The mountain Democrat., 1865-01-14
sTAINAEss, HIINS"+>~~-

blightng thunder cloud. Charlcmagne
is now dwelling in his royal palace at
AK la.Chapellc, blessed in the love of his
beautiful wife Hildegarde, yet it is not
long since he has figured in a dark story.
His wise mother, Bertha, had chosen
him bride, Ermengarde, daughter Of the
Lombard king. He had married her in
spite of the Popc's prohibition, and set
her aside after one year Of childish we'd
lock. The ill-fatcd lady died soon after,
some said Of a broken heart. All the
details Of their story, their short union
and lis cruel ending, are shroudcd in
gloom. In the year I'll he married Hill,
dcgardc, Of good old STahian stock and
holy aud beautiful as noble, why such a
one as She married n man who had Just
set aside another wife, is equally mys.
terv.
For few years all went well with Hi.
, dcgarde and Charemagnc, they dwclt in
peace and love together, and she bore him
! three Sons. Karl, Pepin and Louis. and as
: many daughters, Rolruda, Bertha, and
+ Gisrla. The great emperor was prone
to anger. If reused to jealousy, but in
the main he was nobly unslSpecting,
and loving toward liildcgarde; her great
/ influence was not founded on mere beauty,
! though she was fair and stately. with that
lofty and calm lOvrlncsS which lies deeper
than rounded limbs, bright eyes and rosy
checks. a tender, loving, God fearing
woman, she insensibly led her husband
toTard mercy and goodness, thus win.
3 al. l., a e T..
the highest to the mcanrSt in the land.
There was but one other influence to be
. romparcl 10 hers, the subtle hidden sway
1 Of raland, a half broth,r Of Charcmagrc S.
! The emperor loved him, and never saw
the ha~k soul that lay hidden under a
fair exterior. In fifty ways IIillcgardc's
large pleading FIR justice and mercy
lwart"i the crafty Talanl'S selfish plans,
His greed Of power prompted him often
to plot tn" downfall of this euilclcss, lin
, >usrcctinG woman, ay, and compass it
tno, that lie might better rue her bus.
bard'S miud. But every time he gazed
on her regal beauty and listened 10 her
pleasant spc, ch. his heart would fail him,
gradually his resolves grew weaker, till,
bit by hit th;y yielded to an accurscd
( love.
lie loved her L,iu'},y, desperately; and
J Mn lcv,I ,c ,ul,tinn vhi<,,,r.d in his
.or,l,t II.,l,.r,rdr ruircI and dc,ra,,el
wnu,i t,r her own sake b.y4rc bo,y ,A.
crossed his plans. With this ionl treason
in li> hrait, he was outwar'lIy the loving
L;uso,an # tic ro,al rai, ami their u,o,t
f,ith,uI vassaI
r.. t,rrn artnrs in my story were thus
,.,rrn,,.,q,r,d toward each other when
,,b.-l ,..e,,,.. c,t,.l ov,v,n th,. Sov.n
wars. i, Inst at was 10 aLp,iut his ha,t
hr,.,l.nr +, the government Of AK Ia.
Cb.r..;,
g. h.. ,,,, himself from II,lI,,,rl.'s
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,,a. I,s, ~ ,I,,. ,h,nci.t NJ ,,l,l = s,G
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nnw =. ,n ,,rio,ed ,wov v,th his c,m.
,'ani,r1 th,T Ln L,J in,r,,trJ III, L,,I to
H.. r,,,rnl. un,r
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anu ''au"'eu ,i.' '."I ''' ''''uo"' :,'e
C'I'tu ~" "'"'! a. '"'' .'1oe ",o'''''e e.
a"D N"''t '"'i'ep "'I,e ''i "I'e '"i ~, u.s.
''u>oo''' '"''Hs WY J u"s '"H ;,,; ,;"n u' ~
n,'S>eH % "sa ",t'ue"' "a .h' '', nmu rss a"
a.o,Ie ~ ~ o'I ,,"r '" iinr rand.rod
y. ."e .-S. ,L,, ,'o,,. ,;,, ,,l ~"
,. w h" t"nl, i:,. IN, hor
in, h.'Ns .nd I''" ~ r;',r,i M tan3er ,nnt sor,oneJ
nrnrv lima IF hcr hoamt;Cnl C,co for hcr
thoughts were far away with him she 50
dearly loved. Tuland stole in uanoticcd
aud lrant over her, and she started from
her day dream. Their eyes met, his
ploatcd on her with greedy stare. She
would have risen to 90, but he grasped
her hands and fell on his knees before her,
and then and there in the broad light of
. lav. poured out his tale Of passion.
Dumb with horror and surprise, she sat
like n craven image, till he PAUSED from
sheer lack Of breath. That pause undid
the spell. She broke from him, and
/ tnrned on the false knave with righteous
wrath. He onailcd beneath her wthering
scorn and slunk away muttcrng curses.
( He mi ight have left that room her open
foe but for one glance back while his foot
was vet on the threshold. Elidcgarde
faced him, but mute and motonless with
clenchcd hands and diIateI nostriS; her
lips still quivcring, her blue eyes flashing
fierce unearthly light, terrible as young
Judith; but more beautiful than ever.
One lonr LINGERING look at her fatal beauty