The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-03-04

teers who responded to the call of Du-
moriez Through every siege and bat
tie Leland Forrest passed unscathed,
until the terrible struggle at Jemappes.
Among the missiles of death he fought
! undaunted, until cannon ball and fear
full charge of grape-shot mutilated his
| feet. The battle closed and France had
won glorious victory, but the field
was red with blood, and covered with
the heroes slain.
{" In the evening darkness q maiden
of noble birth walked to and fro among
the sufferers. But it was not a field of
death, and she was about to turn shud-
dering away when dark form at her
feet raised a hand and spoke. She
needed the call, and through the weary,
weary night she soothed the soldier with
the music of her voice. At the siege of
the palace in Paris, for a passing kind
ness, Marie ,Antoinette, the queen,
loosed string of pearls from her hair
and gave them to Leland. He had
worn them next his heart until now,
and as the maiden rose to go he placed
them in her hands until they should
meet again.
Morning dawned, but we will leave
the battle field. Tenderly the surgeons
cared for the young American, who,
tired of ceaseless combat, returned to
America, cripple for life. Several
years were spent in travel, as if he strove
to wear out or satisfy the restless spirit
that possessed him. In New Orleans one
evening he sought to while away the
time by visiting popular theatre, and
there in the star actress he recognized
the voice of the maiden of the battle.
field. A string of pearls was in her hair,
and Leland Forrest was satisfied. Car
lotta DeLauret, too, saw him, and she
knew the soldier of Jemappes. They
met next day, and abandoned their re-
speetive courses of life, and were mar
ried before leaving the South.
81 now come to my own history. My
earliest recollections are of the clear
peaks of the mountains cutting the blue
sky on every side, and of little valley,
apparently isolated from the rest of the
world. The village where l lived was
appropriately named Presumpscut
Pocket, and in reality it did resemble
pocket in more ways than one. Sur
rounded by the broad elevations of the
White Mountains, and accessible only
at one place, where a carriage road
entered, it was as romantic a spot as
ever nursed romantic child. And here
I grew up, the pride of my queenly
mother and crippled father.
"AhI how well do remember the
halcyon days of my childhood, when /
wandered in the fragrant woods, wreath
ing my hair with scarlet berries and
blue violets, and filling my hat with
cones and ivory plums; and the long
Sabbath days Of summer, when l fol-
lowed nv parents to church and listened
in rapt admiration to the mellow tones
of our dear old pastor, and wept softly
at the solemn music; and the winter
days when the snowhakes fell so silently
and filled Presumpscut Pocket like a
feather-bed.
81 inherited my mothers passionate
nature and my fathers wandering pro-
clivities, and we'll do remember their
many conversations concerning me, their
only child. NV father would shake his
head aud say, 'Ah, Carlotta, our little
humming-bird is too wild and beauti-
full; fear we shall one day lose her ,
aud then / would laugh saucily, and
dance away up in the attic to read, and
wonder what would become of me; or /
the mountain side and watch the sun
sink behind the highest peak, involving
our little pocket in the gloom of twi-
light.
But was not alone IN my walks
Merton Howell, neighbor's son, grew
up with me. We studied, sang and
played together, and all my childish
doubts and questionings were poured
into his attentive ear. Ever ready and
daring, Merton Howell was the ideal OF
my youthful fancy. But we could not
live always thus. Ny mother had been
educated in a convent, and she decreed
the same plan for me. At this period
was fourteen years old, and could con-
verse as easily in French as English
| Great pains had been taken in my train
ing, and have reason to believe that
promised all in appearance and intellect
my parents ever hoped for.
"They were to accompany me tt
France, and was to bid my native lane
farewell at once and perhaps forever.
tied my yellow hat over my curls anc
went out to visit all my playground
and gather my last bouquet of violets
Merton met me at the gate, and togeIhe
we walked away. Never can 1 forge
his passionate words and grief at part
ing. AS last memento l gave to hin
the string of pearls that clasped IN,
neck, and bade him keep them till W
met again.
"I crossed the seas to sunny Franc
lie Belle France, my mother said
and at the city of Bordeaux I was lef
with the Sisters of Mercy. The conven
whittier they took me was on the boz
ders of the forest of Guicune. A rive
flowed close beside the marble walls, an
bore in its limpid waters the tears Q
many captive maiden.
} "For six years / remained there
weary of life, hating every one, and Vi
terly sickened with such Imprisonment
so irksome in contrast with my forme
freedom. Never once during those III
happy years did my parents write or Wis
: me. But at last I was finished, an
they came to claim me. We hastene
| to Paris; my mothers relatives wei
2 connected with the royal family, whic
3 had again come into power; and, as th
niece and heiress of Madam DeLauret,
3 was universally sought and admired.
/ "Well do l remember the night el
/ tered the court ballroom. robed in la
| ender silk and the family diamonds
8 they told me looked like princes
n But will pass over that evening. Su
fee it to say that all that remains of
j in my memory is vast confusion
/ light and beauty, lords and ladies, duk
: and duchesses, titled men and queen
e women.
= "I presume you know that in Fran
: it is the custom for guardians al
d parents to dispose of their young ladi
> without consulting the likes and dislik
n of the maids in question; and after
e round of nightly dissipation, disco
cred that brilliant conquest had be-
k won for me, and was engaged to Bare
;, Luxarof, dependent of the Emper
+ Alexander I. of Russia. How I d