Litchfield enquirer., 1861-11-14
hlisfellanp.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING.


 l A TALE OF THE HUNDRED DAYS.
 'This must be the last of yonr wedding-gifts Vaninka.' said Mad'm Brentano, handing smal package to her daughter, 'as you are to be mar ried to morrow, and it is now quite late in the evening think there will be no more'
 'Motherr said the young girl, in a frightened tone, holding up small jet necklace, the con tents of the package. See, it is black! It is ominous-Oh, what grief can be in store fol Henry and me!
 1 None, none, Vaninka! this is mere folly, said her mother in tone of rebuke. ! But it was some minutes before the young maiden recovered her calmness Then, conquer ing her weakness by violent effort, she said, l lightly
 Am I not silly, mother? You will laugh when tell you it; but my blood ran cold, and my flesh seemed to creep, as l touched this bau- | ble, as it had been a serpent See, do not mind it now!
 | Naninka Brentano was the only child of wealthy Prussian commoners. She had been long betrothed to Henry Werder, young off cer in the Prussian army, but owing to the wars in Europe, their wedding had been long delayed. Now, however, there was peace, and the lovers were to be united the day after the one toward the end of which my story commences. Vanin- ka was devotedly attached to her betrothed, and too happy at the near approach of their nuptias to allow the black necklace to disquiet her long. Her parents left the room, and throwing herself into chair, she leaned her head against its back, and sank back into reyerie, her fingers mechani- cally playing the while with her last gift. It was easy to see that her reflections were of a pleasant nature, for, ever and anon, beautiful smile stole over her feature and fading gradual ly away, still left the same expression of quiet happiness. She had been sitting there some time, when another person entered the room.- The intruder was a young, handsome man, dress ed in full Prussian uniform. His face Was pale, and wore an agitated look, strongly contrasting with the peaceful smile on Vaninka lips. She did not hear him enter, and he stood for a mo- ment looking, with his eyes beaming with ten derness upon her; then, with the air of q man who has distressing duty to perform, he advan- ced and stood before her.
 Henry! she exclaimed, starting to her feet. I did not expect you this evening; has any thing happened?'
 Much, much, Naninka. Sit down again, and will take the stool at your feet. My own be- loved, l come to tell you that our wedding must be postponed.'
 Our wedding 2 cried the astonished girl.
 Even so! You are astonished, perhaps hurt; have I told you too abruptly? Look in my face, Vaninka, and see what l suffered before would grieve you with my bad news
 But, Henry, l do not understand. Why must we wait still longor?'
 Because I must leave you in twenty ninutos.'
 'Leave me?'
 Yes! Napoleon has left Elba, and is even now in Paris. Cur troops leave the city in half an hour.
 Henry! an awake? No, no, Henry you are not in earnest. An she said. sl:u>ldtrng, as she caught sight of the necklace, l said it was om!nous J-l-iiunry, you cannot leave me. Tonight, too! the very night before our we'd ding
 'Vaninka, do not trcmbIe and sob so. Van nka! he cried, straining her to his breast, 1 must go see the clock points the time l Set to leave you, Vaninka. She had fanted. Bctt r sov And kissing her pale face again and again, he laid her on the sofa and went in search of her parents. A few words told them all, and, bear ing their fervcnt blessing, lie departed.
 Weeks passed and Eaninka heard nothing from her lover. She grew pale and thin; her movements were languid, and her former light step grew slow aud heavy. She no longer sang at her work, but would let her hands fall lisless- y into her lap, and heaye deep sighs, and some times the great tears rolled unheeded down her cheeks.
 At length there came the news of the battle of Waterloo; Napoleon had been defeated, and all Europe was ringing with the tidings. Van inka's suspense now amounted to perfect agony. Henry! she would cry. Is he killed? Oh, when will he come"
 One morning, when she was seated by her mo- ther, sewing, she was told that Prslssian officer wanted to see her. With her heart trembling between fear and hope, she obeyed the summons. AS she slowly entered the room, a stranger rose, aHxyo tn han Mademoiselle Brentano?' he inquired, bow | ing.
 'The same. Will you be seated, sir?' I am Frederick Leton 1 served in the bat tie of Waterloo, in the same regiment with Hen " Werder, and he requested me to deliver this to you. And as he finished he placed a small package in her hands.
 Why does he not come himself? He is not dead? Oh, say he is not dead ? she said, in a voice of such imploring agony that the young soldier felt the tears rise in his eyes
 Lady, he said. in a sad tone, Henry fell at l Waterloo.
 She did not scream nor faint, but sank back
 into the chair by her, with only moan ofagony. He mistook her silent, fearless agony for calm, ness, and began to relate the particulars of his comrades death and delivered his dying mes sage to his betrothed. Vaninka heard every word, but she neither spoke nor stirred, but sat with her eyes fixed on the little package he had given her. He left her, and her mother found her, half hour after, still in the same position
 .Vaninka,' she said, who was your visitor :?
 There was no answer.
 'Vaninka, she said again. Are you i'll ? anc she laid her hand gently upon her arm.
 Dead, mother dead y she said, now rising her eyes.
 Who is dead darlng?' asked the mother frightened at her strange tone
 Naninka slowly opened the package, drew ou the ring and hair it contained and murmurins
 Henry Oh, mother, he is deadr 7 she fell int
 her mothers arms
 We change the scene now to Waterloo, in thu latter part of the battle between the armies o :. Napoleon and Wellington. The moment w choose was the one in which the Imperial Guar, of the Emperor threw themselves with desperat valor between the advancing Prussian forces an, the English army to prevent their joining thei strength. Henry Werder, at the head of hi regiment, felt his heart throb with intense excite ment, as these two immense columns, the Howe :. of the French army, advanced upon the Englis ; troops. They came in silence, until within rang of the batteries prepared to receive them the terrific discharge, seeming to rend heaven an earth, scattering death among their ranks, sti these veterans advanced the honor of their ns ton was in peril they could die but not turn befor - the enemy another discharge and the Prussia = troops, who had been rapidly nearing the seen , of action, then dashed among them. The Gard U U Imperiale de Napoleon was utterly annihilatet u One exultant shout was raised by the allie armies, as this fearful crisis was decided in the - favor.