Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BY
I S A A C IE L S o.
SECOND EDITlOI'f.
CINCINNATI:
PUBLISHED FOR T!lJ AUTH R
1 5 . .•
• ..
C. A. UORGAN ., 00.
IlfaaaOTTP.&:aS Al'{D PUBL18U.a8,
SAKlIIOlf:D 8TU.s'J'.
TO TIlE
AURORA, INDIANA:
TIT&
( iii)
.PREFACE.
CHAPTER I.
The melancholy Nun-Her soliloquy, and repinings-Colloquy-
The Superior of the Oonvent abruptly enters, having overheard
heretical remarks, and rebukes with severity- Thoughts on
nature and reason.
ing key that ran through one's head like tho filing of
a crosscut saw: "Do say, Mrs. Glenn, have you had
the exquisite pleasure of making the acquaintance of
the Right Rev. Dr. Dupin 1"
"I've seen the fellow; " replied the lady addressed,
not altogether in her usual tone of civility.
"Seen the fellow!" iterated Fanny testily, and
appearing quite shocked at the irreverence. of Mrs.
Glenn, "upon my word! I thought you could appre-
ciate character better than that: why, let me assure
you, I esteemed it an extreme felicity, to make his
acquaintance! "
." A sprinkle, I imagine, of what the clergy can
extreme unction! "
"What irreverence! really you are sacrilegious,
Mrs. Glenn! "
"I respect all great and good men, Miss Willow;
but as for your immaculate saint, Dupin, I can seein
him nothing amiable, or praiseworthy, much less to
reverence and adore."
" La! me! Mrs. Glenn, how singular you are! If
there's a saint on the top of the green earth, allowing
me to speak poetically, Mr. Dupin is one."
"Talking of the green earth, Miss Willow, allow
me to suggest there are some things greener than it."
" I understand that insinuation perfectly! It's not
every willow that's green, let me tell you - there's a
species called the golden willow- I have the honor of
belonging to that tribe."
"I discover you have red hair."
DANGER IN 'l'HE DARK. 35
"I'm well satisfied it's not green."
" There '6 a peculiar color called invisible green."
"There's no invisible green about me, I'll have
you understand."
"True enough, its all visible-at least to the men-
tal vision."
"Thank you for the compliment I I'm fully con-
vinced you're no judge of character, Mrs. Glenn.
Everybody admits that the Rev. Mr. Dupin is a rare
specimen of human perfection."
"No doubt, eueh. specimens ofpcrfection are rare I"
" I wonder anyone of good taste can help admiring
his winning ways, and his solemn face, which bas so
much of heaven in its look I His very expression
makes me think of eternity I 'i/< 'if. 'i/< 'i/< How it hap-
pens that I'm such a favorite of his I never could
tell-his partialities for me are very peculiar I What
a discerner be must be of character I And you'd
better believe he's as sly and cunning as a fox; he
put me up to a plan of persuading young ladies away
from the Protestant schools, and inducing them to
attend the Catholic institution, that showed he knew
a thing or two about human nature. I've almost got
Sally Tompkins in the notion of leaving the Seminary
to go to St. Mary's; and if no mischief-making per-
son interferes, I 'm quite sure she will."
" It would be dreadful, should some mischief-maker
have the temerity to interfere in the case, and prevent
your success in such a charitable and praiseworthy
undertaking; for certainly, to assist holy priests in
36 DANGER IN THE DARK.
'" .. '*'
Separated from him she loved, and associated with
uncongenial spirits, Anna Maria was unhappy, rest-
less and discontented: days, weeks and months passed
tardily by - but still, situated as she was, the dark
cloud of superstition was by degrees gathering and
thickening upon the sky of her mind. Persuaded
that the austerity she practiced, tended to spiritualize
her nature and purify the soul, she dealt most severely
with herself; and began to regard every clement of
enjoyment, as opposed to a religious life, and every
pleasure, a source of temptation, endangering the
sonl's salvation I Therefore she turned away from all
that appeared delightful and cheering, and sought to
wed herself to misery.
Before the expiration of the period assigned her for
consecration, an epidemic prevailed in the city, sweep-
ing its hundreds into the grave. Among the number
that were hurried from the stage of action, were Mrs.
Gerard, Anna Maria's mother, and the 'parents of
Arabella May. When the sad intelligence of her
mother's death reached the ears of Anna Maria, it had
the effect to increase the melancholy state of her
mind; the strongest tie that bound her to earth being
now broken, she was more than ever inclined to seclu-
sion, a life of self-denial, austerity and gloom.
