New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-06-21


heavily and said
~ think yen are amazingly prudent
q do not wish TO wound a fathers heart.
But Won DO not care for wounding nine
Adoiphe, if never become your wife with my
fathers consent shall always remain single, but this
IS the extent of all can promise you;
The youug soldiers face grew sad, he walked mast
y across the room stopping now and then TO look
at the lovely tyrant who held nun 50 caIeessy n het
two beautiful dimples, which adorned her lovely
month were on the point OF appearing with that joy
ous laugh which was so natural to her. Adophe'
heart did not beat so gayly he was jealous lover
whose imagination saw in Christine a treasure
guarded by two dragons ready 10 devour love itself
namely, ambition and avarice.
Ignorant Of her fathers designs, con6ding in the
affection of beloved parent the innocent daughter
on crafty father still saw now no cloud in the flu
ture she was, on the contrary very much amused al
her lovers pouting Adolphes eyes flashed fire. but
he did not dare complain again reflection oppressed
him. and. almost beside himself, but too unworldy tc
be able to struggle against his cruel thoughts he still
feared to disturb Christmas happiness, and he re
venged himself for not being able to find fault with
her by taking himself to task.
II have been yerysfoolish" cried he al deserve al
that has happened to me. By heaven to have al
lowed an absurd passion to get the mastery Of me
Come there must be an end to this shall not re
pay your father the debt of gratitude which | owe
him by robbing him Of his only child adieu, Chris
tinel am going to rejoin my regiment. ! count
upon the illfortuneof war to ease my troubles-you
will think with some little regret of the dead Y
His voice was broken. Christine uttered cry,
and her tears burst forth abundantly for Adolphe
was kneeling at her feet, and begging her pardon
His warlike resolution had melted away like dew be-
fore the sun, and the young lovers parted more in
love than ever
Christine would not have liked to die of love, on
the contrary she wished to live for its sake and to
be violently separated from the object OF sincere
and early affection, would have embittered her life
.-..sL nx.I sna4,a Ia fr.nr n,t
could not be, they would be always each other
but in spite Of her lovers grief strange attrac
ton led her to her mirror. She remembered her
fathers orders concerning the supper to be given that
evening TO some friend, and consulted his wishes
by adding to her toilet every ornament which could
please a father who felt the greatest pride in the
beauty of his child. When she entered the room,
which had been heated and perfumed according to
her orders, and where supper was prepared with a
degree Of magniicence not often seen even at the
house of the opulent minister, she shone upon the
solitary guest an object of beauty sufficiently dazzling
to merit the homage Of a whole court.
Nothing could exceed Christine's anger and aston
ishment when instead of the distinguished stranger
whom she had expected to strike dumb with her
charms she beheld, in the person who rose awkward
ly at her appearance to conduct her to table, the
odons Ericsson the object Of her greatest aversion
and the despised butt Of her malicious sarcasms.
What made my father amuse himself thus at my
expense y thought she to herself looking sidelong
at the detested face. II is really that creature
thought she, sitting sigh and an inconvenient wish
to laugh which incommoded her at the same time.
" What does that ugly captain come here for, with
his china blue eyes and his hair in such boyishook
ing curls
Her dislike did not exaggerate the portrait which
she drawing in her own mind of the tall, gaunt
and inelegant young man who stood before her, with
his large, aqniue nose his ruddy cheeks, and with
rude stare in his soldier eyes, which seemed to devour
the charms of the proud and sensitive girl. Such
was indeed, the picture OF the individual who had
for weeks been the most constant visitor at the
prime minister's house, and who was often ccseted
with him by the hour. In vain did Chrstine-in de-
spair at having wasted her delicious toiet-resign
herself to listening to his rude gaantry and hearing
his vulgar admiration the warlike machine would
have remained week before her without uttering a
single compliment. The only manifestation which
he made of the admiration which he felt was loud
laughter at his own stupid words. Christine, re-
strained by her respect for her father seemed TO seek
some door through which to disappear and spare her
self the eRnu mingled with indignation, which the
presence of such a sutton caused her to feel. Her
heart, filled by pleasing image, and irritated at the
of this ugly rival bounded angrily
within her. She felt ready to exclaim " Count Eric
son merciful heavens Count Ericson!"
And as If the insupportable Ericsson had been
aware Of these hostile reflections he attempted TO
display all his powers, and make some way in the
good gaces Of the silent lady, by asking her abruptly
What is your opinion OF Alexander the Great n
Christine could not help laughing in the face of her
guest
never think about Alexander the Great at all !"
answered she. remember that, when was read
ing about him, however, was as much afraid Of him
as Of madman.
Ericsson began vehemently to defend the most re.
courage ever admired by the world.
" IF he had been as prodigionsly wise, as he was
courageous, he would have learned to
govern himself before undertaking to master the
Rorld.n &
Ericsson bushed to the roots of his rzzled red hair
Ind answered angrily, " Can a woman penetrate the
secret Of the noble fever which leads of courage
INTO thousand dangers and makes him despse life
with all its nsipid joys to merit the crown of immor
tal renownm
No" replied Christine, with simplicity, "I have
no such fever, and no sympathy with destroyers. II
thrsted for celebrity it would be the fame of hay
ing acquired the blessings of those among whom my
life was passed. Yes, my dear father y continued
she, without needing warning look from the minis
ter should rather that such should live TO bless
me than to die cursing me- 1t is rightlul to think
of these slayers Of men. Do not speak Of them, sir
bnt let US pray heaven TO deliver the earth from them
ALL"
Child Y murmured the tortured minister, filling
Ericsons glass; and trying to attract his attention.
+" To the glory OF Alexander, Count
"We said y cried the warrior, quenchng his
anger in glass of delicious wine " Come, little
savage! to the glory Of Alexandern aud he struck
Christnes glass so violently as to shater it to pieces
have no thirst for such glory replied the saucy
girl. :" i will not drink TO one of those mlevoent
phenomena who hide tigers skin under the roya
mantle.n
"My lord my lordlr interrupted the courtier,
frightened at the rising anger Of his guest whose
eyes glittered like the blade of dagger. "Can the
sales OF young girl wound your feelings She is
pleased only with her little dog which she suffers to
bite her with impunity and tear her fingers which
are as weak as intants-seeh continued the minis
ter carelessly seeing the soldiers anger diminish at
the sight OF the chdlike hand which he held under
bis rough moustache. " Her warlike knowledge is
limited to the march of game of chess that narrow
sphere is her field of battle continued he approach
ing the table where he had caused to be placed set
OF chess men, Qfor chess was Eriesons favore game
" She tights the general so courageously that even
an old soldier like myself finds some honor in bring
ing down her womansh pride"
Nothing, to all appearance, could be better calcu
lated to compose the rniiied dignity of the uncouth
Ericsson, than the prospect of game at chess for,
turning to the caprcious and laughing child he chal
lenged her 70 play game with him. with more cour
tesy than ste had supposed him capable of showing
But--if beat your said she gayly.
/" II will not be Mt chess alone that you are nv con
querer, fair and wicked one answered he, looking
her directly in the face and pressing her hand so hard
as To make her exclaim Christine flushed aud cast
down her eyes, not without having given d dsdanfu
glance at the awkward soldier - but the ice was
broken, the butterfly had emerged from the chrysal,
he met her proud look with another look as If he
doubted her sincerity.
There is more Ere in the automaton than bad
thought Christine in confusion, and my
father is forcing me to play hazardous game.'
She hid her blushing cheek with one
hand-fxed her eyes immovaby on the chess board
determined, in a fierce dt Of obstinacy to play a.