New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-17

have dehed time to lessen cirernsta neas ~
change--with whom she had hoped to journey
through existence. partner Of his pleasures,
soother of his griefs And now she was aIona ~
and desolate Then indeed did she feei THAI that
tate had leveled its dead1iest weapon !: And
7encctorth every hour was stamped with stern.
unchanging, dreary despair Great mi sfort,inee
either strengthen or enfeeble the mind. Wher,
the grave had closed over the BODY Of Victor.
lsabele--the weak, the gentle, the timid Isabelle
returned TO her lonely hearth, d calm, stern,
determined woman
All the elite OF Milan gathered together Il,
the magnificent Theatre Of La Scala. Beauty
ient Jus attraction, rank its patronage, and
Iasfon IT'S influence, to grace the farewell bene-
ny oI " Ia FlorIndas the unrivaletl danseuse,
The boast Of Italy, the idol of TIE Milanese.
IL IS not an easy task TO rouse an English
audience into fi1ror Of ecstasy an Italian one
is composed of material Of a more irfiamrasbIe
nature and demonstrations which would seem
to us extravagant and absurd only appear h,
them meet homage to genius. Tonight their
wonted enthusiasm received double impetus.
from the consciousness that it was the last pub
nc testimony they could afford, Of their appre-
ciatlon OF the consunlmate skill and loyeiiness
of the iafr creature before them The ensuing
week would see her united to a wealthy noble,
ana TINS night witnessed her parting obeisancs
to an audience, of whom all the men were her
WoTsh1pers, and even the women her partisans
and admirers The curtain rose ,and certainly
the appearance Of the heroine of the eyeine was
warranty enough for the burst Of applause
winch followed. Her form. itself Of the moet
ianitiess symmetry acquired additional captiya
ZION from the display and eostIiness permitted
by theatrical costume Her face. too. was nne
f surprising beauty. Large deep blue ewes.
waves Of the glossiest hair, and q skin Of that
clear transparent whiteness, which shows with
such dazzling effect at night-a in these attrac-
tions were in themselves enough to fascinate the
sight But there was that about III Plorintia )
,Ehici. Interested the feelings fully as much.
lhe dreamy melancholy of her profound and
passionate eyes, the entire repose Of all her fea
lures, the extraordinary expression about the
small cferub mouth, which seemed formed for
love and eimples, yet which none had ever seen
relax into smile--this it was which lent such
Witchery to her beauty, and threw around her
kind Of nnyterious charm, even amidst the
glare and frivolity with which she was sur
| rounded ' = -
fhough assailed by temptation in eyery sbape.
50 rigid and unblemished had been her conduct.
that the noble family, to which she vas about to
be allied, vainly sought in it q pretext to dis
solve the engagement between herself and their
| relative Yet she lived in utter unprotecte5-
ness, with only the companionship Of 4 Young
gIrl, who oticiated as her attendant With So
clety she never mixed, nor left her hume except
to attend her professional duties -
On this her last evening Of public existence,
all was done that could render her exit triumph
ant. The stage was literally filed with bou-
quets flung at her feet, accompanied by many
valuable and less perishing testimony to her
worth and talent. When she madeher farewell
acknowledg gments. each felt d pang Of regret at
parting with one so lovely and gifted, and many
bright eye was filed with tears-yet she, the
cause, alone remained unmoyed There was
gratitude in the graceful bowling Of the head,
and the meek folding Of her hands on her
bosom-but the face was calm and impassive as
ever The curtain fell amidst an outbreak Of
such feeling as shook the very walls Of La Scala
to their foundation, and Florinda was seen
there no more ny
g Now pray, signora, on this your wedding
day, do look as if you were happy. Heigho !! Il
were so beautiful. beloved too by the Mar
chese, should be smiling all day long,
My good Rosalia. have long forgotten to
smile or weep. In truth, poor child !! you have
had but wearisome life, in attending on one in
whose bosom the pulse of joy hath for ever
stopped
g say not 50, Signora all the girls in Milan
would be glad to wait on 50 kind, so gracious,
50 gentle mistress !, and go pretty one,
too: For when I am braiding these long tresses,
or fastening the sandals on your tiny feet, feel
quite proud in being permitted to serve La Flo-
rinda, who all Milan says. has borrowed the
face and form of the famous Venus at Fiorence''
ssFie on thee, child would clride thee for this
| hattery, but that m unkind word ever sends
foolish tears into thine eyes But hasten, Ro-
salia; the time wears on. Give me my veil, and
leave me''
The attendant did as he was bidden, and For
india was alone. For a while she sat in deep med
itation, her small white hands clasped upon her
brow as if to still the tnmult of feelings rushing
through her brain. The day at length had
come for which she had patiently waited for
years; for which she had devoted he.se to q
profession she abhorred, and toiied in it labori-
ously and ceaselessly--and nourished a life she
would otherwise have allowed the mildew Of
grief to corrode and destroy. Tie hour was at
hand, when the one purpose of her existence
was to be realized--the long recorded VOW full
filled. The near accomplishment of her wishes
gave to the cheek of Florinda a flush of crimson,
deep as the sunset Of summer, and lit up her
lustrous eyes with almost unearthly brightness.
As she contemplated herself in the mirror, ar
rayed in all the costly magnifcence Of bridal
attire, vanity for moment preponderated but
it was transient weakness. An instant more
the brow resumed its look Of calm, stern de-
termination--the beautiful mouth its compressed
rigidity. Having adjusted the orange wreath
on her temples, and arranged the drapery of the
long delicate veil, whose snowy folds enyeloped
her form from head to foot, she entered the COM
servatory adjoining her chamber, and taking
from it bouquet Of choicest flowers, awaited the
arrival of her bridesmaids and friends. In q
few minutes the expected guests assembled, and
leaning on the arm of the brother of her be-
trothed, she entered one Of the carriages and
the party proceeded to the church Of st. Am
brose. The nuptial rites were performed-and
Florinda was greeted la Marchesa di Viyaldi.
The Marchese, gently passing his arm around
her waist, would fain have folded her to his
bosom. A quick shudder, which seemed to con-
yulse every limb, passed over her.
s' My beautiful love looks pale p
's' lis nothing--a sudden faintness. I culled
these flowers for you. your favorite helitrope is
there take them-you will not surely refuse
your brides first gift p
The Marchese took the bouquet presented,
pressed it passionately to his lips, inhaled its
fragrance, and fell at the feet of Florinda q
corpse. "
wild, unnatural burst of laughter from the
Marchesa pealed through the church g It is
well-it is we'll Victor, my beloved, thou art
avenged Now will join thee,
Uttering these words, she took from beneath
the folds Of her dress small poinard, and bu-
ried it to the hilt in her breast.
The bride and the bridegroom lay dead toge-
ther!
On searching her desk a paper was found ex-
r. H.. ,1~r