Page:The Conspirators and Lovers.djvu/17

Rh by the side of dear Victor, I have conspired with Pat and Judy to save my beloved! Oh! Darling Victor, save, save me now, from the impending danger that awaits your unprotected Lucinda! My persecutors are monsters, or they could not tear me away from my dear old father, and from my dearly beloved Victor! God, if thou ever hearest the prayers of mortals, hear mine!

[Kneeling.] Infinite and all powerful Creator, I invoke thee and all thy vitalizing influences, to stultify and deaden the head and hand that has brought me to this cruel place. I pray Thee, heavenly Father, to shield the just and faithful, whilst Thou wilt confound the wicked conspirators who have sought to ruin and destroy me and mine: and O, Lord, look with compassion on thy distressed servant who would freely offer up her life in purity and innocence, for the good of heaven's righteous cause. Moreover! I humbly pray thee, send thy messengers of grace to guard and protect my beloved and heroic Victor, whose strifes and struggles on behalf of his race are herculean ! Grant me this humble supplication, and thy name shall have all the glory for ever and ever!

Gen. A. Dr. Juno, prepare yourself to meet your God, for I am going to shoot you forthwith for abducting my daughter.

Dr. J. My dear General, you greatly wrong me; I have always treated your daughter with profound respect; moreover, you forget that I have jeopardized my miserable life to save hers, and I would do so a thousand times over for the fair, virtuous damsel; why then do you accuse me of ruining your child? have you no more confidence in me than that?

Gen. A. I will forbear, until I can investigate the truthfulness of your assertion; if you are guiltless, fear nothing, but go ahead! May heaven protect the innocent.

Angel. Dr. Victor Juno, this emblem [white one.] represents a youth whose wisdom excels his vanity, and who, if he prove true to his intuitive gifts, will be compelled to go through a fiery furnace for a brief season, but if he continues to trust in an over-ruling, just, and infinite God, will have this crown set upon his head.

If you prove faithless and fearful, you will inherit this crown, [red crown.] which is prepared for all who flag and faint in the hour of persecution. [''Dashes it to the floor and breaks. Juno awakes.'']

Dr. J. I have had a peculiar dream, a beautiful dream, but what is there in dreams? Great God, since I am deserted by man, I thank Thee for having permitted an angel from yonder realms of the blessed to come unto me, and direct me what course I shall pursue to accomplish my work. I shall heed the admonition, and bear patiently all that my persecutors can heap upon me; knowing that I am in the right, I must also be convinced that God will not