The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-07-26
THE FALCON.


THE FALCON.
AN oLD.1iMI LOVE STORY.
The fine old mansion oil the AlberRt
family, near Gluckstadt, wss brilliant
lighted, and the sound Of music and dsnt
ing was borne on the evening air acres
tho rolling, sparkling waters OF the E.bt
Ihat night a grand ball wasgiven by Conn
Frederick Alberghi, the only remainin
representative Of The noble family who's
nsms he bore. The building was massiv
stone, high and dark, protected by moai
draw bridge and battlemeDted towers. !
was q fine old feudal css'le, built In u
time oil Frederick II. Outside 1t looket
grand and gloomy; inside 1t was ablazI
with Lights. and redolent With the perfum,
Of choice hJweis which were scattered ii
profusion, not only about the large recep
ton saloon, bat In all the smaller apart
ments which were thrown open to th,
guests.
In q little room far removed from tit
rest, in the Eastern tower, stood two per
sone-a young mau, remarkably hand
some, though there ws5 an expression o.
deep care upon bis face, and q lady. The
lady wss not remarkably handsome Just
now, as she listened to her companion with
+ coping EYES; indeed, moat people would
call her simply pretty till she raised her
expressive dark blue eyes, and the brill.
ant, sylph like smile broke over her face.
The two were standing talking carelessly
together, the lady leaning against the
Leavily.cafved osken window.frame, and
the young man s~tsnding nearly oppoaite
her, catessing q bright-eyed falcon per.
cheh upon bis wrist.
$50, Count Albsrghi, you will be re.
membered for a long while es the young
noble who gave the moes splendid ball a.
yet ever attended"
The lips OF the young mat curied, and
be answered co1tempiuously:
THAT is eu.ely q name worth gaining at
any price"
"0t course n said the lady. "But why
80 scnfnfut sbout il p
l.. You know, Lady Lsra, that 7 care only
Tor your appreciation; tlst the ball 10 given
only in honor and to please you, who,
sliRhttst wiah I would crafty at any ex.
perse."
Ara, Court Albe,ehi, I am told that a
dczan times esch day 2"
"Pioos bly,; but the words do not come
from tue hesIt rs mine d."
Pooh! !" said the lady. "They all swear
that"
Very well, Lady Lens; I may some
time be able 10 prove the truth Of my
Tords- ! have been q fool. For TIRES
years / have hung upon YOUR acce =. ful.
hlled your every wish, IS far e1 lay in my
power. My fortune-which wssample-i
lid at your feet, that you might have
every possible want supplied; and In re-
urn for tits devotion I have received
nothing bot coldnei, and scorn. You
know that l love you es few men love
with my whole heart aud soul-and yet
you ecorn ne. You are rich snd noble. I
atill love you rs madly as lever, but tonight
is the lest time ! bow before you. This
once ! plead, Lady Lena, to be shown
some kindness. For the l,at time I offer
you myself. Will you accept me- 2"
Lady Lena turned very pale as she LIS.
tened 10 the rapid, passionate words uttered
by the young man who knelt before her.
Her eyes grew dark with come inward feel
ing, but her words destroyed the faint hope
which had risen in his heart at the gentle
expression on her face.
lob, rise, Count Frederick, for I know
this is all nonasree-instantly. Tomorrow
you will he beside me rs u;usl, and the
mkt, and every day, jest IS you have been
for years"
the young man rose, aud in answer TO
her tsunt, only bent bis head and teuderiy
s,roked the glcery head and neck oil the
brisht.eyea bird on his wrist, that looked
from n TO another, 81 il inQuiring what
was going on.
Plqued at bis eilence, the igdY exclaimed:
Where now is your Boosted lovep / esy
. bitter thing to you and you do not retal.
~ cannot forget myself 30 far E, to retail.
late 10 a womsn.n
"No," raid she, "but you can sneer. You
sneer and stroke your falcon, which I
know pos3fssss more Of your boasted love
than 1 do"
"~Jeannette never wounds me-" he re.
piled. In return fer my care.3es she do;
not give me bitter coldneas."
perhaps she would il she could speak,
persisted the lady.
factions, Lady Lens" said he, Speak
louder than words"
The girls eyes q ished, and she turned to
the door, but paused ~ abe neared il, and
locking over her shoulder said, contemptu.
oualyI
" s1ppose the csuse OF your love for
that bird is becarss aha once belonged to
some former lady lover"
The tone WIZ very insulting, and thi.
time the young man raised his head with
flashing eyes,and his words were rapid and
indignant.
You are right" he replied. "This ial-
con belonged to a noble lady, whose kind,
womanly heart ecorned to iua!ct a wound
upon the meanest creature; who tranpled
under foot no honorable lave offered her,
~ il it were q dIsgraceful thing Doe whom
I loved deyotedly, and who, had she been
unable to return the affection ofered her,
would yet have rejected it with confederate
gentlemen"
"WBy, then, don't you return to this
paragon Of tendernessa and virtue ~ sneered
the lady.
Sue would willingly soothe my wound.
ed epirit," be replied, "but she is dead"
Without another word Lsua sped from
the room, her brain or Ere, her eytJ full
OF teals. Gould frederick have seen her
Is she, leaning ilr out OF a.window, weep.
ipg bitterly, be would have forgiven the
bitter words. As it we,, they parted in an.
ger.
Lett alone, Frederick paced up and down
the room. In his despair he murmuSed
aloud: II have been a dwelling lool-a
mailman ! For three years l have devoted
my time, heart and fortune 10 the service
OF this heartless woman: one day rewarded
with smiles, the next with irowns. To.
morrow, when the bills are paid for debt,
incurred for this night l shall be absolute.
ly penn,lcss-all my fortune spent upon
this vain airt, who is undeserving the
mama Of xnman. Yea &c .mnrrnH INV fnr.