The Portland daily press., 1862-12-12

| one evening ne TOOK me Win nm 10 q lite
rary reunion, at which every bei-esprit of the
capital was to be present. At first / refused
to go, Tor / feared that the eyes of some of
my own sex might penetrate my disguise =
| but he seemed so much hurt at my refusal that
was forced to withdraw it. The soiree was
very brilliant one. But little notice was
taken of the shy, silent youth, who glided
from room Groom, lowering ever near the spot
| where his beloved master stood or sat- in con-
versation with the gifted of both sexes. How
l envied the ladies whose hands he touched
and to whom his polite attentions were adj
dressed. For, as have said my master was
a man of the world, wealthy and distinguish
ed; and notwithstanding his advanced years,
ladies still courted his attentions.
There was one lady in particular who spared
no pains to attract him to herself. She was
the widow of a celebrated ttterdteur, and
was herself well known a brilliant but shall
| low writer. She was not young, but she was
well-preseryed, and owed much to the arts of
| the toilet.
Isaw her lavishing her smiles and bandsh-
ments on my dear master; saw that he was
not insensible to the power of her charms, ar
tificial as they were; and a cruel jealousy
fastened, like the vulture of Prometheus, on
my vitals.
Could but have entered the lists with her
on equal ground; could but have appeared
before him in my own proper person, arrayed
in appropriate and madenly costume, | felt
| sure of gaining the victory, for had youth on
my side; l had already an interest in his
heart but alas! l could not do this without
first announcing myself as an imposter, as a
| liar and deceiver, to the man whose good
opinion priced above all earthly things.
A dreadful thought now rested on my mind
day and night: What if this woman should
accomplish her designs? What if my master
should marry her? What would then become
| of me?
But was spared this trial.
The translation was finshed it was i'm the
| hands of the publisher, and the proo-sheets
had been carefully revised, partly by my mas
ter, partly by myself He had insisted on put
ting my name with his own on the title-page
| but refused my consent with pertinacity
which he could not comprehend and which
came nearer making him angry than anything
| that had ever TRANSFERRED between us.
One day, as l sat in the library, | saw my
master come home, accompanied by two gen.
| tleman. He did not as was his custom with
his intmates, bring them into the library, but
received them in the ttle-usedreception room.
| They remained some time.
When they left, my master came into the
library, rubbing his hands and looking exceed
| ingly well-peased. But, at sight of me, his
| countenance fell He approached me, and in
| tone of regret said:
my poor Eugene! we must part"
Part? 1t seemed as If the sun was sudden
| ly blotted from the heavens.
started up, and looked at him with a face
SO white and terror-stricken that he came up
to me and laid his hand kindly on my shoulder.
my poor Eugene" he repeated, lit is too
true-we must part"
tried to speak. "Partr' / cried. 20 my
master"
Tears and sobs choked my utterance. in
| spite of all my efforts to restrain them. l sat
down again, and gave free vent to my rrepres-
sible grief
My master was mnch affected at the sight
| of my emotion: and for some minutes the sill
ence was unbroken, save by my heart-wrung
sobs.
"Nay, Eugene, this is womanish: bear it
like a man." said he, wiping the tears from his
own eyes. Most gladly would spare you
this sorrow; most gladly retain you near me;
but in this matter am powerless. have re-
ceived an appointment from government to
travel in Northern Asia, in order to study the
dialects of that vast region. Every individual
who is to accompany me has been officially
specified, and there is no place left for my poor
| Eugene"
40 my dear, dear master.' cried l. with
| elasped hands and streaming eyes, take me
with you'll shall die if you leave me--put me
| in the place of some one else"
Impossible" said he. "The government has
filed up every place with its own creatures
except" he added, with faint smile, shat
4 they have made provision for my wife-if mar
ried. would had the wand of an enchan-
ter, Eugene that / might transform you to a
| woman, and make you my WIFE,"
| His wife his wife, Had he ard the words
Alright? sprang to my feet. tried to say,
Il am woman will be your wife y but my
tongue refused its utterance-there was a
rushing sound in my ears-I grasped the air
| wildly-I heard my master cry, Eugene Eu-
| gene !" as he rushed forward 10 supnort mo
and the next moment | lost consciousness.
When recovered my senses, / was still in
the arms my master. He had borne me to
the window, and tore open my vest and shirt
| collar looked up in his face. One glance
| revealed to me that my secret was discovered
| Bushing and trembling, tried to raise my
sell from his arms; but he held me fast
Eugene" said he, in earnest tones, "tell me
the truth. Are you indeed a woman?"
Il am. My name is Eugene D.. o my
dear master. forgive the deception 1 have
practiced. Do not despise me-"
| Eugene" cried he, in joyful accents, "you
shall go with me to the East. You shall go
as my rife Vice Emperor!
But wherefore this disguise ?" he added
! l told him my story in few words; and in
formed him that was that very young tcomdn
who had applied for the office now held.
rs it possible?" exclaimed he. "But, Eu-
| genie, tell me-do you really love me as you
have so often protested you did?"
"Yes, my dear MASTER" whispered.
"Tire Empereur!" cried he again; shut
for his strictness l should never have found
1t out. Now go; array yourself in your wo-
mans gear, and let me see you as you really
| are"
| went: and resumed, with pleasure | can
| not describe, the garments | had for a whole
year forsworn.
| When returned, my master caught me to