Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-07-04

young girl heard it with grief. Napoleon
related TO her his plans in vain, he sought
in vain to console her, displaying in the
distant future, Whole life Of happiness,
love and wealth. Matilda was inconsola-
bic; sad presen,ment prevented her
from putting any trust in the promises Of
an uncertain future. What could she
hope 10 add to the happiness they then
enjoyed, and which they were about TO
sacrifice to sense OF duty. She felt that
her beautiful dream was over, and was
passing away. Napoleon covered her
i hand with kisses and tears; "remember,"
said he, remember that you are my be-
trothed, and tina! this hand belongsto tne.n
/, So saying, he placed ruby ring on
her finger. ID
SIT belonged to my mother" he added.
/ AS her sole answer, Matlldu pressed
the ring 10 her lips. and sank back in her
chair, overcome by her grief. Napoleon
then left her.
His absence facilitated the plans Of the
General and The Duchess. The General
appealed to Ma,ida's fiial affection. He
: exaggerated his poverty, pretended debt
, and engagements which he could not keep,
and pictured with an air of alright, a
wretched and dishonored old age. He
| even threatened to kill himself. She alone
had the power to save him-and for that,
/ she must forget Napoleon, and marry he
rich Count de ---, with whose noble
and manly face, whose courage and
strength OF mind, she was familiar.
A little selhshness, and Matilda would
have been saved; but it is the weakness OF
, noble hearts TO hasten on the sacrifice.
) Matilda threw herself, in despair, in the
). arms Of her father, and promised all.
9 He blessed her and thanked her for her
/ Idevotedness Before he had finished
y speaking, Matilda escaped from his arms,
! mo longer able TO control herself.-Ex-
) hausled by her efforts, she FASTENED to
h shat herself up in her own apartment, and
4 wept IN silence. Ia the meanwhile the
bans are published, and, on the 10Th Q
last January, in the church Of St. Thoma'
. Id'Aauin, Matilda married the Count d.
-. The General was delighted.
At the moment Of the benedlctlon, whel
, ttne nEsDdnu pIaces un Tue Hnger or III
Il wife the ring--the symbolcal emblem 0
he chain which unites them-nstead o
' giving her left hand according to custom
i Matilda abruptly passed TO the right Of tn
Count, and extended her other hand
a The Count demonstrated, and wished tc
:. take her left hand, but Matilda withdrew
3 lii, and again presented her right hand, a
s the same time casting down her eyes, but
with an ndomitabe air of submissive de
! Termination. The Count at once perceiv
Il ed this, and fearing scene, put the ring
q on the right hand which Matilda persisted
>. in presenting.
! The Count was jealous-as jealous as
/. Othello himself. A fatal suspicion seized
( Ihim.--The ring which Matilda wore on
!. her left hand, gave him much uneaslness.
r lie pretended not to fancy it, and begged
Matilda not to wear it. Matilda replied
,flhat she would not part with lt--her an
4 swer was gentle, but evinced the same
a determination she had shown at the
church.
e The suspicious of the Count from that
!. moment were changed into certalntyi but
q as he wished to ayenge himself, ne con-
J cealed them. He arranged set OF
! spies about Matilda. 1t was not long be
! fore letter came from Napoleon. The
unfortunate young man, Ignorant oil The
h sacrifice of Matilda, and The ruin OF his
i hopes, spoke of his love, his plans Tor the
!, future, and their approaching marriage
!. He reminded Matilda that her hand was
d his and he begged her TO look often upon
his mothers ruby ring, to remind her OF
him. He finished by announcing piece
OF good news, The ambassador was
I about to entrust him with important des'
patches for Paris. Before the month was
over, he would see Matilda again. This
letter Of Napoleon's fell into the Counts
e hand; he understood it all.
He went into bis wiGe's room, holding
. in his hand the open letter; he handed II
q to her. 81 understand your scruples now,"
! said he; "why did you not explain your
self sooner? You had sworn that your
: hand should be only his. Very well, as
soon as he comes, | will see thatyou keep
! your OATH" he added with irlgh'iul
smile.
Matilda did not be;ray the sIg hiest
emotion. She feared nothing more upon
|earth. A month afterwards, Napo leon
arrived ia Paris. But he was much
i changed, he already knew his mlslor-
tunes, and was gloomy and desPaIrlng-
! The morning Of the day after his ARRIVAL
{ a small ebony Golfer was brought 70 MN
! BY domestic in livery. He opened It,
sIJudge Of his griet and terror. II con-
tanned the bloody hand Of Matilda.
n On piece Of blood-stained paper we're
| these words: