The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20


elegant travelling coach was lost on the wide
LAIN of Tuchel and the coachman having
aoma down from his box, WAS vainly searching
10 discover the road In the bottom OF the
coach Law fair young wife, half resting in the
arms of her husband, who sat beside her, hall
reclining on and imbedded by soft cushions.
Onnosite her was the maid, with a smelling
bottle and reviving drops
The coachman clustered and swore, the
waiting-maid amented and sighed, the sick
wifs frequently inquired with anxiety, and her
companiOn alone was able to maintain an en-
couraging air.
In this manner the wanderers were uselessly
driven hither and thither for more than an
hour in the darkness becoming more hopeless
every moment when suddenly the waiting
maid cried
"A fire. Certainly fire by robbers"
The attention of the searchers was now
drawn to gmmering point, which at no very
great distance seemed like the light OF Pha-
ros, promising deliverance. Fresh life coursed
in the veins of the traveller. Gently he with
drew his arm that encircled the patient, sup
ported her carefully in the bottom of the coach,
sprang out, and hasted to the star Of the vii
derness. Satisfied with the result of his toll
some wandering, for as he approached he dis
lighted window, where at glance he could see
the inside of it. Though it was night several
persons were seen moving about inside. On
mean bed lay.a young wife, and near her,
wrapped in rags a newborn child, over which
the languid looks of the sick woman were cast
like pale rays of the sun.
"A mother" thought the stranger, she will
and must be compassionate"
Not far from the couch. an old woman was
cooking on the hearth, from which the flame
sent the light to the wanderer, panada, 50 at
least it appeared, which she busily stirred with
long wooden shaving in round kettle.
On the stone bench, stretched at full length
lay large, robust man, with wild uncOmbed
hair and beard, who was indifferently staring
at the fire and the movements of the old
woman.
The stranger had but taken glimpse of the
group, when he knocked audibly at the door
No answer followed, and he was obliged to re-
peat the knock three or four times, on which a
murmur and scolding took place within the
hut; till at length, when they were convinced
that no ghost was playing his pranks, but a
human voice begged for admittance, small
sash above the door was opened, and an eye
that seemed to belong to Polyphemus peered
through the opening
What's wanting" asked a rough voice.
"a traveller who with sick wife, is lost in
this endless wilderness and seeks shelter for
the night" answered the other.
"What shelter" replied the same hOarse
voice :" Here is no tavern for struggling thiev-
ish vagabonds Nothing here. There is sick
ness enough here already" With these words
the sash was again closed.
The stranger however, lost not heart Too
much danapdad m this oamp and no dursf not
give over.
Stop" Numbered he, with imposing tone
Don't be so rash, or thou wilt rue having sent
Count Eishem the richest land owner in the
round of twenty miles, from your door. Here
is gold; and now delay no longer, but open the
door,
The Counts words, though spoken in a CON-
handing Tone would have been heard without
attention, if the sight of the full purse had not
given evidence of his intention to pay before
hand.
Can you still dallyln continued he; when
suddenly the sash was drawn entirely back,
and set of long meager fingers were ready
for grip of the purse "Can you still lnger,
when you may save the life of fellow crea-
ture, a sick woman, who has also q mother,
like her that stands there near the couch ;"
A weak voice was now perceptible, whose
pleading seemed to melt the heart of the man
and old woman, who were by this time count
ing their money. Finally the door opened to
let out the giant form Of the collier, who, in
surly mood, came with pine torch in his hand
to accompany the Count to the coach, where
the patient anxiously waited for her husband.
Eisheim lifted her safely out, and carried his
dying wife to the GOLFERS hut, not knowing
whether ne embraced the living or the dead.
Ri L. l..k Al
Countess was placed beside the GOLFERS wife,
on the miserable couch and towards morning,
after an anxious night, she bore to the Count a
daughter But the happiness of the father
was alleged by solicitude for his wife; the
keen joy Of calling a new life his own was
blunted, and he tremsled for two beings dear
to him.
Soon az the first clear gray morning RAYS
kissed the waste desert, the Count mounted one
OF his cOach-hOrses, and hasted to the nearest
inhabited place, to obtain the best possible aid.
but without success. Neither q trustworthy
physician nor apOthecary, or other assistant,
WAS to he met with
disappointed by this unavoidable but com.
Piete failure, Eisheim, after an Absence of sev.
erai hours, went back to the coll;er:s Init in
order to learn the truth of his continued mis-.
gvngs Tie found the Countess stiff and life.
less, victim of the tedious journey. which il
WAS necessary to take to distant relatives ON
account OF property, and which required their
personal presence at certain place and time.
L.'e was offered up for the possession of a rift
oi fortune subject to thousand accidents !.
anu the Count, who was certainly free from all
Diane, could not, however, acauit himself and
Soood Dent over her, whose death was occa-
s'ohed' as he said, by his selfinterest As he
mao not married. purely for love, but formed
ene connection chiefly for convenience this re-
Proach lay no much the heavier ON him.
Inc last thing that he could now do to o,,;et
ns conscience was TO provide for the interment
une co,Pse !" rschen, the principally Of the
GhI WIN broken heart, he for the second
u%e left the dwelling. in which hut now an
G GSer belonging to him inhaled the breath of
NE, and whom, if he did not wish 10 erno.s 90
, uJr'aln DEATH he must needs leave behind
"nere II received its first nOurishment from :
healthy woman engaged to nurse it.
chs. ehambermaid who remained 10 take
onsn o. the little Countess, was, in conse.
prey;ou y, The exertions and exhaustioas of the
aware as hours fast asleep 90 that she was not
thew s, =, ''e Counts departure and in the hot
tho woI ppied softly, in the falfIment of plan
but i,s - ~ winch had been begun by accident.
70 sn;n threads cunning sel6shness was about
the a. ou'' what was easier than TO exchange
babv ~ ragamofin, and disguise the little
VIZ IN hne cambria and woolIeu. Here
mos, 'e the form undargoes change with Al,
ca. every hour the knsvery Of IN sxchans,,
=. with facility be contriyed.
viii va" late ere the waiting maid, Oppressed
TN IT," fatigue, was awsked BY loud sobbinus
"e golfers child had apparently expired wish