A MASKED BALL AT VIENNA.

The pacing of the sentine s, and the noisy rigils of the count and his guests, were clearly udible as I descended the ivied wall. My party followed, one by one, and our success would have been signally complete, but for the accidental discharge of a musket. This was answered by a volley from the guard, the din of arms, and the hasty gathering of a tumultuous body of defenders. Ordering my men to keep close and follow me, we pressed forward to a private door that opened into the body of the pile.

This barrier was quickly shattered by a shower of balls, and in a second the great hall resounded with the groans of the dying and the shouts of he triumphant. In that arena of slaughter I Once had Rainer's was collected as I am now. bloated visage confronted me in the fray, but the baleful meteor vanished, and bootless to me was the issue of the conflict, until blade or bullet did its work on him and his subordinate.

The

The hall gave indications of a carousal. red wine streaming from flagons overturned in struggle, mingled with the life-drops of the wassailers. Death derived a more appalling aspect from the relics of recent revelry. Some intoxicated wretches had been bayoneted with the goblets in their hands. One had fallen backward on the hearth above the burning embers; he was mortally wounded, and the blood gushed freely in the flames. I stooped to raise him from his bed of torture. The streaks of gore did not disguise the lineaments of Ludolf. The reprobbate had closed his reckoning with mortality.

found its way to his forehead; not a sound passed
his lips; down he went-down-down-passive-
ly bounding over the jagged declivity, till a heavy
plash told that he was whirling with the torrent..
Vengeance was satisfied: I recoiled involun-
tarily from the scene of the encounter. Sudden-
ly arose an explosion, as if a volcano had torn up
the foundation of the castle: I was felled to the
earth ere I could speculate upon the cause.

VIII.

Rainer had laid a

My campaigns were over.
train, and fired the powder magazine of his cap-
tured hold. The bravest of my men perished;
and I, crushed beneath a fragment of the toppling
towers, lived to curse the art that returned me.
mutilated and miserable, to a world in which I
was henceforth to have no portion.

I left the hospital a phantom, and set forth on
a pilgrimage, the performance of which was the
only business that remained to me in life. The
tide of battle had ebbed from St. Michael, when
I craw-d up its steep-the church and castle
were blackened ruins-the habitations of the vil-
Our orchard was
lagers roofless and deserted-the mill a shapeless
mass of timber and stones.
unfolding the buds of spring-I fancied that the
hoary apple-trees wore the aspect of friends-
the voice of singing floated on my ear, as I neared
the dwelling of my infancy, and the fountain of
my heart re-opened.

Close to the spot where our pretty porch once stood, a matron, in the garb of extreme penury, was bending over the trampled remains of a plot of flowers. Her features were only partially revealed, but the mountain melody she sang could not be mistaken-I fell at my mother's feet! Shading back the hair from my scarred temples, she asked me if I had come from her children!

Mercy was vouchsafed to her and to me. She soon slumbered with the clods of the valley. My father had died, ere my departure from France; and the story of our injuries from the Austrian

Victory was ours, but discipline was at an end; I could with difficulty muster sentinels for the night; the cellars were ransacked, and weariness and intemperance soon produced their effects. Sending confidential messengers to attend to my sister's safety, and convey intelligence to my father, I prepared to await the dawn of morning. Feverish from anxiety, I felt no inclination to grant my wearied limbs repose. My brain was racked with the thought of Katherine, and appre-lightened the burden of remorse for the shedding hension for my parents. I had seen enough to convince me that Rainer had done his worst. What confederate demon had enabled him to escape me?

of blood. I have discovered no trace of Kather-
ine since I quitted her at the cave.

