The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-29
WHOLE NO. 2sl.

dits iS w bS tuC tllh VI TIC HOuSC W <tibStti
Your only son, my beloved Conrod, The chic
Of our hopes, viii he prove a shame to his IA.
theirs namel II is well you are not here, il
is enough TINT | survive to witness our dis
grace g Ernest viii never disgrace you,'
cried Blanca, eagerly. 1--WE know him much
better" she added, clasping the trembling
hands Of the Countess, with tender affection ;
= there Is much to be explained in this story,
Dear rash Ernest" she ialtered, leaning on
her mothers shoulder, and burst into tears
T"We know him better, he may be wild and
faulty, but he will never disgrace any one"
He never will, you are right" replied the
Countess, ~ spoke hastily. ought to hope,
fought to believe, better things Of my beloved
son. Daughter Of my love, | was very wrong
to doubt him for moment; you judge him
rightly, Bless you, bless you, my sweet
Bianca.n
Albert had been indeed brought to Vienna
among the banditti Of I<tria every proof was
strong against him. He was condemned 10
be broken on the wheel, and there seemed no
hope that the sentence would be miigated.-
Ernest himself told an improbable story about
his not being connected with the bandits; but
nobody listened to it, and he mentioned it no
"ots' DiaiiSu anu AtS HultitI ulu bClicNG uitls
The account was perfectly true.
!. The Countess Albert, with her young and
lovely friend, used every exerion to prevent
his execution, but the verdic, appeared irrevo-
cable The day, the dreadful day Of death
was liked, and they implorcd an audience Of
the Empress; the aged mother. the betrothed
wife lay at her feet in speechless agony ; they
chung TO her in the delirium Of their grief
Their gentle sovereign wept with them, she
endeayored to console them; but although her
whole frame trembled, and her voice faItered
with agitation as she replied to their entrcaties,
her answer left them quite hopeless. They
obtained, however, permission 10 see the pri-
soner before his execution, and even this had
hitherto been denied to every one.
An unforeseen circumstance saved the life
Of Alber,i. The captain OF the banditi, who
had not been taken with his companions,
heard that Ernest was condemned TO die. He
had been once man of honor himself; and
he gave himself up to justice, and proved
clearly that the Count had not joined his band,
and had always Indignantly refused when
asked to join it. The sentence was therefore
changed, and the noble and gallant Count kr-
nest was condemned in the prime of youthful
manhood to become workman for life, in the
quicksilver mines OF Idria.
The first surprise,whch made known to the
aged Countess her sons safety, was joyful
but her grief soon returned as she thought
Upon the dreadful termination which awaited
al! her hopes for him. But Blanca was young
md ardent, and the worst that would happen
was a joy to her. She devoted her whole
heart, and every energy Of her mind, to plan
which she instantly resolved to execute. which
was to accompany her betroihed and share
his imprisonment Not only The mother Of
Count Albert, but even the Empress herself
endeavored to dissuade the lovely Blanca from
such rash resolution. They pictured to her
that she would by such an act deprive herself
OF her own title and fortune--that the moment
she married Albert,her estates and title would
BIO forfeited to the crown, and she be the sim
pie wife of an Idian miner and that she
would be obliged 70 perform even the duties
of mental servant to her husband.
"Couniess Blanca of Florenheim," con-
tinued the Empress, " can you dare to under
take such sacrifice Are you aware that
your mind may now he upheld by an uncertain
enthusiasm Have you thought upon the
drear dull calm of poverty, and decaying |
health Do you feel assured thar when The
first tumultuous feelings have worn themselves
out, when there are none around TO wonder at
your extraordinary devotion to Albert, when
your name will he almost forgotten indeed, by |
all but u few friends whom you will never
behold again, do you think that you will then
rejoice at the decision you have made? When
perhaps your husband may be dying in the
Of age, with no attendant but weak
helpless wife, who may be then too i'll even
TO stand beside him then what will your
feelings he - The Empress repeated her
question, for the words which preceded it had
absorbed Bianca's thoughts. She pictured to
herself the young and vigorous Ernest wasting
away, dying IN her presence she forgot her
self, and all hut his sulferings. Slowly she
raised her head as the Empress again ad-
dressed her. What will my feelings be
All can scarcely imagine what they will
be. Sorrow, certainly sorrow, but only for
him, that must be the pervading feeling at
such moment Happiness her whole face
frightened with smiles as she spoke, real
JOY on my own account, to know that am
with him then. to hope, to believe, that shall
soon be with him for euer." Blanca continued
to speak, and it was evident that her mind
had anticipated and dwell on the mistries that
awaited the wit, of Albert.
Maria Theresa listened TO her with pro-
found attention she asked once again. /" Do
you determine to follow Ernest Albert 10 the
mines Of ldria as his wife, and to resign Your
rank and possessions" Bianca sunk on her
knee. she raised her clasped hands, and ex-
claimed, 81 am but too favored by God and
my sovereign, if may follow him. resign
my rank and properly with joy, with graft
lude" Again, once again, the Empress fixed
on Blanca an earnest and searching look, and
appeared to think deeply. II am satisfied
] am qni'e satisfied" she said at length, and
the sternness Of her look disappeared; 81
cannot countenance. but | shall not oppose