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Article THE COUNTESS AND THE SERF* ← Page 7 of 23 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
ridden their attendants . Hasty orders were issued for the banquet ; and the great gates ivere already flung back , while the A'assals who Avere stationed with torches at the entrance of the court , held them aloft , and thus shed a broad light along the causeway , ivhich rendered every object distinctly visible . Fearful was tlie sight ivhich it ere long revealed . Hurrying
onward at the utmost sjieed of his horse , Zamoiski dashed among a herd of oxen which were sloivly making their way towards the lake , Avhen one of the umvieldly animals , scared by his approach , suddenly sweiwed , ancl buried his horns in the flanks of the noble beast upon Avhich he rode ; Allien the latter , rearing violently in its agony , fell back , ancl rolled rapidly doAvn
the steep road into the lake , dragging his rider with him . In an instant Ivan ivas on his feet ; and another minute had scarcely elapsed ere he had plunged into the ivater , and Avas dashing out in pursuit of his benefactor . The enterprise Avas , however , both dangerous ancl difficult , as the foot of the count was entangled in the stirrup ; and the wounded horse , maddened ivith pain , was swimming towards the centre of the lake ; while Ivan , encumbered by the weight of his ridingdress , lost ivay rapidly . At length , just as his strength was
beginning to fail , the horse , exhausted by loss of blood , shivered heavily , and beat the water without advancing further ; and then the heroic young man , profiting by the momentary pause , clutched the foot of the count , forcing it from the stirrup , Avhile , clinging convulsively to the mantle of Zamoiski , AVIIO Avas insensible , he held him above the Avater until both ivere
rescued by a boat which had been hastily sent to their assistance . Neither the daughter nor the niece of the unhappy count received him on the threshold of the stately home which had been so gaily decked for his return ; neither was aivare that he had been saved by the devotion of his adopted son ; terror had paralyzed their faculties , and they had been carried senseless to
their respective chambers . Meanwhile the count ' s physician hastened to employ every remedy ivhich could be devised for the restoration of his beloved patron ; but he became ere long painfully convinced that all human efforts were vain , and that the life of Zamoiski Avas rapidly ebbing away . This fatal intelligence having been conveyed to the castle gueststhey sloAvl
, y departed ; and in a short time the afflicted family Avere left alone . The lights which still gleamed from the windows of the schloss were extinguished , the garlands were torn clown from the walls ; the vassals ivere dismissed to their homes at the foot of the mountain ; ancl darkness and silence held undisputed sway over the recently festive edifice .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Countess And The Serf*
ridden their attendants . Hasty orders were issued for the banquet ; and the great gates ivere already flung back , while the A'assals who Avere stationed with torches at the entrance of the court , held them aloft , and thus shed a broad light along the causeway , ivhich rendered every object distinctly visible . Fearful was tlie sight ivhich it ere long revealed . Hurrying
onward at the utmost sjieed of his horse , Zamoiski dashed among a herd of oxen which were sloivly making their way towards the lake , Avhen one of the umvieldly animals , scared by his approach , suddenly sweiwed , ancl buried his horns in the flanks of the noble beast upon Avhich he rode ; Allien the latter , rearing violently in its agony , fell back , ancl rolled rapidly doAvn
the steep road into the lake , dragging his rider with him . In an instant Ivan ivas on his feet ; and another minute had scarcely elapsed ere he had plunged into the ivater , and Avas dashing out in pursuit of his benefactor . The enterprise Avas , however , both dangerous ancl difficult , as the foot of the count was entangled in the stirrup ; and the wounded horse , maddened ivith pain , was swimming towards the centre of the lake ; while Ivan , encumbered by the weight of his ridingdress , lost ivay rapidly . At length , just as his strength was
beginning to fail , the horse , exhausted by loss of blood , shivered heavily , and beat the water without advancing further ; and then the heroic young man , profiting by the momentary pause , clutched the foot of the count , forcing it from the stirrup , Avhile , clinging convulsively to the mantle of Zamoiski , AVIIO Avas insensible , he held him above the Avater until both ivere
rescued by a boat which had been hastily sent to their assistance . Neither the daughter nor the niece of the unhappy count received him on the threshold of the stately home which had been so gaily decked for his return ; neither was aivare that he had been saved by the devotion of his adopted son ; terror had paralyzed their faculties , and they had been carried senseless to
their respective chambers . Meanwhile the count ' s physician hastened to employ every remedy ivhich could be devised for the restoration of his beloved patron ; but he became ere long painfully convinced that all human efforts were vain , and that the life of Zamoiski Avas rapidly ebbing away . This fatal intelligence having been conveyed to the castle gueststhey sloAvl
, y departed ; and in a short time the afflicted family Avere left alone . The lights which still gleamed from the windows of the schloss were extinguished , the garlands were torn clown from the walls ; the vassals ivere dismissed to their homes at the foot of the mountain ; ancl darkness and silence held undisputed sway over the recently festive edifice .