Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-04-02

prejudice against foreigners. q If they are
| real Lords, he used to say, they don't want
my daughter; and if they are not real Lords
my daughter don't want them.p
His notions of the Teutonic character were
founded on the stories his mother used to tell
him about the Hessians, and vague ideas OF
rufians and child eaters were associated in
his mind with everything German. The cold
ness with which he saluted the noble Count,
formed a striking contrast to- the cordial
warmth with which he grasped the hand of
his nephew.
az 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 Pfeiffenhammer, uncle. =
"Count Pipehammer well, the Germans
have certainly an odd fancy at names. Pray
what is his business ?" '.-
ssBusinessl /" said Horace, laughing: g why
his chief business at present it to collect the
revenues of his principaity.T ~ /
Principally fudge IA few barren
acres with half dozen mudholes in it, L sup
pose 1t won't do, Horace-it won't do |!
| Adelaide deserves, something better than a
| mouthful of moonshine, What the deuce did
you bring him here forg don't think !
treat ull0 Will COu1IlOH ClNlllt1 Afrll
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. bou-
quet of rare exotics, or an exquisite print, or
a scarce book, or a beautiful specimen of for7
eign mechanism, were sure to be his apology.
Could any girl of seventeen be insensible TO
such gallant wooing, especially when prof
fered by a 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
few 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
we'll as at home, and in the evening party,
the morning promenade or the afternoon ride,
the handsome Count was ever attendant
A feeling of gratified 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 inn
pudent intimacy. - ass
/" You have had all your wishes gratifed,
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 unsullied 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 iny toll
or teach my daughter to be ashamed of her
republican father" s ial
The earnestness of this admonitiou 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 ~ Il
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 impassioned lover
He treasured herrvery look and she keenly
felt that in exposing her own peace of mind,
she had also risked the loss of his. 9i
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, sbrooding over
melancholy forebodings, when the door open
ed, and the subject of her thoughts entered.
Seating himself beside her, he commenced a
conversation full of those graceful nothings
which women always love to hear; but Ade-
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
feelings-and, finally, of his approaching de-
parture for Europe. Adelaide's cheek grew
paler as bespoke, but she suppressed the cry
which rose to her lips The Count gazed
earnestly upon her; then seizing her hand
and claspiDg 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 reply. With bitter self-re
proach she attempted to answer him. Fail.
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 a suffering for
both. e fFHo1
''Only tell me, Adelaide, that your fathers
prejudices 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 heayen, answer me but by
a looks fAss SAS
Timidly that downcast eye was raised to
his, and he was answered.
Adelaide" he resumed, after a moments
pause, "we may yet be happy. Could you
love the humble citizen as well as the noble
count 2"
A slight pressure of the hand that lay in
his, and fitting smile ON the tremulous lip,
was a sufficient reply. afris ssssE
g Then hear me, Adelaide" said her lover,
viii return to my country[I win restore
my hoEors to him that bestowed them, and
then may hope to merit" saa \
]" Ny utter contempt cried Adelaide, We.
hemently. what, resign your country, for,
felt the name of your fathers, desert your in
bar &c d.ftiaS \ n