Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-28

common with people OF your sort
The astonished artist stood petrifed by this
rude apostrophe, and, however, insulted, he
considered himself as having committed the
| first error.
If he could have had any doubts Of his mis-
reading, some days after, in q Paris paper, the
following item cleaned from the Italian ga
zettes:
"The celebrated singer, X, who OBJ
tanned great success 1t the principal theatres
Of Europe, died in Switzerland, upon an estate
he had bought near Lake Geneva, and which
he has occupied since change in his health
obliged him to 60 into retreat prematurely."
The day Of the appearance of this singular
article, M. de B. received an invitation to pass
the evening in one Of the most distinguished
saloons Of the faubourg Saint Honore. A re-
union, always charming, was to have . new at
traction, by the presence of a young Russian
lady, short time arrived in Paris, Madame
the Countess Of ----, q marvel Of grace and
intelligence, rumor declared.
But the countess did not appear. The per
sons who were to present her said that morn
ing, in reading 9 journal, she had been seized
by violent attack of the nerves, and that her
condition gave rise to much inquietude.
Some days afterwards M. de B. was riding
on horseback alone, in the forest Of Bolougne,
when he encountered calache. A lady occu-
pied the carriage, and when the cavalier glanced
at her in passing, she started up, uttered q cry,
and fell fainting upon the cushions.
Surprised at the effect he had produced, and
much interested by the adventure, for the lady
was young and beautiful, M. de b., whom the
gallop Of his horse had carried by for some
distance returned towards the calache; but al
ready crowd of cavaliers and many equip
ages had accumulated a doctor was bestowing
his cares, and by his direction the calache was
put in motion before M. de B. had reached it.
He was forced to content himself with follow
ing it at distance, not daring at that moment
to provoke second crisis The calache en-
| tered hotel court in the Champs Elysees, and
M. de b. learned the name of the lady, who
proved to be no other than the Russian coun-
tess he was to have met at the soiree Of the
faubourg St. Honore.
The next day he presented himself, sent up
his card by the valet, and was not received
The second day he sent up his card again with
some words in pencil, which announced him as
the fatal cavalier of the woods Of Bologne. He
was admitted.
The beautiful countess, pale and langnishing,
fixed upon him looks that carried agitation into
his breast. She addressed him and listened to
him with sort of avidity
You cannot imagine" she said, "the emo
tion experienced at seeing and hearing you.
Promise me to come every day"
The happy M. de B. was delighted to meet
such an engagement, and for nothing would he
have missed Of it. He was already profoundly
enamored.
AT each Of these visits he had the same ten
der yet melancholy reception. Sometimes the
countess remained plunged in deep revery,
and wept in his presence. There was some
thing inexplicable in the matter; but M. de B.
never doubted his prospective happiness. Soon,
thinking the moment was come, he expressed,
in eloquent words, his sentiments and his hopes
You deceive YOURSELF sir" responded the
countess, Hand regret it, for it is my fault. i
ought to have explained to you sooner the ma
ture Of the confidence / have reposed in you.
If experience sweet Joy in seeing you, it is
for what you recall to me. Your merit, in my
eyes, is that you resemble
Is It possible!" cried M. de. B.
"You know Of whom wish to speak, them
You have, no doubt, learned this extraordinary
resemblance; yes, monsieur, he that have
loved, that still love, avow it, is an artist, q
man who sung upon the stage. He has never
known Of my passion. was wife when / saw
him at Naples. Now, widow had decided
to crush beneath my feet vain prejudices, and
to offer him my hand" .
"What, madame, you espouse him?"
1t was the dearest of my VOWS"
And later to repent that you made them; !;
you would have blushed to have husband who
had appeared on the scene of theatre; you
| would have reproached him with his former
condition.
Never
NJ. de B. shrugged his shoulders with an air
of profound and inconceivable credulity.
II left for Italy" rejoined the countess,
"and vainly sought him. No one could tell me
the place of his retreat. would have ira
versed all Europe to have found him, and have
come to Paris in the hope of meeting him,
when newspaper apprised me of his death
AT these words the countess was bathed in
tears. ai sI.4
Ear from being overcome by SO impressive a
revelation, M. de B. seemed to do violence to
his inclination in repressing his JOY. Without
doubt he thought that his happy resemblance
must reward him, and that some day the count
ess, renouncing her chimerical scruples and re-
grets, would consent to espouse the living inn
| age of q lover who was no more. 4t
| 81 respect the religious sentiment Of your
souvenirs, madame" he replied
| at is well, and on this condition / will per-
you to continue your visits"
M. de B. asked nothing more at the mo-
ment.
He returned the next day. A mail convey
| ance was in attendance at the court of the
hotel. The countess, in q travelling dress, with
radiant brow, hastened the domestics.
You leave2" 1ER
eyes, my friend, ! leave and hope"
For what 2"
"To see again him that love.
"The singer 2" earnestly asked M. de b. t
"He is alive, / have the best assurance"
How ,1a n isiott7a
at wished to purchase the estate where he
died. An intelligent and devoted servant
went to ask information he has traversed the
enyirons Of Lake Geneva, and all Switzer-
land. They have never seen or heard of the
singer X. The story Of his death is fable"
TAnd you recommence your search7"
"Do you reproach me2"
"No; but only make me one promise"
"What?n aE
@It is that if your researches are vain, if
/ vou ora c,rced IN renounce all hope of finding