The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-02-21


was the young Countess: and the heart
admired her more, as she SAL leaning over
her husband, and holding up to his kiss
her smiling infant, her dark hair careless
ly parted, and bound her pale brow,
seeming to live but in her husbands love
than when elegance had We'd with d "a
monds; and in full health and beauty,
she had been the one gazed at and adj
mired in the midst of the noblest and
fairest company Of Vienna. The door
was still unopened, for Blanca was sing
ing to her husband; she had chosen a
song which her hearers had listened to in
her own splendid saloons, on the last
night she had sung there; the soft, com
planning notes OF her voice had seemed
out OF place there, where all was careless
mrth and festlvity; but its tone was
suited to the dark solitude-it WAS like
the song Of hope i'll the cave of despair.
There were many hearts that sorrowed
over the departure OF the young AIbertl
aud his wife from the mines of Idrla.
The miners, with whom they had lived SO
long, had learned to love them at a time
when too many heart had almost Tor
gotten 10 love and hope, had learned from
ther kind words-but more, oh, much
more, from their beautiful example-to
shake OFT the dreadful bands OF despair,
and daily>to seek and find peace whl:h
passed all understanding. Ernest and
Blanca had taught them to feel how hap
py, how cheerful 4 thing religion is! WIS
It then surprising that at their departure
their poor companions should crowd a.
round them, and weep with mournlul
s".r'mde. AS Ernest distributed among
theln his working tools, and the simple
furniture of his small hutl Was it sur.
prlsIng that Blanca and her husband. As
they sat on the green grass, with waving
trees, and cloudless sky pbove them,
while the summer breeze bore with il tuli
tides of freshness and fragrance from their
magnificent gardens, and they beneId the
pure rose color Of health begin to tuge
the checks of their delicate child; Was il
surprising that they should turn with feel
ings Vt atfectionate sorrow to the dark and
dreary mines of Idria?
must not forget to mention that Err
nest and his wife were publicly reinstated
IN all their titles and possessions. A short
time after their return TO Vienna. ,hey
made their first appearance at Court for
that purpose. At the imperial command
all the princes and mobiles of Austria, gor.
geously dressed, and blazing with gold
and jewels were assembled. Through tn.
midst of these, guiding the steps of his
venerable aad feeble mother, Albert al
Vanced to the throne. A deep blush
seemed to fix upon h,s manly features,
and the hand that supported his iufirn
parent tremblel more than the wasted
hngers he tenderly ciasped. The En-
hrcss herself hung the order of the Golden
Fleece around his neck, and gave iuto his
hands the sword which he had forfeited :
but rs she did so her tears fell upon the
golden scabbard; the young soldier kis-
sed them off with quivering lips. But
soon every eye was turned upon the wife
OF Albert, who, with her young child
weeping in her arms, and supported by
noble minded general who had obtained
her husbands pardon, next appeared.
Blanca had not forgotten that she was
only the wlfs OF an Idrian miner, aud n
costly ornament adorned her simple dress.
Not Iinge Of color had yet returned to
her cheeks Of marble paleness, and a
shadowy langor still remained about her
hazel eyos; bit her delicately shaped lips
had almost regsined their soft crimson
dye, and her dark brown hair, confined
by single ribbon, shone as brightly as
the beautiful BRAIDED tresses around her
She wore loose dress of white silk, and
adorned only with fresh cluster Of roses
(for since she lett the mines, she was NOR,
fond than ever Of fowers.) Every eye
was fixed on her, aud the Empress turned
coldly from the glittering forms beside bel
to the simple Blanca. Descending from
tie throne Maria Theresa FASTENED tc
raise her ere she should kneel; and kiss
ing her with the tender affection Of dear
and intimate friend, she led the CO ontes
Bianca to the highest step OF the throne
There she turned to the whole assembly,
and looking as a queen as she spoke
said.
This IS the person whom we shoul,
all respect as the brightest ornament Z
our Court. This is the wiss, ladies Z
a go