New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-17
THE coNv1cTs BRIDE.
From the Grenrij.


Der of l7s-. The ground was covered with
snow. and the bleak wind was blowing in terrific
gusts through the trees Yet, despite the incle-
mency of the weather, crowds of persons of all
classes. and amongst them, many of the weaker
sex. might be seen hurrying towards the Place
de Grove, Paris. 1t was the morning appointed
for the execution of Victor d d'Aubigny
The circumstances which had called for this
expiation Of life at the altar of justice were
simply as follows-and blended with the strong
love OF excitement, go universal amongst the
French, account. in some degree, for the eager
curiosity discernible in the multitude, now has
tening to the awful spectacle of fellow crea-
tlre, in the full flush of youth and health, being
plunged into the gulf of unknown eternity. The
crime for which Victor dAubigny was con-
demned to suffer was forgery Relnonstrance,
petitions, interest, all had been tried to avert
the awful penalty The offence was one of fire.
quent occurrence, and must be checked, even at
the costly sacrifice of human life. Fortu-
nately in our days the law is satisfied with less
than the blood of its victim. In every country
apologists are to be found for guilt, and sympa-
thy is more readily excited when the perpetrator
is endowed with great personal or mental ad-
vantages, or fills position above the ordinary
level in society. All these Victor dAubgny
possessed he had also the higher distinction of
having, up to the period of his crime, borne
blameless character. From their earliest youth
IA close intimacy had subsisted between himself
and Auguste de Bron. Similarity of age and
ipursuit--both being intended for the army
united them more than congeniality of DISPOSE
ton; for the warm generosity of Victor bore
little resemblance to the cold, suspicious nature
of Auguste. They were alike only in their pur-
suit Of pleasure, though even in the prosecution
of this, the taste of each took different bias
The strong and feversh excitement of the GAM
bling table toolwell suited the temperament of
Victor. He who, i'll the midst of the most pro-
figate capital of the world, had strength to re-
sist all other allurements, fell ready prey to
that vice, whose fatal indulgence has often paved
the way for the commission of almost every
crime. A.,
Auguste, on the other hand, stunning the
dazzling saloons of play, was nightly visitant
of the metropolitan theatres-not to enjoy the
wit Of Moliere, or the genius of Racine, but to
watch the airy movements of some fgurante i'll
the ballet. As they advanced to manhood, the
success of D'Aubigny in society called perpetu-
ally into play the evil passions of his companion,
whose feelings gradually changed from friend
ship to dislike, deepened into hatred implacable
and bitter, on the refusal Of his hand by a lady,
who returned, as the reason, mad though un-
returned passion, for his friend. Auguste con-
trolled his resentment outwardly, and left Paris.
4 Victor at this period was betrothcd to a lovely
but portionless girl, and the day for the nuptials
was 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 u loser to
double the amount of all the ready money he
could command. He rushed from the house in a
state of frenzy. To whom could he apply j?
Auguste, who might have assisted him, was in
England, whittier he had gone to be present at
the debut of danseuse. He suddenly recollect-
ed that his friend had large sum at his bank
er's. Forgetful, in the desperation Of the mo-
ment, of every thing but escape from present
embarrassment, he forged cheque for the sum
required 1t was duly honored-but his fate
was sealed. He instantly wrote to npprise De
Biron of what he had done; pleading, in mitiga-
ton, 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 the party were leaving the church,
DAubigny was arrested on charge of forgery !
The trial and condemnation rapidly succeeded
and the day of execution dawned too soon. Victor
met his death calmly and resignedly BUTT is
not with him our tale has to o-iti with her, the
beautiful. the bereaved-with Isabelle d'Aubig-
ny, the convict's BRIDE From the period when
PRONUNCIATION of his sentence rang in her ears,
to that moment in which the fatal axe fell on the
throat of its victim, nor sigh, nor word had
escaped her. Every faculty seemed suspended
by misery. The last long embrace of her hls-
band-the wild choking sob which burst from
him, as she left his cell the night prior to ms
execution-the thousand dfranticpassionatek kisses
which he showered on her marble face, at the
foot of thescatfold all failed to dissolve the trance
of grief into which she had fallen. But the mo-
.ment of awakening agony came at last When
the guillotine had done its office, and the body
of her beloved Victor lay bleeding and dead
before her-sorrow, asserting its omnipotent
sway over humanity, shivered the feeble bar
rers of temporary Inconsistencies, and let 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 an
guish, the shrek of despair--the straining of
the eyeballs, to assure itself of that which
overstretched every fibre of the heart with agony
until it almost burst with tension. Then came
that piercing look into future years, which so
often accompanies calamity in its fresness when
all that would have sustained us beneath the
heavy load has been wrenched from us forever
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 in it. Her own. her beautiful, lay q
mHtlated corpse hefass hAs-she Shnm she had
ssspa wlfs 8. absorbing intensity which would