Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-17

conduct rarely met with at that time.
The marriage had been some time defer
red in consequence of the delicate state
Of the countess health, but at the earnest
solicitation of her father, it was now to
take place without further delay.
The bride-elect had not yet made her
appearance and the guests amused them
selves in conversation respecting the in
teresting event they were assembled to
witness.
MY dear marchioness, how delighted
| am TO see you exclaimed lady,
dressed in the very pink Of the fashion,
and how charmingly you look. But
the air of Paris is 4 great beautifier. Only
think of NE, ma c5erc, buried for twelve
months in ho11id province! 1t was inn
possible to endure it longer, SO [ have
left MonSieur le Compfe to govern his bar
bQres by himself But [ have so much
news to hear. Only think Of our dear
countess marrying her cousin at last!
They will make charming couple. The
Viscompte is so handsome, and She-but
here she comes. | must go and cOngrat-
ulate her. How could they say" she
continued, on returning to hcrse that
she was in bad health! TO ne, she seems
more lovely than ever"
"Your long banishment makes youse
every thing coulcur dc rose, my dear coun-
tess" returned her friend; 81 think her
sadly changed. She is much thinner, and
her eyes, the expression of which was
formerly so enchantingly soft, have now
quite a haggard look
"Do you not think that her rouge is a
soupcon too deep" whispered the other,
beginning to criticise in her turn.
q think that effect is produced by the
almost unearthly whiteness of her skim"
was the reply. at is true powder, paint
and patches, make it difficult, now-a davs,
to see what a complexion really is: but,
under all those auxiliiaries, trace the
ravages Of i'll health"
At this point the conversation was in
terrnptcd by the preparation for signing
the contract; the parchment was placed
before the countess for her signature, but
her hand shook so violently that she
could scarcely trace letter, and it was
only by strong effort that she mastered
her agitation sufficiently to write her
name. Immediately after she sunk back
in her chair and become inscnsicle. She
was carried to her apartment, and on
medical all being summoned, was pro-
nounced to be dangerously i'll.
In few days it was known that the
young and beautiful Countess of st GILES
so lately on the point Of becoming bride
was dying. From The commencement of
her illness she had continued to sink ran.
idly, and her physicians were ONLY sur
prised that she still lived. The house
became scene Of mourning, crowded
with friends anxious to show their sym-
patty, and to offer consolation to the mar
quis and his nephew. The countess was
aware that her situation was homeless:
all her thoughts were given to religion
and her confessor was constantly with
her. On the day that the last sacrament
was to be administered, the numerous
members Of the family were, at her cx-
| press desire, summoned to her bedside.
MY friends" said the diving woman.
L cannot leave the world in peace, nei-
ther Will my confessor give me absolution
TIL l have confessed crime which has
| long lain heavily on my conscience. All
here must remember the student Etienne
Grandler, who, two years ago, was con-
demned to death foI the murder of his
mistress. At the place Of execution he
asserted his innocence, and his assertion
was true 7 was the murderer Of Cuco+ta