Newspaper of Burlington Free Press, December 21, 1838, Page 1

ttttlttt NOT THE GLORY OF CESA R BUT THE WELFAltE OF K Olllli. BY H. B. STACY- EARTH'S VOICES. "In reason's car they nil rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice." To Mm wlio has an ear for melody, Who lines earth's natural music, where no harp Of curious make, by man's device is framed To measure sounds by arbitrary laws How manifold the minstrelsy that swells From her voiced instruments he walks abroad, And nature is tittuncd to harmony. Earth caught her music when the morning stars Welcomed the stranger to their galaxy ; And ever since there's not u thing that lives But hath nu utterance, though inatidiblo To him whoso ear is wedded to the wire, And to iho viol's smooth voluptuous trills. The stream through the untrodden desert flows, Impregnates with its cadence the air ; The first white snow-drop and the last brown flower That leans its withered cheek on winter's breast, Hold eloquent conycrsc with the changing year. Spring hath n jojful tone There's n glad murmui through the forest trees; And budding boughs, slirr'd by the southern breeze, As if their mnkci's hand were o'er them thrown, Give forth n voico peculiarly their own. Summer, n careless song, When birds pursue their mates upon llio wing, And hold their revels round the shaded spring, Or, perched upon some branch, the whole day long Echo each other's numbers, clear and strong. Autumn, loo; has a tongue Of varied melody ; oft times she grieves, And o'er her f.ided sheen n requiem weaves ; At whiles her garners with ripe spoils arc hung, And (he loud harvest home is gaily sung. Stcarn winter goes not by With a silent footstep ; there's a crashing sound Where the hewn cedar topples to the ground ; And the pure snr,w when fiom llio frosty sky lis flakes comedown, yields delicate minstrelsy, And childhood's early day It is all music; with the blush of light Its hymn commences ; at the thut of night Only the tune is changed a gentler lay Steals from its sleeping lips to heaven nway. And where is ho ! Oh, where 1 Who hath not known u mother's voice, nnd felt Its power to sway, to move, to soothe, to melt! And when for those sho loves, that voice is prayer, Angels aloft its supplications bear. Love breathes a fiiful strain Of Broken melody ; when love is young, Like mingled pearls that have not yet been strung. It hath some rapturous numbers, but 'tis pain, When warbled once, to sing them o'er again. Pale sorrow bears n part In its unceasing concert ; nnd her wail Is like the mourning of November's gale, Or as the plaint of the death. stricken heart, Ficrced by the forest ranger's bearded dart. Religion's unilicm swells From holy lips, unchanged by years or clime. Still soaring lieavcnwaid with a note sublime, Or whispering inwardly, its utterance tells Of peace, drawn from salvation's living wells. Oh, Faith is never dumb ! Hark to the burst of triumph from yon bed Her thrilling chant "Death, thon art captive led! From ill is low earth, my temporary home, To take my higher waid, I come! I come!" From the Jfew .Monthly .Magazine. CHARLOTTE M ARGUE RITTE DE MONTJUORENCI, Princess of Conde, and Sister of (he Great Conde. A Tate of the French Chronicles, founded on facts. BY MISS AGNES STRICKLAND. It was the second morning nficr Clia r lolto de Montmorcnct's Aral ball ; but the enchantment with which that memorable evening had been fraught si ill floated be fore her youthful fancy. She had thought of nothing but tbo Louvre and its giittcr. ing pageantry all day; and her pillow had been haunted with dreams of Henri Q,uar tre, and the gay and gallant nobles of his court who had vied villi each oihcr in offering tho most intoxicating homago to her charms. Charlotto do Monmoronci was the most beautiful girl in Franco, and thoeonsation produced by her first appear ance at court, was enough to dazzle tho mind of s damsel just emancipated from tho sober restraint of a conventional education. Sho had danced the puvon with Henri him self, who had been lavish on that occasion, of tho eeductive flattery when ho was so well skilled to whisper in n lady's car. Char lotte had found this incenso only too anrrceablo; but the pleasure with which e-(';o was disposed to listen to