Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-03-30


| Americans of the olden time, had a great
prejudice against foreigners "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"
| His notions of the Teutonic character were
| founded on the stories his mother used to tell
| him about the Hessians, and vague ideas of
| ruffians 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.
| g Giad to see you Horace-couldnt 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 airy-faced
| fellow ?"
''That is Count Pfeiffenhammer, uncle.
".Count Pipehammer well, the Germans
| have certainly odd fancy at names. Pray
| what is his business :"
Business. " said Horace, laughing: " why
his chief business at present it to collect the
revenues of his principally"
Principally fudge "a few barren
acres with half dozen mudholes in it, 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 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. bou-
| quet of rare exotics, or an exquisite print, or
scarce book, or beautiful specimen OF for
| egn mechanism, to be his apology.
| Could any girl of seventeen be insensble to
such gallant wooing, especially when prof
| fered by a rich nobleman, who wore such
| splendid whskers, 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 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 a 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
well as at home, and in the evening party,
the morning promenade or the afternoon tide,
| 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
equanimty, 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 gratifed,
| Adelaide, ~ said he " now you must indulge
one of mine. Adopt many foreign fashions
as you please, but remember that you never,
with my consent, marry any other than an
American. Ny fortune has been made by
own Industry-my name was transmitted TO
me unsulhed 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 earn estness 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.
= i wish he were 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 :"
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
gradually came down 70 The imprisoned lover
tie 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
a mo-
melancholy forebodings, when the door open
ed, and the subject of her thoughts entered
Seating himself beside her, be commenced a
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 10
one of deeper interest He spoke of himself
Of his various adventures-of his personal
feelngs-and, finally, of his approaching de-
parture for Europe. Adelaides cheek grew
paler as he spoke, but she suppressed the cry
which rose to her lips. The Count gazed
earnestly upon her; then seizing her hand
and claspiDg il closely between his own, he
poured forth the most passionate expressions
OF affection. Half tairGing with the excess OF
her emotions, Adelaide sat motionless as
| statute, until aroused by the Counts en-
/
| proach she attempted to answer him Fal-
/ tering, but frankly, she stated her fathers
| objection to her union with "a foreigner, and
| blamed herself for having permitted any in
| timacy which could only end in q suffering for
! both.
Only tell me, Adelaide, that your fathers
| prejudIces are the sole obstacle" said the
/ Count, p4ssionately; say but that you could
| have loved me, and / shall be content" Ad-
| claide blushed and trembled.
For the love of heaven, answer me but by
| a look !"
TimidIy that downcast eve was raised to
/ his and he was answered
- Adelaide" he resumed, after moments
pause, . we may yet be happy. Could you
| love the hImble citizen well as the noble
| count ?"
| \ slight pressure of the hand that Law in
his, and fitting smile on the tremulous lip,
was a sufficient reply.
| d" Then hear me, Adelaide" said her lover
| . will return to my country will restore
my honors 10 him that bestowed them, and
then | may hope 10 merit"
| =" Ny utter contempt cried Adelaide, We
| hemently What, resign your country for
/ felt the name of veur fathers, desert your in
| heritancc OF duties No. Count Pfeiffen-