Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-27

ciallyl with renewed devotion, of course, but
she permitted no patent leather boots to bring
their condolers to her domicile. Shutting
herself up with cousin, she broOded over fti-
tile plans and contradictory resolutions
Sometimes she determined to go to St Peters
burg, and throw herself into her husbands
arms; at others she felt il would be more Just
and conjugal to scratch his eyes out. Then
she resolved to remain at Paris, and edify the
world by widOwhood which would earn her
the name of the Penelope Of the Paasc Roy
al, and SO forth nj infnitum.
GOrgeon, short time after his debut in
Russia, wrote her letter full! of tenderness
and contrition. Ills anger had cooled, his
rivals were no longer before his eyes, and he
par,loncd and asked pardon. MOre-hc asked
his wife to join him; he had found her an en-
gagement. But, unfortunately, this letter ar
rived at the crisis Of an Indignation paroxysn,
and Pauline threw it in the fire without open
ing it. Gorgcon, obtaining no answer, was
again rutilcd, aud wrote no more.
In November Pauline, her resentment still
carefully famed by her friends, was one morn
ing dressing herself before the glass, for re-
hearsal Her cousin had gone to market,
leaving the key in the door, and the cOmedien-
ne was unroling the last curl paper, when she
perceived in the mirror a small, extremely
ugly man, cnvelopcd in fur cloak, standing
in the doorway, and with a scream Of terror
she turned round. "Who are you what
do you want-go out sir! You can't enter
here! Marie!" cried she, the words following
each other so rapidly that they seemed to fall
in stream from her lips.
II am not in love with you-you do not
please me-" replied the little man, with visible
embarrassment.
Love! Is it who love you, then? Go
out of my chamber, sir"
81 am not in love with you, madam-you
do not pl-"
"Madman !" almost shrcked Pauline "Lcavc
me, or shall call for add will call robbers I!
| will throw myself out Of the window"
Forgive me, madam said the little man, in
a supplicating voice, and joining his hands /;
~ have Travelled seven hundred leagues to
make you proposition. have this moment
arrived from st. Pctcrsburgh, and. speaking
French very poorly, | had prepared what |
wished to say to you beforehand; but you
have so intmidatcd me that i
lie sat down and wiped his brow with a
costly embroidered handkerchief, while Pau
line seized the moment to throw a shawl over
her shoulders
"Madame," resumed the stranger, 81 am
not in i, excuse me, and don't get angry
again-I mean your husband has played me
an infamous trick. am the Prince VaSilikol;
have ali income of o million, but never hav-
ing served in the army, am placed in the four
tcenth class of nobility"
THAT is nothing tn me, sir"
II know but have prepared what have
to say to you, and go on. am as you see,
no beauty. and have, besides, a slight ner-
vous disorder, which has been somewhat u
subject for wit in society. This, however,
has not prevented my loving charming lady,
demanded her in marriage, and being accept
cd by her parents, Ton account Of my tortune)
which marriage was OH the point OF consum-
nation, when your husband had the internal
idea Of caricaturing me on the stage, and
amusing the whole city at my expense. At-
ter the first representation, Nava Cher name
is Nava,) dismissed my suit; after the second,
she cneag> d herself to little Finnish colonel,
without "a hundred thousand francs in the
world. Therefore, | am resolved to be re-
vcnged on GOrgeon, and il you will assist me
Ill make your fortune. ! am not in love with
you in spite Of your beauty, and the PROPOSE
tons am about to make to you are perfectly
honorable, although they may appear rather
extraordinary. Thus in brief; if you will
leave here, instanter, for ST. Petersburg in an
excellent travelling carriage, you will find
Place st. Michael, few steps only from the
thcatcr, luxurious hotel, which l present
you, completely furnished and filled with SER
wants who will obey you blindly in everything
You can take two Iady's maids with you, and
two carriages will be ut your orders. have
hired ut the tn, ater stage box on the first
tier. My steward will count to you each
month the sum you demand, and before lcav
ing Paris will deposit with your banker two
hundred thousand francs to your credit. DO
not become alarmed too soon you are not to
give me love, friendship, OF even gratitude for
this promise you to never put foot inside
your abode. You will receive whom you
please, except your husband, and come and
20 US you like. All ask is seat at your
side in your box at the theater, for eight per-
formanccS. Gorgeon has turned the laugh
against me wish to have it on my side.
The young wife knew her husbands pecu-
liar temperament well enough to feel how
cruel such vengeance would be to him, and
what terrible consequences might ensue.
"IOu are mad, said she to the prince.
There are many other ways of Furnishing
my husband. Send him to Siberia for win
ter"
Very difficult; l am not influential
enough"
The conversation was prolonged until Ma
rie's return, when Pauline obtained q week for
reflection and decision, which she employed
in consulting her female friends, who were
unanimous in advising her to accept some
because they were glad to get rid of rivalv-
others because they would rejoice at her repu-
tation compromised by such II scandal. They
earnestly heightened her husbands ill-trcat-
ment and scOrn Of her, and the sweetness of
revenge, all of which she heard dreamily, and
finally (what will you think of the paradoxcs
of wOman's heart when tell you y accepted
only because she was dying Of the desire to
see her husband again. And proof of her
disinlercStcdnesS was, that she fused the
Princes two hundred thousand francs.
She left Paris the first Of December, and
arrived in st. Petersburg on the 10Th, in a
magnificent sleigh; emblazoned with the
coat of arms of the Prince. Visillikof had
arrived two days before, and the whole city,
Russians, French and Goryeon knew OF the
expected event Of Paulines entry.
The Prince gave her fifteen days to recover
the fatigue Of the journey, and she had u fur
ther delay of a week, during which Gorgeon
did not play. She regarded the play-bllS
each day AS the prisoner Of the Reign OF Ter
ror used to look at the list OF headsnlen.
She enjoyed neither her splendid wardrobe,
L L =