The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-11
THE CoNvICT's BRIDE.

1t was dark, dreary morning IN the december
of u.s. The ground was covered with snow, and
the bleak wind was bowling in terrific gusts through
the streets. Yet, despite the inclemency OF the
weather, crowds of persons, of all classes = and
amongst them many of the weaker sex might be
seen hurrylng towards the Place de GreUe. 1t was
the morning appointed for The execution of Victor
d'AubignV The circumstances which called for
this expiration of life at the altar of justice are
briefly, as folloWs-and, blended with the strong
love Of excitement so universal amongst the French
they account in degree, for the eager curiosity
discernible in the multitude now Fastening to the
awful spectacle of a fellow creature, in the full
flush of youth and health, being plunged into the
gulf of an unknown eternity The crime for which
Victor d. Aublgny was doomed tOsuffer was forgery
RemOnstrance, petitions, interest, all had been
tried to avert the penalty. The offence one of
frequent occurrence, and must be checked, even at
the costly sacrifice of human life. Fortunately
in days the law is satisfied with less than the
blood of its victim In every country apOlOgsts
are to be found for guilt, and sympathy is more
readily excited when the perpetratOr IS endowed
with great personal mental advantages, or fills
position above the ordinary level In society: All
these Victor d'Aubigny possessed he had, also,
the higher distinction of having, up TO the period
Of his crime, borne blameless character. From
their earliest youth close intimacy had subsisted
between himself and Auguste de BiTOn. Similarity
of age and pursuit-bOth being intended for the
armY-united them more than congenalty Of dis
position; for the warm generosity of Victor bore
little resemblance to the cold, suspicious vindictive
nature Of Auguste. They were alike only in their
pursuit of pleasure though even in the prosecution
of this The taste Of each took different bias. The
strong and feverish excitement of the gambling
table too well suited the eager temperament of
Victor He who, in the midst Of the most proAigate
capital Of the world, had strength to resist all other
allurements, fell a ready prey TO that vice whose
fatal indulgence has often paved the way for the
commission of almost every crime.
the other hand ShuD0inU the da 4
zling salons of play, nightly visitant of the
metropolitan theatres-nOt to enjoy the wit of Mo-
liere, or the genius Of Racine, but to watch the
airy movements of some fgurdte in the ballet. As
they advanced to manhood, the success of D'Au-
bigny in society called perpetually into play The
evil passions of his companion, whose feelings
gradually changed from friendship to dislike, and
deepened into hatred inplacable and bitter, on the
refusal of his hand by lady, who assigned as the
reason, a mad, though unreturned passion, for his
friend. Auguste controlled his resentment outward
ly, and left Paris
Victor at this period as betrothed to lovely but
portioness girl, and the day for the nuptials
fixed. A few evenings previous, he entered one of
the gambling establishments with which Paris
abounds Enough he was tempted to play, and
in short time found himself looser to double the
amount of all the ready money he could command.
He rushed from the house IN a state of phrenZy.
The money must be paid on the following day.
To whom should he apply? Auguste, who might
nave assisted MIN, was IN EOgldHQ, WullI6T he
had gone to he present at the debut of celebrated
danSeuSe. He suddenly recollected that his friend
had left a large at his bankers. FOrgetful in
the desperation of the moment, of every thing but
escape from present embarrassment, he forged
check for the sum required. 1t was duly honored-
but his doom was sealed. He instantly wrote to
apprse De Bron of what he had done pleading
in mitigation that they had often shared the same
purse, and binding himself to return the money at
the earliest possible period. No reply was given to
his letter. The time flew onward-the day for his
marriage arrived. The bridal sOlemnity was over,
when, as the party were leaving the church, d Au-
bigny was arrested on a charge of forgery
The trial and condemnation rapidly succeeded,
and the day of execution daWned too soon. Victor
met his death calmly and resignedly. But it is not
with him our tale has to dot is with her, the
beautiful the bereaved one-wih Isabelle D. Au-
bigny the cOnvict's bride. From the period when
the PRONUNCIATION of his sentence rung in her ears,
to that moment in which the fatal axe fell on the
throat of its victim, sigh, tear, nor word,
had escaped her. Every faculty seemed suspended
by misery. The last long embrace Of her hus-
band-the wild choking sob which burst from him.
she left lis cell the night prior to his execution
the thousand frantic passionate kisses which he
showered on her marble face, at the foot of the
scaffod all failed to dissolve the trance of grief
into which she had fallen. But the moment OF
awakening agony came at last! When the gull
lotine had done its office, and the body of her be-
sorrow, asserting its omnipotent sway over human
ity shivered the feeble barriers Of temporary I'M
consciousness and left the imprisoned mind free to
contemplate the ruin of its only earthly hope, the
extinction of all youths sweetest visions. Then
came the groan of anguish, the shrek of despair
the straining of the eye-baIls, to assure itself Of
that which stretched every fibre of the heart with
agony, till it almost burst with the tension. Ihen
came that piercing look into future years. which so
often accompanies calamity in lis freshness "heh
IL iy,,1T homo
load has been wrenched from us, for ever and ever
Vainly the friends who surrounded Isabelle
stroye to tear her from the body of Victor. There
was fascination in the gaze, though horror was
blended with it. Her own, her beautiful, lay
mutilated corse before her-he whom she had
loved with an absorbing intensity, which would
have defed time to4essen, circumstances to change
with whom she had hoped TO journey through
existence partner of his pleasures, soother of his
griefs. And now she was alone and des0late J!
Then indeed did she feel, that fate had leveed its
deadliest weapon; and henceforth every hour was
stamped with stern, unchangng, dreary despair.
Great msfortunes either strengthen enfeeble the
mind. When the grave had closed over the body
of Victor Isabele-the weak the gentle, the timid
Isabelle-returned to her lonely hearth, calm,
stern, determined woman.
All the elite of Milan were gathered together in
the magnificent theatre of La Scala Beauty lent
its attraction, rank its patronage and fashion Its in
fluence, to grace the farewell benefit of " La Flo
rnda, the unrvalled danseuse, the boast Of Italy,
the idol ofthe Milanese.
It's not an easy task to rouse an English audi
ence into fitror of ecstacy anItaian one is COM
posed of mdteriel of more infammable nature !;
and demonstrations which would seem to us ex-
travagant and absurd, only appear to them meet
homage to genius Tonight their wonted enthu-
siasm received double impetus, from the conscious
ness that it the last public testimony they could
afford, of their appreciation of the consummate
skill and loveness of the fair creature before them.
The ensuing week would see her united to veal
thy NOBLE and this night witness her parting obel-
sance to an audience, of whom all the men were
her worshippers, and even the women her parll'
sans and admirers The curtain rose, and certainty
the appearance Of the heroine Of the evening was
warranty enough for the burst OF raptaFous sp-