Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1849-10-10
Pauline.


Pauline was all orphan adopted by some
worthy citizen of the Rue St. Honore, Paris,
who, having brought her up to the age of six
teen, had placed her in his shop-a perfume
warehouse, to dispense of his goods at the coun-
ter. Women in France are almost universally
the practical heads of commercial establish
ments. The master of the house. when he does
not lounge away in a cafe, play billiards or cards
half the day or walk about like one living on
his means, is contented to occupy a dignifed
and retired position, attending, not to the sales
but to the wholesale purchases. But such was
not the case with NJ. Boulard, the adopted IA
Their of Pauline. He and his wife shared the la
bors of the shop together; he keeping the books,
while Pauline and Madame Boulard attended
to the details. The good couple, having no
children of their own, manifested their inten-
ton of making Pauline their heiress, and this
added to the charm which hung over the per-
tuners store.
Pauline had many lovers, a great many-as
young ladies who are pretty, modest, and viz
tuous are apt to have, especially when rich; for
although the world is not half so wicked and
selfish as certain persons fancy, yet a grain of
interested love will always peep out among the
truest %suitors. Two lovers were chiefly ASST
duous in their attentions; the one, a rich store
keeper of the same street; the other, a poor
~froheur. Both were young, tolerably cookbook
ing, and very devoted in their attachment; and
it was hard to say which was most deser-
wing, But Monsieur Alexis Laparaut was rich
and Jean Provost was poor. 1t will be readily
understood that the parents OF Pauline would
not have hesitated in their choice; but they knew
only of the affection of Alexis: that of Jean
was concealed even from himself. Alexis came
often to the house under one pretence or anoth-
er, and was always fayorably received. The
good Boulards were highly flattered at his pre-
ference. Pauline liked his frank open man.
ners and always greeted him with a smile
The frotteur-one who wakes and shines by
means of rubbing the wooden floors of rooms
came to the house in the exercise of trade. He
always bowed low to Pauline, and asked her
how she was; and even on her tete day had
brought a single rose, which was graciously
received. Jean was also a commissioner, and
ran on errands, and often came to the house to
buy perfumes, soap, &c, for his employers,
who approaching his honesty and desire tor
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 a good natured world! Pauline could
scarcely be blind to the open love of Alexis, or
the concealed affection of the poor f%rotteur; but
however this may be, she said nothing and ap-
peared to notice neither. But young Laparaut
had spoken to old Boulard, Boulard had spoken
to his wife and his wife to the young girl, but
she Kissed her adopted mother so affectiOnately,
and said so gently that she wished not to leave
home, that the worthy woman was silent, and
put offa little while any serious discussion OF
the matter.
Jean, meanwhile, became sombre and thought
full; he dared not hope, he dared not even think
of making an offer; he, apoor workman, with
uncertain means of livelihood and so far beneath
the position of her whom he loved. Had she
been an unfriended orphan, without home, he
would have ~joyfully offered her his heart and
the only fortune he had-his honest labor
While thus depressed an event occurred which
drove Pauline completely out of his thoughts.
One day he was sent to wax the floors of a:
house neal the Palais Royal, the apartments of
which were generally devoted to pleasure par
ties 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 APT
pearance, surrounded by pictures which told Of
rural love and happiness. Jean had seen them
often before but they had never affected him; so
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 voicep
in the next room; a horrible sentence caught his
ear and justified his listening. Pale and terri
ped he hearkened to every word, and moved
not, for fear of being discovered. He had dis
covered an awful and frightful secret; and was
a dead man if caught in that room, the ill join
ed wainscot of which allowed every thing in
the next to be distinctly heard. "What shall
l do" thought he to himself "to-morrow is
the fete Of st. Louis; / have no time to lose"
Jean left the room on tiptoe, and with the
utmost caution; then descending the stairs,
feigned to leave for dinner. No sooner was he
clear of the house. than he made for the pre-
lecture Of police, and entering the hotel, asked
to see the lieutenant. The servants replied
that he could not be seen. 1t was one o'clock,
and the fashionable dinner hour that day-now
six hours later. Not a valet dared to disturb
M. de Bellisle from his meal, but Jean insisted,
stormed, implored; and at last, as they seized
him by the shoulders to pitch him out, cried
$40 not drive me out. I must see Monsieur
de Bellisle; the kings life is in danger"
1t was the eve of st. Louis, 1858, and the
king was Louis XIV. The servants hesitated,
looked at one another, and an agent of police,
struck by the mans tone, babe them pause.
"a $50, repeat his words to Monsieur lie Eieute-
nant," said he: "and show this person into his
private cabinet"
Jean, recovering his breath, followed his
guide, and soon found himself face to face with
the magistrate whose mien was severe and in
quisitive, and even ~incredulous. He bade the
~frotteur sit down, and asked him his business
in a somewhat preturbed in the midst Of his
dinner. ga.Ga#s g E
sIcome, sir" said Jean firmly, @to inform you
of a plot against the king'slife." .
n am informed ofsuch plots every day" re-
Piled the project, who was used to pretended
denunciations from persons aiming at exciting
attention and gaining money. @But let me
hear the Details 3s4s~ aHs al sesagiaEgG !