New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-04
TIE LAST STROKE OF FORTUNE,

Twenty years ago, old house still standing in
Cologne which showed to the street frontage of five
small windows Itwas the house in which the first painter
Of the Flemish school, the immortal Rubens was born A.
D. 1517 Sixty years later than this date, the ground
wife The upper story which usually let to dodgers
was empty at the time write Of Two however
and his wife were sitting together in the
below.
You had better go up stairs again said the to
his wife, and see how the poor lady is The old gentle
man went out early and has not been in since Has
| not taken any thing?
ut is only half hour since up stairs, and he
had not come in took her some broth up at noon but
she hardly touched it. and up again at three she
was asleep then and at five she said she should want
any thing more,
Poor lady This time of year and neither fire nor
warm clothes and not even decent bed to lie on and
yet am sure she is some body other. Have you
her?u N'
she wears On her finger would get her the best Of every
thing.''
Then knock at the door, and the woman admit
ted the Old man they had just spoken Of whose grzsed
beard fell down upon his furnished velvet The
ess sadly wanted to have little gossip with him but he
passed by and bidding them short Good night CROPPED
his way up the steep and crooked staircase On entering
the chamber above feeble voice inquired the Of
| his long absence.
Il could not help it,, he said III had been copying
manuscript and as was on my way here servant met
ladies who passing through they were ladies who
have known before thought could get little money
pay for some smpes which might be Of service to your
"Itis fever cold will make you something which you
! must take directly''
The fame of a small tin lamp suIiced to heat some
water and the patient having taken what the old
had provided diligently covered up by him with all
the clothes and articles of dress he could find He stood
by her motoness until he perceived that she fast
asleep and long after he then retired into small
csoet and sought repose on the hard floor
The next morning lady so much better that her
attendant proposed she should leave the house
rs far as the Place St Cecilia. 1t seldom that she left
the house for the of her dress
there that in her carriage which rendered it difficult
| to avoid unpleasant observation.
DO you see that person yonder =! she said suddenly
IF not much mistaken it is certainly the Duke of
| Guise.''
The strangers attention had also boen attracted and
| had now approached them.
"Par6eu!n said he, "why that is Mascai. What are
| you married %
He does not know me, sighed the lady, ~ must in
deed be altered.o
Dukes ear and he started struck by thunderbot
but instantly recovering himself he hastily uncovered
II beg your pardon, he said but my eyes are grown
so weak and could SO little honor of
For the love of God, interrupted the lady hastily
name me not here. title would strangely contrast
Cologne?i' - '1''' ''As 'n
Three days; am my way from Italy. I took
refuge there when our common enemy drove forth
Brussels.''
and what are advices from Franee Is the helm
| still in the hands of that wretched caitiG p,
He is in the zenith of his powern
See, my lord duke, your fortunes and my own are
much alike You, the of who, had he not too
much despised danger might well have set the on
his own head and the Queen of the mightest ma
ton in the universe and now both of us alike But
adieu she said suddenly, and, drawing herself up the
slght OF you my lord duke, has refreshed much and
pray that fortune once more may smile upon your steps,
Permit me to attend your majesty to-'
Asght color tnged the ladys features she answer
ed, with gently commanding tone
Leave us my lord duke, it Is our pleasuren
Guse bowed low and, taking the lay's hand he pressed
it reverenty to his lips At the of the street he
met some one to whom he pointed out the old lady and
FASTENED away
The next morning knock at the door announced
person inquiring for Monsieur Mascali she had small
packet for him, and also billet. Inside this was distinct
ly written
present. fortune; one hundred / send for your use.
'GuIsEn
And the packet contained hundred louis d'ors
The thus obtained suiced to supply the wants of
The pair two long years. But the last louis had been
changed and the lady and her companion still with
out friendly The shoemaker and his wife had
undertaken journey to AK la Chapele to take up some
small legacy. 1t was the 18th of February, 1912 low
sound OF moaning might have been heard issuing from the
garrett withered female form. like skeleton than
thing of flesh and blood lying wreched bed of
straw in the agones of DEATH The grew and
more lndistinct; slight rattng in the throat was at
hour later old dressed in rags aters entered
the chamber One only word had ped lps as he
tutnbed up the falling staircase" Nothing nothing
lie drew near the bed isessly but in moment he seized
an of the corpse with almost conyulsivc motion
and letting it suddenly fall he cried
= Dead, dead, of hunger cold and staryationr'
And this lady was Mary of Medicis wife of Henry w.
Queen Regent of France mother of Louis KILL Isa-
BELLA Queen of SPAIN of Henrietta Queen England of
Christina duchess of Savoy of CASTOR Duke of Orleans
dead of hunger cold and misery and yet Louis KILL
the cowardy tool of Richeeu his mothers murderer is
still called g. the Justn