Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-21
ROMANCE OF HISTORY.


ibaey was recommended, it was not absulutel
insisted upon as essential to the clerical pro
fession, and II dogma of the infallible Church
until the twelfth century; and in earlier age
many of the most distinguished bishops--nay
some of the Popes themselyes-had been mar
ried men before they ren0unced the world 70
the ecclesiastical life Even this had happen
ed with Adrian II. He hal n wife named Ste
lania, and family of whom an only daughte
now remained before he entered the Church
and even when his sanctity or his ambition
was rewarded with its supreme post he coul,
not eradicate the private feelings of nature
but continue to love his child with intense an,
absorbing affection. In what relation til,
Pops stood to his ex-wife we are not informed
but she lived with her daughter in the out
skirts of Rome and must occasionally hav,
seen her husband in his visits, which were al
ways made as privately as possible. To es
tablish his darling child had been his principa
care. When elected to the chair of St. Peter
he found no difficulty in contracting an alli
ance with the noblest of Rome, and the gallan
Lamberto was the husband he chose for Ste.
fania lie had seen the youths departure
which he could not well oppose, with regret
and he now came TO console his child who
hung OH his neck and wept. Her revcred
fathers caresses, his encouragement and ailec-
tionate admonitions, soon, however, restored
the young bride to calmness, and to the sense
of what she owed her kind parent. She ex-
erted herself to please him-the hour pass sed
and when the fond father, charmed with her
filial love and docility, took his leave, he
promised that Lamberto should soon return
from the wars
The quick intercourse by letters--that ad-
mirable improvement of modern times that
does so much for our comfort, and may alevi-
ate the pangs of lovers separation-was un-
known in those days Of turbulence and general
ignorance. Lamberto had been absent many
weeks, and his bride had never heard from
him, when, one morning AS she was walking
ON the terrace with her nurse she saw dis
tant horseman galloping towards her solitary
abode. lie came on with such speed that she
could soon perceive that he was n warrior,
and one of superior condition. Her heart beat
wildly. About q couple of bow shots from
the garden walls the road or path divided
arm branching off towards the Campagna di
Roma, and the other leading to the front en-
trance other house. She was breathless as the
warrior approached the division-whch road
would he take? lie took the way to her door,
and the over-agitated Stefania fell into the
arms of her nurse, exclaiming, "It is he he
is come at last y
Soon, however, recovering herself, the young
bride ran with loves speed to the house, and
the outer gate, where the domestics were hold
ing parley with the armed visiter, who an
as the bearer of an important message from
him This was cruel disappointment; but
the minor pleasure of learning his tidings re-
mained, and impatient, and without consulting
her mother, she ordered that the gate, never
in those times of treachery and yio-
lence without suspicion, should be opened to
the stranger. The warrior entered, and fol-
lowed Stefania to the apartment of her mother,
whom they found engaged in prayer. Startled
at the intrusion, the matron arose.
"A messenger, dearest mother, from LAM
berto," said Stefana presenting the stranger,
who respectfully bowed, and advancing, pro-
duced TO the ladies curious ring, well known
to both as having been worn by the absent
"By this token am accredited said the
warrior
"You are--it is Lamberto's ringW cried Ste
fania, pressing it to her lips shut wherefore
tarries he so ng2-where is he?-how fares
he ?-what says my lord ~
"Lamberto is well-his sword is victorious
he tenderly salutes you with the information
that in few days, whatever be the conse-
luences, lie will quit the Emperors camp and
return to Rome, to claim his bride and celc-
brate his nuptials," replied the envoy.
"Heayen be praised for his wel-being" ex-
claimed Stefania and her mother; but the lat
ter added, "But may there not be dishonor or
peril in abandoning the Christian army?"
"There may indeed be suspicion of one,
and risk of the other,n said the stranger, eau
tiously, 'and for this he exacts from you a
that no mention be made TO living
soul of his coming. When here, he can justify
md defend himself"
ellis will shall be done and may all tend
10 the best said the matron.
sYou promise, then, to keep this important
'ecret2" rejoined the messenger.
The mother and daughter replied, ave do,
most solemnly"
After having answered II number of ques-
ions concerning Lamberto, suggested by the
.ffection of the gentle Stefania, the warrior
withdrew to partake of some refreshments pre-
,ared for him and soon after, having paid his
lcvoirs to the ladies, he left the house.
That very evening the quiet mule of the Ro-
nan PontiH stopped before the door which led
20 her who was more precious than all else on
earth, and in the indulgence of his parental
Adrian experienced that degree of
pleasure which nothing could equal. 1t was
curious and touching sight to mark tho Pope
md the maiden. The whole Christian world
we're his children but he felt this to be
spiritual fiction, and the voice of nature with
in him told that he had but one child-his own,
md the fairest and dearest. The maiden, too,
mad been taught to consider the papal dignity
rs something above earth-allied to Heaven
md the hosts of saints-but his familiar ten
ierness, and her filial return, assured her that,
though now Pope, her father was yeta NOR
Ial and ratainpd all his form ar faalin1s a nd af