Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-01-27
La Grande Bretech e.
A TALE.

most interesting person III fenQONe. FOR
the first time, discovered in her appear.
ance traces Of deep thought: gave a
meaning to each look, gesture, and atti-
iude. | won her con fidence by acts OF
kindness, and after brief period succeeded
in obtaining from her q full and ample
disclosure of all it was my object to learn.
Wore TO reproduce RosaIic's narrative
with all its details, a volume would scarcely
suffice to contain it. 1t takes its place be-
tween tho stories Of the notary and Of Ma
dame Lepas, with the exactness Of mean
term in an arithmetical proposition In
abridging il, shall endeavor 10 give it n
proper precision.
Madame de Merrot occupied a room on
the ground floor. A small closet of about
four feet in depth had been constructed in
the wall, and was used as wardrobe
Three months previous to the evening on
which occurred the events am abou. to
describe, Madame de Merret had been seri-
ously indsposed; her husband occupied
room in an upper story. By one Of those
chances impossible TO foresce, he returned,
on the evening 10 question, two hours later
than ususl from the club-room he was in
the habit Of freque nting. lie had been that
evening unlucky at play, and on reaching
his house, instead Of merely inquiring, as
was his custom, if his wife were well, he
directed his steps toward her bed chamber,
leaving his lantern on the steps Of the stair
case. Resale, who generally received
him, happened TO be absent in the kitchen.
His step was easy to distinguish, and dis
inctly resounded under the vaults Of the
corridor.
AT the worry moment NJ. do Morret turned
the handle Of his wife's door, he thought
no heard the door Of the small closet elise
and when he entered Madame de Merret
was standing in front of the ire place.
His first impression was that Rosalie
was in the closet but a suspicion which
tolled in his ear like The sounding Of bells,
caused him to turn around: he brought his
fixed gaze on his wife's counenance, which
he found both tmid and confused.
"You return late" said she.
In the utterance Of these words, a slight
alteration in her voice became perceptbo
TO familiar ear. M de MERE, made no
answer, for on the moment Rosaie entered
the room. Her presence shook his very
SOUL Without saying a word, he began
pacing the room, his arms folded on HE
breast.
"Have you bad nows? Arc you I'M
welp asked his wife, in Galtering tones.
No reply.
W.eayo me-" said Madame dc Merret TO
the girl. Fore oding, doubtless, misfor-
tune, she wished to be alone with her
husband
AS soon as Resale was gono, or was
presumed 10 be gone, for she remained a
few m oments in the passage, NJ. de Merret
placed himself opposite his wife, and said
10 her calmly, but with trembling lips and
liyid countenance:
"Madame, there is some one in your
closet"
She looked at her husband for an instant
with painful co!!eciedness, and replied sim
ply:
"No sir"
The No went to his heart, Cor he did no!
believe it ; and yet never ha his wife aP-
penred more pure and sanity in his eyes.
He rose and went towards the closet
door; but Madame &c Merret took him by
the hand, stopped him, and looking at hin
in the most touching manner, she said in o
voice Of singular emotion:
elf YOU find no one--re collect that all /:
over between us"
An Uncomfortable dignity expressed in
the attitude of the wife, brought the noble
husband TO n sense Of the deep esteem in
which he held her, and inspired him with
ono Of those resolutions, which, to be sub
lime, need only vaster theatre.
"You are right, Josephine" said he, I"
shall no; proceed. In one case or the othe
we should separate for ever. Listen,
know the purity of your mind, and know
that you lead devout life. You woulc
not, TO save your life, commit mortal sin.
AT these words, she looked at him wildly
Here is your crucjfx-swear before
God that there is no one in that closet.
will believe you, and will never open The
closet.'
al swear IT,"
"Louder," said the husband, "and re-
peat: swear before God there is no one
in that closet"
She repeated the oath without falering.
"It is WE'LL" said NJ. de Merret then
after moments silence:
"You have there n very handsome piece
of workmanship. How did you come b,
i;p
And he closely examined the crucifx
WRlch was OF coony luIdtu WIN si'ei, eiN
graved with great art.
AT Duvivier's He had purchased i
from n Spanish priest who passed through
Nendoms last year with q company OF pri
soners"
"lndoed!" said NJ. de Merret.
10 replaced the cruclfx on the mantle
piece. AT the same time he rang. Rosa
lie came Instantly, NJ. de Merret met her
WIN eagerness, and taking her aside TO the
recess oil window which opened into the
garden, he said in low voice:
81 know that GorenGot wishes 10 marry
you, you are prevented by mutual pover,y
from doing that which Will make YOU han
ny. You have declined becoming his wjfs
until he has established himself as master
mason. Well, go for him, and bring him
here, with his trowel and tools. Move s.
as 10 awake no one in his house. His for.