Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-23

In his converse with Pauline, Claude. al
though he was obliged to support an aristo.
cratic character, yet endeavored to inculcate
the principles he would have her governed
by. were he in his own station: and TINS
without realizing it, there were placed in her
heart the germs of an honorable regard for
merit, he it found in what class it might
lie Taught her the folly of being a. pensioner
on the dead, and that brave deeds were the
ancestors Of brave men. Yet all the while
wa; Was he deceiving the beautiful aRd seasle
sion near akin to actual devotion Ever and
anon as he held sweet converse with her, and
listened to her dear and devoted language,
his conscience would smite him almost be-
yond endurance.
AT length, by well arranged plan of Beau
seant's, it was determined that it should be
made to appear that the prince was in dan
ger Of being arrested by the directory, and
that he must depart Immediately, thus COM
pelling Pauline to marry him at once, or lose
him, perhaps, forever. This scheme, so cum
ningly devised, was successful, and the great
haste necessary was the excuse for an imme-
diate wedding, without the customary settle
ments and other ceremonies, these things
being left for after adjustment. The arrange
ments were so made that the vehicle which
bore the prince and his bride from Lyons,
should pass through the village Of Claude's
nativity, and at the door of the Golden Lion
1t was to break down, and there end all his
greatness. Pauline was then to be conduc-
ted, as though merely for shelter, to his moth
er's cot, hard by, and then all was to be ex-
planned to her, and she to know that she had
married peasant.
This plan, so cunningly devised, was put
L I'll
which they were married, Claude and Pau
line were seen walking along the hy-path
from the Golden Lion to Melnot's cot
tage, the pretended accident having occurred
Claude suggested that they should seek a
private roof for shelter, rather than the tav-
ern, and also that he knew of an honest one
near by, where they might rest in safety
They passed the little path towards the cot
tage, and soon entered its lowly, but honest
roof The mother rushes to clasp her son in
her arms, who has necessarily been leng alb
sent from her ; she calls him by name, and
presses him to her heart-a strange thought
enters the head of Pauline.
Does the old weman know thee, prince ?
y, see you have done her some Kindness
another evidence of thy good hearts, it not
so?"
Would that the earth might swallow m ;,
said the guilty, halfdstracted Claude.
Madame said the Widow Melnot to Pau
The t%uth broke upon raullne, ana snt
was driven, in her heart-brok' n passion, al
most to madness. She could hardly believe
it was not all dream, and begged of Claud
to undeceive her, to say it was but trick t
try her, jest, anything; but no it wa
truth, stern reality, and Pauline Deschar
pellcs was the wife of Sert!
Hloo1o No 1oec l,1a ho
she whom he had so deeply w1onged. II
told her all-how the tempters found him
fitting tool for their foul purposes how sl
! had trod upon the worm and it had turne
and stung her. He told her that at the a
tar his guilty oath expired, that there h
/ vengeance ceased, and from that moment 81
was sacred that on the morrow, pure ar
virgin as when she left her fathers hous
she should return to it; then committing b
to the care of his mother, he seated himst
at the table and drew up a full confession
, of the fraud, which mi ight serve as suficie
o evidence for divorce. With this, he d.
q patched messenger to Lyons to Mr. ID
4 chappelles that he could come for his chill
L How could he meet that girls father? t
# parent of her he had so deeply wronged
q There was to be IA scene in that humble C
y tage, on the morrow, which would prove e
If ry power of the heart
% The day came and with it Monsieur a
J. Madame Deschappelles, accompanied
Colonel Damas. There were angry wo1
g. there, but none from Claude; he bore eve
le reproach, every censure, in silence, for
4 was n-hearted-his spirit was comps
of ly suhdued. Did Pauline, too, censure /
ia then no =! She looked about the neat,
II humble apartment. and saw the accompli
hot ooh pcfr nd M
20 bespoke its owner to have acquired, and
nd too, for the love Of her She saw, to
n portrait of herself, drawn from memory,
af by his hands, q mastery piece.
90. though he had done wrong in this one i
cd ter, tempted by the witty tongue and re
70. wit of villain What though he had
of ceived her, he had acknowledged all,
he made her free again What though he
zee peasant (perhaps the hardest thought
elf her to conquer,) yet still she loved him,
ore with all the devotion Of her woman's h
ts -- Iho -'-----as had been spoken, and
au- were about to part, when Pauline rushe
in to the arms of Claude and told him she
lies gave him ALL all was fOrgotten-but the
pa voice OF her father recalled her, threate
ete- to dlsInherlt her, and disown her forev
nee she Glove to that wretched man. Agail
the she seek his breast, telling him she W
ver resign wealth, title. state, all, that she W
work for him, tend him, and never repr
an, him for the past.
the 1t was most touching scene even
the Damas, with all his sternness, was NOV
npt tears. These last words were the ha
han strokes OF all to Claude, for they showed
lie what heart he had wronged
be- Pauline said he, the husband of
,ug, ing so beautiful in her noble and sui
and tenderness may be poor, NAV be born
With is no guilt in the DEGREES of Providence
lin, he should be one who can look thee !
him face without blush, to show thy love
sing not bring remorse, who can fold thee
'Ord breast and say: Here there is no dece
hort am not that man.
per. Col. Damas, who had come to censur
gen. struck with the noble spirit of Claude,
seed giving him his hand, told him he would
and an excellent soldier and offered him
deep III his own regiment This was acc
upon the spot, and Claude, bidding the
IT as farewell, told them he would either ney
cant turn, or lse he would come hack wit
wish honor redeemed, and as one worthy th
at it OF Pauline. lie tore himself from tt
was. embrace OF her he loved, pressed his de
alvis mother to his heart, and rushed from II
now tage. lie Joined the regiment of Col. D
ence and on the next day marched with the :
than army
sac Months, years, rolled on, and still {
lance was engaged IN the wars, rising gra
, and IRON rank to rank, until he was high