she was seized with on her departure from the Castle, and, from despair collecting fortitude, she turned to her savage conductor and said "On this side of your dread abode terminate, by instant death, my horrors!"

Before Osborne could reply, the door, by means of a spring, suddenly opened, and the glare of numerous and distant torches illumined the

cavern.

Osborne conducted, or rather forced, Caroline to a seat at a board, liberally supplied with the varieties of luxury and intemperance, and at which were placed a party of banditti. At the call of their captain they instantly arose and filled each his goblet to the Fair Stranger. This ceremony was succeeded by loud and repeated acclamations, while the shaggy pillars, which supported the ample roof of the cavern, shook to the shouts of its ferocious inmates.

Remaining stedfast in her refusal to partake of the banquet, Osborne said: "I would advise you, lady, to become resigned to a better fate than was intended for you; by this time the Baron thinks you are no more: forget, therefore, such a father, and henceforth consider me as your protector."

"With these brave men I have long associated. The captain and myself intend, before many months are past, to leave our places to those worthy of filling them, as our shares alone, arising from plunder lately obtained, has enabled us to quit an employ in which we have hazarded our own lives, and sacrificed many. Therefore take comfort, fear no violence from any one here, while I am away, presume not to question; be obedient, and be happy."

This daring address was received with indignation and horror. Os borne waited not a reply, but left the cavern, and repaired to the Baron. In a few days it was given out that the Lady Caroline had died suddenly; funeral rites were again performed. The proud, unbending man, now left alone and unblessed, was sensible doubts existed in the breasts of many, but equally well he knew that no tongue would presume to

utter them.

To return to Caroline. The recent declaration of Osborne removed apprehensions of insult from the ruffian band, who now, to pursue their nightly work of rapine, and of murder, had left her to

herself.

Alone, in a place too, the aspect of which was sufficient to appal the stoutest heart, still fear assailed not the heart of Caroline. As she looked around on the vastness of her subterraneous abode, and its dark and deep recesses, her thoughts were engaged on the marty'red Matilda, and, in the anguish of her soul, she exclaimed aloud, "Look down, sainted mother, on thy child, thy Caroline; the thought of a father prevents my sending up the prayer to all-righteous heaven-Revenge a parent's murder!"

The last word, caught up by echo, resounded through the cavern and its numerous windings, till it died away in awful whispers. Caroline remained on her knees, and listened to those whispers till she nearly persuaded herself they were not the effect of her own utterance. At length all was silent! and she arose, and wandered absorbed in bitter reflection, beyond the light reflected by a flame issuing from a large lamp, suspended by a chain, and which, lorrid to relate! was fed by a prepared portion of the remains of unhappy objects who had

fallen beneath the hands of assassins! remorseless wretches who had yet suffered no one to escape from their horrid confines. How truly dreadful that stage of guilt, where the perpetrator flies to its last enormity for only temporary safety, and to stifle, but for a season, the voice of conviction..

At the extremity of one of the recesses, her farther progress was im peded by a door, secured on the outside with strong bolts; a circumstance which roused her from her reverie, and induced her to quit a spot that chilled every sense with new alarm. At this moment a deep sigh followed with these words" Where will my miseries end?"---it suggested an idea that the voice was that of some hopeless wretch confined for sacrifice, and that now was the time to summon all her fortitude.

With a trembling hand she undrew the bolts, opened the yielding door, and beheld, extended upon a couch, the figure of a woman, who, on Caroline's approach, buried her countenance in her pillow, uttered a shriek, and cried----" Leave me, inhuman monster !---leave me! the night flame still exists, and the loathed dawn is yet far distant!"---Caroline knew the accents, snd sunk down by the side of Matilda!

The mother of Caroline started from the couch, and retreated to a table on which was placed the night-flame she mentioned. Caroline followed; her parent's recollection returned, and embraces mutual and fervent succeeded.

To explanation no pause could be given at a period so important. The means of escape presented itself; but it promised no more than escape from the cavern. Its intricate and untraced boundaries were beset with dangers hostile to their hopes. Long confinement had rendered Matilda extremely weak, and it was with difficulty she proceeded, with the assist ance of her companion, to a situation in the wood, which seemed the most favourable for concealment. It was now early morning, and Matilda properly conjectured that if they advanced to a still greater distance from the haunts of the robbers, they might be seen by some of them, on their return from their nocturnal deeds of plunder and death.

