The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-07-04

y
majesty's person, good-looking, clever,
and well-born. But in those words
have summed up his fortune, for he had
not penny in the world.
"He had no prospect Of promotion
either, except what was to be obtained by
the Imperial smile, which unfortunately
was not often turned upon him, for his
family's political principles were in op-
position to those of the existing ministry,
whom his majesty had good reasons for
wishing to conciiate. And therefore,
though from personal feeling Of friend
ship he had given the young man the
post he then held, policy forbade his
further advancement.
"The reigning beauty was Lady A
and where all worship one star it was not
thought strange that the eyes even Of so
humble an official as Gustav Won l.
should turn in admiration to her who
walked so proudly amongst them all.
indifferent it seemed to the admiration
of others, and to their devotion also, this
fair creature had heart wholly given,
though for some time she was scarcely
aware Of it herself, to young Gustav.
There were no secret meetings, no ap-
pointments, for none were needed. They
met often in the crowded rooms, and none
noticed the powerful mutual magnetism
which always drew him to her side, and
caused her eye to wander eagerly over
the heads of others anxious for her smile,
till it rested on the beloved object. Once
sure that he was there, she gave herself
up to the brilliant conversation, of which
she was the soul and spirit, and charmed
all while she herself grew more and
more animated, knowing that he would
soon Join the circle and listen to her words
and answer them with his own ready wit
and sparkling merriment.
but this could not last for ever 1t
passed like dream, and the awakening
came.
"Therc was another, "A hard stern man,
w!o could not look untouched on such
charms, and his position, unlike poor
Gustav's, fully entitled him to demand
her hand. A chamberlain to the En-
peror, of unbemishcd honor and ancient
family. Count M--stood at the head
of the nobility OF his country. He made
advances, which were not repulsed, for
with her thoughts full of Gustav, she
was blind to the motives of others. And
the count at length felt himself fully
warranted by her encouragement to make
proposals in form. He was haughtily re-
fused.
"Never before had he met such re-
buff, and opposition only increasing his
resolution, he determined that he never
would forego his object. 1t is needless
to relate how he carried his point, but
carry it he did and Lady As visit
to England at that particular time was a
last effort to postpone, at least, the hated
marriage. To decline it was now impos.
sible the Count had maneuvred so vel
that he had won all her relations over to
his side, and |, alas her only sympathz
ing friend, was powerless. Gustav
knew and loved. But what could do
Her marriage with him was out Of thu
question. All her relatives would have
secuted the very idea, and his fortune
was in Count Ms hands, to make o.
mar. And mar it he most certainly would
had Gustav crossed him in point lik
this.
"Thc marriage took place, and Counties
, M--was everywhere feted, and praised
E and admired. But soon | saw her beaut!
g fading, her beautiful face lost its Lowell
cooring, and grew pale and thin, an ex
preston of pain grew habitual to her, AN
her eyes had in them depth OF suiferin
, which revealed to me, who knew he
, secret the agony of those constant meet
g ings with Gustav, which she dared nc
openly avoid for fear of exciting suspicion
and which always aroused fresh pangs |
:, her wounded heart.
81 besought Gustav to 90, to leave tn
o Court. But whittier was he to fly! Al
7 pointments were applied for, but in vain
! none saw the reason why so accomplishe
- a cavalier should seek to leave the court
: and his doom was fixed when, after SON
# years of service, promotion was offered
a him, and that in so gracious mann
70 that it could not be refused.
,. IL believe also that Gustav himse
70 could not make up his mind entirely
+. leave her presence. lie told me then c
n. ten, when | tried to reason with hiI
that the sight of her was necessary to b
"A existence, and the one or two wor
nt which daily passed between them we
Iv boarded by him as his greatest treasure
rs Her intercourse with him was now
!.. necessity less familiar than of old : and
remember well his look of sorrow wheT
mr. week passed without her addressing O
no word to him; and his tone Of desPt
IN when he said to me, "She forgets me, ;
UW forget me now," imprinted its
,te deeply on my heart. So as time pass
rnl on, he went on drinking in the sweet
Inn ison, inticting tortnres on the heart
'ah her he loved, and ON his own till
Of fatal end. But | must not antilipa
Countess M--was rigiily faithful
mo her husband, and none knew or gues
,rt the volcano that burnt in her bosom,
,ou it ragged none the less fiercely for be
shut up, a close secret in her own hei
so "A few years passed and | lelt
,m country, my diplomatic duties bring
HE me here to northern home. Our pi
les ing was sad one, for was almost
ich only friend, and she loved me doubly
knew. for Gustavs sake. And thou
md then should never see her again.
ink "One night | lay sleeping in the 10
by you have seen, when suddenly | aw
side with start, and hearing a slight rustl
he sound, raised myself in my bed, ant
for my unutterable horror, saw disiin'
air, by the light of lamp which burnt bes
ave my bed, the figure OF Countess NJ
ory "Paralyzed with alright | watched
ave 1t advanced slowly, aud taking up
us dressing. gown from the chair in whic
asked you just now to sit, the figure
ore, it down on the foot of the bed, and 81