tive French drew me from the secluded banks of hand of much moment, I invited her into my the Adige. In hot haste I reached Paris; my studio. I quickly prepared my richest paints bosom swelling with the thought that I was there and best canvas for an occasion so worthy. an American, which to a large portion of the bourgeoisie then, was to be a Demigod. "The most notable events of my life are concerned with my residence in Paris at this time. I commenced immediately painting for exhibition at the academy, and found my name coupled with various expressions of feeling. My republican principles breathed themselves through my pictures quite plainly; at one time rising before the people in the Genius of Liberty, and at another exciting them with a view of the struggle at Lexington, or in the portraits of the Siguers of our Declaration in Faneuil Hall. "I soon found that my name-which by the way I had changed some little-was a topic of conversation every where. I was lauded by the people, whilst the coated gentry and the officers looked on me with suspicion and aversion. I certainly would never exhibit a painting there which I did not believe would bear criticism. "The dissatisfaction of the people had hitherto been only subject of conjecture and speculation, never having taken any positive form. But I thought I could foresee something, and I did. The hopes of the people began to centre about Lamartine; with him I saw was to be their trust and love. "I commenced at this time a painting of that great man. I resolved that it should be exact and noble, so that the Blouse should every where cry out There he is! what a brow! he is our own!' "Finally she was seated and all was ready except myself. I had the most disagreeable mistrust of my hand which had recently been a source of pride. The delicate outlines of the face-the hair of gold-the light of those eyes were surely too lovely to be transmitted to any canvas by any brush. The lofty mien of Lamartine was nothing to this. "I felt badly: my hand began to trembleand my face had even now commenced burning for the time when it should be said 'See! how far Nature outdoes his pencil!' I paused long. "Mais, Monsieur, are you not ready yet?' she said recalling me. "Tiens,' said I, will it not be best to put it off 'till some other time-say to-morrow?' "No!' "Is it absolutely necessary that it should be commenced now?' "Or never,' she said, and more, it must be finished at three sittings.' "Three! impossible.' "Indeed, I must have it, and I'd rather have you do it.' “I'll try!' I said, hating to lose such a picture, and yet fearful of myself. "She assumed her position. At first iny hand seemed tremulous; but as I proceeded, it became steadier-and at length I was absorbed in the interest of the work, to the exclusion of the fair one who sat before me except so far as my pencil was interested in her beauty. I scarcely rec"Well, to hasten the picture that should-I ollected any thing until it was too dark for more had so resolved-excite the applause of the mil-work. lion was finished; it was of full-length. I was, I must confess, somewhat proud of it. I stood before it long, giving at intervals a new shade or half-touch. "One afternoon as I was standing thus I was told by my waiter that a lady was in my parlor. I instantly went down. She struck me as being the most lovely human being I had ever seen. She had neither the air nor face of a Parisian beauty. 666 'Again to-morrow, lady,' I said. "At what time?' "Eleven in the morning.' "A moment more and she was gone as some fairy. I had designed requesting her name and address but had forgotten it on my return from the idea of my painting to the reality of her beauty. "On the following morning I was deeply engaged on the picture which was so soon to be "I wish my likeness taken, sir,' she said as I finished; I wished to advance it as far as might entered. be before she came to set a second time. She 66 6 Very well,' I replied, when will you call was very punctual and sat again 'till three in the to sit ?' "I have called now I am extremely ious to have it as soon as possible.' "Do you mean to say this afternoon?' "Yes, sir.' afternoon. I finished the head-piece by that anx-time, at which the fair girl was delighted. She called me a flatterer, whereat I, of course, protested the injustice my pencil had done her; she received my compliment very differently from most of the Parisian beauties. "I might have made some objection if she had not been so exquisitely beautiful, and so earnest in her wish that I should commence at once. On reflection, however, that I had no work then on "Next day she came at the same hour. I had completed all that needed her presence! I have always counted that an achievement, Brent. I warn you that beneath his handsome exterior George Lyttleton bears the heart of a fiend, as many injured ones in this city testify hourly while they live: that he is a deceiver-that he has deceived you: that you're rich or he would never—' "Stop, sir!" she cried, agitated, ‘and do you dare to think that I shall believe your story? "I was startled by this; in my ardor I had forgotten the circumstances in which we stoodthat of ignorance of each other. I had been carried away by the conviction that she was a vic "Not George Lyttleton surely?' I said in- tim, and that he was a villain. Her last words quiringly. were accompanied with a look of scorn. 