The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-11-22
Panline---A Historic Sketch.
BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN.

faullne was an orphan adOpted Dy
some worthy citizen of Rue st. Honore,
Paris, who having brought her up TO the
age of sixteen, had placed her in his shop
"a perfume warehouse-to dispense his
goods at the counter. Women in France
are almost universally the practical heads
Of commercial establishments. The mas
ter Of the house, when he does not lounge
away in the cafe, play billiards or cards
half the day, or walk about like one living
on his means, is contented to occupy
dignified and retired position, attending,
not to the sales, but to the wholesale pur
chases. But such was not the case with
NJ. Boulard, the adopted father of Pauline.
He and his wife shared the labors of the
shop together; he keeping the books, while
Pauline and Madam Boulard attended to
the details. The young girl was very
pretty and very modest, and her presence
contributed not little TO the success of
the business. The good couple, having
no children of their own, had manifested
their intention of making Pauline their
heiress, and :his added to the charm which
hung over the perfumer's store.
Pauline had many lovers, a great many
as young ladies who are pretty, modest
and virtuous are apt to have, especially
when rich; for although the world is not
half so wicked and selfish as certain per-
sons fancy, yet grain of interested love
will always peep out among the truest sui
tors. Two lovers were chiefly assduOus
In their attentions: the one, a rich shop
keeper Of the same street; the other poor
trOteur. Both were young, tolera0ly
good looking, and it would be hard to say
which was most deserving. But Monsieur
Alexis Laparut was rich: and Jean Pro-
vost was poor. 1t will be readily under
stood that the parents of Pauline would
not have hesitated in their choice; but
they knew only of the affections OF Alexis;
that of Jean was concealed even from him.
self. Alexis came often to the house un-
der one pretence or another, and was al
ways favorably received. The good Bou-
lards were highly fattered at his prefer
ence. Pauline liked his frank open man
smile. The frotteur-one who wakes
and shines by means of rubbing floors of
rooms-came to the house in the exercise
of his trade. He always bowed low to
Pauline, and asked her how she was; and
even on her fete day brought single rose
which was graciously received. Jean was
also commissioner, and ran on 1rrands,
and often came to the house 10 buy per-
fumes, soap, &C., for his employers, who
appreciated his honesty and desire for
work, freely trusted him with purchases.
How happy Jean was if Pauline only
served him; and how gentle and respectful
were his tones, and how little he concealed
his happiness if she gave him good natu-
red word! Pauline could scarcely be blind
to the open love of Alexis, or the conceal
ed affection of the poor frotteur; bat how
ever this may be, she said nothing; and
appeared to notice neither. But young
Laparut had spoken to old Beulard, Bou-
lard had spoken to his wife, and his wife
to the young girl; but she kissed her adopt
ed mother so affectionately and said so
gently that she wished not to leave home,
that the worthy woman was silent, and put
off little while any serious discussion ol
tie matter.
Jean, meanwhile become somber and
thoughtful, he dared not hope, he dared
not even think of making an offer; he, a
poor workman with uncertain means Of
obtaining a livelihood, and so far beneath
the position of her he loved. Had she
been an unfriended orphan, without home
he would have ioyfully offered his heart
and the only fortune he had-honest la
Dor. While thus depressed, an event oc
Cured which drove Pauline completely
out of his thoughts. One day he was sen
for to wax the floors of house near the
Palais Royal, the apartments of which
were generally devoted to the pleasure
parties of the courtiers. Jean, who was
we'll known and trusted, was told to wax
the floor of every room then unoccupied
He obeyed, and soon found himself in a
chamber, of luxurious appearance, sur.
rounded by pictures which told of rura
love and happiness. Jean had seen them
often before; but they had never affected
HIM SO much, and forgetting time, place
and his duties, he leant on the stick which
held the wax, and fell into deep thought.
Suddenly he was startled by voices in the
next room; horrible sentence caught his
ear and justified his listening. Pale and
terrified he hearkened to every word, and
moved not, for fear of being discovered
tie had discovered an awful and frightfuI
secret; and he was dead man if caugh
IN that room, the i'll joined wainscot o.
which allowed every Thing in the next tC