Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-29
MIGHT BEFORE THE WED
yro' ..y r] DING. eur..

Hahanding q small package to her daughter
las you are to be married tomorrow, anC
Hit is now quite late in the evening, l thinl
Elthere will be no more" ~ '.l"- ~
Mother" said the young girl, III fright.
Eened tone, holding up q small jet necklace
1.-the contents of the package, ''see, tits black
DaIt is ominous. Oh, what grief can be in
store for Henry and mel" ...... = t''y.
N "None, none, Vaninka! this is mere folly
Essaid her mother, III a tone of rebuke.
Ea But it was some minutes before the young
Esmaiden recovered her calmness. Then
H&conquering her weakness by violent effort
Bshe said, lightly: 20 -'i 10 tiil'.,NE
~ am not silly, mother! You win laugh
Ezwhen tell you it; but my blood ran cold
k$and my flesh seemedto creep as |. touched
btthis bauble, as lift had been serpent. See, /
Edo not mind it howp r'sraesR eaL
81 Vaninka BrentanO was the only child OF
ia wealthy Prussian commoner. She had
kAbeen long betrothed to Henry Werder, O
E3young officer in the PrussiaH army, but
keowing to the,wars in Europe their wedding
Kahad been long delayed. Now, however,
IIthere was peace, and the lovers were to be
Esunited the day after the one toward the end
s8of which my story commences. Vaninka
Iswas devotedly attached to her betrothed,
%and too happy at the near approach of their
to allow the black necklace to dis
REquiet her long. Her parents lett the room,
Eland throwing herself into a chair, she
HAleaned her head against its back, and sank
sA Ainto reverie her fingers mechanically
6playing the while with her last gift. 1t
Eswas easy to see that her reflections were of
ga pleasant nature, for, ever and anon beau
Eatiful smile stole over her features, and fad-
tsing gradually away, still lett the same ex-
Expression Of quiet happiness. She had beenI
isSlttlng there some time, when another per-
sgson entered the room. The Intruder was al
|Hyoung handsome man, dressed in full Prus-
gssian uniform. His face was pale, and wore
gan agitated look, strongly contrasting with
Gsthe peaceful smile on Vaninka's lips. She
'6did not hear him enter, and he stood for a
Amoment looking, with his eyes beaming
sawith tenderness supon her; then with the all.
Eof man who has distressing duty to pei
eform, he advanced and stood before her.
a "Henry " she exclaimed, starting to her
s3teet. III did not expect you this evening /;
sShas anything happenedf.id '.fg
n "Much, much, Vaninka. Sit down again,
sland will take this stool at your feet. N.Y.
Gown beloved, / came to tell you that our
awedding must be postponed" NJ
u "Our wedding" cried the astonishedE
s3girl. s. g.Hu. "-ru lU I0I
Il "Even so! You are astonished, perhaps
Ahurt; have told you abruptlyp Look inl
samy face, Vaninka, and see what | suffer edI
i3before would grieve you with my badE
sanews." u . .1u. ss HJ.
"A "But, Henry, do not understand. Why|
gmust we wait still longerl" -
because must leave you in twenty
7aminutes." "' aiv't.
81 Leave me?" .. C- ,taa. a.
y "Yes! Napoleon has left Elba, and isl
in Da..ip L. a..
Getty in half an hour" h'y. "yrv
d Henry! am awake? No, no, Henry.
Nyou are not in earnest. Ah!' she said,
sssshuddering as she caught sight of the neck
ialace, II said itwas ominous! I-i-Henry,
SSsyou cannot leaye.me. Tonight, too the
livery night before the wedding!'' 10
81 "Vaninka ~ he cried, straining her to hisI
isbreast, II must 90 see the clock points tol
jxthe time set to leave you. Vaninka! She!
%has tainted Bettersoi And kissing herl
yqpale face again and again, he laid her oal
sHthe sofa and went in search of her parentsI
IA few words told them all, and bearing|
Atheir fervent blessings, he departed.
81 Weeks passed, and Vaninka heard moth
cling from her lover. She grew pale and
Athin her movements were languid and herI
.Nformer light step grew slow. and heavy
IaShe no longer sang at her work, but would
zheave deep sighs, while sometimes the great
'Stears rolled unheeded down her cheeks.
q AT length there came the news of theI
.abattle of Waterloo; Napoleon had been de-
iafeated, and all Europe was ringing with
Isthe tidings. Vaninka's suspense nowI
Sgamounted to perfect agony. Henry ~ sheI
Nwould cry, "ls he killed? o, when will heE
8come?"
a One morning when she was seated With
Sher mother, sewing, she was told that al
HPrussian officer wanted to see her. With
Cher heart trembling between fear and hopel
s4she obeyed the summons. AS she slowly
ssentered the room, a stranger rose, and ad-
Ssyanced to meet her.
q ''Mademoiselle Brentano ?" he inquired,I
Ebowing.
4 "The same. VIII you be seated, sirP"
u 81 am Frederick Liston: served in thes
Hbattle of Waterloo, in the same regimentE
Hwith Henry Werder, and he requested mel
sto deliver this to YOU" And as he finished,
sghe placed small package in her hands.
"Why don't he come himself? lie is notI
dead Oh, say he is not dead!'' she said inI
ia voice of such imploring agony that theE
Syoung soldier felt the tears rise in his eyes. !.
q Lady" he said, In sad tone, "HenryI
Hfell at Waterloo" t,f .e,t ~ ,cg
q She did not scream nor faint, but sank
ssinto the chair near her, with only moan
Eaof agony. He mistook her silent, tearlessI
Aaagony for calmness, and began to relate the
4particulars of his comrades death, andI
sgdelivered his dying message to his betroth-
Sed. -yaninka heard every word, but she'
Sneither spoke nor stirred, but with her eyes,
Sa6xed on the little package he had given her,
&He left her, and her mother found her, half
IAN hotir after, still In the same position.
4 sVaninka," shesaid, ''who was your Wis
sitor?" .. 'c a,.a ga Of 1o..si5l rf lib |