Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/291

52

One morning, and at an earlier hour than the turnkey they might attract your attention, and perhaps amuse usually visited, her, the noise of the bolts being with you."

The impromptu of M. de Castera was nothing better drawn, was heard outside of her door. It was opened gently, and the captive uttered a cry of surprise, perhaps than a simple and peurile piece of bandinage, entitled it was of pleasure, on seeing poor Cabonis, who ap- "Freedom in Prison ." The rhymes were read once or proached her with downcast eyes and like the most twice by the lady, and then given to the jailor, in order timid of visitors. that they might be restored to the imprisoned poet ; but "Be not afraid, lady- there is no danger-it is only the jailor said to her with great naiveteI," he stammered forth. "Would it not be much better than sending him back "Come here," said the young lady, smiling ; " come what he has addressed to you, to give him an answer in here, until I scold you, and thank you. You here, my verse or in prose. Do not smile at my folly ; but in guardian angel, who soothe my sorrow and lessen my prison even the most trifling amusement has great pains ; but why do you make yourself as invisible as if charms for a captive ; and I am very anxious that you you were an angel ? Speak ! -see ! you have promised should have some amusement.” Doubtless it seemed to Mademoiselle de Malortie that to obey me, and I order you to answer me." "Lady," replied the jailor, blushing with delight at the singular project of Cabonis was not altogether unthe gracious familiarity of his prisoner, "I have to tell reasonable, in such a position, and under the circumyou the motive of my visit to-day. I have promised, it stances that she was placed. The oddity of such an is true, to obey you, even though in doing so I exceed adventure, the strangeness of this epistolary intimacy my duty, or in what is not right. Well, then, I do for between two invisible beings, who were thus about to you as well as I can." speak to each other from afar, to know, to appreciate, "I know it- I feel it." and to comprehend each other, in despite of turnkeys, " Fancy then that I have taken , at first sight, without bolts, and bars, had in it something attractive for the my being conscious of, without my wishing, with a very curiosity, the mind, and the heart of a very young girl. strong feeling, with a friendship that is boundless, with She, therefore, with a bewitching grace, consented to an affection that is overwhelming, with an attachment lend herself to the romantic idea of the gentleman and that is irresistible, for one--" the jailor. She answered the poet, and the next day a "For me, perhaps ?" new demand on the part of M. de Castera compelled her "Alas ! yes. My thoughts are so occupied by you to give him a new reply. The day following that again, that I can think of nothing else. I speak so constantly and every succeeding day for an entire month, the letterofyour beauties and your virtues, that I can hardly talk box of Cabonis received with a miraculous punctuality, of any thing else. You are the only subject of my dis- the intimate and confidential correspondence of the two course with the prisoners ; and thanks to my words, to new friends. The verses of M. de Castera were of life, my praises, to my admiration, every one in the prison of gallantry, of frivolity, of tenderness, and of passion. fancies that he knows you, though he has never seen The prose of the lady showed that she was at all times you. Every body here loves you, respects you, admires adorable, and if it sometimes proved that she was timid, you. A few days, and it was I who took a pleasure in embarrassed, trembling, it was, perhaps, the folly of the speaking of you to every one, and now every one seems abode in which she found herself, had infected the pen pleased in speaking to me of you. But a few moments of the young lady. The imagination and the heart ago I was chatting about you to a young prisoner, who sometimes make sad work with sense and reason. is very accomplished, very amiable, and extremely hand- What, then, is to be said of this sweet adventure, this some. He is a M. de Castera. Do you know him ?" romance of letters, this courtship, which was not af" No." frighted by a prison, nor jailors, nor judges, nor the "M. de Castera has not the honor of knowing you, scaffold ? It was one of the million of strange things and yet he has made the finest speeches I ever heard that occurred during the French revolution. But the about you. It was only this morning I found him story must be proceeded with- the hearts of the correswriting verses respecting you with a piece of charcoal pondents began to be effected by their letters. Without on the white wall of his chamber ; and seeing this, I ever seeing each other they were deeply in love. M. de Castera at last expressed an ardent wish to see said to him, with the hope of pleasing you, Citizen, you ought to write some poetry for the amusement of the lady that he was always writing to. He wished for your pretty neighbor.' But then, as M. de Castera a single glance, to heave a single sigh, to speak one had neither pen, ink, nor paper, I gave him my pencil word. Mademoiselle de Malortie was always alone, and tablet, and he has written such splendid poetical always sad, always weary of her solitude, and she compliments, that, though I have not read them my- had not the courage to say " nay" to the desire expresself, I have brought them to you, lady, in the hope that sed by her enamored correspondent. Cabonis was