New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-03-31
Preventing an Elope1nant.

Preventing an Eloper9aeant- IN
4 writer n the DelnoeFa tic Quarterly Review, in
sketching life at Baden Baden, records the following
!, incident: 98ss8 s3zS III .zz* IA
Il 4 ,nobIe sHnnaarial, lord, Count Christian w.,
n INF come f0 Ias The at Baden, accompanied
Nv his daughter Helen. Young beautiful, charming,
and heiress to immense fortune left her BY her
mother the young Countess soon found herself sur
rounded BY host Of admirers Adorers Of all kinds
II were not wanting rich and poor noble and obscure
tender and sonate, grave and gay It was a per
petuai tournament, OF which she was the queen and
where the sasp1ants commended for her hand BY ex-
,ibiting their address, grace and seductive qualities
When she entered her carriage ten cavaliers were in
the saddle cong around her caeche. Atthe ball
the most elegant dancers were devoted to her. They
had neither cares, attentions nor sghs but for her
whereat many beautiful women ~ French, EN- lsh and
Russan--WeIe particularly mortified Amongst these
pressing saitors Helen selected the most worthless.
The ShesT Gaeah i tine charm
long black waYy hair. In the place of true passion
he had eloquence Of look and word in short he
dressed with TASTE danced eosly, and sang like
Rubin. But unlappilys these advantages were CON
trasted by great vices. A dssipated gambler and
sunprinepled the GheValier Gaetan had quilted Ma
pies in consequence of some scandalous adventure in
which he had been implicated The Count, afterhav.
ing informed himself Of these facts desired but too
late, to put his daughter her guard against dan
gerous Affection Helen listened neither to the advice
the nor the orders of her father. The man
lot whom he underworld to destroy her esteem, was
already master of her heart and she obstinately re-
fused to believe ID tie disgracefl antecedents of the
young Italian. If Gaeta had had to do with faith
er who lacked energy perhaps he would have become
the happy husband of the young Countess, and tile
peaceful possessor of the immense fortune with which
he was 80 frantcalY in love- But the Count knew
hoy to carry his point either by cement or force
He was an old lion He had preserved all the vigor
q and AL the rude fmness Of an indomitabe
nothing but paternal tenderness had
softened Selflled in his resolutions stern in
his execution Of Them he cast about for means to
puttors due ohabat this carpet knight who had dared
TO undertake to become his scn-in-law spite Of
him, when accident threw into his hands 4 letter
which Gaetan had written to Helen The Chevalie1
impatient to attain the goal of his DESIRES proposed
in direct terms to the young Countess an eopement
and proposed Clandestne meeting, at the hour
the Count was in the habit Of going out to ayWlist
with some gentlemen of his acquaintance at the Con-
yersaton House.
Arose placed IN Helen belt was to be the signal Of
consent
The young girl had read the adroity intercepted
note. Put this flower your belt said the count
to her, offering q rose, 'and come with ME. I
Helen srningly obeyed, and took her fathers arm.
IN the course Of their walk they met Gaetan, who
seeing the rose, was oVeEjoyed.
Then the Count conducted his daughter to theresa
dence Of one Of their acquaintance, and requested
her to wait until he came for her. That DONE he re-
turned to the little house in which he lived at the
outskirts Of Baden, on the Lichtentha road He had
sent away bis servants, and was alone. AT the ap-
pointed hour Gaetan arrived at the rendezvous leap
ed lightly over the wall of the garden, and, finding
the door Shut entered the house through one Of the
low windows. Then mounting the stairs, filled with
pleasing emotions, he directed his steps towards the
apartment Of Helen. There instead Of the daughter
he found the father, armed with brace Of pistols
The Count closed the door and said to the WIeched
Gaetan trembling with terror: i.
sI could kill you; Ihaye the right to do So. You
nave entered my house at: night. You have broken
nto it. ! could treat you as feon nothing could
ne more natIlra ~
q But sr," replied Gaetan, almost inaudibly, al NJ
I'M not robber.'
s'' And what are you, then You have come to steal
ny aughter-to steal an heiress--to steal a fortune
Iereis your letter. which unveiled to me your crini.
lal intentions. shall show you no mercy! But to
AXE your Life, | had no need this trap. You know
ne s ~ q ny rghs ann { duel yqna have long
uel land nowIw slay you only at the last extrem
v; II you refuse to obey me-
$ WI hat is your will, sr?a q
b You must leave Baden; not in few days not
but this very instant You must nut two
undred leagues between it and you, and never again
ONE into the presence Of my daughter or myself.
S the price of your obedience, and to pay your tray
ing expenses, | will give you twenty thousand
The Chevalier wished to speak.
z" Not word cried the Count, in voice of thn-
er. :" You know me, understand! hold your life I
t my mercy, and moments hesitation will be pun. y
sehd with death.'' 55Z s-z, 5.a-1f 49,.
s. obey, Y stammered the Chevalier 4tt
Z, In good time! Your twenty thousand francs are
n that secretary take them u
"a g Permit me to decline your offer"
An imperious gesture over the false modesty which
;he Chevalier expressed feebly, and like man who
ieclines for FORMS sake.
I But said he, Il the secretary is locked
J" Open it. Y
There is no key in it,
/" Break the lock then"
q" What! you wish me toy"
6 Break the lock, or I'll shoot you"
al