The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-13
WHOLE NO. 254.

| this crime
But doubtless, madame, you were acquit-
ted ~
Yes; and had been a poor woman, with
out power, rank or influence. my innocence
would have been publicly declared. But hav-
ing all these advantages, it suited my enemies
purpose to deprive me of Them so they ban
ished me, and left me in the state in which |
am
Dear mistress! said the old woman
Marie Marianni hid her face in her hand
kerchief, and spoke no more during the re-
malnder of the evening
As the servant continued silently TO turn her
wheel she resolved in her mind several eircunl-
stances connected with the Old Nun She
had often surprised her reading parchments
covered with red WAX, which, on Bridgets
entrance, her mistress always hurriedly replaced
| in small iron box
One night Marie Maranni, while suffering
| from an attack of fever. cried out in tone Of
| unutterable horror: No; will not see him
Take away Won red robe-that man of blood
and murder ~
These things troubled the simple mind Of
poor Bridget, yet she dared not speak Of them
to her usually naughty and reserved mistress
On the next evening. az they were sitting
silently at work, knock was heard at the
door.
"Who can it be at this hour said Marie
Mariana
IL cannot think, replied her servant It's
now nine o'clock"
Another knock Go, Bridget, and see who
it is but open the door with procaution'
The servant took their solitary lamp in her
hand, and went 10 the door She presently
returned, usnering tpto tic roolu faeiler Fran
! ems. priest VINO nyeu N. ...s-ss, ..iiils g
, p,as &C ahoat shy P4ars old, whose hollow
cheeks spare Natures, and I,iytte ~. ,-11.zt
sinister and far from hallowed expression.
| TO what father, am indebted for this late
visit asked the old lady.
| 30 important tidings.' replied the priest,
(which am come to communicate
| Leave us, Bridget said her mistress The
servant took an old iron lamp and went up
stairs TO her freless chamber
"What have you to tell me asked Marie
| Marianni of her vister.
I'll have had news from France
Good news -
Some which pay eventually prove So
"The stars, then, have not deceived me "
"What, madame y said the priest in a re-
proving tone do you attach any credit to this
lying astrology! Believe me, it is II tempts-
ton of Satan which you ought to resist. Have
you not enough of real misfortune, without
| subjecting yourself to imaginary terrors
"lf it be n weakness, father it is one which
| share in common with many great minds.
| Who can doubt the influence which the celes-
tial bodies have on things terrestrial :" -
"All vanity and error, daughter. How can
an enlightened mind like yours persuade itself
that events happen by aught save the will of
Godlo
| 81 will not now argue the point father; tell
me rather what are the news from France!"
| "The mobiles discontent at the prime minis
ter has reached its height Henri d'Eahat,
grand-equerry of France and the Kings favor
ito, has joined them, and drawn into the plot
the Duke de Bouillon, and Me"sianr bis majss-
ty,s ,rnt,icr. A srnaiy,n which ia an point Of
being secretly concluded with the King of Spain,
has for its object peace, on condition Of the
dinals removal"
, "Thank God!p
However, madame let us not be too conf
dent; continue to act with prudence, and as-
sumo the appearance of perfect resignation.
1 Frequent the church in which minister place
yourself near the lower corner of the right
7 hand aisle, and will iorewarn you of my next
visit"
81 will do so father
: Rcsuming his large cloak the priest depart
: cd, Bridget being summoned by her mistress to
open the door.
From that time, during several months the
old lady repaired regularly each day to the
church and she often saw Father Francis but
he never spoke or gave her the desired signal.
The unaccustomed daily exercise of walking to
and from church, together with the sickness
of hope deferred, began to tell uniavoraby on
her health she became subject to attacks Of
intermittng fever, and her large bright eyes
seemed each day to grow larger and brighter.
One morning, passing down the aisle, Father
Francis for u moment bent llip head towards
her, and whispered: "All is LOST"
With IA powerful effort, Marie Mlarianni sub
dued all outward signs to the terrible emotion
which these words caused her. and returned to
her cheerless dwelling In the evening Fa-
ther Francis came to her.-Whcn they were
alone, she asked; Father, what has happen
edfv
monsieur dc Cnq- Mars is arrested"
And the Duke de Bouillonlo
"Fled.n
"1he treaty with the King Of Spain
"At the moment it was signed at Madrid,
the cunning cardinal received copy of it,"
"By whom was the plot discovered "
"By a secret agent who had wormed him
self into it,
| any enemies, then, still Triumph
| Rchelieu il more powerful, and the Hing
more subject 10 him than ever"
That same night the poor old woman was
seized with n burning fever. In her delirium
the phantom-man in red still pursued her, and
| her rawlings were terrible 10 hear Bridget
seated at her bedside prayed for her, and at
the end Of a month she began slowly to recoy-
err Borne down, however, by years poverty,
| and misfortune, Marie Marianni felt her end
was approaching Despite Father Francis's
discussion, she again had resOurse to the as
| THEOLOGICAL tablets, on which were drawn, in
black and red figures, the various phases Of
the sun and Of the star which presided over
her nativity. On this occasion their omens
were uniavorable; and rejecting all spiritual
onsolaton--miserable in the present and
hopeless in the futurc--Marie Marann expir-
cd in the beginning of July 1912.
As soon ~ her death was known, magis-
trate of Cologne came to her house in order
10 make an official entry Of the names of the
defunct and her heirs Bridget could not tell
either; she merely knew that her late mistriss
was stranger
Father Francis arrived 81 can tell you the
names Of her hcirsn he said "Write-the
King of France Monsieur the Duke of Orleans;
Henrietta of France, Queen Of England
"And what !" asked the astounded magistrate,
"wm the name Of the deceascd?n
"Ihe High and Mighty Princess Marie do
Medicis widow Of Henry w, and mother Of
the reigning KING"
The first message Of Governor Campbell was
communicated to the Tennessee Legislature ON
the 28th ultmo. 1t occupies only two columns
Of the Nashville Banner, and, with the excep-
ton Of u couple Of paragraphs in commenda-
ton Of the Compromise measuresy is exclusively
devotad IN Statx, affairs He deyOfes much at