The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-08-12

/
who had refused to recant and stiiie
their conscience by again returning to
the bosom of the Holy Catholic Church.
In accordance with this sentence Le-
onora was now on herway tc the plaza,
where every preparation had peeh
made for its execution.
From the moment that the cortegc
had started from the prison young
man of noble mien, dressed IN q garD
that bespoke his high rank, had been
struggling to force his way through the
dense mass to the side of the captives.
Though no Difference was shown on
this occasion to persons of quality, yet
the prepossessing appearance OF the
young grandee, and the unmistakabie
anguish expressed in his face, operated
in his favor, and the clamorous crowd
allowed him to draw near the victims.
This parsonage, seemingly 50 intent on
beholding the dreadful sentence car
ried into execution, was the young
Maruuis of Elvas. A short time before
Leonora had placed herself under the
spiritual guidance of the English Gu
rate he had made her an offer OF his
hand and heart. The two families had
been on terms of intimacy for years,
and the prospect of q matrimonial con-
nection was highly satisfactory to all
parties. The lovers were passionately
attached to each other, and were look
ing forward to happy consummation
of their betrothal when the terrible cir
cumstances we have detailed broke in
upon their dream of bliss.
The powerful families of the Marquis
and he Castro had both eXerted all
their influence to have the punishment
of Leonora mitigated, but the stern &C.
clesiastics had refused the slightest re
lief A petition for q respite had met
with the same fate. The young no.
bleman in his distraction and despair
had cursed the pitiless rigOr of the dread
tribunal, and even dared to ques ton
its authority. By this course he had
drawn upon himself the secret but GER
tain vengeance of the Church. Though
aware of the close espionage to which
all his words and acts were subjected,
he resolved 20 see and, If possible, offer
some words of comfort to LeonOra be-
fore she reached the plaza. He would
Mt least assure her of his sympathy and
unchanged affection, and then, rushing
from the fatal scene OF her suffering,
which for worlds he would not witness,
would forever turn his back on the
priest-ridden land of his fathers.
Before he could reach her side, how
ever, the procession had reached the
goal that was, as he thought, to end
forever his dreams of happincse. The
captives had been drawn up in line
facing the bishop, who, OH this solemn
occasion, ofliciated as the representative
of the Church. According to the usu-
al custom, each of the condemned was
urged to recant, while the direst pains
of hell were denounced against such as
should persist to the end i'm their abom-
/ Unable heresy. The evident distress of
Leonora had induced the priest to be-
lieye that she, ut least, would not prove
to be finally Obdurate. He even held
out to ner hopes of respite, and perhaps
of ultimate pardon. He alluded to her
tender youth, her beauty and accom-
plishments, and limited at the joys that
| life might yet have in store for her.
! He smoke of the distress of her heart
| broken relatives occasioned by her
apostasy, and the joy with which she
would fiji their hearts 10y recantation,
| even at the eleventh hour. And now,
| Leopora De Castro" continued the
bishOp, twill you retrace your errlng
steps? Will you discard the heretical
| opinions implanted in your youthful
imiid by that son of Belial? Our holy
| Church, ever lenient to the faults OF her
errinr children, ever disposed to deal
mercifully with such as confess their
sins and repent, would receive you
again to her bosom. VIII you come ?''
| He paused, while every sound was
hushed to hear her response. Her agi-
| tation was now gone, and i'll calm,
| clear voice, that was audible to many
an ear in that anxious thrOng, she re-
| piled: "I can not acknowledge the
authority of the Church you represet.
| I believe the faith / now profess to be
the true one. There is but One who
can forgive sin, and i'm his mercy do l
trust. i'll amicalled to die for His dear
sake, I will try to bear my sufierings
| cheerfuIly, knowing that our light af-
Fiction, which is but for a moment,
/ worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory"
The astonished churchman, enraSed
at the unexpected reply of the fair cap
tive, and fearing its effect on the popu-
lace, ground his teeth in fury, and or,
dered the fires to he lighted at once, and
the prisoners to he bound to the stakes,
adding, in stern tone, to the brave
young girl, "Obdurate wretch! this
day shalt thy soul writhe in the 1lrey
torments of the damned; thou shall
soon enjoy fOretaste of thy DOOM,
Leonora, whose nerves had been great
Iy weakened by the long trial to which
they had been subjected, shocked at the
barbarity of the prelate's rude address
staggered, and would have fallen t1
the ground, but the young Marquis
now rushed forward and caught her IL
his arms. "Inhuman monster" ht
exclaimed, addressing the bishop, .sht
is filter for heaven than such rs thou
II there is an angel in the presence o
God, she will soon be one"
"Ha, my lord Marquis" cried th'
prelate, "these are bold words, but they
have sealed your doom!
"Arrest the Marquis of Elvas," IN
said to the provost; and that Office
was Just stepping forward to obey TIN
f order, when o low, rumbling soun'
was heard, followed by sudden shak
, ing of the earth that cast every on
prostrate OH its face. An immens
wave. towering inits might, came roll
ing on from the Tagus, and quenche'
the impious fires that had been kin
died to consume those who trusted II
| Him "who heareth the young raven
, when they cry" In few seconds th
, shock was repeated, and cries of terro
: and dismay came rolling up from tn
!, doomed city; mingled with the appalin
' crash of falling buildings.
I, All was CONSERVATION and universe
i panic. The mad multitude so latel
r clamerous for the inhuman sacrifice
: and who had come out from the quie
4 city to gloat over the suferings of thel
4 fellOw-creatures. now terrOr-stricken 8
the rebuke of their great Creator, fie
4 aghast, pale with apprehension for tn
q fate of dear ones who were perhaI
: 1 crushed beneath the falling domes an
n towers, The condemned heretics ha
: been saved by a miracls, and perhal
q the awful visitation had fallen wit
crushing weight on the heads of thos
n who had been most eager for tne
d blood. The prisoners indeed, were 10
= gotten in the dreadful crisis. Whc
v The crowd had dispersed the Marqu
IF of Elvas caught up Leonora in n
d strong arms, and bore her, by clrcul
d Gus route, to the city, and, threadli
Is his way through the wild debris OF Il
Of city, reached in safety, with his prec
er Gus burden, her fathers house, whie
l. had i'm a great measure escaped Il
o, general wreck.
s. Words can not express the Joy VII
,e which the whole household welcome
IN hack their DARLING reSclled SOuneXDeC