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

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 a
disclosure of his sex, even in the conf
dence OF love. He could not trust Ma
dege 10 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 baImy
nights of the Russian summer in pacing
the flowery alleys of the imperial garden,
discoursng, with but one reserve, upon
every subject that foated to their lips. 1t
required, however, all the selfcontrol OF
La Chetardie and all the favoring dark
ness of the night, to conceal his smiles at
the maize confessions of the unconscious
girl, and her wonderings at the peculiarly
Of her feelings She had thought, hither-
to, that there we're affections in her nature
which could only be called forth by a lover.
Yet, now the thought of caressing another
than her friend--of repeating 10 any hui
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 rrecoyerably away-and to a
woman! All, with what delrious, though
silent passion, La Chctardie 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 diplomutist had found his oppor-
tunity, and had successfully awakened in
Elizabelh's mind both curiosity and inter-
est as TO the subjects of the despaches still
sewed safely ia his corsets. There re-
manned nothing for him now but to seize
favorable opportunity, and, with the de-
livery of his missiyes, 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 consequen-
ces to his love.
In La Cheardie's last interview with
the saDaat, who conducted him 10 Russia,
his male attire had been successfully trans
ferred from one portmanteau 10 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, hay
ing asked the imperial permission for an
hours private interview on the morrow,
and, with gentle force excluing Nadege
from his apartment, he dressed himself in
his proper costume, und cut open the warm
envelope Of his dispatches. This done, he
threw his cloak over him, with dark lam
tern in his hand, sought Nadege in the
garden. He had determined to disclose
himself to her, renew his vows Of love in
his proper guise, and arrange, while he
had access and opportunity, some means
of uniting their destnies hereafter.
As he opened the door Of the turret, Ma
dege flew up the stairs to meet HIM, and
Observing the cloak in the faint gimmer
of the stars, she payfuIly endeavored to
envelope herself in it. But, selling her
hand, La Chetardie turned and glided
backwards, drawing her after him toward
small pavilion in the remoter part Of the
garden. Here they had never been inter.
rupted, the empress alone having the pow
err to intrude upon them, and La Che
iardie felt safe in devoting this place and
time to the double disclosure Of his secret
and his suppressed passion.
Persuading her with difficulty to desis
from putting her arms about him, and si
down without a caress, he retreated a few
steps, and, in the darkness Of the pavilion
shook down his imprisoned locks 10 their
masculine abandon, threw off his cloak
and drew up the blind of his lantern.-
The scream Of surprise, which instantly
parted from the lips of Nadege, made him
regret bis imprudence in not having pre-
pared her for the transformation; but her
second thought was mirth, for she could
believe It, OF course, to be nothing but a
playful masquerade; and with delighted
laughter, she sprung to his neck and over
whemed him with her kisses. Another
voice, however, joining very unexpected
ly in tho laughter.
The empress stood before them!
N For an instant, with all Bis self-posses
sion, La Chetafdie was coniounded ant
dismayed. Siberia, the kuoui, tho scafiold
fitted before his eyes, and Nadege wa
the sufferer! Bot a glance al the face Q
the izarino reasslred him, She, too, tool
I | it for a gir.ish masquerade.
But The empress unfortunately, wa
not disposed to have a partner In her Gu