The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-25

col,od in spirit to my husband. bade him
come through fire and peril, through sleep or
catching, through health or sickness; alive or
dead, bade HIM come.
Then upon my faintins hoart heard the
echo of his steps through corridor and vaulted
hall, through the masked door where tapestry
hing. and on to the sliding panel. AS his
hand touched this, my writhing spirit strove Ill
a last struggle to be treo; but the voice Of the
wizard-earl whispered, Say thou lowest me,
loatbing lips uttered the words he bade me.
,Harold. my love, my Lowell" And ciasping
his neck, my bowed head sank on his shoul-
| der. ,
As one in dream, Ambrose stood bewilder-
ed, his face like dead mans. Then l saw o
ieTelled hand-Beatrce's-se his arm and
draw him away. And the great torture felt
did not awake me, till the earl unbound the
spell. Then, in my misery and shame, as his
mockins eye laughed in my face, fell weeping
and moaning at his feet.
'Poor witch!" Go to thy husband now, and
see if he will accept thy company Get to thy
l fled from him, weeping as 1 went, and thus
in anguish I sought Ambrose, but ho was
gone. Then, like one maddened, rushed
| for; b into tho night, and overlook my husband
beyond tho drawbridee, walking slowly, with
his head bent low and lips quiverlng. L
caught him by the hand, md imp.ored him to
| hear me
II have seen thee, witch!" he answered.
And casting rue from him, he won't his way.
| I would lave followed him, but as l arose
from my despair, the earl seized me, and held
me in his strong clasp. / saw Ambrose pass
out of my sight.
And hcncetorth was alone and silent; for 1
would not rack my fathers heart with my
doleful story.
The Lady Beatrice was cruel to the child, and
I saw his gentle face grow wan, and his step
get SLOW and languid. At last ho lay SICK
nearly unto death, and he would take nothing
save from my hand. SO they let ME como to
him, and I tended him gently, hiding my
CHASTITY woe as L could from his sight.
''Thou art fading like flower, Zlllah," he
'When | am man, will be thy champion,
and if sMy have wronged thee, thou shalt have
redress"
Alas shere was no redress or mercy for me
| on earth.
/ Ilove6 The boy, aud often put my face upon
his pillow, and tho touch Of his soft cheek
comforted me for my woes.
"I shall not be with thee long, little one" l
said. ''Tho Lady Beatrice weds thy father in
q week, and I fear she will drive poor Zlllah
! from thy bedside"
''Then I shall have cruel step.damc and
thou hard MISTRESS" he answered. And
turning his wan face on the pillow, saw tears
course down it softly. l wiped them away,
kissing him, and We sat hand Il, hand silent,
till tho twilight gr.w iAto darkness.
. They we're married at court before tho king.
| with tournaments, and paseantry aad feaStlnS;
and wbile they revelled there fell upon me- and
tho child short Peace-a little lull IN my great
sorrow.
In this tranquility my father died. o, thank
Heaven he died. And kseoling down beside
his cold face in the night Vowed would quit
| all unlawful arts, and flee from this wicked
prison for ever. When morning dawned went
softly to the chamber OF the sek child, and found
him sleeping. His face was sckllcr, sadder
than I had ever seen it, and his cheeks wcre
wet as though he had slept weeping. dared
not lsok twice on him, lest l should stay for
| his sake and lose my soul. So l put little
flower in his thin hand as farewell :. and stole
away, not waking him.
Thus I fled froM my unholy thraldem.
And HOW 1 cannot recount what happen.
ed to me, for my memory is full only of
dim shapes. I know I wandered hlther and
thither-not always In my right miId-till my
| beauty was gone through weather and want,
| and the lameuess that rest and luxury nad o.
most healed grew upon me painfully. L can
not say how long wandered. 1 see, as IN
picture, the summer sun, and the winter snow
descending on the head Of weird woman who
begs for charity, while children run from her
and men chase her as witch.
| Twas crooked MS I have said, and lame, anu
poor; and my long hair, which in summer
time I washed in clear streams and decked
with flowers, fell down to my feet. So you see
I was like witch.
Iremember this suplmer-this last summer
of my lifc-with undimmed memory. re-
I member the bright sun shining on mo as
came timidly into the harvest-seld, and hum
bly, prayed TIE reaPers to letmo glcan. l re:
fi5 y far5; sG int tShtfpG po sss Fiat
me.
"Brng her to nv lord |" they cried.
AS they dragged me on, bridge and moat
buttress and tower, grew familiar to me; ana
as We crossed tho hall looked up on the paint
inss my fathers hand had wrought, and saw
myself face to face With that great wizard, and
| his-wife the Lady Beatrice.
Her eyes cleaned with joy and hate as she
saw me.
"Ah, Zil.sh. the witch |" she criea; shave
thy wltchctafts brought thee to thlsf" -.
| Iclasped my hands and looked lnte her pitt
less lace, but my lips Tczid not speak for
quiyering.
"Lodge her in Tho dungeon" she said, and
turned away.
But was past grief and fear; and careless
as stone drops into well, so did fall upon
the straw OF that damp dungeon, and forget in
sleep my misery aud my madness.
A bright light awoke me and strong hand
lifted me to my feet.
'tZillah, it is l." said tho earl's voice. "There
is power still shiniog i'll those wild ewes OF
thine. Promise to obey me, and will FREQ
thee from these chains, and hide thee from
thy lady's eye, and all that gold Gun give snail
be thine"
81 will not listen" I said calmly; and Iscov-
cred my ears with my shackled hands. Then
he took them in his strong grasp.
"Zlllah, have discovered strange secrets III
earth and air, and with thy help can do yet
greater things. These mysteries are no sorce-
RES, they are truths; and through these can
show men how to travel swift as birds. Gun
build ships of iron" :"
But tore my hands from his grasp, and ran
shrieking round my dungeon, drowning his
prayers and promises with my cries. Wearlod
at last with my madness ho flung me from his
hand in fury.
"Die, witch, then, if you will" he said. And
he took up his lamp to depart. But at the gate
he turned, and as the light shone upon his
face saw IL full Of bitterness. "Zlllah, poor
fool and witch" he said, "there is something
in my soul that is sorry .vr thee. Awake, thou
art only poor weak woman; but in sleep thou
hast told mo some of the wsest secrets that
exist Oh earth; SEQ here girl" And he took
FROM his vest a crystal globe, dark-looking and
filled with lead-like powder. Through thee
T have made this bail for my enemies. Nay,
do not touch 1t, there are hundred deaths in 1t.
Eut the bail alone is us less. need some