The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-11-23 00:00:00

tittraturt.

A STORY or THE LOUVRE.

It nes the height of the " Reign of Term!' In Paris.
A crowded audience were breathlessly listeniug to their
favourite tenor,lor, with whose singing they seemed
perfectly enchanted.
" (rest magnill.rue ! c'eat charmant I"" It is superb
—ravishing !" was whispered alike In pit, boxes, and
Aletdor erne alerting, in the most exquieite
style, the sir '' Richard ! Oh, nion Rot r
And when he fiui'b ii the beauttful ...mg in the second
act ottl ver., ••rn ter° pi doux," the public en•
thioieste could ho longer be reatrumed. The h“upe
shook with thunder eof applause. Even Roluipierre'e
!estates were, for the moment, lit up with an agree-
able pulite As leaning towards Banton, be whispered,
"Citizen' if all the proscribed had mach a voice, there
wouiti be little work fur the guillotine."
0 And whet fore?" answered Daunton. that sangui•
nary revolutiooist, as with It. stualleyes he looked
fiaedly, nith a piercing glance, at thesieger.
" itemise," whispered Robespierre, " the people
would never assent, if it were proihoied to down so
oplendid a throat to anything the bat singing. Only
look, I pray you, at our friend the fireherwoman, up
there in the gallery. she is quite road with etithtuium."
At this moment another atorin of applPue bunt
tor*. u the airier, in cem,,liancre with the whir of the
audience, repeated the air. And when King Richard,
In a song in reply, should have maimed Blondel, pit
and gallery lou.ily applauded, and drowned both the
singer's.; voice and his goer/.
The favourite uvuoul 'wither to notice the enthusiaam
of the actienee nor the smile of suisfacti ,n on the
ocruntearatice ef the terrible Robespierre. Ills eyes were
steadily fix,d upon one of the boxes in the first der,
in which eat the bountiful and noble widow the
Yuptir d'Auville. Vainly he sought to catch the
gluce of the marquise; do .as no deeply engaged In
conversation with a ,gt ntlem•n who was sitting negr
her in that box that ahe seemed to be totally unoon•
ecious of the singer. But his ardent gat •at length
aroused lacy. She seemed to recollect herself, and,
leaping forward over the front of the box, mho waved
towards hico her handkerchief and fan ; whilst he,
quite beside himself, stretched out both his arms to.
wards her. The audience knew very well that the
marquise was " Aloitlor's beloved ; that be, like the
ohivatroos knights of old. devoted his love, voice, yea,
life to her ; and they aduaired and honoured the lady
to whom Aleidor FO frequently alluded in his rapturous
song as his guardian angel. The applause was
now. therefore, is much for the marquies as for the
ginger. . . .

on this marquise !" Denton morosely whis-
pered. "I do Lot like h r ; it teems Ca me that her neck
Is ready for the guillotine,"
" Take our., citizen," said Robespierre, in an under.
. .

tone, "that no one hears what you are saying ; the
people would be fearfully enraged if they beard you,
for Alcidot is the pet of the people, arld the marquise
Is his beloved. Indeed, it M even said that the proud
marquise is about to become Aleitlor's wife ; that she
will soon marry this darling of the people, and this is
ber protection. We dare not oppoae the people,
and the people love Aloidur far more. I verily believe,
than they do • ither you or I, Citizen General."
The nest morning Aleidor we. reelin.ng one emuoli,
feeling exhausted with the past evening's excitement,
d in a gorgeous silk dressing-gown, and with hi.
feet thiust oatelessly into a pair of Turkish slippers.

