Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-19
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
LEONARD WRAY.
A ROMANCE OF MODERN HISTORY

H0MAHcE OF MODERN HIsrOkf.
BIZ the a,.fio, Of q The Chyoaiclss If The Basils,
I The Easbassya . The Y3h Lag" " Phihp o.
Lataia.n DC.
CHAP VIII.
Zachariah GRIT meets Dih an old acquaintance
The Hotel de Lille and Albion, where Zacha-
riah Grit had taken up has abode, was within
few minutes walk Of the Palace OF the ihunf-
eries which had now very sombre, downcast
out-of spirits look. Notwithstanding the inter
reenum Of the first Republic, and the brilliant
DAYS it had seen under the Empire, II had been
used for NO many long years, to the presence OF
hereditary ROYALTY e by divine right that it
seemed scarcely yet to have accommodated
itself 70 that more potent sovereignty which
had only 30 recently dragged literally through
the mire of the strests the real throne and
crown Of the monarch Of 1899, and set both up
az a mark for the urchins of the city to hnrl
paving stones at The long rows Of windows,
all bare Of hangiHgs, were dim and grimy with
dust and dirt On the panes Of glass, where
the rain had FLASHED and run down IN stream
let's, there were long streaks, which might al
moat have been taken for the channels OF tears
shed by the venerable old edifce, on finding
itself once more given up to that section u the
community styled the canaiile by one OF the
monarchs by divine right aforesaid.* The
very flag that surmounted the building dropped
despondingly, all discolored and limp, and
flapped about its staff rs if abandoned by all
hone of livelier motion being impaired to it
under the existing Government But, though
there were gloomy appearances IN TINS direc-
ton there were still the glorious old trees to
look az, stretching their strong and brawny
limbs from side to side, and forming friendly
avenues, inviting to seclnsion and contempia-
ton. and which seemed to have fourished
under all the changes the old palace had seen,
and as If they would ontlive a good many dy-
nasties vet Il is true, they were just now
stripped Of leaves, save here and there a one,
hut there was about them stalwart, sturdy
vieor not to be mistaken, and that impressed
even the unimaginative Zachariah, as he gazed
ND at them, with the idea that the leaves yet
to come were likely to afford shelter to the
great grandchildren Of the children then play
ing and saampering about beneath their giant
branches.
Zachariah had taken a marvellous fancy to
the gardens Of the Thniieries. He loved to
saunier about in the avenues; to stand and
gaze ut the statuary to admire the bright,
autnmnal flowers, and the neatly kept beds !;
to watch the gambols Of the laughing, ruddy-
checked rollicking children, as they gave
Themselves up to the exnberance Of their young
spirits, and darted hither, thither, and every
where, greatly TO the discontinue OF the
buxom, Sinking nurses in clean white caps
and aprons, who had them in charge, and rs
less, as it seemed to that of the mits~oy 60. nf
lants who were here and theEs 5;rsd lib I;I;ra
them court. Zach had sIksaaer q long wall, OBJ.
for q certain sunny speee Of ornamental water,
posl1e 70 .ne cn.e ls de la Concords entrance Of
ana near 'ne'it goes by the name Of La Petite
me gar9s1f 80 called because Of its southern as
~ md warm atmosphere at all times of the
year, being completely screened from the biting
winds which at certain seasons visit the French
metropolis, rendering it for the time being a
very purgatory for invalids To it resortcd
weakly children aud sickly adults, especially
the Asthmato and consnmptive. For some rea-
son, it had peculiar attractions for Zach. Per-
haps the flowers were brighter there or, posi-
bly,, even he again sought glimpse of the
plaintive face of the delicate young girl who
had rewarded with one Of her sweetest smiles
simple act Of courtesy which be, by chance
passing that way few mornings after his
arrival, had rendered to her, and when but for
bis prompt aid she must have fallen to the
ground Without, however, attempting posi-
lively to account for the constancy Of his morn
ing walk in the garden OF the Thuiieries, but
merely recording the fact Is veracious chroni-
oilers, certain it ia that on the morrow after
Leonard's unexpected rencounter with Avel-
ing, Zach was lettering about tho old spot be-
tween the honrs OF niae and ten, and without
any very apparent purpose.
After sauntering listiessly about for con-
siderable space, and examining for the TWEEN
tleth time, for want Of better occupation, the
allegoricat representations in stone Of the
Seine and the Oi@, ON either side Of the large
basin, he at length seated himself on one Of
the benches which municipal foresight and
civiIity, having due respect for the revolution
AIRY multitude, had provided for its accommo
dation when it was out a-holydaying Having
nothing 70 do, Zach began to whistle n pro-
vokingly national melody, keeping time by
kicking up the gravel alternately with his toes
and heels, occasionally breaking off to throw
in stave in voice somewhat subdued, but BY
no means unmnsical
During this performance, second individual
emerged from one of the side avenues. He
was evidently q stranger, Judging from the
more than ordinary intercft he took in exam
ming tie various bjocts in the garden He
was man Of medium stature, somewhat bury
in appearance, perhaps, and might be about
forty years cf age. His complexion, not natu-
rally cosrse or red, had been burnt by expo
sure to the sun, TIL it had acquired the hue Of
mahogany; but this accident only served to
bring out in stronger contrast the remarkable
briliiancy of his clear, hard, gray eyes, and to
impart severer character to a set OF features
almost fanltess in point Of regularity, but
stamped with % mnch hardness resolution,
aud sensuality above all, az altogether to mar
the expression Of a conntenance that might
have passed for handsome He was
we'll dressed, in clothes Of foreign make, and
though q certain swagger pcrvaded his general
air and demeanor, it needed not second
glanca 10 recognise in him man accustomed
20 move in superior circles
He stopped immediately facing the principal
entrance, in n line with the bench on which
Zach was seated, and some twenty PAGES or
more distant from il. Hiscyes were fixed on the
obelsk Of the Luxor, which, seen from this
Doinf presents remarkably elegant outline