The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-02-14

that he was sick-sick even to the gates
of death, and there were rumors of arming
In Guastalla, and of Austrian forces NOV
ing to take possession OF Mantua on the
Dukes decease or of France sending ar
mics to secure it for the house of Nevers.
Then came tidings of messengers hurry
ing TO and from between Paris and Man
tua and Rome, and so went by the time
till the three months had passed over, and
then, though the air was wintery, Mary
eagerly hurried forth and stood by the ia
BILE of stone as the sun was sinking to re-
pose. She gazed ever the Mantua plain,
but no one was seen; she listened, but
heard not the voice whose memory had
cheerd her solitude. The sun sank, and
all was darkness.
With heart sad and depressed she was
taking her way back to the convent when
the bell at the gate rung, and an immediate
summons was given her to proceed to
Mantua in one of the Dukes carriages
with all speed, to hear the last injunctions
of her dying uncle. State now surround
ed her, guards we've on each side of the
vehicle, and in the convent parlor waited
a high dame of the court to accompany
her on the way.
The scene she had to go through Mary
felt would be painful; but there was a
greater degree of depression at her heart
than even the anticipation of standing by
the death bed of her uncle could account
for. Gloomy then and desponding disap-
pointed and anxious, Mary entered the car
riage, asking herself what was to be her
fate when her uncle should be 70 more
The night was dark and stormy; the dull
winds whistled along the road, and for a.
bout mile not word was spoken by
either Mary or her companion.
At length however, the lady said, 81
have been commanded 10 inform your
highness as soon as we were actually on
the way, that it will be necessary for you
to prepare your mind for great change of
condition. The Duke is, as YOU know, at
the point of death. The Duke of Nevers
is next heir, 10 the coronet of Mantua, and
as it Is absolutely necessary that all claims
to this duchy and Montferret should cen
ire in one race, it has been determined
that your highness should give your hand
to the young Duke Rhetel, son ofthe Duke
of Nevers. The prince destined to be
youl u IDS dllCduy dIllNCu III
tua, and as there is the most urgent neces-
sity that your marriage should take place
before the death of Duke Vicenzo, he has
generously determined, that even in his
mortal illness, he will see the alliance
completed this very night, the proper dis
pensations having already arrived from
Rome"
1t was with difficulty that Mary of
Mantua prevented herself from sinking off
the seat in terror and agony. The horror
the awful horror of being called upon in
a moment to wed one whom she had never
before beheld, while her heart was but
too surely given TO another, overpowered
her for few moments; but when she rec
objected all the resolution and courage of
her race, she protested against the cruelty
and injustice of the act which her uncle
proposed to commit, and solemnly declared
that nothing should induce her TO yield
her hand in such indecent haste to an utter
stranger. The lady who accompanied
her, heard all with that chilling GOODNESS
which is far more dispiriting than actual
opposition, and merely said .'that she fear
ed her highness would find herself forced
to obey"
Mary had recourse to silence and though
her heart was sad and heavy, 1T remained
firm, and she said to herself, "They can
but kill me-that they will not do-and if
they do, better to die.''
Once more then she passed the manifold
gates and draw bridges. and entered what
she felt to be, one vast dark prison; but
she thought of him she loved and though
she called him cruel in her own heart
for not having come to advise or deliv-
er her-still she felt that she loved,
and that she could not, dared not, wed an
other.
The gates of the palace were at length
reached, the courts we've filled with sol
diers; cannon guarded the entrance; every
thing told that vast preparations had been
made to secure tranquility among the
people on the death of the reigning Duke.
She saw lights streaming from the hall
above, and, led forward by her companion
she advanced up the wide staircase and
into the anti-chamber. There howev-
er, an officer addressed her ssaying, "All
is ready madam; the Duke awaits Your
Highness. There is not moment 10 |
spare!'
'.Go forward mada m!' said Mary 10 I
he lady who accompanied her, sgo for
ward, and tell my uncle my unalterable re-
solve as | announced it to you.
The lady paused and looked back but
she saw that Mary could not escape, and
advancing, she entered the hall beyond