New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-09

we should break the contract. Her counte-
nance never changed once during the whole
time, and when all was over, she stopped, and
picking up a lock which had fallen upon the
ground, asked in an unfaltering voice: g May 1
keep this, monsieur'' l said yes, and paid
her; and then she went away, smiling, and
looking quite happy, poor little thing After
all, mademoiselle, what is the use of beauty to
girls in her class of lfes She is better with
out it."
"A And her name-did you not ask her name:"
inquired Adelaide reproachfnlly.
"Why, yes, mademoiselle, / did, She told me
that it was Lucille belmont, and that she was
by trade feuriste 1t was all the information
she would give me-
"What could she have wanted with the mo-
ney Perhaps she was starving; there is SO
much misery in Paris' continued Mademoiselle
de Varenne, after pause.
" She was very pale and thin" said the hair
dresser; s' but then SO are the generality of our
young citizens. Do not make yourself unhap-
py about it, mademoiselle; shall see her again,
probably, and shall endeavor to find out every
circumstance respecting her. With these words,
NJ. Lagnier respectfully took leave, having by
one more expressive glance testified his delighted
approval of the alteration which had taken place
in the young lady's appearance.
Adelaide, having summoned her maid, con-
tinued her toilet in listless and absent man
ner. Her thoughts were fixed upon the young
girl whose beauty had been sacrificed for hers,
and an unconquerable desire to learn her fate
took possession of her mind. Her intended dis
posal Of the morning seemed to be quite forgot
ten; and she was on the point of forming new
plans, very different from the first, when the
lady to whose care she had been confided during
| the absence of her father from town, entered the
apartment, and aroused her from her reverie by
| excaiming "Ah, you naughty girl! Ihave
been waiting for you this half hour Was not
the carriage ordered to take US to the Tuieries"'
Yes, indeed, it was; but hope you will ex-
cuse me: had almost forgotten it, And
! Adelaide Immediately related to her friend the
circumstance which had occurred, and begged
her aid in the discovery of Lucille. Madame
d'Heranville laughed-reasoned, but in vain
and, finding Adelaide resolved, she at length con-
sented to accompany her on the search, express
ing, as she did SO, her entire conviction that it
would prove useless and unsatisfactory.
The day was spent in visits to the principal
n,odistes Of Paris but from none could any in
formation be gained concerning the young flower
girl. None had even heard her name. Adelaide
was returning home disappointed, but not dis
couraged. She resolved to continue her endea-
vors, she had just announced to Madame d'Her-
awhile of visiting upon the following day the
shops of an inferior class, when the carriage was
/
vehicles which surrounded it, and they found
themselves exactly before the door of small
| warehouse of the description she alluded to-
She was about to express q wish to enter, it be-
ing still early, when her attention was attracted
by two persons who stood conyersing near the
door, and whose voices, slightly raised, were dis
tinctly audible. They had excited the interest
and curiosity of both Adelaide and her COM
panion by the earnestness Of their manner, and
by the expression of sorrow depicted upon the
countenance of the elder speaker, young man
Of about twenty five years of age, who, from his
costume, as we'll as accent, appeared to be a
stranger in Paris.
ssI have promised-will you not trust me ?''
He said, in half reproachful tone; and Ade-
Of the young girl to whom these words were ad-
dressed; but her face was turned away, and
the large hood of q woolen cloak was drawn
over her head, almost completely concealing her
features.
ssI do trust you,'' she said in reply to the
young mans words" I do indeed And now
good-by, dear Andre; we shall meet agair
! she held out her hand, which he took and hele
for an instant without speaking
May l not conduct you home'" he asket
at length.
"No, Andre; it is better that we should par
here. We must not trust too much to our cosr
age it has failed so often already" And a
| she spoke, she raised her head, and looked W
tearfully at her companion, disclosing, as she
did so, o face Of striking beauty, although worr
and pallied to a painful degree, and appearing
even more so than it really was from the total
absence of her hair. The tears sprang to Ade-
ladies eyes In the careworn countenance be-
fore her she read bitter tale. Almost instinc-
| lively, she drew forth her purse, and leaning
over the side Of the carriage, called GO Lucille
Lucille!" But the young girl did not hear
her; she had already turned, and was hasten
ing rapidly away, while Andre stood gazing
after her, as if uncertain of the reality of what
had Just occurred. He was so deeply engrossed
in.his reflections, that he did not hear his name
repeatedly pronounced by both Adelaide ane
her friend. The latter at length directed thu
servant to accost him, and the footman wal
: alighting for that purpose, when two men turned
quickly the corner of the street, and perceivine
Andre, stopped suddenly, and one of them ex
claimed: '' All, good evening, Bernard; you art
just the very fellow we WANT and taking An
DIRE by the arm, he drew him under the shade o
a porte cochere, and continued, as he placed
small morocco case in his hand; " take care o
!, this for me, Andre, till l return: shall be a
your lodgings in an hour. Giraud and ar
going to the Cite, and as this pocket book con
tains valuables, we are afraid of losing it. #,
revoir.H'
Andre made no reply. He placed the pocket
! book carelessy in his bosom, and his two friend
! continued hastily on their way. He was him
II self preparing to depart, when the footmal
/; touched him gently on the shoulder, and toll
: him of Mademoisele de Varenne's wish to speal
d to him. Andre approached the carriage, sur
e prised and half abashed at the unlocked 10
j, honor then taking off his cap, waited respect
s fully for one of the ladies to address him. A
: the same instant, a police officer seized hil
o roughly by the arm, and exclaimed: &C Here
: one of them! saw them all three together nj
It two hours ago!' And callingt to comrade WI
: stood near, he was about to lead Andre away
It At first, the young man made no resistance
d but his face grew deadly pale, and his lip tren
: bled violently
e ssWhat do you want What have l done ,
IS he demanded at length, turning suddenly roun
" to face his accuser; but the latter only replie
by laugh, and an assurance that he woul
Z, know all about it presently. A slight strugg
d ensued, in the midst of which the pocket boo
1t fell to the ground, and considerable numbe
7 of bank-note bestrewed the pavement. at thi
l sight, Andre seemed suddenly to understand tn
Of cause of his arrest he stood for instant ga
zipg at the notes with a countenance of horror
,e then, with an almost gigantic effort, he brok
g from the grasp which held him, and darted ava
le in the direction which had before been taken b
20 the young girl. He was Immediately followe
l by the police: but although Adelaide and he
n friend remained for some time watching eagerl
it the pursuit, they were unable to ascertain whetf