The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-06-27
BRIDE OF TIE GULIOrrNE

On = sorusy sishs, In the tsmpesas.
oss times f the Freueh Rsvoaassoa.
young German vas returning to hi.
lodgiaw n late hour. across the old
part Il Paris. The lightning cleaned,
cad ths icsd ciaps of shaader rsasied
ths1sh ths narrow, loiiy ssrcess. But
] should first tell you someihing about
this German.
Gostfricd wolfang was q young man
Of good family. lie had studied for
some time ai Co,tingen; but, being of
a vi.ionary and euthasissGc character,
he had wandered into those wild and
spccuiative doctrines which have 40 Of.
ten bswiidered German studentA His
secluded life, his intense applicaaions,
and The singular nature Of his studies,
had an elIcc. both on mind and body.
His heal lih was impaired and his imag.
iua,ion disesscd. Ne had been induig.
ing 10 fsnciful spe cala,ions oo spiritual
essence, until, like Swedenborg. he had
an ideal world Of his own around him.
He took Up notion, ] do not know
from wha, cause, that there was an evil
influence hanging over him--an evil
geniu,, or spirit, seeking TO ensnarc him
and insure his pcrdition. Such IN ides,
working on his melancholy sempcra-
mens, prosluced the most gloomy effects
His friends discovered the mental msl-
ady that was preying upon him, and
determined that the best cure was q
change Of scene. lie was sent, there.
fore, 10 finish his Studies amidst the
.plendors and gaiesies Of Paris.
Wolfsng arrived at Paris al the
breaking ou. Of the revolution. That
glorious popular enthusiasm at hrst
caught his ardent mind; and he was
captivated by the grand political and
sublime philosophical theories Of the
day. But the scenes Of blood which
followed and shocked his sensitive ma.
,ure, disgusted him with society and
the world, and made him more than ever
a rccluse. Hs shut himself up in soli-
ary apar,men, in the Poys Latin. the
quarter Of students. There, in a gloomy
street not Ear from the monastic walls
+ Of the Sorbonne, he pursued his favor
! ito speculstiOns. Sometimes he spent
hours together in the grea. Libraries Of
Paris. those ca,acombs Of departed au-
thors. rummaging among their hordes
Of dusty aud obsolete works in quest OF
food for his unhealthy appetite. lie
was, in manner, q literary ghoul, feed.
ing in the charncl house Of decayed ht-
eraiure.
I Wolfang. though solitary and recluse
was Of an ardent temperament; bn
for a time it operated merely upon hi
imagination. lie was too shy and ig
norant of the world to make any nd
vanees to the fair but he was pas
siouate admirer Of female beauty, an'
in his lonely chamber would often lost
himself in reverie on forms and face
! which he had seen. and his fancy woul'
seek out images Of lovelncss far sur
passing the reality.
While his mind was in this exci,et
+, and sublimated state, he had a dream
" hicl produced an extraordinary ei
fec: upon him. 1t was Of female fac
Of trnnscendan. beauty. So s'roni
was the impression il made, that h
; dreamp, Of il again and a2ain.lt haunt
ed his thoughts by day, his slumbers D
night. In fine, he became passionatel
enamored Of this shadow Of dream
This lasted 10 long that it became on
/, OF those fixed ideas which haunt tn
minds Of melancholy men. and are
= times mistaken for madness.
Such was Go,tfried WolIang, m
. such his station ai the time l mention
a ed. lie was returning home one s'o
my nigh, through some Of the old nj
: gloomy streets Of the Marais, the al
Gent part Of Paris. The loud claps
9 thunder ranled among the high hous
Of the narrow streets. lie came to II
y Place dc Grevc, the square where pu
lie executions were then performed :
The lightning quivered above the p'
nacies Of the ancient Hotel de Vii
and shed flickering CLEANS over the
Den space in front. As Wohang "
crossing the square he shrunk ba'
with horror q. iind,ng himself close
=, the gullo,ine. 1t was the height of q
!, reign Of Terror, when III is dreadful
arumen, Of death stood ever ready, n
:. il. scaffold WAS continually running wi
- :, the blood Of The peoples enemies.
49, had tia, very day been actively e
.s ployed in the work Of death; and 'h'
NJ !, stood, in grim array. amidst siit
ye and sleeping city. waiting for fresh '
~, Tins. =,
~ wolfang's heart sickered within b.
:, and he vas turning. shuddering, fr'
n. the horrib,e engine, when he eehe's
:. shadowy form covering, ~ it were,
~ the Gooi a the steps of the scaaold-
"A succession Of vivid flashes Of iigh'n
M revealed il more distinctly. u Was
IA female figure dressed in black. 5
~ ~ was seated on one of the lower 81
~ Of the scafold, leaning far~srd.
,N face hid in her lisp, and her disheve'
,.e ,resses hanging to the ground. s'rea
y. ing with the rain which fell in torres
Il. There "a. something awful 10 that .
No. ,sry mocuuent Of woe. The YEN
a. hsd tAs appeArasee Of being above