Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-12

The General therefore sought To alternate
Matilda from her lover, and the Duchess to
separate Napoleon from Matilda. But in this
they were unsuccessful Napoleon and Ma
tilds loved each ot.er too sincerely not to n
void all the snares that were spread for their
inc experienced youth.
Unable 10 succeed in separating them from
each other, the General and the Duchess
succeeded in bringing about the departure
of Napoleon, aud his prolonged absence. -
Their want of fortune required il. Napoleon
must gain high position. The Minister had
just attached, him as first secretary to distant
emb ssay. II he refused to go he would shut
himself out from q brilliant career. He must
) make this sacrifice for the very sake Of his
Matilda. for whose happiness he would be
responsible. Napoleon resigned hms-lfo it.
, He sought the last interview with Matilda,
, and announced his departure. The young
girl heard il with grief. Napoleon related to
, her his plans in vain, he sough, in vain to
, console her, displaying in the distant future,
/ whole life ofhappiness, love and wealth.
Matilda was inconsolable /; a sad PRESENT.
ment prevented her from putting any uust
in the promises of an uncertain future. What
. coulL she hope to add 10 the happiness they
then enjoved, and which they were about to
sacrifice TO Sc 'se Of duty. She felt tina,
her beautiful dream was over, and was pass
ing away. Napoleon covered her hand with
kisses and tears; remember, said he, RE-
member that you are my betrclhed, and that
this hand belongs to me-
SO saying, he placed ruby ring on her
| finger.
1T belonged 10 my MOTHER, he added.
AS her sole answer, Matilda pressed the
, ring to her lips, and sunk back in her chair,
overcome by her grief Napoleon then left
, her.
, Ills absence facilitated the plans of the
General and the Duchess. The General
; appealed to Ma,ida's fili"l affection. lie ex.
aggerate1 his poverty, pretended debts and
engagements which lie could not keep, and
, pictured, with an air of alright, wretche
$ and dishonored old age. He even lhreatencd
+, to kill himself. She alone had the power "a
. save him-and for that she must forget Ma
poleon, and marry the rich Count de-
, with whose noble and manly face, whose
courage and s,reHglh Of mind, she was ia.
I miiar.
f A little selfshness, and Matilda would
! have been saved hut it is the weakness OF
noble hearts to enter on the sacrifice. Ma
tilda threw herself, in despair, in the arms Of
q her father, and promised all. He blessed her
. nd thanked her for her devotedness. Before
, he had finished speaking, Matilda escaped
3 from his arms, no longer able to control her
9 self. Exhausted by her el1nrls, she haslened
E to shut herself up in her own apartment, and
1 wept in silence. In the meanwhile, the banns
I are published, and, IN the 10Th Of last Janu.
airy, in the church of St. Thomas d'Aqnin,
9 Matilda married the Count de The
, General was delighted.
a At the moment of the bencdction, when
e the husband places on the finger of his wife
D the ring-the symbolical emblem of the chain
v which uni,es-inslead of giving herlefl hand,
according TO cns,om, Matilda abruptly passed
f to the right of the Count, and extended her
. other hand. The Count demonstrated. and
i wished to take her left hand, hut Matilda
J., Withdrew it, and again presented her righI
e hand, at the same time casting down heI
eyes, but with an inJomilahle air of sub.
v missive determination. The Count at once
II perceived this, and fearing scene, he put
: the ring on the right hand, which Matilda
: persisted in presenting.
The Count was jralous-as Jealous as O
thello himself. A fatal suspicion seized him
=. The ring which Matilda wore on her ri III
v hand, gave him much uneasiness. lie pre-,
S tended not to fancy il, and begged Matilda
d not to wear il. Matilda replied, that she
u would not part with it-her answer was gen.
o tie, but evinced the same determination she
IS had shown at the church.
d The suspicious of the Conn, from that mo-
IS ment were changed into certainty but as he
i wished to avenge himself he concpalld them
h He arranged a set Of spies about Mtida.-
1t was not long before a letter came fron
Napoleon. The unfortunate Young man, g'
/. norani of the sacrifice of Matilda, and ,h,
Il RUN Of his hopes, spoke Of his love, his plans
for the future, and their approaching mar.
~ rage. Tie reminded Matilda that her hand
II was his, and he begged her 10 look often up
on his mothers ruby ring, to remind her q
!. hini. lie finished by announcing piece o
n good news. The ambassador was sb"u, IL
enirnst him with important dispatches io
|. Paris. Before the month was over he wOult
r see Matilda again. This letter of Napo
- Icons fell into the Counts hands, he under
;. stood il all.
l. He went into his wife's room, holding il
n his hand the open letter he handed it IL
n her. 4 understand your scruples now sait
j. he; 'why did you not explain Yourself soon
erl You had sworn that ycur hand shoult
IS be only ms. Very well, as soon as he comes
r. will see that you keep your OATH he add
If ed, with frighlful smile.
e Matilda did not betray the slightest emo
i ,ion. She feared nothing more upon earth
1t A month afterwards, Napoleon arrived il
: Paris. But he was much changed; he al
;, ready knew his msfor,unes, and was gloom,
and despairing. The morning Of the day
e after his arrival small ebony Golfer wal
IS brongh, to him hy domestic 10 livery. II,
;. opened il. Judge Of his grief and terror i
G contained bloody hand. 1t was the HAND
. of woman-of Matilda.
= On "a piece of blood stained paper were
= these:
), See how tho Countess de keeps he'
: oath! =
= Flushed with mingled grief and ndigna.
d lion, he seizes his pistols and PUSHES 10 the
house of the Count. The Coan, and NATL.
: da had left during the night, some hours afie'
n The bloody operation OF DR.. HUBERT. II wa.
i not known whittier they had gone.
The evening on which Napoleon had re-
: copnixed the ring of his mother on the watct
l.k..t 10 had rona IN lin, hall i'm,