While, as they too fondly imagined, they remained secure from discovery, the Lady Courtney informed Caroline that Osborne, after conveying her from the castle to the cavern, produced his lord's letter, which commanded him to dispatch her, and bury her in the wood, in which they now were; at the same time making a merit of his forbearance in her fa vour, and promising her life on submitting to proposals, which she felt herself degraded, even in calling to remembrance. Fortunately, for the preservation of her honour, the captain of the band, pretended to no small portion of generosity, and, as he termed it, manly principle; and, strange as it may seem, while, with a heart callous to the pleadings of humanity, he could uplift the dagger of death, and plunge it into the bosom of the struggling and devoted female; still would he startle at violation.

"The cell where you found me has been my prison; an opening in the cavern, secured by a grating, renders it tolerably light during the day, and when night advanced, I was indulged with a lamp; indeed, I had nothing to complain of but confinement, and the detested professions of Osborne."

The relation of her much injured parent, was received by Caroline, with all that sympathy it demanded and, in return, that young lady recounted the history of her own sufferings since the supposed death of her mother.

When the day was pretty far advanced, they determined on seeking refuge and protection in the castle of Fitz-Alban, and for that purpose, ventured from their recess,

To shield the guilty author of their sufferings from the punishment due to his crimes, became their mutual concern, and it was agreed to cloke themselves from observance, as much as possible, in the hope that they might remain unknown to all except the Baron and his son; Matilda trusting to the humanity of the one, and Caroline to the affection of the other, to save from exposure and infamy, the father and the husband once so dear to them.

In this resolve, the adventurers pursued their way at intervals, looking fearfully around them, every moment in dread of discovery. The hours passed on in fruitless endeavours to clear the labyrinth, which became more and more perplexed, till at length fatigued and nearly exhausted, they were under the necessity of sitting down to recover strength.

They had not remained long in this spot, which seemed to invite repose, before Caroline uttered a violent shriek, and seizing the arm of her mother, tore her, in a manner, from the bank on which they had reclined.

From the hollow of an ancient oak, the branches of which nearly overshadowed it, an enormous snake darted forth, as if to drive them upon an enemy, equally dreadful and envenomed. The creature was first seen by Matilda, and in hastening from a spot, where, but for her cries, they would have escaped observation; they were instantly surrounded by a party of the robbers, with Osborne at their head.

Painful to every sense, would prove a description of the exultation of this monster in human form. The escape of Caroline and Matilda, had filled his soul with direful forebodings of consequences speedy and fatal to his career of cruelty and duplicity. No more must he presume to stand in the presence of the Baron, who would soon have to experi ence in his own person the effect of enormities, not less awful in their punishment, than dreadful in their magnitude. To remain with the band would be equally impossible, their extirpation must ensue; where then could he turn for security, with every eye in search for, and every hand against him. Such were his distracting thoughts after a day devoted to the recovery of the hapless fugitives, who, from an unfortunate circumstance, were thrown once more within his power.

Unresisting and dejected they were consigned to different cells, and in a little time the captain and the rest of the gang entered the cavern. The capture of the runaways became the subject of conversation; they all congratulated themselves on the occasion, and united in the resolve of leaving, in future two of their party to watch it during the absence of their fellows.

Night had pretty far advanced, before the party broke up; Osborne elevated by the juice of the grape, entered into a severe dispute with the captain upon the impropriety of not being permitted to pursue the dictates of his will respecting his own captive. In this remonstrance he was seconded by another, to whom he had promised the possession of Matilda, in case his assistance, aptly thrown in, should incline their leader to compliance.

The debate insensibly grew warm, and Howell, at length, dared to insult his captain in terms so gross and unqualified as to provoke the lat

ter to spurn him to the earth. He was, however, brought to a sense of his offence, and on submission, what he had said was readily forgiven. The next day was to be set apart as a festival, on some occasion held jayful by those unthinking, dissipated and guilty men.

Preparations for the banquet were such as vied in splendor and expence with those of their betters; plundered stores of plate were brought forward to dazzle the sight, one spacious table, loaded with viands, and wines not less costly. In a few hours all was confusion and uproar: Osborne proposed to open the cells of the fair prisoners, bring them to the convivial board, and oblige them to become partakers in the general revelling. This proved the moment of his triumph. Their captain's objec tions were drowned in clamour, and Matilda and Caroline were dragged shrieking from their confinement,

If in this moment, their agony can only be conceived, language would prove equally incompetent to express the joy of the next. Torn from their cells, their cries, loud and incessant, formed a painful contrast to the continued shouts of the ferocious tribe, by whom they were surrounded; but sounds of a different nature now were heard; sounds which appalled the stoutest heart among them. The entrance to their den of darkness was secured by a door of iron, which they now heard yielding with a tremendous crash, and in an instant the two Fitz-Albans appeared to disengage the affrighted objects of their unhallowed violence. Osborne met his death from the hand of young Fitz-Alban, while in the act of dragging Caroline to the table. The baron executed a similar vengeance on the the wretch who held in his rude grasp, the struggling Matilda.

