The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-25
And going to the grated window of nv dun
geon, he flung the huge key he held into the


And going to the grated window of nv dun
geon, he flung the huge key he held into the
moat
''Tho postern door at tho top of these mar
row stairs is unlocked; escape, Zlllah, for thy
| life. Alas and all those great things that [
had hoped to do Will die now for ages. Hasten,
girl, lest attempt again to seize Thea"
Ho undid the chains upon my hands, and as
stones, he left me. I listened to his ascend
ing steps, but at the top OF the narrow stairs
he missed his footing and fell Then noise
| hko thunder shook the castle from the top
| most turret to the dungeon floor, flash OF
fire blinded me, and l fell senseless. When I
awoke, saw moonlight through rift in the
wall, and passing over fallen stones and dust,
| reached the cuins Of the stairs, aud beheld
| the earl lying dead. STOPPING over him un-
did his vest, and found the ball of crystal
which he had made by sorcery was gone.
Doubtless this had killed him; and his face
was blackcned as by fire. Moreover, an unho-
" smell OF sulphur, and hideous smoke,
| filled the ruin.
sat by the dead man amazed, not seeking
| to escape; and here the frightened warders
| found me.
'The witch the witch!" thoy cried; ''she
hath slain my lord tho earl. He leth hero
dead-slain by sorcery; and the wall is rent
and the castle shaken by her witchcrafts.'
And so, amid weeping, and cries OF terror,
and blows, [ was carried to another dungeon.
VII.
will not tell OF the long, long months in
prison; I will not tell Of the torture and the
Chain. These Dloodshot eyes have wcpt tears
Of blood, aud these parched lips have shricked
IL vain for mercy. confessed willingly TO all
my sorceries, but these did not content them;
so under torture shrieked thousand false
hoods. I told of things that could not be;
lied again and AGAIN against my soul:
o. satisfied their greedy ears with lies, for
which sin l weep now; and therefore write
this confession, wherein alone l speak the
truth.
When my trial came, tho warders swore it
was who had killed tho CARL who had
shaken the founda ions ofthe castle, and opened
the door Of my prison by entertainments.
The Countess beatrice Witnessed against me
with calm cruelty; and, though appealed to
her for my llfe's sake to say If Eer husband
practiccd not strange arts, she answered
"Never, witch, unless betwitched by thee."
| Aud the Judge said that, save by sorcery, no
| such ball Is had spoken OF could be made;
therefore was condemned by my own lips.
Then they brought witness into court, the
sight OF whom wrung my heart. Men carried
Inn on 4 pallet bed, and as [ saw his pale face
| lying Oh tue pillow, L wept.
Thou too, Gilbert?" l cned.
But the child turned his eyes from me, and
| would not look my way.
Then he Was raised in mems arms, for With
out their aid be could net sit, and ina sad low
| voice lie told the Judge my wtcherleS had
made hun love me, and tho Dltterest drauSht
from my hand had seemed sweet to him. And
many other things he said, having lis heart
turned against me by my enemy, his stepmoth-
er. But while he spoke, he kept hlS small White
face away from my lace, nor looked upon mo
onco till the men bore linn away; th0n Ills
| uuSnCu
with sudden PAIN.
20, Zlah is it thou, so changed? Would to
| God they had not mado me speak against thec
Pardon me, Zlah pardon men'
Il forgive thee, my poor child!" lanswcred.
| "Do hot SrIevo when 1 die"
| ''Woman," cried the judge, 'all tho court
can sec u what cruel strait and weakness
tuy sorcery hath brought the young Lord
Gilbert. Take the noble boy from her presence"
SO the men bore nim away, but ho was weep
ing as he went, and heard him say to the men
that he would pray TO die first, for he could not
bear to live and see Zllah die cruel death.
| Alasl for that tender heart. In forcing him
to cruelty they killed HIM. Yesterday the Jallor
sad TO me:
The young Lord Gilbert is dead. Will thy
sorceres never cease, witch! And the crowd
cry aloud Tor thy Dloo1 they gather Tagots IN
| the wood to-day"
But lpant my head upon my hands, and
thanked God the child was gone.
| Now hurry on To the end. AS they bore
tho young Gilbert away, and my dry eyes
watched him, l thought NY worst pang went
| with him; but it was not So. .he voice VI i
| new witness startled me, and turning, L SAW
| Ambrose, Ey husband.
II am n painter" hs said; camo hlther by
tho Countess command to finish the ceiling
OF the hall begun by the prisoners father.
Then heard she Was il prison. have known
her as witch al her lite long. There Is Witch
1ieu n1a4 il a A9E; FL this s Ptle II ksr ON 9aes aa
Yet even then felt her spell, and, to save
myself, gave my love to noble Indy; but III
the end, 10y wltchcry, sho besulcd my heart,
| and became her husband. Then found her
faithless, and Left her. escaped for my life,
| fearing her sorccrlcs and her lovers power.
| have uot seen her face since then till this day..
Ambrose" said, and rose to my feet, Il
was never faithless. Thu has been deceived
by u strange glamour, past my poor Wits to
explain. But l loved thee ever, and love
thee still. Now, Say on. Death Is not so cruel
as this thy trcachery."
| sank down upon 10y seat-thcy had given
me seat ior my wcakness-and looked sadly
on his white face working with strange tremors.
81 DEFY thee, witch!" he said. Il abhor thy
love and thee!"
| looked upon him, but uttered no word more.
Hope uad L had parted now, and had 10 more
to do with love or life; my heart was broken.
And when they bade mo stand TO hear the
judges sentence, smiled, and wondered who
the witch was that was condemned to die.
had forgot 1t was myself.
was thinking OF tho lakes and streams OF
| Zurich, and the mountains where had straycd
| child.
Tomorrow die, and before tho winds have
scattered The ashes Of this poor flesh, the Coun-
tess Beatrice and the painter Ambrose will sit at
their Wedding feast. And to the bridegroom
send tnls history and my pardon. Zillah tho
witch dies With prayers tor him, and ut peace
with all.