The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-01-14
CHAPTER l.
THE SECRET

THE SECRET REV EALED.
was night. Silence reigned in
.ae rand old feudal castle Of Klug.
sastein. The year 1922 was drawing
III d close. Far away UP In the tall
Of the castles towers a single
ht glimmeTed. A secret council
ss icing held there. The stern old
gri Of Klugenstein sat in 4 chair of
state meditating. Presently he said,
th a tender accent:
~ daughter
a Young man of noble presence,
cia0 from head to heel IN knightly
mail, answered
peak father"
My daughter, the time is come for
e revealing Of the mystery that
hath puzzled all your young life.
5@a8W, then, that it had its birth in
matters which l shall unfold.
1Ig brother Ulrich is the great Duke
Of B~randenburg. Our father, on his
d5athbed. decreed that if no son were
born 60 Ulrich, the succession should
pass % my house, provided a son
we're 3orn to me. And further, in
case no son were born Il either, but
onIy lighters, then the succession
sh0ulI pass to Ulrich's daughter, if
she rroved stainless; if she did not
uy laughter should succeed, If she
rofained a blameless name. And so
and my old wife here, prayed fer
Veutl7 for the good boon of a son,
31t the prayer was vain. You were
born - US. [ was in despair. [ saw
8 mighty prize slipping from my
grasp, the splendid dream vanishing
sway. And had been so hopeful
We years had Ulrieh lived In wed
and yet his wife had borne no
l8tr Of either sex.
% But hold l said all is o lost
swing scheme had shot athwart
11r brain. You were born at mid
night. Only the leech, the nurse and
six waiting women knew your sex. |
hanged them every one before an
hour had sped. Next morning all
tha harony went mad WIKI rejoicing
over the proclamation that a son was
born to Klugenstein, an heir to
III ghty Brandenburg. And well the
secret has been kept. Your mothers
own sister nursed your infancy, and
from that time forward we feared
nothing.
W AGA JO0 WIZ y JA1A0 Oi1F q
daughter was born to Ulrich. We
grieved, but hoped for good results
from measles, or physicians, or other
natural enemys of infancy, but were
always disappointed. She lived, she
tArove-Hea7en's Madison upon her.
But 1t is nothing. We are safe. For,
ha-hai have we not a son? And is
not our. son the future Duke? Our
we'll Conrad is it not so?-for, woman
0i beloved eight and twenty years as
goa are.my child. zone other name
than that hath ever fallen to y0u!
Now it hath come to pass that
aze hath laid its hand upon my broth
and he wakes feeble. The cares
OF State do tax him sore. Therefore
lie wills that you shall come to him
aus be already Duke in act though
u.e yet in name. Your seryitor5 are
YOU journey forth to-night.
Now listen we'll. Remember
m word I say. There IS a law as
.Is y Germany that if any woman
Tor a single instant in the great
chair before she hath been abb
-a.u1ely crowned sin presence Of the
@---Ie. she shall die. So heed my
sysJ5. Pretend humility. Pro
nounce your judgements from the
Prsmier's chair, which stands at the
foot of the throne. Do this until
rgr are crowned aud safe. 1t is not
likely that your sex viii ever be dis
covered, but still it is the part Of wis
dem to make all things as safe as may
bc ia this treacherous earthly life"
Oh. my father, is it for this my
life hath been a lie2 Was IT that l
might cheat my u~notfeudiDg cousin OF
her rights? Spare me, father, spare
your childl'
What, huzzyl Is this my reward
Tor The august fortune my brain has
7rought for you? BY the bones Of
8y father, this pulling sentiment of
lhine but Ill aceords with my humor.
3atake thee to the Duke, instantly!
tad beware how thou meddiest with
~ purpose
Let this suffice, uf the converse
on. 1t is enough for US to know
a2t the prayers, the entreaties, and
ne tears of the gentle natured girl
agaiIed nothing. They nor anything
could move the stout old lord of
E~jugenstein. And so, at last, with a
hsaYy heart, the daughter saw the
.sstle gates close behind her, aud
ind herself riding awayin the dark
ness surrounded By a knightly array
armed vassals and a brave follow
-ug of servants.
The old baron sat silent for many
minutes after his daughters depart
ure. and then he turned to his sad
wife and said:
Dame, our matters seem speeding
fairly. 1t is full three months since
[ sent the shrewd and handsome
Count Detzin on his devilish mission
10 nv brothers daughter Constance.
If he fail, we are o wholly safe-but
if he do succeed, no power can bar
our girl from being Duchess, cen
though III fortune should decree she
ue-er should be Duke!'
NJ heart is full of bodings, yet
1i. may still be WE'LL"
Tush, woman! Leave the owls
10 .roak. To bed with ye, and dream
81 }randenburg and grandeur"
CHAPTER IL.