Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-05-10
Preventing an Elopement.

had come to pass the season at Baden, ac-
companied by his daughter Helen Young,
beautiful, charming and heiress to an immense
fortune left her by her mother, the young
countess soon found herself surrounded by a
host of admirers. Adorers of all kinds were
not wanting; rich and poor, noble and obscure
tender and passionate, grave and gay 1t
was perpetual tournament, of which she
was the queen, and where the aspirants con-
tended for her hand, by exhibiting their adj
dress, grace, and seductive qualities. When
she entered her carriage, ten cavaliers were
in the saddle, caracoling around her caleche.
At the ball the most elegant dancers were
devoted to her They had neither cares, at
tentions, nor sighs but for her. whereat
many beautiful women, English, French and
Russian were particularly mortified. Among
the pressing suitors, Helen selected the most
worthless. The Chevalier Gactan Nj,
was, it is true, a charming fellow, pale and
delicate, with fine blue eyes, and long black,
wavy hair. In the place of true passion, he
had eloquence of look and word; in short, he
dressed with taste, danced marvelously and
sang like Rubin But unhappily, these adj
vantages were contrasted by great vices. A
Chevalier Gaetan had quilted Naples in con
sequence of some scandlous adventures in
which he had been implicated. The Count,
after having informed himself of these facts,
desired, but too late, to put his daughter on
har guard against dangerous Affection
Helen listened neither to the advice, the
prayers, nor orders of her father. The man
for whom he endcayored to destroy her es-
TEEN, was already master Of her heart, and
she obstinately refused to believe in the dis
graceful antecedents of the young Italian
If Gaetan had had to do with father who
lacked energy, perhaps he would haue become
the happy husband Of the young Countess,
and the peaceful possessor of the immense
fortune with which he was so frantically in
love. But the Count knew how to carry his
point, either by management or force. He
was an old lion. He had preserved all the
vigor of youth, and all the rude frmness of
an indomtable character, which nothing but
paternal tenderness had ever softcned. Self
wllled in his resolutions, stern in his execu-
ton Of them, he cast about for means to put
h0rs dU combat this carpet knight, who had
dared to undertake to become his son-in-law
in spite of him, when accident threw into his
hands letter which Gaetan had written to
Helen The Cheyalier, impatient to obtain
the goal of his desires, proposed in direct
terms to the young Countess, an clopement,
and proposed a clandestine meeting at the
hour when the Count was in the habit of go-
ing out to play whist with some gentlemen of
his acquaintance at the distant conversation
House.
A rose placed in Helen's belt was to be
the signal of her consent.
The young girl had not read the adroitly
intercepted note. Put this flower in thy
belt, said the Count to her, offering rose,
'and come with me-
Helen smlingly obeyed, and took her fa-
theirs arm. In the course of their walk they
met Gaetan, who seeing the rose was over
joyed.
The Count conducted his daughter to the
residence of one Of their acquantances, and
requested her to wat until he called for her.
That done, he returned to the little house in
which he lived, at the outskirts of Baden
He had sent away his servants, and was
alone. At the appointed hour Gaetan arriv-
ed at the rendezvous, leaped lightly over the
wall of the garden, and finding the door shut
entered the house through one of the low
windows. Then mounting the stairs, filed
with pleasing emotions he directed his steps
towards the apartment of Helen. There, in
stead OF the daughter he found the father,
armed with brace of pistols. The Count
closed the door, and said to the wretched
Gaetan:
A." ! could kill you; have the right to do
so. You have entered my house in the night.
You have broken into it. could treat you
as a felon; nothing in the world could be
more natural
" But, sir said Gaetan, almost inaudiably,
i am not a robber'
"And whatare you then? You have come
to steal my daughter-to steal an heiress-
TO steal a fortune. Here is your letter, which
unveiled to me your criminal intentions.
shall show you no mercy But to take your
life have no need of this trap. You know
the skill of my arm; a duel would long ago
have rid me of you. To avoid scandal, |
did not wish duel, and now | will slay you
only at the last extremity, if you refuse to
obey me at once
What is your will, SIR"
"You must leave Baden, not in few DAYS.
not to-marrow, but this very instant. You
must put two hundred leagues between it and
you, and never again come into the presence
of my daughter or myself AS the price of
your obedience, and TO pay yonr travelling ex-
penses, give you the sum of twenty thous-
and francs
The Chevalier wished TO speak.
Not a word, cried the Count, in a voice
Of thunder. you know me. Understand |