The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-02

length upon cushions on the floor OF her bOudolT
she laid her imperial head in the lap of the embar
raised demoiselle, and was soothed to sleep b.
reading and the bathing Of her temples. AnC
during this period, she exacted frequently OF thu
Marquis, with a kind of instructive mstrust, prom
ses of continuance for life in her personal service
But there were sweeter hours for the enamouret
La Chetardie than those passed IN the presence O
his partial and imperial mistress. Encircled By
sentinels, and guarded from all lntrusion of Othe
eyes, in the inviolabe sanctuary of royalty, thu
beautiful Nadege, imprisoned she knew not why
i'm her love for her new companion was ever within
call, and happy in devoting to him all her faculties
of caressing endearment He had not yet dared t.
risk the interests of his sovereign by disclosure
his sex, even in the confidence of love. He coulC
not trust Nadege to play SO difficult part as thai
of possessor of so embarrassing secret in the
presence of the shrewd and observing Tzarine. A
betrayal too. would at once put an end to his hap
piness. With the slight of the fair and RELYING
creature about his waist, and her head pressed
close against his breast, they passed the balmy
nights OF the Russian summer in pacing the fowery
alleys of the imperial garden, discoursing with but
one reserve, every subject that foated to their
lips. 1t required, however, all the selfcontrol Of
La Chetarde, and all the favoring darkness OF
night to conceal his smiles at the maize confessions
of the unconscious girl, and her wonderings at the
popularity of her feelings. She had thought,
hitherto, that there were affections in her nature
which could only be called forth by lover. Yet
now, the thought of caressing another than her
friend-of repeating to any human ear least of all
to a man, those new born vows of love-filled her
with alarm and horror. She felt that she had
given her heart irrevocably aWay--and to a woman
All, with what derious, though silent passion, La
Chetardie drew her to his bosom, and, with the
pressure of his lips upon hers, interrupted those
sweet confessions!
Yet the time at last drew near for the wakin q
from this celestial dream. The disguised diplo-
matist had found his opportunity, and had success
fully awakened in EliZabeth's mind both curiosity
and interest as to the subject of the dispatches still
sewed safely in his corsets. There remained moth
ing for him now but to seize favorable opportu-
nifty, and, with the delivery of his mssive, to de-
clare his sex to the Tzarine. There was risk to
life and liberty in this, but the Marquis knew not
fear, and he thought but of its consequences to
his love.
In La Chetardie's last interview with the savant
who conducted him to Russia, his male attire had
been successfully transferred from one porman-
teau to the other and it was now in his possession
ready for the moment of need. With his plans
brought to within a single night of the denoue-
ment he parted from the Tzarine, having asked the
imperial permission for an hours private interview
on the morrow, and, with gentle force excluding
Nadege from his apartment, he dressed himself in
his proper costume, and cut open the warm enve-
ope of his dispatches This done, he threw his
cloak over him, and, with dark lantern in his
hand, sought Nadege in the garden. He had de-
termned to disclose himself to her, renew his vows
OF love In his proper guise, and arrange, while he
had access and opportunity, some means for uniting
their destinies hereafter.
As he opened the door of the turret, Nadege flew
up the stair to meet him and observing the cloak in
the faint glinmer of the stars, she playfully en-
deavored to envelop herself in it. But seizing her
hands, La Chetardie turned and glided backward
drawing her after him toward a small pavilion in
the remoter part of the garden. Here they had
never been interrupted, the Empress alone having
the power to intrude upon them, and La Chetardie
felt safe in devoting this place and time to the
double disclosure of his secret and his suppressed
passion.
Persnading her with difficulty to desist from put
ting her arms about him and sit down without
caress, he retreated few steps, and in the dark
ness of the pavilion, shook down his imprisoned
locks to their masculine abandon, threw off his
cloak, and drew up the blind of his lantern. The
scream of surprise, which instantly parted from the
lips of Nadege, made him regret his imprudence in
not having prepared her for the transformation but
her second thought was mirth, for she could be-
lieve it of course to be nothing but playful mas.
querade and with delighted laughter she sprang
to his neck, and overwhelmed him with her kiss.
voice, however, joining very unex-
pectedly in the laughter!
The Empress stood before them!
For an instant, with all his self-possession, La
Chetardie was confounded and dismayed. Siberia
the knout the scaffod, fitted before his eyes, and
. d
Of the tzarine treasured him. She, too, took it for
a girlish masquerade
But the Empress, unfortunately, was not disposed
to have partner in her enjoyment of the society
of this new apparition of hose and doubet.'' She
ordered Nadege to her turret, with one of those
petulent commands which her attendants under
stood to admit OF no delay, and while the eclpsed
favorte disappeared with the tears of unwilling
in her soft eyes, La Chetardie looked
after her with the anguish of eternal separation at
his heart, for a presentiment crowded irresistibly
upon him that he should never see her more
The Empress was in slippers and robe de mutt,
and as if fate had determined that this we'll kept
secret should not survive the hour her majesty laid
her arm within that of her supposed masquerader,
and led the way to the palace. She was wakeful,
md wished to be read to sleep. And, with many
compliment to the beauty of her favorte in male
attire, and many playful caress she arrived at
he door of her chamber.
But the Marquis could go no further. He had
hitherto been spared the embarrassment of passing
his sacred threshold, for the posse Empress had
ecrets OfEtoet for the establishment of her person,
which she trusted only to the eyesof antiquated
attendant. La Chetardie had never passed beyond
he boudoir which was between the ante chamber
md the bedroom, and the time had come for the
disclosure of his secret. He fell his knees and
himself man !
Fortunately, they were alone. 1ncreduous at
irst, the Empress listened to his reservations how
he immediate delivery Of the dispatches, with the
of the disguised Ambassador by his
oval master to the forgiveness and kindness of the
Empress, amply secured his pardon. But it was on
condition that he should resume his disguise and
emain in her service
Alone in his tower for Nadege had disappeared,
md he knew enough of the cruelty of Elizabeth to
read the consequences to the poor girl of venturng
n direct inquiries as to her fate,) La Chetarde |
fter few weeks fell i'll and fortunate, even at
his price, to escape from the silken letters of the
namored Tzarne, he departed under the care of |
he imperial physician, for the more genial climate
f France-not without reiterated promises of re- |
urn, however, and offers, in that event, of I'M
United wealth and advancement.
Tut, as the Marquis made his way slowly to-
Yards Vienna, CLEAN of light dawned on his sad
ess. The Princess Sophia Charlotte was newly
fianced to George the Third of England, and this
aughter Of the house of Mecklenberg had been
he playmate of Nadege Stein, from infancy till the
me when Nadege was sent to the Tzarine by the |
duchess of Mecklenberg. Making a confident of !
be kind physician who accompanied him, La Che
ardie was confirmed, by the good mans better ex-
erienced and knowledge, in the belief that
'adege had shared the same fate of every female
{ the court who had ever awakened the jealousy