The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-15

fever only the day before, and for
days and months provious. Yes, and
the worst of it was, that saw now that
| had not loved Josephine in Vienna,
and that even now did not love her,
although | might find her very lovely.
The carriage stopped before simple
villa. The servants appeared. The
colonel conducted me into parlor,
were two elderly ladies came forward to
welcome us.
He mentioned my name, and then
said, while he put his arm round the
elder Of the two: "And this Is my So
phia!"
1 bowed respectfully to the old lady
of threescorc, who had become very in
torcsting to me through tho narrative OF
the evening before. "Oh !" sighed in
my heart, "what are youth and beau-
ty"
could almost have believed that the
experienced old soldier read in my eyes
the meaning ofmy sigh. For he press
ed. his wife's hand to his lips, and said,
laughingly, rs 1t not so, my dear?
Wien one sees old ladies and gentle
men, one can hardly convince himself
that they have once been young; and
wien one secs a maiden in all the fresh
ness of her bloom, he is ready to wager
that she never can have wrinkles and
gray hair"
Joscphinc's aunt recognised me as
quickly as did her. She said many
obliging things to me. We sat down
TO the table, and took second break
fast for the sake of the ladies' company.
"And where does Josephine keep her
self?" asked the old man "shc will be
glad to renew her Vienna .acquaint-
ance."
''She is out In the garden with Count
Holton to enjoy the auriculas before the
sun is too high," replied her aunt; and
here l got q little chill. All my old
imaginations were over. l collected
myself instantly. I never had had any
claims here; and so had none to lose.
| began to be almost ashamed of the
follies of my heart and of the tricks Of
my imagination. / became lively, fell
in with the merry tone of the company,
and even related to the aunt how pain
fully l had missed her upon my second
visit to Vienna.
During the conversation young
man entered of noble mien. His
countenance was pale, his eyes dark
and gloomy, his manner strange and
DISTURBED.
Ladies'" said he, in a hasty and sub
dued tone, as if he had studied his
speech, "permit me to take my leave
of you. i must return to-day to the
Residence-I have-I AMI shall, per-
haps, be absent for some time, perhaps
make long Journey"
The colonel turned and looked fixed
ly at him. "What disturbs you, Count
Holten?" cried he; "you look as if you
had committed murder"
"No," replied he, with forced smile,
"rather like man who has been mur-
dered."
And with that he kissed the ladies'
hands, embraced the colonel, and rush.
ed out Of the house without saying an
other word. The colonel followed him
In all haste. Theladies were greatly en-
barrassed.I i learned that this young man
was their neighbor Count IIolten; that
the evening before, as he had often done,
he had come to pay them visit, had
appeared very happy an hour before,
and was now no more like himself.
"What has happened to him?" asked
the lauies, when the colonel after some
time returned.
The old gentleman looked very Sc
rious, shook his head, smiled across to
his Sophia, and said, "You must ask
J0scphiuc."
"Ilas she offended him ?" inquired
the aunt, alarmed.
THAT is as people take it !" replied
he; "it is long story, butthc unttold
ii in two or three words: Il loved and
was not loved in return"
just then the door opened. and Miss
| Won Tarnau entered. 1t was she, and
more lovely, more beautiful nan when
l saw her in Vienna, more graceful
than in my dreams. | arose, but when
| would approach her, my knees trem-
bled, ! was rooted to the spot--I stam-
mered out some disconnected wOrds-I
was at once the most nappy and the
most miserable of mortals.
Josephine stood at the door blushing
deeply; she gazed at me as at All appar-
ition, and then recovering from her
surprise, smilingly approached the ta-
bic after the first exchange of saluta-
tions; the riddle of our unexpected
meeting was solved. / related how
had learned her whereabouts only the
day before and she, how her father
had bought the MOravian estate, and
had settled down here in the midst of
the most charming landscape in the
world.
"Ah, aunt, dear aunt!" cried she,
taking her aunts hand in both hers,
and pressing it to her heart, while she
threw upon me look which sparklcd
with no doubtful joy, "did not tell
you so? Was not right ?"
The good aunt smiled, and cast ST.
lencing look upon Josephine. Her
mother cast her eyes down to conceal
certain embarrassment. Her old father
looked inquiringly from one to the 9TH
er, arose, and whispered in my ear
with loud voice: "Mr. Walter, l
guess you have found the bean in the
right place at last.-But you Josephine,
what have you done to Count IIolten,
that he has gone off in such a fury?"
Josephine answered evasively. We
all arose and went into the garden. The
Northumberland Showed me his mead
ows, fields, outhouses, stables, &C,
whilst the ladies We're in lively conver-