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


refused to see his son, and gave orders
that he should be conveyed to Auster-
witz, where he was imprisoned, under
the charge Of the knight of Hefedberg,
having been first required to sign re-
Gnquishment of authority over the
cities and castles his father had in for
mer years committed to his jurisdic-
ton.
The news of Friedrich's arrest and
imprisonment was borne by a faithful
servant TO Veronica, with an earnest
message from him, entreating her not
to provoke the anger of Count Her.
mann by endeavoring to join him, but
to seek a refuge for herself, till the
storm that so threateningly overhung
their fortunes should be past. A small
castle not far from Pittan, in the midst
of wild and broken country, which
had not shared the fate of her hus-
bands other possessions, offered Sc
cure shelter for the present, and the
retainers who had been left at Fried
richstein had orders to accompany her.
The hapless lady set out, on the fol-
lowing morning, for that desolate abode,
attended by her limited household
The soldiers of Hermann took possess
sion of the castle that had so lately
been her home, having received orders
to arrest her if found there, but they
did not Immediately pursue her to her
new retreat
More than a year again passed, and
our story introduces US into an apart
ment in palace at Austerwitz, then
occupied by the Emperor Sigismund
and the nobies who were habitually
in attendance on his person. The
apartment was luxuriously furnished
and tapestried with the finest wool =
seats covered with silken cushions were
disposed at convenient intervals, and
marble tables, on one of which lutte
was thrown carelessly, with stands rich
with marquetry and vases of rare flow-
ers, bespoke a taste elaborately culti-
waited. A lady was half reclining on a
sofa, whose air of command, no less
than her rich attire and the obsequious
homage of her attendants, showed her
the mistress of all this magni6cence.
Her figure was full in proportion to her
height, yet not so much so as TO inJure
the symmetry of her form, and there
was a promptitude and decision in all
her movements that proved her accus-
toned TO sway the will of those around
her. Her featuFes were not regular,
vet the face might be called handsome,
while its piquancy and invarying ey-
preston, with rare brilhancy of COM
plexion. more than compensated for any
irregularitv of outline The rounded
cheek. and the fnllness and shape of
the lips, had character of voluptu-
BUSINESS that was contradicted by the
habitual compression of the mouth
the breadth of the expansive brow, and
the proud glance Of the dark flashing
eyes. The impression at first sight
was of a woman gifted with strong
passions, but with an intellect that held
them in check: accustomed not only
to rule others. but to control in herself
whatever might interfere with the pur-
pose OH which her indomitable will was
bent. Such was Barba de CiIly, who
by her marriage with Sigismnnd when
he was yet only Margrave of Brande-
burg and king of Hungary by the
death Of his first wife-four wears be-
fore his election to the Imperial crown
was now Empress of Germany. Her
vices had already gained for her the
renown of being the most wicked
princess of her time. and the appella-
ton by which she has been known to
after ages" the Messalina of Ger
many"
A female attendant entered the room
and whispered something in the ear of
her mistress. :" Let them bring her
hither,n was the languid reply. and
presently the door was thrown open to
admit two armed servitors, leading be-
tween them a slight female figure
partly concealed in mantle. At the
bidding of the Empress they retired,
leaving the young woman standing
alone in the centre of the apartment.
Come nearer, Veronica of Des-
senitz," said Barba, "and lay aside thy
mantle" The stranger obeyed. It
was face and form of superb loveli-
ness that met the gaze of the haughty
princess. The Grecian and perfect
Q6llCdt6 UiOilu0 COtUpleA-
ion, slightly tinged in the cheeks with
rose color called up by unwonted agi-
tation, the mouth of unrivalled sweet
ness, and the clear blue eyes, the rich
brown hair floating in natural ringlets
over neck and shoulders that might
have served as a model for sculptor
the gentle grace of her movements,
and the childlike innocence and purity
Of her expression; all these were
charms that might have touched thy
rudest heart with sympathy-for they
revealed the beauty of soul, as match
less as that Of the outward form. Her
eyes wandered around her with bewil- |
1ered gaze, as if she hardly understood
what she saw; but when she again |
heard the voice of the Empress, sud
len light seemed TO break upon her |
Starting forward. she flung herself at
Barba's feet, gathered her robe in her
embrace, and bowed her face upon it |
With the humility of Italian homage (;
hen lifting up her face, looked with |
earnest appeal into the dark, naughty |
Al L ELL