Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-17


"what there is In all this which 70
affriRhta your imRginatiunT'
"Ah, you may smile. Christina SAID
JosephR, sadly; you woh are welded
To a man you love, and who with him
may often revurn here to enjoy your
early home. But the thought OF quit
ting all that 10 dear TO the brings with
II bitterness OF death sisters and
brothers, and my beloved mother
cruel though she Is in this act. for one
whom | never knew--who wooes me
without affection. who may never love
me- perhaps but give me hate instead,
In that strange land where my heart
Will never End n home"
And why, my Josopha. should II not
ind home. and blofsed one, In that
land OF beauty and bloom and happi-
ness In the ties which must here link
II to new and tender objects OF aQec-
tion2" asked the prinocss,
MY answer Hes here" she said,
pointing TO a miniature which lay on
n table; "cnat your eycs, Christina,
upon the face OF my hetrothed hus-
band and no longer marvel ut my de-
spair. Already has that painted SOM
blance Inspired me with disgust, which
i Nnlnly strive to conquer, and the grief
l feel at quitting all l hold dear on
earth Is enhanced by the conviction
that he with whom I am TO unite my
fate can never inspire me with afec-
item"
"a portrait IL seldom faithful to its
original, Josepha. and doubtless this 10
not so Ferdinand is neither great nor
worlike, vet report declares linn ami
able and bcne0rent. ana these virtues
VIII more surely promote your hap
piness than II, by his vplor he gained
hundred battles, nr by his genius
outwitted all the courts of Europe
"lt such had been your reasoning.
Christina, In days past" said the
young queen. with some bitterness,
the Duke dc Chnblnis might have
won his bride and Prince Albert have
become the husband OF another"
II loved Prince Albert" said Chris
tina, earnestly. land | saw no reason
OF state policy TO forbid the gift OF my
hand where my affections had long
been bestowed, though had our mother
dis0pproVed my choice, should
probably have yielded 10 her wishes
and resigned him. AZ the children Of
great sovereign. think we are bound
| to consult the interests Of the realm
in our matrimonial alliances rather
than our own lncllnatlons. though this
| Is very hard, especially II called upon
| to renounce the hearts affection for
cold and worldly interests. And I feel
| this so much that II ] thought you
| loved another my Jcscpha. could
not with all my boastcd stoicism,
| thus calmly urge you 10 fulnll your
duty But l am spared that fear.
] since"
At these words Josepha started with
! sudden bound from her sisters en-
] clrcling arms. \ burning blush Grim
| sonCd her face, and buNlng It In her
hands, her whole frame shook with
emotion. The Princess Christina
| sprang towards her, doubt aud dismOy
itllcd her heart. ast laying her trcm.
bling hand upon her sisters, she softly
asked;
"Cnn this be so. my poor Josephn -
For an instant tho young girl made
no reply; then conqucrlng her emo
tion by n powerful effort, abe turned
towards Christina face pale as her
robe, and said In low but calm voice
And II 1t be, my sister. stlll 1t mus
be borne. Il Is the penalty OF oul
birth. and the daughter Of Marlf
Theresa must rulhll her destiny by
wedding a royal woocr-ay ovet
though In the humber object Of hel
love wera united every virtue nut
every gift anve sovereignty, Yes, Thu
Is the cruel doom thai appertains I,
our greatness, and we cannot stir from
II. An my Christina. peasants onvl
US, because daszlcd by the Jewels tina
cover our aching hearts. they see no
the bllghted hppes and cankcrlni
griefs that corrode them"
"And con | give you neither mid no
| comfort my poor NlNAtFf hNNtu AallIl1
tina, with tears Of alfectionatc earn
| cstncss. "GlVo the Your confidence
dearest Il " so hard 70 suffer nlpu
the pangs OF disappointed affection
Al, could bur help you'll 40 well re
member when ms father for q tim
opposed my union with Prince Albert
what II wretch | was--the world he'll
not another so miserable
"Ah. for me thore can be no r.
| lettings" said Josopha. my fate
sCalod--but not long shall | he held 4
thrnldom. for feel a secret Intimate
which l cannot resist, nay. | ufte
hCar n whisper as " from Joannn's pnI
hold IN It's cold bosom the two b,
trothed brides 81 Ferdinand of Naples.
do not yield 90 such foolish far
/ cles," said the princess, ''ycu who AT
flushed with health and strong I
youth to give way to ouch imaplr
system is unstrung. my dear Josepht
, by the tntgues ~ the day. au
, you are taxing your strength beyon
endurance by this sleeplesa night. Fo
, sect the yellow dawn TX actually push
, | ing through the curtains. and you haN
, not slept. ! pray you now, my alste
, seek some pose, and comfort your
, self with the assurance that the Quee
OF delicious Naples shall not hav
cause 10 complain that the Princess {
cold and rude Saxony Ia stranger q
. her court"
, on the following day Josepha wa
! really indisposad. and permitted
! consequence % remain in the prlvac
, ! Of her apartments; but when sever,
! | succeeding days passed on and N
: same plea for her non-appearance wa
urged, the empress, percelvlng that II
. mind only was untuned. required h,
r presence again In public, as the onl
. means Of dlspelllng the morbid melai
r choly to which she was perpetual
/ yielding. But It was In vain that /
p alternate reasoning and persuasion h
: mother strove to reconcile her TO h'
4 destiny. or that her sisters sought
4 cheer and divert her with the picture
r OF gayety and splendor that were
( make her court the most attractive
4 Europe. --nothlng had the power
. rouse her from her deep depresslo
and cumming the gayety around he
n and even the society OF her friend
h she would spend hour after hour aloi
4 In her oratory or wandering In listle
!, abstraction through the most seque
. tered walks OF the garden.
:, The empress suffered for her chill
/. and the more keenly us her own U
a braidlngs were severe, for though
/, great and magnificent sovereign. al
= was also q tender even II ambition
Z 4 mother; but regarding the young bril-
only as Maynard and romantic chill
4. she confidently anticipated the tin
n when the active duties and plehsur
:, OF her brilliant station would 80 Q
l.