Told in first person, the reader meets the protagonist, a young boy from Philadelphia, just arriving to St. Louis on a boat. As a boy, he had dreamed of touring the world, and so this was his first major exhibition. He first worries about how he will be accepted into this new society, who he will meet, and what will happen to him, but all this washes away when he meets the "rose" of St. Louis, Pelagie.
Falling quickly and ardently in love, he continues to court her through a series of pursuits in both America and Paris. However, while in Paris Eventually, they do fall in love, but soon, Pelagie and her family are in danger from Napoleon. He helps them escape, but not before accidentally seeing the signing of the great treaty, and being held captive for a while by the first consul.
Later, when he returns to the states, he finds that Pelagie has moved on and married someone else, believing that it would be better to be married to a gentleman. Heartbroken, the hero continues to return home, remembering his time in St. Louis. He is invited to dine with President Jefferson.[2]