64 DANGER IN THE DARK.
"I know not that your eye will ever light upon the
frail words now being traced by this trembling hand;
'1
90 D.ANG~R IN THE DAKK.
II My DEARDR. DupIN:-
" You need no further assurance from me, than
what you have already had, that I am your fast
. d, and the devoted friend of the Oatholic church;
Ithough not a Jesuit, yet doing all I can to bene-
llt the order, and increase its influence among Pro-
testants_" . "
" A lie I a lie I"exclaimed Twist, in a desperate
rage, "I never wrote such words; it's but a device
of the devil, or somebody worse, to defeat my elec-
tion."
"Be patient, Mr. Twist; hear it all."
"No, I swear I won't I it's a lie hatched in hell to
ruin my reputation! "
"Wait, Mr. Twist; come, don't get into a pucker,
you must hear it through."
" G~t out of the door - I'll stay no longer."
"Hold on to his coat-tail, Burbanks, until I read
him the balance of this affectionate epistle."
"I've got him; read away."
The Squire again reads:
"It has been my misfortune to be reared a Pro-
testant; but no confidence have I in the Protestant
religion, nor in the free institutions of this country.
10
· 130 DANGER IN THE DARK.
*
After the lapse of several weeks, Isadora returned
to the convent with her mind made up to dissemble;
hoping that, by feigning penitence and a spirit of
submission, she might have granted her such priv-
ileges in the convent, as would afford her the chance
of enticing away Anna Maria. She was met at the
convent gate, by the Abbess, whose pardon she hum-
bly~raved; alleging insanity as the cause of her dis-
obedience, and the great crime she had committed in
injuring the priest; ~he also promised implicit obedi-
ence; if they would but permit her again to enter the
cloister.
The Superior informed her that it was necessary
first to ask the advice of Mr. Dupin; and bade her
go and return on the morrow; at which time she
could have an answer.
* • ~ * * * * *
Dupin, being informed of Isadora's penitence, and
,
proposition to return to the convent discovered a dia-
bolical pleasure, and rejoiced in the prospect of being
afforded an opportunity to be revenged.
DANGER IN THE DARK. 149
"Admit her," said he to the Superior, " but give
~er no hint that I intend wreaking my holy vengeance•
..'Onher gui' ead, lest"!lhe~eter»ed. and escape my
fury. Give the reprobate a cordial' welcome to the
cloister; then et me be notified, and I will come and
deal with her as she deserves. An eye for an eye! '
he growled significantly, in an undertone, as he
• tutned away, putting on a look of dire revenge.
On the following day, Isadora again appeared at
the convent gate; the Abbess greeted her with a
hypocritcal smile, and gave her a cordial welcome,
!laying:
" It gives me infinite pleasure, dear one, to see you
so penitent, and anxious to return to this place of
holy rest. Your confessor too, is overjoyed to hear that
you regret your error, and have become obedient."
Seeking out Anna Maria, whom she found in com-
pany with Arabella May, Isadora embrac d them
tenderly, and without giving them time. to congratu-
late her upon her return, said:
"Will you allow me, my loves, to say a word to
you in confidence! " •
" We will," they each replied.
"Shall I have the utmost confidence that you will
not betray me ~"
"You may," was the quick response.
"Then I 'Jl speak freely to you both, and without
reserve unbosom my thoughts and wishes."
"Talk in a low tone," whispered Maria, "for
these apartments sometimes . have ~..,..,"
.,....,.
150 DANGER IN 'I'HE DARK.
can bestow!
.
DANGER IN 'rHE DARK. 151
The giddy' cup of pleasure exhllsrates
for a time - but if to sip it we must incur ete~~l
sorrow,can we think of putting it to our lips 1 0, no;
let us dash it from us, and consent to a life of obscu-
rity, sorrow, and sighing, that we may gain hea-ven
'!thereafter."
, '( "Arabella, with what impatience," said Anna
Maria, "have we thus far endured this imprisonment!
we have felt it to be intolerable; at best we here ren-
der but an unwilling obedience."
"Alas! I know we have been recreant, and guilty
of murmuring against providence; but forced obedi-
ence, is better than to disobey."
" I 'm not so sure of that; true, a forced obedience
to civil law, may be better for the community than
disobedience; but at the same time, those who obey
the commands of law through sheer constraint, and
only to avoid the penalty, deserve no praise; there is
surely nothing meritorious in such obedience."
"Be not deceived, Maria, we have taken volunta-
rily these weighty vows upon us, and we must learn
to endure the life they impose. Were every day of
our life on earth full of sunshine, and replete with
thrilling pleasures, when past, it would be but a
golden dream, a gilded vision I and what would the
splendid enchantment be worth, when succeeded by
an unending night; sunless, moonless, starless night I
Better far, our whole livesbe a continued scene of dark-
ness,poverty, and pain, if thereby we escape perdition."
