The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-02-16
The Neglected Letter.

The Neglected Letter.
Early in the spring Of 1776 a
young Neapolitan officer, named
Michael Arizzo, who had entered
the military service OF the State
with high hopes, finding himself
far from satisfied with his position,
had resolved to seek a better for
tune in the service of Austria. He
had not planned to apply to the
Emperor, but to the Empress Qneen,
Maria Theresa, to whom the armies
of Hungary and Bohemia were di
rectly subject, and to whose chief
minister he had received several
very warm and fiattering letters Of
introduction from men in Naples
high in rank and authority. Mi
chael was in the bloom of early
manhood; not more than two or
three anG twenty; strong and COM
pact in frame; with a handsome
and intelligent face; and habited in
garb befitting his rank and pro-
fession. And thus he set forth.
The youthful adventurer crossed
the borders and entered the Austri.
an dominions without accident, and
pushed on hopefully. On the first
day of May he reached the great
forest of Judenburg, through the
gloomy mazes Of which he made his
way in safety, finding, on its north
ern confines, very good inn, presi-
ded over by host who seemed to
DC the very soul of honesty and
goodness-and SO he really was.
1t was close upon evening when
Michael reached the inn, and while
the host was making ready his sup
per, three other travellers made their
appearance, also wanting supper
and accommodations for the night.
The publican asked the first conner
if he would wait for his supper and
eat with the others, at the same time
assuring him that they were gentle
men, and one of them, at least, he
knew to be an officer in the Impe-
rial service. Our hero was pleased
to wait. He was willing to accom-
modate the good natured host, and
he was fond of good company-and
these men, unless their good looks
most strangely belied them, were all
that
The foremost man of the later
arrival, though cl, d in a hunting
garb, was evidently soldier and an
officer. His speech and his bearing
evidently showed it. He was man
approaching the middle-age-per.
haps five and thirty--with a kind,
intelligent face, and a disposition tc
be rollicking with his companions
Seated at the supper-table this man
opened conversation with the youth
full stranger. He had recognized
him as a Neapolitan, and felt nc
hesitation in asking him what has
brought him so far from home
And Michael in a communicative
mood, told his story.
'Why don't you make application
to the Eml erJr? asked the Aus
trian. He wants good soldiers
though not in particular need jusl
now of officers
The young man explained thai
his sponsors in Naples were warn
admirers of the Empress Queen
and as his letters were to her minis
tier, lie preferred to go ON as he had
planned in the beginning. Anl
then he added, with a smile:
After all, do not see that it cal
make much difference. l am giver
| to understand that Maria There's.
land her Imperial soa are in harmo
tnious accord; and so that he whit
serves one may in measure sery,
the other
The Austrian nodded a quiet ac-
lquiescence, and then drew from th,
Young man the story Of his expert
ence in Naples. The story which
our youthful adventurer told was O
Ian orphan, without father or mother
lwho had endeayored thus far to liv,
Ian honorable life, and who was re
Isolyed to maintain his honor Will,
tendured. He acknowledged tha
he was ambitious, and that his high
est aim was to merit preferment.
The remainder of the evenin.
passed pleasantly, Michael Arizz,
being retained by the Austrian tri,
lin their company. The wine-cu,
circulated, but the youth drank yer,
|sparingly, as he hoped he alway,
should.
Wine is . good thing in its place,
he said; .but ] will never allow i
to become my MASTER
The others, however, did no
ldrink over much, though they mad
more free with the old bottles thai
Ibid he.
| On the following morning, Will
1.-THE host was preparing breakfas
the spokesman Of the Austrian par
lty sat down with our hero and tol,
Ihim candidly that he should not b
too sanguine. Said he:
SAT this present time there is nc
1 loud call for officers in the AustrI
an service, and, moreover, 30 man
LOT our own nobility are nnemploye
that q foreigner could hardly hop
! for promotion.
But the youth was determined /
3 perseyere. ! can but try, be sait
'.tsand ! must rely upon my own me-
Its to help me. If ! shall be Del