The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-01

them not. She stood as she had risen from
the ground her damp hair, clinging to her
neck and forehead, her wild eyes, and her
firmIy-closed lips, giving her the appearance
Of a maniac.
Look, Alphonso look at that poor crea-
ture have you few sous for her ?" said the
lady in the carriage.
The gentleman pulled few coins from bis
pocket. and threw them on the ground at AL
bcrtine's feet. This action aroused her; but
instead Of gathering up the money. she dart
ed look Of hatred towards the carriage, and
tramped the bright pieces under her feet.
excIaimins, "This is the way they seek to
buy our submission-the naughty aristocrats,
by treating us as if we were beygars!'
The horses had not slackened their speed,
and the carriage was some distance past but
the lady had put her head out of the window,
and she saw AIbertine reject the gift. and al
so the gesture of defiance with which the ac-
tion was accompanied. and she drew back
her head with sigh and a sa! expression.
Weary as she had been but a little while
before, Alhertine now walked with quick
step towards the city. The red light was
tincinS with rosy hue the polished walls
and white marble pillars Of many princelv
dwelling, and giancing with dazzling bright
ness tror> the windows of humble citizens, as
She passed but before she had made her
way ,hrou:h the thronged streets. and reach
ell her own obscure abode, the deep twill ght
shadows had shroudcd the igh walls and iron
gate in dark ness. She felt about for the lock
and after some little trouble gained admit
tance.
She entered the old building by door at
the side, which opened on flight Of stairs.
These she descended very carefully. for thev
were so much dccaycd by time and dampneS,
As TO afford a rather uncertain toothol! 4
door at the bottom admitted her to her ,lrcarv
home
The apartment was nearly under ground.
just aliording space al the top of the wall
for row OF small windows. through which
the dim light found its way in the DAYTIME
tut the daylight had been gone for long
time, and now a single candle was burning
on a rough sort Of desk. at which sat a man,
ir>ily writing.
lie Just raised his eyes as the door opened.
bHt continued his work without speaking or
taking any farther notice. Albertine threw
herself on char al the iarthc>t end et the
room. aud for a long time the silence was ul.-
broken.
Albrrtine sat with her clbow: resting unon
what was a table, while her eyes went
slowly round the room. taking in. as it
seemed, all its dreariness and discomfort. and
then coming back to the point whence they
started. rested Upon The face. .: her comI,an-
ION. She SAT with fixed gaz-, a> If watchin"
the workings of his face, a, his pen gl.lcd
rapidly over the page
What a countrnanre it was tha: she gazed
upon The bold iorehca!. projecting over
his >unken vet fiery eyes. the pinched nose.
The wide mouth. closely compressed, vet the
muscles in continual motion as he wrote. AS
IT his thoughts could not utter themselves
last enough through his pen. bat stirred hi.
whole frame with tumu|tuous passion. made
his appearance altogether striking His black
! tllzz!cd hair, standing out in every direction
gave his head the appearance of being toe
larS" for his body, while it added still dark
er shade to his swarthv skin.
His dress cOrrespondrd with his physiog
nomy. pair of coarse trouscrs, very wild,
at the bottom, and tapping about his naked
ankles; his feet thrust into a pair of we'll
worn shoes soileh, ragged shirt, open a,
the neck, with sleeves rolled up to the ell
bows, showing his brawny throat and arms
completed his attire.
Is Albertine thinking of her companion al
this time, as she sits gazing at him so intent
ly? or is she thinking of another home, of q
husband whom she had once loved, who haf
loved and trusted her, and whom she lat
cruelty wronged Or perhaps OF the beau
tful child, who was but just out of her baby
hood when she most unnaturaIly deserted it :
and whose beauty and innocence had that da,
passed before her like vision. Yes. al
these thoughts were troopinc in gloomy pro
cession through her mind; and then came
the image OF this man as she first saw him.
She remembered his passionate words and
tones, and how they had wrought upon hcr
Imagination like delirium; how she had
blleved him the impersonation of all that wa.
noble, patriotic, generous. She remembered
their stolen interviews, and how his base pro
posa for her to leave all that she had loved
for his sake had at first shocked her. and she
had refused to hear him, and yet had listened
till all her virtuous resolutions were as moth
ing before the mysterious influence of her
tempter, who intoxicated her imagination a,
the same ti.ae that he excited her fear and
dread by his fiery bursts of passion. And
then, in her infatuation, she had fled with
him from home of peace and plenty, where
love was lavished upon her. to miserable
garret and from one such abode to another
had followed his fortunes - seen him hated
despised, and hiding from the eyes of men =
had tended him in sickness, worked fo. hin