Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-07-06
THE SCENE AFTER A DUEL.

Mr.. Theodore :. Fay's last novel. The
Countess" has been published in London, aud
Is highly spoken Of by the Weekly Dispatch,
which concludes its review by extracting from
The work the following affecting scene, IN which
lady learns that her husband had been killed
IN duel
As Claude finished reading. there was a
slight stir behind hi:... lie turned, i, was Mrs
Dcnham. Her pale face, her wild eyes. her
loose hair, the singular expression which ter
ror and long agony had called into her coun-
ienance, now heightened by the certainty that
Dcnham was no longer living, gave her the
aspect OF spectre escaped, at the dead hour
OF night, from the. abodes Of eternal woe. She
had read the letter over his shoulder, and she
stood pointing at il with the grin OF a lunaic
well, them she said calmly, II know ALL
Charles is dead. Charles Charles my life
ny love ny husband My own beloved
charles!v She Essdcrcd back again W herr
room. Claude could not conceive, indeed,
how she had been thus suffered TO escape from
il. lie had not Time to follow her, before the
wheels OF carriage rolling away from the
door, and he understood at once. that the body
had arrived, and that the attention of the rest
had probably been attracted to that new and
appalling scene in the tragedy. Shuddering
with horror that he had never experienced
before, and at the thought of the shock which
the approaching scene was about to inflict on
himself, as well on the appalled, heart of the
widow, he followed her once more into the
room, which was now deserted by every body.
Even Ellen was gone. "Where are they ALL"
said she in voice perfectly calm and natural.
"Have they gone 10 bed already, without say
ing good night. No. There they are-Where
have they beeni What is going on These
queries were drawn forth by several figures
which came in, with their backs towads the
apartment. As they turned, their faces were
all white and tcrror-s,rlckcn. Two or three
men next appeared, waters and strangers,
among whom were street passengers, attract
ed by curiosity. A noise was heard in the cor
rldor, as of the uneven tread ofmcn with hea-
Wy shoes bearing burthen. Not a word was
spoken. Then,he landlord entered, and whis-
pered Claude, who took Mrs Denham's hand,
and led her Into an adjoining room. She ac
compancd him passlvely. Ellen, pale and
terrified, followed, but instantly darted back.
The tramping drew nearer. The adjoining
room seemed full of people. clock the door,"
said VOICE in low but business like tone
"Shut this one." There was pause, inter-
rupted only by the heavy tread of feet Take
away the little girl :" said the same voice
The other table-no breadthways stea-
dy There, a sheet" There was another
pause. Claude held the hand of his compan
ion with 6rmness, but, disengaging herself
with sudden start, she escaped-darted for
ward-and threw open the door. There, in
his usual clothes, boots and spurs, his cravat
off, his face stark stiff whiie--his long glossy
hair hanging back from his head, his arm fall
len lileless from the table, his marble forehead
and lips touched with blood, lay the dear, the
revered, the happy husband, his stately form
extended in death. The wife saw it as she
threw omen the door There was n ouiyerinp