The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-01-07

smile, leaned his head back on the soft
cushions of the couch, and sank into d
pheasant reverie.
A slight rustic ut the door aroused
him, and the next minute sweet
voice, in soft musical tone, asked
Mag come imp" Alcidor started up,
his countenancc radiant with delight.
He hastened to the door, opened it,
and the marquise entered. The singer
stood speechless with astonishment
and joy at this unexpected visit +; but
the marquise, who did not seem To re-
mark his embarrassment, hastily bolt
led the door, inquiring at the same
time, very earnestly, Can any one
lhear us?"
30 one-no one" he replied
scarcely able to command his voice
from emotion aud, falling down on
bis knees, he exclaimed "Oh, Cecilia
You come to me; you deign to honor
this wretched apartment with your no.
| BILE presence Thanks, ten thousand
thanks my titular genius, my guard
Ian angel, my beloved r
! mot so-not so r said the mar
quise, III an anxious tone OF voice.
| Stand up, and listen to me, l beseech
YOU. Some time since gave into your
custody small box, OF which YOU
kindly promised TO take care for me
NAV l now ask you to return it to
Ine?"
! Silently Alciior went to his bureau
TO search for the box. The marquise
watched him breathlessly as he sought
for the box amongst books, notes and
letters and when he had found it..
and offered it to her, she could not re-
press loud, joyful scream. Quickly
she pressed spring; tho lid flew
open, and the glittering, costly Jewels
were exposed to view.
| Look. Alcidor." said the marquise.
oxcitedly, this is all the property
/ possess. and You have carefully pre-
served il forme.
/ Alcidor bowed low and kissed her
out-siretched hands. .'Oh Cecilia r.
/ be exclaimed, what do care for daz-
zling jewels, costly and valuable though
they are? Your eyes are my precious
/ jewels, and your lore my costly treas
+ ure. Say you still love me 2" he ur-
gently asked, aad looked imploringly
al her.
The marquise treuIbled, but was
il mt
'Oh say you still love me :" be-
slught Alcidor. ''Speak to me, be-
seech You; You are the happiness and
JOY Of my life -
The marquiso turned pale, and her
eyes filed with tears. Suddenly, as
II yielding to a sudden determination,
she flung herself down ct his feet; and
raising her beautiful arms, she sobbed
forth "Alcidor forgive me | haze
deceive d you -
The singer drew back few PAGES,
and exclaimed, breathlessly, "Iou no
longer love me -
Forgive me- again ensrea.ed the
.marquise. "Oh do not look ct me like
that; l cannot endure it. Spurn me,
kill me but do not look n. me again
like that"
BY this time Alcidor had recovered
his self-command. Stretching out his
han l. toward the marquise, be cried,
stand up, ma lame +! That is no true
position Tor You y
But the marquise replied, Il will
not quit this lowly position until you
say you forgive me. Listen to me pa
tiently moment You remember the
cruel outages of the 10th of August.
l S wv my fatherand mother slaughter
ed by the barbarous men whom YOU
call the Protec ors of France. They
dragged them out of their prison, and
forced me to be witness, Alcidor. of
their death by the guillotinc. They
then thrust me back again into my
prison mad, senseless to bring me
forth to be 'guillotined' some other
day But that night / was set free.
Count Roger obtained my pardon from
Robespierre Ihad disdiined his love; !;
but he saved my life, and out of graft
tude / resolved to devote my life to
him.
Alcidor turned pale as she went on
speaking he covered his face with his
hands. His low sobs alarmed the mar
quise, and the tears started into her
eyes However, soon she continued /:
II secretly became his wife; could
not love him, but | could thus recon-
pense him for saving me-"
And wherefore did you marry him
thus secretly?" said Aleidor reproach-
fully.
8 in order to prevent suspicion. APP
parently he rescued me from the sell
nsh mo i've of obtaining possession of
my es ate, wh.cl he could only obtain
by my m lrrying him. After our mar
ria. 5e, when The count had incurred
DaIt, n hatred, the marriage was
st Il kept a secret, in order that /
might not be included in the counts
1uin.
..Rise-rise, I emplore you!" said
Alcidor, endeavoring to raise the mar
quise. Il favgive you everything;
only leave me now, this moment.
The marquise followed him to the
couch, on which Alcidor had again
flung him ,elf, and, seating herself by
his side, she continued "Danton
still remorselessly pursues my hus-
band with his hatred and only Robes
pierre, as yet, saves him from the gull
! lotine. VIII you aid me ?"
cob" said Alcidor, trembling with
agitation and anger, 'now I under
stand the whole matter. They have
pllyed with my feelings !" he went on,
as If talking to him. Elf aloud they
have let me think that my feelings
were reciprocated they have openly
4 suffered it to be understood that it was