The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-06-29
EULALIE LATALLE.
A STORY OF THE REIGN OF TERROR

o, what was love made for if twas not for
The same amidst sorrow, and transport and
bliss? MooRE.
The fascination of the French rev.
olution had reached its height; the
excitable population, intoxicated
with power, and maddened by the
vague dread of the retribution of de-
spair, goaded on by proAigate, fero-
cious, or insane leaders, was plung-
ing into the most revolving and SAN
culinary excesses. The son of st.
Louis had ascendcd to heaven, the
beautiful Marie Antoinette had laid
her head upon the block, the baby
heir of the throne Of the Capets was
languishing in the hands of his keep
ers, and the Girondists, the true
friends of republican liberty were
silenced by exile Or the scaffold. 1t
short, the Reign of Terror, the mem
orable ,sway of Robespiere, hung
like a funeral pail upon the land
which was fast becoming vast Gem
etcry. The provincial towns, faith
full echoes of thecentral capital, were
repeating the theme of horror with
u thousand variations. Each con-
siderable city had its guillotine, and
where that instrument of punish
mcnt was wanting, the fusilladc or
the mitraillc supplied its place.
At this crisis, Eugene Bcauvallon,
a young merchant of Toulouse, pre-
sented himself one morning in the
drawing room of Mademoisellc Eula-
lie Lasalle, an orphan girl of great
beauty and accomplishment, to whom
he had long been betrothed, and
whom he would ere this have mar
ried but for the political troubles of
the period. Eulalie was graceful
creature, slcndcrly and symmetrical
ly formed, with soft blue eyes, and
an exceedingly gentle expression
which was indicative of her charac-
ter. She seemed too fair and fragile
TO buffet with the storms of life, and
i'll fitted to endure its troubles, crea-
ted to be the idol of a drawing room
the fairy queen of bondoir.
Eugene was handsome, manly
fellow, of great energy and charac-
ter. The revolution surprised him
in the act of making a fortune; the
whirlwind had stripped him of most
of his property but he had yet left
him liberty and life. He had con-
trivcd to avoid rendering himself OBJ
noxious to the sansculottes without
securing their confidence. The tri-
colored cockade which he wore in his
hat shielded him from the fatal cpl
thet of aristocrat-a certain passport
to the guillotine.
Bcauvallon then seated himself be-
side Eulalie, who was struck with
the radiant expression of his counte-
nance, and begged to know the rca'
son of his joyous excitement.
az have good news to tell you," he
said gayly; "but we are not Alone"
he added, stopping short, as his eye
rested on the sinister face of an old
woman, humbly attired, who was bus,
lily engaged in knitting, not far
from the lovers"
%, don't mind poor old Monnctte,
said lIulalic. "'rhe poor old creature
is past hearing thunder 1t is u wo'
man Eugene, | rescued from absolute
starvation, and she is 80 grateful and
seems so desirous of doing something
to render herself useful, that | am
mortified almost at her sense of the
Obligation"
al hope she has not supplantcd
your femme de chambrc, Julia, of whom
you threatened to be jealous. My