True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-02-08
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY s, 1856.

ed, commences then through the ante
chamber! said l to myself; and, dissat-
isfed solicitor, impatience overcame me.
| had already counted two or three times
all the family portraits and all the beams
of the ceiling, when I heard a slight noise
in the wainscoting. 1t was door badly
shut, which the wind had just blown open.
[ locked and I perceived very pretty
JOudoir, lighted by two large windows and
a glass door which looked out upon mag.
nifcent park. / made some steps into this
apartment, and stopped at the sight of a
spectacle which had not at first struck my
eyes. A man with his back turned to.
wards the door through which I had just
entered, was lying upon sofa. He rose
up, and without perceiving me, ran quickly
to the window. Tears were trickling down
his cheeks and deep despair appeared tc
be imprinted on his features. For some
time he remained motionless, with his face
hid in his hands; then he commenced tc
promenade theapartment with hasty strides
l was then near him; he perceived me and
started up; I, myself, grieved and com
pletely stunned by my indiscrction, STAN
mcring some words Of excuse, wished tc
withdraw.
who are you? What do you want :?
said he to me in a loud voice, holding me
by the arm.
4 am Chevalier Bernard, of Ia Roche
Bernard, and 1 come from Bretagne-'
Il know, I know said he to me, and he
threw himself into my arms, made me be
seated at his side, talked to me lively o
my father and of my whole family, whom
he knew so well, that l did not doubt bu
that he was the liege-lord of the castle.
tArc you NJ. de C-?' said | to him
He rose up and looking at me will
pride, replied: Il was, but Lam no longer
I am nought;' and seeing my astonishment
he cried: Not one word more, young man
do not interrogate me-
Yes, Monsieur; l have been a witness
of your chagrin and grief, without desiring
it; and if my devotion and friendship car
bring you some relief
Yes, yes, you are right; not that yor
can in any thing change my destiny, bu
you will receine at least my last will anc
my last wishes. This is the only service
I expect from YOU
He closed the door and seated himself
near me. Agitated and trembling, | a
waited his words, which were grave anC
solemn. His physiognomy especially, wore
an expression which l had never before
seen on any person. His brow, which
had attcntively examined, seemed marked
by fatality, His face was pale; his black
eyes dartcd lightning, and from time tc
time, his features, although altered by suf
fering, were contracted by an ironical anc
Internal smile.
What I am about to tell you, said he
will confodnd your reason. You viii
doubt-you will not believe--oftentimes
doubt it myself would wish so, at least
but the proofs are here, and there is il
everything which surrounds us, in our or
ganization, many other mysteries, which
we are obliged to undergo, without being
able to comprehend them
He stopped an instant, as if to collect
his thoughts, passed his hand over his
brow, and continued:
Il was born in this castle; I have two
brothers older than myself, to whom mus
revert the possessions and hohors of oul
family. 1 had nothing to expect but the
mantle of the priest; yet thoughts of am
bition and glory fermented in my brain
and made my heart beat. Rendered un
happy by my Obscurity, and greedy Of
fame, I dreamed only of the means of ac.
quiring it, and this idea rendered me in.
sensible to all the pleasures and comforts
of life. The present was nought to me;
existed only in the future, and this future
was presented to me under the most som.
bre aspect. was near thirty years of age
and was still nothing. Then, and from all
sides, some literary regulations were rising
in the capital, the glory of which resound.
ed even to our province. All |! I often said
to myself, if I could only make myself a
name in the career of letters! This will
always belong to my fame, and it only is
happiness.
For confdant of my chagrins, i had
an old servant, an old negro, who lived in
this castle long before my birth. He wal