River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-19

actually began 20 entertain feeling OF dis
trust toward the good dame II made him
still more careful, and he resolved TO spare
no pains in taking every precaution possible
TO ensure success.
The Princess Natalie was putting thu
finishing touches upon her picture. On the
morrow she expected TO leave her beloved
village and summer home for Lake Mag
giore where her chief companion,
brother, scarcely more than one year older
than herself, had been accustomed TO spend
with her his summers.
A little more than two years previous TO
the time when this narrative opens, on the
morning Of her birthday, he had, among
other gifts, presented his sister with love
ly palette-knife, just as he was departing on
a short hunting expedition into the valley.
But before going he took his seat at the
piano and began playing the "Addio." This
song was a great fayorite with both Natalie
and himself.)
Aroused by the many evidences Of her
brothers. love and the fact that il was her
birthday-she scarcely knew by what, it
seemed almost prescience-she went over
to his side and sang as she rarely had sung
before Otto was so much moved when the
song was ended that he put his arms about
{
words Of the song have it, it proved Good
bye for ever"
Two hours later, in headlong chase after
stag, he galloped his horse down a ravine.
The exhausted beast lost his footing and
stumbled, throwing its master headlong
against rock. The unfortunate youth
lived but few moments.
The shock 10 the Princess was even
greater than might have been anticipated.
Returning from horseback ride, while gal
Looping at full speed, as was her wont, and
laughing gaily at some remark OF her old
governess. whom her affection still retained
more as companion and chaperon than in
structress, she suddenly turned a curve in
the road and saw before her a rude, inn
provised litter, borne on the shoulders Of
four men. A fifth was leading two saddle
horses. A figure covered with a mantle
lay upon the litter.
The impetuous speed Of Medji carried his
rider nearly up to the party, ere she could
check him. AS he came TO a standstill,
Natalie recognized the men and also her
brothers horse. For a moment she doubted
the evidence of her senses, and looked
again.
With overwhelming force the horrible
truth burst upon her She leaped 10 the
ground, rushed up to the litter, tore the
mantle from the race, ana saw her only
brother lying pale and cold in the sleep Of
death.
20 Otto, my brother deadi" she cried, and
swooned away.
For weeks afterward she lay, lowering
Oetwixt life and death, in a wild delirum OF
fever. All her physicians looked for death.
But one sunny afternoon strolling harper
CHANGED TO play under her window a
peculiarly sweet air. In the midst Of her
rawlings she stopped, and seemed to be
listening to the "Addio,n and lay quiet a
long time after the melody had died away,
falling finally into refreshing slumber,
from which she awoke in her right mind.
As the Princess grew stronger, the old
scenes proving painful to her, she asked TO
be removed TO others; and when she once
more looked upon the fair waters of Mag
giore, it was at the request Of her parents.