Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-02-04
pleasure at the remembrance of his lost He

But if she was perfdious," added he, cit
is all over now--I shall never see her again"
"That is well said, replied the unknown
" A man ought to show his spirit under such
circumstances, and despise the woman who
sought to dupe him."
81 shall certainly endeavor to forget her"
said Fritz, assuming a tone of resolution
" but in the mean time what am | to do 2"
"That is a very wise question:" replied
the stranger "you must be guided by cir
cumstances: but in the mean time allow
me to offer you little Rhenish wine, which,
they say, possesses great powers of inspira-
ton
"With all my heart" said Fritz. eve
shall say a few words to that excellent COM
paion, they call Rhensh wine"
They drank and talked, and talked and
drank. Fritz could never afterwards recall
to his memory how so sudden friendship
had sprung up between him and his Scotch
friend. Neither could he tell how he had
signed the papers which his companion had
presented to him, or why he had refused the
gold which his comrade had offered him
and, above all, after having fallen asleep
upon chair in the little inn, he had awoke
in the barracks.
When they placed upon him the cockade
of the Prince, he found it impossible to re-
press his Just Indignation. Wear the colors
of the Prince-the man who had robbed
him of his happiness At this idea the
blood rushed to the face of Fritz. His dig
nifty had received a check, which years a
lone could blot out.
He threw down the piece of money and
the cockade, and trampled them under his
feet. Unhappily for him, this action did not
escape the vigilant eye of the corporal
Fritz was brought before a court-martial
and condemned to receive one hundred and
fifty lashes.
AT this period the country of Fritz was
at war with France. The regiment to which
the unfortunate youth belonged was ordered
to march towards the frontier, and previous
rank of corporal Whether it was that he
felt unworthy of the promotion, or that his
mind had been soured by his misfortunes
he failed not to attribute this unhoped for
favor to the influence of the Prince, and he
shuddered when he thought Of how dearly
his promotion had cost him
On the field of battle, Fritz had fought
with all the energy of passion, and the cour-
age of despair. He wanted to give vent to
his rage, and his enemies had to pay for the
inidelity of Helena
But his bravery was unavailing, for the
battle was lost to the Prince and his army.
The timidity of the troops, who had despair
ingly retreated, was stronger motive to re-
compense the consistency of those who had
boldly and fearlessly fought and bed. Fritz
was accordingly promoted to the rank of en-
sign, and decorated with orders. But pro-
motion did not stop here, for he soon arrived
at the rank of captain.
He now resolved to quit the service, not
feeling the necessary capabilities of dischar-
ging the functions of his exalted position.
1t was not without considerable violence to
his feelings that he wrote to the Prince, re-
specially resigning, and requesting his per-
mission to do so. Fritz awaited his answer
with anxiety. Happily his resignation was
accepted without difficulty, and an aid-de-
camp of his highness was instructed to wait
on Captain Fritz, and to state to him that
the Prince regretted the loss of his services
and requested his acceptance of five hun.
dred ducats, as a token of his estimation Of
his bravery.
Fritz now betook himself to his native
village, where he had not appeared for the
last two years.
His heart, his affection, and his thoughts
led him insensibly to the house occupied by
Helena; and after assuring himself that he
would never again enter it, he found him
self knocking at the door Helena hersel
appeared to answer the summons.
But oh what change had taken place
The tears had worn burrows around he
sweet and dreamy eyes-her cheeks hat
become pale and emaciated--her lips color
less and trembling But still, even in tn,
wreck of her beauty, how transcendantl,
lovely did she appear.
On recognizing her husband, the youn!
wife started with surprise, and holding on
her arms, gave wild and piercing shrek
and fell senseless on the breast of Fritz
Overpowered with contending emotion
himself, Fritz was scarcely able to bear hi
burden to a sofa; and when he looked upol
her pale and beauteous face, which had be
, come thus emaciatcd, he thought, in sorrow
! for his absence, he felt as if he could hav
taken her in his arms, and forgiven her al
her injuries to him.
/" Is it indeed you, my beloved husband,
r she exclaimed, when returning conscious
ness gave her the power of speech, "let m
7 clasp you in my arms, whilst | hear you
l sweet voice tell me that you love me still"
r Yes, madam" replied Fritz, as the BIT
ter recollection of the past flashed upon hi
= mind. Yes, it is your injured husband
. But ere he can tell you he loves you, h
= must lose the recollection of certain purs
filled with gold"
: Yes, that gold, that purse" cried Hele
, ma. :" | knew well that was the cause {
: your cruel conduct but have never touch
: ed it since-it is there"
Without finishing the sentence, she ra
d to an old trunk, drew forth the purse, an
G raising the window, threw it into the Rhine
: which boiled and dubbed beneath the hous,
# Now" said Helena, "you see there n
: longer remains any motive for your not 10,
d ing me-"
: / see you have thrown your money int
: the unyielding waves, but do not see ho
= that prodigality explains away the strang
i letter which i now possess"
"What letterl' demanded Helena, ha
v breathless.
: This letter, written by the same han
n