Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-17
-s---s-s-s-ss-.ss
WlTHERED ROSES,
An Austrian Romance.
BY L. e. q.
w.
sy L. e. q.


On n fine September evening. in the
year 1861, the gay city OF Vienna ex-
hibited unusual tokens OF festivlty, tho
imperial palace was brilliantly lllumi-
mated, and from It's prlncely gardens
came the sounds OF mirth and music,
while Its lighted halls were thronged
with the beautiful and hlgh-born OF
the land.
These reJolcinRs were In honor Of one
of the fairest daughters OF the house OF
Austria; the favorite OF Maria Theresa's
maternal heart. and the pride Of the
court-the young and lovely Arch
duchess Josepha--who on that day had
been publicly betrothed to Ferdinand,
King OF Naples. Already was she
hailed ms queen by the courtly circle
gathered around her, who yet rendered
stlll deeper homage to her beauty
than to her rank.
And never did fairer object claim
the general love and admiration than
this youthful princess. She had not
yet completed her fifteenth year. yet
she was tall and striking In her per-
son, eNquisltely formed, ana with
face full OF expression, which varied
with every changing thought and feeling
or her innocent heart, Her manner
was graceful and playful almost TO
childishncss, but chastened by sweet
gentleness that lent II an irresistible
charm, Her tastes. formed by those
of her illustrious mother were pure
and simple, and her affection for her
/ family was so deep and passionate
/ that the bare Idea OF separating from
them nlled her soul with grief. Her
/ very being seemed entwined with that
| of her sisters-her brothers We're her
] la hRNt hos 70 haFs M
/ the object OF her profoundcst love ana
| Veneration.
SO youthful. and so closely knit by
| natures tendorcst ties to the fond
| hearts OF her kindred 1t is no wonder
she should shrink from union with n
stranger and a forelguer-one whom
| she had never seen, and whose very
name brought home to her deep sor-
| row. for her betrothed husband had al
ready been afiianced TO her sister,
Joanna, who, before her VOWS were
ratified, was destined to make her
bridal bed in the grave; and n secret
superstition that she should share the
fate OF he, whose place she was
chosen 10 nll. possessed the reluctant
heart Of Joscphn.
But the Empress Maria Theresa saw
only the timldity and caprice or a
petted child In her daughters tears and
enireaties She regarded, as she
thought, her chllarcns permanent In
tcrcst ana happiness In the alliance
she formed for them, no less than her
own ambition, which ever sought an eX-
tension OF power, and In accordance
with the impulses OF her maternal duty
she constrained the young Joscpha 70
yield an unwilling assent to Ferdi'
nAnds overturcs.
And II wua on the arrival Of tho
prlncely deputntlon. who came In tbs
name OF their royal master to demand
In uN Ida
that arrayed In royal robes, she ap
pearcd In the midst OF her mother
court TO receive the greetings OF tn,
ENJOYS, But those who watched hei
through the gorgeous, but to her sac
ceremonial OF that day, saw no queenly
triumph on her brow, though circled 10y
a diadcm; no gladness In her step, NJ
Joy In the downcast fearful chances o
ner eye; and they marveied at such In
difference. In one so young TO the bril-
liant destiny which awaited her.
One only read the secret anguish o
E her young and loving heart-one, h
\ that courtly circle, who though he ha,
? not openly aspired to her favor, wor
!, shipped her In secret, feeding his cher
e ished love with the sweet looks ans
Q words which she dispensed on hin
:. with bashful probability; ever slngllnl
Q out from among her ndmirlng trail
s the young Hungarian soldier, who has
n vowed himself TO the service OF he
n imperial mother. and who had alread!
e roaped high honors by gallantly main
r tanning her cause In council and In field
4 Thus, from many tokens Count Dal
n manor knew he had won a place il
"A the heart OF tho beautiful princess
n md that on this fatal night they wcr
= closely united In sorrow at the cruC
d demolition Of their dearest hopes.
Nor could the empress while sh
marked the troubled countcnpnce OF he
daughter. silence the upbralding vote,
which from the depths Of her Hou
whispered that she was sacrificing he
= child TO the demon Of ambitlon--tha
:, ruthless ambition which she had eve
u permitted TO exercise too wide a swn
7 over her wise and benefcent hear
J, II was, therefore, n relief to her whe
10 at last the music ceased, the dane
ended, the blaze of Hight was quenche
' and she was left alone TO commun
with heaven and herself; though eve
those who rule. she sought to iustlf
by false and speclous preteNts even tn
sacrifice OF her child.
Alone, too, and In darkness, strup
Cling with her rcbelllous heart r,
! manned the unhappy Victim OF her In
. perlol mothers policy. I r fearful fac
, buried In her hands, and her long raj
hair falling like a rich veil over he
. neck and shoulders, the young Quee
- Of Naples knel' at the shrine OF n
NlEEllt bGAbAN MAbtt tpilHEtIhltl III
age burned the only lamp which faln
10 ly Illuminated her chamber. The go
- geous robes which had decked her Z,
" her bridal were lying where her a
tendants had left them, and on he
toilet sparkled the diamond thar
lie which that night had crowned he
m aching brow with royalty. How wortl
less to tho sorrowing princess SCENE
20 those costly gauds. for which she ha
/? been compelled to cast away the rich,
treasures Of the heart! How dar
looked to her the futurei and wilt
what poignant regret she recalled II
"a happy irrevocable past.
These bitter thoughts would intrut
n even upon her devotiong. and wit
them came fresh bursts OF tears, az
audible. impasaloned invocation
" broken by her sobs:
- "Pltylng mother, hear and save me
- she cried. Thou knowest the wretc
nv edness OF my heart--my horror az IN
narriage--l1s hatred OF this idle pom
n Gracious mother, take me to thy arm
safe from the sorrows and snares tn.
Ia beset my youth
In an agony OF grief, she sank pro
70 trate at the foot OF the altar. when
n light step approached "a soft ar
CO raised and sustained her. and a gent
voice, Joining in her applications, e
treated for her heavenly composuI
he and that all rich gifts Of celestial al
IL. earthly Joy might unite TO crown al
" bless her HE.