A MASKED BALL AT VIENNA.
a bitterly cold night, and the snow which

I paced from post to post, execrating the slug-IT is been for three days tumbling down upon gish march of time. Leaning over an eminence near the broken bridge, I listened to the turbulent the roofs and pavements of Vienna, tumbles down A subterraneous opening upon us still. The theatres, which get through music of the waters. cut in the rocky soil below communicated with their performances by half-past nine, are closed the vaults of the castle. Hearing the echo of a already; and there is a lull now in the muffled foot-fail, I bent cautiously over the outlet. A streets. I mean to go out as a muffled man, and lamp glimmered beneath. A muffled figure raised use the ticket I have bought for a Masked Ball it aloft to guide its egress, then extinguished it at the palace. The sale of tickets for such balls, hastily. The light fell on the face of the count. which take place now and then during the winI grasped his cloak as he emerged, but, slipping ter, raises enormous sums, which are applied to it from his shoulders, he retreated toward a shelv- charitable purposes, so that the luxury of the rich ing wood-walk on the margin of the stream. Had is made to minister, in this case, also to the comand look up he gained it, the darkness must have saved him. forts of the poor. Here I stand ankle-deep in snow, Both my pistols missed fire. I outstripped in the race, and bore him back to the very edge of the at the palace; all the windows on the first story ravine. He made a thrust at me with his sword. are being lighted up, and cold gentlemen conI neither paused for a trial of skill, nor attempted verging toward the door from all parts, are the to ward off the weapon, the butt-end of a pistol members of Strauss's band. And now lights

have begun to flash about the streets, and masks
are beginning to arrive. Splendid carriages of
the nobility; and positively some of the imperial
family do not disdain to be among the first arri-
vals! The beau from the suburbs, in a light
fiacre. Actresses and officers in their brough-
ams. Sledges from the country, drawn by merry
little horses, frisking through the snow, and jin-
gling bells over their harness, A chaos of lights,
a coachman, and the long poles of sedan chairs
in the way of a chaos of legs, hats, shoulders,
coach-tops, and every thing else, powdered with
snow that tumbles silently and steadily upon the
scene of riot. A crush of revelers upon the stair-
case. Half-past eleven; all the most important
people having now entered-except myself-it is
quite time for me to follow to the ball-room.
A vast room. Think of the Great Exhibition,
if you want a notion of it; and take off a discount
for exaggeration. Walk to the end of this room,
and a door opens into another ball-room, almost
twice as large. In each of these great halls, there
are raised orchestras, in which the bands are
stationed; and when one band ceases playing,
another is prepared immediately to begin. Gal-
leries, to which you ascend by flights of stairs at
each end, run round both the rooms; and into
these galleries open innumerable ice and sup-
per-rooms, passages, and out-of-the-way cells,
wherein you may lose yourself, but not your
company. Masks are to be found sitting in
every corner; wherever a mask is, there is mis-
chief.

and desire to know whether you hold them safe, go to a Masked Ball. Mocking voices, behind black silk masks, will very much surprise you with some samples of the penetration proper to a sex which seems, in Vienna, to be made of Blue Beard wives. Twenty ladies honer me with minute details of the contents of one partment in my mind, which I had considered quite a patent safe, with a fastening like that of the box in the talisman of Oromanes.

The night wears on; at three o'clock the instrumental music ceases, but the music of the mischievous and merry tattlers still continues to be ringing in all ears, and making them to tingle Every man is destined to go home abundantly informed and criticised upon the subject of his foibles. Until six o'clock, supping, and taking tea and coffee, will continue, and the relish for amusement will be as keen as ever. Nobody is dancing-nobody has danced; that is no part of the business. At length, the multitude has dwindled down to a few stragglers; the remainder of the cloaks, and coats, and wrappers, are brought out and scattered, as so many hints to their possessors, in the middle of the great room. We immediately dive and scramble for them. In another hour, the lights are put out; all is over, and I travel home over the snow.

I

THE ORNITHOLOGIST. WAS still young, when a sudden reverse of fortune deprived me of a kind father and affluence at the same time. A home was offered for my acceptance by Mrs. Priestly, a widow lady, whom I had never seen since my infancy, dis

You see nothing vulgar, no rude costume, no monstrous noses, no absurd pairs of spectacles, or woolly wigs. You hear no boisterous shoutstance and circumstances having combined to ef of mirth; beautiful music reigns incessantly supreme over all other sounds. Only the ladies are disguised; their faces are hidden behind elegant little black silk masks, and they vie with each other in the costliness and beauty of their costumes and dominoes. The men are all in simple evening dress; they walk about, defenseless game, and yield sport in abundance to the dames and damsels. Most of the ministers are heregrave, steady gentlemen, with bald heads or gray hair. Each of them is surrounded by a swarm of masks-princesses, perhaps-milliners, perhaps and some of them are evidently making wry mouths at what they are obliged to hear. This is the time for home truths. The ladies at a masked ball make good use of their disguise, and scatter about their wholesome mischief abundantly.

