THK BLACK .MASK. 



slowly to a window, and bevelled his face within his hands for some 

 minutes. When he returned again to her side, he appeared endea- 

 vouring to calm his troubled mind, and suppress some sad thoughts 

 which seemed to haunt him like spirits of evil: he looked kindly on 

 her, and she was happy once more, rtr, 3 



Such was the happy term of their lives, that they felt not the time 

 rolling over. A second week was already drawing to a close. As they 

 were one morning preparing for an excursion into the forest, a servant 

 entered, to announce the arrival of a courier from Vienna, with letters 

 for the court. He seemed very much agitated at the intelligence, and 

 apologizing to Adela, and promising to return at once, he ordered that 

 the courier should be shewn into his apartment. As he entered the 

 room a few moments after, the courier was seen to issue from the portals 

 of the castle, and, at the top of his speed, take the road to Vienna. The 

 Count had evidently heard disagreeable tidings, and strove in vain to 

 conceal the agitation he laboured under. " No bad news from Vienna, 

 I hope," said she: " has anything occurred to trouble you there?" 

 " I am recalled," said he, hastily ; " ordered, I know not where per- 

 haps to Poland. However, I am expected to join immediately." tf But 

 you will not do so ?" said the innocent girl, passionately lf you will 

 not go ?" " How am I to help it ?" answered he. " Have you not 

 told me," said she, " a thousand times, that the Emperor was your 

 friend that he loved you, and would serve you ? Will he not give 

 you leave of absence ? Oh, if he will not hear you, let me entreat him. 

 I will go myself to Vienna I will myself tell him all. I will fall at 

 his feet, and beseech him ; and if ever an Hungarian girl met with 

 favour in the eyes of a monarch who loves her nation, he will not refuse 

 me." " Adela," said he, " do not speak thus : I must go but I hope 

 to obtain the leave myself. Come, cheer up. You know you may 

 trust me. You believed me once before did I deceive you ? Pledge 

 me but your word not to forget me to be my own when I return ." 

 " I swear it," cried she, falling upon his neck, <e nothing but death 

 shall change me, if even that and if I ever cease to feel for you as I do 

 at this moment, you shall hear it from my own lips. But let us not 

 speak of that. You will come, is it not so? and we shall again be 

 happy ; and you will never leave me then." As she spoke these words, 

 she looked into his face with a sad smile, while the tears trickled fast 

 down her cheek, and fell upon his shoulder. 



He pressed her hand, and tried to soothe her, but in vain. At last 

 he made one desperate effort, and pressing her to his bosom, kissed her 

 cheek, and, bidding a long and last adieu, he hurried from the apart- 

 ment : his horse stood saddled at the door he sprang to his seat, and 

 was soon far from the Schloss. 



With the departure of him she loved, all happiness seemed to have 

 fled. The places she used with him to visit, in their daily excursions, 

 on foot or horseback, served only to call up recollections of the past, and 

 render her present solitude more lonely than she had ever felt; and 

 after weeks of anxious expectancy, when neither letters nor any other 

 tidings of the Count arrived, her health gradually declined her cheek 

 grew pale, her eye lustreless, and her step infirm ; while her low sad 

 voice told too plainly, the wreck of her worldly happiness had been 

 accomplished j and all the misery of hope deferred burst on her whose 

 path had, until now, been only among flowers, and whose young heart 



