Squatter sovereign., 1855-10-02

love e. s.ss.7e
81 hear from hiss mother, good soul"
said the landlord, 'sthat is no less person
than the beauty of Lyons, Pauline Des-
chappelies."
Both Beauseant and CLAWS here burst
into a loud fit of laughter, and ascertain
ing from the landlord that Pauline had
never even condescended to look at Claude,
and did not know him by sight, an idea
entered Beauseans's head of revenging
himself on Pauline, by marrying her to
Claude Melnotte, after making him pass
off as foreign princes character that
he was well enabled to support, being a
perfect Admiral Crichton in learning, and
in such accomplishments as fencing, dane
ing. music, and painting. AS to the ex-
penses necessary to maintain the rank,
Beauseant and his friend CLAWS express
ed their willingness to lend him money,
clothes and equipages. In short time
they had left the inn behind tsem, and
turning down lane, struck across COM
mon. and came in sight of widow Mel
notes cottage. They saw Claude. and,
finding HIM all that he had been repre-
sented, Beauseant wrote this letter to
him -
Young man, know thy sccret-thou
lowest above thy station; if thou hast wit.
courage, and discretion, I can secure to
thee the realization Of thy most sanguine
hopes and the sole condition l ask is,
that thou shalt be steadfaft to thine own
ends. shall demand from thee solemn
oath to marry her whom thou loves. to
bear her to thine home on thy wedding
night. 10
81 am serious. I thou wouldst learn
more, lose not a moment, but follow the
bearer of the letter to thy friend and pat
ron, CHARLES BEAusEANT."
With his whole soul made chaos by
the disdain of Pauline, Claude Melnotte
found himself a ready tool for the revenge
of his tempters. Pauline had trampled up
on him as a worrn-as worm he now
turned to sting her. He accepted the bar
gain offered him by Beauseant; and in
due time was introduced to the pompous
mother, and the scornful daughter, as His
Highness the Prince of Como. 1t was all
over with them-he came, he saw. he con-
quered and not many days after his ar
ritual, he was already promised the hand of
Pauline.
In the family there was cousin Of Mad
anne Deschappelles, Colonel Damas man
as brave in action as he was rude in speech.
One day in conversation with Pauline,
Claude heard that she was proud of her
connexion with the relative, howbeit that
Damas was soldier of fortune, one who
owed his position to merit not to birth, one
who had risen (in five years, from the
rank to his present grade. Taking advan-
tage Of the opportunity, Claude was en-
deavoring to instill into the mind of Pau
line the old and classical sentiment, that
virtue is nobility, when she observed to
him fondly-
81 cannot forego pride when look on
thee, and think that thou lovestme. Sweet
prince, tell me again of thy palace by the
Lake of Como; it is SO pleasant to hear
of thy splendor, since thou didst swear to
me that they would be desolate without
Pauline; and, when thou describest them
it is with mocking lip and noble scorn,
as if custom had made thee disdain great
ness" fe
Evading the request of Pauline, Claude
proceeded to describe home which he
did not say he possessed.
"Nay. dearest, nay" said he, "if thou
wouldst have me paint the home to which
could love fulfil its prayers, this hand would
lead thee-listen! A deep vale shut out
by Alpine hills from the rude world, near
clear lake, margined by fruit of gold
and whispering myrtles, CHASING softest
skies as cloudless, save with rare and ro-
ScdIc SflduOStSs oS NOuiu nave tily iatc.
"My own dear love ~ murmured Pau
line. sss
"Apalace," Claude continued, "lifting
to eternal summer Its marble walls, from
out glossy bower Of coolest musical with
birds, whose songs should syllable thy
name. At noon, we'd sit beneath the
arching vines. and wonder why earth could
not be happy, while the heavens still lef.
US youth and love! Wed hare no friends
that were not lovers; no ambition, save to
excel them all in lore we'd read no books
that were not tales Of love-that we might
smile to think how poorly eloqnence of
words translates the poetry Of hearts like
ours. And when night came, amidst the
GREATNESS heavens. we'd guess what star
would be home when lore becomes immor-
tai. while the perfumed light stole through