The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-12
SAINT PAUL. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY L. 1864.

"Gontier," said Juliette, rising and
standing before him, her voice assuming
a serious tone, Gontier, do you think ]
have forgotten the past?
My child do not recall it."
"Nay, but l will recall the past; it is
an assurance of my love77a security as you
say, you men of money, and / am now
going to tell you all my reasons for loving
you; put down the paper and listen.
"Forever to YOU"
"Well, then, GOntier, remember what
I was-an orphan-worse than an orphan
"a child without a name, without family,
the offspring of woman disgraced, for
gotten by the world, who died in a hos
pital.''
"Oh, Juliette, do not speak thus OF
your mOthert; she was the victim of her
love and trust; do not speak thus OF
her,"
81 speak not in reproach, but to recall
her wrongs, that one day / may avenge-'
"Avenge! Juliette, what do you mean?'
Nothing, nothing"
"Left in another hemisphere, a poor,
sickly child, to the charity of the Sisters
of Mercy, was sent from a convent at
New Orleans to convent at Bordeaux
There the first joy can remember came
from you-you my benefactor, my father.
l was your child till l grew to womanAood
-adoring on earth but you, as in heaven
l adored God. Then, then, oh. re-
member the day when the Sisters told
me you had resolved to give IN. do wry
and to find me husband. Then, Con-
tier, fresh life dawned on me-"
"a husband!" I exclaimed.
les, my child, one who to you, friehd-
less, will be friend; one who will give
you a name, family, social position !;
one who will be your guide through the
world one whom, above all the world
you must love-"
eyes, Juliette, and l can repeat by
heart, for in my heart the words are en-
craven, the few lines you wrote to me. :"
"Theys tell me l am to marry; and
that l must love my husband above all
others in the world; love, honor him,
obey him; there is but one person in the
world l love, but one honor, but one
obey that is you may I be your wife. I"
'From that day we have been happy,
Gontier, for you did uot refuse me"
"NO! how could ? but / have endea-
vored never to forget my deep graft ude
to you-my--"
"Gratitude! Gontier, do not speak of
gratitude; oh, I wish something terrible
would happen to you; Oh, l wish some
great sacrifice was to be made-I wish I
could lay down my life for you."
Your life, darling, it would kill me to
lose you.''
"Then why do you leave me so often
why do you try and make more nasty
money? lam sure we have enough
I'm sure of it-for I want so little ?"
eyes, but would you not like to be a
Countess 2"
GA Countess, no! I like the name you
gave me better than any title the Emperor
can give.''
"Juliette, if that be true, if you really
love me for myself, old as am, then we
will leave Paris
"Leave Paris!" exclaimed Juliette,
turning pale, "no lot leave Paris"
You like Paris then?"
"No, but 1 cannot leave it now; l
have, Gontier, / have secret from you
but will you let me keep it?"
Yes, my Juliette, but why not trust
me ?"
"Trust you, no, in this I cannot on,
GOntier, It's you must trust me-"
II do, Juliette, trust you as would an
angel from heaven"
Juliette bent forward and received his
kiss, then slowly and with a sigh turned
away.
Who after this interview would have
imagined that underneath the belt of her
dress there was a paper with these words
on it:
"Juliette, my beloved, at last you love
me; at last you consent to be mine. Oh!
shall l live till to-night2"
There was no signature, but Juliette had
learned to know the hand-it was from
Ernest de Lacy.
The day waned. Monsieur Vernier went
to see his ministers and his capitalists, and
returned to dinner. That evening he was
to 60 to St. Cloud to the Emperor; he had
but few moments to give to his wife, and
not to rob her of them, he crumpled up his
letters without opening them, and stuffed
them in his pocket. 1t was not until he
reached Compiegne that he remembered
that he had whole posse of papers un-
read, and proceeded Immediately to exam
inc them. Several he merely glanced at,
folding them, however, carefully, and bind
ing them in bundle; at last he came to
one which contained but few lines, but
these few lines had the power to take the
color from his face and to send him reel
ing, staggering, almost insensible, into the
nearest seat; again he read tEe'note, then
starting up he pulled his bell violently.
"Jaques," said he, 81 must return in
stantly to Paris; no matter by what means,
but must 60 instantly back to Paris"
Meantime Juliette Vernier watched the