The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-16


and will strip you of your titIe and lands
you hold from me, and cast you into the
Bastile."
This was what bad brought the Count
of Franche Compte blindfolded to be mar
ried.
The King smiled grimly but said moth.
ing.
The Count placed the ring upon the fn-
ger of bis bride, but be did not salute her,
and when the ceremony was over he turned
his back upon her, took the handkerchief
from bis eyes, and walked deliberately out
of the chapel.
Lydonie pouted her pretty lips, and was
almost ready to cry with vexation.
The King took her in charge, escorted
her to her carriage, and they were convey
ed to the hotel her husband had occupied.
"Here you are, my DEAR" said the King,
conducting her through the apartments he
had expressly furn shed for her reception
"here you are, at home."
"But where's my husband?" asked Lydo.
ME.
"Silly boy" muttered the King, looking
very much annoyed; never mind, my dear,
he is your husband the rest will come in
time"
"What is the use of having husband
if he will not look at you !" pouted Lydo-
ME.
"He shall look at you, or I'll send him to
the Bastile."
"Oh, no." cried Lydonie, "do not force
him to look at me. If he has not curiosity
enough to see what kind of wife he has
got, I'm sure do not wish to oblige him to
look at me. see how it is" she continued
"a sad expression stealing over her coun
tenance-" You have forced the Count into
this Unionv p
The King coughed and looked guilty.
"Oh !" cried Lydonie with anguish, "he
never loved me, then-he never will love
| mew
"Why should you care ?"
because I love him." answered Lydonie
innocenty.
1Love him ?"
"Oh, so dearly, that is why married
him. had loved him from the moment
first beheld him. And now I am his wife,
he will not look at me-"
Lydonie burst into food of tears, and
sank upon sofa.
The King pitied her sincerely, but what
could he do? He had forced his son to
marry her, but he could not force him to
love her.
He thought of the Bastile. 1t would
not make him love his wife to send him
there.
"Well, WE'LL" said be, "you are bis vile,
l will make him duke, and dare say
you'll find him home before morning."
With these words the King withdrew.
Lydonie was left alone with Der sorrow.
But she was not one to droop long. She
soon dried her tears and looked all the bet-
ter for them, like rose after shower.
Her old nurse came in, and together they
inspected her new home, which Lydonie
found entirely to her satisfaction.
The Count did not come home that
night.
A week passed by and he did not make
bis appearance. Lydonie came to the con-
clusion that he never would come.
She knew it was useless to appeal to the
King. BE had made Franche Compte q
Duke, but be could do nothing for her.
She determined to ascertain what her
husband was about.
She dispatched trusty servant for intel.
ligence, and like all wives who place spy
upon her husbands movements, she was not
at all pleased with the news she received.
The Duke was plunging into all kinds of
dissipation. He was making love to ali
the pretty daughters of the shopkeepers in
the Rue st. Antoine.
In fact, for newly married man, his con.
| duct was shameful.
"To leave me to run after such ca
maalk !" exclaimed Lydonie.
She paused suddenly. An idea had en-
tered her brain. She determined to act
upon it.
While she was meditatiug upon it, let US
see what the Duke was about.
One night, about eight days after his
marriage, the Duke, plainly attired and
mufled in cloak, roamed through the
Faubourg st. Antoine, as was his wont, in
quest of adventures.
As he turned the corner of one of those
narrow lanes that intersected the quarter at
that period,a piercing shrek burst upon his
ear, mingled with suffocating cries for as.
sistance.
The Dukes sword was out in an instant.
He was brave to rashness. Without a
moments thought be plunged into the lane.
lie beheld female struggling in the
grasp of man.
The man fled precipitately at his ap.
proach, and the girl sank into bis arms,
convulsively exclaiming:
"Save me, oh, save me +"
The Duke sheathed bis sword and endeav-
ored to calm her fears.
lie led her beneath the lamp that swung
in the corner.
Why, you are perfect little beauty"
ne cried rapturously and in surprise.
The girl cast down her eyes and blushed
deeply, and the Duke ielt the little hand