Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-08-30
0RLOFF, THE REClCIDE.

Lieut.. Col. Cameron, in his "PersonaI
Adventures in Russia, &C." thus graphically
sketches the last sad and melancholy incl
dcnt.in the life Of Orlof, the Regcidc:
He had married the young, the beauti-
ful. and amiable Countess Zinowefi, to whom
he was devoicdly and passionately attached,
and in whose society perhaps the short fleet
ing period of real happiness he ever knew,
was experienced. In ,l,e bloom of life and
health, and within few months after their
union, she was suddenly carried of, and
laid in her early grave, stroke of misfor-
tune so sudden and severe, tina, the mind of
her unhappy husband gave way bcneal, it.
No one from that moment was admitted
TO his presence, except one or two coniiden-
tial deneslics-he ate Of what they placed
brfnre INN, and then either sat or reclined
IN istlrss apathy, rot a tear or moan escap.
ing him; or, passed the time in vacantly
wandering from one rich suit of apartments
to another, of his gorgeous and miserable
home, as il in search of the lost and loved
one, whose radiant beauty and angelic swept-
ness had so recently shone, dill,Isive of every
earthly happiness, where all now was dark
At length, by the instigation Of an acute
and intelligent physician, he was prevailed
upon to leave st. Pctershurgh, and proceed
upon heightened course of travel from
which period till upwards of two years after
wards, no lidings were heard of him, beyond
his being engaged, in one incessant change
of movement from one country to another.
One night about this time, the chateau Of
Czarskoezelo was the scene of one of those
select. gay, and brilliant sorecs in which the
Empress took so much pleasure. Never
now past the bloom of life, more strikingly
handsome, or more replete will, happiness,
as she prominaded the ballroom, her arn,
resting upon tina, of ii pale, STRIPPING, elegant
form, in ii rich hnssar uniform, upon whose
feminine beauty of feature and countenance
her eyes we're fixed with looks of the deepest
and fondes, love and devotion. -
1t was the fair-haircd Lanskoi, the one,
sole being she ever regarded with true aflec-
ton, whose early and un,imely death from
decline, crushing and overwhelming with
the deepest affection the heart of the ambI-
,ious Sovereign, the artfu and intriguing ruler
OF an equally INSCRIPTIONS and unprincipled
period, added one more to the examples of,
what riddle is woman!
Mrlh and gadness we're at the highest,
the ball proceeded merrily, when tall, pow
eriul, gentlemanly man, on whose noble and
dgniied features either disease or the acutrs,
mental misery, or perhaps both, had impress.
ed paleness so livid and wasted, as render.
ed bis conntenance scarcely human, sudden.
y entered the room. As if in defiance OF
court e,iqute and derision of the gorgeous
costumes around him, he was a,tired in suit
of the deepest mourning but on his broad
and muscular chest gliucred, set in the
choicest brilIiants, the insignia of the most
illustrious Orders of KnigIlhood in Europe
!, was Orlolr! He strobe into the middle
of the assembly, till he reached the spot where
the Empress stood.
"You are gay tonight, Kaierina," he said
with maniac laugh; show happy every
thing seems around YOU" Then changing
his tone, he added, in voice of thunder and
teroci'y of manner, that started even the
bOldest heart present. How dare You be
dancing and enjoying yourselves, and my
poor wife not cold in her grave :"
Pale and aglated, for several moments
the Empress vainly struggled to give utter.
ance TO the words, " Good God Orloff, are
you mad 7"
"Mad !" he exclaimed, in that low, deep
stern tone of intense passion, so frighluI it
hear, AS slowly he raised, and menacingl,
held his finger towards her. "Mad ave
and WHO made me 50 7 through whom did
become IA murderer and regcde 7"
Catherine now shook so violently, that he
favori,e was Obliged to cast his arm arouno
her waist to sustain her; but equally alarm,
ed at the fearful degree of agitation which
possessed her, and The threatening aspect o
OrlOtf, while even some OF the boIdest vete.
rams of the great Sauvaroif stood by paralyz
ed and COMPOUNDED, the noble youth, placing
himself as shield before the Empress, anc
resigned her 10 the case OF her trembling de
mOiseites dhOmncur, advanced and confron
ted the giant.
"Boy!" said OrloiT, contemptuously OK
tending an arm, in muscular strength ant
proportion rivaling that of the Ilerculr
Farnesr, and which most certainly woul,
have crushed The elegant form of the fAvoril,
TO death at single blow, "boy, | wish no
to harm you, yet come not near me, stant
aside, and let me once more gaze upon HEI
who has alike been the cause Of my glor,
aud my guilt"
The fierce tones of his deep and powerf,
voice became wholly changed and subdned
as no altered the conclusion OF the sentence
sadly and monrnfully they struck upon tn
ear. The exciting energy of the momen
was past; he gazed with pity and affection
upon his Sovereign and mistress, as sinkin
upon an adjoining ottoman, that last resourc
and relief of the hopelessly miserable, tina
u intensity wretched, (whose unu,terable agon
, OF mind has been occasioned by their ow
guilt, vice, or folly,) in its weakness over
. came him. and he wept- the iron.ncrve
soldier-the INSCRIPTIONS vo,ary of ambiio
1.-The man of blood, the regicide, wept-
: wept like child.
y He became insensibe the next minu.,
- and was borne from the room to his ow
= mansion, at which he had only arrived III;
u evenin0 from .hroad ,rhar l,o,.,uu ,r 81