tho compli mnnto n.' roynlty, rcceivod somothing like a check from JJo impertinent espionage of a pair of penetrating oarK eyes, wnicn, .l.nnnuor clio rnisnd lior OWn, she CllCOUn- tered fixed upon her with looks expressive than admiration. .lorpil nnv eves address language so displeasing to tho reigning beauty of the evening, especially wnuu uui muuiu inr tho Knrirrhtlv heir of Baesomptorre. appeared highly gratifying with tho brilliant Buccese that nau ottenucu iter pnuii talion at court? Bassompierro was the handsomest and most admired of all the peers of Franco. Ho stood very high in tho favor of his sovereign ; and so generally irresistible was ho considered by the ladies, that his choice of Madcmoisello do Mont morenci had entitled her to tho envy of half Iho females of tho courts, who had vainly endeavored to fix his roving heart. Charlotte in accopting him, had driven a hundred lovers to despair, for the beautiful and wealthy daughter of tho most illustrious peer of France, from tho moment eho quit, ted her convent, had been surrounded by suitors. Tho provoking da:k eyes, whoso importinont observation had annoyed nnd nff..ndDd lior in thn roval salon de danse, did not belong to any of theso luckless callante. It would have been difficult, nnrhans. for anv ladv. however lair, to re ject tho addresses of a man with such a pair of eyes, if their owner had rendered them na eloquent in impassioned pleading as they wero in reproof. These unauthorised monitors, too, portaincd not to tho grave nd Btntolv Sully, or any of tho older wor thics of tho court, whom wisdom, virtues, nnd mature yoare might entitle to play tho moralist, but a pale, molancholy stripling, who engaged tho attention of no one in tho glittering circle but the neglected queen. With her he appeared to bo on terms of affectionate confidence ; nnd it was from bo hind her chair that ho directed those glan ccs which excited the surprise nnd dis pleasure of tho fair do Monluiorenci. Tho expression of thoso eyes, to say nothing of their singular beauty, haunted Charlotto after her roturn to the hotel de Montmorenci ; and sho rogrctted that sho had not asked Bassompiorre, who the per son was that had conducted himself in so extraordinary a manner. Sho had thought of propounding tho inquiry more than once during llio evening, but was unwilling to call her lover's attention to a circumstance that was mortifying to her sclf-lovo, Sho fell asleep with the determination of amu sing Bassompiorre, when ho called to pay his devoir to her tho nexl morning, with a whimsical description of tho pale dnrk. eyed boy ; trusting that her powers of mim icry would elicit from her sprightly lover the namo of the person she sketched, with out betraying her curiosity, Tho follow ing day at as early an hour n9 courtly rtiqucttc permitted, the salons of the Duchess do Montmorenci wero crowd cd with visiters of the highest rank, all eager to offer their compliments to her beautiful daughter. He of tho mysterous dark eyes', and Francois Bassompiorre, were however, not among tho visiters. Charlotto was surprised and piqued at this neglect on tho part of her lover, and re solved to pnnish him by a very haughty roception tho next time ho entered her presence, but ho neither camo nor sent to inquire after her health that day. The next morning tho Duke Montmo renci, afrer his return from tho king's levoe said to his daughter : 'Charlotte, the king has forbidden your marriage with young Bassompierro.' 'Vastly impertinent of the king, I think ! what reason did he give for this unproce dented act of tyranny ?' 'That you arc worthy of a moro illus trious alliance.' 'I wish king Henri' would mind his own business, instead of interfering with mine,' said Charlotte, angrily. My dear child, you nro ungrateful to our gracious sovereign, who has expressed his intention of marrying you to his own kinsman, the first prince of the blood.' 'Anduvho may ho be ?' 'The young Prince do Condo, the illus- trous decendant of n lino of heroes, and, after Henri's infant 6ons, the heir prcsump- ive to the tcrono of r rancc. Think of that my daughter.' I will not think of any thing but Bas- simpicrre,' replies Charlotte, resolutely. It is very barbarous ot tho king to endeav or to separate those whom love has united.' Love!' repeated tho duke. 