Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-02-19
MISCELLANY.
TIE CONFiCT'S BRIDE.
TRorI THE FRENcn.

II vas dark dreary morning il the De.
&c Gf@e efr2 # EdFs HIS ff4 HE iFssz s
despite the ihclemeney of the weather,
crowgspf persons of all classes and amongst
them many Of tue weaker sex, might be seen
hurrying towards the Place de Grove, Paris.
1t was the morning appointed for the cxecu,
ton Of Victor d Au6igny.
The circumstances which had called for
this expiation Of lie at'the altar of justice,
were simply as followa--and Blended with
the strong love Of, excitement. SO universal
amongst the French, account, in some de
gree, for the eager curiosity discernible in
the multitude, now Fastening to the awful
spectacle of feilow creature. in the full
hush Of Youth and health; being plunged in
to the gulf Of unknown eternity The crime
for whichA'ipt3r Aubgf5y was condemned
TO suffer was forgerg. Remonstrance. peti.
tiens, interest. i'll had been tried toavert tho
awful .penalty The offynte was one Of FIRE
qucnt occurrence. and must be checked, even
at the costly sacrifice Of human life For.
tunately in our days the law is satisfied With
/ less than the blood Of its victim.
In every country apologists arc to be
| found for guilt, and sympathy is more read
with great personal Or mental advantages, or
fills position above the ordinary level in
society. All these Victor d'Aubigny pos.
sessed he had also tie highest distinc-
ton of having. up to the period Of lis
crime, borne q blameless character From
! their earliest youth. a close intimacy had
subsisted between himself and Auguste de
/ Biron Similarity Of age and pursuit both
being intended for the. army--united them
more than eoHgeniality of disposition; for
the warm generosity of Victor bore little re
| semblance to the cold, suspicious nature 81
Auguste They were alike only in their
pursuit of pleasure, though evenin the pros
ecution Of this, the taste Of each took diff
ferent bias The strong aud feyerish excite
ment Of the gambling table too well suited
the temperament of Aictpr. He WHO, in the
midst Of the most profigate capital Of the
world, had strength tc resist all other allure
ments, fell ready prey to thst vice, whose
fatal indulgence has often paved the way fel
the commission of almost every crime
Auguste, on the ether hand stunning thu
1 dazzling saloons Of play, was nightly yisi
tant of the metropolitan theatres to en-
joy the wit. Of Molisre, or the genius of IA
cine, but to watch the airy movements 0
somb fgurante in the ballet As they al
yancea to manhood, the success Of d'Aubig
Il ny in society called perpetaaIly into play til
n evil passions Of lis companion, whose feel
ings gradually changed from friendship /,
dislike, deepencd into hatred implacable an,
bitter, on the refusal Of his hand BY lady
who returned, as the reason, mad thougl
unreturned passion, for his friend August
controlled Lis resentment oatwardly, au'
left Paris
Victor at this period was betrothcd to
lovely but portipnless girl and the day 70
the nuptiols Was Fixed IA few evenings pre
yious. be entered one ofthe gambling estal
lishments With which Paris abounds i
noagh he vas tempssd to play, and 10
short time found himself loser to doubl
| the amount Of all the ready money be coul
command. he rnshed from the house in
state Of frenzy. 70 whom could he apply
Auguste. who might have assisted him, va
! IN England. whittier be lad gone to be pre-
, emit at the debut Of i danseuse. He suddel
! II recollectad that his friend had q lare
: sum at his bankers Fprgetful, in the de
! peration Of tie moment, of every thing b.
! escape from present embarrassment,
i forged q cheque for the sum required
!, was duly hohored- but his fate was scale
he instantly wrote to apprise De Biron
: what he had done pleading, in mitigatio
i that they had often shared the same purs
!, and binding himself to return the money
AZ earliest possible period. No reply v
Even u hislletter. The time Dew onwal