Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/22

22 filled with aromatic plants, and while she was gazing on the last rays of the departing sun, she was startled by the fall of an arrow amidst the flowers; but more so at beholding a folded paper affixed to its point; with a hasty hand she took the billet, when she beheld one of the pilgrims descending from the battlements of a turret that commanded her apartment, and was at no loss to divine from whom the letter came, but wondering at its import she tremblingly unfolded it; the writing was same she had seen before; and it contained only these lines. “A circumstance has occurred that renders is necessary for us to meet at an hour later than the time appointed; when the clock strikes eleven, fail not to meet the future guardian of your life."

Roderick in the meanwhile felt his spirits unusually depressed, and dismissed his attendants, seated himself on a couch, and remained buried in painful rumination till the chapel clock tolled eleven. Starting at the lateness of the hour, he was about to retire to rest; when a loud peal of thunder, followed by a scream, arrested his step, & instantly the hag entered his apartment. Her looks were wild, and her garments floated loosely on the ground. Roderick remembered her prophecy. When thou next beholdest me the event of my predictions will be at hand; and he stood motionless as a statue, while in a deep hollow voice she repeated,

Then extending her wand, she exclaimed, “Follow me!" Roderick drawing his sword, snatched up the lamp and obeyed her command. With a rapid step she led the way to the chapel; but at the portal uttered a wild and hideous scream, she sunk into the earth and vanished. Roderick's feelings were wound up to a degree of phrenzy: he dashed the lamp from him, and proceeded. The tapers around Malvina's tomb, gave sufficient light to his path, and a distant hollow voice directed him to the altar he approached and beheld a scene, which for a moment paralyzed his frame. Before the sacred spot knelt the