The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-10

| plG1 Ohi . tIN AAO NV AN'- -
cost ofany as We were always roD
bed by theS sekeeper. She had Ger
tainlY been my keeper, and watched me
like an evil spirit-a familiar of the one
who sat there Was calm-and Will
death lowering in the air, round anc
round? Yes, | was calm, except a con
slant futtering at the heart, and some
times a throbbing of the temples. bu
all would soon be over now
There they sat, pulling up their lines
now and then-sOmetimes with notnliit
sometimes with a poor shining httl'
victim, who was thrown to bounce aht
flap about upon the deck in the melan
cholly silver moonlight | took seyea
of them up, unobserved, and dropped
them over the other side of the deck into
the water. The dismal occupation con
tinued nearly an hour Ito think of tint
with what was passing in the minds o.
all three }, the monotony being only va
Tied by the sinister appearance once OF
twice of the dark dOrsal fin of a shark
But they did not wish for anything Sc
large as that, even if they could have
dealt with it in the water or on the deck
Eventually the Tsport" was concluded
and we went below to retire for the
night. .J 1 .us sl..H.
The sleeping places were small and
the partitions so thin that | tanued q
whisper could be heard from one to the
other. The cabin appropriated to sebas-
| tiano was next to mine. The marchese
had returned to the deck to say a few
words to the sailors, and the thought OF
exchanging some sign or token, l knew
not what, with my lover, instantly oc-
Cured to me- Speak above my breath |
dared not; and if could make him hear
faint whisper, then what could say To
him? In this dilemma, and every in
slant so precious, my fingers inyoluntari-
ly gave a light tap an the partition next
TO Sebastiano's cabin. 1t was not answer
ed, and in my excitement | tapped again
very little louder. An interval Of 81
lence occurred, and then a soft tap re-
spOnded. But it was at the door OF my
cabin. | was in dismay at Sebastio's
rashness and yet he was not aware that
all was known, and might have fanCied
that had called him in order to ex-
change hasty word or two, livery soft
w opened my abin door, and there stood
Andrenco "Did la signora la marChese
call for any thing?" said the wretch, in
a tone VI abiect servility. | ChOked at
the sight of him, and shutting the door
in his face, threw myself upon the bed,
c,asping my forehead with both hands.
Ar.6r time began to pull off and throw
my dress on this side and that, like a de-
spairing creature, or one in state of fe-
YER Presently the marchese opened my
cabin door by some means he had for un-
(, tening the lock from without, and en-
tered. He closed the door after him. |
begged of him not to remain, the C bin
was so small, the night so hot, and |
overheated, and wanting to be alone. He
replied in grave and rather loud tone
that it would be highly unbecoming to
leave me alone in the very next cabin to
Il gentleman. however punctilious that
gentleman might be, and no doubt Wds,
in the present instance. | was, ofcourse,
too young and innocent to see the force
of this, but it was proper that he should
watch over my fair fame, and his own
honor-with more in the same vein, the
abhorred, sardonic fiend, who was watch
ing over me . and some tortures of
the mind are no more endurable than
the tortures of the body. but | was
much stronger than ne had imagined,
though left handful Of my hair in his
grasp.
1t was some time before daybreak that
made my way up to the deck less than
IL I.,,goJ n'rd oil Ia Jisordar nnI,,
one of the sailors was there, standing
dreamily by the helm. He looked at me
with great surprise, and still greater pity,
but said nothing. ! sat down near him.
After while he said, softly, as if to him
self 'The stars look bright and peaceful;
and the world below often looks bright
too hut seldom peaceful" This made me
burst into tears, and that was a blessed
relief to me, as | had been in a state Of
madness or fever. / then rose, and went
to the fore part of the deck, to be quite
alone. Leaning over the side, looked
down into the water as if were looking
into my grave, for felt something dread
full was soon to be done. Who was to do
lit? According to my cath, l was to do it.
But did not feel that it could be so. Let
me examine this oath, thought /, and let
me well consider my religious and con-
sCientious obligations. / had taken an
oath, of the most appalling kind, to God,
with Gods perfect knowledge that while
my lips were forced by tortures to repeat
certain words, my soul and heart were
directly opposed to all the purposes of
that oath. Could that be really binding
in its true spirit? Did not the voice of
God within me denounce such an un-
natural oath, and absolve me? Was l
bound most to our Father in heaven or
to fend incarnate below? And yet
and yet-the terms of that oath made it
terrific thing to break. 1t was fright
ful invocation.
Before sunrise reused myselffrom my
torpor and making my way down to one
of the unoccupied cabins of the guests
who we're never intended to be present,
dropped off into dead sleep.
The day was far advanced before |
made my appearance again upon the
deck. The great heat of the weather,and
some carelessness or other, had caused a
part of the rigging to take fire. The
flames had Just been extinguished. An
drengo was throwing something over
board, first on one side, then on the 9th
er. He ceased doing this directly when he
saw me look in that direction. Sebas-
tiano made some sketches of Vesuvius,
under different effects of color from the
clouds, while seated upon the foremost
platform. We never exchanged word
or look. Nothing could exceed the ell
egant and superhuous attentions of the
marchese toward me during the whole Of
the day, not merely in presence of Sc.
bastiano, but even when we chanced tC
be alone for few minutes below. "Ah,
you will say, "this man-this detestabl;
spirit of outwardly restrained revenge
must have been a lunatic." Alas no
he had no such excuse. / fear what poo
DR.. Mavrizzo said about him as one of {
class-though the marchese must surely
have been one of it very worst incarna
tions-was perhaps too true. / think j
| rnnst have heen the great iurisprudencial