Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-09
A ROYAL BRIDAL.


throughout the city of Vienna. The
weather was cold, but the streets were
tronged with people and hung with gar
lands. Nothing was thought of but balls,
Examinations and dress. Every one was
curious to see the splendid spectacle OF
the day-the entrance of the bride of the
King Of Rome into Vienna.
The plans Of the Lord Chancellor were
beginning TO unfold themselves. The
Archduke Joseph had been crowned
King of Rome at Frankfort, and the
Empress, on his return, had prepared
him for his second bridal. He had
stoutly refused at first, but finally had
Welded to the reasonings of his mother
and the persuasions Of his father.
1t was on the 22d of January, Of the
year 1865. From early morning the
archduchesses at the palace lad been
practicing lyric drama from the pen Of
Metastasio, called II ParnaSo Confuse.
The music was by Gluck, and his deep
bass was heard accompanying the sweet,
rich voices of the bridegroom's sisters.
They had studied their parts diligently,
and felt quite confident Of success, as
thew gathered around the maestro. But
Gluck was never satisfied, and he kept
Apollo and the Muses. at their music
lesson until their ladies of honor were
obliged to inform them that they must
positively retire to their toilettes, a
courier having arrived to say that the
princess had entered the gates OF the city.
While all these preparations were 60
ing on around him, the King of Rome
tarried in his private apartments. he
was in the room wherein he had locked
himself after the death of Isabella, the
room where, day and night, he had de-
plored his lost happiness, until Christina
had so rudely awakened him from his
dream of love and sorrow.
This miserable consolation had had its
effect Joseph wiped away his tears,
and, having read lsabellas letters, and
convinced himself that she never had
loved him, be had foreborne to murmur
at her loss.
On this, his bridal day, he was think
ing of the time, when, alone and heart
broken, be had paced this room for three
DAYS and nights; and now, surrounded
by festivity and splendor, he paced the
floor again, awaiting the moment when
he should have to mount his horse and
meet the princess. He was not with the
living bride, but with the dead one;
and, as he thought Of her grace, her
smiles, her surprising beauty, his lip
curled with a sneer, and his brow grew
dark and stormy.
"And she, too, deceived me, said he
"those smiles, those glances, that love,
all were false. While she lay in my
arms and listened to my words Of love,
her heart was in the grave with her
murdered lover Oh, my God now
that / know that she deceived me, in
whom can place my trust Z Even now,
what am | but dependent boy, the
slave of the empress and of her all pow
erful minister, who force upon me a
woman whom hate, and bid me make
her the mother of my children Z Oh,
when will my shackles fall, when shall |
be free Z
In the distance was heard the dull
sound of a cannon. Already !" cried
the unhappy bridegroom. :" 1t is time
for me to meet my bride, and to begin
the loathsome farce Of second bridal
Verify, if did not hate this Josepha, l
eould pity her. She will not find me
loving husband. The Queen of Rome
will never be an amiable woman
So saying, be threw around bis shoul-
ders his velvet cloak, edged with ermine,
and left the room to join his retinue
They we're to meet the princess and ac-
company her to the castle OF Schonbrnnn.
II was there that the Imperial family
awaited the bridal party, and there, in
the chapel, the marriage was to be sol
The streets we're thronged with people
that shouted for JOY; the balconies aud
windows were filled with elegant women,
who smiled and waved their hands in
greeting TO the royal pair For all the
world, this was a day OF reJoiclng, eA-
cept for the two persons for whose sake
the rest rejoiced. These had no part IN
the universal gayety and the mirth
which was inspired BY their presence
found no echo in their souls-Joseph
heart was full Of dislike and i'll will to-
wards his betrothed, and she was un.
happy, fearing the reception that awaited
her She had iremblcd &c she thought
of the meeting with Joseph, and thea OF
the proud, powerful and beautiful woman
vbo was his mother. The fame Of her
intellect. fascinations and beauty had
reached the court Of Munich, and poor
Josepha knew very well that she was
neither handsome, cultivated nor charm
ing. Her education had been neglected,
and. ii she had attained to the honor Of
being Queen Of Rome and Empress.
elect Of Austria, ID was not that she had
any right to a station 50 exalted, Il was