, 1840-05-16

W. "fSi w wv W hiutils dtlu
which is not according to the cold forms Of
your great world. You cannot be happy
with me {; it is in vain | should strive TO gain
your affection, and | love you too well to
cause you that pain ! have the means OF
sparlng you. | am about to part from you
forever
How?
Why you see, Mademoisel!e. that we of
the humber class in life have for our
guides our hearts ard our consciences. 1t
is our ALT is enour',;iny own happiness
matters little TO 10Y yours is my only
care. You DO not It1sh for me France
my countv-calls for me. ! am now an Of
ficer in the 10th Lancers, if at some future
time you should hear OF some daring feat
where my name is mentioned. remember ii
was love for you that prompted me to it.
Elise raised her eyes for 4 moment to fix
them on her husband, but they were quickly
withdrawn, and her glance turned away (;
some strange conflict was evidently working
in her breast.
If, Mademoiselle. you wish for ought that
| can d., one word brings me to your feet :;
and if it is the chance of war that | am TO
die. our marriage contract gives Iyou all our
fortune.
Oh. LenOir! | do not wish for that
am sure, Mldemoi<elIe, You are too good.
too generous. I, wish for nv death {; all |
ask of you is sometimes to remember me ,
think that there is one who. whetesoever fate
may lead him, still dearly-fondly loves
you. Farewell
Henri pronounced these words with much
emotion, and left the room abruptly. EIise's
eyes were again su.iuSed with tears. not for
the liberty she had lost, but for love. Henri!
she exclaimed /; it was, however. to- aie.
Eight years passed away. and the Count
Berthaud was no more; the steward, to-. had
followed his master II MS last resting place;
and the only person residing ut the chateau
was Elise, changed somewhat from tie
Elise OF the earlier date of our story she
was no longer the young timid girl. but the
grave and auSterc woman, upon whose coIn.
tenlnce an air of melancholy had habilu-
ally fixed itself the love toward Henri that
had slightly kinIIed was now .FIced by time.
and the still beautiful Elise had become i
politician.
She was one day seated at her secre,airc,
busted in some matter pertaining to her favor.
lite pursuit, when her servant announced Il.
visitor. He was a man about fifty years of
age tall with quick penetrating eye. and a
brief and sudden form Of speech II was NJ.
Massol, one of those men who float on the
surface of all POLITICAL troubles, and who
seem to mix in all the political in,rigues, and
yet insure safety for themselves.
Elise was holding a pen in her hand as VI.
Massol entered she paused an instant. and
then suddenly throwing it down, she excluim-
ed, mono, NJ. MassoI, | will not do it.
And why not, replied the other with m
insinuatIng expression ; and why not, It's
mere chlldishness-Hca:i is but a short
hence /; in an hour he is here. and if
you but say the word he is ours. Remem-
Der, Madame, if you but gain him to our par
ty, one half the army are sure to follow
him. You cannot hesitate how to act in
such a case
Indeed, lcannot.-Np! no suppose he
were to immagine that | loved him?
Well, madame, what of that? is he not
your husband ? is it any such great sacrifice
in a noble cause for Il woman to love her
husband for a time {; that is to say You have
told me that he loves you-a man in love is
surely an easy conquest, you may mould
him as you will to your purpose.
In truth, NJ. Massol, It's hard to decide ;
he loves me ! know, and he is brave and
!; and were he but Of rank equal
TO my own, would
Love your husband I! Come-throw away
false pride; he was not noble when you
married; at least he is now. Come, write
;ome-'tis but a line on this sheet OF paper,
and see the lax is in the pen.
You are deceived NJ. Massol; Henri Len
Dir would not even for ne betray his sover-
eign. Napoleon has made him what he is,
given him rank and honors, | know he
not deceive him.
Madame, you know little Of the world
Or history would have taught you, it is al
Ways those on whom sovereigns have been
most lavish of honor and rank, who have
betrayed them it is nature. Man is but
|, creature of selfinterest.
But should he refuse me- have commit
:ed-degraded myself to no purpose"
Refuse you absurd. What Henri Len
Dir, the son of the humble steward refuse
he advances of the noble and ilIustrious
Countess Berthaud |! why he would be over