The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-04-12


had she longed for this interview with
Friedrich's sister, the all-powerfnl En-
press, whose word she well knew could
end her suferings and restore him she
loved to liberty and happiness
Barba listened-but not in sympathy
or pity. With a sneer on her proud
lips, she expressed herself in no way
surprised at her brothers. infatuation
but unmoved by the anguish of the
lovely young creature before her, re-
preached her harshly as the cause of all
his misfortunes. "Was it for the son of
the Count of Cilly," she said, "to wed
with the low-born maiden, Veronica of
Dessenitz! Nay, weep not, nor wiring
those delicate white hands; there is no
virtue in tears with me; but thou
mayest yet atone thy fault, it is for this
| sent for thee. Itrests with thee alone
to open his prison doors, and restore
him to wealth and rank, and the favor
of his princely father"
"Speak-Oh, speak-and tell me
how! Speak, and | will, bless thee p
faltered Veronica
"Say'st thou! that is well-and thou
shalt be rewarded. Listen; thou canst
never be Countess of Cilly, but thou
may'st wed one above thy station, a
captain in the army of the empire-a
noble Bohemian, who will love well thy
beauty and grace. The nuptials shall
be celebrated tomorrow, and goodly
portion shall be given thee, wherewith
to live in splendor where thou wilt,
but far from the court"
Veronica stood in amaze. regarding
the Empress fixedly, but answered not
a word.
Thou wilt obey my command q;
asked Barba.
Il am the welded wife of Count
Friedrich" " was the proud reply. "The
Empress but mocks her servant.n
The Empress will be obeyed.-
There are means TO loose the marriage :
il is void already by the law and the
Emperor's will. Darest thou refuse z
Remember the Count suffers imprison-
ment because of theem
"We are both innocent of wrong
for it is no wrong to love-" murmured
the young wife. "God will protect the
innocent" She saw too plainly that
she could hope for no human aid.
The angry eyes of the Empress were
fixed on her "Know'st thou" she
said, "that the penalty of disobedience
is death. Thou hast yet a choice-to
fulfil my command, and be rich and
happy, or to go hence to the Dungeon
whence thou camest-doomed to die
unpitied and alone"
"Be it SOP said Veronica calmly.
lifting her beautiful eyes upward. II
shall die faithful to my dear lord, and
happily if my death purchase his free
dom. My last prayer will be for him,
and he will sometimes think upon his
lost Veronica"
There was no relenting in the heart
of the proud woman, as she saw the
love and self-devotion of that match
less creature, ready to part with life,
bnt constant to the last in her faith to
him who had chosen her. The EN-
press saw that no bribes could entice-
no threats terrify her to submission;
and, irritated at the resistance to her
will, terminated the interview by Or
dering the guards to be summoned
Veronica wassaken back to the prison
where she had languished a year in
solitude; for she had been arrested by
the Imperial order, not long after the
seizure of her husband. In the hope
of accomplishing her plans for new
alliance for Count Friedrich, Barba had
commanded the young wife to be
brought into presence, not doubling
that her offer of marriage with the
Bohemian captain would be gratefully
accepted. She perceived now that on
ly the death of her victim would give
her success, and from that moment the
fate of the hapless lady was decided.
The last act of the drama was at
hand. Not many days after her inter-
view with the Empress, Veronica was
summoned before the public tribunal
by the Emperor TO Judge her.
A large concourse of people was as
sembled from the neighboring prov
inces to witness the proceedings, for
the rank of Count Friedrich and the
singular circumstances of the case ex-
cited universal interest Count Her.
mann himself presided amorg the
judges named for the trial On the day
fixed, the place in which the court was
held was filled TO oyerhowing. In
canopied seat elevated above those of
the judges, and on the right hand, sat
the Emperor Sigismund, said to be one
of the handsomest men of his day, and
of unbounded popularity among his
subjects. He had the art of hiding his
own defects, and assuming the virtues
be had not, to such a degree, that his
people were completely blinded TO the
real character of him whom in their
loyal pride they called "the light of
the world.o 1t could not be questioned
that strict justice would be done in a
trial honored by his Imperial presence.
When the prisoner was led to the ac-
customed place, and commanded to un-
veil before her judges, a nurmur of
surprise and admiration ran through the
multitude Sorrow and i'm
had somewhat dimmed the |
ustre of her beauty, but had added |
hereto touching softness almost an
Al