66

A vision in black and gold beckons to me. I place myself at her disposal. "You are an Englishman," the vision says; "I know you." How, madam ?" "By your awkwardness." "Are Britons awkward ?" 66 'Yes, and wearisome. Go, you are not amusing. Take care of your gloves; they are so large that I fear they will fall off." The vision laughs at me and vanishes. I have a secret or two which I don't mean to print. I did think that those mysteries were locked up in my bosom. If you ever happen to be at Vienna, with some secrets in your keeping,

fect this separation. Mrs. Priestly was not only
my godmother, but she had been the earliest
chosen friend of my own lamented mother, and
now came forward to extend succor to the desti-
tute orphan. In former years, I remembered to
have heard that she had suffered deep sorrow,
from the loss of her only child, a fine boy, who
was heir to a princely fortune, independent of
his mother's considerable possessions. There
were rumors afloat, at the period of this bereave
ment, of a peculiarly distressing nature-strange,
half-suppressed whispers of some fearful acci-
dent that had rendered the widow childless; but
the memory of these things had passed away,
and Mrs. Priestly's first despair and
settled down to a resigned melancholy. On her
fine countenance premature age was stamped, a
smile seldom visible, while her mourning garb
was never cast aside; she was a lifelong mourner.

agony

had

The outward aspect of Lodimer-so Mrs. Priestly's domain was called-was but little in accordance with the sad heart of its owner, for a more cheerful or animated scene I had rarely witnessed. The villa, surrounded by colonnades, stood on the side of a gently swelling hill, at the base of which flowed a broad and sparkling river, on which numerous boats and picturesque-looking barges were continually passing and repassing. Roses and thatch, light French windows and exotics, trimly-kept pleasure-grounds, slop

THE ORNITHOLOGIST.

interest and sympathy. Surrounded by thick
woods on all sides save one, which opened to-
ward the same river that washed the emerald
turf of Lodimer, we came to a small spot of

we were transported to those wild western lands
I had so often read of the old ivy-covered hunt-
ing-lodge in the midst adding much to the real
Quantities of
beauty of the picture, though detracting some-
what from its savage charms.
feathered tribes were strutting about within the
inclosure, or enjoying themselves in various at
titudes of indolence or security; an immense
aviary extended down one side of the clearing,
fitted up. with the view of affording as much
solace and liberty of movement as possible to the
inmates.

ing down to the water's edge, drooping willows | thing of himself, might have excused a far more and silver birches were accessories, doubtless, insensible person than I was for feeling a strong to produce an effect of combined elegance and grace, while on the opposite banks richly wooded hills were studded with white cottages, glancing in the sunshine; though even during rainy seasons Lodimer never looked gloomy, an indescrib-ground resembling a "clearing," and I fancied able air of joyousness and hilarity pervading it. The calamity which overshadowed Mrs. Priestly's existence had not occurred at this pleasant home, but at the distant seat of the widow's brother, Mr. Lovell, of Lovell Castle, where she and her son were on a visit at the time; and still Mrs. Priestly continued to pay an annual visit thither, never leaving Lodimer save for that purpose, but leading a life of extreme seclusion. I had the satisfaction of believing that my society tended to enhance the comfort of Mrs. Priestly; who, with the utmost delicacy and kindness, lavished a thousand nameless attentions-trifling in themselves, but keenly felt by the dependent; calling me her adopted daughter, while her candor demanded and received my grateful thanks, for I fully appreciated the excellent motives actuating She wished to prevent Mrs. Priestly's avowal. false expectations on my part, and yet to set at rest all anxiety respecting the future; informing me, that the bulk of her wealth she designed to bequeath to her nephew, Mr. Lovell's son, but that a moderate provision was secured for her dear orphan god-daughter. But my agitation gave place to surprise, when Mrs. Priestly con"You have sense and tinued, addressing me, discretion beyond your years, Evelin, my love, and when you came to reside here with me, I determined first to ascertain if this were the case, ere I confided my secret to your keeping-for I have a secret-which may not be mentioned at Lovell Castle, when you accompany me thither shortly. A few miles hence, an individual resides, to whom I intend shortly to introduce you. He is a most unfortunate person, and desires the strictest privacy; but Mr. Edwin is not unhappy, because he knows the peace within which passeth show,' while his intellectual attainments are of the highest order. But, in case you should weave a romance, Evelin, out of these details," added Mrs. Priestly, faintly smiling, "it is but fair I warn you, that romance and Edwin may not be coupled together, for he is-alas! poor fellow-an unsightly and deformed creature; his captivations are those only of the heart and mind -in this he shines pre-eminent. Again let me remind you, my love, not to allude to Mr. Edwin in conversation; forget him altogether, except I know that you are when you speak to me. not tormented with feminine curiosity, or I would This is my secret, tell you to ask no questions. Evelin, which I fearlessly confide to your keeping."

