The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-04-10
The White Queens Castle


Count Albert Won Carmola died very sud
denly. There had been a grand hunt,
magnificent wild boar had been slain, and
the eXultant party came back to the grand
old castle Of Carmiola, to devote the remain
der of the day, and the whole night, to eat
ing and drinking the old wines with which
Count Albert's cellar was stored. Wit and
mirth had reached their height, wine flowed
like water, and the spirits of all the COM
pany were high, when seizing the hugh sill
yer hunting cup, Count Albert rose to pledge
the successful marksman, Count John Won
Ernstein. A very handsome man was Count
Albert, but. a deep drinker, aud one lost all
sense of his beauty in disgust for the face
now so inilamed. High he raised the mas
siye goblet, but before he could utter single
word, deadly ralcness overspread his
flushed face, the drinking cup dropped from
his nerveless h9nd, and he fell forward
with his face ON the table, dead, without
groan. His horror struck companions raised
him upand strove to restore consciousness,
but IN vain. All was confusion in that
banquet hall. which few minutes before
was the scene of such wild revelry and un-
bounded license. Sadly the company bore
the body TO an inner chamber, and then left
the house.
The Countess Won Carmiola was dead long
| since-killed, it was reported, by the cold
ness and neglect of her husband, an imperi-
Gus Uad tempered man. She died, leaying
one daughter, now nineteen years old, who
| Inherited ali her mothers gentleness, with
just enough of her fathers naughty spirit to
add pquancy to her manners. If Count
| Albert had been unkind TO his wifi, he could
not be charged with treating his daughter,
the lovely countess Lodoiska, in the same
harsh manner, for to her he was kind and
indulgent, and it was with wild despair
that The girl heard of her fathers sudden
aud awful death.
With all the pomp belonging to his rank
the remains Of Count Albert were lai'' to
restin the tomb of his ancestors, and with
a sad heart Lodoiska returned to her now
desolate home, for her sole companion was
her fathers maiden sister, Anna Won Car
miola, a lady of uncertain age, and still
more uncertain temper. During the life
time of Sir Albert, his sister who alway,
made it her home with him, had little op
portunity to give way to the naughty, i'm
perious temper she possessed, and which
joined to insuferable pride and anect0tor
rendered her an unpleasant companion
Fearing her brother, she curOed her owl
naughty spirit, and appeared quiet, rathe
silly woman. The count lett a will, givinl
lwo-thrds of his valuable property t.
his daughter, and the remaining third t
his sister Anna, whom he appointed Lodois
kas guardian unit! she should marry.
But few months had passed since tn
melancholy death of the count, before Lo
doiska felt the full weight of her auuts i'm
perious will. Wanting in beauty and fas
clnation herself, Anna Won Carmiola coul,
only look on her charming niece with jeal
Gus, envious eyes, and soon began TO curtai
her proper liberties. Almost like a nun tn
beautiful girl was kept-seeing very lttl
company, rarely gong out even to ride, un
less accompanied by her detested aunt-de
t string to be lett to her music, painting, an,
+; reading. So quietly had Lodoiska obeye,
all commands and restrictions put upon her
that her aunt began TO feel herself surel.
the mistress.
One day the Countess Anna drew a chai
beside that of her neioe, and in a command
ing voice said;
"Lodoiska, you are to receive the Coun
Armand Won Kardozag as your future hus
band"
The words weIe abrupt, and the inlorma
ton they conveyed far from pleasant. Tn
young girl raised her head with sudde
start
"What did yol soy, Aunt Anna ?"
"This day you will receive Count vo
Kardozag as your future husband"
{ "By whose authorty?"
"By mine"
"Impossibe," answered Lodoska, quiet
e ly. And she resumed her embroidery as
a tile affair was settled beyond dispute,
d The aunt looked at her neice with aston
ishment. Was it possible that she dare
dispute her will? So astoniahed was sh
> that she could not speak for few second
At last she found voice to say, "impossible
impossible!"
9 eyes, quite impossible" replied her neic,
2 "Aud now we will drop a subject quite ul
pleasant to me, you please"
Is "I don't please, Miss will have you
understand that do not recognize the in
q possibility. You will receive the count ,
I informed you
q 81 will not !" said LodoislSa.
' "Dianua :" exclaimed the infuriatod w,
n man, a can scarcely credit my ears, Yc
will -receiye-;he-Co Count Won Kardoz.
-whgn-he-presents-himseIG"
~ will receive him when he comes
,s said Loloiskg; "but as to returning f,vo
r. able answer to his suit, ! shall do no su'
N thing. My answer will be a point blaI
M refusal"
ay "You are not called upon, Miss, to gi
x any answer. have given him my proi
Is ise You have only to receive him polil
d q. ly,"
- (which I shall not do" said LOdOis