The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-27
CINCINNATI, o = RIDAY, AUGUST III, 1852.

emotion, 81 implore thee to take compassion
qii qaer shall esaEaana.eR.af tha3
young man here has renewed all my grief, and
all my affection. Grant us the pleasure Of a
few moments interview.
"The Count may return at any moment, "
said Brunhilda, in a voice peculiarly agitated :
"and moreover the dependents and scrfs, would
notice your egress from the mansion and your
converse with a stranger.
''Then allow that youth to enter these walls,
only to bid me farewell for ever'' said Ida, in
so mOurnfUl tone that melted the heart of
the Countess.
"YOur wish would involve us in great dan
ger" said she; "and yet | know not how |
can refuse to crafty it. To accede to it would
be perilOus; to reject it would be cruel" J."
"Never, lady, will | rise from four feet
until my desire be granted2'' exclaimed Ida.
"Have, then, your wish" returned Brun-
hilda, and signal from the now enchanted
Ida soon brought the gallant Uric to the apart
ment where the ladies were prepared to re-
ceive him.
1t would be useless to attempt to describe
the particulars of this interview between two
fond The pen Of the rOmancist has full
often depicted those scenes Of tenderness, of
sighs, Of tears, of cOnsolations aud of despair.
1t will not therefore be expedient to narrate
all that was said by the lovers on that occasion;
suffice it to observe that they endeavOred to
console each other with the mutual vow of
eternal constancy.
Suddenly the countess, who had never left
the apartment during the tender meeting, ut
tered faint scream--the lovers started-the
heavy tread of warriors barbed heel was
heard in the great stone hall leading to the
dining room; and they all knew that the Count
was near. He had returned home without be-
ing perceived by either Of the three inmates
Of that apartment.
In half a minute all would have been lost
but sudden idea flashed through the brain Of
the Countess. The dining hall communicated
at the end, with private sitting apartment;
and beyond that room was the ed-chamber
of the lord and lady Of the mansion. This bed
chamber was at one extremity formiug the
left wing of the edifice.
"In the name Of the Holy Virgin, follow
mel' said Brunhlda to Uric; and do you
dear girl, compose yourself to receive my hus.
band with tranquility"
Just as the door Of the private sitting apart
ment closed upon Brunhilda and Uric, tht
Count entered the dining hall, thew himself
upon chair, called for a cup of wine, and en-.
tered into conversation with his sister, tC
whom he described the mornings chase.
In the meantime the Countess conducted
Uric into the secret precincts Of her sleeping
apartment. There was a large closet in one
corner of this room, and to that recess did the
Countess Immediately hasten. She stopped
down and raised trap door, which was let
into the floor of this closet. The trap door
revealed flight of steps leading to a subter-
ranean passage; and Brunhilda desired the
youth to hasten and descend into that hiding
place.
As he was fatigued with the sport of the
morning, Count Rudolph retired to his couch
at an early hour. The worthy lord Of Lahneck
soon woOed with success the presence Of Nor
pheus; and Brunhilda, with a beating heart
rose gently from his side. She hastily donned
her garments, took light in her hand, left
another burning in the room for fear the alb
sence OF it altogether might suddenly awake
her husband, and then proceeded with cautious
step towards the secret closet.
She raised the trap -door-she descended the
steps-and the nOisOme air produced upon her
a strange effect Her head felt dizzy-her
brain seemed to whirl--and the lamp burnt
dim and feebly.
Still did she proceed for several yards along
the narrow su6terranean passage, which she
had reached to by flight Of about thirty steps
and she was pursuing her way gently, and
with trembling heart, when she suddenly
stumbled over an object on the ground.
She uttered faint scream, the lamp drop
ped from her hand, and she fell upon human
form!
That human form was still, motionless, ant
breathless; and the horrible truth at one
flashed across the brain Of the wretched wo
man. The loopholes at the back Of the house
|. which, by means Of embrazures cut deep int
the earth, had formerly admitted air and ligh
! into that subterranean abode, she remembers
had lately been closed up. 1t was, therefore
the corpse of Ulric on which she had fallen
Just as this conviction entered her mind,
sudden light illuminated the passage, AM
: Count Rudolph de Sternheim met the hag
= gard ewes of his wife as she glanced rapid,
towards the flight of stairs. Yielding to tn
first impulse of her fears, Brunhilda uttered
loud and long shrek, which awoke every echt
in that subetrranean-those echoes that haC
probably slept for years beforel
, Maddened with the idea that he had nov
discovered uneguiVocal proofs Of his dishonOr
} the Count rushed forward, and buried his dag.
ger, hilt- deep, in the bosom Of Brunhilda!
The guiltless woman fell heavily upon the
} pronnd: there was low moan, followed by q
gurgling in the throat-then sob, sigh, and
all was over. The spirit of Brunhilda had
fled foreverl
i AT that moment second shrek burst upon
Count Rudolph's ear, and the next instant Ida
rushed forward, and threw herself upon the
body of her lover.
Suddenly she arose from her prOstrate posi-
tion, and addressed the Count de Sternheim
"Wretchl'' exclaimed she, in terrible ac-
cents, 'you have slain an innocent lady"
"Innocentl" calculated the Count; chow
say you, girl2 Speak,"
! ''l say that she was innoeentl" cried Ida
clasping her arms around the corpse of hel
Welt beloved Uric, 'and am the cause Of hel
untimely death. Moved by my prayers, sht
this day admitted Uric to the castle-''
"Ulricl" cried the Count, now trembling
violently from head to foot, and turning
CHASTITY pale, for he knew that this was thl
name Of the young page on whom his sister hat
bestowed her affections.
"Yes-Ulric, whom your wife concealed il
the castle, at the moment when
y "0h, Godi Oh, horrori / have then assas
sinated my wife-and she was innoeentl'
shrieked the Count, throwing himself upo
his knees, and clasping his hands together i
an agony Of woe.
Near to the Castle Of Lahneck are the rnir
] OF an ancient Convent. which. tradition 81