'Bah! you cannot say that you seriously love young uassompicrrc' 'I think him very handsome and agreea ble, at any rote; and I am determined to marry him, nnd no one else. Ah! I com prehend the reason of his absence now. Ho has been forbidden to sec mo by that cruel Henri.' You aro right, Charlotte; i'. is in obedi ence to the injunctions of the sovereign, that Bassompiorre has discontinued his visits to you. You will see him no more.' 'Have I not said that I will not resign him?' 'les, my child, but he has resigned you.' 'Resigned mo!' exclaimed Charlotte, starling from her chair with n burst of indignant surprise : 'Nay that is imnossi blc ; unless, indeed, you have told him that I am faithless, or that I wish him to sacri fice his happiness in order to contract a nobler alliance' 'On tho word of a Monlmoronci, he has been told nothing except that it was the king's pleasure that he should relinquish his engagement with you, and marry the heiress ot the duke d'Aumalo. ' 'How! marry another? But I know Bassompiorre too well to believe he will act so basely.' 'My poor Charlotte, you aro littlo ac quaintcd with the disposition of men of the world and courtiers, or you would not im. agino tho possibility of your hand being placed in competition with the loss of royal favor. Bassompiorre, instead of acting liko a romantic boy, and forfaiting the king a regard for tho sake of a pretty girl, who cares not a whit more for him than he does for hor, has cancelled his contract with Charlotte Marguoritte do Montmorenci, and nffianccd himself to Madcmoscillc d'Aumalo.' 'The heartless minion !' cried Charlotte, with flashing eyes; 'would that I had some "ana ol evincing my scorn and contempt of his baseness!' The surest way ofdoing that, my child, will bo to accept the illustrious consort whom tho king has been giaciously pleased to provide for you.' I think so too,' rcpitcu onariotto, alter pausc--but what sort of a man is the Prince de Conde?' He is said to possess great and noble qualities,' said the duke; 'but he is at present oniy in nm unuuniy, mm ia wmiui of a reserved disposition. There is, how ever no doubt but the companionship of a wife of vour brilliant wit and accomplish ments w'ill draw cut tho fino talents with which this amiablo princo is endowed, nnd render him worthy his distinguished an coBtry.' I confess,' observed Charlotto, 'that I should prefer a man whoso claims to my respect wero of a less ndventitious charac ter. I should like to bo the wife of a horo.' 'So you will, in all probability, if you marry Ilonri do Conde. Ho is tho last representative of n lino wIiobo horitngo is glory, and of wIiobo alliance evon a Mont morenci might bo proud,' rolurnod liar fathor. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1838. Ho then hastened to communicate to tho king the agreeable intelligence that his daughter hnd offered no objections to a inarringo with his youthful ward and kins man thu Princo de Conde. 'It is well,' replied the monarch ; 'I will myself present tho Prince do Conde, to his fair bride, and the contract shall be signed in my presence this evening.' The Duko and Duchess de Mortmorcnci wore charmed at tho idea of an alliance that offered to their only daughter no very remote prospect of sharing the throne ol France. As for tho fair Charlotte, her pride alone having been wounded by the desertion of Bassompierro, sho took the readiest way of dissipating any chagrin Ins defection had caused, by making uncgrandc toilette for tho reception of the new candi date tor her hand, bo long was she engaged in this interesting occupation, that a pompous and continuous flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of tho royal cortege, at the hotel do Montmorenci, before sho had concluded the arrangement of ruff and fardingalo to hor own satisfaction. Her entrance was greeted with n sup pressed murmur of admiration, nnd the graceful manner with which she advanced to offer her homage to the sovereign, exci ted fresh applause. 