Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-09-06


ant nursery rhymes, and snatches of
wild bacchanal songs; and, in spite
of her own happiness, the old fear
and terror crept back into her heart.
OF this brother her lover knew
nothing. She would herself have
thought it more honorable to have
told him the whole miserable story,
but dared not incur her fathers dis
pleasure. Lord Cover had long been
a stern, gloomy, reticent man, and his
daughter stood quite in awe of him.
Isabel loved her betrothed husband
with love, the deeper perhaps be-
cause i: had found so few outlets, and
looked forward to her approaching
marriage as the one event of her life.
The count was also very fond and
proud of her, but had not failed to
discover that some hidden grief fol-
lowed her like phantom. In vain
he questioned. The possibility of a
hopeless love-an unfortunate attach
ment-had suggested itself, but was
dismissed as ungenerous and unjust.
At length the wedding-day arrived.
The old castle was gotten up bravely
in honor of the event. Flags waved
from turret and balcony, and all the
windows were ablaze with light.
Many noble and distinguished guests
had assembled, eager to witness the
marriage of the lovely lady of whose
singular beauty and marvellous genius
they had heard so much. Never
bride looked lovelier. Trailing robes
of snowy satin outlined the graceful
figure, and over all floated clouds of
feecy gossamer.
After the ceremony there was a
grand supper, followed by music and
dancing, after the fashion of the time.
Wit and wine flowed freely, and the
grim walls resounded with mirth and
merriment.
At late hour of the festivities, the
count, flushed and wearied with dane
ing, led his bride to the cool embras-
ure of a window. Suddenly there
was a rustic without; the curtain
moved slightly, and folded mlssive
fell at her feet. Hurriedly glancing
it over, with an eager, frightened look
in her eyes, she begged to be excused
for few moments.
The circumstance, occurring at such
a time, aroused curiosity, if not sus-
picion, and the count cautiously fol-
lowed her. He watched her white
garments, floating like silver mist
among the trees, out of whose shadow
a stalwart form approached her.
Another moment ~and he saw his
beautiful bride folded INCREASINGLY to
another,s bosom,her white arms clasp
ing him about, and her sweet lips lift
ed lovingly to his. He listened, and
heard what seemed broken words OF
passionate endearment and tender en-
treaty. Here, then, was a solution OF
all he had thought mysterious-~a Sc
cret and guilty love. Had all the
world told him i'll of her be would
have laughed them to scorn but he
had seen with his own eyes, and
heard with his own ears. His resolu-
ton was quickly taken. Never again
should the faithless woman look into
the face of the husband she had dis
honored. Stealing away as noiseless'
ly as he came, the galloping of his
horses feet was all that was heard OF
the retreating bridegroom.
Isabel was questioned, but only re-
piled that, having to leave the room,
she had returned to find him gone.
There was, of course, much specu-
la.ion and surmise, and far and wide,
gossips retailed the story how the
loveliest of brides had been deserted
on her wedding night. But while
others talked, the bride herself, main
tanned rigid silence.
Very pale and beautiful, but very
naughty, she looked, and those who
would have sought her were repulsed
with the frigid reserve of her manner.
II was not long ere Lord Cover
went the way Of all the earth, and
Isabel sat in the old castle, lonely and
desolate.
How sorrowful she felt nobody
knew. Her griefs were locked in her
own bosom, and never by word OF
look did she allude to the event that
had overshadowed her life. Gloom
and silence hung about her like a
mantle, only it was said that upon
each return of her bridal night the
soft notes of harp fell like wall
upon the stiffness without.
Many years had gone by, and the
sad anniversary returned to woman
changed and faded. There were lines
upon the once beautiful brow, and the
shining tresses had grown thin and
gray.
From the wall looked down the
portrait of her lover husband and
beneath it reclined the harp, to whose
music he had so loved to listen. Once
more her trembling fingers touched
the strings, and the still melodious
voice rang out:
Tell me, we waiing winds,
Hurrying over -
Whisper, oh sobbIng waves !
Out of your ocean caves,
Help ne discover
Where lies my darlng's head.
Is be alive or dead
Wretched, or comforted ?
Where is my 1ouerS
The singer paused. a sudden ring
echoed sharply through the room.
"Who is it, Margott? Who dares
intrude upon us-least of all tonight ?
Admit TO one"
mot even me, Isabel?" and the
black-robed figure was gathered in
the arms of her long-lost husband.
ooh, my wronged love-" he walled,
team you forgive me ?"
In a distant land Count Rudolph
bad listened while dying soldier re-
counted the story of bis wrongs and
sufferings; how, through an unjust
suspicion,h he had been made an alien
and outcast /; and how, long years
before, impelled by an irresistible
longing, he had stolen an interview
with his sister on her wedding night.
MARY +. TUCKER.
A FASHIONABLE, but ignorant lady,
,ieslrous of purchasing a watch, was