The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-05-05
"A Baughter's L0vc.
Translated From the French /.

council chamber was vast mail,
lighted by PARALLEL windows, some OF
which looked outupon the court yard,
and others upon the gardens.
The great clock had just struck
nine, and gradually the two sides Of
this gallery were filed with peoples
some inquisitive ones, some solici-
tors, besides officers of service, and
persons pertaining to the palace
Among all this crowd two women
were observed the first on account of
her beauty and the gracious air with
which she received the respectful sal
utations of all who passed by her,
and the second for her extreme youth,
for the pallor which gave to her APP
pearance an extraordinary character,
and for her fair hair falling in many
curl upon her shoulders.
"Come, cheer up" said the first TO
the second; "have courage! | will not
leave you" Then, in order to give
weight to words her hand sought that
of the young girl, and claspcd it with
fervor.
A sad and most expressive look
replied to this mark OF esteem, and
Immediately the child turned again her
beautiful eyes toward the door by
which the Emperor was to appear
All this young, loving, exalted soul
seemed to have passed into her eyes;
the rest OF her body seemed inanimate.
Two hours slowly moved on, two
hours of watching and of anguish,
during which neither Of these chill
dren had stirred The youngest keep
ing her eyes fixed upon the closed
door, waited that it might open, IN or
der to breath, To live; the other turn
ed not her eyes away from her com
panion. Profound silence reigned
throughout the gallery, save the agi
tated breathing of all that crowd who
thus waited. At last, eleven o'clock
peals forth, the folding doors open,
and an usher announces the Emper
or. Several persons appear also with
him.
(Which is he?" demands Maria,
in the most lively anxiety
The only one who wears a hat, 3"
replied Hortense quickly to her
The young girl listens no longer
Beholding only Il single being among
so many she darts from her place to
the Emperor's feet, and with her
clasped hands raised toward heaven,
cries, "Pardon, pardon!" At this
cry, and at the unforeseen act, the
Emperor paused with angry brow.
Again he cXclaims, in tone OF
impatence. Il have said that wish
eel no more such scenes" and deter
minedly folding his arms would have
passed out
"Sire,' pleaded the Young girl, to
whom her fathers position had given
an energy beyond her years, II be,
seech you, listen to me! in the name
of your mother listen to me! in the
name Of your father, grant the par
don OF mine! 1t is my father, sire
he, has, without doubt, been bribed
been led away; pardon him! O, sire
you hold the life of my father and
mine in your hands. Have pity up.
ON an unhappy child who entreats
her fathers life. sire, sire, pardon
pity--pardon. WLcuva me g. saiC
the Emperor, repelling her rudely.
But, without being intimidated tho
girl, dragging herself upon the mar
bic floor Of the gallery, besought viii
anguish
30, pity, pity, sire-pardon--fol
my father! o, cast at least one lool
upon me!'
There was something so heart-rend
ing in this childs voice, asking the
life of her father that the Emperor
paused, in spite of himself, and look
ed upon her who implored him witt
so much eagerness. Maria was a
= any time beautiful, but now peculiarly
SO. White as swan, grief gave tt
her features an energetic and impas
stoned character; her small hands
heated by the fever of excitement
had mechanically seized those of th'
Emperor. Kneeling, her face bathec
in tears, raising her great blue eyes
= toward him from whom she awaited
. life or death, she could no Longer
speak, nor weep. nor breathe.
"Are you not Mile. de Lojolas|
. demands Napoleon.
Without replying, Maria pressed
his hand with force. He replied
severely;
! "Do you know that this is the sec
ond time that your father Is guilty o
Il crime toward the state, Maiden
oiselleY
81 know it," she replied, with grea
: righteousness; "but the first time
sire, he was innocent"
"But this time he is not" replied
) Bonapart.
"Now it is his pardon that l ask
pardon, or l die before youn'
The Emperor oeing no longer able
: to control his emotion stopped toward
her, saying, "Yes, Maria, yes, grant
; it to you-arise;" and casting upor
her smile, he disengaged his hands
1 and quickly passed on.
The shock of joy was more danger
Gus for Mile. de Lajolais than grief
/. The poor child fell heavily, and with
out consciousness, upon the marble
floor of the gallery.
Thanks to the attentions of thu