The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1854-01-18


power, Ihad painted poverty. Toll and care,
thou hads, found no honey on my tongue.
Pauline, that is moi love"
"Cruel Prince" said Pauline, "thou
wrongest'me. 'Tis true, might not at
first be won save through the weakness Of
1atlering pride, but now-oh trust me-
couldst thou fall from thy power and sink
"As low," inquired Melnotte, eagerly,
as that poor gardeners son who dared
10 lift his eyes TO thee :" .
"Even them" said Pauline, /" meihinks
thou wouldsl be made more dear by the
sweet thought that | could prove how deep
is woman's love We are like the in
secls caught by the poor gliuering of ga-
ring fame-but oh The wings are scorch-
ed-lhe bright star lures US no murr, and
by the fatal light we cling 1ll DEATH"
"ADgei !" murmured Melnotte. Con-
science stung him for the treacherous par
he was playing. Her love had given a
torture worse than her hate.
He lost no time in seeking out Beauseanl
and CLAWS and desired them to release
him from his oath. He said he was not
in his senses when he had sworn 10 marry
Pauline. Instead, however, of comply ying
with his request, Beauseant replied that
the invention ho had planned to bring
about The marriage Immediately: was ripe
for execution. In great excitement he
went 10 Deschapbelle's and pretended that
he had just received letter from friend
at Paris-a member of the Directory--a
letter stating that the Prince was suspect
ed Of designs against lilo repubIic-thaI
he must quit Lyons Immediately, or he
would be arrested-lhrown into prison.
perhaps gulllolined. Horses were order
ed TO the carriage Immediately. and the
Prince was 10 fly directly TO Mafseilles,
and then to take ship TO Lrghorn.
Her Daughter and Madame Deschap-
pelles being anxious that The marriage
should take place at once, the settlement
was arranged by proxy; and, before the
ceremony was over, the carriage was at
the door, and Pauline--as she and her
mother thought-was carried home as the
bride of the Iluslrious Prince, But what
fearful reality it was TO find herself, in
less than an hour, surrounded by the rude
walls of widow Melnolle's cottage The
blood almost (roze in her veins when she
discovered that she was the wife of peas
ant-the son of peasanls--l young man
of poor though honest parents. AT first
she thought ii was all jest a horrld. dream
and she was amazed beyond measure
that The deep wrong Of this revenge had
proceeded merely from the slight which
shea poor powerless girl--had shown
Claude in not accepting his verses. But
Claude, repenling what he had done, was
ready to lay al her feet husbands right
as, by the laws of France, a marriage un'
holy and untitled, could be made void
aud he begged her 10 sleep that night ia
peace, for that the law would do her us
lice, and restore 10 her the right 10 bless
another with her love. ....
"And when thou art happy" continued
Melnote, "aud have forgotten him who
so loved, so wronged you, think, al least
Heaven left some remnant of the angel
still in that poor peasants nature"
Pauline, in her solitary chamber, pass
ed the whole long, desolate night in sobs,
while Claude sat down aud wrote letter
to Pauline's father, which he sent at day
break, begging him 10 come and receive
into his hands, his consent to the divorce.
On rising in the morning, Pauline found
Claude absent, but she saw his mother
In conversation with the widow, she found
out that she had been loved-idolized by
Claude for years-that he learned 10 paint
that he might take her likeness, and that
three years before, he had saved all bis
money, TO buy real Sevres China cup
merely because the name of Pauline was
inscribed on it. Pauline was weeping and
grieving, that Claude was not something
better than a gardner's son-lhat he was
a poor genlleman-when Beauseant made
his appearance, not so much 10 exuIt il
her Humiliation as 10 lay his fortune al he
feet, and bear her to home more suitable
for her reception-a house oil wealth
luxury, and station. She was Begging
him to respect her anguish, when Mel
nolle opened the door silently, and per
ceiyed Beausant addressing Pauline, paus
ed at tho Threshold, and looked on silent
w.. But when he beheld Beauseani, il
spite ur puulne's enlrealies, attempting Il
clasp her in his arms, he sprang forward
and dashed him to the other end Of tn
room. EnrOged, Beausunt leveled Pis
tol al him.
"Oh. spare him--spare my husband J
shrieked Pauline. " Beauseanl--Claud
-no-no," and she fell and tainted in tn
arms Of Claude.
On recovering she found herself alOn
with her husband. "All gone, all calm,
she exclaimed, looking around her. al
everything dream Thou art safe, VI
hurt-I do mol love lhee," she added ten
derly, but | am a woman and-and II
blood is spill !" .|...
"No, lady, no." replied Melnoue, I'm
guilt hath not deserved so llch blessln
as even danger in thy eau e.
They were here interrupted BY the er
trance of the widow Melnolle, who cam
to tell them of the approach OF Pauline
parents. >,
"Ah madam" she continued, address
ing Pauline, {" do not lei Them injure hin
if you knew how much he dotted on you
"Injure him !" exclaimed Pauline, n
madame, be not afraid"
On the entrance Of The parents, CIaud
ranounced ali nretensions Ia her nersOl