'Ah, my cousin, cried the enamoured monarch, turning to the Prince do Conde, what an enviable man am I not about to render you, in uniting yon to so charming a bride ! By the mass, if I wore n bachelor, I must have kept hor for myself, and laid my crown at her feet ; and, oven as it is, I toel more pain than I am willing to confess in bestowing her upon another.' Henri Quatro fell tho hand of tho youth ful beauty, which he had retained in his own, while addressing this highflown com pliment to hor future husband, tremble in his grasp. Charlotto was conscious that her sovereign was availing himself of this opportunity of pressing her fairy fingers, with more ardor than became the paternal character he had assumed. A deep blush ovorspread her countenance as the question suggested itself to her mind, 'Wherefore has he taken so much pains to separate me from Francois Bassompiorre?' and at the same moment, she stole a furtive glance at him whoso destiny was from that hour, to be 6o closely connected with her own, and encountered the dark penetrating eyes whoso scrutiny had so much disturbed her at the Louvre. They wore still bent on her faco with the same grave mournful expression, as if intended to pierce into her very 60iii. Thoso beautilul but searching eyes belonged to Henri do Conde. Scarcely had she made this startling dis covery, when the king, assuming the impo sing characteristics of majesty, which so much better become his mature ago than tho light nnd reckless tone of gallantry in which he had boforo indulged, presented the Prince do Conde to her in duo form. Then, putting her hand into that of his pale thoughtful kinsman, he pronounced tho patriarchal blessing of the suzerain on their approaching union. Charlotte started, and impulsively arcw back from the icy touch of the cold hand that then faintly closed on hers. There was nothing of tenderness, or encourage ment, in the sternly composed features of Condo; no trait of that silently expressive homage, which is so dear to tho heart of woman; nothing, in lact, to compensate for tho abscenco ol manly beauty anil courtlv grace in a very young man. Though tho habits of politeness and 6elf control, which arc so early impressed upon the daughters of the great, prevented the fair Montmorenci from betraying her secret dissatisfaction, she ventured to direct ai appealing look to hor parents, as if to im plore their interference ; but her mother turned away, and her father gave her n glance which intimated that it was too late to recede. The marriago contract was read, and subscribed by the king in his three-fold ca pacity of suzerain, or paramount liege-lord of the contracting parlies ; and also as the next of kin and guardian of tho illustrious bridegroom, who was an orphan nnd a mi nor. It was next witnessed by the parents of the bride, The pen was then presented to tho Prince do Conde. Ho paused and annercd irresolute; darted a glance of sua picious inquiry at the king, nnd bent one of Ills scarciiliiff iuuks oh mu -,ouu 01 nor 10 whom ho was required to plight himself. Mademoiselle do Montmorenci was uncon scious of his scrutiny. Overpowered by the strnngenoss and ngitnting nature of the scene, she stood, with downcast eves and n varying colour leaning her clasped hands for support on tho shoulder of her only brother, nftcrward so celebrated in the annals of Frnnco ns tho illustrious nnd un fnrtunnto Henri do Montmorenci. Never had she appeared so charming as that mo mcnt, when the feminino emotions of fear and shame had lent their softening shado to beautv. which was, perhaps, too dazzling in its faultless perfection, nnd calculated rather to excite wondor and numirntion than to inspire tenderness. The stern ox pression of Conde's features relaxed ns ho rrnzed uoon her, and observed tho virgin hues of 'celestial rosy red,' nnd 'angel whiteness,' that came nnd went in her fair cheek. His countenance brightened, he took the pen with suddon animation, and, with n firm nana, and in now ireo charac ters, subscribed his name to tho contract. Charlotte Maiguoritto do Montmorenci, your fclgnaturo is required,' said tho duko her father, to tho evidently rcluctnnt dam sel. 'I havo a great mind not to sign,1 said she, in a confidential tono asido to her brother, who was two yours younger than hcreolf. 'Aro you minded to offer nn unprovoked affront to an honorablo gentlemen, nnd to afford a triumph to a recreant lover?' was tho whispored responsoof tho voulhful heir of Montmorenci, Chorionic advanced to tho table, nnd signed the instrument. She received some what coolly the congrnlulations with which her friends nnd relations overwhelmed her; and when the folding doors of tho saloon wore thrown open, and tho king gave his hand to tho Duchcs do Montmorenci to lead her in'o the banqticlting-room, where n sumptuous entertainment had been laid out in honor of the occasion, sho took tho offered arm of tho man to whom shn hnd just affianced herself, with au nvurtod head, and n sigh escaped her. 'I fear,' said ho, in a low voice, 'that you have been compelled to do violence to your feelings in signing that contract.' These wore the first words that Conde had ever nddrcsssed to his beautilul futnee, and there was a deep nnd tender melody in the rich but melancholy tones of his voice, that thrilled to her heart not less strangely than tho penetrating glances of his fine dark eyes had previously done. I shall not hale him quite so much as 1 thought I should,' was her mental response to this considerate question: but instead of answering the princo with reciprocal iraimncss, sue replied, with some hauteur, 'I am not accustomed to do any thing on compulsion, Monsieur.' It was now Conde's turn lo sicrh ho did so from the bottom of his heart ; and Char lotto felt angry with herself for tho per- verscness which had prompted her to repel his nrsi advance towards a confidential un dcrstnndins. A ball succeeded the banquet. The Princo de Conde did not dance, though romindod that courtly etiquette required that ho should at least tread one measure with his bride elect; and Cliarlotta found more gallant, if not n more suitable partner, in her admiring sovereign, with whom sho once more danced tho graceful pavon, and bounded, with flying feet, thro' the light courunt, heedless of the grave looks ol disapprobation with which her vivacious enjoyment of her fuvorito amuse ment was regarded by linn to whom iicr hand was now plighted. An early day had been fixed bv the kins for tho nuptials of Bassompicrc and Made, moisclle d'Aumalo. Charlotto expressed a wish that her marriage should precede theirs, and, in the mean time, the Prince do Condo availed himself of tho privilege of a bctrotiied lover, in passing much of his time nt the hotel de Montmorenci, but when thcro, his attention appeared more engrossed by the parents and tho youthful brother of his fiance, than by herself. In conversation with them, tho 'shy reserved boy of Conde, ns Henri Q,uartrc was ac customed to call his studious cousin, could be eloquent, graceful, and even witty. Ho possessed talents ol tho finest order; his mind had been highly cultivated, and there was sound sense and beautiful morality in every thing he snid. Chnrlottc, seated at her tapestry frame, besido her mother, could not help listening, at first with girlish curiosity, but, by degrees with profound attention, to the observations which he ad dressed to her brother on the course of his tory he was reading; nnd when she saw his pale cheek kindling with tho glow ol virtuous and heroic feeling, and hi? dark penetrating eyes beaming with intellectual brightness, she blushed at the thought that those eyes should have witnessed so much vanity and Irivolity in herself. Sometimes she felt mortified that ho nd dressed so little of his conversation to her and then, without reflecting i hat she had chilled and repelled him in the first instance, she was piqued into a haughty imitation of his reserve, when alone with nun ; and when surrounded by the gay crowd of her courtly admirers, s-hc endeavored, by the exercise of coquetry, to shake Ins cquantm it v, and provoke htm cither into o quarrel, or an acknowledgment of love. She was convinced that he had ceased lb regard her with indifference : for she had moro than once delected his lustrous dark eyes fixed upon her with that intense expression of passionate feeling, which can never bo mistaken by its object ; yet ho had resolutely refrained from giving to that fooling words ; and it seemed hard to tho most beautiful girl in France, that she should be wedded, unwocd by him of all others, whom she most desired to hear the lannuaErc of love. 