Delaware weekly advertiser and farmer's journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1827-1828, 1828-05-01
The bolts were undrawn.
sLift up the latch"

The baron troubled not himselfto inquire the
IS meaning ofthe ominous words Of the speakne,
i but obeyed the direction given, and entered.-
He found himself in spacious apartment, thai
] appeared to comprise the whole tenement. He
Y looked around for the foes he expected to meet,
: and started back with .astonishment
The only occupant Of the apartment was a Ia.
dy, the rich elegance of whose dress would have
attracted admiration, had not that feeling been
, engrossed by her personal loneliness. Her
white silk garment chung to a form modelled to
, perfecton, and was fastened at her waist BY
diamond clasp Of singular shape, for it represent.
ed couchant stag. "A similar ornament confn-
ed the long tresses of her hair, the jetty black.
ness Of which was as perfect as the opposite hue
of the brow they shaded. Her face was pale,
and her features were melancholy, but Of exquis-
itely tender beauty. She arose, as the baron
/ entered, from the velvet couch on which she
was seated. and with courteous smile motioned
him to a seat opposite her own. A table was
ready spread by its side, laden with Refreshments.
lie explained the cause ofllis coming. and apol-
ogized with great fervency for his rude mode Of
demanding admission.
"You are welcome" said the lady, again point.
ing to the vacant seat
Nothing could be more ordinary than these
three words, but the sound of her voice thrilled
through the hearers sense into his soul She
Resumed her seat, and he took the offered place.
He gazed arounds and was convinced, to his
amasement, that they were alone. Whence
then came the voice with which he had held
converse, and whence the uproarious laugh which
had first assailed his hearing There could not,
he felt certain, be another chamber under that
roof capable of containing such number Of
laughers. The dog, too, whose savage growl
had put him on his guard, where was hel The
baron was, however, too genuine a huntsman
to suffer either surprise admiration to prevent
him frnm doing Justice to the excellent meal be-
fore him, and to which his hostess invited him.
declining, however to partake with her guest
lie ate and drank, therefore; postponng his
meditations, except an anxious thought on the
situation Of his steed. "Poor Reinzaum," thought
he, "thou wilt suffer for my refrp shment. A
warm stable would be filter for thee than the
midnight dsmps which chill thee," and the bar.
on looked with infinite satisfaction on the blaz-
ing hearth, the ruddy CLEANS of which almost
eclipsed the softer light Of the brilliant lamp that
hung from the ceiling. As his appetite became
satisfied, his curiosity revived. Once or twice.
as he raised his eyes, he met the bright black
ones of his entertainer They were beautiful,
yet, without knowing why, he shrank from their
glance, for they had mol the pensve softness of
her features. He filled his goblet, and in the
most courteous terms drank the lady's health.--
She bowed her head in acknowledgment, aad
held 20 him small golden cup richly enchased.
lie filled it; she drank to him, replaced the cup,
and arose from her seat.
"rhis room," said she, "must be your lodg.
ing for the night FAREWELL
lie was about to speak. She interrupted him.
81 know what you would say-yes, we shall
meet again. Take this flower" she added,
breaking rose from wreath that twined around
her hair, in full bloom, though September had
commenced, and the flowers Of the gardens and
the fields were long. since dead; son the day
that it fades, you shall see me once more" She
then opened small door in the wainscot, and
closed it afterher. i
The baron felt no disposition to sleep, and
paced about the room, revolving the events Of
the evening. The silence ofthe hour was favor
able to such an employment, and the soft carpet
that covered the floor prevented even his own
footsteps from being heard, wearied with his
friitess nominations, he was beginning to relieve
himself from his lonely want of occupation, by
taking note--more infinitely than before-of the
handsome, though antique furniture of the apart.
nent, when his attention was claimed BY the
sounds ofa harp. A few bars only had been
played, when the music was sweetened by a
ioic e, the softest he ever heard. The words Of
he song applied too strikingly to himself to eEF
are his ear.
"wo to him whose footsteps rude
Break my fairy solitude
Wo to him whose fated grasp
Dares undo my portal claspl
Wotn him whose rash advance
Dooms him to my blighting glance!
In the greenwood shall he lie,
On the bloody heather die"
The voice and music ceased together, leaving
he baron oppressed with unwonted fears. When
he awoke, the ashes on the hearth were sparkless.
md the morning, casting away her gray mantle,
vas beginning TO dart her gayer beams through
he narrow windows. He perceived that the
loor through which his hostess had retired was
jar; he ventured to look through the door way.
md observed only closet, which was entirely
'mpty. lie opened the entrance door, and
ound his horse, which he had left tied in the
wood, ready for departure, and apparently in
EXCELLENT condition. stWoman or witch. ~ he
81 owe her good turn for this
Vow, Reinzaum, keep up thy credit" and,
bringing on his horses back, he pursued track
hat seemed TO lead in the direction he wisheds
nd, without aid of whip or spur, he was at
lochenstein in an hour.
His first act was to place the rose in vase Of
gater. Day by day he visited it, and found its
loom undated. When three months had pass-
d away, without any visible alteration in the
eauty Of the flower, he became less sensible of
he remembrances connected with il, and gazed
N Il with indifference. He even displayed it
o the inmates ofhis castle, and among others.
0 his only daughter, the death Of whose mother
ad left him a widower. Frederick was in her
cventh year, and within few days of its COM
letion. TO her earnest entreaties for the flow
T, her father promised it should be hers on her
irth-day. The child was oyerioyed at he idea
ia present, to which much importance was at
ached in her eyes; for the ever-blooming rose
'as the talk of the whole castle; and every hu.
ran creature in it, except its lord, oftesed MANY
onjectures respecting the flower all very ingen-
,us, and all very absurd. On the morning Of