The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-12
NUMBER s.
THE BETROTHED:
BY MASZOSI
tContinued.
CHAPTER XVIII
BY MASZONI.

| CHAPTER XVIII
The carriage now approached the precincts
OF the castle. Poor Lucy awoke as from "A
deep and painful slumber. She opened her
eyes, and her horrible situation rnshed with
foil force upon her mind. She struggled again
ia vain, she attempted to scream. but Nibbio
said to her. holding up the handkerchief "Bs
tranquil it is tho best thing you can do. We
do not wish to harm you but il you do not
keep silence, we must make you"
Let me go: Who are you Where are
you taking met Why am here Let me 20,
II tell you, don't be frightened. You are
not child, and You ought to know that We
| will not harm you. We might have mHrdered
Be quiet. then"
No, no, let me 60 (; know you not"
We know you well enough, however"
,,oh, holy Virgin Let me 20, for charity's
| me here ~
because we have been ordered to do So"
Who whof who ordered you to do it ~
Hush " said Nibbio in q severe tone such
questions must not bo answ ered."
Lucy attempted to throw herself from the
door OF the carriage, but finding the effort
with her cheeks bathed in tears, and her voice
broken by sobs, she continued. "Oh, for the
love Of heaven, and the Holy Virgin, let me
60! What harm have done you am
poor creature, who have never injured you
l forgive you all that you have done. and will
pray to God for You. II you have daughter,
o WiAoJ VI q HOLucT, bDlDR "laC they would
suffer in my situation. Remember that we
must all die, and that one day you will hope
that God will show mercy to You Let me 90,
let me 20; the lord will guide me my way
We cannot"
"You cannot! Great God why can you notf
Where are you taking me 7"
We cannot your supplications are useless.
DO not be frightened we will not harm Won.
Be quiet no one shall harm you"
More than ever alarmed to perceive that her
words produced no feet Lucy turned to Him
hn hp1l la in -c,I
men, and cnn, if he sees fit, soften the most fe-
r"clous. Sac crossed her arms on her breast,
and prayed from the depth of her heart for
yentIy; then again vaDly implored to be set
free: but we have not the heart to relate
more at length this painful journey, which
Iasfed four honrs, and which was to be suc-
ceeded by many hours of st!l deeper anguish.
AT the castle, the tnknown was waiting her
arrival with extraordinary solictuie and agi-
tatlon of mind. Strange, that be who had
cold y and calmly disposed of so many lives,
and had regarded as nothing the torments he
inflicted, should now feel an Impression of re-
morse, almost Of terror, at the tyranny he ex-
srcised over an unknown girl, an humble
peasant! From a high window of his castle,
be had for some time looked down upon the
valley beneath; at last he saw this carrisge
approaching slowly at distance, as If the
1orsee were weared with their rapid journey
emily.
as she there ~ thought he. what trouble
his girl gives me! must free myself from
1ls rnfhans to meet the carriage, and toll Nib
'io to conduct the girl Immediately to the
'astie OF Don Roderick but an imperious No,
which made itself heard by his conscience,
'91sed him to relinguish his design, Torment
ID, however by the necessity Of ordering
omething TO be done, and iDsupPortably
weary OF waiting the slow approach Of the
arriage, he sent for an old woman who was
ttached to his service.
This woman had been born in tie castle
nd had passed her life in it. She had been
impressed from infancy with an opinion Of the
nlimited power of it's master and her prin-
pal maxim was implicit obedience towards
hem. To the ideSs Of duty were United senti-
lents of respect fear, and servile devotion.
yben the Unknown became lord of the castle
over, sbe experienced q degree of pain, and
J the same time q more profound sentiment of
Injection In time she became habituated to
hatswss daily acting before her the power
I and unbridled will of such q lord she vieW-
as An exercise of fated justice. When some
hat advanced in years, she had espoused
rVant of the house, who being sent on q ha-
rdous expedition, left his body on tho high
nd, and his wife q widow in the castle. The
venge that her lord took for his death i'm
rted to her a savage consolation, and in
eased her pride at being under his protection.
ON that day she rarely set foot Beyond the
stle wallis, and by degrees there remained to
r no other idea of human beings, than that
e was not employed in any particular ser
co, but each one gave her something to do as
pleased him. She had sometimes clothes TO
md, food TO prepare, and wounds TO dress.
N mands, reproaoheS, and thanks wero equal
mingled with abusive railery she went by
o SpPellRton of the old woman, and the
40 with which the name was uttered varied
oOrding to the circumstances and humor of
speaker. Disturbed in her idloness and
atated in her SelElove, which were her two
No. nhn y0Nn 49, -,nT