Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-03-07
Cboite Ylterature,
THE DAUGHTER Of CHARLEMAGNE.
(CONCLUDED.)

Near the three sisters rode Charles, Pc
pin and Louis, also the children of Hide
garde. Noble were these youths, and no
ted for their warlike deeds-and we'll did
'thoJ- p-.~.s~l fresy na..; .e,r~ -..;4L 4hair
fair sisters. Beside ker still beautiful mo-
ther, Mathal garde, rode Emma, the young
est child then living of King Charlemagne.
There was no one at court so fair as she.
Her dress of green velvet was embroider ed
with golden ground. Ropes of costly
pearls were entwined in her magnificent
locks, and a veil covered with stars of Jew
els fell about her form. A murmur of ad-
miration attended her steps, and the heart
of Eginhard, the secretary, for such was
now his office in the household of the king,
bounded at the sight of his beloved. SUD-
denly the long skirts of the dress worn by
the princess Emma, became entangled in
the hoofs of her prancing steed, and buzz
of alarm went round among the courtiers.
The quick eye of Eginhard, who rode be-
side the king, marked the accident, and
ere it could end in disaster, the secretary
kneeling at the feet of the steed of the prin-
cess, had dissengaged her flowing robes and
restored to her trembling fingers the slen-
der reins, embossed with silver, which, in
her alarm, she had suffered to fall from
them. AS the young Frank bent his head,
Emma observed that beneath his coat of
velvet, he wore upon his right breast a
small jewel which she sometimes had worn
upon her arm, and which for long time
she had supposed to be lost. As Eginhard
raised his eyes to the face of the princess
at the moment of restoring the reins of the
palfrey, he observed that vivid blush
overspr'.ad her cheeks, and that she CLAN
ced at the jewel in his bosom. Eginhard
profted by the opportunity to make known
to her he cherished the jewel for her sake,
by pressing his left hand to the portion OF
his vest to which it was attached, as he
3 made his parting salutation. Although
this action had semed to be no more than
: dutiful obeisance, such as any gentleman
e of the court might have made after fulfill.
t ing an Office of service for royal lady, a
L mere pressure of the hand upon the heart
The quick eye of Charlemagne had noted
it as we'll as the oificious nature OF the as.
!, sistance renderedby Eginhard to the prin
+ cess, from whom at the moment Of her ac
Y cident, the young secretary was much fur
: ther removed than many of the gentlemen
!. belonging to the hunting party.
t Charlemagne, in deep and somewhat
r angry voice, now exclaimed, as be put bis
n spurs to his horse, @Let there be no NOR,
e delay - and at the same time he motione6
n to Eginhard to resume his place beside him
;, Emma had observed that her father wa
} not pleased at the attention which had beer
/ rendered her by the secretary; but he
IL curiosity had been awakened by the dis
n covery of the jewel, and she longed t.
: know more of the sentiments Of Eginhar'
as than had been expressed by his gesture
y for her own sympathies had long tefor
~ ~ been eulisted in his favor, and she feare'
&c that she had been too ready to put ter
der construction upon what might, after al
as be but the humble obeisance Of courtie
'er, to a royal princess.
M isl Beside his quality of secretary, Eginhar
me neld In the palace the Office Of superlnte'
hat dant OF public works, roads, canals an
la. buildings of all kinds, and was futhermol
md called Counsellor to the king
sl' sne oelii there was very wide chasm of Sc
.1 .oi- arauon between the Counsellor ofthe XII
on sne and the daughter of the kipa-for thon,
i've i've the fair Emma was but an ;llao;+;r,s
ate daughter, Charlemagne on acconns 't ae !
ma extraordinary beauty and remarkable .
us ents, loved her as much and priced her
aily dearly as any OF his children. Besides