Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-03

"Saucy girl teach me to make love to
you cried Ericsson, imprinting kiss on lips
which were purple with anger. l .-t
| This freedom, which Christine could not
endure, was repaid by box en- the ear, SO
prompt and so fierce, that the offender, rub
| bed his scarlet cheek, was ast0nished that
such blow could have been given by fingers
as a0eak as an infants. A bomb would have
! surprised him less.
| "Your father has deceived me- said he,
| after long silence, and in stern voice, "he
led ME to believe that you did not receive my
visits with indifference"
| "My father does not know much about
such matters" answered Christine, with cour
ageous Indignation, "or he never would have
introduced his daughter to so rude a young
man. AS for the rest he told you the truth
for you are not an object of Indifference to
me ; Count Ericsson, do you hear you can
not be that"
| Here Adolph, who was again playing the
spy, drew back at these words, and then burst
| hurriedly in upon an interview which was
maddening him with jealousy.
| "Who are you ?" demanded Ericsson, saw
agely and with such an air of authority, that
Christine would liked to have seen him well
beaten for it. -...
| g A soldier !" answered Adolphe, between
his shut teeth, drawing his sword and throw
ing it on the table " a soldier wounded in
to die to defend it,"
ave are friends, tLen," answered Ericsson,
extending his hand.
"We are rivals" answered Adolphe, draw
ing back. -..
| "Chrstine loves you, then ?"
| "She has slid so. Such is the result of
faith placed in young girl. You are not
the object of her Indifference, and yield you
my place with her."
"To whom p cried Christine, in horror
with tears in her eyes.
"To the king !" answered Adolphe, going
toward the door in despair. 'l+
Christine fell into chair, and hid her face
in her hands. .....- .
"Remain here ~ cried Charles the Twelfth
in laundering voice.
The young man obeyed, biting his lips so
that the blood came to them.
81 have seen you." continued the king,
''but never in this house."
at has been forbidden me since you have
come into it."
81 have seen you somewhere. Your
name ?"
''Adolphe de Hesse, son of brave officer,
who died fighting for you. He left me mis-
cry and his widows tears"
"Who told you that was not Ericsson ?"
"My eyes-for recognised you Also"
Charles the Twelfth approaching the
young soldier, whose eyes glittered like a
panthers, was struck by sudden recollec-
! ton.
"Where did you get that scar on the left
temple? ?"
"At Narva, sir, where, with handful
of men, your majesty deied the Russian ar
my"
:" You say truly" cried Charles, wild with
Joy, as if he smelt the smoke of battle. Then
finging his arms around Adolphe's neck, and
pointing to the scar ''you need no other pass
port than this even to
fight against meas I dare say you would
like to do-for, on the day you speak of,
learned, as you did, the soldiers part and
mans true dignity. BY the thousand bombs
which fell about us-give me your hand, my
brother-for we have been baptized in blood
together -
Charles the Twelfth appeared at this mo-
ment as grand as war fortress. Then sud-
denly turning to the young girl, whose Curl
osity had suppressed her tears, he said to her
with graceful gayety-
BY my word, Christine, l am tickle
suitor; one blow from your hand has set to
flight all the loves who had betrayed me.
Speak as frankly as you act. Do you love
this brave young mani"
"Irrecoverably, SIRE"
What prevents your marriage 2"
Count Ericsons proposal, which my "a
ther has been threatening me with.
Oh, oh see into things, now," said
Charles smiling. "The king will forgive the
blow which was meant for the courtier.-
Christine" added he, resuming bis tone of
command, 'your father refuses to give you to
the object of your preference you shall
marry him, nevertheless, since a0W ii. Ad-
NIT that if l was your nightmare as lover,
am your friend as king"
Il confess it, on my knees - answered the
proud girl, kneeng with her happy cousin
Charles bending over the blushing Christine
uuited their hands with rough kindness, and
imprinted upon the brow of Christine the
last homage which his lips ever offered to wo-
man.
Does your majesty forgive me ?' asked
the trembling culprit. eff had known it
was the king. should not have boxed your
ears so hard.'
"I revenge myself thus, Christine. Then"
added he, with feeling Of indefinable sad
ness, "my only mistress shall b. the goddess
of battle, aud she shall crown me amidst
shouts of victory
He caused his minister to sign, that even
ing, contract of marriage, not that of
Count Ericson-though signed by Charles
the Twelfth. Two days after he was present
at the sumptuous wedding of Christine and
AdOlphe de Hesse who wore noble orders,
and the minister alone, who smiled notwith-
standing, found the reality less royal than his
dreams.