Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-14
THE MYSTERIOUS COMPACT
LEDIABLE A PARIS.
CHAPTER X.-[coScLUDrD.l

Ii was the same room In which we first
saw Count Henri Beausoleil that we now
look upon him and bid him adien But
instead of the fcasting, vas a more mourn |
iul scene. The table gFoaniDg beneath its
weight Of luxuries bas given place to an
unostentatioas sofa upon which pale and
haggard the Count is sleeping! Sleeping
Ave! the first sleep he had been blessed
with since the arrival of his strange visitor.
The time is the same as when we first in
troduced him. The twenty four hours
grace was drawing to close, and the
minute hand of the clock Of Time was
pointing to the period when the compact
was t. be finally fulfilled.
But the Count was not the only inmate
of the room. A girl of some twenty years
stood by him, as pale as he, and W atching
his restless movements viii tender ankle
tv. Her dress was of simple white. No
ornament could be detected save simple
diamond in the front Of small circlet
which held her dark. tresses. And she
was truly beautiful as lovely as 3 rain,
bow, ave, as gorgeous as the imaginings OF
a guileess child when it dreams of Heaven
And the darkness Of the room, the silence
of the hour, gave an impressive idea Of d
guardian ange, warding care and danger
from the sleeper on his couch.
He sleeps Poor Henri murmureC
the angelic being 'my cruel strategem tc
save him from destruction, has nearly be-
reft him Of reason. Toiled in is efforts
to pursue his ormentor-exhauste will
conflicting emotions, he has tallea into in
scnsibility. Oh should he awake ard III
= rnrnd be siaaKen, my life would be bnt 3
poor sacrifice for my fatal error !
Nearer nearer spoke the troubled
man, moving and speaking in his sleep
while the angel bent tenderly over him
Nearer-bright angel All do not fl.
from me ,
He wakes! To see me ere his sense
are collected would increase his danger
will retire while and watch fitting mo
ment to appear, and learn my doom
She retired behind one of the larg
damask curtains which softened the mel
low light of the moon without, and watcl
ed the man shaken in mind and broken
spirit as he arose from his couch.
Passing his hand slowly over his fore
head, he spoke in hollow voice:
1T was drcamn Why must l wal
and leave such happiness? Methougl
the fiend who has so long tormented m
bore me away then, suddenly changir
his demon aspect became a creature
light-an anrel-in whose benign al
placid face ny heart saw hope As II
mariner watches the star that leads him
his home, | gazed on that bright vision
The countenance, once so menaclng al
terrible, was pale and sorrowful the ey
that once flashed with demoniac trump
were suf'used with tears /; AID the vol
beneath whose startling tones my heart
oft has quailcd, wns soft and melodious
the pring-bird's song. Urged on by irres
tible impulse ! would have pressed t
creature to my heart, as my sstegua
against the evil one-bnt, with an acti
ofterror, she waved me off-and in q voI
made faint with grief, whispered, No, !
Henri-avoid me--fy from mel {
your destroverr Then, gazing on 1
with pity aud affection, her beauteous 70
faded into a feecy cloud, and have wax
to desolation and despair, Oh! HeaN
in mercy, since to live is misery, take
life and give me back my dream COZ
come, my torment or my blessing, com
am ready to fulfill my compact am yo
forever!
Agitated beyond all degree he sank
on the sofa and buried his head in
arms.
Il take you 1T your word !! answe
the maiden, silently approaching him.
looked mp and gazed npOn ber.
'Ah the bright angel of nv dream
.'You confess yourself mine, forever
Forever! 1t is not the compact al
which now unites us-it Is passion,
rible as it is irresistibe-a love, borl
hate, that subdues my reason and ench;
me to thee, be it for good or evil. J
yes, with my soul love thee Divi'
celestial or inferDal-you have ia
frem me all that bound rue to life;
alone remain-you ale my fate! L
and acknowledge your power-take m
am yours forever Pronounce nv dC
-perdition, if you are Satan-Pa Paradis