Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-01-13
From Chambers journal
Fortunes of the Wife of the Great Condo.

its of the great Condo are unknown, and who
have not heard of the great deeds performed
by the victor of Rocroy at the early age o.
itwenty-one; but there may be some who have
not heard of little Clemence de Maille, hi:
wife, save that she was the neice of Carolina
Richelleu; her virtues, her sufferings, her he
rolsm, are unrecorded in the histories which
give so pompous an account Of her husband,
deeds of arms
There was magnificent ball given in the
palace of Cardinal Richelieu on the night Of
the 9TH of February, 1641. The whole of a
noble suit of rooms, extending round three
sides ofthe courtyard, were brilliantly lighted
up, and thrown open for the most noble and
distinguished persons in Paris There was
everywhere the sweetest music swelling
through the lofty rooms, and graceful bands
of dancers keeping time to its strains; there
were light girlish figures, and stately matronlv
ones; young men in all the foppery of the pc
Rod, whispering soft nothings to the young
and beautiful; and grave politicians on the
watch to observe whom the king spoke to,
and Richelieu smiled on There was Anne
of Austria, and her enfebled husband Louis
XIII, the beautiful Genevieye de Bourbon.
afterwards Duchesse de Longueville, Made
molselle de Montpensier, the swarthy Italian
Mazarin, and many othres distinguished in
the annals oftheir period. But why happens
1t that so gay and brilliant company is this
night assembled in the house of the Cardinal
de Rchelleu Do you see that young girl,
apparently not more than thirteen years of
age, sitting near the queen 2-she is rather
pale, though extremely fair, with large, thought
full blue eyes, and rich brown hair. That is
Claire Clemence de MaiIle, niece of Richelieu
and do you see standing near the further en-
trance of the room, that naughty looking
young man, with piercing eyes, aquline nose,
and severe mouth? He is Louis Due d En-
ghien, afterwards Prince de Condo; and the
magnificent fete is to celebrate the betrothal
of this first prince of the blood with the niece
of the paryenu minister Ill omened engage
ment! From time to time the duke throws
satlrcal, disdaintul glance at the poor little
| bride, and then turns away to talk with the
MISUNDERSTANDING group near him. Glenn
ence, who has sat tolerably composed and I'M
disturbed all the evening, is now engaged in
conversation with the queen, and splendidy-
attred cavalier who is standing with his pu-
med hat in his hand before them Heis say
ing: +" Now, mademoiselle, that her majesty
has condescended to urge my request, may |
hope no longer to sue in vain for the honor
Of being your partner in the next courante? 2"
The color came and went in the cheeks of
the chid-for such, in spite of her engage
ment, she must be termed-and she hurriedly
said: "She hoped the queen and Monsieur
lie st. Vaaye would excuse her-she danced
50 little"
"Then it is time you should begin, cdere
petite" replied the queen, "you must no lon
yer be considered as a child | much wish
to have the pleasure of seeing YOU dance this
couroate with Monsieur de St. Valaye before
[ retire"
The tear which was ust sparkling in Gle
mence's eve, must, fear, have proclaimed
her a child STILL when a voice behind settled
the matter for her, and made her swallow her
tears with the best grace she might, by say
| ing: my niece will have much pleasure in
dancing with you MONSIEUR" and then turn
ing to the queen, Richelieu excused her bash
fulness on account of her secluded education.
ClemenGe did not dream of disobeying her
uncle; she rose from her seat and NJ de st.
| Nalaye, touching the tips of the little fingers
with his, led her to her place in the dance.
| Diamonds glittered, and rich silks rustled as
she moved along, and began to dance, timidly
indeed, but not ungracefully; and the queen
was in the act of expressing her admiration,
4
in answer to meremark of Richelieu's, when,
alas for poor Clemence, she stumbled and fell ;
the cause of her disaster displaying itself at
the same time in the shape Of so enormously
| high hceled a pair Of shoes, that it was a
marvel the child could even walk in them
they had been given her to increase her height.
Nomotives of kindness or good breeding could
restrain the laughter of the spectators; as NJ.
de st. Nalaye raised her, the tears, which for
some time had been lurking near, burst forth,
for she had hurt herself much, falling on the
hard pdrqtet floor; but her ear caught the
sound of one hooking laugh high above the
rest and, looking towards the place where
the Ducd' de Enghien stood, she saw the
sharp glance of contempt and dislike he threw
at her. The poor girl shuddered and put
HtT IltlltS Oh uef el cS. linen TtcON STlllg iet-
self with a strong effort, she turned to her
partner, gently apologized for her awkward
ness, and insisted on finishing the dance
which she did with much grace and self pos
session.
But the praises of Anne of Austria, bestowed
on her when she returned to her seat, were
unheard. That hooking laugh and that deadly
look were present to her imagination, haunt
ing her, like vision Of impending evil, for
many a long day.
1t was two years after the marriage of the
youthful Clemence and her reluctant bride
groom, that large family was assem-
bled in the Hotel de Condo, to greet the re
turn of the victorious Due d Engh;en from
the successfulcampaign of Rocroy. Clemence
was there but sitting unnoticed in one of the
deep window recesses, for her powerful uncle
was dead, and the proud family of Condo had
no longer an inducement to treat with any
distinction his orphan niece.
She was taller than when we saw her last,
even when she had the aid of her high heeled
shoes, though still rather under the middle
! height: and hersweet intellectual countananne