Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-21
EBENSBURG, JULY 2l, 1858.

with True Queenly dignity.
Charles heard his mumbled words. and {
supposing them intended sidelong re-
proach, such as he was wont to hear from ma
ny others, for his cold unfeeling conduct to-
wards his queen, just raised his head from
his elbow and said, ''Pshaw man, thou art
fool" and sneering, as he rose from his
chair, and pointed to the picture. Fool
fool J.! thou know'st yon portrait Is but Hat
terry; she was ugly as" And then in
paroxysm of excitement and passion, he
stamped his foot aud walked about the room,
rs if to hide an agitation for which he might
we'll have blushed, had it been his nature. =
He stopped, however, before window look
ing out upon the court, and gazed on the |
moonlit scene arouhd. ,
The palace now occupied by the kings of
Sweden, was not yet completed; and Charles !
the Eleventh, wLo planned and began it, was
still residing in the old palace, situated just
at the angle of Rltterholm, that looks upon
| eGi6ce The kings private cabinet was III
one of its wing; aud nearly facing it was the
| great saloon, where the States assembled
! when summoned to receive any message from
| the crown. On this chamber it was that the
king more particularly gazed; and, strange
to say, its windows appeared to be brilliantly
illuminated. He at first thonght that this
unusual light might proceed from the torches
of some passing servants; but then what co q
they want at such an hour in chamber that
had not been opened for so long time Be
sides, the light was too bright. far too bright
to proceed from few passing torches Mel
ther could it be fire; for there was no SMOKE
no appearance of destruction from the hery
element, no noise Of alarm crashing raft
ers: it could be nothing, then, but an iiluml-
h. I, oI windows
for some minutes in silent astonlshment; and
his minister, Count Brahe, who saw the
strange phenomenon as well as himself, was
about TO ring a bell upon the table for page
who might be sent to enquire the cause OF SO
. ! singular a light The king, however, stop
ped him, NO" said he, L care for neither
man nor spirits; | will 60 myself At the
,, same time, however, the count noticed that
; the monarch turned pale, as if from sort OF
religious awe Nevertheless, his mind was
fully bent to its purpose; and he went forsh
!, firmly, followed by his chamberlain and ply
sician, who each bore lighted candle, as
they ushered him across the court.
o The porter, who had the keys. had been
f long in bed; but Baumgarten awoke him and
bade him in the kings name to open forth
> with the doors of the Chamber of the States
, The poor man, only half awake, was aston
q ished at so uncx pccted request; Dut he IN
a stantly dressed himself, and Joined the kinl
Y with his bunch of keys They first opened ;
n door leading to gallery which served as
i sort Of anteehambcr to the grand saloon; anc
,r when the moody king entered it, great wa
his surprise to find that all the walls wer
ST hung with black! ''Who has dared SAT-
a: he. looking round in anger, ITO order thi
D. chamber to be hung like this ~ The porte
s. trsmbled beneath his angry gaze, and wa
or unable to answer; for all he knew was, tha
ID the last time he swept the apartments the
IL were lined with oaken panels, as usual, an
O. he was not aware of any materials IN his Nj
RI jestys wardrobe that could have been used
he produce such change.
rn Charles went forward with nervous rapid
tie ty, crossing more than two-thirds of the Ion
he gallery, followed by the chamberlain and po
n ter: for the doctor hung behind, having I
ad relish for the possible consequences OF an az
venture so unquestionably strange, and whit
on might be disastrous, too. The porter w
q the first to speak, and his accents were tho
nv of terror: Advance no further, sire ; d
ed pend on it, there's witches here. This is t.
Ipe hour at which, ever since the death OF h
ial Majesty whose memory Heaven bless J
Ill ghost, her spectre. walks this gallery" T.
nd count, too, heard noise, as if coming fro
IN the state-saloon beyond; while Baumgarte
,ce whose candle puff of wind had extinguis
no. ed, proposed to fetch body Of the pala
arv guard. "Cowards! - said the king, indl
at nantIy, what fear ye? I will enter op
en- instantly these door, say" and therewl
se he kicked against them with his foot, causi
md sound which echoed like thunder throu:
ing the empty apartments. The unhappy por'
he now trembled to such an extent that the Ike
,3d ratified. and all his strength could Eot ma
arv the key enter the lock. ''Pshaw.' said t
king, ''an old veteran tremhle as uhild
vai- shame on you % and then turning to
icb count, he bade him open the door. Sire
us said the chamberlain. retiring step, ''w'
for YOUR Majesty to bid me face fire of Dan
ing or Russian cannon, would obey your ord
nd instantly; but L cannot, dare not, face
he powers of heaven or hell" Charles, Il
The banked in his purpose, rudely snatched
rom KEYS from the porter. ''Dastards!' said
his with a tone of contempt, what fear you
NJ n Thts must, ] see, be my affair aione;' {
side before his attendants could advance to
nm him, he had opened the thick oaken door
the the saloon and entered it, invoking Heav
mrs with reverence, to aid him in his work,
onlv riosity was now stronger than fear with
the attendants, and all three followed him, a
stav ashamed of the terror they had shown.
How great was the surprise of all !
arch chamber of state appeared to be lliumlnf
,om- by countess number VI "aHen iiS.
ltion the walls, Whica hlther'o nau ooon ~. 9
up: antique tapestry, representing events OF 5 ;
was dish history, were now hung with black
tenn Along the walls. too, were hung IN order
ition merous flags that had been taken as trop
!. he by the soldiers of Gustavus Adolphus
be- the Germans, Danes anu Huss,Aos' u
eded what was yet more strange, several Swe
4 for banners might be perceived covered with
: the neral Grape. On the benches that lined