6

The whole place seemed alive with fowls of the air, and we beheld a human form within the wire-work of the aviary, literally covered with birds, small and large, wherever they could find a resting-place-on head, arms, or back-and many more were fluttering and crowding over and around him, as Mr. Edwin-for it was he proceeded to dispense food to his loving. flock. Presently he made his escape, and approached us, with a jay perched on one shoulder and a magpie on the other, appearing to hold whispering discourse with their benefactor, who fondly caressed and chirruped to them in turn. He was of middling stature, perceptibly and painfully deformed; but his countenance was such an one as Raphael would have loved to portray-holy, placid, and spiritual, beyond any mortal face I have looked upon before or since. His voice was inexpressibly touching and melodious; it thrilled the heart of the listener, for there was an intonation of sadness in its tone, We followed him though the words were cheerful, as he cordially and warmly welcomed us. into a long, low-roofed apartment, the windows of which looked out on woodland vistas, and on all sides, from floor to ceiling, it was lined with books, and cases containing stuffed birds, for Mr. Edwin was devoted to the study of ornithology, and almost rivaled Audubon in patient watching and research. A married couple, of quiet and orderly habits, formed the domestic establishment at Ivy Lodge; and the profound stillness and solitude of this sylvan retreat was unbroken, save by the cooing of the cushat dove, the song-birds' varied notes, the sonorous hooting of the white owl up among the eaves, and the occasional screams of the splendid peacocks ringing through the greenwood glades.

Here was the paradise of the feathered creatures, here they were all fostered and protected; and Mr. Edwin had attained the mysterious art of taming the wild denizens of the woods as However, Mrs. Priestly did me more than jus- surely and wonderfully, if not quite as rapidly, tice, for though I certainly endeavored to indulge as did that celebrated Arab horse-leech exert his no idle speculations on the forbidden topic, yet I skill on quadrupeds, whispering in the ear of was not apathetic enough to forget it; more es- vicious and hitherto untamable steeds, who impecially after accompanying Mrs. Priestly to see mediately became docile and subdued. Even her mysterious friend, whose ménage, to say no- | shy and stately swans knew this lonely clearing

Lovell Castle was a dark, frowning pile, bearing an ancient date, while some portions were more antiquated still, and had fallen into disuse. It was a real castle of the olden time; I had of ten read of such with interest and delight, but now I could explore for myself. Here were dungeons and vaulted chambers, trap-doors and loopholes, intricate passages, secret hiding-places, and curious old oaken chests, battlements and turrets, carved work and tapestry, banqueting hall and chapel-in short, all the appendages necessary for romance in feudal days.

