The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-26
For the National Era.
WHAT 1T COSTS TO KNOW A COUNTESS.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
PART VIII.

BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
PART VIII.
"What amount barricades the door," asked
Tom Martin, one day, of our two friends.
They looked at each other, but made no re-
pig.
you mean to say, perhaps, that you don't
know" he continued.
ave do not, nor is that all"
Don't care 2"
Indeed We do; but the fact Isl" said Dray-
ton, ave cannot understand the affair at all.
Our arrival in Paris was very unexpected, and
We saw no friends before being hurried to this
place. We have advised with no one since.
OF course, our letters of credit, indeed, letters
of all sorts, are either forwarded to Trouville,
or are at our bankers. l want to send and
inquire, but Dungleson seems ashamed to have
our present residence known, and waits for
Providence to open a way out"
Tom Martin pllled away at his cigar in 81
lence for some minutes, and then remarked,
with solemnitY, as if giving the result of his
meditations-
al don't think, my dear Athos and Aramis,
that Providence has much to do with this insti-
tuition; and if we wait for that, patience on a
monument won't be circumstance to u.s."
SO saying, he left them, and in half an hour
returned, with showing of what could be
found in the bureau at the entrance. The
statement did not help Dungleson and Drayton
much. On the contrary, it was a complete
justification. They could gather the fact, that
draft on New York had returned protested.
This, however, appeared, subsequently, to be
satisfied. Other amounts and charges that
should have been paid, or even supposed paid,
appeared unliquidsted.
- Your letters would throw some light on
these matters"
"Lettersl we have had no letters for two
months. | wrote TO our bankers, about the
time of that duel, that we would probably go
to Switzerland and asked them to retain all
letters until our return. OF course, none have
been sent here, as no one knows Of our where
abouts.'
Then my advice is, that you make it known.
hate looking into my own accounts, but other
peoples | find very entertaining. Send for
your letters, and | will read them for you"
Thus sensible advice, after much hesitation,
wa: acted upon, and large package of mis-
slges came in consequence. The mystery was
unravelled in the most painful manner. The
celebrated house of Dungleson & Drayton had
failed. Nor was this the worst. A disgrace
attached to the elder Dungleson, and he had
Hal tba r II
civals mother and sister, and were exceedingly
sad. The shock, the feelings of shame, the
consequent distress, were told of in few sim
pie yet graphic phrases. The mother, with
The younger brother and sister, were in actual
poverty, having given up nearly all to satisfy
The indignant creditors of his father. Perez
val drafts had come heavily upon them, and
were permitted to go to protest but by selling
,helr Jewelry and even their clothes, sufficient
nad been realized to satisfy the demands.
nut lhe subeqaent extravagant expenditures
we're too much for their limited means and
financial abilities. Percival shuddered when
he thought of his late drafts.
FROM some unknown cause, we are punished
more severely in this world for our follies than
our slns. person would suppose, after some
experience and little observation, that one of
the uniorglvable offences was to be fool. How
We have suffered, and must suffer, for our in
N'Sereuons! What stings of shame, and heart
PAhgs, and unhappy situations, and actual mis-
cry nave come from causes the preacher never
alludeS 10, and the moralist finds no place for,
~ ms long catalogue of offences This poor
ooy' who, considering his education and man.
Oh lie, had committed no great wrong,
,1OAed back over his mis-spent summer, its
,uIUSgh'iess extravaganza and stupid idleness,
"h'iSt ms mother and sister were reduced, from
very luxury that unbounded wealth could sup
fY' W utter restitution, where every moment
.anle Laden with heartfelt anxiety for the flu
tufe' and suffered more than did his father, who
~ d great crime had brought hundreds of un.
"APpy families to the same hard fate.
me inquiry after our friends letters brought
70 them junior member of their banking
Hiin' who, exhibiting more feeling than is gen.
i"y found about the marble counters of a
"NnS' went earnestly to work, arranging the
Son'1Sed accounts, and negotiating with the
1.Aeiy French creditors. In the mean time,
, e..ers came regularly by every steamer. They
eie letters full of love and hopeful expires
s'ons, winch last the iron facts belied, to say
nothing Of the tear-stains that the pages would
Iiurry, and which had fallen, as if to blot out
'ae words of good cheer, and tell in their own
nipple way the solemn truth. In such dreary
anS ss this are grown our better feelings
Iua stronger attributes. How, night or day,
ehng Or waking, the sad reality forced itself
upon Dsngleson, and his eye gave deeper
-aeaning, and his face assumed thoughtful,
aaong expression, have not the space to tell
Is ended.
n. Une evening, while the two friends were
Iang sorrowfully about the grounds, they
r shout ffom Tom Martin, and saw him
'uaning towards theua.
n. Athos and Aramis," he exclaimed, nearly
Gut uS q breath, "D'Artagnau is here"
she "Nnoat saying more, he hurried them tr
Gah, .onnon reception room, where, by the din
sH' OIL tallow csndle, he pointed out bald