Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1856-11-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Fathers Stratagem.

at Baden, accompanied 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 host of ad-
mirers. Adorers of all kinds were not
wanting-rich and poor, noble and OBJ
scure, tender and passionate, grave and
gay. 1t was perpetual tournament, of
which she was the queen, and where the
aspirants contended for her hand by ex-
hibiting their address, grace, and scduc-
tive qualities. When she entered her
carriage ten cavaliers were in the saddle,
caracolng around her caleche. At the
ball, the most elegant dancers were de-
voted to her They had neither cares,
attentions, nor sighs, but for her where
at many beautiful women-French, Eng
lish and Russian-were particularly NOR
tilted. Amongst these pressing sultors,
Helen selected the most worthless. The
Chevalier Gaetan 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 cloquence of look and word in short
he dressed with taste, danced marvellous
lv, and sang like Rubini.
But, unhappily, these advantages were
contrasted by great vices. A dissipated
gambler, and unprincipled, the Chevalier
Gaetan had left Naples in consequence OF
some scandalous 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 her guard against a dangerous afiec-
ton. Helen listened neither to advice,
the prayers, nor the orders of her father
The man for whom he endeavored to de-
strov her esteem was already master OF
her heart, and she obstilately refused to
believe in the disgraceful antecedents OF
the young Italian. If Gaetan had had to
do with father who lacked energy, per-
baps he would have become the happy
husband of the young countess, and the
peaceful possessor of the immense fortune
with which he was so frantically III love
But the count knew how TO carry hl'
point either by management or force
He was an old lion. He had preserved
all the yigor of youth and all the rude
6rmness of an indomitable character
which nothing but paternal tenderness
had ever softened. Self-willed in hi
resolutions, stern in his execution Q
them, he cast about for means to put hOr
de combat this carpet-knight, who ha'
dared to undertake to become his son-in
law in spite of him, when accident thre'
into his hands letter which Gaetan ha
written to Helen. The cheyalier, impa
ten, to attain the goal of his desires, pre-
posed in direct terms to the young count
ess an elopement, and suggested a clar
destine meeting, at the hour when III
count was in the habit of going out
play whist with some gentlemen of b
acquaintance, at the Conversation Hous'
A rose placed in Helen's bosom was
be the signal of consent. But the youn
Girl had not read the adroltly interceptC
note.
"Pm this flower in your dress" sa
the count to her, offering a rose, "aI
come with me-
Helen smihngly obeyed and took h
e. fathers arm. In the course of the
walk they met Gaetan, who, seeing 4
rose, was overjoyed. Then the cou
conducted his daughter to the residen
of one of their acquaintances, and !
quested her to wait until he came for HI
,,t That done, he returned to the little hot
in which he lived, at the outskirts of l
den, on the Lichtenthal road. lie h
sent away his servants, and was alol
At the appointed hour Gaetan arrived
the rendezvous, leaped lightly over
wall of the garden, and finding the d
shut, entered the house through one Of
low windows. Then mounting the sta
filled with pleasing emotions, he direc