The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-02-13


Zarmondi spent AZ the house of his in
tended bride, aud perhaps more gloomy
trio were never assembled on any occa-
sion. Blanca, conscious that the basil
iSk eyes Of her parent followed every look
and motion Of hers, was silent and en-
barrassed Nicnzi's assumed gaycty soon
wore itself away. anl his laugh became
hollow ard m!rthless while the stony
glance of the miser marked, with keen
aud silent vigilance, all that took place
around him. Just before his departure
he produced, from an envelop Of the soft
est cotton, coronet Of fine gold, in the
centre of which was set large and
splendid opal, which burne and glittered
as if it really possessed the fabled p.wer
and influence ascribed to that precious
stone 1t was his bridal gift, and the
trembling Blanca shrunk involuntarily
back as he extended it toward her and
as her father impatiently sDatched Ii and
placed it on her head she sci canned with
sudden and underlined fear; and fiinging
it on tue ground, she sank at the feet oi
Zarmondi, and held up her clasped hands
implorinsly toward him.
Take it ~ she said. Cob, take away
all your splendid gifts and restore to me
my freedom -
ssYou are free. y said the miser, rails
ing her from the ground and supporting
her to seat s.Vienzi, receive back thy
child, but take heei of thy own life, for
it is in my hands and forfeited to my
justice"
He turned to depart, but Blanca sprane
after him, and, clinging to the skirt OF
his robe, implored him to hear her.
as there no way" she franticaly in
| quired no way to save my father but
| by this dreadful self-immolation p
"None," replied the miscr, calmly.
| Blanca gazed with frenzied eagerness
alternately at his iron countenanee and
! the passionate, demoniacal look of vienna
who stood behind her, pale with rage ano
fear. There was, no hope in either, and
she avertcd her head and wept in al
agony that mocked control.
s'This is trifing," said the miser, afte
a long silence broken only by the sobs O
his victim. s'Senor, have bought ane
paid for thy daughter with pure gold
and if my bride is not forthcoming I viii
have deep and deadly vengeance
blood alone shall cancel that bond.'
Vienzi shuddered, and the pale an6
statuelike girl, who knelt at his feet ,hao
yet power to save him, and he resolvet
that she should. He bent over her ane
whispered in her ear, but the words b.
pronounced were inaudible to all else
they were like the Kissing of a snake
Whatever might have been their impor
they seemed to have the desired effect
Blanca arose like one under the infuenc
of a charm, and dragged her feeble limb
toward the spot where Zarmondi sat il
naughty and unmoved silence The crisi
of her fate was come.
But at that moment the silken curtain
which divided the apartment from tn
anteroom beyond it, were flung suddenl
back, and the countenance of Gabrielle
bright in youthful beauty, smiled in upo
them. She came forward with a proud
firm step, her slight form set off to tn
utmost advantage by the rich dress /
which she had attired herself, and he
dark, shining curls waving around he
like cloud.
"Senor Zarmondi," she said, passin
before him, "suffer me to be your brid
instead of my sister,
Her low musical voice and exceedin
loveliness softened the heart of even tha
obdurate old man.
4 "What! silent, Senior v' said th
maiden, little haughtily sssurely m
proposal requires no deliberation Yo
!. will have to wait another twelvemont
before shall be old enough to MARI
you. But, meanwhile, I shall hay
learned to love you, which Blanca neve
will. Besides, am I not much handson
er than my sister ?''
The miser glanced from the CLOWN
. countenance of the speaker to the colo
less, rigid face Of Blanca, aud his resol,
. ton was taken.
"Be it SO" he replied, eff the Sen,
I Vienzi has no objection. I will wait f;