The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-16

| WIuOW. EohC Aeao yuot UuIlcu OuI UTOtl
er, who, God rest his soul! was SOM
what too much given to praying an
fasting, and kept his pretty wife alway
tied to his girdle. She is now like biz
from cage. Think you she will kee
her vow? Impossible! Take OF
words for tive know mankind, ant
above all, womankind. She cannC
hold out for such length. of time;
Is not in womanhOod-it is not in vic
owhood-we know it, and that
enough. Keep sharp lookout upo
the widow, therefore, and within th
twelvemonth you will catch her trip
ping-and then the dukedom is you
own.
The nephew was pleased with thi
counsel, and Immediately placed spie
round the duchess, and bribed severa
of her servants to keep watch upol
her, so that she could not take a singl
step, even from one apartment of he
place to another, without being observ
ed. Never was young and beautiful
widow exposed to SO terrible an ordeal
The dutchess was aware of the watcl
thus kept upon her. Though confiden
of her own rectitude, she knew that j
was not enough for woman to be vir
tuous-she must be above the reach o
slander. For the whole term of hel
probation, therefore, she proclaimed {
strict nOnintercOurse with the othel
sex. She had females for cabinet-min'
listers and chamberlains, through whom
she transacted all her public and pri'
vate concerns; and it is said, that new
er were the affairs of the dukedum sc
adroitly administered.
All maids were vigorously excluded
from the palace; she never went out o.
its precincts, and whenever she moved
about its courts and gardens, she sur
rounded herself with a body-guard OF
young maids of honor; commanded by
danes renowned for discretion. She
slept in a bed without curtains, placed
in the centre of the room illuminated
by innumerable wax tapers. -Four an
cient spinsters, virtuous as Virginia,
perfect dragons Of watchfulness, who
only slept during the daytime, kept
vigils throughout the night, seated in
the four corners of the room on stools
without lacks or arms, and with seats
cut in checkers of the hardest wood, to
keep them from doing.
Thus wisely and warily did the young
dutchess conduct herself for twelve long
months, and SANDER almost bit her
tongue off in dispair at finding no room
even for surmise. Never was ordeal
more burdensOme, or more enduringly
sustained.
The year passed away. The last odd
day arrived, and long, long day 1t
was. 1t was the twenty-tirst of June,
the longest day in the year. 1t seemed
as if it would never come to an end. A
thousand times did the duchess and her
ladies watch the sun from the windows
of the palace, as he slowly climbed the
vault of heaven, and seemed still more
slowly to roll down. They could not
help expressing their wonder, now
and then, why the duke should have
tagged this supernumerary day to the
end of the year, as if three hundred and
sixty-five days were not sufficient to
try and task the fidelity of any woman.
1t is the last grain that turns the scale
the last drop that overfiows the COB
Leland the last moment of delay that
exhausts the patience. By the time
the sun sank below the horizon the
dutchess was in a fidget that passed all
bounds, and though several hours Were
vet to pass before the day regularly
expired, she could not have remained
those hours in durance to gain a royal
crown, much less ducal cOrOnet. She
gave her orders, and her palfrey, mag
nificently caparisoned, was brought in
to the courtyard of the castle, with
palfreys for all her ladies in atten-
dance. Inthis way she sailed forth just
rs the sun had gone down. 1t was a
mission of piety-a pilgrim cavalcade
to a convent at the foot of neighbOr-
ing mountain-to return thanks to the
blessed Virgin for having sustained her
through this fearful ordeal.
The prisons performed, the dutchess
and her ladies returned, ambling gent
ly along the border cf a forest. 1t was
about that mellow hour of twilight
when night and day are mingled, and
Ill objects indistinct. Suddenly some
monstrous animal sprang from out a
.hicket, with fearful howlings. The
whole female body-guard was thrown
ntO confusion, and fled different ways.
It was some time before they recovered
rom their panic, and gathered once
more together; but the duchess was
not to be found. The greatest anxiety
was felt for her safety. The hazy mist
If twilight had prevented their distin-
gushing perfectly the animal which
had affrighted them. Some thought it
1 wolf, others bear, othersa wild man
IF the woods. For upwards OF an hour
lid they beleaguer the forest, without
laring to venture in, and were on the
point of giving up the duchess as torn
% pieces and devOured, when, to their
great joy, they beheld her advancing
n the gloom, supported by a stately
cavalier.
He was stranger knight, whom no.
body knew. 1t was impossible to dis
.inguish his countenance in the dark;
out all the ladies agreed that he was of
l noble presence and captivating ad-
lress. He had rescued the duchess
rom the very fangs of the monster,
which, he assured the ladies, was neith-
n a wolf, nor a bear, nor yet a wild
nan of the woods, but veritable fiery
lragOn, a species of monster peculiarly
hostile to beautiful females in the days
If chivalry, which all the efforts of
had not been able to
,Xtirpate.
The ladies crossed themselves when
hey heard of the danger from which
hey had escaped, and could not enough
ADMIRE the gallantry of the cavalier.
The dutchess would fain have prevail
ii on her deliverer to accompany her
o her court; but he had no time to
spare, being a knight-errant, who had
many adventures on hand and many
distressed damsels and afflicted widows
% rescue and relieve in various parts
he country. Taking respectful leave,
he pursued his wayfaring,
md the duchess and her train returned
o the palace. Throughout the whole
yay, the ladies were unwearied in
,hanting the praises of the stranger
Knight; nay. many of them would
have incurred the danger
If the dragon to have enjoyed the hap
~ deliverance of the dutchess. AS to
be latter, she rode pensively along,
,ut said nothing.
No sooner was the adventure of the
wood made public, than whirlwind
vas raised about the ears Of the beauti-
ul dutchess. The clustering nephew of
he deceased duke went about, armed
o the teeth, with a staggering uncle
It each shoulder, ready to back him,
md swore the dutchess had forfeited
Ter domain. 1t was in vain she called
Ill the saints and angels, and her ladies
II attendance into the bargain, to wit
less that she had passed year and a
lay of immaculate fidelity. One fatal
lour remained to be accounted for; and
n the space of one little hour sins
enough may be conjured up by evil
ongues, to blast the fame of a whole
ife of virtue.
The two graceless uncles, who had