666 I saw 'Why surely?—yes that's the one. Do you that a woman's affections were to be torn from know him?' the object on which they were centered-terri"Too well!'-then catching myself I asked, ble task!—ere she was saved. 'is he your relative?' "And you do not believe me, lady?' I said. "Did you dream I'd believe such idle tales?' "I did.' "None,' she said with an offended air, for she seemed to think I was unwilling to trust her. A dreadful suspicion was on my mind: yet she seemed to be the picture of innocence and sim-she said, contemptuously. plicity. What had she of concern with Lyttleton ? "There's too much deception in this world,' "Pardon me,' I said, as I saw the impression with her that I was unwilling to trust her; 'pardon me, but the value of the picture is nothing to what I would learn. I will make that a present!' Forgive me-I forget myself—' "I think so, sir!' "Alas! there is,' I said, with pain that I can not describe. "Well, sir, it is getting late and I must return: you can do as you see fit about the painting.' She turned to leave. 66 6 Hold, lady-one more word!' I had been thinking how to act. "You may talk on, sir, but it is useless to try to persuade me of the truth of your slanders without better evidence of them: what do I know of you? I know him.' "I am an American, lady,' I said, as a thought struck me. "I am also,' she said. "Is it likely I would deceive one of my own countrywomen?' "I have said I know nothing of you, nor what motives you may have.' "I was really in despair for a time; yet something seemed to urge me on to persistence in seeking to save her. "I have one request; that will be all,' I said. "Name it,' she replied. "I wish you to accompany me to-night that I may prove my assertion." 664 No, sir; and now as to the painting'"That is yours; but for God's sake let me urge my request.' "Think of that, Monsieur, and you will see how improper it is.' "It would be so with any but a painter known throughout Paris, who has his name to sustain. You must have had some confidence in me, or you would not have come here.' "Call this evening at the Rue de 19 No. 47 "What I mean is that I have yet power to from the Old Abbey, and I will tell you my desave you from infamy and sorrow. I wish to termination. I do not promise.' "A long, loud laugh followed this. The "Exactly at the appointed time I was in the drawing room, at the said number from St. Ma-maiden by me shuddered. ry's Abbey. She appeared without delay. She seemed changed; and seemed to have been weep ing bitterly. Perhaps something unnoticed before had been unlocked by the suspicion I had awakened concerning Lyttleton. "By the way, Lyt.,' said another, I forgot to ask you about that; I take it the affair's going on right. You are a lucky dog.' "Will you go?' I asked eagerly. "Yes,' she said, I'll go;' and then with the exercise of a final doubt, she said, Surely you could not practise a deception so horrible as this would be; have you no daughter-no sister' "Yes-a sister far away; one that I lovethough I have not seen her for a long time.' "Think of her.' "I will; and of you in the fear of God!' In another moment I was proceeding with the fair stranger on my arm toward the Salon de l'Anglais; and as I went I felt how inhuman he must have been who could deceive one so trustful and so ignorant of the world as to yield to a request such as mine. "We entered the Salon, and hastened on through the rooms where were people eating, drinking and gaming. We ascended the winding stairs to the top rooms, which were more quiet and less dazzling. "I now commenced peering through the glass sides of each of the rooms as I went up: finally in the fourth story I saw Lyttleton; I turned and bidding her be of courage, carried her through "Yes, gentlemen,' said he, with a smile, 'she's mine to-morrow night-fortune and all.' "How much is it?' "Don't know exactly yet; will tell you more this time day after to-morrow.' "A laugh followed. I felt her leaning more on my arm. "Has she got any relations in town! "Yes, one; but she don't know it.' You ought to have it taken as a Model" "A boisterous laugh followed this. The un the hall where there was a glass door. That en-known beauty turned. "Come! 'tis enough!' she sobbed. "As I led her back, I thanked God for having saved her. She seemed doubly lonely now that "Reflected there she saw four figures seated I had done so. I ordered a chaise to return in. at play. "One of them was Lyttleton. They were all very intent on the game: there were large stakes and the perfect silence which prevailed bore witness to the excitement of the card-players. That top room was the one for those who spent whole evenings at play and did not wish to be disturbed: the transient visitors stopped on the lower floors. 