BEATRICE ADONY AND JULIUS

ALVINZI.

"Dost thou think we shall know one another in the

other world?"

"Yes, out of question."

DUCHESS OF MALFY.

THERE is not in all Germany a more pleasant station for a regiment of horse, than the city of Salzburgh; capital of the province of that name, in the dominions of the house of Austria. Here, during the summer and autumn of 1795, lay the third regiment of Hungarian hussars. This corps had sustained a heavy loss during the campaign of the year previous, in Flanders, and was sent into garrison to be recruited and organised anew. Count Zichy, who commanded it, was a noble of the highest rank, of princely fortune, and of lavish expenditure; and being of a cheerful and social turn of mind, he promoted all the amusements of the place, and encouraged the gaiety of his officers. His second in command was so attentive that the instruction of the men was carried on in the

BEATRICE ADONY AND JULIUS ALVINZI.

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ablest manner; and in spite of his own idleness and devotion to pleasure, not one regiment in that military division enjoyed or deserved a better name. With the ladies of Salzburgh, the regiment` was an especial favourite. Every week brought with it some concert or fète, or social pic-nic, in some one of those romantic spots with which that fine neighbourhood abounds.

The scenery around is grand and alpine the narrow defiles and picturesque valleys are watered by mountain rivers, and at an easy distance from the city is the lone lake of Berchtolsgaden, lying beneath a lofty inaccessible alp of the most stern and majestic aspect. Need it be told how sweet upon that placid lake sounded the mellow horns of the Hungarian band; and may it not be left to fancy to image out how these parties, these scenes, and these sensations, gave birth to some abiding, and to very many passing loves.

Among the fair women of Salzburgh, the palm of beauty was yielded readily by all to Beatrice Adony, the only daughter of a respected statesman, long favoured at court, and then resident upon a private estate in the neighbourhood. He had retired from public affairs a few years before, when under deep affliction from the loss of a beloved wife; and lived a life of fond parental devotion with this lovely Beatrice, who was the image of her departed mother. He had directed all her studies; and with such judgment, that

he had imparted to her character a masculine strength, which elevated her above all the common dangers of that season of life, when woman passes forth into society. She was noble in her sentiments, frank and unaffected in her manners; and though conscious of fair looks, she received the homage which they brought, as though it were a tribute belonging, not to her, but to some created excellence without her, sitting silently upon her like the flowers in her breast; but Beatrice Adony was all woman, and from her lips there breathed

Un Spirito soave, pien d'Amore,

Che va dicendo all' Anima: "sospira."

The Count Zichy was a relation of Count Adony's, and a constant and welcome guest at his mansion, and Beatrice therefore attended many and most of the entertainments which the count and his officers gave to the society of Salzburgh during their stay. As she smiled no encouragement upon the attentions which the count seemed at first disposed to pay her, and as he was a cheerful manly-hearted creature, and though made of penetrable stuff, by no means a person to lose either appetite, society, or life, for love; he bestowed his gallantries elsewhere. She liked him for this all the better, and gave him in return that free-hearted sisterly friendship, which might be innocently suffered to grow out of their connexion and

intimacy. In fact, he was a most useful esquire to her; for under his brotherly wing, she was thoroughly sheltered in her intercourse with the officers of his regiment; and as she liked country rambles, and those happy dances that are got up without formal preparation — and also delighted in the fine music of his famous band, she generally softened and gladdened all those pleasant excursions which he was continually planning, with her sweet presence. All the regular conceited male coquettes were abashed and perplexed by manners so natural, that they could make nothing of her; while those more dangerous, but much to be blamed admirers, who stand apart with sighs and gazes, were baffled and made sad by the silent dignity of eyes serenely bright, that never looked upon their flattering worship with one ray of favour. Such was Beatrice Adony;-all the fair girls were fond of her, and proud of her-because she was no one's rival. They looked on her as a being of higher order; one, whose thoughts were chaste as the unsunned Alps. She was admired by them, meditated upon-but never envied.

Most true it was-Beatrice was of another and a higher order. She was "among them, not of them." She took part in those amusements which belong to the customs of her country; and filled that place and performed those customs, which her station in society demanded, with unaffected ease and grace. But while the trifles and pleasures of the passing day were to her

companions everything, they were to her little and unsatisfying. For the last few years of her mother's life, whose habits were meditative and devotional, she had daily listened to the gracious lessons of divine truth, and the closet of Beatrice Adony was hallowed by the eye that seeth in secret, and that often saw her there upon her knees.

It was on a fine day, in the early spring of 1796, that orders reached Salzburgh, for the march of these Hungarian Hussars. They were to traverse the Tyrol, and to join the army of Italy. They were to march at sunrise on the following morning; and Count Adony, collecting all the acquaintances of the corps in the town and neighbourhood, gave the Hungarian officers a farewell banquet and ball; preparations for which, in anticipation of their early departure, Beatrice had already directed. Therefore, though the assembly was gathered suddenly, yet all the elegant and tasteful arrangements were complete; and the effect was magical. Never, it was said, had there before been such a ball in Salzburgh. Many hearts beat happily; and some not the less so, for a soft sadness. Beatrice was the radiant queen of this fair festival; and it was strange to think that, from the presence of such a being, so many men were going to part without one lover's pang. — Amiable, affable, natural, and full of grace, she presided over this little court of love, serene, unmoved, herself.

Yet, any