The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-05-31

1 hurried toward the city with al
} my might, but [ travelled round and
round, up one street and down an.
other, IN a maze. The night was
cool and starless; the wind famed
me gratefully; by and by my memo
Fy and my senses returned, and re.
allied, perfectly, every thing-eUer3
thing that occurred since six o'clock
The bells were striking midnight
when [ stopped before nay Office
There was a faint light burning there
in; although l had left none there
As opened the door, a low CRY o1
gladness greeted me; q female figure
approached and threw hersen
trembling into nay arms, and the
sweet face of Francesca Van Buren
was pressed to my own.
ooh! Philip, she cried: ''I thought
you would never come. Such dread
full danger threatens us. My father
is determined to send me abroad and
force ne to enter a convent; he has
sworn that he will take me away to-
morrow morning. He thinks me Sc.
curely locked in my room at this mo
ment; but old Majority, in whose
care he left me, yielded to my en-
treaties, and has consented to assist
me to escape fate which [ dread
worse than death itself.
From a far corner of a dimly-Gght-
ed room, now came old Majority, her
teeth chattering with terror at what
she had done. 90, O" she eiacu-
lated, 'but the wrath of the master
will be dreadful
We will protect you from his
anger, Majority" " answered Frances
ca, with look toward me of such firm
trust and confidence as almost broke
my heart.
l soon learned the events of that
night. Van Buren, had informed his
daughter that her husband that was
to be was hourly expected from
Europe and bade her prepare for her
marriage at an early day. In an
swer, Francesca had avowed her love
for me, and her determination never
to marry the man her father had
chosen for her There had been a
stormy scene. Almost beside him
self with rage, her father had ordered
her clothing packed, and placed her
under lock and key, swearing that
the morning sun should light on her
way from America, that a convent's
cell should hold her, denying to her,
now, even the choice between that
and herforeign suitor. In despair,
| she had flown TO me, who alone could
save her, knowing there was no time
for reserve or delay; it was now, If
ever, that aid must come.
AS she told her story, her eyes
raised to mine with their look of un-
questioning confidence and love, al
most drove me mad. I gazed into
her face in dumb agony. What could
I do? Had I been free, my course
would have been plain and simple
enough. I should have married her
tb"' Ms ht, that hour; and once mine,
Ild ss5ely E0fy her fathers rage.
aGrusesa @ste that had crossed
m.y 2&tn tLat nt6htl [ could not tell
her. [ paced the room with my
nails driven into my cold palms and
my teeth bitten through my lips,
trying to answer to myself the ques-
tion, "NVhat can I do?" What is the
power of words with which to paint
my awful despair? Ifyou are man
whose eye meets this you may have
| some appreciation of my feelings and
impulses at that time. Here was the
woman whom I loved looking conf
IDENTIFY to me for protection. If /
failed her, she was lost.
I tried to save her.
The steamer that would leave the
next morning was the one that was to
convey Francesca and her father to
Europe. That way of escape was
barred. In disguise we-Francesca,
Majority and I-sought to fly to the
South Our pursuers discovered us
a great Western city. When l saw
that there was no escape from them,
I appealed to the law to protect, at
least, francesca. But I could show
but bad record. My marriage was
known. The Darleys, brother, Van
uncle of ''my wife, as well as was
Buren, had pursued US. She and
torn from my arms, and was arrest
ed and hurried to prison.
[ have some recollection of bel Il
brought out to trial. [ cannot te
what took place. 1 do not know
really how it was; but was releas-
ed. Probably no one appeared
against me. But whether I was re-
leased or again confined was a mat
ter of as little moment to me then as
it was to the farthest inhabitant of
| these United States.
The words "too late" never convey
ed more awful meaning to any hu-
man soul than they did to me when
l found myself standing outside the
Court-House, in Chicago, free to go
where I pleased.
My search for my little Francesca
has proved as mavailing as it has
| been long and anxious.
She and her father had both dissp-
peared as completely as though the
earth had opened and swallowed
them up. Not the slightest trace Of
either of them have 1 ever been able
to discover.
The planet Venus VIII pass be-
| tween the earth and the sun on the