Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-03-31

my daughter don't want them"
| His notions of the Teutonic character were
founded on the stories his mother used to tell
him about the Hessians, and vague ideas OF
ruffans and child eaters were associated in
his mind with everything German. The cold
ness with which he saluted the noble Count,
formed striking contrast to the cordial
warmth with which he grasped the hand OF
his nephew. --
Glad to see YOU, Horace-couldn't speak
a word TO you last night, you were so sur
rounded with pretty girls. By the way, boy,
drawing him aside, "who is that hairy-faced
fellow
"That is Count Pfeifenhammer, uncle.
Count Pipehammer well, the Germans
have certainly odd fancy at names. Pray
what is his business"
Cuisines 2" said Horace, laughing: why
| his chief business at present it to collect the
revenues of his principality." 81
"Principality fudge Ia few barren
acres with half dozen mudholes in it, sup
pose 1t won't do, Horace-it won't do
mouthful of moonshine. What the deuce did
you bring him here for? l don't think
| could treat him with common civility if it
were not for your sake"
| Then, for my sake, dear uncle, treat him
civilly, and give my word you shall not re-
pent your kindness" ....-. ... ...
| Every day saw the Count paying his devoirs
to the lovely Adelaide, and always framing
some winning excuse for his visit. A bou-
| quet of rare exotics, or an exquisite print, or
a scarce book, or beautiful specimen of for
| eign mechanism, were sure to be his apology.
| Could any girl of seventeen be insensible to
such gallant wooing, especially when prof
fered by rich nobleman, who wore such
| splendid whiskers, and whose moustache and
imperial were the envy Of all the aspirants of
| ladies' smiles? Adelaide soon began to dis
| cover that, when the Count was present, time
! flew on eagles wings; and when, after spend
ing the morning in her company, he ventured
to make one of the gay circle usually assem-
bled in her drawing room at evening, she was
conscious of degree of pleasure for which
she was unwilling to account. His intimacy
with her cousin Horace afforded him the OPP
portunity of being her companion abroad as
well as at home, and in the evening party
the morning promenade or the afternoon ride,
| the handsome Count was ever attendant
A feeling Of gratifed vanity probably aided
| the natural goodness of Adelaide's temper
| and enabled her to endure, with exemplary
equanimity, the railleries of her young friends;
but she was not tranquil when her father be-
gan seriously to demonstrate against this i'm
| pudent intimacy.
"You have had all your wishes gratified,
Adelaide" said he now you must indulge
one OF mine. Adopt as many foreign fashions
as you please, but remember that you never,
| with my consent, marry any other than an
American. My fortune has been made by
| own industry-my name was transmitted to
me unsulied by my father, who earned his
patent of nobility when he signed the decla-
ration of independence, and no empty titled
foreigner shall ever reap the fruits of my toll,
or teach my daughter to be ashamed of her
| republican father"
The earnestness of this admonition from a
parent who had never before spoken except
| in the word of unbounded tenderness first led
| Adelaide to look into the depths of heart
| She was almost terrified at her own researches
when she found she had allowed the image of
| the Count to occupy its most hidden recesses.
Bitterly did she repent her folly.
| q wish he were an American" sighed she !;
| " and yet if he were he would not be half so
pleasing. How devoted his manners are
how much feeling there is in all he says and
| does ~ s.s ....
| Poor Adelaide! she was like the fascinated
! bird-she dreaded his power, yet she could
not withdraw herself from its influence She
could not conceal from herself the fact that
| the manners of the Count, too, were greatly
| changed. From the courtly gallant, he had
| gradually came down to the imprisoned lover.
He treasured her very look and she keenly
| felt that in exposing her own peace of mind,
she had also risked the loss of his.
| This state of things could not long exist
without an explanation. Six months had
scarcely passed since Adelaide first beheld
| the noble stranger, and already her young
cheek had lost its glow, and her step its buoy
| ant lightness. She was sitting alone in the
drawing room one morning, brooding over
| melancholy forebodings, when the door open
| ed, and the subject of her thoughts entered
Seating himself beside her, he commenced
conversation full of those graceful nothings
which women always love to hear; but AIDE
laide was in no mood for gaiety. The Count
intently watched the play of her elegant fea-
lures, and then, as if he OWNED the tumult of
her feelings, suddenly changed the topic to
one of deeper interest. He spoke of himself
of his various adventures-of his personal
teelings-and, finally, of his approaching de-
| parture for Europe. Adelaide's cheek grew
paler as ne spoke, but she suppressed the cry
which rose to her lips. The Count gazed
earnestly upon her; then Selling her hand
and clasping it closely between his own, he
poured forth the most passionate expressions
of affection. Half fainting with the excess of
| her emotions, Adelaide sat motionless as a
statute, until aroused by the Counts en-
treaties for a reply. With bitter selfre
proach she attempted to answer him. Fal-
tering, but frankly, she stated her fathers
objection to her union with foreigner, and
blamed herself for having permitted any in
| timacy which could only end in suffering for
| both
Only tell me, Adelaide, that your fathers
| preiudiceS are the sole obstacle - said the
Count, passionately; 'say but that you could
have loved me, and [ shall be content" Ad-
elaide blushed and trembled. ..
"For the love of heaven, answer me butb
a look =" ......
| Timidly that downcast eye was raised to
| his and he was answered.
| Adelaide" he resumed, after moments
pause, e we may yet be happy. Could you
| love the humble citizen as well as the noble
count ~
A slight pressure of the hand that lay in
| his, and fitting smile on the tremulous lip,
was sufficient reply.
Then hear me, Adelaide" said her lover,
" will return to my country-I will restore
my honors to him that bestowed them, and
| then may hope to merit"
My utter contempt" cried Adelaide, We
hemently. what, resign your country. flor
felt the name OF your fathers, desert your in
herltance OF duties No, Count Pfeiffen-
hammer II love of freedom led you to
| become citizen of our happy land none
would so gladly welcome you as Adelaide
| Walsingh ham; but never would receive the
sacrifice as tribute to transitory passion y
A transitory passion, Adelaide"
could Il expect stability of feeling in him
who could so easily abandon his native land
| and forget the claims of his country Won