The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-02-12

doubling that he should find his lost ring at
the bottom.
Count Otto did not feel his wontcd alacriy
to sleep that night; he lay awake and restless,
listening to the hoarsc baying of the bnndog III
| the courtyard until near midnight, when he
distinctly heard tho drawb.dgc of the castle
lowered and few minutes afterwards u sound
as of many little feet patterng mp the stone
stairs and into an adjoining chamber Then a
wild strain of music came floating on the air,
shooting a sweet. mysterious thrill to his heart
Rising softly from his bed. he hastily dressed
himself: q little bell soundcd.-his chamber
door was flung suddenly open, and the aston.
ishcd Count, passing into the hall, found him
self in an assemblagc of diminutivc but distin-
guished locking strangers of both sexes, who
laughed, chattcd, danced and sang without
seeming in the least to notice him. In the
centre of the hall stood a superb Christmas
tree, from which u multitude of vnricgatcd
lights shed food of radiance through the
apartment Never before had u Christmas
tree borne such fruits, for instead of toys and
sweetmeats the branches were hung with da-
mond stars aud crosses, aigrcttes Of rubics and
snpphrcs baldricks embroidered with oriental
pears, and daggcrs mounted in gold and stud
gazed without the power of uttcring word
While still lost in wonder ut scene he could
not comprehend, there was movement ut the
end of the hall-thc company respectfully fell
back to make way for a newcomer, when sud
denly in the bright rays Of the Christmas lights
stood'bciore Count Otto u young female Of daz-
zng beauty. Her stature was small, like the
other visitors, but she was cXqnsitcly proper
Itonal ,nl IL IrpSSpl ne a hal
A brilliant dindcm sparkcd amongst her raven
locks: rich point lace only half yelled her snow
white bosom. and dress Of rose colored silk
sat close to her slender figure and fell in folds
lust so low as to reveal the neatcSt feet and
ankles in the world; while her sleeves were
short enough 10 display beautiful arms Of daz-
cling whitcness The charming stranger show
ed no awkward timidiiy, for going straight up
to the Count she caught him by both hands
and in the sweetest of voices said: Dear Otto,
am come to return your visit" At the same
time she raised her right hand TO his lips, which
obliged him to kiss it without making any re.
ply; he felt spcllbound, fascinated. aud suffered
the beautiful stranger to draw him to couch.
where she placed herself at his side, willie Tie
guests amused themselves as they pleased
Creeping closer and closer to him I'LL she al.
knows how her lips met his, and before lie
could think about kissing them he had done 50
Count Otto-like many other men who
have been placed in similar crcnms ancr>-
was lost from that moment. MY dear friend, f"
she lispcd gently in his ear, Il have brought
You Christmas prcScnt-that which Won lost
and hardly hoped to find again; see | bring
it to you And drawing from her bosom 1T.
4, ot with Is, a, (, 4,
the hands of the Count who on opening it dis.
covered to his establishment the ring he had
lost in the forest we'll Carried away Ivy feel
ing rs strange as it was irresistible, the Count
pressed the cnSkct, and then the lovely stran.
Is ger to his bosom Delightful" murmnrrd
c the maiden, who certainly was not oppressed
= by maiden reserve. You must excuse me mar.
k rating the particulars OF the Counts vehement
woong, and how before they parted that night.
d the cnamored man had offered his hand 10 bis
o fair guest, which she accepted ON condition that
n he should promise never TO pronounce the word
c death" in her presence. lie gave the rrmr.
y ed assurance; and the next day thc marriage
:, of Count Otto Won Gorgns and the lovely Er.
G instructor SO was size cnlIcd-modc him, MS
o the old romnnriSs Of The period said, the hap.
It pieSt Of mortaS" As til" young Countess wns
g handsome, submissive aud prodigiously veal
J. thy, they lived very happily together for some
d years in their fcudal castle One day, how
It ever, it Glanced that they were TO assist at Il
a grand tourney in the ncghborhood The La.
l. dy Ernestincs palIrcy stood in waiting for her
!. at the castle gate; but being too much ecu.
. pied IN adjusting new and becoming head
n gear which her mIucr had just brought home
a she delayed so long that the Count, who had
been impatiently s'rdng in his arnor up and
} down the great hall for nearly bali an hour
= completely lost his temper, and on his lady
: making her appearance, lookinga s brilliant by
"a her natural charms MS by her elegant costume
Y he pettishly exclaimed Fair dlne, yon would
G be good messenger to send IN Searea Of Death"
+. Scarcely had he uttered the fatal word than
the lady disappeared, leaving 10 trace but the
r print of her little hand above the castle gate
} Every Christmas eve however she returns aud
2 fits about the ruins, with wild lamentations,
crying ut intervals -"Denth! death. ucuth'
SELLING \ DEACON.
i Deacon Brown is one of the kndest sort of