Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-03-11
The Gipsy's Prophecy.


1t was in the year lS22 that visited the pIis- |
ons of Rome. Among the unfortunate creatures |
brought hitbcr by distress or guilt, observed in
the corner Of dungeon young female seated
ON handful OF straw nursing her infaut. Her
complexion was swarthy, and her large black
eyes giowed the fire OF the sun of Italy The
rehcs OF her apparel indicated that previous to
her Imprisonment she had worn the garb of a
Roman peasant. Her expressive physognomy
and her bold look seemed calculated to excite
curiosity. approached, and begged her to relate
to me through what misfortune she found herself
ia that place OF horror.
"St. Francis exclaimed she .what Interest
can the narrative of my extraordinary misfortune
have for free and happy people? My name is
Maria Gra2a. My mother lost her lite in giving
birth to me. Ny father, devoted to his own plea
sures, and caring but little about Inv education
placed me, while yet very young, in a convent
The older 1 grew the more irksome this KIND of |
life became to me; for nv nclinations, my dispo-
sition, and the yivacity OF my character all SEEM
ed to urge me on to a tuturity full OF darkness
and trouble
A Circumstance which l never could account
for had a powerful influence upon my fate On
some particular occasion, gypsy woman was ad-
mitted into the convent for amusement. All the
sisters were allowed TO hold their ears TO the tin
speaking trumpet of the old sibyl, who more
over, gave to each OF US slip OF paper, on which
was written what the lag termed the decree of
Of enjoying the like favor, and thrice the oracle
became mute. This refusal of the old woman ex-
cited partly my anger and parity my curiosity. 1
begged, entreated, l wept q. length tie gypsy
was moved by my tears.
"Ycu insist upon It, unhappy girl said she
"weil, then, know that you Will be the wife of a
robber who viii murder your father end that
your hair will turn gray in dungeon"
At tie age of fifteen such predictions made no
very deep Impression. laughed heartily on the
Snb w N Z r y ad flo oil
prophecies with ridicule. A: night, however,
when 1 WAS alone, my mind became, against my
will, prey TO apprehensions. passed the hours
in anxiety and painful revere the prediction of
the fortune teller incess1ptly haunted my wakr :
dreams.
My father took me ont of the convent but
only to shut me up again with an old house
Keeper at his country seat, about five miles
from Rome. One night the weather was
very tempestnous. l could not sleep. I
fancied that | heard a confused sound of
voices under my window, which looked
into the garden. | awoke my iia who
never went ID bed without her weapon,
which was large carving knife. Presently
we heard the outer window shutter broken
open. We concealed ourselves behind the
curtain; | had armed myself with the
knife. 4 pane of the window was out, and
hand protruded through an aperture to
unfasten the catch which secured ii. seized
the opportunity, and struck effective a
blow that the hand dropped at my feet. A
sigh OF agony and the sound CT footsteps
succeeded and then all was quiet again.
"At dag break repaired 10 Rome. whero
/ related my adventure to my father ne
admired 10y courage, and permitted me to
leave the lonely villa. lie was by this time
thinking OF marrying me, and even hoped
that nv adventure, which WAS sooE rumor-
cd abroad, would forward his design"
"AmonE my sultors there was young
| cavalier, the beauty of whose handsome
features Was heightened by delicate pale
| ness. He gave himself out ioi a Florentine
and carried his arm in sling, in eonse-
uuenee as Ii was said, ola slight wound
| which he had received in an affair OF honor.
| His kind attention and amiable manners
soon made deep impression upon me. He
| solicited my hand. My father. with his
| usual levty, gave his consent, and We we're
united"
"The day after our marriage NV husband
was no longer the tender lover, his looks
| were wild, his voice WAS harsh, and his
smile sarcastic. Distressed at this melan-
choly change asked, with pHats after the
cause of it.'
"Would you know who ] am:" he cried
"Do you recollect that night when you cut
| off the hand OF al unknown person who
| would have penetI aed into your chamber?
Well, that hand was-inine. LOOK here"
"Ilis mulated arm but too strongly con-
firmed bis story
81 had seen you, lie continued, aud WAS
captivated by your beauty. l determined
to carry you off. With two OF my comrades
l ventured To climb up to your chamber
window. From the reception which you
gave me, we inferred that you had men to
protect you. l retired, but learned the
ne X day that to You alone ! owed the loss
OF nay hand. Shame and rage at being thus
baified by girl OF sixteen awakened with
in me the thoughts Of revenge. l came un-
der an assumed name 10 Rome: my friends,
my articles. my gold, accomplished the
rest You are now the wife OF robher."
"At this word feeling OF horror seized
my soul. Nevertheless. whether IL was
owing to the tlexibility of my disposition,
to the prediction OF the gypsy to that secret
fondness for romantic adventure &c which
the heart often but too willingly resigns IT.
self. or finally, to the hope of bringing back,
by the power of love, q stray soul, dwelling
vet IN a youthful body, to the track Of vir-
Ius; In short threw myself at the feet OF
my husband, aud inlplored him with tears,
not to cast me from him, Tor would never
cease to love him. Moved by my tears and
resignation. he rlasped me TO his bosom, ,and
| tor three years was, or Imagined that I
was happy" .4-....t. .. s =.
"Ons evening. however he returned home
| pale and perturbed, his garments torn and
| spotted with blood. In broken sentences,
| he told mo he was obliged TO defend his life
| against.. t..assassinatio ,snd charged me to oh.
serve the strictest silence. respecting this
Nmysterious occurrence. could not help