'If I could but once see this youthful stoic at my feet, I should feel prouder of that triumph, than of nil tho homage that has been offered to me this night by 'him of the while plume,' and his gallant peers,' sighed Charlotte to herself, as sho was returning from the last ball at the Louvre at which she was to appear ns Mademoiselle de Montmorenci. It was the most brilliant sho hod'ever attended, and though on the eve of her bridal. Charlotte ventured on the hazardous experiment of exciting tho jcnlously of her betrothed. She succeeded onlv too well, nnd Conde unablo to conceal his emotion, quitted the royal saloon at un early hour. All Iho '.utcrcsl that the beau, tiful admired Madcmoisello do Monlmoronci had taken in tho gay scone, departed with Iho palo agitated stripling, whom every ono present suspected of being llio object of her aversion ; nnd pleading a head actio to excuse her from fulfilling her engage ment of dancinir n second timo with tho king, she retired nlmosi immediately nftor ward. On nntnrinrr Imr own nnarlmcnt hor nt tondnnt nresoiited hor with n billot. It was from the Princo do Conde tho first ho had ever addressed to hor. To every woman of sensibility it is ile lightful to sou her name traceu, ior tno nrsi timo. bv iho obicct of her secret regard. Who can desenbo tho sweet suspense of that nrrllntinrf moment which must inter veno cro tho scol can bo broken, nnd the thrilling mystery unfolded? Alas! for Charlotto do Montmorenci ! Her recent conduct rendered hor foolingson this occa sion iho very roverso of tliudo blissrul cmo lions. Her color fadod hor knees shook nnd it was with difficulty that hor ngiluted hand could open the letter. It contained oniy these words : 'Charlotte de Montmorenci, Lalo ns it may bo when you receive this, I must sec you boforo ynu retire lo rest. You will find me in tho East Saloon. Henri un Comje " 'Not even the common forms, unmoan ing though they be, which courtesy re quires, observed in this his first, his only communication to mo !' thought Madomoi. scllc do Montmorenci, as she crushed the paper together in her hand. Sho turned her eyes upon tho dial that surmounted her tall dressing glass it still wanted five minutes to midnight. Those five minutes decided her destiny. Sho took tho silver lamp from the toilet, and dismissing her dnmscl, repaired to tho appointed trysting place ; then unclosing Iho door with a tremulous hand, she stood before Condo so pale, thai when he caught the first glimpse of her deeply shadowed reflection in Iho cold glossy surface of the mirrored pannel, opposite to which ho was standing, ho absolutely stnrtcd; so different did sho look from Iho sparkling unimatod beauty whom ho had left, scarcely an hour ago, leading off the dnncc with royalty in thu glittering enlons of the Louvre. Conde had, in fact, neither anticipated her early return home, nor tho prompt attention she had paid to his somewhat uncourtcons summons; far less was ho nrcnared for indications of softness and sensibility. where he had expected to encounter onlv coldness and pride. He advanced a stop one step only to meet her ; then paused, and silently awaited her approach. The glance which Charlotte ventured to steal ns she placed her lamp on the marblo table at which he stood, revealed to her the air of stern resolve with which his lolly brow was compressed ; tho only tracu of the passionate emotion that had so recently shaken his firm spirit, wa3 a slight redness about Ins eyes. 'Charlotte de Montmorenci,' said ho, addressing her in a low deep voice, 'I hold in my hand the contract of our bclrolhmcnt. That contract was pigned by you with evi dent reluctance, nnd it will cost vou no pain to cancel it.' He paused, and fixed his dark penetrating eyes on her faco ns if to demand nn answer. Charlotte tried to speak, but there was a convulsive rising in hor Ihront that pre- vented articulation. The clittorins carca net that encircled her fair neck appeared at that moment lo oppress her with an insufferable weight, and to have suddenly tightened almost to suHucation. faho drew a deep inspiration, and raisins her trcm bling hands, essayed to unlooso the clasp, but in vain. It seemed to her that tho hysterical emotion that oppressed her was occasioned by the weight of this costly ornament and its rich