Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-11
THE COUNTS DAUGHTER,
IN interesting tale Of the Debated Traveller
ny WASHINGTON IRVING,


ny WASHINGTON IRVING.
The Count was proud of his daughter.
accomplishment. and joined in the request
The young man made all effort at politcncss
and taking up the guitar presented it, thouel
in an embarrassed manner, to the fair musi.
clan. She would have declined it. but was
too much confused to do so; indeed she wa.
so nervous and agitatcd, that she darec
not trust her voice TO make an excuse. She
touched the instrument with falterng hand
and, after preludlng little, accompanied
herself in several Polish airs. Her father.
eyes glistencd as he gazed on her. Even the
crusty Caspar fingered in the room partly
through fondness for the music of his native
country, and chiefly through his pride in the
musician. Indeed the melody Of the voice
and the delicacy of the touch, were enough
to have charmed more fastidious ears. The
little Princess nodded her head and tapped
her hand to the music, though cxceedlngl y
out OF tune (; while the nephew sat buried in
ipro!und contemplation of a black picture on
the on the opposite wall. "And now,'
said the Count, patting her cheek fondly
Zone moro favor. Let the Princess hear
that little Spanish air you were so fond of
You can't Think" added be, "what proficicn.
cy she made in your language though she
has hcen sad girl and neglected it of late
The color flushed the pale cheek of the
daughter: she hesitated, murmurcd some.
thing; but with sudden effort collected her.
solf, struck the guitar boldly, and began. L
was Spanish romance with something O.
love and melancholy in it. She gave the
first stanzas with great expression, fer the
tremulous, melting tones of her voice wen
to her heart but her articulation failed, hel
lip quivered, the song died away, and she
burst into tears.
The Count folded her tcnderly in his arms
"Thou art not well my child" said he
"and | am tasking thee cruelty. Retire tc
| thy chamber and God bless thee" She
bowed to the company without raising hel
eyes, and glded out of the room.
The Count shook his head as tho door
closed. Something is the matter with that
child" said he, (which cannot divine. She
was alwas tender flower and | had much
pains to rear her. Excuse a fathers foolish
ness" continued he, "out have seen much
trouble in my family: and this poor girl is all
that is now left to me; and she used to be 50
lively"
"Nlay be she's in Lowell" said the little
Princess with shrcwd nod Of the head
"impossiblo replied the good Count art
cssly. She has never mentioned word OF
such thing to me-
Howlittlc did the worthy gentleman dream
Of the thousand cares and grief, and mighty
love concerns which agitate virgin heart,
and which timid girl scarce brcathes unto
herself.
The nephew of the Princess rose abrupt
ly and walked about the room.
When She found herself alone in her cham
Der, the feelings, of the young lady, so long
restrained, broke forth with violence. She
opened the easement, that the cool air might
blow upon her throbbng temples. Perhaps
there was some little pride or pique mingled
with her emotions; though her gentle nature
did not seem calculated to harbor any such
angry inmate.
"lie saw me wecp!" said she, with sud-
den mantling of the check, ard swelling
of the throat-'but no matter mo matter :
And so saying, he threw her white arms
across the'window frame, buried her face in
them, and abandoned herself to an agony of
tears. She remained lost in IA rcveric, until
tho sound Of her fathers and Caspar's voices
in the adjoining room gave token that the
party had retired for the night The lights
cleaning from window to window, showed
that they were conducting the Princess to her
apartment which was in the opposite wing
Of the inn, and she distinctly saw the figure
of the nephew as she passed one of the case
ments.
She heaved deep hcart-drawn sigh, and
was about to close the lattice, when her al
tention was caught by words spoken below
her window by two persons, who had lust
turned an angle of the building.
"But what will become of the poor vouno
lady 7" said voice which she recognized for
that of the servant woman.
"Pooh she must take her chance, was the
reply from old Pictro.
But -''.2.0-'. she be Sns.y,l ?" sr1,sl the
aner cntrcaiingly, "slc is so kind hearted p"
"Cospelto what has got into thee?, re-
piled the other petulently; "would your mar
the whole business for the sake of silly
girl" By this this time they had got so far
from the window that the Polonaisc could
hear nothing further.
There was something in this fragment of
conversation calculated to alarm. Did il re-.
late to herself!-and if so, what was the i'm
pending danger from which it was cntreated
that she might be sparedl She was sever
al times on the point of tapping at her faith
er's door, to tell him what she had heard.
but she might have heard indislincty; the
conversation might have alluded to some one
else; al any rate it was too indefinite to lead
to any conclusion. While in this state of
irresolution, she was startled by low knock
ing against the wanscot in a remote part of
her gloomy chamber. On holding up the
light she beheld small door there, which
she had not before remarked. II was boiled
on the inside. She advanced, and demand
cd, who knocked, and was answered in a
voice Of female domestic. Ga openino
the door, the woman stood before il, pale
and agita,ed. On opening the door. the wo-
man stood beforeit, pale and agltated. She
entered softly, laying her finger on her Inns