Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-06-05
eolsAN GEisURes soUTHH eARqIENA &. RnURsnAY JuNE

Il 6SHSiou oiipstssfonyi ie oHereu u great
prize for our ransom, and bought us.
/ Not satisfied with having restored ns 10
liberty, he did not cease to bestow on us
4 all that was possible to be,done. Several
timesy he questioned us about our. coun-
try, and offered to take us tbither; but
fearing the effects of the suspicion, that
you had good reasons for, and fearing
your anger, I never had courage enough
to let him know of our parentage. When
we arrived at Dublin, he presented me
to. his father. He showed me for long
time, the most respectful attentions, al
though 1 persisted in not making myself
known to him, and finally offered me his
hand in marriage. have offended you,
Sire, no more deserve that you regard
me as your daughter !. but, abandoned by
all the world, as 1 believed; agitated by the
insurmountable dread which the fear of
your anger caused, having lost all hope
of ever seeing you again, and also van
quished by sentiment Of profound graf
itude, shall / say yis2 Still perhaps by
an attachment sweeter and more tender
which his engaging manners caused me
to feel, at last consented, I consented to
be his spouse. Punish, Sire punish
your daughter, if she deserves punish
ment, / will never complain, but this
generous benefactor, to whom I owe my
my life and my liberty, but this young
tender babe, .Ah ! do not suffer them
to bear the punishment of crime, Of
which I alone am guilty!>
To, this discourse, which the expression
of the eyes, the face and the voice rem
dered more energetic and more effica-'
cious, the king, who at the beginning had
shown severity III his countenance, and
even of anger, became calm and showed
marks of tenderness. The humble and
touching posture of Constance, the cries
of the infant, the groans and tears of the,
mother caused the greatest emotions on
the soul of the king. He then offered
his hand to hiss daughter, Cwho was still
regard of tone, antdf @ilfisti, h psternal
from her humble, posture, toE Ealsr:
"Thou hast offended me in o union SO
disProportionate, without my consent. =
Thou hast still more grossly outraged me;
thou hast doubted Of my clemency to
pardon thy fight, if it were innocent,
But, rs to-day, see that the sorrow thou
hast caused me, are in thee the effects Of
weakness and not those of q. a.guilty heart,
remember that I am tiny father and
pardon thee" Whilst saying those words
he hugged her to his breast, apd ordered
that Richard be Immediately brought
into his presence. Then, Constance,
burst into tears but they were tears of
sensibility, Of JOY, and of gratitude.
This caused such an effect on the feel
ings of the King that he could not with
hold his tears.
The unfortunate captive, who had re-
mained SO long in SUSPENSE, and in the
nncertitude of what fate awaited him, be.
ing much more troubled by the order he
had received, to appear before the King
advanced pale and trembling. AS soon
as perceived Constance, his blood froze,
with fear in his veins but to this first
sentiment, another more violent emotion
succeeded, and forgetting all other OBJ
jects, ne sprang toward his wife, pressed
her and her child alternately to his bo-
som, and remained for some time united
to those beings SO dear to his heart, with
out being able to speak one word. Final
ly ne separated himself from them, and
falling on his knees Mt the Kings feet
he exclaimed:
"I.accept, willingly all the punishment
it may please your magesty to inaict on
me, since l have been permitted once
more, to behold the objects dearest to my
heart. There is nothing more left to de.
sire for myself; but for those two pefsonr
and my fhtheE"
/. "No my son." replied the King, edo
not athict yourself, you have nothing to
fear. Your recital and that of my
daughter (pointing to Constance) have