The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-03-01
MISCELLANY.
THE EMERALD RING.

In one of the splendid palaces of the Rus
sian capital, fair young girl threw herself
tipoii the crimson cushions of the dIvan in tlf6
embrasiire of a large window. Alarm and
anxiety were depicted OH her features, and
she constantly clasped and unclasped her
small hands, and tiervously arose and looked
ont into the street, and then reseated herself
as IL awaiting some painful intelligence. 1t
was the fair young Natalie Radetski, the
beauty Of the Russian courts upon which
nature and fortune had showered every gift,
and for whom even the stern features OF the
Emperor Nicholas would relax into some
thing like a smile as he looked upon her
beauty and grace.
Hastily the door opened, and young man
advanced towards her.
81 am to bid you farewell, Natalie" he
said, in voice broken by emotion.
| .Oh, Alexis what is it cried the young
girl.
81 have displeased the emperor, and he has
ordered my arrest"
| "The emperor will pardon you'll will go
to him, said she. :" He will not refuse me.
| He has always been SO kind to me-"
"Alas my Natalie. He will refuse you
this. The emperor believes me concerned in
conspiracy, and he never forgives. am
| innocent, but he will not believe it. ] know
not what is to be done with me but If am
sent to Siberia -
ITO Siberia Oh, Alexis it cannot be-
it must not be |"
For moment neither spoke. At length,
with a powerful effort at self-control, the
young man said Natalie, let me place
this ring upon your finger, and promise me
that you will wear it always in memory Of
what my love has been to you. heemperor will
| force you to marry. do not wish the thought
of me to make you always wretched."
He placed upon hor finger ring, in which
was single emerald of great briliancy.
"Do not take it off, nor read the inscrip-
tion till you hear certainly that have been
banished,'' he said. A shiver of horror ran
through her frame, but he went on, firmly !:
"Then read it; it will comfort you. Now
must go. The emperor allowed me this inter-
view, and the guards awaiting me-"
He clasped her convulsively to his breast,
kissed her brow and lips, and laying her
gently upon the divan, passed out. In the
street the guards awaited him.
The words of her lover did not deter Natalie
from attempting to save him. She sent Pc
iition to the emperor, imploring AN interview;
but it was denied her. She waylaid the en-
press
"My poor child, said the empress, kindly,
81 would gladly take you to the emperor,
even at the risk of mourning his displeasure !;
but it is too late. Alexis Potemkin has been
sent to Siberia for life."
Natalie heard her not.
"Lift her up said the empress, she has
tainted
But Natalie had not tainted. Slowly, but
resolutely, she rose, and making gesture Of
respectful submission to the empress, begged
leave to retire.
When Natalie reached her own apartment,
she drew from her finger the ring that Alexis
had placed upon it, and read the inscription
carved upon the inside in French. Death
is the only CONSIDER" it said We shall
meet in heaven"
There is no place more dreary, more terri
BILE, even in imagination, than the mines OF
Siberia.
Among the condemned in large quick.
silver mine in the very heart of the country,
thousands of versts from ST. Petersburg, stoop
ed at his daily toll form whose tall and no
BILE proportions even his coarse habit scarcely
shrouded. His delicate frame, unused to Ia
Dor and exposed to the rigor of an Arctic eli
mate, soon yielded to the unhealthiness of biz
occupation and he was fast sinking unde'
his trials. Yes, death would come, gentle
death--and his heart leaped with momen
tary joy.
The struggle was not long. A few days o
confinement to a hard pallet, few nights o
suffering, and the fat, which even an imperia
decree could not stop, went forth. The victim
was released.
Three months after this, the grand cham
berlain of Russia presented himself befor
Mile. Radetski, and summoned her to tn
: presence of the emperor.
When conducted to the palace, his majest
dismissed the gentleman in waiting, an
signed her to approach. His stern feature
were contracted by an expression of dee
0 dispIeasure. ss
y "Why does Madcmoiselle Radetski wea