Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-09-26


part of the paragraph, which ran thus =
..This poor boy-for we understand that he is
no more-has been lured to his ruin by the
] beauty and attraction of Madame Czaroviski.' .
| crushed the odious paper without ventu-
ring to see more, and tore it in thousand
| pieces, and, not waiting an instant, hurried to
my room and seized pen; burning with rage
and indignation, | wrote short note to the
editor, in which l not only contradicted the
assertions of his correspondent, but offered a
hundred louis 70. the name of the person who
had invented the infamous calumny.
1t was some time before / recovered my
composuro sufficiently to return to the coun-
tess, rr;.,h1om now found greatly excited and
alarmed at my sudcer d"parture. She insist
ed with such eagerness on knowing what
had done, that l was obliged TO confess every
thing, and show her copy of the letter | had
dispatched to the editor. She grew pale as
death as she read It, flushed deeply, and then
became pale again, while she sank pale and
sick into chair.
s'This is very noble conduct of yours" said
she in a low hollow voice, .sbut / see where it
VIII ltdu lO-SLdEts SfcdL anu power
ful enemies they will become yours also
s'Be it So" said l, interrupting her. .sThey
have little power to injure me-let them do
their worst
sSYou forget apparently" said sne with a
most bewitching smile, ssthat you are no lon
ger free to dispose of your own liberty-that
as ny protector you cannot brave dangers and
ssWhat then would you have me do?''
s.Hasten to the editor CT once; erase so much
of your letter as refers to the proposed re-
ward; the information could be of no service
to you if attained-somc miserable, perhaps
some spy of the police, the slanderer. What
could you gain by his punishment save publi-
city? A mere denial of the facts alleged is
sufficient; even that continued she smiling0
how superfluous is it after all; week-ten
days at farthest, and the whole mystery is un-
vciled. Not that 1 would dissuade you from
a course | see your heart Is bent upon, and
which after all is purely personal considera-
tion.''
s.Yes.'' said !, after pause. s'I'n take your
advice the letter shall go without the conclu-
ding paragraph"
The calumnious reports the count pre-
vented madame from dining that day at table
d'hote, and ! remarked as | took my place at
table. a certain air of restraint and reserve
among the guests, as though my presence had
interdicted the discussion of topic which oc-
cupied all Brussels. Dinner over, l walked
into the park to mediate on the course |
would pursue under present circumstances,
and deliberate calmly how far the habits OF
my former intimacy might might not be
continued during her husbands absence. The
question was decided sooner than | anticipa-
ted for a waiter overlook me with letter di-
rected to me, written in pencil; it ran thus
"They play the Zauberf1otte tonight at the
| opera L shall go at eight, perhaps You would
J accept a seat in the carriage. 'sDUIsCHKA.'
| Whatever doubts I might have conceived
| about my conduct, the manner of the countess
at once dspelled them. \ tone of perfect
| ease and almost sisterly confidence marked
her whole bearing; and while l felt delighted
| and fascinated by the freedom of our inter
| course, could not help thinking how such q
! line of acting would have been in my own more
! rigid country, and to what cruel calumnies
and aspersions it would have subjected her
/ Truly, thought 1, if they manage these things
as Sterne says they do, ssbetter in France, ,
they also far excel in them in Poland and sc
my Polish grammar, and the canzonettes, and
! the drive to Botsfort all went on as usual, and
my dream of happiness, interrupted for a mo-
ment, flowed on again in its former channe
with increased force.
A fortnight had now elapsed, without any
letter from the count, save a few hurried line:
written from Magdeburg and / remarked
that the countess betrayed at times degree
of anxiety and agitation | had not observed il
her before. At last the secret cause came out
We were sitting together in the park, eating
ice after dinner, when she suddenly rose ant
prepared to leave the place.
e'Has anything happened to annoy you?'
said l hurriediy. ''Why are you going -
81 can bear it no longer,'' cried she, as sh'
drew her veil down, and fastened forward
and without speaking another word, contln he
h--.r yav toward the hotel. On reaching he
anartments. Sue burst into torrent OF tear:
: and sobbed most violently"
s.What is it ?'' said 1, maddened by tn
SIGHT of such sorrow s.For heavens sake tie
me. Has any one dared"
ssNo, no,'' replied she, wiping the tea
away with her handkerchief; ''nothing OF IL
. kind. 1t is the state of doubt-Of trying h
RAISING uncertainty am reduced to here,
d breaking my heart Don't you see that, whe
ever L appear in public, by the air of lnsutie
able impudence of the men, and the still mo
= insultinc looks of the women, how they da
=. .,,:-,l- &c no have borne it as well as