| ony companions; for my father painted every
day; ceiling and hall, cbape! and wall, nc
he covered with the work OF MS pellcn, sn1 a. =
Was ever alone, feeling the Whispers VI lhe
household creeping about me eyly.
One day in the dresry pleasaunco sat IN u
little bower where roses lay dying, and sang
to myself. Hawk and hound had departed,
and 1 thought all the noble company was away
| with them, so sang from my heart Wlid
Swiss Inv. with echoes in tho music coming
! down from the mountains and dying sottiy on
the lonely lakes. Sadly, sweetly the Old SWISS
words and wild music dropped from my Ups,
| bringing rushing memories and 1ast.laiill1
tears; and, choked By these, stopped sh9lnS.
'.Ah. do not stop, sweet lady !" SAID poyisA
voice; and straightway there stepped from tne
;aurcis u pale child clad in velvet. Guessing
nm to be the yount Count L rose ana sal9sss&
him. y
.Arc yor. prisoner, lady?" said the boy. y
have watched you these many days nom my
window, walking in the pleasaunce like cap
tive, but I never see your face at our ooaru'
and though hear your voice sometimes sing
ing, hear it ofteaer weeping.
Now feared TO tell him was distant ki1s- n
woman, so I said humbly, SCR, I'm from Zu'
rich. 7 am the daueh.Sf OF the painter here.
If am sad it is with pning for ny own land.
Memories OF tho mountains and lakes come to
nv eyes in tears"
Poor lady!' said the child, putting his hand
on mine; '.your voice is like my mothers. VIII
YOU sing to me again Z"
Isang to him softly. while tho boy gazed into
NV face with laIgc, eager eyes, too earnest,t9c
sorrowful Tor childhood;
You will cone again." lao cried, cipsinS te
my hand asI rosa to leave him. But avoid
ed the plcasuancc Tor many days, till the child
be,no bent on seeing my face, found out my
chamber, and came and sat ut tho door pa
tlcnlly till the yearning OF my heart moved NJ
to speak TO him. Yet fearing sorrow woIl- &c
fall him for his love for ME, s,rove oI ea tt
make my speech rough 10 him; but be heeae'