Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-01

stlnctlve mIstrust, promises of continuance
for life Iii her personal serVic.
But there were sweeter hours for the
enamoured La Chetarde than those passed
in the presence of his partial and imperial
mistress. Encircled by sentinels, and
guarded from all intrusion of other eyes, in
the inviolable sanctuary of royalty, the
beautiful Nadege, imprisoned, she knew
not why, in her love for her new COM
panion, was ever within call, and happy
in devoting to him all her faculties of ca
ressing endearment. He had not yet dared
to risk the interests of his sovereign by
disclosure of his sex, even in the conf
dence of love. He could not trust Ma
dege to play so difficult part, as that of
PosSessor OF so embarrassing a secret, in
the presence of the shrewd and observing
tzarine. A betrayal, too. would at once
put an end to his happiness. With the
slight arm of the fair and relying creature
about his waist, and her head pressed close
against his breast, they passed the balmy
nights of the Russian summer in pacing
the fowery alleys of the imperial garden,
dlscoursing, with but one reserve, upon
every subject that hoated to their lips. 1t
required, however, all the self-control OF
La Chetardie. and all the favoring dark
ness of the night, to conceal his smiles at
the nGiue confessions of the unconscious
girl, and her wonderihgs at the peculiarly
of her feelings. She had thought, hither-
to, that there were affections in her nature
which could only be called forth by lover.
Yet, now the thought of caressing another
than her friend-of repeating to any hu-
man ear, least of all to man, those new
born vows of love, filled her with alarm
and horror. She felt that she had given
her heart irrecoverably away-and 10 a
woman! All, with what delirious, though
silent passion, La Chetardie drew her TO
his bosom, and, with the pressure of his
lips upon hers, interrupted those sweet
confessions!
Yet the time at last drew near for the
waking from this celestial dream. The
disguised diplomatist had found his oppor-
tunity, and had successfully awakened in
Elizabeth's mind both curiosity and inter-
est as TO the subjects of the despaches still
sewed safely in his corsets. There re-
manned nothing for him now but to seize
a favorable opportunity, and, with the de-
livery of his missiTes, to declare his sex to
the tzarine. There was risk 10 life and
liberty in this, but the marquis knew not
fear, and he thought but of its consequent
ces to his love.
In La Chetardie's last interview with
the SdUGnt, who conducted him TO Russia,
his male attire had been successfully trans
ferred from one portmanteau to the other.
and it was now in his possession, ready for
the moment of need. With his plans
brought to within a single night of the de.
nouement, he parted from the tzarine, hav.
: ing asked the imperial permission for ar
hours private interview on the morrow
and, with gentle force excluing Nadege
r from his apartment, he dressed himself il
| his proper costume, und cut open the warn
: envelope of his despaches. This done, h
threw his cloak over him, with dark Ian
( tern in his hand, sought Nadege in TIT
D garden. He had determined to discloS,
] himself to her, renew his vows of love il
4 his proper guise, and arrange, while h
2 had access and opportunity, some mean.
: of uniting their destinies hereafter.
3 AS he opened the door of the turret, Ma
e dege flew up the stairs to meet hum, an,
: observing the cloak in the faint gimme
d of the stars, she playfully endeavored t,
$ envelope herself in it. But, seizing he
l.. hand, La Chetardie turned and glidet
e backwards, drawing her after him towart
e small pavilion in the remoter part of th'
garden. Here they had never been inter
i rupted, the empress alone having the pow
er to intrude upon them, and La Che
t tardie felt safe in devoting this place ant
e time to the double disclosure of his secre
e and his suppressed passion.
r Persuading her with difficulty to desis
a from putting her arms about him, and 81
e down without caress, he retreated few
steps, and, in the darkness Of the pavilion
: shook down his imprisoned locks 10 thei
& masculine abandon, threw off his cloak
and drew up the blind of his lantern
The scream of surprise, which Instant,
$ parted from the lips of Nadege, made hin
d regret his imprudence in not having pre-
e pared her for the transformation; but he
y second thought was mirth, for she coul,
: believe it, OF course, to be nothing but ;
e playful masquerade; and with delightet
II laughter, she sprung to his neck and over
}. whelmed him with her kisses. Anothe
e voice, however, joining very unexpected
l. " in the laughter.
e The empress stood before them!
o For an instant, with all his self-posses
:. sion, La Chetardie was COMPOUNDED an
: dismayed. Siberia, the knout, the scaffolC
f fitted before his eyes, and Nadege wa
n the sufferer! But glance at the face {
l. the tzarine treasured him. She, too, too
d il for nirlish nnaSnnerade