The Daughter of an Empress

Count Paulo still stood behind her, pale and silent. A painfully ironic

smile flitted over his face, and he thought: "I came to ask a question,

and Natalie has already given me the answer before I had time to ask it.

Perhaps it is better thus. I have now nothing to ask!"

The young maiden became more and more deeply absorbed in her thoughts.

Count Paulo laid his hand lightly upon her shoulder. She was startled,

and involuntarily cried, "Carlo!"

"No, Paulo!" said he, with a melancholy smile, "but at all events a

friend, Natalie, though a friend who is about to leave you!"

"You leave me?" she anxiously exclaimed.

"That means only outwardly, only with my body, never with my soul," said

he, deeply moved. "That, Natalie, will remain with you eternally, that

will never leave you--do you hear, never! Always remember this, my

charming child, my sweet blossom! Never entertain a doubt of me; and if

my voice does not reach you, if you receive no news of me, then think

not, 'Paulo has abandoned me!' no; then think only, 'Paulo is dead, but

my name was the last to linger upon his lips, and his last sigh was for

me!'"

"You desert me?" said she, wringing her hands. "What am I, what shall I

do, without you? You have been my protector and my reliance, my teacher

and my friend! Alas, you were all to me, and I have ever looked up to

you as my lord and father."

Count Paulo sadly smiled. "Love me always as your father," said he;

"while I live you shall never be an orphan, that I swear to you!"

"And must you go," cried she, clinging to him; "well, then let me

go with you! You will be my father--well, I demand my right as your

daughter; to accompany her father is a daughter's right."

"No," he firmly said, "you must remain while I go; but I go for you, to

assure your future power and splendor. Remember this, Princess Natalie,

forget it not; and when one day they brand me as a traitor, then say:

'No, he was no traitor, for he loved me!' And now hear what I have yet

to say," continued the count, after a pause, while the still

weeping Natalie looked up to him through her tears. "But look at

me, Natalie--no, not that sad glance, I cannot bear it! Leave me my

self-possession and my courage, for I need them! Weep not!"

And Natalie, drying her eyes with her long locks, sought to smile.

"I no longer weep," said she, "I listen to you."

Paulo placed two sealed letters in her hand.

"Swear to me," said he, "to hold these letters sacred as your most

precious possession."