The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-07
Persuading her with difficulty to de


sist from putting her arms about him
and sit down without caress, he retreat
ed a few steps, and, in the darkness of
the pavilion, shook down his imprisoned
locks to their masculine abandon, threw
off bis cloak, and drew up the blind Of
his lantern. The scream of surprise
which instantly parted from the lips of
Nadge made him regret his imprudence
in not having prepared ber for the trans
formation; but the second thought was
mirth, for she believed it of course to be
nothing but playful masquerade; and
with delighted laughter she sprang to his
neck and overwhelmed him with kisses
another voice, however, joining very un-
expectedly in the laughter!
The Empress stood before them!
For an instant with all his seH-posses
sion, La Chetardie was confounded and
dismayed. Siberia, the knout, the scat
fold, fitted before bis eyes; and Nadge
was the sufferer! But glance at the
face Of the Czarine treasured him. She,
too, took it for girlish masquerade!
But the Empress, unfortunately, was
not disposed to have partner in her en-
joyment of the society of this new appa-
rition of chose and doublet." She or
dered Nadge to her turret with one of
those petulent commands which her at
tendaDts understood to admit of no de-
lay; and while the eclipsed favorite dis
appeared with the tears of unwilling SUBJ
mission ia her soft eyes, La Chetardie
looked after her with the anguish of eter-
nal separation at his heart, for a PRESENT.
ment crowded irresistably upon him that
he should never see her more!
The Empress was in slippers and robe
de mutt, and, as if fate had determined
that this well-kept secret should not sur
vive the hour, Her Majesty laid her arm
within those of her supposed masquerad-
er and led the way to the palace. She
was wakeful and wished to be read to
sleep. And with many compliment. to
the beauty of her favorite in the male at
tire, and many playful caress, she ar
rived at the door of her chamber.
But the Marquis could go no further.
He had hitherto been spared the embar-
rassment of passing this sacred threshold,
for the pas5ee Empress had secrets of
toilet for the establishment of her person
which she trusted only to the eyes of an
antiquated attendant. lie Chetarlie had
never passed beyond the boudoir, which
was between the ante-chambcr and the
bedroom, and the time had come for the
disclosure of his secret. He fell on his
knees and announced himself a man!
Fortunately they were alone. In
eredulous at first, the Empress listened
to his asseverations however, with more
amusement than displeisure; and the
immediate delivery of the dispatches,
with the commentators of the dis
guised ambassador by his royal master to
the forgiveness and kindness of the En-
press, amply secured his pardon. But it
was on condition that he should resume
his disguise and remain in her service.
Alone in his tower (for Nadge had dis
appeared, and he knew enough of the
cruelty of Elizabeth to dread the conse-
quences to the poor girl Of venturing on
direct inquiries as to her fate), La
Chetardie, after few weeks, fell i'll; and
fortunate, even at this price, to escapA
from the silken fetters of the enamored
Czarine, he departed under the care of
the imperial physician, for the more
genial climate Of France-uot without
reiterated promises of return, however,
and offers, in that event. of unlimited
wealth and advancement.
But, as the Marquis made his way slow
ly toward Vienna. geam of
light dawned on his sadness. The Prime
ess Sophia Charlotte Was newly afiiauced
to George the Third of England, and this
daughter of the house of Mecklenberg
had been the playmate of Nadge Stein,
from infancy till the time when Nadge
was sent to the Ozarine by the Duchess
of Mecklenberg. Making a confdant of
the kind physician who accompanied
him, La Chetardie was confirmed by the
good mans better experience and knowl-
: edge, in the belief that Nadge had shared
the same fate of every female of the
court who had ever awakened the jeal-
ousy of the Empress She was doubtless
exiled to Siberia; but, as she had com
mitted no voluntary fault, it was proba
bly, without other punishment; and, with
playmate on the throne of England
she might be demanded and recovered
ere long, in all her freshness and beauty
, Yet the recent fae of the fair Eudoxi(
, Lapoukin, who, for an ohenSe LITTLE
more distasteful to the Czarine, had beer
: pierced through the tongue with ho
iron, whipped with the knout, and exiec
: for life to Siberia hung like cloud o
evil augury over his mind.
t The Marquissuddenly determined tina
he would see the afianced Princess, ant
: plead with her for her friend, before th,
S splendors of a throne should make he
= inaccessible. The excitement Of thi
hope had given him new life, and HI
easily persuaded his attendant, as the.
, entered the gates of Vienna, that he re
+ quired hisattendance no further. Alon
J with his own servants, he resumed hi
g female attire, and directed his course t,
i, Mecklenberg Strelitz.
s The Princess had maintained an init
f mate correspondence with her playmat
e UP to the time of her bethrotha.; and tn
= | name of Mile de Rea nmont was passpor