The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-02-11

IF my daughter said The General
''marries ahat POOR devil, Napoleon
adieusto luxury and pleasure
"If my son." soliloqui2ed the Duchess
"should wed girl and not fortune,
how could We ever restore Tie lustte Ul
the ndble house of-Y'
The General. therefore. .sotight to wean
Matilda from her lover and the Duchess
exerted herself to divert Napoleon from
thinking of Matilda. But neither could
succeed Napoleon and Matilda loved
too sincerely, too devo,e,aly, to fall an
easy prey to the snares spread out TO
ehtrap their youth and inexperience
Uaable to disunite them, the General
and the Duchess insisted upon the de-
parture of Napoleon, and on his absent
ing himself for while from Paris, they
told him that the smsllness OF their for
tune required It 1t was indispensable
for him 10 aquire position in the world.
The Minister had just offered to provide
him with place, as secretary to some
! foreign embassy Should he. refuse to
90 he would shut out himself from a
brilliant career He must accomplish
this sacrifice, were it but for Matilda's
sake as her future welfare depended up
on it, and he wss to become responsible
for her happiness Napoleon, at length,
unwillingly consented.
He saw Matilda for last time; he
told her OF his departure. A cry of
agony burst from the young girls bo-
som. In vain did Napoleon acquaint
her with his projects; in vain did he en-
deavor to comfort her by pointing out,
in speedy return, whole life of love,
happiness and wealth Matilda still re-
maned ipconsolahle A dark foreboding
prevented her from believing the false
promises of an uncertain futurity. What
could she gain in exchange for happi-
ness which, at present, was theirs, and
which they were about to sacrifice to
their duty2 She felt that her golden
dream was over-that it was fading
away from her sight
Napoleon took her hand in his, and
covering It with tears and kisses, "Re.
member" said he, "remember that thou
art my betrothed, and that this hand is
mine, forever niue"
Saving which he put ruby ring on
her finger.
''It is my mothers" murmured he =
Matilda could only answer by pressing
the ring to her lips, then fell fainling and
desolate upon couch
Napoleon departed. His absence ia
cilitated the projects of the parents
The General then made appeal to Ma
tilda's deYoted heart; be exaggerated bis
povertY-he invented tale about debts
and engagements whichlhe would not be
able to meet; he pointed out to her the
horrors which would surround his mis-
cradle old ase, beggared and dishonor
ed; he even hiuted to her that it would
he far hetterto cut short bis. troubled
life, She alone had power to save bin
| -sbe must forget Napoleon and wed
the Count de -, whose handsome and
manly face, whose noble soul she well
must know how to appreciate
A little sel6shness and Matilda would
have been saved but it is the weakness
of elevated minds not to shrink from
sacrifices Matilda, in despair, threw
herself in her fathers arms and prom.
ised all He blessed and thanked her
for her devotion.
He was vet speaking when Matilda
had left the room, unable longer to con-
troll her overcharged feelings Pale, ex.
hausted with the struggle, she FASTENED
to her apartment, and, sinking on seat,
gave way to food of silent but bitter
tears
Flow, flow, cruel tears! Weep. thou
noble creature, upon thy dream so bright,
so short-lived! Happiness, alas was
never made for souls like thine!
The banns we're published. and on the
10th of January, 1S-, in the Church of
St Thomas .d'Aquinus, Matilda was
welded to the Count de-. The Gen,
erals face was radiant with satisfaction
At the moment of the nuptial bless
ing, when the bridegroom puts on the
finger of the bride the ring-symbolic
link of the chain that unites them-in-
stead of giving her left hand, as is the
custom, Matilda suddenly passed to the
Counts right and gave him her right
hand The Count was about to make
an observation and take her hand; but
Matilda drew it back and again extended
to him her right hand, lowering her eyes,
but with that air of frmness and deter
mination which is not to be mistaken
The Count saw it at once, and, fearing q
scene, did not insist but put the ring on
the right hand which Matilda still held
out to him
The Count was of a jealous nature, as
jealous as Othello A fatal suspicion
had taken possession of his mind The
ring which Matilda wore ON her left
hand gave him much uneasiness HI
told Matilda that he looked upon it will
aversion and begged of her to wear i
no longer Matilda replied that she
would never be separated from it, giving
her answer with much sweetness, bu
with the same determined air which shs
had shown at her wedding
| From that time, that which had pre-
viously only heen suspicion in thu
Counts mind became certainty. HI
determined upon being revenged, bu
dissembled his feelings and purposes =
A system Of surveillance was organized
around Matilda Soon there came let
ter from Napoleon. The poor youth
Ignorant of Mstilda's sacrifice and th
!, ruin of bis dearest hopes, spoke of hi
love, of bis future happiness, Of thei
speedy marriage. He reminded Matild
, that her hand belonged to him, and b
requested her to look often upon tn
ruby of his mothers ring whilst think
, ing OF him He was charged by hi
Ambassador to be the bearer Of impor
tant dispatches to Paris. Before mont
, was over he would again see his believe
Matilda ia
This letter was put into the Count
+ hands. He saw through all He wer
, to Matilda's apartment with the ope
, letter in his hand, and, handing it to he
said coolly:
| 81 can imagine your scruples. b,
2 why did you not explain yourself sooI
| er2 You have sworn that your han
will belong only to him! Very we'll 6
D eoop 90 hn arrives I ahall take IT, nnO