There was an air° of agreeable confusion about the
room. On • tamba.rine was the ermine mant'e in which
the sineer hut appeared on the previous evening. On
a chair lay eareles.ly I.uddled together, • Spanish dreg.
and an argent gipsey costume. On • mall table were
II guitar and • d•ttett; whilst on to wh,re lay
the open music-book, stool bottles and champagne•
glasses. Alcl-lor east a quick glance wontid upon this
elegant disorder, anal then, with an ironical smile, leant
his bead beck on the soft cushions of tbe couch, and
sank into a pleasant reverie.
• "

A slight ;fulling at the door mowed hit,, and the
nest minute a sweet wome, in • soft mound l tone,
" Mey I come in r Alehlor started up, iai•
emetemince• redient with delight. He baetened to the
door, opened it. and the waciulse entire& The finger
stud epeechle,s with mtoniehnieut and j“,y at this us•
espreted visit but the matqui.e. who did not seem to
rework Lis enibariassinent, beetily bolted the floor,
iiNuiring at the smue time, very earnestly, " Can any
one bear us?" . . _

" No role—no one." he replied, searoely able to coro•
mind his voice from emotion • and falling down on
his knee., 1,. cu 0.1." ! you come to me ;
you deign to 1,. noon this Cr, tch,rl apartment with
your uohle preacher ! 'thanks, ten thousand thanks,
toy t:tul.r get.itis, my guar 'tau my beoral !"
Not 'u—nut •u," paid the nr.rqui.e. in an sextons
ten,. ~f mard up, and listen to me. I hemerelt
yt4l. one lime •ineo I u. 111,• into your enatotly a ...I
t.Ol, a MI Iht you kindly nronttwd tot die oar, for we;
may I now ask yt u to return it to maY
tide-tole Alridor went to hi. bureau to noire), for tho
be'. The ',Jogai.. 'retched him bresthl,gdy as he
aothAt lot the boo amongst b00k.., notes, and letters;
end when he lad found it and offered it to her, she
could not repr. a, a loud acre.m. Quickly she
proswoi a •piii.g ; the lid new open, and glittering,
cult!, jewels all, tap ae I at view.
ttl.o It, Aid•or," ash: the marquise, excitedly, " this
I. ad th • TOIN rtv I possess, awl you have carefully pre-
earned it for me."
A l,idur tam. dlow,andltimwd her out-stretched hands.
Oh, eiclaiotttl bo, " what du I care for das-
zliog jonela, co.Vy awl valuable th,tuab they are? Your
Cyce rP WY preeiou• jewels awl your love toy costly
*maser, 8., vow atilt love we," he urgently asked,
sad looked implutingly at her.
•, • .rquiee trembled, but Week
••

••OP. e.y y, till lOve me." urectught *Wider.
"Speak to me, I beseech y3O; you 11/0 dbd bantam'
and joy 4,f my life."
Tits it 1•1 iv. turned pal.. sod her eyes filled with
team. 'adaeuly, nd It )irldlll4 to u deterutio•
ation. she dun.; brrolf dun. et hie feet, rut reivlug her
beautifiti arms. she robbed forth, "On, Alcilor forgive
Die ;I titer d.-Onided
The singer drew buck • few pears. and szelaimed
breethiee-iy, " on uo longer love ma I'
"Forgive Inc again entreated tile marquise. "Oh.
dn net leek ot we like 1.11.1 t I cetleot lidure it.
Spurn me; kill nit, but do out again look ut mu like
that."

