[ 2*0 ] [MARCH, 



THE DEAD WATCH A LKGKND OF SWEDEN. 



THE last moments of Ulrica, Princess of Sweden, approached. A film 

 obscured her eye; but her voice, though weak, was clear. " I thought I 

 scarcely could have died without bidding a last farewell," she said, " to 

 my beloved Emelinde but life recedes apace. How many days have 

 elapsed since the messenger was despatched to Saxony?" " But three, my 

 dearest princess!'* replied an aged attendant, whose accents were scarcely 

 more distinct than those of her dying mistress : " but three; as many 

 weeks must pass before Countess Emelinde, of Schoenberg, can arrive." 

 " I have not as many hours to live, and must forego this hope," resumed 

 the lady ; " oar vow to meet again, before the tomb closed over us, has 

 past unfulfilled. My faithful friends, farewell ! when I am gone, think 

 kindly of your princess!" 



It was three in the morning when Ulrica expired : the next day, the 

 body lay in state, and all Stockholm repaired to take a last look at their 

 beloved princess. The crowd was so great, that, towards evening, the 

 officer on guard found it difficult to enforce the order for closing the doors, 

 and that none should be admitted until the following day. This officer 

 was Baron Frederic, of W. a young Swede of undoubted courage. The 

 eleventh hour had struck ; and, as he walked up and down an anti-chamber,, 

 separated from the room where the princess lay merely by a glass parti- 

 tion, he often paused to gaze at the idle pomp which surrounded the royal 

 corpse, where the shades of death and the glare of a thousand tapers 

 seemed engaged in ghastly combat and then, his head sunk on his 

 breast and again he moved slowly on, wrapt in his own reflections. 



So passed the next hour, and the palace clock struck twelve : as its last 

 vibration ceased, a lady, dressed in black, whom the baron immediately 

 recognized as the Countess Emelinde of Scho2iiberg, the absent friend of 

 the princess, entered. " Noble Countess," said Baron Frederic, (i the 

 chamber of her highness is closed, and no one, until the morning, can be 

 admitted. Nay, advance not, lady my orders are severe ; and, were I 

 even to infringe them, it would but afford you the means of augmenting 

 .your sorrow. I pray you, refrain!" and, seeing the pale figure advance, 

 he moved to oppose her entering. 



A cold hand was laid on his an icy shudder pervaded his whole frame 

 and he remained motionless ! For a moment's space, his sight was 

 obscured ; and, when he recovered it, he saw the figure approach the 

 bed of the princess. The corpse arose, and opened its heavy eyelids ; 

 but its glance was fixed and glassy. The arms, which before were crossed 

 on the breast, spread slowly, to embrace the pallid form which moved to 

 meet them ! 



When Baron Frederic recovered, he found himself lying on the 



ground : he was alone. The corpse had resumed its former attitude; but 

 on the lips, which had retained the convulsive contraction of the last 

 agony, now sate a placid smile. Inquiries were made in the palace ; and 

 their only result was, thaton that night, at the midnight hour, a mourning 

 coach, drawn by four horses, had entered the palace court : a female, in 

 black attire, alighted from it, and ascended the stairs. In what manner 

 either the carriage or the lady had disappeared, could none explain. In 

 the course of a month, the messenger despatched to Saxony returned, 

 and also with tidings of the death of the Countess Schcenberg. The story 

 is to this day well remembered in Stockholm, and recounted as often as a 

 rude basso-relievo, representing this mysterious circumstance, arrests the 

 attention of the traveller. 



