Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-18
The Hungarian Lovers-An old Story
In Q New Dress.

Perhaps there are few more touching
events than that which occurred about
the beginning of the present century in
Hungary, and for the truth of which
there is ample testimony. The parties
OF whom the tale is told are now living.
happy in each others affection. but
under very singular circumstances.
The son of Count Haydik was brought
up very much in the society of the
daughter of his fathers most intimate
friend, Count Amody: this produced
such habits of regard for each other
that the strongest possible attachment
existed between them by the time they
had ceased to feel as children.
The parents, delighted at their mutu-
al affection, affianced them in marriage.
and a stated period was fixed for the
nuptial ceremony; but the rupture be-
tween France and Austria, which took
place in 1909, postponed the event.
Francis hesitated about the first step,
but at length, yielding to the open So
licitations of England, and the secret
insinuations of Russia, and biased by
the subsidies of Great Britain, he de-
clared hostilities against Napoleon.
The Emperor of Austria, according
to ancient custom, called in the aid Of
his Hungarian troops and the Hunga-
rian nobility are bound to take per.
sonal part in every war in which the
national independence is at stake.
Young Enric Haydik was, therefore,
obliged to forego his promised felicity
and obey the Emperor's summons. He
remained in military employment for
nearly two years, but during the period
of his absence the young Countess
Amody became the victim OF that most
distressing of all diseases, the small
pox, which committed such direful
ravages on her hitherto blooming face,
that she herself experienced feeling
of utter horror when she first saw in
her mirror the dreadful change. So
powerful was the impression made on
her mind by the sad event that, resign
ing herself to Providence, she resolved
and vowed nevermore to suffer her
lover, the young Count, to set his eyes
on her, fully convinced that she could
not hope, under the calamity, to con-
tinue an object of his admiration and
affection. This argued. considerable
strength of mind and self-abandon-
ment !; but, before she had been al
lowed to execute plan OF retreat from
the world, which she had formed, her
ardent lover returned.
Count Enric Haydik was shocked at
the tidings of the severe illness of his
beloved affianced.
She at length consented to see him
again, but for the purpose of declaring
to him that, as it was impossible to
expect happiness from his union with
one whose appearance had undergone
so great and so sad q change, she re-
leased him from his engagement, and
had determined to pass her days with
the consultations of religion in o con-
vent.
When the lovers were brought into
each others presence the young count
ess kept her face concealed in her
handkerchief, and could not for o long
time prevail on herself to raise her
eyes on her beloved Enric. At length,
venturing to steal furtive glance, she
discovered that he had been led into
the room by his father and that he was
deprived of sight.
Enric then TREMENDOUSLY narrated that,
by the accidental explosion of gun
powder canister his powers OF vision
had been utterly destroyed, and that
the melancholy intimation was withheld
from her that it might not. during her
dreadful illness. increase it. The
young Countess Amody experienced
mixed feeling of sorrow and delight,
but she vowed at once that she never
more would stir from bis side that
she would be his companion and con-
ductor through life.
They were Immediately married, and
the bride is happy in having secured
the continuance Of her lovers affection
by his loss of power to appreciate her
loss Of beauty; while che young and
fond husbands joy is complete in find
ing companion and constant partner
in one whose former love for him was
not likely to be diminished by his own
severe misfortune.