Page:Elizabeth, or, The exiles of Siberia (1).pdf/20

                                20 offered by an innkeeper, who was touched with pity for her. The soldiers offering no further opposition, she followed him to his house, where she was most kindly treated. The landlord offered to assist her in the accomplishment of her purpose! on the following day, when the Emperor would be crowned in the church of Assumption. In the morning, discharges of artillery, beating of drums, and shouts of joy announced the commencement of the day’s festivity. Elizabeth, dressed in clothes her hostess had lent her, and leaning on the arm of honest Rossi, (her host,) proceeded till they entered the church where Alexander was to be crowned. Seated on a brilliant throne, surmounted with a rich canopy, were seen the Emperor and his august bride. The princess received from his hands the imperial crown, and with this superb pledge of their union girded her modest brow. Opposite to them, the venerable' Platoff, the patriarch of Moscow, reminded Alexander, from the chair of truth, of the duties belonging to kings, and the. responsibility which God imposed on them, as countervailing, the power and splendour he bestowed. “Master of the greatest empire in the universe,” said he, “thou who art about to swear that thou wilt watch over the destinies of a kingdom containing one-fifth of the globe, never forget that thou hast to answer be-; fore God for the fate of so many millions of men, and that any injustice done to the least among them, which thou mightest prevent, will be visited upon thee at the day of judgment.” Just after Alexander had pronounced the oath, by which he bound himself to devote his existence to the happiness of his people, Elizabeth could no longer restrain herself; but bursting through the crowd with a supernatural energy, she rushed towards the throne, exclaiming—“ PARDON ! PARDON 1 ” This cry, which interrupted the ceremony, occasioned a considerable murmur, and some guards dragged Elizabeth out of the church, in spite of her friend. Alexander, however, on such an occasion, wished not to be implored in vain ; he therefore sent an officer to know what the woman wanted. The officer hastened along, saw her, and knew her, and exclaimed, “ It is Elizabeth.” She looked at him in silence, and recognized Smoloff — they rushed into each other’s arms. He now proposed to present her to the Emperor himself, and conducted her back to the church at the very moment the imperial procession was departing through the great door. Directly the Emperor came near, Smoloff approached him, holding Elizabeth by the hand, and throwing himself on his knees, while she did the same, exclaimed—” Sire I deign to hear me —hear the voice of misfortune and of virtue. You now behold the daughter of the unhappy Stanislaus Potowsky, arrived