Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-08-31
JOLIET, ILLINOIS, AUGUST l,s1s47::g g.

duchess to ALLEVIATE her son fo:n Matilda:
but nelther, succeeded. Though yound and
inexperienced, their love was teo strong
for all wiles Of older heads. o# as7hc2 :.
! sl The parents failing to procure a volun
Etaly separation were at last able to- com.
pei the departure Of Napoleon and secure
his absence for some time. Pecuniary
exjgences demanded it. Napoleon must
obtain a, situation. The Minister had
made him First Secretary to distant
embassy.1VIf herefuses TO 90, he closed
against himselfa brilliant career This
sacrifice he owed to Matilda herself for
whose happiness he was soon to become
responsible. Napoleon yielded. '' ga
He sees Matilda for the last time. and
announces his departure. Acfy of grief
bursts from the heart of the young girl
In vain he sets forth his projects, in vain
forces himself to console her, by pointing
her 10 his return, full Of wealth, happiness
and love. Matilda was inconsolable: a
sad presentment forbade her to bell eve
the treacherous promise of an uncertain
future. What more could she gain in
exchange for their present happiness
about to be sacrificed to duty? She saw
that her dreams ofhappiness were ended,
that the beautiful vision had taken wings.
Napoleon took her hand and covering
it with kisses and tears, exclaimed, RE.
member Matilda, remember you are nv
affianced; and this hand, remember it is
mine. b r,t;ao -, .-...-.---r .......s
With these words, he put upon her
finger a small ruby ring. It was nv
mothers said he. Matilda could only
reply, by pressing the ring to her lips,
when she sank in the chair utterly over.
come. ,
Napoleon left. His absence facilitated
the objects of his parents. The general
made an appeal to the filial love of his
daughter, He exaggerated bis poverty in.
venting long list of debts and .obiiga-
tons which he could not meet, and drew
frighttul picture of his wretched and dis
henored old age; he even suggested
suicide, as preferable to such fate. She
alone could save him; and to do that she
must forget Napoleon, and marry the
wealthy Count de-'whose masculine
face and commanding form she we'll
knew. ..s..-- ,--
A little selfshness had saved Matilda:
but it is the weakness of sublime nature
to anticipate instead of avoiding sacrifices.
Matilda threw herself into her fathers
arms, promising every thing, and he gave
her his blessings, and thanked her for
her filial devotion.
| He was still speaking when Matilda,
unable TO command herselflonger, escap
ed from his arms. Pale and exhausted.
she FASTENED to her room, and abandoned
herself to a flood of silent tears. Flow,
flow, cruel tears! weep, noble creature,
this phantom glimpse of happiness!
Happiness! alas! there is no happiness
for souls like thinei gj rs. Il. sl.tsa
| However, the bans were published,
and the 10th ofIast January, at the church
Of St. Thomas d'Aguin, Matilda married
the Connt de--The general was com.
pletely happy. 800 a,0oz ,nos1sq ga
| AT the moment of the nuptial bendietion
when the husband was about TO put upon
her finger the symbol oftheir union, in.
stead of presenting as is usual, her left
hand, Matilda passed suddenly to the
other side: and offered her right. The
Count. with slight remark, would have
taken her left, but she withdrew it and
again presented the right with an air of
quiet decision that is indisputable; the
Count understoodit, and to avoid notice
placed the ring upon the hand she offered
him. lads ze..-.W 1sE -=r ,zssa sefs r....a "a
1 Jealous as Othello, dark suspicion
1 Immediately seized his breast. Pretend.
ing that the ring was not to his taete, he
begged Matilda to lay ii q side. She re.
pliedwith mildness but with the same.
decision she had before shown that she
should never part with it. S ~-l'
The Counts suspicious were, from that
time facts, but he dissimilated to secure
his revenge. A system ofespionage was
organized around Matilda. A letter soon
arrives from Napoleon. Ignorant ofhis
misfortunes, he spoke Of his love, his ifa.
ture plans, and their approaching mar
| rage. He reminded Matilda that her
hand acds his and. entreated her to let
his mothers ruby remind her often of him.
He closedawith the joyful intelligence that
helwas entrusted with important commu.
nications tor Paris, and that in less than
a month he should see her. ga!las4oll ls5,
I The Count received the letter and i'm.
mediately understood all. Entering the
chamber of his wife, andgiving her the
open letter. sIundefstand, said he cody
your scruples.- Why did you not explain
yourself before?a You have sworn that
your hand belonged to none but him.
Very well! when he comes, 1 will see
that you keep your oath. Yii1ojssa gida .
Matilda frembled not. There was noth-
! ing more for to fear on eartk.a rae o
A month afterwards, Napoleon arrived
49, De- L ~