Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1853-10-27

and the determination that, if there were no
other remedy, death should have compass
sion on her. ], seemed now as though this
last and truest friend Of all The unfortunate
would not long delay to release her. Since
that fain,ing-6r, her health, as we'll as her
form, was visibly wasted. Every one re-
marked il save her father he regarded what
he could not but see, as deception. Thus
she dropped as the appointed bridal day
drew near, and but single week now in
!ervened between The presen, moment and
the day Of tina. dreaded ceremony. One
evening, as WIhelm's custom was, he ac-
companied the pale, drooping maiden thro'
the garden to the house. 1t was rose-lme,
nighlingsIes fu.tered, and warbIed their ten
der notes in the dark bushes; the moon
shone clear in the heavens, and shed her
mild splendour upon the silent nature, upon
the rosebush now in full bloom, and upon
that pale, dropping Rose, who now, sup
ported by her sorrowing friend, slowly wan
dered through the fragrant garden.
The beauty of the evening, the heavenly
fragrance of the flowers, impelled her to
stand still moment Near her rosebush,
the most beautiful and luxurant Of all. sway
ed to and fro in the soi, ght-breezes.-
Rosa Looked al it, so rich in beaueous bios
SONS, and remarked iha. upon one stem
gun 10 burst forth.
s.Seven buds and seven daysI' murmured
she, 'ere they are faded" She was silent;
a shudder passed trough Wilhelm's frame ;
but, with celestial smile, Rosa turned 10
her friend, the moon beaming Oh her illu-
minated face, on her eyes swimming in tears.
"Un,il they are faded" repeated she, 81
shall be well, my love!''
He looked her in the face, he felt within
The gloomy meaning other speech, and made
vain effort to give another turn 10 her
thoughts.
"No, my Wilhelm" said she, "give thy
self no trouble TO reason me out Of what !
so deeply and surely feel; thou cans. moi,
do SO, end if thou coulds,, thou wouldst rob
me of the only consolation Of which ] am
yet capable. o, my Wilhelm, re"-rais-
will be beautiful, and thou shal, soon fol-
low men'
Wilhelm could not master his swelling
heart; with bufs,ng tears he ardenlly en-
b-acetl her whom he loved, and sw ore to her
truth ill death, end was convinced tha, hea-
ven would not leave him long here below
without her. Rendered calm and happy bv
this assurance, she broke off one Of the sew
en- rosebuds, gave it to Wilhelm, with The
reques. to preserve j. carefully, slowly walk
ed to the castle, and took once more heart
farewell from her lover. The second day
passed in the same gloomy sorrow, as all
the foregoing days, night came on, with il
The hour of return 10 the castle. Rosa broke
The second bud, the lovers renewed their as
surances Of eternal fidelity, and Rosa took
leave Of Wilhelm. Thus it happened the
third and fourth day. On The fifth, Rosa
(el, SO i'll that, only by The greatest efor'
could she stay till night among those she
loved. Wilhelm and his sister conducted
the exhausted maiden home. Wilhelm re-
ceived lhe fifth bud two yet stood on the
stem. But this night, Rosa was weak as
not 10 be able to think of arising on the
morrow. Now, a, length, her fathers com
passion was excited, and with ii snXlely on
her behalf. The whole castle was moved ;
they sent for ply siclans, the pastors vile
and daughters were summoned, to nurse the
beloved invalid the physician came, and
declared that nothing could be done, and
endure for two days. Terror and sorrow
spread upon the couneDances Of all the la
lher burst into tempest of grief, to which
were added the reproaches Of his conscience:
only one eye remained cheerful, that OF the
dying one, who, to her great tranquility, SO "
her prophecy fulfilled.
| Hourly she drew nigh TO death toward.
evening they summoned The pastor. who re.
NAMED during the night with her. Wilhelm
too, was admitted to see her, al time wher
her father was known to be asleep IN his
room. No one was witness of their las
conversalion, save God, before " hose eyes
The lovers had wandered, had loved, ant
now, with silent res ignalion, solemn'y sub.
mlled to His holy will. Then, when the
sun rose and illuminated the sick chamber
with its rays, Rosa desired once more tr
see il; they drew her bed 10 the window
she looked with btmming eyes straight q
The bright lumnary, folded her hands, ane
expired. |, was the seventh morning, anc
the eve Of her appointed bridal day.
Her death caused deep grief among all
nowhere, however, was 1t more ielt ihan III
The pastors house, where each, indIvlduailv
! had lost so much IN the departed, and VIII
helms silent, fearless sorrow, demanded YET
more sacred care.
The mex. morning the besuteous corps
was placed, amid universal lamenta'lon. IN
the castle chapel. Wilhelm was not IN q
condition to accompany her as he had IN
tended, and over her coffin 10 pronounce
The funeral sermon. His father assumed the
mournful duty 4; he, however, hid himself in
! The darkest shadows Of the castle. garden, a.
bandoned himself there to his sorrowful
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