Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-27

hcI0 dI my lOliellc. l. ou muob ouNASO
Mariette relative to its arrangement, for
have no heart to do it."
She gave the usual signal, and in few
minutes Mariette was at her side.
"Do your best" said Henrietta, "for
| wish to look particularly well this eve
ming"
Assisted by the advice of Sophie, the
girl performed her task admirably. Hen
rietta never looked morf loyely-more ra-
diaut The languor which had recently
weighed down her spirits had given place
to an undefnable, almost wild excitement,
which brought a vivid color to her cheeks,
and made her fine eyes lustrous as the jew
els that flashed amid the long, glossy ring
lets of her hair. An hour afterwards, she
was moving amid the gay and stately as
semblage which filled the apartments of
Saint Cloud, every vestige of the dark and
heavy shadow gone, which had brooded
upon her heart like bird of i'll omen.-
As it was the first time she had appeared |
III public since she met her brother at Do
yer, smiles and congratulations greeted her
on every hand. The Duke of Orleans
stood apart, wrapt in his own gloomy
thoughts. Every smile, every gay and
witty sally of the Duchess, darkened the
cloud on his brow Lorraine, secure in the
alteration effected by time, during his alb
sence from France, and the disguise he had
assumed, was apparently one of the gayest
of the assembly. None could see the evil
and bitter passions prompting him to the
commission of deadly crime, which made
the lowest menial who served in the palace
an object of envy to him. He glided from
group to group, addressing compliments to
the ladies, and smiling at their remarks,
till at last he found himself by the side of
Henrietta. The charm of her manners
silenced, for moment, the fend whisper
ing in his ear, and his better feelings as
serted their power. He raised his eyes,
and they encountered the cold, quiet gaze
of Philip, who was regarding him with a
sarcastic smile. The fatal purpose, which
had for moment slumbered, revived with
redoubled energy, and Henrietta involunta-
rily shrunk beneath the snake like glitter
of his eye. He perceived it, and at once
resumed the suavity and gayety of his for
mer manner Philip was not the only one
present who kept watchful eye upon the
Duchess and Lorraine. Sophie never for
moment lost sight of them. She was
harrassed by vague conjectures which she
could neither Danish nor venture to disclose.
| Another, too, whose rank did not permit
to mingle with the company, wandered
restlessly through the passages, striving by
some means to arrest Henrietta's S attention
Among the refreshments which were now
about to be served, were some peaches, a
kind of fruit of which the Duchess was
I particularly fond. As she passed door,
Lorraine by her side, she felt her sleeve
pulled, and billet was thrust into her hand.
As you value your life, read it now
t was at the same time whispered in her ear.
G AS she was pressing forward toward small
o ante-room, that she might have opportuni
;. ty to obey the command, servant ap
preached with silver salver, en- which
was small basket of peaches. The cen
!. trail peach, which was encircled by leaves
n composing a coronet, was much larger an(
more beautiful than the rest.
a "The finest peach ever saw" said Lor
e raine, raising it from the basket; "wil
e you take it, madame r.
: With graceful acknowledgment she ac
cepted it, and, while eating it, continued t.
advance towards the apartment where sh
intended to peruse the billet. LORRAINE
) kept her in his eye till she had finished
: eating it, and then he left the palace. Oh
his way thence he encountered Philip.
: Glow is this" said the Duke; "you
: courage failed you?"
d "Before twenty four hours, replied tn
|, Cheavalier, "you will be free man, an
If the only obstacle to my freedom will n
longer exist"
J Having said thus, he FASTENED to tn
|, spot where he had ordered his servant t
d have in waiting feet horse. He spran
lie to the saddle, put spurs to the spirited an
NAL, and ere the beauties he had compl
IA mented and fattered had ceased to watc
n. for his re-appearance in the ballroom, b
III had left Saint Cloud far behind. Half a
x hour afterwards, Sophie found her friend
w small apartment by herself, pale and M
de tionless as the marble column against whic
n, she leaned, with piece of paper graspe
,i- in her hand Henrietta handed it to h
of without speaking 1t contained the
u. words:
ed GAS you value your life, eat nothir
a. this evening presented you by the strang
ed knight"
lie. 't.The warning came too late" said He
IN rietta; "he presented me with peac
which | ate"
lie. Sophie instantly sought the King, al
informed him of the situation of the Due
the ess. She was conveyed to her own apa
ing ments, and the most skilful physical
out summoned to attend her.
So The clock struck four as the confessor
hat Henrietta Of England, clad in the We
> ments in which he was accustomed to
nke minister the consultations of his religion
the dying, entered her chamber. At
the appearance, those present hushed th
whispers, and even she for whose sake
had been summoned, suppressed the grt
be of agony. The windows were thrown OPP
he and the stars of cloudless night lcol
ght in upon the hushed circle while listen
him to the deep and solemn voice of the c
fessor, and the low and broken accents
be her who lay like rose sweptfrom its stC
7age As he left the bedside, the faint beams
very morning broke into the chamber, and
wind, which, during the night, had sl
too bered, came foatingin with cool, rust