I linve sworn tipen (ho Altar of God, clernal liostlMy to every form of Tyranny over the Mind f Man." Thomas Jefferson
PJUNTED AND PUBLISHED BY If. WEBB.
Volume IV. 13LOiillSUTC&, COLUMBIA COUOTY, PA. SATURDAY, MO VJ3M153RU7,840.
Number 28.
Orrosm: St. Paul's Ciiukcix, Main-st.
TEEMS:
TVie COLUMJJM DEMOCRAT mil be
published every Saturday morning, at
TWO DOLLARS per annum, payable
half yearly in advance, or Two Dollars
Fifty Cents, if not. paid tvilhin the year.
No subscription will betaken for a shorter
period than six months; nor any discon-
unuancc pcrmuica, unui an arrearages
are discharged.
ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding a
square will be conspicuously inserted al
One Dollar for the first three insertions,
and Twenty-five cents for every subse
quent nsertion. ECT liberal discount
made to those ivho aivcrlise by the year.
LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
From tho Casket.
WOMAN'S REVENGE.
A TALK OF VENICE.
'Twas night; and the broad expanse of
heaven glittered with myriads of stars. At
a distance the moon threw its soft light up
on the towers of Do Vasea. Venice, thp
loved Venice, tho seat of joy and luxury,
was hushed; its streets were all vacant, and
not a footsteep broke the stillness of the
night. It was tho hour when the stranger
might gaze on its noble palaces through the
dim mist of night, and wrapt in wonder and
awe, exclaim, this is indeed a bright land.
Tho distant bell of S. Dominic tolled the
the midnight hour, as n gondola suddenly
made its appearance beneath the Bridge of
Sighs; it reared tho shore, from it stepped
a female form. Closely wrapping her man
tle around tier she asconded the steps that
led to the bridge. She had just reached it
whon thesouud of footsteps brofte on her
car; and placing herself behind one of tho
abutments, where she. was free from discov
ery, she waited their coming. They soon
approached tho bridge, and were those of
a young and gallant cavilior, with his arm
entwined round a female form.
" Nay, Donnezetti," exclaimed tho cavi-
Mier. muisiniT. tipiiova nnt what tho ivnrlil
vn.Q. 1 OtlUUI 1 IUWU Lliun. UI1U 1IUIIU UlllUl.
1 1 O T nurnnK I I r fl n limn mill m n
13o mine then, sweet one !"
Gladly would I, Anlonia, but my siro
will not bestow hjs child on one whom he
says loves another. 'Tin rumored Estelle,
the handsome Estelle, is your future bride."
"Hemitonia 1" ochoed the youth, "Hand-
... liu.w III, lillJHIJ. 1U I M. 1IUII
Believo them," echoed Donnezetti,
I n1i.tr t1.r f Mi ,1 n,,n
"VMK j iii viii ; wiij vit j uu jm u uutiu uiiiui t
ntlHrtftll! ic ntntlfl ill V oil rt ( n o iwl ! I.,
' TInworty of it ! never, sweet one ! But
art- I .1.o.,,l,r I,. .,.. il,.t.n1 1,-11
- . o - " 1 a
11?. and dark clouds hover o'er our head?.
.fM It fililntii n.miini Mi.-vtit It n nt I Ii a hi ! n .
, ,
AW UrhlPli nvnrinnl' ihn v-ifnr I ttm Jin
"Forget not, Antonia' whispered the
a in km
" Forget !" echoed the youth, as they re-
dm nnnn inni invniv mrn.
" You shall," replied the female, emerg-
from Itet hidi.ig place, " but for the last
H.
'Twas night again: another day had dawn
and lied o'er Venice. The scenes of
sv lift) had been enacted, the n:v had a-
l ' o j "
.miicruru miiiu uicu iiifusuros, iliu dh-
had plied their labor well, and death had
11 it 1 0f I ttitli lliti Inn it h rtl MjiMtli I1m hiI-
Dominic's bell tolls the midnight hour,
a lii'ht shines from the laree politic win-
of the castle D'Utra. It opens, and
D D
! a manlnn Inous lrom It unon tha dark
teis that frown at a distance beneath.
h. mi- Anlonia ! she exclaimed, as a
m stood beneath her window, " thou art
' Hero ! echoed a voice in a soft whisper,
but for a short lime; and I have a gift such
as Donnezetti merit. A silken cord lei
down by the sweet hand will soon give it
thee."
The cord was lowered. ' Now," ex
claimed Donnezetti, as she clasped a small
box in her hands, " 'tis mine Anlonia !"
"'Tis a fair bridal gift, Donnezetti, and
such as thou alono nieritest, who art hand
somer than Estelle."
A loud explosion echoed o'er the waters,
followed by a shriek Inud and peircing and
tho form of Donnezetti disappeared from
the window.
