The Daughter of an Empress

Of that lady was the young maiden now thinking, of that memorable woman

with the flashing eyes whose tender glance had always penetrated the

heart of the child with delight, whose tender words yet resounded like

music in her ears.

Where was she now, this lady of her love, her longings? why had she been

brought away from that house with its snowy winding-sheet and the ice

drapery upon its windows? Where lay that house, and where had she to

seek it with her thoughts? What was the language she had there spoken,

and which she now secretly spoke in her heart, although nobody else

addressed her in it, no one about her understood it; and wherefore had

her friend and protector, he who had brought her here, who had always

been with her, wherefore had he suddenly given himself the appearance of

no longer understanding it?

And even as she was thinking of him, of this dear friend and protector,

he came along down the alley; his tall form appeared at the end of the

walk; she recognized his noble features, with the proud eagle glance and

the bold arched brow.

The young maiden arose from her seat and hastened to meet him.

"How charming that you have come, Paulo," she gayly said, stretching

forth her little hands toward him. "I must ask you something, and that

directly, Paulo. Tell me quickly what is that language called in which

we formerly conversed together, and why have we ceased to speak it since

we came here to Rome?"

Paulo's brow became slightly clouded, but when he looked into her

beautiful face, animated by expectant curiosity, this expression of

displeasure quickly vanished from his features, and, threatening her

with his finger, he said: "Always this same question, Natalie; and yet I have so often begged of

you to forget the past, and live only in the present, my dear, sweet

child! The past is sunken in an immeasurable gulf behind you, which you

can never pass, and if it stretches out its arms to you, it will only be

for the purpose of dragging you down into the abyss with it. Forget

it, therefore, my Natalie, and yield thyself to this beautiful and

delightful present, to increase for you the attractions of which will

ever be the dearest task of my life."

"It is true," said the young maiden, sighing, "I am wrong to be always

recurring to those long-past times; you must pardon me, Paulo, but you

will also acknowledge that my enigmatical past justifies me in feeling

some curiosity. Only think how it began! You one day came rushing to my

room, you pressed me all trembling to your heart, and silently bore me

away. 'Natalie,' said you, 'danger threatens you; I will save, or

perish with you!' You mounted your horse with me in your arms. Behind us

screamed and moaned the servants of my house, but you regarded them

not, and I trustingly clung to your heart, for I knew that if danger

threatened me, you would surely save me! Oh, do you yet remember that

fabulous ride? How we rested in out-of-the-way houses, or with poor

peasant people, and then proceeded on farther and farther! And how the

sun constantly grew warmer, melting the snow, and you constantly became

more cheerful and happy, until, one day, you impetuously pressed me to

your bosom, and said: 'Natalie, we are saved! Life and the future are

now yours! Look around you, we are in Italy. Here you can be free and

happy!'"