Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-11-19

white garments TO the very floor of til,
chamber; and as the clear light of III,
silver lamp shone upon the pale anc
sculpture like beauty of Ida, and the
dark convulsed features of her father
they seemed like the impersonations
of Pity and Revenge.
There was a moments pause, and
Rosenheim, throwing aside his pistol.
suddenly raised his daughter from the
ground, clasped her passionalely to
his heart, burying his face in the pro-
fusion of her tresses, as he wept upon
her shoulder. "Ida! Ida!" he whisp-
Fered, "my daughter, wilt thou not save
thy father my fate is in thy hands
Otto Of Wolfenstein he alone knows
my guilt-he alone is the possessor of
my inheritance, and he asks but thy
hand, Ida-thy love, Ida!-answer
me-" What, am | the murderer Of
my child" he exclaimed, as her head
fell powerless on his arm, and her
cold white hands released their clasp
ing hold. Calling aloud for help, he
laid her on couch near him, and pour
ing curses on himself he knelt by her
side till, by the assistance of her maid
ems, the blue eyes of the devoted girl
once more opened TO consciousness,
and bursting into tears, she threw her
self fondly into his trembling arms.
Some days passed away, and Ida,
whose sweet and lovely nature could
not resist her fathers pleadings, family
gave her consent TO receive Otto as her
future husband. But she soon found
there must be no delay. The ardent
lover himselffxed the day; and to Ida,
whose nameless apprehensions of her
future lord increased every moment, it
came too soon.
On the eve of the bridal, as she sat
alfred for the banquet, awaiting her
fathers summons, the death bell struck
upon her ear, and from her attendant
she heard that it was for the Baroness
Theresa, the cousin ofthe Count Otto
who had that day sunk in the freshness
of her youth beneath the destroying
Pestilence. Ida felt cold chill at her
heart as she listened to these words,
and in the splendor of the festival they
were not forgotten. Count Otto pre-
sented her TO the assembled guests as
his intended bride; and with courtly
grace, as she entered, he kneIt at her
feet, and clasping a diamond bracelet
on her white arm muueled-"Ida! may
this bridal gift be with thee even in
death, unchanging as the love Of Ouo!"
She smiled, and the accompanying
blush gave to her innocent beauty
radiance with which it seldom spark
led. As soon as she reached her
chamber she unclasped the bracelet to
examine lis gorgeous, yet delicate
workmanship, and amid the rich fila
greed gold of its enamelled clasp, read
the name of Theresa Wolfenstein!
Morning came, bright and glorious,
and early was the hour when Ida of
Rosenheim was to plight her faith to
the gallant Otto, and her attire maid
ems entered her chamber with smiles
and eager steps, bearing the bridal gar
ments, and @rialveil: the lady sat upon
a low couch, seemingly asleep, her
head resting on her arm: she still wore
the white satin robe in which she had
been alfred the preceding evening, but
its full and graceful folds were much
disordered, the jewelled clasps of her
bodice were torn asunder, and the
delicate lace which shielded her fair
neck seemed as if rent from it in a
convulsive struggle. Her hair had
fallen from Its confinement, and hid
her face as she lay: her favourite maid
en- gathered up her long curls, and
looking down uttered one shrilIing
shrek, and fell senseless on the floor.
Decay and death were on the features
then disclosed, and the angel of the
pestilence had poured forth the vial Of
its wrath on the last descendant of the
House of Rcsenbeim.
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