Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-26
CHAPTER I.
Al UNEXPECTED Meeting.


inc on his arms, which were mechanically
crossed mon the iron balustrada OF the bridge,
his mind being apparently absorbed IN the
contemplation Of the striking scene that met
h;s view He had paid his sou for the priv
leoe and seemed determined to enjoy it to the
utmost, in happy ignorance OF his having
formed tho subject Of a brief conference be-
tween the chief OF the night patrol taa no made
his tour Of the quay under his particular guard
ianship and the toll-keeper Of the bridge.
chow long did you say, citizeneo inquired
the former, taking out small notebook, and
preparing to write in it with pencil
DIT struck eleven as he paid the toll, " re-
sponded the bridge-keepcr it Is now halt
past"
aKeapyour eve upon him, citizen sentinel, re
sumed he Of the note book, raising his voice, as
he made q minute OF the circumstance, and
addressing himself to the sentry on guard.
The soldier stood to his arms moment, iii
indication of obedience and resumed his mo
notonous duty of pacing to and fro at the foot
of the bridge The chief of tho patrol ex
changed salates with the toll-keeper, and
passed On
He isn't a suicide /" muttered the toll keeper
To himself ae the chimes of the Hotel de Vsde,
ringing distinctly in the deep silence that
reigned, told of another quarter OF an hour
added to the great account current between
Time and Eternity she can't be one of that
sort, or he wouldn't stand looking SO long at
the water He must be a stranger
The man was right Leonard Wray had not
been vet many hours in Paris; but, though ia
tipued by a somewhat tedious journey, had
been tempted by the tineness of the night to
take stroll, ap-hazard, for the purpose of
surveying the aspect Of the city by moonlight
Starting from the hotel at which he had put
ur, in the immediate vicinity Of the Paiais
Royal--then called the Pdldis National in def
erence to the triumphant popular will-he
struck across the Place du CGr0usei, and, pass
ing through one OF its email arched gateways,
found himself on the Quai du Louvre Here
he hestated q moment, but, presently farming
% the left, proceeded up the quay till he
reached the bridge already mentioned, through
the turnstle Of which he was permitted to pass
on payment Of q small copper coin. Perhaps
he had purposed crossing the river, for he was
pursuing a straight course towards the other
side, when he stopped suddenly short, and
after gazing q few seconds at the view before
him, assumed the missing posture he still main
tanned when the toll keeper Of the bridge came
to the conclusion that the last passenger was
certainly stranger.
The spot 70 which chance--if such a thing
obtained one Of the most striking views Of the
French metropolis A painter would select it,
in preference TO any other, il his object we're
10 present, in a small compass and in pictur-
esque group the chief edifces Of ancient Paris
In broad day, the charm OF the view disap.
pears but eeen an hour before sunrise, stand
ing boldly out from the sea of golden glory
that there floods the back ground, or at any
time when it is illuminated by the silver rays
of full moon, a. it was now the scene is one
that cannot fail TO strike the stranger as poo
sessing features Of interest peculiar to itself
and suggestive Of associations Of the most vari-
ed character, extending over period Of many
canturies
immediately to his left stood the Louvre
calling up shadows of dark deeds done in the
time Of old Catherine de Medicis, and stretch
ing its long frontage Of chaste architecture
along the quay to which it gives its name then
gracefully making way for the quaint and
venerable church Of 81. German FAurerroiS
from the turret of which the gannt spirit of
religious fanaticism had erst~hle ruDg the
focsia that announced the commencement of
the bloody tragedy Of the st. Bartholomew
Eve. Far away on the same side Of the river,
standing ell proud and stately in it's solitude,
the majestic tower Of 81. Jacques la Boucherie
next arrested his wandering eye, seeming 10
look down with On air of protective patronage
upon the sacred edfce dedicated 10 st. Ger
Sais d<s Pres, and throwing into prominent
forwsrdness q eection Of the recently erected
river frontage Of tine Hotel de Vile dstin-
guishsblo BY lis greater Wilderness from the
line Of tall, irregularly-built houses, lighted
here and there to their very roof tole, and
which, extending a. far the eye could reach,
indicated the direction and length Of the qnays
n. - :. - L.. a.. r..
outline Of the Iasiiim de France, one-half Oh
scursd in deep shadow, the other standing out
sharply defined in the gray light that stream
cd down npon &c from above; and little lower
down the facade Of tho Honnaie plunged
again in darker shades, bat here and there
Illuminated by bnsy lights dancing TO and fro,
and which, with the dull clanking sounds that
fell regularly ard continuously on bis ear, told
Of sotivc Life within, and betrayed the occupa-
tion Of the inmates
But BY far the most remarkable feature in
this striking scene WAS the Isle de Ia Gle, the
Lufsrs Of the Emperor Jaliao, from the very
centre of which arose the sombre mass Of the
ancient cat edral of Nofye Dame, it's two lofty
turrets standing up grim and gaunt out Of the
gloom In which they were immersed like two
hoary giants Of stone, keeping watch and ward
BY night over their own antique portion Of the
city, and over the feeting memories OF the past.
Divided by this island, came rolling on the
Seine, In two silver streams until these became
again united ut the Pont Neuf, where at the
point Of junction, and forming prominent
though somewhat dimnutive feature in tho i'm
mediate foreground, stood boldly out in relief
like black spectre, tho equestrian statue of
old King Hsari Quorfre the Bsarnais. Then
oame long line Of siugnlarly fashioned barpes,
m1osod On. each side % the river, the use Il
which would have remained unknown to him
Who was musng save for the presence, in one
Of them, Of poor, belated creature, whose
solitary candle Pickering unsteadily scarcely
answered It's purpose Of enabling its owner TO
sehisve successfully the ablution Of the heap
Of domestic apparel she was Justify belaboring
With small paddle, and alternately scrub
bing
Bot although this novel scene had not failed