Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-21
EVENING STAR.
THE SALE OF A KrNenoM

and upon the varied costumes Of the ,smn,
rary inhabitants. Never since the Sav
Rosalind and Jacques had so motIey a Gre,
danced beneath the outrageous oaks. nor ON
half SO splendid. Fine ladies of the court ba
thrown aside their hoops and powder, an
stepped out in the native dignity of peasau
girls, or ascended into blazing guise Of bo,
rowed royalty. Atlsntus with buskins an
apples; Dianas, with crescents and hound:
graces, muses., and dryads, all mingled thei
gsy array with the gods and satyrs. Turk
and yeonen The dancers were swingipI
around like band of reeling bachanai
among the tree.boles, when one withdrew ia
ugued, and wandered to little distance
nung herself on the sward beneath wide
| spread branches. Dressed as sea-nymph
she went by the name Of Nathalie, and wa
| oy Tar the loveliest one among all the merr,
masqueraders; and so doubtless thought tb,
| tall and graceful Apollo, who, with colder
curls clustering around his temples, and pol
| her ''A'
alt is not, said he, /" the first time Natha
lie has been seen by her adorer; one or twic,
oefoIe In the evening shade of these wood
| mas LIE Norman worshipped her beauty, bu
never In guise so costly as now What spel
has come over the maid of Ardennes?"
Nathalie slowly rOso, showing in every mo
tion the waving grace of true sea nymph
ana stood leaning against the tree-stem before
before him her flowing robe was Of an iride.
scent Pearly.colored stuff, changing now to
the suggestion Of pale blue, now to the soft
mesh tint of shell, and now to a deep, wa
terry sheet OF ses green Slender branches OF
scarlet coral made vivid splendor in he r
dark hair, and hanging from their tips veil
OF laco fell down and half smothered the glow
and sparkle OF jewels that adorned her. Dis.
monds fiickered with every breath upon her
cha al
Wreaths OF mock sea-weed trailed festoon. vise
round her skirts, and rubes, emeralds, and
oopals, strewn with profuss hand on her at
tire' and glistenisg with lavish lustre, trans
formed her into the image Of one who. lust
rising from the sea, was blazing with the nv.
rad dazzling waterdrops that dripped away
from her, each first hiding in its bosom a sun
oeam OF TINS upper world to carry down into
the still depths of twilight cave.
Monsieur has perchance thought" re-
turned she, THAT because l live with foster.
parents In hut among these woods, had no
ancestors; that because l wore russell, I could
never wear satin that because decked NV
hair with flowers, had therefore no priceless
helrlooms. Monsieur, these jewels have been
IN our family more than six hundred years,'
Ard my family scarcely counts beyond
tnat, said the young man.
And monsieur has then q family and a
name ~ said she.
None nobler in the kingdom" he replied.
But, Nathalie, how came you here?"
An, the msrchioness was my mothers
friend, said Nathalie, "and today is nv
birth day, lie Norman To-day I am fifteen
so young and so lovely" thought LIE Nor.
man; "and if she loves me las cannot doubt
she does) born to how much trouble" And
he remembered with a double pang of both
exquisite joy and pain the emotion m anifested
by her on tho occasion of slight accident to
him Then he had thought her wild, charm
ing forest girl, beautiful enough to beguile an
hour away, although doubling even then if
his feelings towards her were too deep for tri.
fling. Now be found her of a certain noble
rank-but what Of that 1t must be a high
rank which should smite down the barrier be
tween them; and nursed in different religious
faiths, inexorable state laws must intervene,
should all else prosper, and prevent their
union He should never dare to tell her of his
love; she would recover her affections in a lit.
tie while, if he were silent, and be happy
again-he would not entail wretcheduess on
her young life-he would never speak Hav-
ing made this doughty resolution, while his
thoughts we're almost written on his face, he
hunnmed a snatch of the distant dancing tune
before he spoke again.
Ard of what was Nathalie thinking? OF
sorroTtul things, if her face was any index
1t was moment before he dared trust himself
to look at her; at las. when he raised his head
her dark eyes were fxed upon him, swelling
over with tears There is a moment of weak
ness that is irresistible; if he had withstood
now he was more than human. He need net
ask if she loved him-he knew it. lie need
not swear his love for her-she would feel
that. He took her in his arms, and lulled the
grief that then first broke forth, with tender
est kisses ard most eudearing sentences Alas
for Nathalie!
month had passed, and every day had
witnessed en- interview between the two lovers
Of the wood; and when once, half trembling
IL, Nathalie had requested TO know the name
of her lover, an almost stern tone had come
into his voice as he bade hcr not inq uire again:
and with 3 strange pain in his face he warned
her that, rs it was, she would know all too
soon.
At least you are not one whom need be
ashamed to love % she yentured 10 remark
"Not that, indeed, my darling" be re
piled; " but one who, knowing what lies be-
fore him in the future, should be ashamed to
love you! !" And Nathalie, feeling he could
do nothing wrong, was satisfied.
Now she sat in the drawing room Of her
friend the marchioness, in full dress, awaiting
her lover, who was to accompany and present
her at court. A coach dashed up to the door;
another moment and lie Norman stood in the
apartment, with flushed checks and an ark
louS, vlYlQ Drlgntness ln Dis 1estleSs eyes as
the marchioness turned and beheld his face,
she began q sudden exclamation; bat it was
instantly checked by his warning look, and
they were soon rolling along to the royal pal
ace.
Whenever Nathalie had seen her lover be-
fore it had been in his simple hunting dress,
or that of some fancy disguise: Now in court
c.s.ume, almost too dazzling, Nathalie thought
he could not look better than he did In the
woods; and her heart swelled with joy as she
thought of the happy rustic life she should
load for all her future with this titled forester
who despissd rank and courtly bsubles; and
she pleased herself with delicious images of
quiet contentment as Acy rolled along
Coaches in the street gave way for them by
the faring gas light; ushers ut the palace
door swep: open long avenues through the no.
bic crowd, who respectfully withdrew. Bcw-
ing to the right and lett, lie Norman with Ma
tn allie upon his arm, and the marchioness fol-
lowed directly behind with the chamberlain,
passed the halls and staircase, swept through
the ante-room till the doors Of the throne
room were thrown open, and they entered
while lords and ladies, who had been and
still were patiently awaiting their turn stepped
6 hill or h.. 10 IA ad Il