666 D-n the card,' cried Lyttleton, throwing it, I never was so unlucky!" "I turned to the lovely one by me and saw tears bathing her cheek. "How the devil do you expect luck to be forever on your side, Lyttleton?' said one of the bystanders. But it never is!' cried Lyttleton. "Oho oho!' said the other, pointing at him, and looking at the other two, he says it's never with him; he says he isn't going to marry a fortune to-morrow night-and an infernally pretty girl to boot!' She first attempted to speak. "I cannot describe the tears of joy that we mingled that night whilst offering our thanks to God that we had met again; and that I had saved Emily from a fate so awful! "We have all returned now to our native Virginia, where, under the order of the same Providence that has shielded us from harm thus far, we shall hereafter remain." The night was now far advanced, and we sought the rest which we so much needed, having both come a long journey on that inclement day. I had intended to remain next day and see more of my old friend; but I prevailed on him to bring his mother and sister to see me at my quiet home in the mountains the subsequent week. So next day I returned homeward, which is the only way my soul tendeth when I'm away from it. I spent another pleasant night with my friend the landlord; talking politics with him until midnight. THE VISION OF JULIAN THE APOSTATE. The chroniclers of the actions of Julian inform us, that upon the night before he met his fate from the Parthian Javelin, "The Genius of Rome appeared to him, covering with a funeral veil his head and horn of abundance, and then slowly retired from the Imperial tent." Gibbon has found in the life and character of Julian, exploits and virtues which he has used with all the power of his transcendant genius in vilification of the Christian religion. Julian has never been with me a favorite. Even as a military commander, I have never been able to discern his merit, or been brought to admit his capacity. The whole expedition into Parthia was conducted in a spirit of rashness, scarcely less conspicuous than that of Crassus into the same region. The sources through which we obtain our knowledge of the events of this campaign are all poisoned by the opinions and prejudices of the narrators. Ammianus Marcellinus, upon whom more than all other ancient writers, we rely for our knowledge of Julian's character, though unquestionably intending to tell nothing but truth, was insensibly biassed by his Pagan principles, by the share he had in the actions, and the rank he had in the favor of the monarch; and Zozimus, though writing in a style of much elegance, is known to be one of the least accurate of all the classic authorities. Upon these two, with the Sophist Libanius, obscure and pedantic, but one of Julian's favored counsellors, the great author of the Decline and Fall chiefly trusted, and the consequence is that we have from his hands a sketch altogether distorted, colored and unreliable. The reader cannot fail to remark in this mad expedition of Julian into Parthia, and in its disastrous results, a remarkable resemblance to Napoleon's Grand Russian Campaign. Even in the course adopted by the Russian generals of converting the country upon the approach of the invaders into a "naked and smoking district," they seem to have borrowed the Sapor's wise, but merciless precaution of devastating the region which Julian had selected for his battle-ground. the cultivated fields lying between the Tigris and the Median Mountains. It is, however, a customary expedient in warfare, and it might have been to this practice that the famous speech of Galgacus to his army on the Grampian Mountains, had reference" where they make a desert they call it peace." It would seem that omens foretelling disastrous battle, have often made their appearance to the weary and fainting soldier. The reader of glorious old Froissart will not have forgotten the unearthly pageant which appeared to the Flemmings on the night before their fatal defeat at Rosebecque. The author of "Philip Van Artevelde," has introduced into his noble poem the following passage in relation to it. Van Ryk. It was as much a battle to the ear As the lion they are mettled, 3. He is from that cold, bleak region, But weariness and hunger 4. On his couch in fitful slumber 5. There came before the monarch 6. What sees the dreaming monarch 'Tis Mars, the Great Avenger, 7. Forth from the couch starts Julian, 8. The Sacred Twelve have taught him * The allusion here is to Julian's well known attempt to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem. Even Gibbon is compelled by the severe voice of cotemporary history to acknowledge the miraculous agency of the Divine will in * There were two of the name of Sallust, who were favorites of Julian. He of the name who attended Julian in his Parthian expedition, and is frequently confound-preventing the re-construction of that edifice. The aded with the other, was a very aged man whom Julian had made prefect of the east, and who, after the death of Julian's immediate successor, Jovian, was named for the imperial throne. mission "thou hast conquered, Gallilæan," imputed to Julian as his declaration in his dying hour, rests on no sufficient authority, and is, probably, a mere monkish legend. |