The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-28

4 eSty had prODaply IOTgOGten them altogether
Weeks passed, and the opportunities ia
breach these delicate suhiacts bad been IMAM
| spioiously rare. Mademolselle de Beaumont
| II is true, had ninpletely eclipsed the favor
ite Nadge; snd Elizabeth. la her hours Of
relakalioh from state affairs, exacted the CON
| stant attendance OF the new favorite In her
private apartments But the almost constant
presenee OF some other of the maids ri h,nor
opposed continual obstacles and intarr.,D-
Iul;ons, ana the Czarine herself was not always
the current. triles OF the hour. she was '' ex-
tremely INDECENT III her personal habits and
niten reclining at length upon cushions on the
Hoor 81 her bu,ldoir, she laid herimperial head
ia tne lap or the embarrassed dem Uiselle, and
Was soothed to sleep by reading and the
bathing OF her temples. And during this
period she aKacted frequently OF the Marquis.
With q kind OF Instructive mistrust, promises
vice.
But there were sweeter hours for the enatn-
ored La Chetardie than those passed In the
presence OF his partial and imperial mistress
Encirced by .sentinels and guarded from oil
Intrusion Of other eyes, in the inyolable same
t!lary OF royalty, the beautiful Nadge, impas
stoned, and she knew not why, 10 her love for
her new companion, was ever within call and
happy In deyottng to him all her faculties
OF caressing endearment He had not yet
dared 10 risk the interests Of his sovereign
by disclosure Of his sex, even Ill the conf
dence OF love. He could not trust Nadge
to play SO difficult part as that OF possessor
81 ~ embarrassing secret In the presence OF
theshrewd and observing Czarine. A betrayal
too, would NJ once put oil end to his happl-
ness. With the slight arm of the fair and
relying creature about his waist, and her head
pressed close against his breast they passed
the balmy nights Of the Russian summer In
pacing the flowery alleys Ut the imperial gar
den, discourslng with but one reserve on
every subject that floated to their laps. RI
required, however, oil tho self-controi Of La
Chetarde, and all the favorite darkness Of
the night. to conceal his smiles at the noipe
confessions OF the unconscious girl and her
Wonderings at the peculiarly of her feelings.
She had thought hitherto that there were
affections IN her nature which could only be
called forth by lover Yet, now, the thought
81 caressing another than her trlend--of re-
peatlng To any human ear, least of all to
man. those new born vows of love, filled her
with alarm and horror. She felt that she
had given her heart irrsvoeable sway, aud to
silent passion, In Chetardie drew her to his
bosom, and, with the pressure Or his lips
upon hers, Interrupted those sweet confess
siODs.
, Yet the time Of last drew near for the wax
Ing from the celestial dream. Tho disguised
dplomatst had found his opportunity, aud
had successfully awakened In Elizabeth's
mind both curiosity and interest as to the
subjects OF the dispatshes still sewed safely
In his Corsets. There remained nothing for
him now but to seize a favorable opportunity;
aud, with the delivery OF his mssives, to de-
clare his sex To the Czarlne There was risk
to life and liberty In this, but the Marquis
knew not fear, and he thought but Of Its con-
sequences to hia love.
La La Chetardie's last interview with the
savant who conducted him to Russia, his
male attire had been successfully transferred
from one portmanteau to the other; and 1t
was now IN hia possession, ready for the mo
ment OF need. With his plans brought to with
In single night of the denOuement, be parted
from the Czarine, having asked the imperial
permission for all hours private interview on
the morrow: and. with gentle force excluding
Nadge from his apartment. he dressed him
self III bis proper costume and cut open the
warm envelope Of his dispatches. This done,
he threw his cloak over him aud. with q dark
lantern In his hand, sought Nadgs in the gar |
den. He had determined to disclose himself
to her; RENEW his vows of love in his proper
guise; and arrange, while he had access aud
oppnrt'lnity. some means for uniting their
destinies hereafter.
As he opened tho door of the turrat, Nadge
How no the stairs to meet him, and obaerv
ing tho cloak In the faint glimmer of the stars,
she playfully endeavored to enveop herself
IN II. But, SELLING her hands. La Chetardis
turned and gltded backward. drawing her
after him toward small pavilion In the re-
meter part Of tho garden. Hire they had |
never been interrupted, the Empress alone
having the power To intrude upon them, and |
LA Chetattlie felt sale In davoting this place |
and time to the double disclosure OF bis secret |
and his suppressed passion.
Persuaang her with difficulty to desist |
from putting her arms about him and sit
down without a caress, he reiterated a few |
stcps, and 10 the darkness of the pavilion
shook down his imprisoned locks To their
masculine Gbnnd0n, threw off his cloak, aud |
drew up the b'tud Ut his lantern. The scream
Ct surprise which INSTANTLY parted from the
lips OF Nadge made him regret his I'M
prudence 10 not having prepared her for the
transformation; but the second thought was
mirth, tor she believed 1t of course to be moth
ing but playful masquerade; and with de-
overwhelmed him with kisses another voice,
however, Joining, very unexpectedly In the
laughterl
The Empress at.,od before them
For an instaut, with NIL his self possession.
IL Chetardie wac confounded and dismayed
SlberiH, TIL" knout the aCaffUld fitted before
his eyes: and Nadge WAS the sufferer! But O.
glance a' the fac" Of the Czarne treasured
him. She, too took 1t for glrllsh masque-
rade!
But the Empress, unfortunately, was not
disposed to havea partner In her enjoyment
OF the society Of thfnew apparition Of "hoe.
and doubet." She oftiered Nadge to her tur-
ret with one OF those petulent commands
which her attendants understood to admit OF
no delay; and while the ecpsed favorite dis
appeared with the tears Of unwilling submits
sion in her soft eyes, La Chetardie looked af-
ter her with the anguish OF eternal separa-
ton at his heart, for presentiment crowded
irresistiby upon him that he should never see
her more!
The Empress was In slippers and robe de
matt, and, as If fate had determined that this
well kept secret should not survive the hour,
her Majesty laid her arm within those OF her
masquerader, 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 male attire,
and many playful caress, she arrived at the
door OF her chamber
But the Marquis could 20 no further He
had hitherto been spar cd the embarrassment OF
passing this sacred threshold, for the passee
Empress had secrets Of toilet for tie en-
Of her person, which she trusted
only to the eyes OF an antinuated attendant
lie Chetardie had never passed beyond the
boudoir which was between the ante-chamber