True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-05-21

elixir of life whichshe drank changed
that loveiness Of person to the most ter
rble deformity, and that gentleness Of
soul to iendish malignity. Condemned
to existenc horrible as ii had become,
while the name Of Won Ernst was found
on the earth, with her own hands she
walled herself up in the lowest dungeon
of the castle, TO await The ruin of the
house aud her Liberation from life, but at
certain seasons of The year her wrath
walked through the castle, and presented
itself to the inmates; to the young and
hopeful, as an angel kind and benifcent /;
TO the aged and the world-weary as 6end
ready to execute the purposes of their
hearts. But all to whom she gave coun-
sci or aid paid the same fearful penalty
for the wisdom they learned, or the re-
venge they sought-a sudden and awful
death, and the extinction with them of
their branch of the family. Yet, fear
(ul as it was, the desire for present good
and the wish for revenge had been so
strong that it was said but one in the gen.
Grafton had resisted the arts of the temp
tress. Even the Lady Agatha, it was be-
ieved, had looked upon the Wrath OF
Ernheim, and through her agency had
wrought that terrible vengeance on her
recreant lover, and that it was only BY
the severest penances the day other doom
was deferred. r,,....} sr..t '.sr4.
The Young Count, it has been said,
gave no credence 10 these tales yet, as
he sat there, with his pencil in his trem.
bling fingers, and with that Iethargy
resting on his soul, he murmured hal
audibly to himself: would that the ia.
BILE were true Ito waken the music
have listened TO in my dreams, to breathe
the thoughts which sometimes flash
lbroug my brain, 10 picture the beauli-
full visions which pass before me mo
evil could belall me hereafter 7 and hall
maddened by his thoughts he added, in
louder tone: 'And who can tell but il
may be true? What is reason; what is
philosophy, but mere speculation? Does
instinct teach us TO hope or fear what is
impossible =! Baroness of Ernheim, re.
veal myself 10 me as an angel of beauty ;
lake the form have looked upon in my
dreams, and give me power to transfer
the lovely vision TO canvas, and
AS the young Count spoke, he raised
his head, and in The corner of the apart
ment where he had placed that old paint
ing he had designed to copy, stood a fe-
male figure, of exquisite loveliness.
Never had his dreams pictured any,
thing half so fair as that pure white brow,
on which the moonbeams fell as if cares,
sngly; those gentle eyes, which were
turned limidly towards him; that dimp-
led cheek, which he fancied crmsoned
and paled by turns befure his fixed re-
gard; the hair falling like a shower of
gold over the shoulders, and the white
arm and the taper fingers, which held,
gathered inln folds, the gauzy azure robe
which hung like a cloud around her,
Yet there was something familiar in that
beautiful cOuntenance; had he looked on
it before, or was il that ideal of beauty
which sometimes presented itself to his
mind :? ...f 80. .....ts .,... ,. o.;.......
He did not ask himself, so absorbed
was he in its contemplation but when,
as the moon.b beams faded from the apart
ment, the figure glided away, he began
TO speculate on the reality of the vision.
That it was supernatural beingh he would
not admit for moment, nor could he be-
lieve that il was simply creature of his
imagination. There must be some visi,
tor at the castle of whose presence. he
was not aware /; but why should strange
lady be wandering through that remote
part of the castle where his study was
situated and at that hour I!
Wilhelm was SO much perplexed with
the vision that he forgot all his former
disquieling thoughts, and with the deter
mmalion in his mind that he would solve
the mystery the next morning, he threw
himself on his couch at an earlier hour
than he had before, for years, sought re-
pose; and when the beams Of the rising
sun stole into The apartment instead Of
wrapping himself in a dressing-gown and
sitting down to an unfinished task. ne
dressed himself with much care and Join.
ed his father and aunt at the breakfast
room, q thing which he had not done Boz