" Now who triumphs ?" exclaimed a
voice, and the voice, was that of the
mysterions female of last night : but
the cavalier stood before her as she prepar
ed to depart.
" Ha, Estelle ! he exclaimed, starting
back, " you here ?"
" Aye, Anlonia, I have come to gaze on
thy Donnezetti, so far lovelier than Estelle.
1 nave seen Her gazed on lier she waits
for thee, Anlonia. Farevell.
" Stay, stay," exclaimed the cavalier, but
she was far from his reach, and as he watch
ed hrr distant form ho sighed.
" Donnezetti ! Donnezetti 1" he exclaim
ed, but the low murmuring of tho breeze
was the only response.
" Donnezetti ! Donnezelli" again exclaim
ed he, but Donnezelli answered not. " She
is playing with me,,' exclaimed the cavalier,
climbing up tho tude ledgo that flanked the
window The 'jteeze had blown out the
flickering lamp, and as the youth leaped
from the window into the room, the moon's
beams discovered to him the prostrate form
of Donnezetti. " Donnezetti I Donnezel
ti ! exclaimed he, kneeling down by her
side; but a loud shriek broke from Inm
as he clasped her cold form. She is dead
dcud !" he exclaimed, " and Estelle is a-
vengod."
'Twas morning the sun rose sweetly on
Venice, and all was bustle and gaiety. Its
streets were thronged with idlers;gondoliers
I I r. I . . . .
pneu swiiiiv on tne waters, siuging their
rude 6ongs. The mansions of the nobility
echoed with the loud laugh and dulcet warb-
lings; but in one, wailing wis heard a love
ly and fair flower had perisheiijthe fairest in
Venice and a noble mother wept o'er her
dear child. Tho voice of woe might be
heard ining'.ed with the laugh of the gay.
Salutations were given and teccived; but a-
uiid these tho liamo of Domicilii was
whispored with grief. Vengeance and cur
ses were heaped on the head of her destroy
er; and niaiiv who had once listened to hei
enchanting voice and gazed'upon her beau
ty, wept.
The great square of Placa'di Napola i"as
filled with spectators, and the windows of
the houses peopled byt fair ladies, who gcz-
ed with perfect indifference on tho scenes
enacting below. In the middle of the squaro
a platform was erected, at the farther end of
which stood a block of wood covered with
blaek cloth, and by the side of it an execu
tioner. " They come ! they come 1" echoed
through the throng, as from the farther side
of the square a procession was seen slowly
advancing; all eyes were directed to it. It
soon reached the platform, and as a female
form ascended the steps, a cry of exultation
burst from the crowd.
The maiden boked around as if to re
proach the crowd. 1 was ISstklm; I llio
young, the fair Estcllo ! For a time sho
spoke not, but fixed her eyes upon a young
man who stood near tho scaffold closely
.wrapped up.
"Anlonia J' she whispered in silver tones.
Tho youth turned from tho spot. "Will
you rcfuso to hear the dying words of Es
telle of yout Estelle!"
Not mine?" exclaimed tho youth'
springing upon mo piattorm, not mine,
Lslcllo."
'Tis false !" sho exclaimed, " did you
not one balmy eve, swear you loved me !
Oli Antonia, I have done much to keep that
love."
" Say rather to looso it" Estelle, I did but
jet."
" And so did I when I gave Donnezelti
her bridal gift. But I shall never sco you
another'.
"It would not matter if you did Estel
le."
"Antonia!" exclaimed tho maiden, and
she fixed her cyos on him, " I have loved
you, and you a one. I am selfish, very
selfish; and, though in tho last hour of my
existence, I cannot bear the thought of your
being another's."
" Cannot!" echoed tho voulh; " cannot!
When.
" Estelle is not yet dead, Antonia; there
is still time left for her to hinder thee.
Shall I lell thee how J" and sho drew near
lo him.
" If it is possible," replied the youth.
" 'Tis possiVIe ! and thus, thus, Antonia,
you are mine in death." A daggor gleam
ed aloft in the air, and Antonia fell a bleed
ing corpse at the maiden's feet, breathing
the name of Donnezetti.
, A cry of horror bmst from the crowd.
The enraged populace, sprang forward to
wreak hcir vengeance, when a loud shriek
proclaimed that all was over, and as the ex
eculioner held the gory head aloft, a smile
of derision hung over the features of the
once fair Estelle. L. F- W
From the Gcntlcman'H Mngazine.
THE GLADIATOR.
Jl Sketch from the reign ofXero.
CHAPTER I.
Thg theatre was crowded to overflowing
The blood-thirsty Nero, attented by Burr-
litis and Seneca, had already arrived, and
laken his usual seal high above the arena,
to witness the combat. A more disinteres
led expression of countenance cannot be
conceived, than that which characterized the
features of the empcrrfi, as he sat looking
down upon ihn arena, now prepared for
the sacrifice of bin victim. The populace,
since accustomed to such fiendish exhibi
tions of his tyranny, had commenced their
usual practice of hissing at tho appearance
of Nero, who now rose lo his feet, and de
manded in an authoritative tone of the atten
ding lictors to bring forih the combatants.