152 DANGER IN THE DARK.
"But why should such a life conduce to our salva-
tion ~ that is the question."
" The reason, we cannot give, but divinely commis-
sioned priests teach us, that voluntary suffering is the
most acceptable service in the sig~t of God that mor-
tals can render."
"So taught not the Saviour of the world;"
remarked Isadora, "but rather the doing of good to
our fellow-beings, visiting the fatherless and widows
in their afflictions, clothing the naked, feeding the
hungry, visiting the imprisoned, and ever delighting
to administer to the poor and needy. 'As oft' said
the blessed Redeemer, 'as ye did it unto one of these,
ye did it unto me.' Unhappy souls I " she continued,
gazing upon them with a look that betokened deep
emotion of heart, while her eyes filled with glistening
tears, "how to feel for you, well do I know: the cruel
chains that bind your faculties, once fettered mine;
but alas! how difficult to strike from the soul the
m nacles of superstition! Oh why should the enjoy-
ment of earthly blessings, be thought incompatible
with a life of holiness! No longer, I entreat yon,
turn away from the innocent pleasures which your
pure, warm hearts 80 much crave; fear not forfeiting
heaven by making yourselves happy. If the pleasures
of sense, as priests pretend, corrupt the soul and lead
to perdition, why is it that such austerity as you are
required to practice, is not enjoined upon all '! Why
is not the monastic life necessary to save other Oath-
DANGER IN THE DARK. 153
olics as well as you ~ How do priests themselves
escape the deleterious effects, corrupting and damning
influences of worldly enjoyment and sensual pleas-
ures ~ They teach self-denial to others, but when do
they practice it themselves ~ They would have us
believe, that such as are called to be saints, and to
seclude themselves from the world, are favorites of
heaven- and should rejoice in being accounted
worthy to forego all earthly happiness for heaven's
sake, and the enjoyment of eminent seats in the
realms of glory on high I At the same time, how-
ever, are disposed to take for themselves no small
portion of comfort in this world, even if it should be
at the expense of getting less in the next. They prom-
ise you heaven upon the hardest possible conditions,
but go themselves' on flowery beds of ease.'''
The conversation was now broken off by the appear-
ance of Dupin, who taking Isadora by the hand said
to her, "Go with me to the confessional;" and he led
her forth, down a winding stairway to a subterraneous
cell, the door to which fastened by a spring lock, and
could only be opened from the outside. Isadora had
yet made no resistance, but fearful apprehensions and
a terrible foreboding seized upon her mind, and she
felt that her insanity was returning upon her with a
sudden stroke. As Dupin flung back the door, Isa-
dora discovered the Abbess within, arranging instru-
ments of torture. In a moment her brain was on fire,
and a reckless madness rushed upon her I With it
came the supernatural strength of the maniac; sud-
12
154 DANGER IN 'fIlE DARK.
provement,"
206 DANGER IN THE DARK.
*
The arrest of Mrs. Foresti-tbe manner of it:-the
heartless proceedings of the Inquiaition-s-hersentenee
and execution, present too dark and revolting a pic-
ture to dwell upon. Tbe reader will gladly excuse
me from tbe painful task of minute description, and
no doubt be gratified tbat I do not bere draw aside the
curtain to exhibit all the horrid features of the barbar-
ous scene, and set forth in detail the heart-sickening
tragedy. The fate of Mrs. Foresti was that of many
otbers in papal countries, who have had the misfor-
ture to fall into the hands of Inquisitors.
DANGER IN THE DARK, 215
Wi'th miraculous fortitude and unparalleled heroism
she endured the cruel death to which she was con-
denmed by the Spiritual Court, When led to the
stake, she said:
" To die thus is nothing to the thonght of having
my two precious little daughters torn away, to be cast
into a convent, robbed of their innocence, and become
the sla~('s of degraded and brutal priests I"
The heretical books found in l\er possession, the
'-
reading and concealing of which constituted her
offense, helped to light the flames that consumed her
body.
Her estate was eonflscated, and became the property
of the Church. The informants received their reward,
and were soon aft,er promoted: Bedini being sent
Internuncio to Brazil, and Dupin a missionary to the
United States,
CHAPTER XVIII.
Bedini recalled from Brasil in disgrace - Re-establishga 11: mself in
favor with the Papal Court by acting the spy-Proves traitor to
the Republic-Is guilty of the death of Ugo Bassi.
, . ili*
try. and this circumstance must render it still more
unsafe and unwise, for Protestants to patroDlze
236 DANGER IN THE DARK.
THE END.