THE BLACK MASK. 



had never known grief. The summer into the autumn flowed, and 

 the winter came ; and another summer was already at hand ; and yet he 

 never returned : and already the finger of grief had laid its heavy and 

 unerring touch upon her frame. No longer was she what she had been; 

 and her altered appearance at last attracted the attention of her father, 

 who had continued to think her illness but momentary, but now awoke 

 to the sad feeling, that she was dangerously ill, perhaps dying, and with 

 all the agony of one who felt that he had neglected too long an im- 

 portant duty, he determined no longer to delay, but at once set out for 

 Vienna, where medical aid could be procured ; and if the gentle and 

 balmy airs of Italy could avail aught, they could at once travel south- 

 ward. She was perfectly passive to the proposed excursion ; and if she 

 had any objections, the thought that she might hear some intelligence 

 of her lover, would have overcome them all ; so that, ere many days 

 elapsed, they had arrived in the Austrian capital. Vienna was at this 

 time the scene of every species of festivity and rejoicing. That court 

 had just returned from an excursion to Carlsbad; and all ranks, from 

 the proud noble to the humble bourgeois, vied in their endeavours to 

 welcome a monarch, who had already given rise to the greatest expec- 

 tations. Balls, redoutes, and masquerades, with all the other pleasures 

 of a carnival, formed the only occupation, and the only theme of con- 

 versation, throughout the city. The Baron and his daughter, however, 

 little sympathizing in a joy so strongly in contrast to the sad occasion 

 which led them thither, sought and found an hotel, outside the barrier, 

 where they might remain unknown and unmolested, as long as they 

 should think proper to remain in the capital, mid rfoasasd bns , 



They had not been many days in their new abode, when tempted one 

 morning by the fineness of the weather ; and Adela feeling herself some- 

 what better, they strolled as far as the Prater ; but on reaching it, they 

 were much disappointed in their expectation of quiet and seclusion, for 

 all Vienna seemed assembled there to witness a grand review of the 

 troops, at which the emperor was to be present ( they, therefore, at once 

 determined on retracing their steps, and endeavour, if possible, to reach 

 the city before the troops should have left it. With this intention they 

 were hastening onward, and had already reached the open space where 

 the troops usually manoeuvred, when they stood for some minutes 

 attracted by the beauty of the scene; for already heavy masses of 

 cavalry and artillery were to be seen as they slowly emerged from the 

 dark woods around, taking up their respective stations upon the field. 

 Half regretting to lose so splendid a spectacle, they were again turning 

 to proceed, when a young officer galloping up to the spot where they 

 now stood, informed the baron, that a traileur regiment was about to 

 take up that position on the field, and requested with great politeness, 

 that he would accept for himself and his daughter, seats upon a platform 

 with some of his friends, from which, without danger or inconvenience 

 they might witness the review : this invitation politely urged, as well as 

 the fact, that they could not now hope to reach the city without 

 encountering the crowds of soldiery and people induced them to accede, 

 and ere many minutes elapsed they were seated on the balcony. 



The field now rapidly filled. Column after column of infantry poured 

 in, and the very earth seemed to shake beneath the dense line of 

 cuirassiers, who, with their long drooping cloaks of white looking like 

 the ancient Templars, rode past in a smart trot their atttention now 