Immediately at this command, the wide and
heavy doors which formed the entrance to
the .ena, flew ojar, as if by magic, and
swoid in hand, appeared the devoted Gladi
ators, who forced by the lictors into the
centre of the arena, in silence awaited the
signal to commence. Tho one was an
athletic slave the favorite of the inhuman
monarch of Home trained from his infan
cy to the sword, to execute tho private
deeds ot vengeance ot his royal master.-
With a curclcis air of self-confidence he
stood regarding his unwilling but haughty
antagonist with a smile of contempt, as he
proudly signified to the emperor his readi
ness to commence the conflict which was
to add another lo the already innumerable
crimes ot JNero. l lio other was a Goth
who. for some pretended offence, had in
curred the disploasuto of Nero, and by his
order condemned to fight the skilful Gladi
ator before himself and the populace. He
scorned to he a man some years past the
meridian of life, and his furrowed checks
and silvery locks gave evident proof of
past care and soirow. Without exhibiting
tho least sign of fear or trepidation, he in
formed tho lictor of his willingness to begin
tho combat, nt (he same lime he cast one
farewell lingering look, towards' (tie assem
bly of people, as if expecting to behold
some loved one for the last time, but in
stantly ho turned away, disappointed at not
meeting tho familiar countenance of the one
expected. Tho populace where now evi
dently moved to sympathy at the appear
unco of the venerable combalant his gray
hairs, wrinkled brow, majestic air, and no
ble bearing, all conspired to excite to a-
rouse the dormenl feelings of humanity, in
favor of the prisoner, and loud murmurs of
disapprobation might be distinctly heard to
issue from the gallery. In a short time the
wotds of "Down with the tyrant 1" "Let's
slay the murderer 1" wore successively
wafted to the ears of tho affrighted Nero,
who, foaming at the mouth, now arose and
exclaimed "By Jupiter ! the slave that
speaks shall fight himself now silence,
fools, and let the fight commence.
At these words, Majesticus, the prisoner,
started from his revery, His whole frame.
which before had appeared so calm, was
distorted with rago fire flashed from
his hitherto dull black eye turning to the
citizens.he exclaimed, "Romans and friends!
listen while 1 tell you tho cause of this;
have ye daughters? I had one and I loved
her, but tho tyrant "
"Attack him, Sextns !" excloimed the
Gladiator, fearing some sudden disclosure.
Scarcely had the command been given
when the hireling slave, already tired of
the long delay, rushed with an impetuous
attacked upon his unpracticed opponent.
The shock though unexpected was received
by the victim in a mauner worthy of a more
experienced swordsman; at he same time
recovering, he inflicted upon the neck of
the slave a wound which caused him to
stagger streaming with blood, across the
arena. Loud shouts of applause now rent
the theatre, and the Goth, astonished at his
own success, followed up his advantage and
repealing his blow, brought the Roman to
his knee. All were now on tho tip-toe of
expectation loud cries ef "Slay the vill
ian," now burst from tho seats, and the
sword of the prisoner was raised high above
the head of his enemy, to perform the wish
of the people! Silence deep and death-like
now pervaded the whole assembly: the fall
en Gladiator stared his conqueror in the
face with sullen malignity; the emperor
pale as a corpse, his eves starting out of
their sockets looked down upon llio pair un
able to open his quivering lips he gasped
as if the last hope was severed.
"liy Heaven '." atjast, he . exclaimed- to
Seneon "hyheavcn ! he shall not dio
bafiled not done slain by an ignoble
Goth. By Mars ! it is too bad," and in
order to arrest the attention of Majesticus,
and save his favorite in a loud voice exclaim
ed, "What, ho! Majesticus!"
At the mention of his name, tho Goth
suddenly turned towards the speaker, when
the agile Sexlus sprang lo his feot.and with
renewed vigor continued tho combat with
so much dexterity as to gain the advantage
in a few passes, for the Goth not expecting
such a movement, now acted entirely on
tho defensive. The emperor smilled mali
ciously as he perceived the affect of his ar
tifice. The skill of the Gladiator was now
brought to bear, and tho inequality of tho
combatants was clearly perceivable, for the
strokes of Majesticus waxed fainter and
fainter at every blow of his antagonist, who
emboldened by his success,and confident of
victory, diiected his blows Willi more skill
and certainty.
"Cursed treachery !" cried the Goth, as
covered wilh wounds and streaming with
blood, he nerved his arm to the utmost, and
summoning his remaining strength, he aim
ed ono desperate blow at the breast of his
opponent, who, skilfully avoiding the pass,
at the sumo time he plunged his weapon,
Semce Capulo, into the heart of his victim!
