The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-09
THE LEST MELODY OF PAUL PES
TAL. THE RUSSIAN COSSPTRATOR.

"The Emperor Alexander was dead.
His eldest brother, the Grand Duke Con-
stantine, was his natural successor to the
throne of Russia but, by a deed till then
kept a secret, Constantine, in Alexauder's
lifetime, had renowned the crown in
favor of his younger brother, Nicholas.
The accession of the latter, therefore, ex-
cited general surprise ; an unsettled feel
ing manifested fJelf among the people
and the army. The time appeared favor
able for the breaking out of a conspiracy
which had been forming for yeaas. An
insurrectiontook place at St. Petersburg
ON Christmas day, 1925; but the move
ment of the conspirators was too hasty,
and their attempt, not we'll seconded by
the troops, failed through the energy of
the car. a hundred and thirty-six
leaders of the insurrection were seized,
tried and condemned, and almost all of
them were sentenced to perpetual labor
or to exile in Siberia. The Ave principal
chiefs were condemned to be broken on
the wheel, hut did not undergo that hor-
rible punishment, the gibbet being sub
stituted by a ukase Of the emperor.
Among these five chiefs the first and
most remarkable was Paul Postal. colonel
of the infantry regiment of Wiatka. The
long and arduous task to which he had
devoted himselfha not wholly engrossed
the mind of this brave and ~persevering
conspirator~ Alive to the charms Of the
arts, he cultivated them with success,
and, in particular, was al excellent mu-
The young and beautiful Cath
arine W had conceived devoted at
tachment to Postal. Gifted with an ex-
quisite voice, she loved to sing his mel
odies. The passion with which she in
spired him was as fervent as her own,
and if ever the deep conspirator could
his gloomy reveries, it was when
seated by GATHERINGS side, and dreaming
Of love and happiness.
"On the W of the day when the in.
surrection was to break out, Postal, more
preoccupied than usual, scarcely an
swered Catherine, and at times seemed
not to hear her.
"'What ails you to-day, Paul?' she
'aid, taking his hand. you do not look
1t me-you de not speak to me. 1 never
aw you 30 cold, so: absent, when you
with me-
paul looked at her sadly.
"'What would you do, Catherine, were
1ou never to see me again?'
90 ] should diet cried Catherine, with
; and then added in a voice
{ terror But why this question, Paul?
you think OF forsaking me?' |
"Pestal was silent. +.
"But it cannot be- said Catherine.
You have sworn to love me till DEATH
"Yesl While this heart beats it is {
ours, Catherine, but he added, en-
her with melancholy tenderness, '
romise me, if ! die, that you win live
or the sake of your old father, and. that, |
ven when dead, | shall never cease to q
ccupy your thoughte.' 7
81 promise to live as long as my grief b
ill allow. But of US two, Paul, it is net s
who shall have this cruel trial to ?
ndergo.' v
"'There are presentiments that do not
said Postal, declining his head
his breast ; IAN inward voice warns "
e that | must abandon my two hap. u
est visions-the bliss of living in the =
ljoyment Of your love, Catherine, and q
10 glory of assuring the welfare Of my a
o.
"t Whats do you mean ? cried theyoung Il
RI, whose fear and agitation increased W
cry minute ; what mean these mystic 7
Dus words, these gloomy predictions? 81