The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-02-28


when Henri murmured in his sleep:
o, Blanchl would that / had never
seen thee but having seen thee, ! cam
not but love thee all my hfen'
The leech fixed his eyes upon the
count, who bit his lips, and clinched his
hands af if he would have slain the un-
conscious dreamer.
Again the dreamer murmured in low
but distinct voice: t.
Blanche, since l cannot have thee, /
can at all events die. That is my COM
fort and my refuge!n
The counts hand involunuarily grasp
ed his dagger, but after a moments
struggle with himself he slowly rose,
and saying to the leech:
" If you breathe one word of what you
have heard, you die ~
The leech looked at him eomposedly,
and said in the same low whisper:
" If | were to tell all have heard and
seen in the sick chambers of the great
there would be many woeful hearts in
the landn
The count nodded, and left the room.
As he was passing along the corridor he
met Father AnselmO.
Come with me, holy father. l have
heard that which has thrown sackcloth
and ashes over my heart
With his usual confidence in his con-
fessor the count told him word for word
what had occurred.
Father Anselmo had already in his
short interview with the love-sick youth
! fathomed the secret, and he therefore
could only counsel moderation and pity
for Henri's infatuation.
" Infatuationl ~ cried the count. Evil
famous treasonl To think that he, my
] al. ~. 10 al Of
heart, whom | loved more than myself
a thousand fold-that lac should play
me false :"
Father Anselmo was silent, while the
count continued to pace up and down
his apartment with rapid and perturbed
steps.
But amid this storm Of indignation
against his brother there came the sweet
and pleading voices Of that time when
he was all in all to him. Memory
brought brought before him once more
I the little boy weeping at his mothers
/ death then the youth, and finally the
young knight, the very child of his
heart; and then again these recollec-
tions made the contrast all the more
/ terrible.
There was also another thought steal
/ ing amid these conflicting emotions, and
that was the conviction that he had
| himself unwittingly been the author of
all this mischance.
! Fool that | was TO throw him into
/ the path of such a temptation
Perceiving the struggle in the counts
mind, Father Anselmo glided from the
/ room The count still continued to pace
up and down the room, his mind grow
/ ing every minute darker and darker.
81 will see the migrate, | Will probe
/ him to the quick And this is the re-
turn he makes me for more than faith
er's lOve-for more than a mothers love
to wound me in the only spot where l
was vulnerable Had he conspired against
me and usurped my state, had forgiv-
en- him; but to wound me thus !"
Striking the alarum on his table, an
attendant appeared.
"Tell my brother" said he, that /
wish 10 see him.
Within few minutes Henri entered
the room.
BE seated" said the count, in
stern, cold voice.
II ne Young man bowed and took his
seat in silence.
As the count gazed on his beloved
brother, the tenderness Of his heart
welled up, and he paused to overcome
his emotion hut the thought of the
wrong which he considered had been
inflicted upon him renewed his resolve,
and in a serious tone he said:
- Henri, | wish your opinion Of a GER
tain event which | have Just heard
There were two brothers; the elder
loved the younger bette. than himself
better than anything on earth. Since
his parents death he had supplied
fathers care-he had bestowed upon him
mothers tenderness; he had watched
over him in sickness, and in battle once,
when the younger one was down, he
had bestrode him, and made his own
breast a shield for the PROSTATE warrior.
But that don't count for much, since
once / did the same for you. Well, so
dearly did the elder love the younger
that he trusted his greatest treasure To
his care-he made him guardian of his
honor Wen, this trust the younger
one betrayed like an migrate and trail
tor as he was"
As the count proceeded his voice had
become more and more vehement, UNI
til. as he pronounced the last words, he
hastily rose, and said in "a voice of thun-
der:
81 will pursue this wretched parable
no frrther. am the wronged and in
iured BROTHERHOOD the ingr0te.n
the count, said in calm voice:
/ am no migrate; have betrayed
no trustln
betrayed no trust !" Monstrous as
sertion! What call you it to make love
to your brothers betrothed wife ?'
"Sir, upon the honor of (: knight, /
solemnly deny the terrible accusation
No look of love has gone from me no
word of love has gone from me to the
Lady Blanche. | would sooner tear the
tongue from my mouth, and the eyes
from my head, than do anything to
wound the honor of the Count of Prov
encep
"The Lady Blanche then knows not
of your love ?" returned the count in
softer tone.
"She does not--cannot but I never
said loved that lady! How came you,
sir. to think / dared to love herr"
The count looked earnestly at his
brother, as he said:
"Henri, i never knew you to waver
one hair's-breadth from the truth. /
now put question, to which / demand
q true reply, without equivocation or
any mental reserve. On your honor as
a belteo knight, do you lore the Lady
Blanche ~
Henri stood as though an earthquake
was in his heart, and remained silent.
"Your answer"
Henri fell on one knee, and offering
his dagger to his brother, said:
81 dare not lie. Alas it is too true;
but thought the secret would live and
die with me. Now kill me- for do not
wish to live"
.'Tis as / feared, !" muttered the count
to himself"
"You now see, sir-my honored and
loved brother-why l craved your per-
mission to bury in another my sorrow"
81 CONSENT" said the count, raising
his brother.
''I felt assured that brother of mine
could never forget his allegiance to his
knightly honor. Come to me to-mor-
row at day-break; you shall depart with
a gallant retinue and gold"
Henri took his brothers. hand, and
kissing it with great affection, again
knelt to him, saying:
"Your blessing and forgiveness, broth
err"
"You have them both, twas the elders
reply.
Henri rose, and the next minute the
count was alone.
otis all my fault" said the count;