The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-01
at hin, listened, and then burst out laugh.


enprovncc au fond dc la Bourgogne, tout
Pete dernier J'y etas avec ma sgur. Vrai:
ment ccGud vous dites, Get avcnture du
ctrc fort drole, ct meme fort galante."
She laughed heartily.
Trai!ord felt all the confusion of proud
man kceny alive to the horror of making
himself ridiculous. lie tried to laugh too
totally failed in executing anything but
dismal paDtDmme Of merrment and he
soon after left Madame de Fleuranges.
Next day he received all invitation to
dine with her and some intimate friends.
The evening was passed most agreeab!y
there was fascination in Madame de Fleu-
ranges that fettcred and fixed the fancy Of
Trallord: although his heart was still as
nadIy devoted as before To the image he
began almost to look on as dream of su-
pernaturai power and transccndent beauty.
Next night he was at the Opera, IN the
box ofthe Countess. lie found. IN ten days
lime, hc could never leave her side without
making some engagement that would bring
him back again IN few hours. He felt he
was gradually falling the victim of all illu-
s!ve passion, that was neither love, nor es-
TEEN, nor admiration. lie could not break
away, because, having no settled purpose of
life. and no hope Of reallsing the dream TO
verify which he would have sacrificed all
but his isic,) he had no inducement strong
enough to tear away his hand fronrlhe fair
onc that graspcd his so kindly, but SO firm
Iy.
THUS Trafi;urd remained in Paris. Feb:
ruary had begun. He had often and often
tried to renew the subject between the
Countess and himself concerning the s,ran-
ger Ii; ST. Cloud, but, beyond few words,
he never perscvcred. Still, still, every
thouehl--evcry hope--evcry idea, had but
one centre, and that was the visionary ex.
rcctaton Of again seeing, and al last scizing
lhe shape that had 50 long tantalIzed him as
Il shadow.
Quo evening Git was the 9Th of February
he attended Il masquerade. This was q
species OF amusement that 1raflurd njoyed.
The mystery shed by masking over the
mere cumInon-placc Of gaycty fascinated
his cxcitable mind. He put on black
mask and dominu, and went to the house
where ii was to he held. Near the door
sal H:adamc dc i'ieurangcs. She was not
masked, but dressed in the eastern style,
she looked the very image of the Cleopatra
she wished to represent. Trafford drew
near; he spoke low:
"ilow glorious the gems on the breast
and arms OF her whose eyes outshnc them
all =
She looked up, and gazcd and listened ear.
ri, ~
same strain:
"priccess they may be, but not so pre-:
cious rs the rcsc-uaycs scattered at the foot
Of their cnslavlug posscssor. They retain
the shape of the fingers that have pssssed
them so lately"
lie stsopcd and picked up one Of the
! white rose leaves at his feet.
"ih mask unknown to INC, you flatter
OF all you mention, gems or flowers, there
is but one ofthc baub.cs value much"
She laid her hand on her right arm, where
gIutcrcd her golden serpent.
"iiapIy armict y said i'raffnrd; "and why
Is that ouc more valued than the diamond
! chain at lis sI,ic!'
! The Countess paused; then said, in low
voice, full Of tender meaning
"Dccause this Was cIa$pcd on my arm
cncr bv-"
Ira}ord's vain heart tod him her words
pointed t" himself; but he persisted:
"Dy whnmw
The lady was silent, aud played with her
rin-S.
by whom" said Tratford, taking hold of
her hand.
"i5Y Que can never fnrgct!'
".ind W no now speaks to you,' SAID Trat-
! iurd III hs own voice.
The Countess gave small scream ap-
prop:ialc to tic OCCASION; but rratford Of
lcrcd her his arm, and they wandered to-
gchcr through the saloons, filled with every
variety oi masked and motley groups. &c.
vera! times that nl"hl there blazcd through
| I'railord'S brain the wish 10 escape; the arm
wiihlu his was ;'lst rs determined he should
not. Tins heart ul Madame dc Flcurangcs,
or what was rnnanl for such, was fixed on
| the i.andSomc En.|ishman. She Intended
iiIm 10 be her lover and her husband; and
! liin!a,g the primary arrangements were but
SLOW III their progress. til ugh herself instI.
! fed in sl,i!ckcnin. their progress by wing
I'raiinrl ,hat she herself, and all she had,
were ready for his acceptance.
; 70 ZEE CONTINUED.