The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-07-12


inclined to do so--that is, would fain do it;
but the incontcstable proofs remain; and
there exists in everything which surrounds
us, in our organization even, stranger mys-
teries, to which we are forced to submit our
reason without comprehending them.n
He paused an instant to collect his ideas
and continued
81 was born in this chateau had two
brothers, elder ones, to whom this house by
right would have belonged. had no p1 os-
pect before me but the church; nevertheless,
my heart was filled with ideas of greatness
and ambition, which fcrmented there con-
tinually. Made wretched by the thought of
my own obscurity, ever grasping at fame, |
only dreamt about the means of acquiring it,
and this pursuing thodght made me nsens-
ble to all worldly pleasures within my reach,
and to all the sweets of existence besides
The present was as nothing to me. only
existed in the future, and that future pre-
sented itself to me under the most lugubri-
Gus aspect. was nearly thirty years of
age, and still a mere cipher in existence;
had done rothing on the road to fame Ev-
erywhere around me heard of the literary
regulations obtained in Paris, which found
an echo to resound their praises in the very
heart of the provinces. 'Ahr | often ex-
claimed, if could only create name for
myself in the world of letters 1t would be
fame, and that is the only happiness which
this world possessesr .....-
"The sole confdant of my sorrows was an
Old servant, a negro, who had resided in the
chateau long before my birth; he certainly
was the oldest person in it, for no one recol
lected ever having seen him enter; the corn-
try people even asserted that he had known
Marshal Fabert, and had been with him when
he died"
started. My interlocutor perceived it,
and hastily asked me what was the matter
Nothing y replied; but in spite of myself
| thought of the black man of whom my host
the previous evening had spoken Monsieur
de C continued
Zone day Zago Chat was the negro's
name) saw me giving way more than usual
to my despair, and cursing the useless life
was leading. In my anguish I exclaimed
I'D give ten years of my life to be at the
head of our first authors"
"Ten years!' he replied, coldIy. at is
paying very dear for very little Never mind.
| accept your ten years. take them. Now,
remember your promise; I'll keep mnem
III will not attempt to depic! my surprise
to you. I thought that age had weakened
his reason. I shrugged my shoulders, smi-
ling at his words, and a few days afterward
quilted this chateau for Paris There found
myself introduced into the society of all the
titerati Their example encouraged me, and
! published several works, the success OF
which it would i'll become me to boast of,
were it not for the purpose of detailing what
| have to relate. All Paris was speaking of
them, and the papers were filed with my
praises. The name had assumed became
celebrated; and only yesterday, young man,
you yourself admired"
Here another movement of surprise on my
part interrupted his recital.
"Then you are not the Due de C--g'
| cried. .7
"No," he coldly answered.
And said to myself, "A celebrated au
thor; who can he be? Is it Marmontel, or
ID Alambert? Can it be Voltaire?"
Ny unknown acquaintance sighed; con,
temptuous expression curled his lip, and be
continued
"This literary reputation which had SO
ardenty coveted became very shortly insult
| ficient for my soul. Iaspired after more no
ble successes, and said to Zago, who had
followed me to Paris, and never left me
There is no true glory except that which i,
!; acquired in the field. What is literary
J man or poet? What, indeed, compared
81 with general ofan army? That is the des
tiny am desirous of, and to possess it
would give freely ten years of my existence.
81 accept and take them they belong t.
me. Don't forget it," said Zago
Here the narrator again paused, observing
: the sort of trouble and hesitation which my
countenance bespoke.
81 told you young man." he said, "tha
you would find difficulty in believing me
1t seems to you like dream--a chimera
and to myself too. Nevertheless, the grades
and honors which obtained were not al
7 illusion. The soldiers who were led on il
battle, the redoubts which were carried, thu
l colers which were taken, and the victories
7 with which France rang again-all were m,
doing, all that glory was mine"
He walked about with immense strides
and spoke with enthusiasm and fire. wa
thunder-struck with amazement, and asked
: myself "Who can this be near me? Is j
Caignv? Can it be Richelieu? or is it Ma
: rechai de Saxe?"
From the state of eyaltation, with which
= he had spoken, my unknown fell into
t complete state of mental prostration, and
approaching me, said with sombre air
!, ''Zago had said truly and when, littl
r later, disgnsted with this vain glory, as
4 pi.ed to something more positive, and desir
ed gold and riches, or the price oc five or ST
!, more years of my life, he granted my desir
n -chateaur, lands, forests. This morning
y even, all these were in my possession; and