The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-10-02

u nen nlne clock sounded the Coun
Albert de Rosen entered the church of st.
Thomas dAquin.
Helene de Boistrudan was kneeling be-
fore the altar Of the Virgin. She was pray
ing with fervor. her head between her hands.
Rosen approached and said to her:
ELLEN is dead Her little daughter is an
orphan. | love you. Shall the daughter Of
Ellen have father and mother =
X X X X *
To the west of the large town of Ofen
which we call Dude, between the forests of,
Bacconier and Lake Balton, there is proud
castle which rises, black and grand. amidst
the old oaks, upon the slopes Of the mountain.
| The fifteenth century lives yet in Hunga-
ry The fortresses are such as the ieudal
battles Of the middle ages left them.
This great castle, fankcd by towers. and
showing between the grooves of the draw
bridge large escutcheon cut into the stone,
was the ancient residence OF the Bans OF
Kapsovar.
1t overlooked fertile fields. A happy
village sheltered itself under its battlements
One year after the events we have reIa
ted-Chrstnas night, in the year 1850
there was midnight reunion in the grea:
hall Of the castle.
Around the enormous fireplace of yellow
marble, where were burning whole trunks Of
trees. a family was assembled.
There were two old ladies', one Of whom
wore mourning. They were the Marchion-
ess of Boistrudan and Mrs. Talbot, the moth
| xe1. al, H.
eral, in the costume Of traveller: holding
upon his knee beautiful little girl, eighteen
months old. Then there were the Count
Albert de Rosen and his young wife. who
had in her bosom an infant few weeks old
The beautiful little girl Of eighteen mouths
bore the name Of Helene. The other child.
a girl also, whose mother was Helene dc
/ Bois'rudan, was called Ellen.
4 These two children were as two sisters So
One could see already that they resembled.
There was. in that assembly, calm and
quiet happiness. The young Countess Of
Roscn smiIingy contemplated the two child
rem. both OF whom she loved equally we'll
In the eyes of Albert. fixed upon his wife,
the love of a happy man was seen.
The marchioness, only, seemed dull. She
was an exile. Besides, she knew now all
the adventures of her son in law
You are just from Paris she said to- the
old general. '.Tell us OF Paris What are
they doing at Paris? What do they say
there 2"
Paris sleeps" answered the general.
There is no more am literature there, no
more any politics. line Bourse only sawake.
There is some talk Of lady 20
What lady?
MADAME the Duchess of Rivas !"
Helene grew pale, and stole a look at Al
bert. who turned away his eyes.
What do they say OF Madame the Ouch
css Of Rivas p asked the marcl1ioness.
ss'That she is widow answered the gem
eral ''aud that she bears a great love in her
heart"
rs she still beautiful ?" asked the marchio-
ness.
God alone knows. replied the general,
with grave air Men never see her face.
The looks of all of them iuterrogated him
He put the little Helene upon the lap of NJ,
Talbot. and drew from his pocket box
which he handed to to Countess OF Roscn.
1.-The last time heard the sound Of her
voice, he SAID, 1T was through the veil OF 4
nun. That evening she had taken the vows.
She called me, aud charged me to deliver this
to our Helene
The Countess of Rosen opened the casket
with trembling hand 1t contained plait
OF blonde hair i'll Il crystal medallion, aud a
letter.
The eyes of Helene sparkled while she
| look ed ut the blond. hair which encircied the
forehead of Der Lu band.
''Read the letter, said the General
| The letter was thus written:
II stole this lock Of hair from him while
he was asleep. one night. when he was suffer
ing, and was Watching at his bedside.
return it to you. my dear little sister. Con
slider Inc dead to everything-eyen memory
Adieu. Love him much and be happy.
SISTER CARMEL"