The tumult in the gallery increased. The
emperor prepared hastily to depart a
shriek, loud and heart-rending, now burst
upon ihe ears of tho spectators! and a fe
male appoaring at the eiilrpnce of the arena,
proclaimed at once the cause of the distur
bance, Sho was beautiful in tho extreme I
palo and marbled like, she stood like a
statue regarding the Gladiators. Her tires'
was of spotless whilo simplu,but arranged
With u taste of extreme neatness, and her
jet black hair hung in loose fastoons nrarly
down to her very feet. At last, rciovering
from her petrifaction, she rushed between
the combatants just as Sextus had wiln
drawn bio fatal weapon, who aiming to re
peat his blow, to make death more cer
tain, dyed his blade again in the blood of .
innocence:
"Father!" raurmurel the dying girl as the
red blood stained her spotless garments
"father ! I am dying ! bless me, father.ere I
die."
"Ha! my child it is it is my Mina
tyrant villain ! ha! ha! ha!" exclaimed
the dying father, in a voice of distracted a
gony, and staggering back, he fell on the
arena a lifeless corpse, embracing even in
death the inanimate form of his martyred
daughter. The ajscmblr again broke
forth in rebellious epithets against the em
peror, and some were hastily approaching
to put their threats in execulion.when Nero
warned by Seneca of his danger, retreated
amid curses of the rable, by a backway to
his palace.
CHAPTER II.
"Twa3 midnight. The emperor hail
long since retired to his apartment. He
lay upon his couch, wrapped in irregular
slumbers, and annoyed by unwelcome
dreams. "Ha! ha! ha!" exclaimed he in
his sleep, "see she dies! ha, is sho hie
daughter? then I am avenged no let a
slave learn how to thwart a Ctctar what!
blood? Yes! blood a Cteser's blood? No
me blood of the haled Goth!"
The roars or the tumult, occasioned by
the enraged people.were now wafted lo the
ears of the murderer tho monarch of
Rome who awakening, and springing
from his couch, hastily put on his armor',
and stood in the centre of the apartment.the
very picture of terror and dismay.
"Ha, Vindiqus ! slave ! ha ! dost thou
sleep when a Ctcsar calls?" cries ths teri
fied Nero.
" I await your commands," answered a
tall youth entering to the emperor. Ho
was a young man just ripening into man
hood, dressed in the g&tb of the common
slave, but his prominent features and ths
dark clusters of cutly ringlets, which hung
in rirh profusion round his shoulder?, pro
claimed him to hive been born, ofjjBblsr
parentage. Having made his obeisance to
tho emperor,he retired towards Ihe window
which overlooks the principle street in
front of the palace; and had the emperor
observed more closely, he might have seen
him clutch frantically a dagger, which was
but partially concealed in his bosom.
"See'st thou any thing ?" asked Nero,ir
a voice rendered scarcely audible by fear;
"see'st thou any thing? for ho sako of
Rome, what means this uproart"
A 3mile of triumph lighted up the palo
features ef the emperor, and said "Fly,
sire! fly! there is no time to spare 'tis
Vindex, the Gaul fly, sire! fly! feHewetl
by the people and the Prcetorian guards he
approaches tho palace fly! sire fly!" ex
claimed again and again the youth impetu
ously. "Fly! slave? fly from whom? a Caesar
fly? By tho Gods! if thou darest utter that
word again, I'll cleave thee in two!"
Tho noise increased now to a ten-fold de
gree. The emperor trembled the shouts of
the mob could now be distinctly heard
nearer they approached the palace. Nero
retired to the window. "Ho, the tyrant!
down wilh the tyrant !" exclaimed tha
Gaul without, as he endeavored to force an
entrance into the palace. Alarmed for his
immediate safety, Nero approached tho
6ave, and aflfeotieaately laying his hand on
his shoulder, tiaid in a voice as mild as fear
would permit "Vindicus! dost thou lova
thy master?"
"Dost doubt thy slave, siro?" answered
the youth emphatically.
"By heaven, I do not ! but see tha
whole of Rome is against me. The Preeto-
rian band and Burrhus, and all, aro ungrate
ful rabble assist me now, slave! and com
mand a Ciesar hereafter. Nay be quick,''
reiterated Nero, as tho tumult without in
creased, "or 'twill bo too lote. Say, slave
cans't thou not holp? is there no asiistauce?
hast thou no safety?"
"I have!" muttered Vindicu.
"What?"
,lThisl" whispered the slave through
his clenched teeth, drawing from his bosom
the hidden dagger.
"What meanest thou,slave?" asked Nero
in ap alarmed voice.
"To save my master!" was tho cold re.
spouse, "bay, sire! dost recollect tha
Goth the Gladiator'"