The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-02-01


attentions to your poor mother, became /
your friend, abandoned his suit. and even |
pleaded for you with Adeline's father. He |
succeeded, the old man had given him his
consent to your marriage with his daughter
for your rival-the man whom you saw !
whispering in the eager ear of Adeliae--
had bestowed upon you marriage portion
Of five thousand francs. What think you
now, rash boy 7"
"Oh, Heavens" !" exclaimed the dlstrac- ,
ted youth" it is impossible !"
{" Not so, you shall hear the story from
the girls own lips; for justice allows one
more meeting. See, see, rash youth, what
your hot blood has driven you TO Fine
love yours must be to doubt lovely girl
who had been constant to you for SO many
months, and resisted parents frowns, rivals
gold, merely because you saw something
which your jealous imagination tortured in
to a crime"
"Oh, forbear; for Heavens sake for.
bear! !" the youth cried. "lf you weuld
not see me fall dead at your feet, forbear J"
"You would have laid ne dead at yours
last night" rejoined the stranger. /" How
Gun you ask for mercy 2"
81 know not what did. Love, despair
friendless, aged parent, all-all presented
themselves before me. ] was distracted
| was mad You know not-you cannot
Judge of my feelings then. Pray spare
them now !"
"Ab, theses your mother, too; when
the mad fit was on you, you cared little for
her-you thought not that when the guillo-
tine had done It's office, she would be left
to starve and die"-
"Oh, no; the Emperor Napoleon is the
father Of all his people. and he will not let
the desolate widow perish"
"Hum," responded the stranger. 81
believe you may make yourself happy on
that score the Emperor will protect her."
"Are you prepared to take your trial -
81 am"
"Are you prepared to meet the girl you
love TO hear from her own lips the story
Of her innocence, and the generosity OF him
you hated T.
An inward struggle was evident in the
looks of Louis, but after pause he faltered,
q am"
"'Tis WE'LL" replied the other. BE
firm, Young man. The scene that is about
to cnsue is no common one. You will look
} upon the face Of Adeline as you neveI
5 looked upon il before. You will take he
y hand, but not as the poor and humble ant
0 innocent lover. She will not miDgle he
9 tears with yours over the story of your pov
! erty, and constaat worship. Yours vii
not be the language of passionate hope, moi
, hers of encouragement and rIpecfdfion.
You have severed the Gordian knot of your
fate, and must endure the issue. Come
she is ready"
, With these words solemnIy and impress
siyely delivered, the stranger pushed open
door and beckoned the youth to follow him.
: They entered dark aud narrow passage,
at the end Of which there was door. They
, paused.
9She is within this room" remarked the
{ stranger. "You tremble."
n "Oh Heaven support me! !" murmured
= the youth.
: "Give me your hand" replied the other
G and as he took the youths hand within his
n he exclaimed, " BE not craven, Louis, at
!! moment like this, for the honor OF man
hood ~ And at this moment the door
were suddenly thrown open.
c The blaze of light which illumined th'
8 apartment into which they entered dszzlet
n the eyes of the youth, for it was so differ
y ent from the gloom and obscurity of thu
d chambers and passages they had previous
t, ly been in. The stranger hurried him
= long to the top Of the apartment. A warn
e hand was placed within his-awoman's fac
d was buried in his bosom. 1t was Adel,nc
i They stood before nuptial altar The.
e were not alone. The father OF Adelinc ant
+ the rival of Louis, were there; the minis
lc ter was at the altar, and beside the entranc
al ed pair stood the stranger, gazing with de
ID light upon their ecstacy. Louis gazed a
ir the strange scene before him in wonder an
ID apprehension. His eyes wandered fror
ono to another; but they rested upon tn
10 stranger, who looked on the scene with
10 smile. Upon him the eyes Of Louis re'tee
ct and the stranger, perceiving his amaze
ur ment, gradually allowed the cloak to Ia
from his person, and Louis involuntaril
a dropped upon his knees, as he beheld N n
in person Of the stranger, his sovereign, M
poleon, Emperor Of France.
he Louis ~ exclaimed the Emperor, "yo
have said that the Emperor is the father
ou his people. Is your fathers mode OF put
Of ishing The hot-brained folly Of his son sotl
re factory 7"
FER i, My sovereign" =" cried Louis, 81 mi
no--cannot speak"-
h. >, You must, LOUIS" continued the Er
E" peror, "for have given my word that A
to cline shall become bride this day al
ur yon must fulfil my promise. Come boy,
nj tears, no tears; your punishmeunt was
in ded when you left the dark chamber; I
'on reward Of virtue now commences. II
ed Emperor Napoleon will not desert you
he Frencbmcu, who gid tire declining days
be aged parents with fiilial love, and scat