Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-24

stern voice of her father recalled her, threa-
tening to disinherit her and disown her for
ever, if she Glove to that wretched man
Again she seeks his breast, telling him she
would resign wealth, title, state, all; that
she would work for him, tend him, and nev-
er reproach him for the past.
At this scene even Col. Dumas, with all
his sternness, was moved to tears. These
last words were the hardest strokes of all to
Claude, for they showed him what a heart
he had wronged.'
Pauline" said he, ''the husband of a
being so beautiful in her noble and sublime
tenderness, may be poor, may be low born,
(there is no guilt in the DEGREES of Provi-
dence,) } but should be one who can look thee
in the face without blush, to show thy
love does not bring remorse, who can fold
thee to his breast and say: Here there is
no deceit I am not that man."
Col. Dumas, who had come to censure, was
struck with the noble spirit of Claude, and
giving him his hand, told him he would make
an excellent soldier, and offered him place
in his own regiment. This was accepted
on the spot and Claude, bidding them fare
well, told them he would either never re-
turn, or else he would come back with his
honor redeemed, and as some one worthy
the love of Pauline. He tore himself from
the last embrace Of her he loved, pressed
his mother to his heart, and rushed from
the cottage. He joined the regiment of
Col. Dumas, and on the next day marched
with the "grand army"
Months rolled on and Claude was engag-
ed in the wars, rising gradually from rank
to rank, until he was high in command
At the celebrated battle of Lodi he was de-
clared by Napoleon to be one of the heroes
of the day, and publicly heralded as such.
The booty, too, that fell to his share from
many well fought battle, had rendered
him rich.
After the expiration of little more than
two years from the time Of his separation
from Pauline, his regiment returned to Ly-
ons. Hardly had he entered the city with
Colonel, now Gen. Dumas, before he learn
ed that Pauline was soon to be married to
the evil-hearted Beauseant As for himself,
he was probably forgotten, not having been
heard from since he left his home, for he
had assumed the name of Morea, on enter
ing the army, determining not again to
wear his fathers honest one, until he should
have redeemed his honor.
He ascertained that the day of his arrival
was the very one on which the marriage
contract was to be signed. Gen. Dumas
having met with M. Deschapelles, was invi-
ted to be present on the occasion, and had
agreed to do so. Claude's heart yearned "a
gain to behold Pauline, if only for the last
time Was it for this that he had encoun-
tered danger, spilled his blood freely, yet
still hoped on, prayed on, for this day, on
which he might again behold her, and now
that it had come, the hour he had singled
out from time, and marked for bliss how
wretched he was! Pauline lost to him
now? In vain did Gen. Dumas endeavor
to cheer him in vain did he tell him that
there was in store bright fate for so brave
and constant heart. Claude said to him !:
"Bid me not hope; I could not bear again
to fall from such heaven"
The hour for signing the contract has az
rived. The notary sits in the parlor of the
house of NJ. Deschapelles, with all the pa
pers drawn up in proper form before him.
Pauline was there with her parents, when
Gen. Dumas, accompanied by Claude, en-
tered, and introduced him by the assumed
name of Morea. All were proud to meet
Col. Morea, the celebrated hero, and even
thanked Dumas for the honor he had confer
red upon them by the introduction. There
too, sat Beauseant, the evil-minded deceiv-
er, who was to become the husband of Pau
line, now busily engaged with the notary
Claude, favored in his disguise by his
military rank and dress, and also by the
bronzed hue that time and toll had added to
his complexion, beside dark silky mus
tache, ran little risk of being recognized
and he also wore his military cloak wrapped
we'll about him. He approached Pauline,
to whom he was introduced by Gen. Dumas,
as friend of Melnotte; one who had slept
in the same tent, and fought in the same
field He had conversed with Pauline but
few moments in his disguised voice, when
he gathered that some strange mystery hung
about the proposed alliance, for Pauline beg
lged him to tell Melnotte that she had not
nursed a thought that was not his.
''Tell him" said the devoted girl, seven
now that I would rather share his lowliest
lot, walk by his side an outcast, work for
him, beg with him, live upon the light of
one kind smile from him, than wear the
crown the Bourbons lost.'
Claude could hardly believe his own ears
that she still loved him and yet was about
to wed another. Turning to Gen. Dumas,
he soon ascertained from him that which
he had just learned, that M. Deschapelles
was on the verge of bankruptcy; that on the
morrow, unless he could raise the sum that
Beauseant had already offered to furnish if
Pauline would give him her hand, he would
be ruined. This was the barter-the con-
dition was Pauline's hand unless that mo-
nov could ho raised tho arod Ey,br &c h..