The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-16

Society, for wants the bAss Of all friendship-es-
TEEN. You do not esteem the Count, sir; and in
that you but follow public opinion, lie mistakes
vanity for pride, Impotence for courage, vain and
speeches for erudition and what ia worse, there ia
nothing there said no, touching his heart--'abso-
lately nothing, neither soul nor feeling. Such the
Count. Men like this may be known, but they arc
never esteemed, never beloved
you draw Aneriug portrait. Well, go on
'Ay, go on! l tell you, sir, with shame on my
brow, and despair 10 my heart, that am that mans
slave; he is my MASTER As he spoke the indgnan,
glnnces of his eye was dmmed by tears.
Mr. Bailly was deeply touched, he felt how terrible
sian Compose YOURSELF said he, warmly pressing
his hand, 'At present. can only pity you, but show
me how to serve you, and will doit'
The Russian continued bis narrative, 'The father
of the present count lived one of his estates near
Urel. My father, who him from childhood,
gained his confidence, served him faithfully and the
Count left him, whom he died, handsome legacy;
but forgot, at the same time, to give him his freedom
My father embarked his money in speculation of
furs and skins to southern Russia and thus realized
a rapid fortune. From that time no lived on n par
with his wealth. During my infancy, my father re-
ceved into his house Of the victims the French
Revolution, whom exile had driven 10 our land. This
gentleman was man of great learning, and he edu-
Gated me; in fact no was quite my second father, and
to him am indebted for what little knowledge pos
Knowing position serfs, he many times
proposed to me to escape from il, by following him
to other ands;but If could have forsaken my coun
try, my poor father would have suffered for my
fight, and his frat punishment would have been TO
be turned out Of his elegant and luxurious home and
forced to those labors which can be required
| from slave. And another reason, even stronger
than fluI duty, bound this ignominous vassal-
| age-I loved, was beloved; and although repus-
| ed the idea uf associatng with my fate that of a
| young and hghborn woman, who must reiinqush her
freedom to become my wife, still hoped and hatter-
ed myself time would abolish those odious laws and
that would moi be long the Emperor Alexander,
the moral regenerator OF his people, would himself
break our iron yoke, and treat like the peasants
who nhnbit the shores Of the Baltic and like the ser
on some of his imperial domains. | hoped that, at
las, free should lead Eudoxc the altar not with
the wooden bnndage Of slavery, but beneath tho pure
white coronal the aifranchised bride. have vain
ly hoped until now. My father died; continued his
traffic, and extended it TO the East. In few
years doubled by my fortunate spoculatone, the i'm
mense property which he eft me-
But why not offer to redeem your freedom of the
Count
'IIe would refuse. 1t is principle among the
great Muscavite mobiles accept the ransom of
a slave 1t but the other day that serf OF Count
s., offered two millions of roubles for his ransom
and his Offer refused; yet this only pays a
yearly tribute of few roubles to the Count. These
iron hearted proud Of counting the millionaire
amongst their yassas, and feeling that the power is
theirs to blast his happiness and break his heart with
a word; 1t aa,tcrs their vanity to see him have
splendid eQupage, the fruit Of his industry his tai
en;, 10 bend before them in the dust. And now the
term OF this misery, the hand of the woman idoze
my liberty, that coveted blessing all seem to lie in
your power. Give them me, sir, and you will be
more than man or friend to me--you will be saviour
sent from God.'
'What must dor am disposed to try it--speak;
explain yourself futher.'
'You play high, sir, aud what with You i 9 only an
amusement is madness with Count K. He
will sacrifice thing to this passion, and in the end
it will be his ruin, Get him to play with you for
small estate he owns on the banks Of the Woga-it
is village consisting of fifty roofs, its commerce is
the manufacturing of nails. He will not sell his estate
at any price, am Of that, else should have
bought il long ago. But in the feverish excitement
of play he may risk the may loose it Those
words say all have to ask you. was born in that
village, my father born here,the rest of my fam
lily live there; let the estate once be mine, and
are all free. You master ofmy secret and
my fa,e--say if you will assist me your word is
sufficient, and from that moment play as high you
please, double your stakes, quadrupe them, win at
any price. You shall have unlimited credit at my
bankers-draw on them without reserve. Whatever
your chance may be-should it be obstnotely bad
should it even ruin mel shall still ever feel grate-
full you for having listened to my prayer, and tried
to make me happy and free''
Mr. Baly promised everything and they parted
And now began the warfare Of cards and dice
Bailly commenced his operation, like one determined
to succeed. He only sough. for opportunities to
gage the Count to play and like skillful
or, allowed himself to be repeated loser. Intoxicat
ed by success, his adversary became literally his shad
dow; lie followed him every where--at the ball, the