Fly this time Alcidor had reooverei hisself.command.
Stretching out his hands towards the marquise, he
"Saud up, madam, this is no true position for
you."
lint the marquise replied. " I will not quit this lowly
position until you •ayion feral., me. Listen to me,
patiently • moment. You remember the cruel outrages
of the 10th of August. I saw my father and mother
slaughtered by the barbarous men whom you call the
protectors of France. They dragged them out of
their prison, and forced me to • witnees, Alcidor, of
their dtatb by the gaiilotine. They then thrust we
hack again into my prisoa—mad, senseless—to bring
me forth to be guillotined some other lay. But that
night I wee set free. Count Roger obtained my pardon
from Robespierre. I had distlailied Lis love ; but he
eared my life, a.id out of gratitude I resolved to devote
my life to him."
Alcidor turned pal.: as she went on speaking Le
covsretl'..is lace with his hands. His low sobs alarmed
the :as:guise, and the tears even started into her eyes.
However, soon she ointinued.
" I secretly bocame his -ifs. I could not love him,
butt could only thus recompense him for caving me."
"And wherefore did you marry him thus secretly r
man Alaidor reproachfully.
"In order to prevent auspieion. Apparently he
remitted me from the oafish motive of obtaining pmses.
ciou of my estate, which he could only claim by my
marrying Lim. After our marriage, when the count
had incurred Dantou's hatred, the marriage was still
kept • secret, in order that I might not be included in
the coun i's ruin."
" Rise—rise, I implore you," said Alcidor endeavour.
lug to raise the marquise. I forgive you all—every.
thing ; only leave rue now. this moment."
The marquis follows 1 him to the (touch on which
Alcitio. bad again flung himself, and seating herself by
his rile, she continued, " Denton still remorselessly
pursues to) husband with his hatryd, and only Robes-
pierre, sit yet, save* Lim trout the guillotine. Will you
aid we
ttl lb !' sail Aldine, trembling with agitation and
angt r, " now I understand the whole matter. They
have it cl ril with my feelings ;" he went on, as if talk•
trig to himself aloud, "they have let me think my
feelings were recterocatol ; they have openly suffered
In to be understood that it was so. And now it appears
that all this has beer. dyns and snowed only because
thy knew I wee • favourite ref the people, and that
the beloved of the slew r Moiler would thus ba per.
featly safe, spite of her aristocratic rsnk, from the
people's wrath. Now it appears that in their hearts
they wire laughing at the Cobe iteti fop, who could be
so vain as to flitter himself he Lad won the love of the
high.born marquise. That was not noble, ma lame,"
he said, suddenly turning his head toward.' hr ;
" you may despise my love, but you dare not play %sib
it."

" Alcider," whispered the marquiae. " time presser,
my own life and my husband's are at stake. Daiwa Las
put the ouunt's name on the list of the proweribed, and
very soon toy name will be added also. My estate ie
eoutiended ;ti, cc j•11114r10, wilted, with a sorrowful tore•
bo Iv. I entrusted to you, are now toy only property.
Willi them I must ilee into Germany. My tanialle In a,
the must separate.
&Pirate! Must I, indeed, loss you r sorrow.
telly eaolsiseed the Auger. "Cecilia, will you kill
mar
She trembled ; the took hls hand, and murmured.
Aleichir, itrung. lira I insy al. beniree w I lie •
men, and teseh nie to do eht e I might."
be it so," sael Alcidur wiergetically, sines
your safety depeeds upou it. Why du you not go?'
he tielsimed, at tor a moment, in a must bitter tone of
voice ?
.• !" surely lam not deccived in your tried the
warquire, ebsping " Alealor, I beamelt you,
r. member gave my hand to the count .my protector
and dehverer, before I eser )ou ; awl Diet 'Moe
the tioll we met my lile tow, n.
of
tortn-.. Do not 11.01er ; Let no,
see,•..ho continued, leading him to the Window •
" there i. 57 earriege. There sits the o•unt
aa • serv..nt), beside the valet. Moo Dieu I how the
people are already crowding round the carriage
th la
bar No enticipstion of another victim.
you alone can and Must save both myself azd wr
hudrand."ii y
"Gime, then," via be, reeolutelz. "Come ;
heart brake, I ripsaws you both.
As be spoke he led her down the staircase to the ball
door. Already an immense crowd had surrounded the
o ariase. Wino" with dialtYeliffd hair and in tattered
rag., own with murderous cauoteoanees and in blood.
madly to each other:
staineil temente shouting
" Wherefore thin travelling carriage? They are fleeing
fr•da Nitwit, from the wrath of the people! We will
not permit it I No one shall quit the Mt'!"
" l7nbarnese the horses!" cried • man, "Pull the
servant from the boa I" screamed • vixenish Woman,
With horrible howl. the maddened crowd were proceed-
ing to act upon those orders. At this moment Aleidor,
silo until now had remained speechless by the side of
the marquise, stepped courageously forward. Spring.
tug into the carriage, he jumped upon the seat,
so as to obtain • emotion in wnieli everyoly could me

