The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-18

sos mpio6s iSb obon g ons
&c q s ss ss ssn1
mystery ls evident ! shrouded beneath the close
drawn lolds of thick and gloomy curtain.
pisss ssasss.its Hss wsntsd ~1s II ne ,srsen q h.
metic philosophy. would be termed the keeper
q roiSs hs Bsod S If r stsps s S
and winged on either side with q thin tube. witt,
soSS aas Upon ss rnsss this
profane epplication Of the sacred text has been
made: 3a@IaIte, auRrite ct invenietis. pulsase
Upon the furnace is placed, gour,dd-
shaped. lt-headed glass vessel, hcrmetica.l.ly Y.
sealed and rbiab ed nrnhrt. with u red qac yr tne
ginis. Next to this stands another cucurbte
plum ed 4 balneo. containing 9 specific pre- pre-
s pSiss. PoDtanns. and Zacharias. Tor the cure Of
all astral diseases: On the hoor near to the FUR
nace is stfewn all the heterogeneous lumber
proper to the retreat OF an adept to-wit. earths,
METALS. vitriol. sal-tartar. arga,le. alkali,
gfms, oils. ret2rts aiemDics crossets' cruel ulah
bes and cuc9rbites N9r must we 2mlt saIo
drugs and small phials. together with a wizard
OF glass. u circumstance sufficiently attesting
the aes na aad Sa p q tae n the
Having thus put the reader in possession Of
the features OF the room, we shall now place pc
At a table. quaint and grotesquc. in its. charac-
ter as the rest Of tho furniture. lighted by the
dull red flame of silver lamp, furnished WITH
an hour glass and a scull, with mystical scroll
stretched out before him. and apparently buried
chair HeeR wrought With the same bzarre devices as
the table. sat an old man, in black velvet garD
with flowing sleeves whose lvid countenance
and bald furrowed brow, clothed with a velvet
sculI-cap. proclaimed him to be the presiding
influence Of this weird abode. Beside Ruggieri
sat another stately figure. in whose naughty, i'm
we apprehend will have no difficulty in recog-
nizng tho Queen Mother.
Underneath the table. and almost appearing
support glared the dwarf Elb rich; his red
luminous eyes sparkling like phosphorie corus-
% sWnrt and shapeless figure could be discerned in
the obscurity, hey ond The outline. whit reseIn,,
bed that Of d grsly bear. But his hand would
seem to grasp the wheel of some hidden ma
chinery. serving to raise trap door. carefully
contriyed within the floor Of the turret At the
dwarf'a feet was rolled what appeared to DC q 9
small black cat. Of the civet species an animal
mancers Tor the confeeton and perfection s 2,
its tongue being supposed to confer the gilt OF
vaticination.
this picture for the readers inspection, the
3foup we have portrayed was silent and motion
Tess. Kuggieri pursued his calculations with
earnest ZEAL and the progress OF his studies was
watched with intense interest by the Queen
Mother. The dwarf remained immovable as an
ebon image. Nothing but the flashing OF his
eyeballs betokened animation.
Suddenly a sharp musical ring was heard vi
brating in the air like the sound produced by a
glass vessel accidentally stricken: The Queen
Mother raised her eyes. and fixed them upon q
curiously constructed astrological instrument.
placed on stand in her immediate vicinity;
Framed according to the instructions. delivered
by the star wise seers Of antiquity, this machine
represented seven figures symbolical OF the
planets twhom Mercurius. Trismegistus calls
ths. seven Governors OF the WoIli), wrought with
| tendance, OF the most precious stones. earths,
and metals. supposed to be under its especial
cw rne sass w"s h" Mhsn armed
ruddy brass, mounted upon. lion of the same
metal, grasping in his right hand a naked sword
blood stone. Upon the helm Of this martial
image famed beryl; and in its slow ascent. the
weapon within its grasp coming In contact W Tn
THE mask comes not" exc aimed Catherine.
regarding the image with some dismay.
Bright Jbve hath no more dominion, we are
malignant aspect towards US"
True. my daughter returned the astrologer.
the red orb S within the fb
conjunction had occurred! Our scheme will
scarcely prosper" :.
say not 80 father" replied Gathering h, conf, ena
achieved hts; much towards its accomplishment
And when did thy tinctures. or Maurevert's
poignard, fail us2'
IF the blow be dealt. or the potion swallowed
never. my daughter. but
But what father? Why these misgivings?"
to the Scoi, not DEATH. answered the astrologer
gravely. For. though. in his horoscope the
giver OF life meets. with the interfcient at this
/ hour though the lord OF the fourth house is In
conjunction with the lord of the ascendant in
Aries. within the orbs Of square OF Saturn
and Capricorn descends upon the cusp OF the
eighth yet there are other strong and counter
| vailing signs. He may escape us, daughter.
Hal exclaimed Catherine.
.Methinks 1 see his star still shining in the
heavens" continued Ruggeri;. Majestic and
serene il traverses the skies. A halo of glory
surrounds it. Malignant and cross aspects dart
| their baneful rays ath art its track. In vain
| hey scowl. If pursues its course in splendor
| nndisturbed."
| Does thine art tell thee this ?" demanded
Catherine impatiently.
r. my silent and unerring counselors thus ad-
| monish me. my. daughter" replied the astrolo-
ger. am but their interpreters ,u
! The star has become a meteor" returned
Rugggieri Its lustre is binding.
Il gaze again. The heavens are void and dark
the meteor that dazzled me has st nk-the star
! of Crichion has set forever.
! And when will this occur?'
Ere half a lustre shall have elapsed. my
$50 long and how will his doom be accom-
plished?'
| planet returned the astrologer. Within his
| ieaden sphere Hyech is cadent Tho native
will perish by the edge Of the sword"
| And If the unerring counselOTs tell thee thus
much concerning the Scot. what. import do they
| bring touching thine own fatey"
shall erect scheme. my daughterV
1T were needless" returned the Queen
Mother. sternly. Il will read it for thee. Thy
| destiny is linked with that OF Crichton. Or he
or thou wilt perish. II he survive the night the
stake will be thy portion on the morrow; will
not stretch forth my hand. as heretofore. to re-
| deem thee from the Wheel" 8
| my gracious mistress -" ..+5,te
III the heavenly influences fail thee, wrest aid
| from darker powers. Summon to thy assistance
| by potent spells, such a. thou Loastest to have
| won from thy magical lore, q demon. like that
which served the wise Cardan: and bid him
ton live to annihtlate my projects. thy ashes
shall be strewn by the winds over the Place de
Greve. ere night once again draw her veil over
tho citvJo ttf7 tft 20 sN7s4 ft