The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-01

( tally Conversation, that leaps from
| string to string as sweetly changing music
| from the skillfully challenged chord, SO
delightful with the bright-eyed girl, be-
| comes with others a merely intellectual
arrangement of words and sentences.
The bright-eyed girl is a positive guam
| tity, albeit an unknown one. Whether
| stirred by passion or convinced intellect
ually she is right there where you can
| find her. sometimes when you don't want
| to find her. Beauty fades, forms grow un-
shapely with age, but the bright eyes,
now glowing with the reflection of an en-
larged soul, shine upon us from silvery
hairs even more potently than they did in
buoyant youth.
There are two mammoth oaks SAYS the
New Orleans Picayune, on the bank of the
Bayou st. John, interlocking branches and
sturdy in the running stream, a little to the
right of the bridge, as you cross it. a little
in front Of the old Allard plantation. Ca
yerre tells the story of these oaks more
lengthily than present space will allow.
1t was In the year 1712. The Duke of
Brunswick Wolfenbuttel had a daughter
named Charlotte who was so Surprisingly
beautiful, so noble and dutious, that she
was not the idol alone of her father, but
Of every inhabitant of the little duchy.
Now it so happened that Alexis the heir
apparent to the crown then worn bv Pc
ter the Great, stupid idiot, STEPPED in
every known vice, was sent by his father
upon tour, with a hope that a change
OF conditions and more extensive ac-
quaintance with mankind would improve
the young reprobate's morals. In his pere-
CARNATIONS the Muscovite prince visited the
court of Brunswick, and Immediately fell
enslaVed to the charms of the beautiful
Charlotte. Tar Peter was retoiced to learn
OF this attachment. and in haste ordered
the young heir to marry the German prin-
ne t,A n.
objection, and the lovely young bride was
led to the altar by the most monstrously
sinful character of the great courts of his
time. The spectators wept, the more inter-
ested participants in this funereal rite
were pale and sad to despair, with the ex-
ception of the triumphant Alexis.
There was one witness, however more
sad, more despairing than the rest. The
Chevalier dAubant, an officer of the
dukes household, a Frenchman of noble
birth and exceptional qualities of mind
and heart, struggled with himself as he
heard the Hateful words pronounced that
placed bann upon his own mad passion
He loved Charlotte, but he had never dared
to speak.
Follow the impetus Alexis with his
shuddering BRIDE dashing with wild Ma
zeppa steeds toward st. Petersburg and
high honors! There were many Cossack
followers, wild fellows, to accompany the
~ tNefA pan JIG dIIOuS IueIl, however,
rode close to the carriage door, scanned
the waste places lest there be a danger
TO his empery, and who seemed to show
greater diligence in the escort and care of
the LADY. He never spoke, but sat upon
his horse, with muffiing cap and cloak, and
showed reverence to his princess whenever
she alighted. AS she left her carriage
upon on occasion, Charlotte beckoned to
TINS faithful servitor to lend the help of
his arm in her descent. The Cossack
trembled under her slight weight and stag
gered
On the gala day of her arrival In st.
petersburg, when the brazen threats of
an hundred bells were bidding her well
come.when the people shouted and the gay
military stood before her gates to do her
honor, confidential servant slipped into
the hand of the Cossack whom we have
mentioned small packet. In contained
letter and passport signed by the en-
peror himself, giving permission to Chew
alier D'Aubant to leave the empire at his
convenience. The missive ran thus:
ID Aubant-Your disguise was not one
for me. 1t could not deceive my heart
NOW that am the wife of another, know
for the first time my long-kept secret-I
love you. Such confession is a declara-
ton that we must never meet again. The
mercy of God be upon US BOTH
Charlotte"
DAubant compiled with her wish and
left the imperial capital next morning
We lose sight of him for a, while, but
we know that he arrived in 17iS in Louis
lana with the grade of captain in the
colonial troops. He was stationed in New
Orleans, where he Stunned contact with
his brother officers and lived in utmost
solitude In order to better indulge his
mood DAubant caused to be built rural
home on the bank of Bayou st. John, or
River st. John, as 1t was known, facing
a small village on the opposite bank of
friendly indians. The only ornament in
- Aubants rude dwelling was a life
size portrait of a woman, surprisingly
beautiful, before which D'Aubant spent
hours in contemplation of it. The woman
was represented as gazing with melan-
choly at a crown which rested heavily
upon heart, evidently crushing IT, The
allegory was best known to the faithful
p'Aubant but no word ever escaped his
lips In explanation.
Meanwhile Charlotte was repining in
her gilded woe. being deserted for the
low pleasures which her spouse had pre-
Viously INDUCED. Having struck her TO
the floor in one of his furies, Charlotte .
planned to quit the court where she had
suffered and been Inundated, and with
the assistance of her bosom companion.
the Countess of Koeningsmark, enacted
the scene of the potion such as is given
In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet" with
the result that all Europe was deceived
at the imperial funeral and Charlotte
escaped, poor, unattended, alone, but free
With two hundred emgrants she landed
az New Orleans in March, 1921. She inquir-
ed at once for the Chevalier D'Aubant and
was conducted thereto with diligence. Here
Is meeting for the poet-artist for the ro-
mancer to elaborate We cannot tell what
happened, now nor with what sanctity the
meeting was enjoyed, since two hearts had
been purified by the direst probations i'm
aginable TO lovers. However. we know that