The family consisted of Mr. Lovell, Mildred, his eldest daughter by a first wife, and Harold and Rose, the children of the second Mrs. Lovell, who had died when Rose was an infant. Mildred was tenderly beloved by Mrs. Priestly; and, as she never quitted her hypochondriacal father, it was principally to see this dear niece that the widow left her quiet home on the margin of Lodimer's blue waters, I was absolutely startled by the extraordinary and striking likeness between the ornithologist and Mildred Lovell-the same placid, sweet expression of countenance, the same gentle, winning manners, too. While

on the river banks, and frequently came to be | Priestly often conversed alone with him, when fed by Mr. Edwin's gentle hand; the swans had traces of agitation were visible on her countea nest here among the reeds, and broods of cyg-nance, and tears on his; and when she bade him nets were reared in this haven of peace. Mr. farewell, these words lingered on his lips—“Tell Edwin had made many beautiful copies of rare dear Mildred how happy I am.” birds, which he could not otherwise preserve, the colors being brilliant and true to nature, as well as the size of each specimen; and I felt not a little delighted when he accepted my timid offer of assistance in this branch of his study, for I was afraid that my poor efforts would fall far short of his masterly productions. But Mrs. Priestly re-assured me, and she told Mr. Edwin that he had found a valuable coadjutor, for bird-painting had always been quite a passion with me-a strange taste, perhaps, for a young lady, though I know not why it should be considered more out of the way than copying flowers from nature. However, I exerted myself to the utmost, and succeeded well, for he gave my drawings unqualified approbation, and was eloquent in thanking me. I am sure the amiable recluse read my heart at once, and saw how eagerly and gratefully I availed myself of this opportunity, trifling as it was, of gratifying Mrs. Priestly, to whom I owed so much; for her affection toward Mr. Edwin rendered attentions bestowed on him personally felt and acknowledged by her. This similarity of taste, together with our mutual love and veneration for Mrs. Priestly, induced that Kindly communion between Mr. Edwin and my-in unobtrusive performance of her duties toward self which afterward ripened into a lasting friendship, cemented by time. He was, indeed, wise unto salvation. Learned not only in this world's lore, but in that wisdom which maketh not ashamed, he bore his daily cross most meekly, and yet most manfully. Deeply alive to the beautiful, keenly sensitive on all points, tenderhearted and affectionate, he lived alone in the woodland solitude, not, I was convinced, from any morbid disinclination to encounter his kind on account of his personal affliction (he was too humble and good for that), but from some unknown and mysterious cause, some hidden sorrow, which rendered solitude in a retreat like this desirable. At Lodimer, I never gazed on the gay and sparkling river, without remembering that it flowed onward toward the swan's nest among the reeds. I never gazed on the thick, rich woods, or heard the wood-pigeon's cooing across the waters at the hushed evening hour, without a sensation of tranquillity and peace stealing over my spirit, as fancy pictured the lonely lodge, the soft twittering around it, and the dense shadows beyond.

I obeyed Mrs. Priestly, and never asked a question concerning Mr. Edwin, but I pondered much on this interesting subject; and whenever my thoughts turned away from the vanities of this world, they always rested with satisfaction on the ornithologist.

As the time drew nigh for our departure to Lovell Castle, I observed a degree of restlessness on Mr. Edwin which I had not hitherto noticed, and frequent gloomy abstraction, which he vainly endeavored to shake off in our presence. Mrs.

God and man, this good daughter and sister journeyed onward through life, ministering to the comfort and well-being of all, but without exacting a meed of praise or a single glance of admiration. Mildred was nobody at Lovell Castle; but, had she been absent, her absence would have been universally bewailed, and her value known: they were perhaps too used to the blessing to appreciate it, even as the sun shines day after day, and we do not remark it as any thing unusual.

Rose was a volatile, thoughtless girl, yet affectionate and kind-hearted withal, and dearly loved her elder sister, who had indeed filled the place of a mother to her. Rose had elastic, unvarying spirits, which were not unwelcome in that dull old place, and kept the inmates from stagnation. She and Harold were the father's darlings, though all Mr. Lovell's hope and pride centred in his son. Pre-eminently beautiful in person, active and graceful, Harold Lovell was born the same year as his deceased cousin, Jocelyn Priestly, and the youths had strongly resem bled each other, not only in person but in disposition. The partial parents had not, perhaps, read those dispositions truthfully, or in both their children they might have traced evil propensities, which went far to counterbalance the goodrevengeful passions, and a proneness to selfish indulgence, which not all their brilliant acquirements and feats of gallant prowess could conceal from a close observer of character. They were at the same school together, and at Lovell Castle for the vacation, when that sad catastrophe took place which plunged the family in irremediable