Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1870 — A Beautiful Love Story. [ARTICLE]

A Beautiful Love Story.

Thx Count de Bt. Croix, belonging to one of the noblest and wealthiest families of France, became engaged, after a long courtship, to a lady his soual in position and fortune, and famous for her beauty. Shortly after the happy day was appointed which was to render two loving hearts one, the Count was ordered immediately to the siege of Sebastopol; so be girded on bis saber, and at the head of his regiment marched on to the battle-field. During the Count’s absence it happened that his beautiful affianced had the smallpox ; and hovering between life and death, she recovered, but found her beauty hope-’ lesely lost. The disease had assumed, in her case, the most virulent character, and left her not only disfigured, but seamed and scarred to such a frightful extent that she became hideous to herself, and re solved to pass the remainder of her days in the strictest seclusion. A year passed away, when one day the Count, immediately on his return to France, accompanied by nis valet, presented himself at the residence of his betrothed and solicited an interview Thir was refused. He, however, with the persistence of a lover, pressed the suit, and finally the lady made her appearance, very closely muffled In a veil. At the sound of her voice the Count rushed forward to embrace her, but, stepping aside, she tremhlingly told him the story of her sorrow, and burst into tears. A heavenly smile broke over the Count’s handsome features, as raising his hand above, be exclaimed : “ It is God’s work I I am blind I” It was even so. When gallantly leading his regiment to the attack, a cannon ball passed so closely to his eyes that, while it left their expression unchanged and his countenance unmarked, it robbed him forever of sight. It is unnecessary to add that their marriage was shortly solemnized. It is said that at this ray may be often seen at the Emperor’s receptions an officer leaning upon the arm ot a lady closely veiled, and they seem to be attracted to the spot by their love of music.