The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-11-21
MOCKERY OF FATE.
The King That Took the Fair
Countess Away.


mansion perched high up on tho sloping
mountain that overshadowed a quietS
old-fashioned town in Saxony. The old
castle with its queer inhabitants had
for many years boon the greatest at
traction to young and old in the sleepy
little town at its foot
Once a year all tho children in every
family that could boast of some social
standing were Invited to visit the old
Countess, who lived at tho castle alone
with only two servants. One of these
servants was an old housekeeper, year
younger than her mistress, who already
had celebrated her ninetieth birthday.
This old housekeeper filled, since many
years back, the complicated position in
the Countess household of lady's com
panion, maid and steward. Her sixty
year-old daughter, who yet, in spite OF
her venerable age and gray hairs, never,
neither by the Countess nor by the old
mother, was spoken of in other terms than
az that girl or lazy" performed all
minor duties round tho establishments
Two veteran st. Bernard dogs were tho
faithful and watchful bodyguard Of the
old Countess and her little staff; not
man in any capacity had been seen
round the castle for nearly twenty-five
years.
AS child, about fourteen, WAS for the
first and only time invited to theCountess'
reception, along with my cousins, with
whom had spent a few weeks OF my
holidays. To me this was an event Of
the greatest delight and anticipation l
had read the pretty story about the en-
chanted Princess who slept hundred
years IN her castle amid cobwebS and q
century of dust to awaken, one morn
ing, more beautiful and youthful than
ever. In my fancy the mistress of tho
old lvy-clad castle on the hillside was
nothing less than another enchanted
Princess, and all the stories l had heard
about her and her two dogs, which had
the reputation of not being like other
mortal dogs, and that they would live
on as long as stone was left of the
spellbound castle-all this made my
young heart flutter with Joy and expec-
tation, when the great day finally ar
rived and we knocked at the gigantic
old gate of the mansion.
A strange haze of romantic love from
the middle age seemed to hover over
the hugo pile Of stones. With a creak-
ing noise the heavy doors turned On
their hinges, and aftor some delay we
were ushered into large hall furnished
with all the grandeur of past centuries.
Near ono of the narrow windows, on a
high backed chair emblazoned with
Duke's gilded crown, sat an old lady,
dressed after the fashion of nearly a
century ago. Her powdered hair was
done high up over a beautifully-formed
forehead, her checks rouged, and, ac-
cording to the fashion the old lady still
clung to, set off with few 'mouches
irG - hlarly
exactly as an old picture, which sud
denly had stepped down from its heavy
frame to come and bid US children a
smiling welcome How strangely hand
some this old Countess did look; she was
not any thing OF what my young fancy
had dreamed about: a sleeping Princess
untouched by the ravages of time.
Nothing could betray that ninety win
ters had passed over her head, although
she seemed to carry tho heavy burden
OF old ago in a way so graceful and SYM
pathetic as very few people are able
to do.
After all the chiidron had made their
low courtesy after the style of Louis
NV. and kissed the Countess slender,
waxen hand, the old housekeeper, who
at these occasions Of festivities acted as
master of ceremonies, took as to the
large picture-galleries, whore she
stopped before the last of all the many
family portraits that adorned the walls,
and with the greatest pride pointed out
to the visitors this picture as my lady
at seventeen" And n striking picture
it was; there youth, loveliness and
grace combined created q perfect ideal
of womsnly beauty.
The old Countess looked to-day lust
4hfag ~ 4
except that youth and it's hoveliness had
gone forever.
My visit to the old castle made a
deep impression on my mind, and i
longed to learn why the Countess, once |
SO beautiful, rich and high-born, had |
chosen to live like a hermit, in Sc |
slusion and loneliness, instead of mar |
-Ying some Duke or even Prince. She |
lid not tell us why, but learned it |
yet, some years afterward when the old |
was dead and both the faithful
logs and the old housekeepcr had gone
% rest, and the stones were crumbling
way faster than ever from the desolate |
astle of Freihof.
This Is the story the old housekeeper
lad told on her death-bed about her ad-
nired and beloved mistress, the
'oun tess of Freihof
"At the age of fifteen / came into the
ountcss' service, as her maid, or rather
ompanion. She was a year older than
lyself, the worshiped child of her
eaIthy parents, and only heir to their
normous estates, many titles and ele-
lted rank. The brillianey of her beau
2, her talent, and above all, her kind
art and amiable dispOsi tion had made
II the idOlizcd fayoritc with high Ind
". Already, at this early age, she
As actRally besieged with sUitors, more
number than the year has days. They
presented the very flower of chiyalry,
ID there were Dukes and Princes at
r feet. Bat she refused them all
)t that she was in any way proud, far
jm il: she was as humble and modest