Alvira: The Heroine of Vesuvius

emason'

va abandoned, we find our young heroines sitting in a comfortable room. They are lounging on easy-chairs before a warm fire; the elde

aidenhood; but necessity and fear toned down their objection, and they gradually accustomed themselves to the change. In girlish simplicity

solemn booms of the church bell, and then, as if resuming the conversation with Henry: "Eleven o'clock, and father not come hom

business and can't come home," we

nowledge than their grandfathers, and are deceiving old women of both sexes to such a degree th

t," replied Henry softly, "and perhaps feels

of the great mystery of Redemption; he called it the greatest swindle the world ever saw. You remember what blasphemous and insulting language he addre

ere, if report be true, the enemies of the Church and state plot the ruin of ma

es rose and paced up and down

with storm, was concealed in the heart of Charles, and inspired those feelings of holy

ands, she remained in silence. Well she knew Charles was right, and in the deep sympathy of her innocent

oom and biting her lips with annoyance, the other wrapt in

e, drawing on herself brutal treatment, when, in the lonely hours of midnight and in the pent-up feelings of a breaking heart, she would incautiously reprove the maddened retch who is reeli

nd unexpected reproof of Charles startled him. In an instant the demon of intemperance reigned in his heart; witho

ch, and their pillow was moistened with many

ences in a rivulet leaping and sparkling on the green hill-side; the almighty avalanche that sweeps with the roar of thunder through the Alpine

ilence over imaginary wrongs, and thus gave to a latent passion the first impulse that led to disastrous consequences. Diseased fancy lent a charm to thoughts long forgotten, and recall

ins. Notwithstanding her efforts to shake off the terrible temptation, and because she did not seek aid in the sacram