Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-09-15

. olr, cavalier. In what have spoken
there is a mystery which I am not per-
mitted to reveal: but, in the teeth of your
accusation, when | hear it said that the
Dame Beaufroid has favored lover, and
| that you are that lover, then, in spite of
the happiness which expect to find in an
approaching and joyful union, l do not
hesitate to accept your challenge, at the
risk of periShing in the struggle
| No answer was given to these words
but the two swords were instantly cross
cd and sparks flew to the right and left.
Four or five passes sufficed to disarm
Philippe.
" Resume your sword" said the caval-
ler coldly. "Our combat is only to be
ended by death" ..i,s
Philippe took his sword again, and the
duel commenced with fury on both sides.
In few seconds the youth fell to the
ground, pierced through his chest, and
yielded his spirit without uttering a word.
Quick as lightning the adversary mounted
his horse, and disappeared through the
gate OF the town by which he had enter
ed, taking the road to the northward.
At the clashing of the arms, Jeanne
and her governeSs in terror had ventured
to look out from the open window. The
first object that met their view was the
body of Philippe, outstretched in that
part of the street where the moonbeams
were shining brightest. 4 cry ofdespair
escaped from Jeanne's bosom. At that
cry, the neighbors arose in alarm. What
was their surprise when they recognized
the betrOthed husband of Van Robec's
daughter! Their first care was to carry
him to the burgomaster's house. In spite
OF tie eXclamationS and "Reminiscences of
the governess, who returned to her mis-
tress utterly overcome, the neighbors
laid the body of Philippe On Van Robec's
bed, and one of them went to fetch a
surgeon, to be authoritatively assured
that life was really extinct. Jeanne,
who from the first story Of the house be-
held her betrothed lying on the ground,
and who heard all the hustle within
doors, insisted on entering the room in
which Philippe had been placed. In vain
the governess tried to oppose her wish.
In a few minutes the girl was in the
midst OF the sorrcwing neighbors, who
did their utmost to tear her away
from so sad a sight, but Jeanne
struggled against them, and embraced the
corpse of her betrothed closely in her
arms, laviShing upon it the most affection
ate endearments. When the doctor
came at last, he had TO testify to the
double fact, that Philippe was dead, and
that Jeanne was seized with madness.
On leaving Tournay, the cavalier went
across the country as far as the church of
the first village, descended into a little
valley, traversed a narrow brook on a
bridge Of planks, and then, penetrating
the woods in an easterly course, he sue
ceeded in arriving at hamlet, where he
stopped before the gate of chateau This
chateau belonged to powerful family,
who had afforded an asylum to woman
of from five-and-thirty to forty years of
age, of noble descent, driven by misfor-
tune from her native province more than
two years previously, 70 live in retirement
here. The only journeys she had made
since her residence in the hamlet werere
stricted to two or three visits to Tour
nay, where she went, it was whispered, to
see some person to whom she was tendcrly
attached.
The cavalier passed the night as tram
quilly as if he had returned from accom-
plishing some perfectly simple and natu-
raj affair; and the next morning as soon
as he awoke, his first care was to see
Madame de Beaufroid. Her countenance
when she received him was impressed
with deep melancholy, but that very
melancholy, added to the paleness which
overSpread her features, endowed her
with an inexpressible captivating in
tcrest.
''Ah. is it you, Mahuot 2" said the
lady. in a voice of emotion. Il have
passed sleeplesS night, agitated by a
thousand painful presentiments."
'Prcsen;imentsd do not always deceive"
he replied abruptly.
"What do YOU mean Good God
what is the meaning Of that change in
your countenance-of the harshncss of
your looks 90
at is useless that | should conceal the
fact. | have seen that Philippe of whom
we were talking yesterday. | could rest
no longer in the cruel uncertainty in
which | was placed by the letters which |
discovered in your oratory. | did not
choose, after having left the army of the
Duke of Burgundy, in order to come and
ask you, for the last time, whether you
were willing to espouse me, and thus con-
clude tedious courtship-I did not
choose, say, to remain in any further
doubt respecting your conduct during my
absence. Last night went to Tournay."
''And you have met with Philippe Z"
YES. Ny measures were taken, and |
my information proved exact. Conse-
quently, | had not long to wait. Ire
membered that particular letter, in which .
he addresses you in the tenderest terms
in which he entreats you to crown his
happiness, and which he concludes, by
daring to ask You to receive his kisses"
"WelI ~