The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-10

magnificent reception hall of the palac
he found, to his alarm and disgust, this
he had thrust huge piece of tobace
in his mouth, and had to be got nd Q
before the Emperor appeared. II
looked anxiously about him. Tn
polished floors were like marble, n
conveniences could be found, the win
dows were inaccessible, the fireplace
gorgeous shans. At last, and just il
time, the troublesome contents wer
deposited in rich antique vase tina
graced a niche in the wall We use,
TO laugh at the legation over the SUI
prise that must seize upon the servant
while engaged in cleaning that vase
when they would come upon thi
strange compound, wondering what i
could be, and ending, perhaps, in send
ing it to the Academy of Science TO
analysis. That this learned body weulC
eventually pronounce it masticateC
tobacco WI were satisfied; but whethel
"a learned and ingenious essay would
not follow, as to whether the ancien
Greeks knew OF, and used the weed
AAdGC u e-1o tuOot1Ous
The interview with the Emperor was
pleasant and satisfactory. His Imperial
Insignifeance was evidently struck with
the soldierly figure and bearing of oul
Colonel, and the talk about Indians and
Indian fighting was long and interest
ing. When it terminated Judge Mason
and his friends were conducted To the
reception apartments of the Empress.
She stood surrounded by the ladies and
officers OF her household, in the SUBJ
dued light of the painted windows,
beautiful as a royal poets dream. She
was then in the monday glory of her
lovely womanhood. Her sweet face,
with features regular to a fault, was
framed in by hair delicate and bright
as the silk upon the corn, with golden
chestnut tinge impossible to describe.
Her lovely head sat on her white round
ed neck with the ease of bird on a
swaying limb, while her graceful figure
carried its drapery as if every fold of
the costly fabric was a part of the
queenly self, and had been woven into
grace by fairy fingers.
Judge Mason presented his two COM
patriots, and Colonel McCrea, an ac=
complished, self-possessed gentleman,
took up the conversation, and for some
timeit flowed on gracefully and well.
At last Colonel Sumner thought it was
time to say something, and he said it.
tI have just returned from a visit to
your native land, your Majesty. 1
found it very beautiful, but regret that
[ had not time to visit its famous battle
fields"
"Ah, Colonel Sumner" she respond
ID, graciously, "and why were you so
hurried 2"
az was bearer of dispatches, your
in the Black Warrior outrage" "
ne replied.
Here was trouble, here was diplomatic
Judge Mason broke into
/ profuse perspiration, known to us at
he bureau as a diplomatic sweat,n
md the color came to the face of the
Empress like a storm cloud, and her
love-like eyes seemed to change en-
irely, SO alive were they with indignant
iashes.
"You call that an outrage, do you,
,entlemen-an outrage-that infamous
Tessel, built to carry Lopez and his pi-
atical followers2"
'I beg your pardon; your Majesty"
,roke in desperately Judge Mason;
the Black Warrior was built after
Lopez was executed"
Z" don't carei 1 don't care It was
,uilt for an infamous purpose, and
,ught to have been sunk" And tn
md on she continued. Judge Mason
vas sorely distressed, Colonel McCrea
ooked as If amused, but Sumner grew
Indignant as her Majesty got wild, and
vhen she said
'tYou want war, gentlemen-you
want war, so as to seize upon Cuba
md you think We cannot prevent 1t,
With this Crimean war on our hands;
,ut we have plenty of arms, plenty of
and if the worst comes to the
worst, well turn the negroes upon you"
II beg your pardon, your Majesty"
Numbered Sumner; Gin protecting our
lights and defending our flag, we care
lothing for your arms, soldiers, nor the
liggers."
His tone of voice, together with a
disturbed movement on the part of the
,fficers of the household seemed to
ecall the Empress to herself.
I cannot talk upon this subject,
she said in more subdued
manner. al must wish you a good
morning. Good morning, gentlemen "
"Good Lord, Sumnerl" exclaimed
Judge Mason, while climbing, exhausted,
nto his carriage, "did not warn you
o say nothing abont CubaQ"
"See here, Judge Mason" replied
he wicked wrong doer, "when wo-
nan forgets her position, I'm not
,ound to remember it. Talk to me
bout soaring us with niggers. I'd half
! mind to box her imperial ears"
Two of the actors in this little drama
re dead, the third is in exile stripped
# her imperial robes, while the empire
tself has disappeared like the baseless
abric of a vision but Cuba, then
considered so frail a possession, yet
,lings to the ole Spanish government.