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


! grand suite of rcception-rooms, Ma.
Ipoleon, with Josephine by his side
was sitting beneath u canopy, the
chamberlains and generals standing
by the folding-doors. Napoleon ap-
i parently was In earnest conversation
with two gentlemen standing near him.
"Vraiment, said he, suddenly, and
his dark eyes glanced round the apart
mem like a fash OF lightning, II shall
DO very angry with you, Talma; /
came to Paris to repose, and you pro.
vent my having any"
He who can look upon our Scipio
without deep thrilling emotion, must
either be god or blockhead 1t ii
true, sire, answered Talma.
Napoleon's face grew black as night;
he locked upon Talma, and said,
sharply
"An 'ariiste' should not Aatterl Do
you not remember the old song, La
fiatterie est une calomnic, une poltron-
merle al en- ah ca entendez-moif
All = tho Emperor suddenly added,
turning to the other gentleman; "can-
not y0n sing us that song, Alcidor,
that have just quoted? 1t would
sound well from your lips. But, stay;
that reminds me. People complain
that you are capricious, Alcidor. How
is it that you viii never now sing, as I
am informed, 'Blondel's Song? ana
told you sung it in RobespierTe's time.
How is il that you refuse to sing, I'm
rcYe 81 doux z nowY
Alcidor replied with n trembling
voice:
Sire, / cannot sing that song it is
so closely bound up with many pain
ful recollections, that 1 should break
down with emotion II attempted to
sing IT, !"
The Emperor iinpatiently shook his
head, and said, harshly:
Be man, Alcidor !"
4 have vowed most solemnly," re-
piled Alcidor, never again TO sing
that song, sire, unless at my dying
hour. Or"
Alcidor started be trembleI; he
pressed his lips firmly together, and
looked iixedly in the distance, as II he
saw an npparition.
The EInperor's glance also, at the
same moment, had wandered through
the folding doors into the qnickly-lill-
/ ing salons, and with a triumphant
smile. be exclaimed, turning toward
the Empress
Come. Josephine. let us welcome
our guests.
All eyes followed the imperial couple
"a they slowly wended their way
through the salons. As to Alcidor.
though no one noticed It, he stood
for some time inmovablc as a statue,
murmuring TO himself 1T must
have been her! / cannot hive been
mistaken. / must, ut least, know
whether she has forgotten the past r
So murInuring, he quilted the room,
and mingled with the guests.
The Emperor was standing conycrs-
ing with lady attired in the deepest
mourning, whose beautifully express
siye countenance bore traces OF the
deepest melancholy.
"Ah, countess, said he, in the
course of the friendly conversation,
$50 yon returned to Paris only ycster-
day ! Now, will you tell me something
of the last moments OF Count Roger
how did he dic?"
praying for his Emperor, ;" said the
beautiful Marquise d'Anville, "the de-
liverer Of France"
"The prayer of dying man." re-
piled NaI oleon, "has wonderful pow
er to But, stopl What Is that
Is it not Alcidor's voice? Why, he is
singing that song, I'm reve 81 doux 7
And, countess, what is the matter with
you? You turn pale-you tremble. /"
Permit me, sire, to withdraw" i'm
plored the countess, family. Il am
taken suddenly i'll"
Il have an idea that there must be
some connection between your sudden
illness and Alcidor's refusal just now
to sing" said the Emperor. "Follow
me, countess" he added, hastily.
Trembling, and scarcely able to
breathe, the countess followed the
Emperor into the saloon in which Al
cidor was seated at the harpischord,
singing. Having his back to them, he
did not observe their entrance. Napo-
leon, taking the countess by the hand, !,
stepped up close behind Alcidor, and
with wave of his hand motioned all
the listeners back.
When every one had quilted the
apartm Mt he laughingly said, learning
over Alcidor's shoulder:
'sYou did not finish one sentence
earlier in the evening. That song you
are now singing you said you would
sing again only at your dying hour, or
Alcidor turned quickly round, the
tears glistening in his eyes. His
glance met that of the trembling yet
happy countess, and he quite forgot to
reply to the Emperor.
Napoleon laughed.
s'Your unhappy love has been al
ready related to me, Alcidor, so that
/ can now easily read the language of
your eyes. Countess" continued he,
ct hope you will no longer suffer this
true knight to remain silent and to go
on singing I'm reve 81 doux I but that
you will make the dream a reality.
Tomorrow you must sing 'Blondel's
Song, Alcicor. 2
With a gracious shake of the hand
the Emperor quilted the room, and the
lovers were alone.
---@as--------
INFLUENCES OF SUNLIGHT.
/ In his lecture on this subject, DR..
Griscom said Sunlight, particularly IN