Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-26
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era
LEONARD WRAY.
ROMANCE OF MODERN HISTORY.

- =
BIZ ne author Of !" The Chronicles Of fhe Bastih, :
7 The Embassy I" The Yah Log " PhiIip y
Laraia,n az.
CHAP TX
Madame Irompetie holds Council 81 war
The disclosure which had taken Madame
Trompette like a bomb 10 the mi!dle OF her
back p as she graphically described the sensa-
ton she experienced on learning Commandment
Simon's real style and title, operated great
change in the domestic arrangements OF the
martial couple Up to that time, the daily
routine OF their lodge had been conducted ac-
cordng to strict military rule Indeed the
severe punctuality Of the gallant Corporal's
wife had long since passed into proyerb in
the neighborhood. Every morning, on the stroke
of seven, she might be seen emerging from the
great gate way Of the house OF which she and her
husband were the guardians, carrying the jug
for her daily ration Of milk and few min
utas after, the Corporal hmselE-in morning
undress- appeared, and took up his station
against the gate-post, to smoke his early pipe
IT. by any chance, Madame Trompette missed
performing her usual morning duty, the oc-
currence was Immediately taken note Of and
various conjcctures would be set ahoat as to
the cause. And this came to pass on the NOR
row following the disclosure in question
Something wrong | dare saw said the
dairy woman to the grocer's wife, from over
the way, in reply to a statement, on the part
of the latter, that Madame the Corporate had
not been to fetch her milk, and that it was a
quarter past seven Something wrong,
Name PipeIard. She's regular as the clock"
"Pll, perhaps" chined in the bakers wife,
who had come to buy new-laid egg.
aAnd the Corporal hasn't been seen, either"
observed the dairy-woman. Something is
wrong, depend upon it, or he wouldn't miss his
pipe"
AS another quarter Of an hour passed with
out either the Corporal or his wife appearing,
conjecture became more rife, and an excitement
arose. which threatened to manifest itself be-
fore long in the form Of deputation of tho
gossips of tho neighborhood, to the worthy Cor
poraps lodge, with view to ASCERTAIN the
cause Of 80 extraordinary departure from the
established order of things Fortunately, at
this jnncmre, the Corporal himself, pipe in
mouth, came out and proceeded, in his own
proper persoD, to buy his own milk.
Maine Trompette isn't i'll, is she?n asked
the dairy-woman.
No, nothing the matter with her. Name
Vachsau,V answered Trompette.
That's well' responded the other; "only
it's 20 very strange -
aYes, it is, isn't it?n observed the Corporal,
quite alive to the inqnisitivenees of his neigh
bors; but she's going out this morning that's
all, he added.
So the neighbors watched the Corporal's wife
90 ont, which she did in the course of abort
half an hour, and much they wondered, too,
where ever she could be going 30 early
To their salutations, Madame Trompette re-
sp0nded with her usual courtesy, but without
stopping to enter into conversation, though she
made sundry purchases of eatables on the way
She was evidently bent upon some errand of
Importance for though she smiled blandly, as
usual, her countenance, it was remarked, indi-
Gated that her mind was pre-occupied.
And 30 in truth it was She had gone into
battle many time, without experiencing the
sense Of responsibility that seemed to weigh
her down now She found herself and her
Corpornl--as sho loved to call him-convertcd
into political SCENTS, and felt that she had, in
her enthusiasm for Napoleon the uncle pledged
herself and the Corporal to promote the politi-
cal projects Of the nephew. After their lcdg-
er's departure, the night before, the Corporal
had submitted to his wife certain misgivings
which had arisen in his mind, AZ to the pru-
deDce Of the course to which they were CON-
mitted Madame Trompette, however, adopted
more decisive views, and vigorously defended
the position she had taken up To every OBJ
lection of the Corporaps she opposed a counter
plea, until she reduced him TO silence, though
without convincing him that she was right la
her heart, nevertheless, she felt that her hus-
bands reasons deserved consideration. and
finally resolved TO seek counsel Of trusty
friend, an old comrade, and act as no should
direct She communicated her determination
to her husband, AZ soon rs he awoke in the
morning, and forthwith prepared herself for
the visit. Hence her non-appearance at the
usual hour.
Madame Trompeite's air and gait were dc.
cidedly military; sho bore herself erect and
stiff, and carried her umbrella like muske'
On reaching the barracks or caserne Of the
Qual d Ors1g where there was a regiment Of
carbinecrs quartered, she stopped to chat with
the officer on duty 10 whom she seemed to DO
well known, and on quitting whom, she saluted
la mitfaire She proceeded thence. by way
of the qusys to the Hotel DIES Invalides, where
she seemed quite at home, and her popularity
absolutely without limit Every one spoke to
her, and she bad word for every body At
length she gained the western wing Of the
building, and, making her way to one of the
side corridors on the first floor, stopped Mt
door on which was nailed card, bearing in
writing the name Of Lieutenant Brother, Neur-
ssnas de Ligne.* An invitation TO enter having
responded 10 her knock, she went in.
VIVA wha what La Tr-r r-ompette "
exclaimed the Lieutenant, looking round, and
stopping short in his occupation of watering
come beautiful exotiss which ornamented The
window
Just 20, Lieutenant" responded Madame
hope TO see thee we'll
To any one unacquainted with the manners
Of the Frcr ch, Lieutenant Brothers reception
Of the Corporals wife would have appeared
over familiar and no doubt the lady herself
would have been set down "a wanting, some.
what, in the modessy which ~ the attribute OF
her rex. Drawing the sleeve OF his left arm
scroes his mouth, he kissed Madame on both
checks, to which she submitted quito uncon-
cernedly and az matter Of course He then
handed her to o chair
The Lieutenunt--who had an impedment In
his speeoh---was abeut sixty, and had lost bis
right arm. He had also been wounded in the