Except the captain, every individual in the band was bound and inclosed in their own cells. Twice their number was appointed to guard them, till the hand of justice should sweep them from the earth they had so long infested. In the mean time the wife and daughter of Baron Courtney were conveyed to his castle.

On their way to it, the Baron Fitz-Alban said to the objects of his attension and rescue: "The events of this day must appear to you, mysterious and unlooked for. The loss of the owner of Courtney Castle, surely cannot excite your griefs, however it may create that pity which must arise for an object cut off as he has been, in the midst of unrepented crimes. But a few days are elapsed since I received a letter from the baron: judge of my astonishment on reading- If Fitz-Alban can stifle former resentments, he will instantly attend the present summons to the couch of the expiring Courtney."

"

You may easily suppose I lost no time in obeying a call so mystically solemn. Arriving at the castle, I was informed that the baron had not many hours to live; but all his attendants were ignorant of the nature of his disorder, which had come upon him suddenly.

"On entering the chamber, he made an unsuccessful effort to rise, the while he cast upon me such a look of pleading sorrow, as fully spoke the state of his mind.

6

"I seated myself and requested to know how I could possibly assist him;" he looked earnestly in my face, and cried,-- Can Courtney die, pardoned by Fitz-Alban?' Assuring him of my forgiveness, he continued--My story is short, but terrible in its purport; a wife and daughter have been sacrificed to the callousness, jealousy and hatred of a wretch, who falls the victim of stubborn pride, and unjust resentment. These papers will settle all animosity between you and me; and, may heaven pre-.'

Here his speech failed him, and with the unfinished word quivering on his lips, he sunk down to everlasting silence.

6

The baron had just breathed his last, when the doctor entered the room. Viewing the lifeless corpse, he waved his hand, and the attendants retired; then respectfully bowing, he said- I presume I have the honour to pay obedience to the baron Fitz- Alban.' I answered in the af firmative; and he continued.--- The lifeless object before us has swallowed poison; when I arrived here yesterday, I found him in extreme torture; he raved, and enquired, who sent for me?' In reply, I said, 'I was no stranger to the rash step he had taken, and that I could only relieve, and not save him: then,' rejoined the unhappy gentleman, I am satisfied; so that I am sure of death, I am satisfied; I have no objection to as much bodily ease as possible, while life remains, and what is your opinion as to the time before it will be relinquished?" I replied--- A day!' Enough,' he exclaimed, be secret, and let no one know what I have done, but the Baron Fitz-Alban; from him withhold nothing. He then commanded me to depart, and leave him to his own reflections. I instantly obeyed; but did not quit the castle before I had attended to the preparation of a draught to counteract, as much as possible, the painful effects of the draught already taken,'

"The nature of the poison was such as rendered a speedy interment necessary; and Providence so ordered its events, as to dissipate my concern for a man, who had pursued me through life with hatred, and had procured the untimely deaths of those most dear to myself, and my only hope, the noble Anselm.

"Such were my thoughts on my return from the funeral, when my domestics informed me that a person had been waiting for me, charged with a momentous business, on which depended every thing that was dear to interests and affections.

my

"To be brief, the person proved to be one of a party of banditti; his name Howell. From this fellow a discovery was made, which led to your preservation. The cause which induced him to betray his comrades arose from an indignity offered by his captain; but from his account of his leader, I feel myself inclined to interest myself in his pardon. The rest must suffer the punishment they merit."

On the most atrocious of the party, punishment due to their offences was inflicted. The rest, including Howell, and the captain, obtained a pardon, on condition of voluntary banishment.

In bonds of the most refined friendship, the Lady Courtney and the Baron Fitz-Alban remained during life; numerous were their acts of humanity and exalted benevolence; and no day passed by, without its memorial in the cause of virtue.

After the usual period of mourning was past, an union between young Fitz-Alban and Caroline, took place. Many revolving years rolled on, during their course, all was harmony and peace. At length, their timehonoured parents took a last farewel of all that had contributed to their repose on earth, on their departure for heaven!