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

her ambitious spirit 10 feel the vanity
OF earthly Joys, and to lay hold on
those which are imperishablc and
eternal
ter tendcriy, and then casting q glance
toward the breviary which lay open ON
cushion
u trust" she said. speat'nc In her
accustomed Tweet and subdued voice:
II trust. my child, ] have not disturbed
YOU ucNoAons. 1 .hpugA. tne nour
was past IT, whi'h you usually engage
In them. r"d I wish much to speak TO
you OF duty to be performed. before
you quit the soil In which your beloved
father sleeps"
The voice OF tho empress faltcrcd,
che paused. and covered her face with
her handkerchief Josepha. with child
like simplicity and affection, threw
herself upon her mothers bosom, ana
s My unco ering her ace. kissed away
the tears that believed IT,
Tell me. mamma, what II "a that
you desire OF me-" she said. II have
caused you so much sorrow. that be-
fore ! leave YOU. and her voice trcrn-
bled. Il would gladly by some act prove
TO you my grateful love and glad obc-
dienoe to your wishes"
81 thank you, my iosepha; the duty
require of you ls n sa red one, ana
your cheerful performance OF 1t In
wolves not only my peace OF mind, but
your own welfare, both temporal and
spiritual
array. name It. mamma" said the
yourg que n. To- cd q ng Of evi creep,
ing over her at the unusual solemnlty
ot her mother voice and manner,
Weed | remind you, my daughter,
that this Ia the clghtc nth OF TIE m nth,
& O. ahutNetaarS zoe suur father = death
she said, lmpressivcly; "a day which
my heart always consecrutes to his
az lN 10 |aF
| fathers"
81 remembered II while on my knees
/ before that altar mamma, and omitted
| not torvcnt petition for the renosu
OF his blessed soul" said Josepha.
And J. my child, said the empress with
/ emotion, have but now returned from
TINT vault In which his precious ashes
rest. ] have watered his tomb with my
/ tears; and there. where human pride
| ana greatness may read lesson OF
their vanity, | have mingled with my
prayers for his soul, the deepest and
most humbllng confessions OF my own
weakness. and asked OF God wisdom
TO rule my people with Justice and
/ strength. TO maintain ylrtuoua sway
over the more difficult and tebellious
empire or my heart"
Joscpha shuddorcd The superstition
| which tlnctured the strong mind OF
Maria Theresa was deeply interviewer
In the weaker one n her daughter and
the idea OF any ones going alone To
that senulchrnl vault beneath the
gloomy church OF the Capuchlns nlled
her with terror Could her mother In.
tend 10 require OF her this act Of dutyl
The next words spoken by the empress
verified her fears.
MY daughter" she said. you are
shortly to leave n mothers shcltcrsnH
arms, TO enter new sphere OF NE, and
Ia assume high and responsible duties
g..
this uutrled. and Il may be, stormy
ocean OF existence. | would have yol
seek the tomb cf your father, and
there anew dedicate yourself to and
there implore his guidance ana pro-
tcctlon through the dangers and temp
tations which may lie before you. anc
solemnly Invoke the bentliiod bplrlt OF
him whose cold romans sleep beneath
to pray for you, and watch over yot
from his heavenly home, that your rec
90 not asttay from the paths OF good
ness which he loved.
Tho poor young girl stnod pnrnlyzet
with horror. as she listened 10 theH'
words--hHr lips ana checks were blood
less. and her eyes fixed with stony
stare upon her m0thcr, who, II she no
tlccd her emotion, was not moved by J
, from her purpose, but continued calmly
to say
prince Kaunit7 win accompany go,
10 the church. my daughter wher
Father stephen will meet and condue
you to the vault
ION. my mother. spare me" eS
claimed the shrinking princess a
bursting into passion OF tear9, sh
, throw herself at the feet OF the aston
ishod empress,
/ spare you tn performance Of an ne
Of hlial devotion, Josephn3 can II .
- this. you mcnn2" asked her mother u
a a tone OF reproachful surprise.
i Iusopha made no reply, hut buryln
\ her face In the folds OF her mother
4 robe. continued TO sob audlbly. Tn
empress looked down upon her wecpin
4 daughter Tor a moment In silence au
+ thon rose with dignity from her senl
' ~ cannot understand these tcara,
% she said. this strange reluctance 1
- tho performance OF an act whlc
n shnuld have been voluntary on you
e part--yca, Ioscphn, / would have u
q spontaneous desire In the heart OF
/. dnuwhtor Of the house OF Austria
i nay her last act Of devotion, before hld
d ding ndicu 10 her country, az the tom
r Of n father who ndorod her'
e "Oh. forgive me, my mother eN
q clnlmed tine unhappy prlneeAs' Nu
=, knee1ing In terrified entrcaty At IN
= feet or her Imperial mother. "oall m
n weak and chlldish--for 80 ] may pc
9 but indeed. | cannot, dare not ehtV
4 that gloomy vault. Assign me an
- other TASK. ana my 'H,ul'HNN 49,
moi fall--but this fearful pcnaneH'
. have not courage to endure H.
y arise, Josephai' said the empress
y In n tonc Of severe dlspleasure, u blus
" that child of niue can aNow herse
I, the yictfal Of such Idle fearh-put tne
= mo TOO absurd for my regard, ana
= must treat them "a the offspring or
u 1iseesed and morbid fancy. cot
, slider this duty, which require OF yol
:, esaential TO your future peace ana lihi
:, plness, and 80 viewing II, should !
= false to my convictions, " ! pcrmitte
~ Won 10 depart from my suardianaili
- plthout it's observance. Go, th1h'
- humble peniteuoe and love 10 mo ION
% nf yrur dead father. and there regist'
~ votir VOWS to live hencoforth q
"a Heaven. and for the good OF inc rear
, avsr which YOU are TO reign, Prepal
~ ,o,,raelf now 10 accompany the prince
), THE Young queen felt how fruitlei
ie would he ali farther resistance 10 "
* VIII OF a parent accustomed TO IN
>. nlioIt obedience from everyone Az
ilsiny mechanically from her supplhl
A, attitude, abe siRnlfied her acquieaceh'
D. 10 a ailent gesture. and the faint ute
a zoe az tho words Il obey which II
ie scnree audlbly from her quivcrlng lp
y, rhe empress withdrew. satisfied WI
10 oyen This hard wrung assent 10 ~
wishes, and free from the restraint
le nor mothers presence, the unhapl
y nrlncess sank upon her couch IN pn
p sion or hysterlcal sobs ana tears