The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-26

court ward door The count was 'Fcu anu
r,oulred rest and as he had determined not
to enter the CITY that night one pace was as
CooJ os another 10 tarrv in. Had he known
the reputation OF the maven hc "Vuo ,
,youid have sought other lodgings. So long
5 had he been absent from his country that
many local events had transplred OF which
he knew nothing, and one Of most noted oc-
crrrence had been the trial Of Antonio Her.
nandez rhe proprietor of the Raven for muir
, der. and his acquittal of the same. But, not
witbstanding Hernandez saved his life
throuch the exertions of his advocate, his
character was entirely lost, and the business
Iof his house almost destroyed, Tor lew people
believed in his innocence, und mothers point
ed him out to their children as murderer.
=, Years before, it appeared that rich CUES
was found murdered in his bed, and the land
lord was suspected and arrested. The cir
lcumstance made a grea: stir, for the murder
led man was well connected and widely
known. Every one who valued his reputa.
ton Stunned the society of Hernandez, and
his house became at last the resort OF contra
bandists from the frontier and the low char-
acters who infested the city.
impatient at the long delay IN answering
the summons the count jerked the bellrope
vigorously, and at length the host, followed
Iby pale girl (the only domestic IN the house,
showed themselves.
With many profound bows and apologies
for the delay. Hernandez took the mule 10
the stable, while the count followed the GIRL
whose name was Isabella, to the interior OF
the place. There was something 80 gentle
and interesting about the girl that the count
found himself gazing after her wheresoever
she went He fancied there was sadness IN
her face, and her large eyes sought his as II
she would have spoken to him. But the APP
pearance Of Antonio Hernandez put stop TO
the effort that Isabella was meditalng in the
nobleman's behalf for the landlord never Tor
an instant left the girl alone in the presence
of the count.
Once or twice when the count yawned as
If he were tired Isabella turned her eyes
mournfuly upon him as if to beseech him
not to retire to bed. The count noticed the
look, but could not interpret its sigifcance,
and during the evening he saw her no more.
A feeling of WEAKNESS at length overcom-
ing him, me count arose from his seat IN the
quaint old parlor and s'gnifled his intention
of seeing his room.
Hernandez at once procured lamp and es.
cOrted the count up stars, ushered HIM INTO
a large, CHASTITY chamber, in which every ar
tcle in the cumbrous furniture was deeped
by age to funeral blackuess. Two long mir
rOrs adorned the walls, and by their rciiec-
ton seemed 10 stretch out the dimensions OF
the dreary apartment to bOundless extent
This was the room in which the terrible
murder was committed, and 1t was never &C.
cupied, save when some dark deed was 10 be
done. The landlord placed the lamp upon
the table, and wishing his guest goodnight,
went ont and shut the door. The count turn
ed the key, and then by the light of the lamp,
surveyed the apartment. 1t was so gloomy
that he turned and walked to the window
supposing that it looked out on the street
lie was disappointed to find that it opened
on small neglected yard, filed with coarse
vegetation and mouldering timber.
The moon was partially obscured by clouds
but ever and anon threw a lickCrIng light
upon the desola,e scene. A vague presen,i-
ment of evil stole over the count and his mind
became gloomy. Beware of the Raven"
The words of the sybil kept recurring to his
memory. Could the warning of the witch
have been prophetic? The count would have
left the house but for certain sense OF shame
the act would cngender
"Pshay!' he cried, and leaned out Of the
window to snuff the air.
As he did so his ears caught the sound of,
a suppressed hiss. He listened attentively, !
and it came again. Casting his eyes through
the darkness, he endeavored TO discover from
whence the noise proceeded, but he coul1 see
nothing, and it was only when he raised his
eyes upward TO a small window directly over
his head, tlIat he discovered the figure Of lSa
bella by the struggling light OF the moon.
! She was gesticulating to him but the moon
was so frequently hidden behind dark clouds
that he could not for some time guess her
import. Suddenly the great orb came out
into the clear sky, and the count could see
the girl plainly. She was two stories above
him, and he could plainly hear her words
distinctly, for she spoke in such low voice
and after she had warned HIM she quickly
disappeared.
For the love Of the virgin do net go to
bed, senior" she said, Antonio Hernandez is
my uncle, and he is a bad man, and il you go
to sleep, senior, YOU may never see the light
of day again. Don't bctray me, for my uncle
would kill me ii he knew had spoken these
words. Adieu"
The count felt beneath his glrule and in.
sunctiyely laid his hand upon the hit of his
dagger Then he walked to his chamber
door, turned the KEY and unlocked it, to his
surprise he found 1t fastened upon the out
sde-aud he was a prisoner. He tried 10
force it open, but 1t resisted all his efforts
He sat down, and, leaning his head upon
his hand, began to mediate AS he did so
the oil IN the lamp became exhausted and ;he
| light went out. He felt strong convictions
that some unforeseen danger lowered near
and that which WAS suspicion became a
certainty. Nothing remained but to await
the attack, and sell his life as dearly as pos
siblc. The thought of the beautiful Julia OF.
ten REQUIRE to his mind II was TO see her
again that he became involved in his present
condition. He thought too, of the gypsy
and wondered what order of a being she was
to forecast the peril that should bcfall him.
The clouds began 10 break away from the
| face of the heavens AMI the count was enabled
Ito see more clearly about the chamber He
heard the clocks in the city toll the hour Of
midnight, but NIL desire to sleep had left him,
and he was very vicilant
Approaching the bed, he pulled down one
of the pillows and dIsarranged the covering,
throwing il IN n sort Of n heap, ne il a person
was rey osing there. Then he walked over
the room and stood with his back To the wall,
watching the chamber door screened from