The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-08-10

W. WIS HlA HHnll, u CnNllcT III " DtlOlC
going to bed, when there was n soft rap
at the door, and Dr. Brauns the burgo,
master Of Stralsund, and host of the
king, entered the room, bowing deeply,
"Your majesty" he said, "iorgive
this intrusion, All evening there has
been down stairs vailed lady, who re.
fuses to give her name, but who seems
TO be of high descent. She is extremely
anxious TO see your majesty for Il few
minutes, as she alleges, on business of
the highest importance have vainly
tried to get rid of her She asked me to
| hand your majesty this locket,"
| The king took the locket and opened
An exclamation of surprise escaped
| him.
Send her up" he then said, alb
ruptIy, TO the burgomaster.
| The king seemed to have suddenly
become greatly agitated.
| When the door opened, few minutes
later, and slender gracefully built
lady entered, he advanced few steps
toward her. She raised the thick vail
that covered her face and displayed
countenancc very pale and somewhat
faded, but still retaining traces Of great
beauty.
" Rosanna!" calculated the king,
drawing back.
" Yes, it is Rossnna, countess Glider
streen. King Of Sweden" she said, in
low but deeply impressive voice" the
| gnp1n Itnsunnu NVln1n ,,r,,,, ,yal Ia,
marry, but whom you allowed your
father to drive with her father into
exile
Rosanna," said the king, struggling
with his emotion, Il was powcrlcSs TO
resist. Grave considerations Of public
policy"
Induced you to break your word"
she said, in n cutting tone. "Oh, yes,
you crowned heads have always such
excuses, which other people would look
upon as fmsy and dishonorablc."
Rosanna," he said softly, 81 have Il
great mission to perform"
" ! know it, King Of Swcdcn.'
For years, it may be, my career will
be no bed Of roses but one of hardship,
suilerings dangers. DO not make my
heart heavy at this terrible hour. What
has become of our SOM"
You mean my son Thank God,
he is dead, she replied, in the most icy
tone"
" Have you come to solicit any favor
from me? Name it, Rosanna, and |
will grant it,"
" ] have come to save your life, King
of Sweden" she said, solcmnIy. THAT
shall he my revenge for your treaehcry."
only life !" echoed the king. "Is it
in danger, them"
" 1t is in imminent peril"
" From what qlartcr?"
" Listen to me, king" she replied, in
a still lower tone.
He motioncd her to Il seat. For a
moment she seemed TO struggle with
her emotions. Then she burst into
tears, and, ayertng her face, said, hur-
ricdly:
"Gustavus Adolphus, in spite of all
you have made me suffer, still love
you. | have come all the way from
Vienna, where | have lived with my
father for the past five years, in order
to warn you against Il great danger
which threatens your lie. But, before
| proceed, let me ask you to give me
your royal word not to injure my father
in consequence of what | am now going
to reveal to you. You know he has had
to leave Sweden ON your account, and
he has been drawn into the meshcs of
this conspiracy gradually, and because
his evaporation against you has been
skillluIly famed by your mortal enc
mics in Vienna. Will you pledge me
your word not to hurt my father, King
of Sweden ?"
(" will; but tell me what danger
threatens me ?"
Well, then, when it became known
in Vienna that you were coming with 4
Swedish army to Stralsund, the court
clique ON the banks of the Danube re-
solved to bring about your death"
" In what way?"
"By poison"
"Oh,' he said lightly, Z" | am always
on my guard against that."
/" You are going to u banquet which
the burromaster and the municipality
ofStralsund will give you tomorrow"
" Yes, Rosanna."
Your favoritc dish, partridge pie,
will be offered to you and the other
prominent Swedes there"
every likely" remarked the king,
almost laughing.
"That partridge pie will contain a
deadly poison. All who partake OF it
will die in less than twenty.fOur hours"
"Who will put the poison there ?"
"A Spaniard, Don Esteban de Ceval-
los"
"What! the diplomatist who prctcnds
to be here on secret mission to me from
the courts of Bavaria and the Pala-
innate ?"
"The same. lie is an impostor. He
is here to poison you. He has estab.
lished communication with the burgo-
masters cook, and | heard him say to
nv father this afternoon that the poison
was already in the huge partridge pie
destined for the royal table"
"Humph; that is serious affair.
But what has your father to do with it,
RO5anna ?"
"Thc Spaniard understands neither :
Swedish or German. My father is to
throw himself on his knees before you
and solicit permission to return to Swe-
den. He believes you will grant it, and
then the Spaniard is to be introduced
to you by him, so that the poisoner may
have access to you, and administer more (
poison to you and your generals in case
the original dose should not produce the
expected effect!
The king reflected for several min
utes. Then he kissed Rosannas hand.
"What reward do you expect for this
important service ?"
None"