American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-31
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
THE EXPECTANT BRIDE.
From Hungarian Military Sketches"

wv heuIt vi many IOllSn maiden beat quicker
than was its wont. The most beautiful woman
in all the neighborhood loved the best blade
amongst all the hussars--the Captain. 'a4
Countess Anna K--nsky, the lovely Polish
widow, has been for six months betrothed to
the bold hussar officer and the wedding day was
near at hand. A single night intervened. On
the eve OF the happy day, the bridegroom went
to visit his bride. He was a tall, slender man,
with the bloom of youth upon his face; but his
high forehead was already bald-n sun and
moon together" as the Hungarian proverb
says. #u
The bride was fair and delicate lady, with
abundant black locks, pale, nervous counte-
nance, and blue eyes of that unusual lustre
which one finds only in Polish blue eyes. At
the sight of her lover, her alabaster cheek was
overspread with the roses of loves spring time,
and her eyes beamed like the rising sun.
The bridegroom would fain have appeared
cheerful but it is hard to deceive the gaze Of
love, which reads the beloved ones trouble in
each fold of the brow, in each absent glance of
the eye. Tenderly she approached him, slnoothed
his forehead's wrinkles with her hand, and i'm
printed n kiss in their place. But again they
returned. ~i" @''
''What ails thee, dearest? How is this
Sad on the eve of our wedding day."
81? Nothing ails me. But am annoyed
at an incident casualty | cannot
postpone. The court-martial has condemned
man to death. l have just now signed the SEN
tence. The man is to be shot Tomorrow lust
on our bridal-day would it were other
wise !" r aa...i. .,. 4 H..
The man is doubtless criminal"
According to military law. He has been
debauching soldiers from their duty--exciting
them to desert and return home to fight the
Serbs. Death is the penalty of his crime"
"And have you signed the sentence? Are
you not a Magyar? Love you not your native
land ?" ~
81 am soldier before everything Irespect
the laws"
Impossible! You, who love SO WE'LL cannot
be devoid of that most ennobling kind Of love
patriotism" ~ 'z%8
81 can love; but | cannot dream. Of the
maxims and principles of revolutionists, un-
derstand not word: but thus much know,
revolutions never end well. Much blood, little
honor, eternal remorse.'
fSay not eternal rcmorse, but eternal hope
Hope that time must come, which will COM
pensate all sufferings and sacrifices
The fair enthusiast quilted her bridegroom's s
side, seated herself at the piano, ami played
with feverish energy the weli-known song,
"Noch st Pol on nicht verloren'
her eyes flashing through her tears. Her lover
approached her, removed her hand which trem-
bed with emotion, from the keys of the instru-
ment, and kissed it. w..
"Poor Poland! Well may thy daughters
weep over thy fate; but, alas in vain. was
lately in Peth. Passing along street where q
large house was building, l noticed among the
laborers woman, carrying stones to and fro
upon her head, for the use of the masons
Twice-thrice-Ip passed before her. The sweat
streamed for her face her limbs could scarcely
support her. She was no longer young, aud
the toll was severe. This woman once pos
sessed palace in Warsaw, far, far more mag
nifcent than the house she was then helping
to build. Its portals were surmounted by n
princes coronet; and many are the joyous
hours have spent beneath its hospitasle roof
When, at the sound of the MONDAY bell, she
seated herself at her wrctched meal, accosted
her. For long time she would not recognise
me; then she turned away her head and wept
The other women only laughed at her. of
fered her money; she thanked me, and took
very little She, the mistress of millions, be-
sought me to send the remainder to her little
daughter, whom she had left dependant on
rich family in distant town. / promised to
seek out her daughter. When had last seen
her she was lovely child, six years of age.
Eight years had elapsed, bringing her to the
verge of womanhood. reached the house. In
answer to my inquiries q girl appeared; not
that fair and delicate being whose sweet counte-
nance still dwelt in my memory; but q rude
creature, with hard, coarse features and wild
eyes. She did not recognise me, though she
had often seen me. spoke to her in Polish
she understood not a word. asked after her
mother: she stared yacantly in my face
Tr,,1,, tla Ca
of Poland is a terrible example of what a ma
ton may expect from its neighbors when il
engages in struggle with one more powerful
than itself; and woe to the Magyar if he does
not profit by the warning"
"Ah it is no Magyar who can talk thus :"
"Anna, thy first husband fell in the battle
on the morrow of thy wedding day. Wouldst
thou lose thy second bridegroom on its eve?"
81? With contrition L avow my culpable
weakness | love you more than my country,
more than liberty. Until to-day, no man ever
heard these words from o Polish woman. I
wish you to sacrifice yourself? Did you seek
to do so, should surely hold you back-which
no Polish wife ever did yet to her husband. All
| crave of you is to leave that man his life,
whose patriotism was stronger than your own.
On our bridal eve, l asked you for mans life
as a wedding gift"
"And a soldiers honor"
Punish him otherwise"
There is but one alternative. The man has
instieated mutiny and dcsertion the law has
doomed him to death. must execute the SEN
tenco or fly with him to Hungary. And thence,
| well know ! should never return. In case
like this the Judge Furnishes, or is an accom-
plice of the criminal. In one hand have the
sword of justice, in the other the banner of in
surrection. Choose which shall raise? ?"
The sky was scarcely redeemed by the dawn
when the prisoner was led forth to execution.
Silently, without other sound than that of their
horses hoofs, marched the square Of hussars.
In the centre, on an open cart, was the chap
lain, o crucifx in his hand; and beside him. in
white shirt, bareheaded and with fettered
hands, the culprit, George Of st. Thomas.