Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-11-17
Selected @listellanp,
the Sentinel. ]
MARY OF MANTUA.

by the tomD OF her departeQ mother,
now dead for many years, stood the love-
ly girl, celebrated in story as Mary of
Mantua. She had gone out, at twilight,
amid the ruins of the ancient chapel of
her ancestors, to muse at that holy time,
and to chaunt few simple strains from
a book that had charmed her soul by the
tender melancholy Of its music, and the
gentle spirit of its poetry. She was an
orphan, and, although her uncle and
aunt had heedfully prepared her youth
for the realities of womanhood, yet she
had learned, that love maternal and
paternal can never be replaced by any
friendship or kindness, however strong
or sincere. She had felt, too, how
necessary it is for every one to rely upon
the spirit within for counsel and guild
ance in this working day world-she
had thrown by, almost entirely, the
dream-like visions of girlhood, and be-
gan to discern through the shadowy
vista of the future, the uncertain path
which, if she lived, it was her destiny tc
traverse. In neighboring convent had
she been educated, and now that the
Duchy of Mantua was in confusion, con
sequent upon the claimants for the sue.
cession, which was warmly disputed BY
the friends of several pretenders in Lom
hardy, she had been instructed that sh,
must be prepared to sustain the position
which rightfully was hers. 1t was th'
tomb of her mother which she had sought
we say, as much for the hope of being
guided by truth, as to beguile her mel
ancholy Of those pangs, which, assuage,
in degree, leave the spirit twilight o
the soul as soft and soothing as is tina
of an Italian summer.
AS Mary was concluding the las
stanza of a song, which finished with til.
lines,
"The hopes, the passions which life shnl
disclose,
viii fall and fade as the leaves of the rose,''
the sentiment of the poet was received
with deeper impression than otherwise
would have been the case, for she saw
the petals Of the flower, which she had
placed in her bosom an hour before.
falling, one by one, upon the tomb,
where she had placed the book from
which she was gathering melodies for
her memory; and she heard, too, the
step of some one approaching with
stealth through the ruins, so that she
turned her head, almost involuntary, to
the spot whence the noise seemed to pro-
coed, not anticipating that she should
discover, as she soon did, the form of an
interesting stranger by her side The
calm and contcmplative character of her
countenace, was rather the result Of
what had passed, than of that which
was now passing through her mind yet
the stranger, deeming he perceived an
inquiry in her look, rebuking him
self for bis boldness, at the same
time, spoke to the lady in such gentle
accents, that she could not find any
cause for displeasure Nay, she bade
him make known his errand, for the
tones of his voice indicated the fricndli-
ness Of his intentions, while his eyes
were filled with sincere and earnest
meaning which strangely attracted her
attention. There was something noble
in his aspect and bearing, although his
dress was that of student, and his face
of that paleness which bespeaks that the
mind is more exercised than the body.
Still, there was strength slumbering in
his well-shaped limbs and frame; and
his lips, when in repose. were curved so
as to be tokens Of decision and energy
of character which had not otherwise
been apparent except under different cir
eumstances.
"Mary of Mantua," said the stranger,
"you are summoned Tomorrow, las you al
ready know, to attend upon the new
Duke, Vincenzo, the faithless priest,
the wooded cardinal p
"Too well l know it," brcathed the
gentle girl.
"Three princes contend for your
hand" he continued, 'the first, Vim
cenzo, Duke of Mantua."
"What. my uncle 2" CALCULATED Mary.
Truly" replied the stranger; "but
listen: the next is Fcrrand, Prince Of
Guastella-the third, Charles, Duke o.
Rhetel."
''Thc second / abbof." said Mary
the last is the son Of my dead father
enemy"