Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-09
Grlrlieo Gale.
THE PRINCES DAUGHTER;
OR, THE BA TITLE OF rADDERSHRIal


The city of Treves, which greens the eye Of
the traveller who wends his way up The char
ming Moselle, has its legends as well as other
places, great or small. ii Germany and one
ofthe most striking Is .ltst which we are about
to relate.
The elector OF Treves, prince Of great va
lor but lofty and proud notions, was widow
er and possessed one child--a daughter. Ed-
tina was about eighteen at The time when the
war OF peasants broke oui--that terrible insur-
rection which shook Germany to lis very cen
ire, and was conemporaneous with the Re-
formation. The young damsel was fashioned
in one OF natures most charming moulds, and
the fame OF loveiness had been waited TO eve
nv court in the German empire. Many prin.
ces had made oyeltures 10 the elector Tor her
hand--prlnceS with whom an alliance, con-
sdering the comparative lnslgnlhcance oil the
electors domnions and the revenues, was to
be eagerly courled. Bat rumor had reach
ed the elector, that Frederick, the Archduke
of Austria had seen his daughters portrait and
became enamored with the fair original. The
Arehduke was very young, and report declar-
ed hun 10 be handsome and amiabe; the
eleetor therefore entertained high hopes, and
accordingly returned evaSlye answers TO the nu-
merous sui,ors lor his daughters hand
But no proposal came from the Archduke !;
time wore on; Ediiha was now eighteen and
the elector feared that he had daiiied too long
with those prIncely suIiors IN hopes OF obtain
ing oyertures from the heir to the crown OF the
German empire. The peasants lnsurrec-
ton" broke out, and the imperial forces were
levied for its Suppression. The princes OF
Germany hocked to Treves, with their con-
tingent auxlaries, to JOIN the army; and
dukes ana margraves, superior in rank and
fortune 10 the eeetor, willingly admitted him
as their chlei IN consequence OF has known
courage and tried experience. Among those
princes We're the SuIloIs for the fair hand OF
Editha add, on the eve OF the march of the
army for the seat of the civil contention, the
elector now deSpauing OF receiving any over
lures from the Archmke. declared aloud, in
the presence Of the assembled chiefs, that OF
all his daughters suitors. he who conducted
himself hes, in the approaching conflict should
receive her hand.
Editha heard this. and turned pale; and
tears bedimmed the eye which east glance
of tenderness on young page who stood be-
hind the elector Of Treyes. The handsome
countenance of the page was animated with a
flush OF pride as he returned the aiIecilonate
look OF the pfincess--perhaps he was proud
of having won the heart which SO many lords
and sovereign potentates had slrived in vain to
possess.
Rudolph, the young page, had been three
or four months in The service of the elector,
who had listened TO tale Of woe and orphan
sorrow which the youth had narrated 10 him,
when he applied TO be admitted INTO his ser
vlce--a tale that had gained no object From
the very first moment that Rudolph set foot
within the princely dwelling al Freves, he had
won all the hearts by his amiablllty, aud tall
enls, and his beauty and Editha had not re-
manned InsensIble to his merits. The young
couple loved and their vows Were plighted
in secret.
But strange to say, Rudolph's eyes Were
scarcely moistened with a tear, when on the
eve the army marched, he took leave Of Editha,
IN stolen interview on the the terrace of the
palace. He kissed her hand and spoke words
fhope, while she wept bitterly.
''Why do you weep, my Edilha7" he ex.
claimed, gazing londly on her beauleous coun-
tenance.
.'Dost thou ask me why weep, Rudolph,"
asked the princess, reproachiully, "when thou
myself didst hear the pledge which my father
gave this evening TO the princes who have col
lected beneath his banner?"
81 heard all" said Rudolph.
"You heard all--and il caused you no emo
ton 2" murmured Editha.
"None 70: | have hope even STILL" an
swered TIE page.
''Hopei" cried Editha, franiically; ere
member that my father is stern and inexorable
in his determination"
$50 long as thou lowest me dearest Edtha.
! fear nothing. Would'st thou wed another!
"0h no--returned the lovely girl are not
our vows plghled? and dost THOU think will