WL4t Ihro poi my friozd hu called out in
S lOW' DiGe. 'NU taut know me? ABA not 1 Une

of you? How, then. can you he no druid sat. prevent
my beloved Irma setting forth on her journey to her
country•house?"
At the sound of the favourite's voice the countenances
of the murderous crowd brightened.
"That is .tlcidor. our Wager," they whispered to each
other. They smiled on the singer, and then they became
.0-017 still and quiet.

alei.l4, Liking ilraii—tage of the impression he had
madc. quitted the carnage, and, handing in the mar.quise, Ile stepped 119 011 a high stone, end following the
of the moment, he ouunneuced the eosin,
" In rdre i doux !"

Tte crowd, wit-Sth had again begun to murmur when
the Mal qui. mounted into the carriage, became agei u
as if by in•gic. suddenly oiieiit. They pressed
and nearer to the singer, who had never so sang this
song &Euro.
Ilia pangs, his doubts, his grievance, his whole soul,
breathed forth to the tones of his marvellous, unrivalled
Tho "team of song gashed forth from his breaet
like the soft sighing of the zephyr ; and sit lid must and
sung, his foes brightened, every tone seemed to be in-
etinct with life and morning.
The throng of people stood silently enraptured. It
mattered not to then, now that the carriage began
slowly to bows; they willingly opened a passage to
allow it to plus Every look was fixed uo Alcides. They
even exclaimed, as the carriage rolled away, "Not so
loud, nut so loud; Alta.:tor is singing," fearing lest
they might lose one word or note of the beautiful song.
Yes, this same crowd, which bad been so ferociously ,
Minding fur ItUwafl blood, was now even a tamed lion'
beneath the power of its keeper, kept tranquil by the '
spell of the singer's voice. His song swelled up louder
situ louder, and his voice, trembling uuw aa if from
soirow, and presently as if from raptor*, made the
hearts of all his hearer, vibrate, and called forth low
murmurs of applause. Gradually his voice grew feebler,
and as the sound of the carriage-wheels died away, it
suddenly ceased. He stepped down from the high
stone on whiah he bad been standing, and, covering his
face with his bands, retreated into his house. The
people dispersed sith shouts, and far into the night
were to be heard in the stroets the words of the song,
"Uo idvo si drum I"

The salon, of the Louvre were brilliantly illutninated,
and an elegantly-dressed company were promenading
therm It on, the birthday of the Fattprea, end
Napoleon had commanded that • splendid ball should
be itiven. In • email boudoir, at the and of the grand
+late of retention room., Napoleon, with Josephine by
hi. side, was sitting beneath a canopy, the chamberlains
and general+ standing by the folding-doors. Napoleon
apparently Wag in eeriest conversation with two gen-
demon standing near him. " Vraimont," said he sud-
denly, and his datk eyes danced round the apartment
like • flash of lightning, "I shall be very angry with
you. Talmo; I Came to Paris to repose, and you prevent
toy having any."
"lie who can look upon our Scipio without deep
thrilling emotion must either be • god or a blockhead.
It,. true, sire," answered Talmo.

