Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-12
THE ARSENIC sPRMG-A ROMANTIC
TALE or HUNGARY.

The z sOd old baron Hcltz lay on his death
bed, having been nortally wounded while
fighting for his Empress, Maria Theresa, then
engaged in drcadiy strife with her lifelong en-.
emy-hcr dangerous and stubborn foe-Fred.
e,ick the Great Of Prussia.
The old man finding that oil the physicians g
skill, and his daughters care we're in vain,
Sent message TO the empress, to demand as
last favor, in return for life spent and 4
death gained in her service, leave Of absence
from the army, for short time, for her brave
young officer Count Notwithstanding as reas.
On 10" the request, that, being ut the point Of
death, he deSir' to place his mOtherless
daughter under the legal protection Of her
aifianccd husband, before he lcfl the world.
The empress, though greatly pressed at this
time both for officers and troops, and though
she could lily spare the gallant young count,
who was the life Of the army, did not belle
her ever warm wOmanly heart on this occa-
sion; the desired permission was given, with
the xtI ictSt iniunctiOnS however, to hasten,
immediately aflrr the marriage, back to the
army, where his absence might cause inCalcu.
bic disasters.
The wings of love, aided by his noble war
hurA', bore the young Count in an incredibly
short space of time, to the castle of the good
Burcn, ard the presence Of his lovely betrOthed:
and it WIS his reward to see how the cheeks
Of the young Baroness Ida, though pale with
watching, grew rosy red under his gaze, and
to note how the languid eye kindled as he
drew nigh.
But this was no time for the exchange oil
loves joyous endearments; dying father, q
Distracted country, lover returning to the
pelils Of the tield-were not these circumstan.
ces sufficiently terrible to check the quick
flow of the lovers pulses, were they likely ia
beat too warmly.
The young couple had been betrothed from
infancy; but, as IL not often the case under
such circumstances, the wishes Of those most
interested, cOihcided in this case with the
views Of their parents; circumstance prOba.
bly, owing to the fact, that events had pre-
vented the children growing up together like
brother and sister, IS is usually the case; on
the contrary, they saw nothing Of each Other
ill both were grown. The naturAl cOnse-
Quence was, that when the ardent young SOL
dier Of twenty-one, was introduced to tht
beautiful young baroness, at the end Of hil
first campaign, be thought her, as she truly
was, one Of the lOveliest and most charming
beings the world had ever seen. and fell viO-
lently in love with her. At this time, Ida,
some years younger than himself was array
ed in ell the charms Of opening womanhood
she was tall and graceful, with clear, blue eyei
and gOlden.tintcd hair, that waved In rich lux.
uriance about o face Of angelic sweetness,
while faultless complexion Of rare delicacy
and briIliancy Get off every charm. II Was nc
wonder that the young soldier, juet escaped
ifOtM cathps and bearded men, lancied that hG
bad met with tcrilAble angel, and that he
should blese The good fortune that had given
him the right 10 Approach such an admirable
creatlrM Quite a. natural was Il, that Ida'l
gentle heart should easily surrender 20 the
bold assaults Of 80 handsome, 50 gallant, %
ardent suitor.
Bot, 10 the early flush Of their attachment,
the young lovers were called on to part The
count was summoned back to the regiment;
and now this was their first reunion meet
ing to be again followed, after Few bSiefmO-
Inrnts Of IAimslsdjoy and grief b. long part.
ing.