The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-31


first he nearly resolved not to address HIM; but
the stranger had not proceeded many steps when
Herman stood before him, and exclaimed, MI
Everard, have you forgotten me-" The En-
ghshman, who had come there to examine the
mines, did not, indeed, recognize at once, IN the
emaciated being who addressed him, the young
and gallant Count AlbertI, whom he had known
at Vienna, as one of the bravest and most ac
complished men of the coart. Who would not
have been struck at such a contrast Who
could have refused to grant the request that Her
man made? He entreated Mr.. Everard to en-
able him to remove his infant from the mines,
and to deliver him to the care of the old count
ess. The generous Englishman hesitated not to
comply with his wishes but his heart and soul
were interested in the cause when Alberti con-
Quoted him to the hut, and he beheld the pale
and slender Blanch bending over her sick infant
like dropping lilly, preserving, in the midst OF
toll and misery all the sweet and delicate graces
of virtuous and high-born female; when her
beseeching and melancholy smiles, and her voice,
like mournful music, pleaded for her infants life.
Mr. Everard left the mines Immediately, to
seek the means of the child's removal; but had
no sooner reached the small village which is
nearest to the mines, than person arrived at the
post-house there, express from Vienna, anxiously
nquiring if Albert or his wife were still alive.
In few hours after, another person arrived,
with the same haste, and on the same errand;-
they were, the one, near relation of Blanch;
the other, Albertis fellow soldier and most init
mate friend. Pardon had been at length granted
to the young exile at the petition of the general
officer whom he had wounded, and he was re-
called by the empress herself to the court OF vi
emma.
The bearers of these happy tidings immediate
ly descended into the mines. As they approach
ed Alberti's hut, the light which glimmered thro'
some apertures in the shattered door, induced
them ~ look af its before thev entered
Though dressed in dark, garment, and
wasted away to an almost incredible slightness,
still enough of her former loyelincss remained to
tell them that the pallid female they beheld was
the young countess; and the heart admired her
more, as she sat leaning over her husband, and
holding up to his kisses her small infant, her
dark hair carelessly parted, and bound round
her pale brow, seeming to live but in her hus-
bands love; than when elegance We'd with SPLEEN
dor in her attire-when her hair sparkled with
diamonds, and, in full health and beauty, she
was the one Gazed at and admired in the midst
of the noblest and fairest company of Vienna.
The door was still unopened, for Blanch had
begun to sing, and had chosen song which her
hearers had last listened to in her own sperdid
saloon on the last night she mad sung there; the
soft, complaining notes of her voice had seemed
out Of place there, where all was careless mirth
and festivty, but its tone suited to that dark
solitude-it was like the song of hope in the cave
of despair.
The feelings of Blanch, as she assembled slowly
in the miners bucket, from the dark mine, can
not be describe; she had unwillingly yielded to
her husbands entreaties, that she should be first
drawn up, and, with her infant in her bosom,
her eyes shaded with a thick veil, and supported
by the surveyor Of the mines, she gradually rose
from the horrible depths, the dripping danps that
hung round the cavern, fell upon her, but she
needed them net; once she looked up at the pale,
pure star of light, far, far above her, but imme-
diately after, She bent down over her infant, and
continued without moving or speaking. Several
times the bucket swayed against he sides of the
shaft, and Blanch shuddcred, but her companion
calmly steadied it; and at last she was lifted out
upon the ground; she did not look up; she only
rose to lsncel, and she continued kneeling, till
she heard the bucket that contained her husband
approaching; the chains creaked, and the bucket
swung, as it stopped above the black abyss
Even now there was danger, the chance OF great
danger; it was necessary for Herman to remain
immoveable; at the highest certainty of hope,
he mi ght yet be plunged at ence into the yavning
depths below. Blanch felt this, and stirred not,
not feature of her face altered; she held in her
breath convulsively-she saw, through her thick
veil, the planks drawn over the cavern's mouth
she saw Herman spring from the bucket ;-some
one caught her child, as, stretching forth her
arms to her husband, she fell senseless ON the
ground There were some hearts that sorrowed
over the departure OF the young Alberti and his
wife from the mines Of ldria. The wretched
miners, with whom they had lived So long, had
learned to love them, at time when too many
heart had almost forgotten to love, and to hope;
had learned from their kind counsel, but more,-
oh, much mere!--from their example, to shake
off the dreadful bands of despair, and daily to
seek, and to find, a peace which passeth all I'M
Outstanding. Herman and Blanch had taught
them to feel how happy, how cheerful thing
religion is Was it surprising, then, that at his
departure, his poor companions should crowd
around him, and weep with mourful gratitude,
as he distributed among them his working tools,
and the simple furniture of his small hut: Was
it surprising, that Blanch and her husband, as
they sat on the green hillsthat surrounded their
country residence, with clear blue SKY above
them, and the summer-breeze bringing with it
full tides of freshness, and fragrance from the
orange-trees around them, watching the pure
rose-colour which had begun to tinge their in
fant's fair cheek was it surprising, that they
should turn, with feelings of afectinate ow,
to the dark and dreary mines of ldria
must not forget to mention that Herman and
his wife were publicly reinstated in all their
fornec titles and possessions. short time after
their return to Vienna, they made their first APP
pearance at court for that purpose. All the royal
command, all the Princes and mobiles of Austria,
gorgeously dressed, and blazing with gold and
Jewels, were assembled. Through the midst of
these, guiding the steps of his feeble and
BILE old mother, Albert advanced to the throne;
a deep blush seemed fixed upon his manly fea
lures, and the hand which supported his infi m
parent, trembled more than the one which he
tenderly clasped in his; the empress herself hung
the order of the golden fleece round his neck,
and gave into his hands the sword which he had
before forfeited; but, she did so, her tears fell
upon the golden scabbard, the young soldier in
stantly kissed them with quivcring lips. And
now every eye was turned to the wife of Albert,
who, with her young child sleeping in her arms,
and supported by the undetermined general, who
had Obtained her husbands pardon, next approach
ed. Blancli had not forgotten that she was still
only the wife of an Idrian miner, and no costly
ornament adorned her simple dress-not a tinge
of colour had yet returned to her checks of mar
BILE paleness, and shadowy langour still re
manned about her large hazel eyes; her delicate