Napoleon's tamp grew black is night; be looked at
Takla, and said sharply, " An • artiste' should not
flatter. Do you not remember toe old song, 'IA
tlatterie est one oelorunic, one poltronnerie ; eh re? eh
fa I entendea-ma 1 Ab I" the Emperor suddenly
added, turning to the other gentleman, "cannot yOk
•ing us that song, Alcidor, that I have Jost quoted? It
would sound well from your lips. But, stay; that
reminds me. People complain that you ale eapricdow,
Aloidor. How is it that you will never now sing, eel
am informed, 'Blonder@ Song ? I am told you sang
it in Itobespirrre's time. How is it that you Musa to
sing ' tin !eve si dont 'no.?'
&Midair replied, with a trembling voioe, "Sire, I
cannot siog that long; it is so cltaely bound up with
runny painful recollections that I should break down
with emotion ill attempted to sing it."
Tim Kinperor impatiently shook his head, and said,
Larahly, "Be • man, Alcidor."

"I 'have rowed 'most solemnly," replied Aloidor,
gain to sing that song, airs, unless st my dying
hour, Or--"

- fou-tior 'carted ;he trembled. He preauxl his lips
firmly together, sod looked fixedly in the distance, as if
he NW as apparition.
The Emperor's glance also, at the same moment, had
wandered through the folding doors into the quickly
filling salon., and with a triumplsont smile he ea•
chained. turning towards the Empress, "COW!, Josep.
hinc, let us welcome our guests."
All eyes followed the oupeiial couple as they slowly
wended their way through the salons. As to Alcidor,
though no one noticed it, he stood for some tune
morableas • ststue, snui inuring to himself, " It must
have been h. r ; I cannot have been mistaken I must,
at le•at, koow whether she hee lorgotten the past!'
So mustuuring, he quitted the room, and mingled
with the guests.

The km- p,ror wu standing eotiverabig with • lady
atiired i• the deepest mourning, whowl beautifully
so,.re..ire ouunteneurie bore truer. of the deepeet
mAitnaholy.

"Ab.suns ge I" said be, in tho mune of the friendly
oonvereetion, "no you returned to Perm only yeeterday I
Now. way.. toll as eornethint of the lest moments.'
Count itoger ; how did he die!"

" Prsyas for his Emperor, said the beautiful Mar-
quise : the dsliv..:er of lhaoce..".
. . _

•• The prayer of • dying man' " replied Napoleon.
"low wooderrul power to—, But stop I What is
th,tl Is it not stlehlor's vole.? Why, be is singing
that slog. • ns are .1 dud, eouoteas, *hat is
the matter with you You turn pale—you tremb.e."
" Per.isit ine, sire. to *ids trim," isuplore4 tis•
quotes., (surly. "1 ant taken suddenly ill."
" " .

"I ba'sre an ilea that there must be 1.,711.• connection
between your amide's themes and iticiilor'e retinal just
no. Ii sine," said the Emperor. "Follow we, coons
Sens." ha

Trembling, and seareely able to bretthe. the minims
followed the Emperor into the idea in which Alcidor
ersaseated at the harpsiehord, singtng. flaying his back
to them he did not °been, their aaaaa nce. Nepnleon,
taking the countess by the hand, cteimed up close be-
hind Al, Woe. and with a wore of his baud motioned all
the listener. bank, _ _

Whet. er ryone had quited the apartment, he laugh-
ingly rad t, lemiag over Alablor's shoulder, "You did
not finish one seuteuce earlier in the evening. That
song you are now singitaz you said you would dug mein
only at your dying hour, or—"
Maidor turned qumkly round, the tears glistening in
his eyes. His 'lanes met that of the trembling rt
happy countess, aud he quite forgot to reply to the
Emperor.

N Tolson laughed. "Your unhappy love has been
air sly related to me, Aleidor, so that I can now easily
redid ,he language of your eyes. Countess," continued
he, I hope you will no longer suffer this true knight
to remain silent, and to go on singing, ' Un Mee si
dims I hat that you will make the dream a middy.
To-morrow you must sing Blomders song, Alcidor."
With a 'gracious shake of the lasnal, the Emperor
quitted the room, and the been were aouu.—Tentple
Bur.