Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-02

The meat it feeds on.-OTHELLo, Act iii. Scene s.
Monsieur de l. was an agreeable,
sprightly old gentleman of the ancient
regime, but he had one very great fail
ing-he was intolerably jealous. This.
however, will not excite the wonder of
our readers, when they hear that Mad
anne de l. was very agreeable, sprightly
dame, full twenty years younger than
her husband
Many wicked young Partisan took
delight in tcazing the poor old gentleman,
and flaming the flame which the consid-
crate and humane always endeavored to
Stiiie.
"Ah! my dear Monsieur l., what
happy man are you! How is your amia-
bic and lovely spouse 2" were the con-
slant exclamations and questions with
which he was saluted, whenever he en-
countered a young friend in the streets.
Monsieur de l. always, in his heart,
wished the querist at the devil: but po-
liteness obliged him to receive them gra-
ciOusly-in truth, he made himself very
miserable: and more than once thought
of closed windows ard doors, and pan
of lighted charcoal, after the favori;e
method Of his countrymen, when bent on
suicide. But, somehow or other, he al
tered his determination from day to day,
and lived on. lie always found an ex-
cuse for delaying the ceremony. A new
vaudeville was announced-they were
preparing grand opera with music, that
he could not die without hearing-or
some great savage from Zealand or Tim
buctoo had just arrived, to astonish the
Parisians with his outlandish perform
ances, so the charcoal fumes were not
put in requisition, and Monsieur de l.
continued to exist.
When we say that our old monsieur
was jealous, it will scarcely be necessary
to add, that he kept a sharp eye upon
madame, who, as may be supposed, was
very much annoyed at it; but she found
relief in the consciousness that his suS-
picions were groundless. She might, per-
haps, have sometimes innocently thought
that as she was yet young, she might
outlive her ancient partner, and have the
good fortune to meet with q somewhat
younger husband-but then this was all
in erSpectiye-merely in perspective
she was Frenchwoman-witty, lively,
gay, but not corrupt. But to proceed
with our story.
Monsieur de l. was one evening re-
turning from a visit to friend in q dis
tant quarter of the city, and had arrived
i'll sight Of his residence when he saw,
with some surprise, man under the
windows of his drawing-room, to which
he ever and anon directed an anxious look.
Rage took possession of the old French
man. His first thought was to rush upon
the fellow and annihilatc him upon the
spot, but then he had no weapon. A mo-
ment's reflection, however, convinced him
that it would be better to wait, and have
further proof of his wife's supposed inf
deity. Concealing himself in gateway,
he saw, while his frame quivered with
rage and Indignation, the object of his
suspicious Chamber up with the agility of
a monkey, and enter an open window.
Monster de l. waited no longer; he
rushed into the house and encountered
the intruder in the drawing-room.
The enraged husband, forgetting his
natural politeness, instantly commenced
torrent of abuse, which the intruder re-
ceiyed with great coolness. OF course
this only increased the rage of the abusing
party; it was a marvel that Monster de
l. did not go out of his wits at that
moment. His almost unintelligible splut-
terings at length subsided, and addressing
the violator of his honor, in a calm, de-
termined tone, he said:
Monsieur, you have wounded French
man where he is most vulnerable-you
have invaded my dwelling to dishonor
me"-here his voice faltered, and his lips
quivered; but recovering himself, he con-
tinued-"The Bois de Boulogne at fire
tomorrow morning! Pistols! you un-
derstand me, eh !''
Perfectly well, monsieur" replied the
stranger-"at five precisely, will meet
you-you will bring friend with YOU !'
''No, rejoined Monsieur de L., stern
ly, 81 will possess no one with the hate
full story-we will meet alene, if you
please"
agreed" said the stranger, bowling
"good evening, monsieur and with all
possible sang froid he proceeded down
stairs, leaving the poor old Frenchman q
prey to the most tOrturing emotions.
The professed novelist would here
sprinkle the page with a triple row Of
stars, while the writers ofnewspaper para
graphs would inform us, that the scene
which took place between monsieur and
madame, after the departure of the gal.