appendages, and that her lilo depended on her instant release from their pressure; and after a second ineffectual attempt to unclasp the jewelled circlet, she nctually turned tin imploring glance lor help upon tho real cause of her distress, wondo's assistance was promptly accorded; but cither through the intricacy of the spring, or his incxpericnco in all matters relating to female decorations, or, it might be, that he was at that moment not less agitated than his pale and trcm bling fiancee, his attempts to unclasp the carcanet were as unsuccessful as her own When thus employed, her e i n n I o ringlets were unavoidably mingled with Ins darl locks; and moro than once his brow came in contact with her polished check ; and when at last, by an effort of main strength; he succeeded in bursting the fastening of the jewelled collar, she sank with a con vnlstvo sob into the arms that wero invol untarily extended to receive her. For tho first time, Condo held that form of perfect love'incss to his bosom, nnd forgetful of all the stern resolves that had, for the last few hours, determined him to part with her forever forgetful of pride, anger, jealousy, and reason itself, he covered her cold lore head with passionate kisses, nnd implored her, by every title of fond endearment, to revive. Those soothing words, those ten der caresses, recalled her to a sweet but ngitnting consciousness ; and when she pcrcoivod on whose brenst she was sup ported, n hurst of tears relieved her full heart, and she sobbed with the vehemence of a child Hint cannot ccaso to weop when tho cause of its distress tins been removed 'Speak but one word,' cried Condo 'Have I occasioned this emotion --these tonrs ?' Charlotlo could not speak, bul hor silence was eloquent. 'Nay, I must bo told, in explicit terms, that you lovo mo,' cried Conde;' 'it ia n point on which I dare not suffer myself to be'deccivod.' 'Mighty fine !' said the fair Montmorenci, suddenly recovering her vivacity, and sini ling through her tears, 'and so you have thu vanity to expect that I nm to reverse thoordor'of things, and play llio wooer to you, for your moro perfect satisfaction, after you have informed me ol your obli ging intention of cancelling our contract of bctrothmont.' 'Ah, Charlotte ! if you did but know how much I have suffered before I could resolvo to resign the happiness of calling you mine !' 'Well if you arc resolved, I have no moro to say,' rejoined Charlotto proudly, extricating'hersclf from his arms. 'But I have,' said Conde, inking her by both hor hands, which hu retained in spite of one or I wo perverso attempts to with draw them. 'Fie, this is childish potu Icnco!' cried he, pressing them to his hps, 'but, my Ewcnt Charlotto, tho momont is passed for trifling on cither side These coquetries might have cost us both only too doar.' His hp quivered with 6trong cmo lion as ho spoko, nnd tho largo lours slolo irom under tho downcast issues 01 wane moisollo do Montmorenci. 'Wo liaveontannd noblo qualities of Henri do Condo VOL,. XIIlVo. 60O cnusoti each oilier much pain for the want of n littlo candor,' pursued ho. 'Why then, did you not tell mo that you loved mo?' whispered Char lotto. 'Because I dared not rcslrrn mv heart into your keeping before I was assured that 1 might trust you wilh my honor.' 'Oh, heavens ?' exclaimed Charlotte, becoming very pale; 'and is it nosaiblo that you could doubt?' Charlotte, I was too well acquainted with the kinc's character to behold tho undisguised manifestations of his passion for my affianced bride with indifference. The nltcntions of a royal lover wero flat tcring, I perceived, to the vanity of a youtu? and beautiful woman. Tho complacency with which they were nt times received. and my knowledge of the motives which induced thcVuig to break your first en gagement with Bassompicrre, wero suffi cient to alarm a man of honor,' said Conde, with n darkening brow. 'You arc talking in enigmas, Henri do Condo,' rejoined Mademoiselle do Mont- morenci. 