The Louisiana Democrat., 1890-10-22
NOCKERY OF FATE.
No King That Took the Fair
Countess Away.


4 ro Frsibof castle vas an old stone
,,,,on percbed high up on the slopins
,nrtaia that overshadowed quiet,
I l',.ash!onod town in Saxony. The old
o,is with its queer inhabitants had
ssnsng years been the greatest at
,tion to young and old in tho sleepy
5ae town atits foot.
i Once year all the children in every
s.lly that could boast of some social
e,plins were invited to visit the old
tnatass, who lived at the castle alone
4 iii only two servants. One of these
.,yauti was an old houselieeper, a year
szsger than her mistress, who already
4 Il celebrated her ninetieth birthday.
4 Ms old housekeeper filled, since many
4 us back. tho complicated position in
mCOuntess' household of lady's COM
4 snion, maid and steward. Her sixty
rar.old daughter, who yet, in spite of
4 5annerable ago and gray hairs, never,
,iher by the Countess nor by the old
saher, was spoken OF in other terms than
/ ethst girl' or "lazy," performed all
rilor duties round the establishment.
TO veteran st. Bernard dogs were the
3shhfal and watchful bodyguard of the
a Countess and her little staff; not a
saa in any capacity had been seen
fald tie castle for nearly twenty-five
jGts
Aacbild, about fourteen, / was for the
1 sn:andonly time invited to heCountess'
| reception, along with my cousins, with
| Thcm had spent few weeks OF my
1 Nlaay$ To me this was IN event of
shc greatest delight and anticipation. l
5Aai read the pretty story about the en-
aiaanted Princess Who slept hundred
i'srs in her castle amid cobwebs and
aaarg OF dust, to awaken, one morn
rs more beautiful and youthful than
seF, In my fancy the mistress of the
StaUy.clad castle on the hillside was
nlhing less than another enchanted
gfncess, and all the stories | had heard
sNut her and her two dogs, which had
reputation Of not being like other
natal dogs, and that they would live
3aslons as stone was left of the
Filootnd castle-all this made my
Nans heart flutter with JOY and expec-
aaen when the great day finally ar
l@ and we knocked at the gigantic
@gase OF the mansion.
strange haze of romantic love from
Glddle age seemed to hover over
huge pile of stones. With q creak-
IN noise the heavy doors turned on
3R Alnges, and after some delay we
'atasaefed into large hall furnished
M all the grandeur OF past centuries.
asOnc OF the narrow windows, on a
spsacked chair emblazoned with u
aNes gilded crown, sat an old lady,
ssd after the fashion of nearly a
aa'y ago Her powdered hair was
uign up over a beautifully-formed
@,aeaa' her checks rouged, and, ac-
a'ns to the fashion the old lady still
@asn' set of with few 'smouches
@ Or black patches. She looked
A'ay as an old picture, which sud-
aly mad stepped down from its heavy
''ae' to como and bid us children a
/ ,uias welcome. flow strangely hand-
49 'als Old Countess did look; she was
sisy ssay thing of what my young fancy
su.sa'nea ,,,...., about: sleeping Princess
'y,s, yssacaed by the rayages of time.
.a'ng could betray that ninety win
- uaa passed over her head, although
9.,s seemed to carry the heavy burden
s,s vu age in a way so graceful and sym-
laSo A' as very few people are able
II ~ oil the children had made their
Inn '0a,tesJ after the style of Louis
r,,, ',a kissed the Countess slender,
5aAa..a manu. the old housekeeper, who
4 s,s,os s' :, occasions of festivities acted as
H.. " ceremonies, took us to the
sa,.,p ,pielure-galleries, where she
ssiI. su Oelore the last of all the many
ii ", pVl.faits that adorned the walls,
sss tne greatest pride pointed out
| aslt0rs this picture as my lady
laa@en." M. : And a striking picture
r,s I'm, mere youth, loveliness and
1 s0n. Ipined created a perfect ideal
aana j. COUNTESS looked to-day just
uss. ~ na N dress and in every thing,
/ nre to. ' youth and it's loveliness had
no lss .. TO the old castle made a
aased ,ession on my mind, and I
ak,n,%,,l ~ learn why the Countess, once
'ssop u', - rich and high-born, had
ssi,. 70 live like hermit, in Sc Sc.
ID, s. aaa loneliness, instead of mar
] d NJ os'le ,e,l Duke or even Prince. She
! d sOp,e .s.l US why, but l learned it
a. NV years aftnr,,,,l
oss vas dead and both htba tba taisb3ul sue 9ld
sss a 20. me old housekeeper had &c rome u
aster :, than ever from the eldnolias desoIats
ID ils ,s,1 l' the story the old bou,eksen.-
s,s on her death.bed si abous bousensepsE hsr per
eaal.,.a and beloved FI mistrass iS1ps heF .hs aae
ea,s e' Of Ffeihof. '''' 'l'
easiass as her naid ra0 or ,nso ratses Sas
ssthr Tie xorshiped Val child Iiaeq of 'isn bsn
,araloas sals' es and only heir to their
,sel rsst states, many titles and e. ele.
Ma ,k. tals. Iso brillianoy Of her SI beau. su
i y sad above all. her kind