Year: 1859

The god old Baron Hermann Won Helt-
helm lay on his dcaLb-bed, having been
mortally wounded while fighting for his
queen, Msiia Theresa. then engaged in
deadly strife with her stubborn foe, Fred
erick the Great of Prussia


The old man, on finding that all the
surgeons skill, and all his daughters care


were likely to be OF no avail, sent mes
sen9er To the empress 10 ask, as a last ia
yor, in reIuin for life spent and death
gained in her service, leave Of absence
from the army for Il time for her brave
officer Count Moriiz Won Iittern--staiing
as a leascn for the request that being at
the point of DEATH lie desired to place his
mothclless daughter under the legal pro-
lection Of her aflianced husband, ere he
left !he world.


The empress, though pressed at this
time both for officers and troops, and
thrugh she could i'll spare the gallant
young count, who was the life of the army,
did not belle her ever warm, womanly
heart on this occasion; the desired per-
mission was accorded to the count, with
the strictest injunctions, however, to
hasten Immediately after the marriage
back to the army, where his alb ence
might cause incalculable disasters.


The wings of love bore the young count
in an incredibly short space OF time to the
castle of Holtzheim, and the presence OF
his betrothed; and it was his reward to see
how The cheeks of the young Baroness
Ida, though pale with watching, grew
rosy red under the gaze, and to note how
the languid ewes kindled into soft splendor
as he drew nigh.


But this was no time for the exchange
of loves joyous eudearments; a dying
father, "A distracted country, lover re-
turning to the perils of the teld-were not
these circumstances sufficiently terrible
TO check the quick flow of lovers pulses,
even were they likely to beat too warmly!


The young couple had been betrothed
from infancy; and what is not often the
case under such circumstances, the
wishes of those most interested concided
for once with the views of their parents;
circumstance probably owing to the fact
that events had prevented the children
growing up together like brother and Sis
ter, as frequently happens; but who, on
the contrary, had seen nothing of each
other till both were grown up. The natu-
raj consequence was that when the ardent
young soldier of twenty one was introduced
to the beautiful young baroness at the end
of the first campaign, he thought her, as
she truly was, one of the loveiest and
most charming beings the world had ever
seen, and fell violently in love with her,
AT this time Ida, some years younger
than himself, was arrayed in all the
charms of opening womanhood; she was
tall and graceful, with clear blue eyes and
gOlden-tiu hair, that waved in luxuri-
ance about face OF angelic sweetness,
while faultless complexion of rare deli
cacy set off every charm. 1t was no
wonder that the young soldier, just es
capped from camps and bearded men, fan
cied that he had met with veritable an
gel, nor that he should bless the g ood
fortune that had given him right to ap-
proach such a lovely creature as his be-
trothed. Quite as natural was it that
lda's gentle heart should easily surrender
gallant, SO ardent a suitor.


But, in the early flush of their attach
ment, the young lovers were called on to
part. The count was summoned back to
his regiment-and now this was their first
re- union-a meeting to be again followed
after few moments of mingled Joy and
grief. by long parting.


Immediately on the arrival OF the bride
groom the-dying soldier. stern in his views
of soldiers duty, caused the priest to be
summoned in all haste, and as soon as the
hand of the trembling, fearful bride had
been joined in wedlook 10 that of her hus-
band the holgr, already eaddled and br-