'If you nro ignorant of tho fact, that Henri of France separated vou from his handsomest favorite, because he feared tint such a husband would be a formidable rival to himself, no one else is; for Bassompierro has made the particulars of his sovereign's conversation with him on that subject too public for it to remain a matter of doubt. You look incredulous, Charlotte, bul vou shall hear tho very words in which tho king made this audacious declaration--'l nm myself,' said ho to Bassompiorre, 'mad ly in love with jour beautiful Montmorenci.' U a ! did he, a married man, dare to make such an acknowledgment ?' 'Yes, Charlotte; and, moreover, impru dently added, 'if sho loves you, I shall detest you. You must give up cither her or me. Yon will not of course risk tho loss of my favor. I shall marry her to my cousin Conde.' Yes, Charlotto. the plaiu 'shy boy of Conde,' as he generally styles mo, was designed for the honor of being this husband of convenience; but had I known his guileful project at the time when he required me to sign the contract, not all the power of France, nor even the influ ence of your charms, should have bribed me to subscribe that paper.' 'It is not now irrcvokable,' said Chnr lottc, proudly. 'It is if you ore willing to accedo to tho conditions on which I am ready to join in Us fulfilment.' 'Name them ' 'You must see the king no moro after our marriage.' 'That will be no sacrifice, and, after your communication, I could not look upon him without indignation. How little did I im agine that such baseness could sully tho glory of him of whom famo has spoken such bright things !' 'Charlotte, it is his prevailing foible. Tho sin that was unchecked in youth, gained strength in middle age, and now amounts to madness. There will bo no security for our wedded happiness if wo remain in his dominions; but can I nsk you to forsake friends and country for mo." said Condo, 'Shall I not find all these things, nnd more also in the husband of my heart?' relumed Charlotte, tenderly. 'Ah, Charlotte, can you forgive my un gentle doubts ?' said Conde, throwing him self at her feet. 'Yes, for they nro proofs of the sincerity of your affection; and had you been less jealous of my honor. I 6huuld not havo loved you so well,' said she. 'From this hour wo are as one; nnd it will be tho happiness of my life to resign myself lo your guidance.' 'Then, my sweet Charlotto, I must, for tho sake of tho fulling roses on theso fair checks, dismiss you toyxiur pillow, without further parlance,' relumed Conde. They exchanged a mute caress, and parted. The marriage was celebrated with royal pomp on tho following day, at high noon, in iho church of Notre Dame. Condo received his lovely bride from the hantTof his royal rival; but the king's exultation in the success of the deep-laid scheme, by which he had separated the object of his lawless passion from hor first lover, lo unite her with ono from whom he vainly imagined ho should have little to fear, was of brief duration. Tho nuptial festivities received n sudden interruption on tho fol lowing morning, in consequence of the (lis. appearance of both bride nnd bridegroom; and what was stranger still, it was soon discovered that they hnd eloped together. Tho good people of Paris wero thrown into the most vivacious amazement at nn event so entirely without parallel, cither in liistorj, poetry, or romance, as the first princo of tho blood running away with hit own wife; and their astonishment increased, when llio circumstances of this abduction transpired, by which il appeared that tho Prince do Condo, accompanied by his illus. trious bride, quitted their chamber nn hour boforo dawn, nnd ihnt ho had actually carried her olT, riding behind him on n pillion, disguised in the grey frieze cloak and hood of a farmer's wife. The enamoured king, transported with rngoat having been thus outwitled by tho boy bridegroom, gave orders for an imme diate pursuit. Tho wedded lovers were, however, beyond his reach. They had crossed the Spanish frontier before their roulo was traced, and Phillip III. afforded them a rcfugo in Ins dominions. Tho refusal of that monarch to givo up thesu illustrious fugitives produced a dec laration ofwurfrom Henri. Ho was, in fact, so pertinacious in his attempts to obtain possession of the object of his law less passion, that it was not till after his daath that Condo ventured to return, with his lovely wifo, from tho voluntary oxilo to which they had devoted themselves as a rofurrn from dishonor. Thn snlnmlirl in).