The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-02-01
SELECTED TALES.
THE EMPEROR's PAGE.

He pressed her heart, | heard him sigh,
Oh what wild thoughts were gathered there
1t was past midnight, as an individual,
closely muffled in dark military cloak, was
rapidly passing through one of The most un-
freauented streets Of Paris. II was a black
night, not a star being visible in the cloud
ed heavens, circumstance which seemed
suited to the purpose of the pedestrian,
whose cousealed person and hasty move.
ment pretty plainly indicated his wish to
gain bis destination unobserved. Suddenly,
however, his progress was arrested by the
hand of youth, who emerged from the OBJ
cusrity of portal, and held pistol to the
pedestrians head and demanded money.
"Psha," said the pedestrian, endeavoriug
to shake off his new acquaintance" away,
and don't detain me"
81 must have gold !" cried the phrenzied
youth" my misfortunes, have maddened
me Refuse me, and this pistol send, bull
let through your head"
The other, parceiving his danger, sud
denly disencumbered his right arm of his
cloak, and with the velocity Of lightning
laid the assallant prostrate. He then pas
sed on--but suddenly retracing his steps
toward the PROSTATE robber, ne raised him
from the ground, and dragging him for
some PAGES towards a lamp which cast a
dim religious light" over brief part of
the scene, he exclaimed "Aha Louis
Bonceur :"
Am I discovered p exclaimed the
youth, and falling at the feet Of the other,
who again drew his cloak over the lower
part of his face, he calculated, I" do not, do
not bctray me ~
Sir" replied the other, my duty to
the Emperor will compel me to disclose this
atrocity."
"You will ruin me by so doing forever
Hear me, sir, hear my melancholy tale,
and then say if am not deserving your
pity. Since have had the honor of being
in the Emperor's service, the whole of my
my poor and aged mother For three years
| have been the sole prop of her weary life
} she has no other hope but me and Heaven.
| have brought comfort and JOY again into
her humble dwelling; she was reduced to
penury and wretchedness; my father had
!, died in insolvent circumstances, and my
, dear mother was too old to work, for hel
5 subsistence. | endeavored to gain work
D but in vain. Day after day trod the
@ streets of Paris, and with all the earnest
:. ness of ruin, besought employment; but
there was no drop in my cup of misery,
i and at length l sat down in the garden OF
the Tuilleries, hopeless and desparing. !
contemplated suicide-the thought of leav-
ing my dear parent desolate, chained me to
> life-but even that thought was becoming
overwhelmed by my despair, when our good
a Emperor passed me. He was struck with
e nv haggard looks-he questioned me-in-
! auired into the truth of my story, and then
, in the benevolence of his good heart, took
:. me into his suite. He saved me from des-
d pair, and brought smiling joy again into
:, the widows humble home."
II "And you have repaid his kindness, OBJ
!. served the stranger, "by becoming mid
:, night robbcr."
u I" No, no." hurriedly exclaimed the
= youth, " am no common robber. Heav.
J. en- is my witness, that until this night-bu
9 hear my story out. Among the tradesmer
who supplied the palace, there is one hav
ing daughter, whose charms made an i'm
'f preston upon my heart which reason coulc
l. not dispel. Long did I strive to maste
E love--but in vain. struggled against tn
rising passion of my heart, for the more
=, strove to master the bewildering passion, tn
fercer did it burn. We met told m
Oh love-I found it was returned--and dis
lie daining any concealment, openly avowe
e, to the maider's father my attachment to hi
I'd daughter; but he, in all the pride and in
- science Of wealth, spurned my humble sui
" and told me that till the Emperor made m
10 worth having, his daughter should not thin
u of me Seeing that his child's inclination
tal turned towards me, he introduced wealth
ch suitor, and insisted upon her wedding hin
cannot vie with my rival-he lavisbss go
'e and gems upon the lovely Adeline. IL
r. only humble heart to offer. But that st
IA deemed preferable to all the wealth Of u
IN gross man of her fathers choice and
;r. this night dreamed that was still belo
h ed. But this night have seen her at
~. sde-her hand in ms-her ear turned
dy his whispering lips-and the love tribut
he of gold and gems dazzling before her !!
,as was maddened al the sight. / had cluI
re- to the hope that Adeline was constant; tb
,o hope was my solace by day, and gave 4
~ inspiration to my dreams at night. ia
ost cied the Emperor might one day promo
cy, me, when could demand the hand Of A
,de cline in marriage, in the confidence Of beil
ew able to support her without detriment to
of comforts and enjoyments Of my aged mot
er. This hope is destroyed; /; my drear
=" are all vanished; and only see the de-
IKE pairing certainty of Adeline's affection tur
ing to my rich rival! Oh, sir, IT, you ha
ever loved-if you have ever known I
mis- agony Of "a situation like mine, your he'
may form some excuse for rne, when I
'"' YOU that in my desperation ! purchased u