OR, WEEKLY THE VISITOR. FOR THE USE AND AMUSEMENT OF BOTH SEXES. VOL. XIII.] Saturday, May 4,....1811. KILVERSTONE CASTLE. A Tale. (Continued) A sudden prospensity led the young Baron to place the chain upon his neck. his neck. Soon as the amulet had touched his bosom, from every point of the cross there fell warm drops of blood; and, with a horrid clangour, the armour shook in every joint! Surprise now changed to fear. "Have I," says he, "with sacrilegious hands, polluted this fair gem? and is the spirit of the mighty Moreland offended at my rashAgain the armour ness?" shook! These uncommon appearances increased his amaze. memt: as, if danger was near, he laid his hand upon his sword, and, looking around, seemed to expect an enemy.. His enemy was there! The infatiable ecclesiastic, not being content with the slow progress of the laws in the oppression of [NO. 2. Mervil, and not being appeased by the death of the good old Baron, but taking advantage of the liberty which those times of bigotry afforded the religious, he passed through the apartments of the house uninterrupted, and sought the young Baron in his retirement, to acomplish his infernal purposes by his assassination. The happier spirits of those who have left this life, remain our guardians and protectors, though invisible and untangible to the gross sense of feeling, but if we may believe our anec try, some have even held converse with man, and forewarned him of his approaching danger: For some of them we know in days of old, The fatal story to some men have told, Forewarning them of death. Purged from the dross that clouds the mortal eye, they have, according to the most ancient testimony, attenuated the drowsy senses of our earthly form, influenced the will, checked the wish, or turned the rash resolve, by such delicate yet evident touches of supernatural power, that the consent of mankind has given them the appellation of genii, or guardian spirits. The approach of father peter, at first, struck Mervil with ap- || prehension; but, on recollection of his holy office, and of his publick name for godliness and rigid virtue, his fear subsided; yet, not knowing why, he still retained his hand upon the sword. The holy father in his bosom hid the daggar which he brought to shed the young Baron's blood. With a solemn look of sanctity, he addressed the youth in language as smooth and insinuating ast oil; within his bosom, where his soul rebounded with the fervour of his reverence and love to those of whom he spoke. In that instant the armour shook! Alarmed by the repeated sound, Lord Mervil stepped back. The nois had touched the ecclesiastic's ear; and with emotions not to be expressed, he felt unusual terrors seize his soul! The crucifix upon the bosom of Mervil again let fall fresh tears of blood; and, fixed with earnest and involuntary grasp, his hand remained upon his sword. Various thoughts' agitated his features. The monk, long used to look upon the face of those he dealt with, to discover from that unerring indefinate sentiments that agitate the mind, fixed a stedy look upon the youth, wondering to behold a lustre beam. over all his aspect, such as zealous fancy has inspired painters to adorn the brows of their saints. His dark resolves were shaken. Young Audley, then upon his guard, rendered the monk's enterprise impracticable. The shaking of the armour was supernatural. Conscious, evil filled the guilty mind of Father Peter with terrors and self condemnation. His soul let go its bloody purpose, and for a moment, relax ་་ ed into remorse; but for a moment only; for the succeeding thought turned on a future time to execute his project. During the short time which these few ideas moved within apprehending that now the youth would take the alarm, and ever after, in his presetice, be on his guard. Soon as Mervil Audley had recollected himself from his mour. astonishment, he stooped to take up the daggar, when he beheld his charming onyx issuing forth more briliant rays than when he first perceived it on the brest-plate of the arThis unaccountable presage of the unforeseen appearance of danger filled the mind of Mervil with gratitude, which he instantly poured forth in pious ejaculations to the powers above, concluding with a prayer, that his patience and perseverance, in all his trials, might meet the approbation of the spirits of his da parted ancestors, and be adjudged worthy to be enrolled by the recording angel in the the mind of the ecclesiastic, the young Baron and he stood motionless and silent; the monk gazing on the youth, and the youth, with eyes uplifted, fixed on the armour. Peter broke silence, and, arming his bosom with the tokens of the cross, he called upon the sacred name of God to bless and sanctify him; that he might avoid the snares and wiles of those infernal beings which possessed the mansion, and the frenzied spirit of its owner. Amidst this ejaculation, with uplifted eyes and hands, he turned to quit the chamber; when, behold, the loosened garment let the weap-illustrious table of their genealon pass, and at his feet the naked daggar dropt! This was the hour of wonder to Mervil!! He scarce give credit to what hé saw; his surprise prevented him from conjecturing wherefore the good, the pious monk, wore in his bosom this dire instrument. Confounded by the awkward circumstances of this event, the mouk hastened off, not noticing the matter, but ogy in heaven. The monk retired into his cell, and there, instead of devoting his meditations to religious purposes and prospects, his temporal ambition, and rapacious avarice, led him to form new plans for the de. struction of the young Baron. (To be Continued.) |