The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-30
THE coNvIcTs BRrDE.


II was dark dreary morning in the Decem-
Der OF l76-. The ground was covered with
snow and the bleak wind was blowing in ter
rife gusts through the trees. Yet, desnite the
inclemency 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. Ii was the morn
ing appointed for the execution of Victor
d'Aubigny.
The cifcumstancesiwhich had called for this
expiation of life at the altar Of justice were
simply as follows-and blended with the strong
love of excitement, so universal amongst the
French, account, in some degree, for the eager
curiosity discernible in the multitude, now
Fastening to the awful spectacle of fellow
creature, in the full flush Of youth and health,
being plunged into the gulf OF unknown eter-
nifty. The crime for which Victor d'Aubigny
was condemned to suffer was forgery. Re-
monstrance, petitions, interest, all had been
tried to avert the awful penalty. The offence
was one of frequent occurrence. and must be
checked, even at the costly sacrifice of hu-
man life. Fortunately in our days the law is
satisfied with less than the blood of its victim.
In every country apologsts are TO be found
for guilt, and sympathy is more readily excited
when the perpetrator is endowed with great
personal or mental advantages, or fills posi-
ton above the ordinary level in society. All
these Victor d'Aubigny possessed; he had also
the highest distinction of having, up to the pc
riod of his crime, borne a blameless character.
From their earliest youth, a close intimacy had
subsisted between himself and Auguste de BIZ
rom. Similarity of age and pursuit-both be-
ing intended for the army-united them more
than congeniality of disposition for the warm
generosity of Victor bore little resemblance to
the cold, suspicious nature of Auguste. They
were alike only in their pursuit of pleasure,
though even in the prosecution of this, the taste
OF each took different bias. The strong and
feverish excitement of the gambling table too
we'll suited the temperament of Victor. He
who, in the midst ofthe most profligate capital
of the world, had strength to resist all other al
lurements, fell ready prey 10 that vice, whose
fatal indulgence has often paved the way for
the commission Of almost every crime.
Auguste, on the other hand, stunning the
dazzling saloons of play, was a nightly visitant
of the metropolitan theatres--not to enjoy the
wit OF Molere, or the genius of Racine, but to
watch the airy movements of some igurante in
the ballet. As they advanced to manhood, the
success of d'Aubigny in society called per-
petualy into play the evil passions of his COM
panion, whose feelings gradually changed from
friendship to dislike, deepened into hatred i'm
plaeable and bitter, on the refusal of his hand
by lady, who returned, as the reason, a mad
thoug unreturned passion, for his friend. Au-
guste controlled his resentment Outwardly, and
left Paris.
Victor at this period was betrothed to love-
ly but portionless girl, and the day for the nup-
tals 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 him.
self 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? Auguste, who might have
assisted him, was in England, whittier he had
gone to be present al the debut of danseuse.
He suddenly recollected that his friend had
large sum at his bankers. Forgetful, in the
desperation of the moment, of every thing but
escape from present embarrassment, he forged
a cheque for the sum required. 1t was duly
honored-but his fate was sealed. He Instant
ly wrote to apprise De Biron OF what he had
done; pleading, in mitigation, that they had
often shared the same purse, and binding him
self 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 ar
rived. The bridal solemnity was over. When
the party were leaving the church, d. Aubigny
was arrested on charge of forgery!
The trial and condemnation rapidly succeed
ed and the day of execution dawned too soon
Victor met his death calmly and resignedly.
But it is not with him our tale has to dot is
with her, the beautiful, the bereaved-with
Isabelle d'Aubigny the convict's bride. From
the period when the promulgation of his SEN
tence rang in her ears, to that moment in which
the fatal axe fell on the throat of its victim,
nor sigh, nos word had escaped her. Every
faculty seemed suspended by misery. The
last, long embrace of her husband the
wild choking sob which burst from him, as
she left his cell the night prior to his execu-
tion-the thousand frantic passionate kisses
which he showered on her marble face, at the
foot of the scaffoid, all failed to dissolve the
trance of grief into which she had fallen. But
the moment 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
omnipetent sway over humanity, shivered the
feeble barriers of temporary Inconsistencies,
and let the imprisoned mind free to contem-
plate the ruin of its only earthly hope, the ex-
tinction of all youths sweetest.visions. Then
came the groan of anguish, the shrek of des-
pair-the strainng of the eyeballs, TO assure
itself of that which overstretched every fibre
of the heart with agony, until il almost burst
with tension. Then came that piercing look
into future years, which so often accompanies
calamity in its freshness; when all that would
have sustained us beneath the heavy load has
been wrenched from us for ever 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
mutiIated corpse before her-he whom she had
loved 18th an absorbing intensity, which would
have defed time to lessen, circumstances TO
change-with whom she had hoped to journey
through existence, partner of his pleasures,
soother of his griefs. And now she was alone
and desoate Then indeed, did she feel that
fate had levelled its deadliest weapons and
ho,.af,,th avarv hour W Ia slammed with stern
unchanging, dreary despair. Great misfor-
tunes either strengthen or enfeeble the mind.
When the grave had closed over the body OF
Victor, Isabelle--the weak, the gentle. the IL
mid Isabelle-returned 10 her lonely hearth,
calm, stern, determined woman.
All the elite Of Milan gathered together iE
the magnificent Theatre Of La Scala. Beauty
lent its attraction, rank its patronage. and
fashion its influence, to grace the farewell
benefit of ala Florinda," the unrivalled dam
seuse, the boast Of italy, the idol Of the Mi