The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-11

love had for ever left it.
Some moments after the close Of this
scene, Vassigny re-entered Kersents cham
Der but his face was lived, and he could
scarcely drag himself along. Without a
word, he sank upon chair and remained
plunged in the most gloomy despair. Ker-
sent's countenance, usually SO joyous, had
assumed an expression of anguish. He had
examined the writing on the card, and he
could not conceal from himself that he
knew the hand The scene at the theatre
the previous evening, came 10 his memory:
he remembered the strange melancholy Of
his cousin, her confusion when she return:
ed him the card-case she had asked to look
at; and from all these things combined, he
concluded that fatal secret weighed upon
two beings whom he cherished with equal
tenderness. On beholding Vassigny's pro-
found CONSERVATION, the sportsman heaved
a sigh Of deep distress.
"My dear friend he said to CASTOR,
a misfortune threatens you; open your
heart 10 me, conjure you, in the name of
our old friendship
Vassigny made no reply.
"' Hear me, Castor; you know me well
enough to be certain that no idle curiosity
lfmpels me. Perhaps can serve you. If
may believe the sad presentiment that
fills my heart, you suffer not alone, and. the
poor woman that suffers with you has
right TO all my sympathy. For she who
has just left this house, is
I" Vassigny sprang to his feet, and placed
his hand over his friends mouth No,
no! he exclaimed, the fatal secret shall
die with me- Then, without another word,
he sat down at table, and with trembling
hand traced the following lines:
"t Monsieur lie Comte, there are tortures
which human strength cannot endure.
For mercy's sake, let US terminate this sad
affair as soon as may be, or will not an
swer for keeping my promise. shall pass
the night at the club
"This letter was addressed: Monsieur
le Comic de Marsanne'"
At the club, the husband and the lover
meet and play high. Vassigny loses as
usual affects anger, shuffles the cards Of
fensively, and hints suspicious Of foul play.
A challenge is the natural result. Late
upon the following night, we find Ker-
sent pacing the Boulevard in respondent
mood, accompanied by D'Havrecourt who
has acted as one Of Marsanne's second
in the inevitable duel. They discuss the
melancholy event Of Vassigny's death,
which has occurred that evening, few
hours after his adversary's ball had pierre
ed his breast. Vassigny had fired in the
air,
"sThe more reflect on it," said d 'Ha-
vrecourt, the more convinced am that
the unworthy affection of which Vassigny
made parade, was only feigned senti-
ment, mock passion thrown as blind to
the indiscreet curiosity Of the world, to
mask devoted, although, perhaps, guilty
love. To you, who loved him as brother;
and to you alone, may divulge an episode
of. this fatal drama. This it is. Vassigny
was. still stretched upon the grass the sur
geon, after vaiuly .endeavoring to extract
the bullet, put up his instruments, with
countenance that left me no hope. Tinguy
had led away Marsanne; Navailles and
Lord Howley had gone of in all haste, one
70 have everything prepared at Vassigny's
house, the other 10 summon the first ply
sicians. | was alone with the wounded
man. His senses returned he opened his
eyes, and saw by the expression of his
agonized features that he wished to speak
to me. lknelt beside him. He raised his
left hand, and in feeble voice asked me
to urfasten his shrt-seeve. ] obeyed. His
wrist was encircled by small bracelet of
hair, so tightly fastened to the arm, that, to
get it off, had to cut the trees. D'Ha-
vrecourt,' said he, family, shat bracelet
was only 10 quit me with life; confide it
to your honor; swear TO annihilate ii the
instant you get home.' made the requir-
ed vow, and from that moment he spoke
not word. On reaching home, my first
care was to fulfil my promise, by burning
the bracelet. II was composed Of a tress
Of far hair, and the hair of that Francne is
black. And it was secured by gold plate,
upon which were engraved an A and G
intertwnsd with the words, Ia October,
lS4O.'n
"'Oh say no more, my dear friend
cried Ksrsent, interrupting, the Major,
g Alas! have too much reason to believe
that there are now upon this earth two
beings infinitely more to DO pitied than Vas
signy. He, at least, has found in death
oblivion Of his sorrows but they survive
for misery and tears'' -....
None, save Kersent and D'TIavrecourt,
suspect the true cause of the duel; they
are men Of honor, and the secret is safe
with them. For once, the inquisitive and
scandal-loving Partisan world has been put
upon wrong scent. The Counts precau-
tons and Vassigny's suferngs have not
been thrown away. The. Countess's repu-
tation is saved-the honor Of the De Mar
sannes remains unblemished. II is not
without success that the ignoble Francine
has been made unwttingly to play the part
of the Dog of Alcibiades.
An epilogue, in the shape of letter from
Kersent, dated a year later, from the BIZ |
vouac of Babel-Oued, closes this tragical
and well-told tale. 1t informs D'Havre-
court and the reader of the death nr iha |