Year: 1879

no fortune.


Notwithstanding this, the duchess and
the general, long bound together by the
ties Of friendship, had mutually agreed to
unite their two children in marriage.


OF this determination, however, they
soon repented. While Matilda and Ma
poleon gave themselves up to the sweet
charm of their mutual affection, the duch-
ess and the general, alarmed for the in
terests of their children, and little also
for their own, played scene of high
comedy.


If my daughter" said the general,
"marries that poor fellow, Napoleon,
adieu to luxury and pleasure" D."


"If my son" soliloquizcd the duchess,
"should wed a girl and not fortune,
how could we ever restore the lustre of
the noble house of -"


The general, therefore, sought 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 devotedly, to fall an easy
prey to the snares spread out to entrap
their youth and inexperience.


Unable to disunite them, the general
and the duchess insisted upon the de-
parture of Napoleon, and on his absent
ing himself for a while, from Paris. They
told him that the smallness of their for
tune required it. 1t was indispensable
for him to acquire position in the world.
The minister had just offered to provide
him with a place as secretary of some
foreign embassy. Should he refuse to 60
he would shut himself out from a brilliant
career. He must accomplish this sacri-
fee, were it but for Matilda sake, as her
future welfare depended upon it, and he
was to become responsible for her happi
ness. Napoleon, at length, unwillingly
consented.


He saw Matilda for the last time; he
told her of his intended departure. \ cry
of agony burst from the young girls
bosom. In vain did Napoleon acquaint
her with his prospects in vain did he
cndeayor to comfort her by pointing out,
in a speedy return, whole life of love,
happiness and wealth. Matilda still rc-
mained inconsolable A dark forcboding
prevented her from believing the false
promises of her uncertain futurity. What
could she gain in exchange for happiness
which at present was theirs, and which
they were about to sacrifice to duty: She
felt that her golden dream was over; that
it was fading away from her sight.


Napoleon took her hand in his, and
covered it with tears and kisses. Re
member" said he, remember that thou
art my betrothed, and that this hand is
mine, forever mine"


Saying which, he put a ruby ring on
her finger,


ut is my mothers" murmured he.
Matilda could only answer by pressing
the ring to her lips, and then fell fainting
and dcsolate upon a couch.


Napoleon departed. His absence ia
cilitatcd the objects OF the parents.


The general then made an appeal to
Matilda's devoted heart; he exaggerated
poverty; he invented tale about debts
and engagements which he would not be
able to meet; he pointed out to her the
horrors which would surround hi. misera-
bic old age, beggared and dishonorcd; he
even limited to her that it would be far
better to cut short his troubled life She
alone had power to save him: she must
forget Napoleon and wed the Countc
dc -, whose handsome and manly
face, whose noble soul she well must
know how to appreciate.


4 little selhshnesS, and Matilda would
have been saved; but it is the weakness
of elevated minds not to shrink from sac
rifces. Matilda, in despair threw herself
in her fathers arms and promised all.


He was yet speaking when Matilda
had left the room, unable longer to con-
troll her oyercharged feelings. Pale, ex-
hausted with the struggle, she FASTENED
to her apartments, and. sinking on a seat,
gave way to food of silent but bitter
tears.


Flow, flow, cruel tears! Weep, thou
noble creature, upon thy dreams 50
bright, so short-lived Happiness, alas !.
was never made for souls like thine.


The banns were published, and on the
10th of January, Is, in the church of
St. Thomas dAquinus, Matilda was
welded to the Count de -. The gen.
erals face was radiant with satisfaction.


At the moment of the nuptial blessing,
when the bridegroom puts on the finger
of the bride the ring-symbolic link of
the chain that unites them-instead of
giving her left hand, as is the custom, Ma
tilda 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 determination which
is not to be mistaken. The count saw it
at once and fearing scene, did not insist,
but put the ring on the right hand which
Matilda still held out to him.


The count was of 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 He told Matilda
that he looked upon it with aversion, and
begged of her to wear it no longer. Ma