The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-07-08

company me whittier shall lead said the off
, Ger. when he aud his prisoner had alishted from
the carriage.
Laudry obeyed in mute asionishmenf. This
officer led him up splendid staircase, which
alone proclaimed the entrance TO a aroyal abode
and along which were ranged few Of those
imperial guards whose banners bad been led ia
conquest by the adorsd commander whose dwell
ling they now projected. Those grim looking
warriors were proud Of the sacred trust consign-
ed TO them by their master and by France, and
have felt that with such followers he dared meet
the assembled force Of the universe
Having reached the spacious anti-c chamber,
to which the staircase led, the officer demanded
Of a gorgeously sttired domestic the name ofthe
J aid de camp in waiting.
y General tho Marquis Delaroehe.' wss the
reply. which went TO the heart Of Paul With the
sharpness Of dagger.
| The officer led him into an adjoining apart
ment. in which several men, in various uui-
forms. were loungng before a stove where a
large fire was burning. The moment the gem
darme made his appearance with the prisoner,
one Of the group stepped hastily forward, and
speedily confronted Paul Landry, who too we'll
recognized in the Marquis Delaroehe his old
schoo-fellow Henri-his wifss brother and his
own mortal enemy.
His Majesty waits your arrival said the
Marquis, with a malignant smile. Follow
me : and he led the gendarme and Laudry
through suite Of magnIhcently furnished "a
partments, crowded with officers, pages, and
mobiles in waiting. AT length he knocked gent
ly at door which communicated with the re-
ception room; and 10 another moment tho
culprit was ushered into the presence Of Ma
poleon.
Paul made up his mind not 10 quail before
the Emperor; but, when he was confronted by
that great man. who calm and unmoved, stood
with his arms folded across his breast, gazing
upon ths prisoner, he felt an indescribable sen
sation OF awe creep over him, and-almost in
voluutarily-hs sank upon hi, knees at the feet
Of the imperial hero.
Rise--rise. Laudry,' exclaimed Napoleon.
We were once equals-we were school fellows
we were friends. Rise
May it please your Majesty said the Mar
quis Delaroche, this individual--'
Silence! = CALCULATED Napoleon. in a tone.
and with an air beneath which Hear covered
almost to the floor. And you. Paul Lsudry,
stand forward. Whom We last met. we gayo
each other a certain rendezvous: on that seca-
sion we were at St. Cloud--twenty yeas ago !
Our appointment has been kept
Both the Marquis Delaroche and Paul Lau-
Oft ultcteu cry VI dSlOHiSHIUenl, dS lHCy CdlIeO
to mind the freak Of their boyish days.
Yes, said the Emperor. we have been faith
faI to our appointment. But how do we meet
as the ruler of the destines of France-you,
Paul Laudry, as traitor a conspirator against
your sovereign-and you. Henri Delaroehe, as
the accuser Of your ancient friend y
i did my duty to my master observed the
Marquis, in suppliant tone Of voice.
'Tue--true, returned the Emperor but /
must punish thee for thy hatred to thy former
friend-thy brother Law. BE thou then,
the bearer Of this document to his afflicted wife.
llaste-and acquit thyself well Of thy mission
The Emperor paused for moment; and,
when Henri had departed with the sealed pack
ct which Napoleon had placed in his hands,
his Majesty again addressed the astenished
Laudry.
"And you, hesdstrong fanatic in bad and
ruined cause, know that the Emperor of the
French forgets not ancient friendships in his
hopes to acquire new ones. Paul Laudry--
you are pardoned and, when in after years you
tell the history Of your life, forget not that your
Appointment was duly kept, and that the recol-
lection of youthful froc saved your life on
this occasion. Officer, release your prisoner
he is free :"
Laudry fell at the feet of the generous mon
arch. and sndesvored to pour out his gratitude
in all the eloquenes which the nature of his
situation, in reference to Napoleon, was calcu-
lated to originate: but his voice was rendered
inaudbIe by deep emotions-the Emperor was
himself ahected-and the gendarme's counte-
nance was moistsned with tears. Napoleon
waved his hand as a token Of sdieu; and retired
into an adjoining apartment, as Laudry and the
officer hurried out of the reception room.
On his return to his own abode, Paul found
his wife and chiIren weeping for Joy in each
others arms. document lay upon the table
upon the letter was a large sea-and on the |
seal a sovereiga crown. The envelope contain
ed two papers--thc one affirming Laudry's par |
don; and the other restoring him to the regi
msnt he many years previously had served in,
with the rank Of Major. A considerable pen
sion was moreover settled upon his wife and
children and long had the grateful Paul and
the now happy Eugene reason TO bless the Ap-
Doutment which was so faithfully Kent