The hour had struck. The daughter opened the door of the cabinet, and,
accompanied by his adopted son, Arwed count Gyllenstierna entered.
Neither years nor sufferings had been able to bow his tall figure. The
lineaments of his face, however, told of sad mental struggles and
glorious victories. His locks of gold were bleached to silver, and
upon his newly made black national uniform shone the magnificent
seraphim-order, and with the sword and crown of the order of military
merit, the peaceful sheaf of the order of Vasa. He remained standing,
and cast upon the beloved of his youth, from his large blue and still
brilliant eyes, a glance which cut her to the soul. Lady baroness von
Eyben!' said he, in a tone in which love and anger, reproach and
rapture, were strangely mingled.
It was too much for the heart of the matron. 'Not so, Arwed, not so!'
cried she, beseechingly, and attempted to approach him; but, her heart
impelling her forward while profound respect held her back, she
remained irresolutely standing in the centre of the room.
'Please to permit, baroness,' said Arwed, 'that my son and your
daughter retire to the ante-chamber. My communication requires no
witnesses.'
The young pair seemed to be well pleased with the proposition. The
baroness looked doubtingly at Arwed, as if she feared a private
interview; but finally her heart conquered. She nodded permission to
Georgina, and the two disappeared with a celerity that astonished the
mother.
The former youthful lovers were alone. Georgina motioned Arwed to a
seat upon the sofa, placed herself beside him, and both remained a long
time silent, whilst the past was loudly speaking in their hearts.
'Georgina!' at length Arwed exclaimed, seizing her hand.
'Be tranquil, dear Arwed!' said she. 'If the strong man cannot control
his feelings, how can a feeble woman command hers? Let us first speak
of the present. Have you not a letter for me from the king?'
'Cruel!' sighed Arwed, drawing forth a letter and solemnly rising from
his seat, 'You have petitioned his majesty for the restoration of your
father's confiscated property in the German provinces. I bring you the
king's answer.'
'The person selected as its bearer is a guaranty of a merciful
decision,' said Georgina, also rising. With trembling hands she took
the letter, unfolded and attempted to read it,--but her vision became
indistinct, her hands shook, and at length amid streaming tears she
cried, 'I cannot! Read the letter for me, dear Arwed.'
He read:
'I esteem the memory of the renowned and unfortunate baron von Goertz
too much to receive without emotion the intelligence that there is yet
remaining one of those children who were made orphans by the tyranny
and shocking injustice of the queen Ulrika Eleonore and of the persons
who presided in her courts and councils. His innocent blood has
remained too long unavenged. Sweden, through long, unhappy, desolating,
distracting years, has paid the tribute demanded by the anger of heaven
for the crime committed against a great and unfortunate man. I
therefore wish, as first citizen of my native land, in the name of that
native land, to hasten the reparation of the injustice of my
predecessors. To this title, which I look upon as one of the fairest
granted to me by Providence, I add that of my family, for whom Goertz
was made an offering. You may easily judge, madam, how very much I am
disposed to grant you that justice which you claim as daughter and
heiress of the deceased baron von Goertz.'
Georgina, almost frantic with joy, snatched the letter from Arwed's
hand, and pressed it to her lips and heart. 'Lord God, we praise
thee,--Lord God, we thank thee!' she shouted in her exultation, sinking
upon her knee, and raising the paper towards heaven in her clasped
hands.
'It is truly a royal letter,' said the deeply moved Arwed; 'but such a
letter from him would surprise no one who knew him.'
'Oh, my father!' cried Georgina, holding the writing up towards heaven,
'learn in thy place of bliss that thy honor is restored before the
world, and that thy happy daughter has been instrumental in its
accomplishment!'
'You see, my dear Georgina,' said Arwed, 'that Sweden is not unjust.
The public character of a people can only appear through its
government. That justice which the cruel Ulrika, the weak Frederick,
the chained Adolphus Frederick, derided or denied, the worthy Gustavus,
now that his hands are free, grants in the fullest measure.'
'Much,' said Georgina, endeavoring by the introduction of new topics of
conversation to allay the violence of her emotions, 'much was said in
Germany of the revolution which delivered the crown from the usurped
supremacy of the royal council, and I, at least, have cause to bless
the Nemesis who guided it.'
'That occurrence,' remarked Arwed, 'stands like a rare and brilliant
meteor in the horizon of Europe. A national revolution, originating
with the king himself, accomplished in a few days, without bloodshed,
and calculated to promote the welfare of the whole country, is perhaps
unparalleled in the history of the world!'
Both remained a long time silent. At length Arwed inquired, 'how is
your sister, the good little Magdalena?'
'She died many years since, in Hamburgh, the wife of the privy
counsellor von Laffert,' answered Georgina.
'And you--are a widow?' he asked in a low tone.
'Since four years,' she answered with downcast eyes.
'It is the penalty of age,' cried he, sorrowfully, 'that, one by one,
all whom we have loved go before us to the eternal world. Life's way
becomes every day more dreary and desolate, and wo to the unhappy being
to whom remains not even one companion of the good old times. His is a
solitary death, with none to drop a tear of regret upon his grave.'
'Very true!' said Georgina with deep feeling, and wiping the tears from
her eyes.
'Georgina!' cried Arwed, suddenly and with vehemence; 'in my youth I
was never able to subdue or conceal the emotions of my heart. Age has
not changed me in that respect. That I might see you once again, and
have an opportunity to lay before you my last request, I have obtained
the king's permission to be the bearer of this letter. Hear me with
kindness.'
'Spare me,' said she, greatly agitated.
'Your father's honor is restored to all its original brightness,'
continued Arwed, without heeding her remark. 'My father has long slept
in his grave. The causes no longer exist which once forbade my earthly
happiness. I have sacredly kept my truth. You are again free. Do not
now refuse me your hand.'
'Oh, my God!' cried the terrified Georgina. 'No, it is not possible!'
'Refuse me not your hand, Georgina!' said Arwed with all his former
tenderness of tone.
'Dear Arwed,' answered she, with a smile, 'what would our children say?
_Theirs_ is the season of love.'
'How happy is youth!' exclaimed Arwed, sighing.
'Honorable age has also its pleasures and enjoyments,' said Georgina,
placing her hand in his.
'When it wanders arm in arm with the chosen companion of its youth,'
answered Arwed with emotion. 'But when it is compelled to creep alone
to a solitary grave, then are honors and riches a miserable
compensation for a life without an object.'
'Arwed!' exclaimed Georgina in the sweet tone of former times.
'Wilt thou be mine?' cried Arwed, passionately.
'Thine, eternally!' murmured she, while a faint blush threw the glow of
undying youth over her cheeks, and she sank sobbing upon his bosom.
FOOTNOTE:
[Footnote 1: A French word, signifying _assassin_.]