The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-04-16
The Turn of Destiny.

qucntcd street Of Paris contained a solitary
occupant. He appeared to be young man
of about twenty-five years Of age. lie was
slender, but not tall, and the smalncss Of
his figure was contras,el with the larceness
OF his head. His countenancc, paid and
care-worn. was characterized By an express
SION of firnncss, and by the piercing bril-
liancy Of his eyes. He sat at a small table
III his dmlnntve apartment, perusing a let
ter which lay open before him. When he
had finished, he rose hastily from-his chair,
and began pacing the room, uttering with
energetic, gestures, the following sentences:
"Can this be SO! Is it possible tba, am
reduced to the want Of even the ucccssaries
OF life! Must my actions he cloggcd Ly the
need of few pieces Of yellow metal! 1t
must not be so. Cursed, cursed go!J! he
exclaimed, clenclnng coin in his hand
iurIously, and tossing it to the other end Of
the room. But in few moments he picked
1t up again, and continued: "The migrate
ful wretches! 1t was I. I, who beat off the
enemy, who, but for my interposiiion,
might now be reveling in Paris. And yet
they refuse me employment, and keep me
hero starving. When asked for some po-
s''"n, the reply was too young. The fools!
They do not know that study and cxper-
ience compensate for the lack Of years! And
told ttlcm as much. Aud not only must
bear my own troubles, but those of nv re-
latlves. My mother writes that she is in a
destitute condition. cannot help her !"
Alter short pause, he cried, with sud-
den energy: "But have remedy Why
should drag on this miserable life will
not do it u And seizing pistol from the
table, he applied it to his head. "But no."
he said, after moments pause, "not in this
way! I will rush to the Seine, and con-
ceal alike my body and my fate from the
eye Of man !"
Saying this, he hastily rushed from his
room, and down the narrow stairs, and is
sued into the street. Walking in silence for
about half an hour, he camo upon bridge
over the Se:Ac.-Casting his eye about, to
see that no one was present. he strobe to one
side of the bridge. and after looking over
went to the opposite side and prepared him
self for run and pluge. But just at this
moment lie felt hand on his shoulder, and
voice accostcd him What, ho !. nv
friend, SO YOU would drown yourself, would
youa Good heavens, Napoleon r. the
stranger continued, 'is this you9 Alas, what
could bave brought you here?'
That which is the inducer Of all suicides
misery" was the mournful answer of Ma
poleon.
"Msery But what caused your miseryf'
"The lack Of money"
"Pshaw is that all T. said the stranger.
-"You certainly can't DO 50 destitute as TO
think Of killing yourself. Come; my good
friend, when q man has enough to eat and
wear. he should not think Of death"
I "But have only one dollar" said Ma
poleon; "and my mother is starving for
want OF money"
SIS it possiblc!" said the stranger. II
had no idea that it had come to this. But
here is purse Of gold. Take it, and relieve
your mother.
Napoleon eagerly clutched the gold. and
hurried away. The stranger looked after
him with astonishment, and pursued his
course.
Several years after the above event,
man was werding his way in thinly popu-
lated portion Of the suburbs Of Paris. The
traveller, seated on horseback, was proceed
ing slowly, and seemed absorbed in deep
meditation. A few hundred yards in front
Of him lay the river Seine. As soon as he
had reached the river, he paced slowly along
its bank until he came to a largo bridge,
when dismounting from his horse, he tied
it to post, and walked leisurely along until
he came to aparticular spot, where lie stop.
ped. The bridge was deserted, and had the
appearance Of having been long fallen into
disnse. The horseman seemed struck with
sudden emotion at the sight, and as he stood
at one side, looking over into the clear blue;
water, apparently Inadvertently, he uttered
his thoughts aloud: with what thoagbts
do these places inspire me! Whata mighty
effect have those stills deep waters bencati,
ne; had on che edestinies Of the world Here,
few years ago, in the dead Of night, I met
a man. destitute and .frieudless, about to
burl himself into the waves. I prevented
him.. And now, that man. raised to the pin.
naclo flame, = tnaster Of the fortunes and
treasures Of the world" =. ). n";,s... -
"a nd has cope to t thank AND reyatd yop.
.Dsmasis p,uttssed a,soiea behind rim, snd
i.p..peseadiately esa be found hi,nssk iocRed in The
! embrace Of 9 man. -, -. - 81.