The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-03-05

! a
but you shall answer mel What, l insis
upon being told, is the meaning Of thest
frantic outcIies ?
'Oh, Monsieur Philippe whimpercd The
startled modiste, Estelle should have tolt
you--sbould have cxplained-l cannot, mus
not. If what you say is true there is no faith
no honesty in man.
! Il think | comprehend you,' rejoined the
notary, in a Gained voice. Z | trust at least
that | do and il so, you must permit me tc
view the event which has so much discom-
posed you in n very different light and as.
pect. Now, listen as patiently as you can
whilst relate to you what Estee lid con-
fide TO me, and then tell me if | have any
thing yet more sad and terrible TO learn
Go on, monsieur 20 on-I listen
1T is now about six weeks since | sought
decisive interview with your niece, Ma1e-
moisele St. Ange not for the mere purpose
of revealing to her, in colored phrase and
words of passion, the deep, heart seated lie
cherished for her--with woman's ready
quickness she had long since OWNED that
secret-but TO offer her, then for the first
time in my power an honorable home, a po-
siton in the world, to be rendered daily
brighter more cnviabe, by the eXertions of
a brave, honest, respected man. Estele lis
tened to inc with sympathy, with tears, with
almost tenderness but at the same time con-
fcssed preference 70. the son Of Count Du-
vernay, TO whom she said her faith was
plighted.. | was stunned, bewildered, almost
mad knew the man upon whom she had
lavshed the priceless treasure of her love /;
and after passionately warning her-vainly,
l could see-against trusting in the promises
or oaths Of one OF the bssest. the most spe
cious hypocrites that ever brought contempt
and scorn upon high station, left her pres
encc, as you know, in a frenzy OF despair.
Now tell me, madame added the notary, af-
Ter slightly pausing, and in voice which,
spite of his efforts to speak calmly, quivered
with emotion, can you have revelation
more terrible than that to make 2
Go on, monsieur sobbed madame Collar
deau; you said he had gone-had passed
the frontier !?
After parting from Estclle endured an
age Of grief, anxiety, and despair, until last
Thursday evening when Eugene Duver-
nay suddenly presented himself in my apart
ment.'
Monsieur Duycrnay visited you2'
Yes he was pursued, and in imminen,
danger of the guiotine, or he might not per-
haps have so greatly condescended. You
are aware that he and his father, like many
others of their class, have all along affected
acquiescence in the new order of things and
were in some sort pets Of the Gironde."
Their friends themselves being just now in
imminent peril of SIMPSONS terrible axe,
could of course no longer afford them pro-
lection an order for their arrest had been
issued, and Eugene Duvernay, and his equal
" estmable sire, had been for several DAYS
lurking in obscure hiding places from the
agents of the Sdlvt PuJiic.'
That accounts, then, for bis strange alb
sence,' interjected Madame Colardeau, ,some-
what rc.assured.
lie threw himself for protection upon
my honor and generosity at the same time
declaring that he had for some weeks with
drawn al pretension 10 the hand of Made
moiselle St. Anae, who, moreover. knew Of
his application to me, AID had expressed
confidence that | would, for her sake, ait
him to escape the bloody doom which await
ed him.
Ciel' exclaimed Madame Colardeau,
with much emotion. Can il be possible ?
1t is true as Heaven consented, so ad-
jured, 10 assure lis safety at the risk of my
own. ! immediately procured passports in
teigned name for him of course: and to
make all sure, saw him on his road till dan
ger Of pursuit and recognition was over AT
parting he presented me with this ring, as
token TO Estelle that had vindicaied the
confidence she had reposed in my devotion
to her wishes, and that he thereby resigned
in my favor all claim or uetcnsion TO her
hand
Claim ,-pretension But, Mon Dieu.
Monsieur Armand, they are married =
Married = echoed the astonished notary,
with trenzied vehemence. Married But
no, no; you are jesting; he could not be so
utterly a villain 2
i repeat to You, Maire Philippe Ar
mand, that Eugene Duyernay and Estelle
1t. Anae were married month ago at the
Hotel Duvernay, in the Faubourg St. Ger
main, by the Able Boniean he who was
arrested and executed but last week.
Whilst Ma1ame Colardeau was speaking,
the door leading to the interior of the house
was gently opened, and Mademoiselle St.
Ange, death.white, aiectedly calm, but eyi.
IDENTIFY struggling with emotion, gided into
the apartment.
Estelle ! exclaimed Philippe Armand, in
a voice broken by grief and Indignation, and
approaching as if to take her hand.
The ring-the ringp gasped Mademoiselle
/ st. Ange. waving him from her with an ex-
preston of passionate disgust / have heard
all the ring-where is it?'
The notary placed it on the table she
seized it eagerly and after minutey examin-
ing i',murmured, 1T is indeed my fathers ring
the troth-p plight with which Eugene vowed
I hnf Will, Efa To
sieur,' continued the unfortunate girl, turn
ing her beaming, fearless glance upon Phil
ippe Armand, you are come to claim as a
bride the woman you have widowed? This
ring is part Of the spoils Of the accursed scaf
fold where my husband has, doubt not, by
your contriyance, perished'
What is it you say Uninterrupted the no.
tary, aghast with surprise and Indignation.
swear to you, Esielle, by all that men
hold sacred, that Eugene Duyernay placed
that ring voluntarily in my hands, with the
message -
Peace broke in Estelle peace, auda.
cious slanderer Of the illustrious dead, with
whom, in life you could no more compare
than might the wayside weed with the state.
ly mouarchs of the forest. My husband wa.
the very soul of faith and honor. But, hark
you, Philippe Armand she added with pas
sionate bitterness, even if il we're as YOU
assert, were the lying fable you have con.
cocted, as true as it is false. l would not, in
the veriest extremity of want, of despair
having been once so honored, stoop to q
churl like youP
The notary reeled and staggered beneath
her words as if they had been blows, or rath'
er burning arrows piercing through his brain
A IL, l. - 4 H.. .aI