The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-05
For the National Era
WHAT IT COSTS TO KNOW A COUNTESS.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH,
PART VI.

BY MRS. BELL SMITH.
PART VI
Our hero was carried back to Trouville sc
yerely, but not dangerously, wounded. He ha,
behaved handsomely, and several glazed cap
and slight walking sticks, purporting to be O
the army and navy, called upon him, and ex
pressed admiration and sympathy. For sever
al days, bulletins were issued, gotten up b,
Drayton, Monsieur Garnet, and the surgeon
and altogether the event might be considered
neat and well-conducted affair." Dungleson hac
some pain, but what was that to a gratife,
vanity? Did not ladies send their bouquets
and, above all, what dear, attentive, kim
nurse did he find in the Madame Carnot! How
she watched over and cared for him how sh,
read to and sang for him how untiring in the
delicate attentions she gave as only woman
can give That chililike, innocent face seem
ed, sleeping Or waking, to be forever bending
over him, the large lustrous eyes looking into
his very soul.
When the fever and racking pains shall have
passed-when nights are seepless no more
and cool drinks and light food again are not
only acceptable, but delicious-when, indeed
the convaescent returns to life, not the gross
dull, sensual existence of former robust health,
but the fresh, delicate awakening of refined sen.
Stations, what new heaven and a new earth
we find about u.s. Flowers are indeed flowers
music has tones unheard before, and the voices
of those We love no longer seem clogged by
clpWp9 ssAd 90 me neasE, In r-tt .hrs.e4eae
them, without faint OF doubt or shadow of sus-
| picion.
That Madame Carnot realized all this, and
felt her power and improved her advantages, l
do not pretend to say. l do not write this YER
| table story as if our angel-faced woman was a
heartless, deceitful wretch-for, in truth, do
not believe such to be the fact. Very few of
this sort are gotten up by nature, and thank
Heaven for the rarity Of monsters. Your true
novelist never INDUCES in such creations, but
leaves them to the unreliable records of that
immortal humbug, History. have no question
but that Nero was very good fellow to those
who knew him best. That turn for music al
ways struck me as a very favorable symptom /;
and why should he not fiddle while Rome was
in flames? We do not know that he belonged
to any fire company, and as it was impossible
to arrest the conhagration, the best thing he
could do he did, in cheering up his spirits by
so harmless pursuit as the one tradition gives
us. The Insurance Companies probably were
indignant, but they were not in situation Just
then to be amused with anything. History is
very unreliable. The only mistake made by
the great recorder Of humanity, Shakespeare,
happened when he placed the Richard III of
history so frightfully before us. Even then
he gives him the Godlike attribute of courage.
l have no question that Macbeth and lady. in
spite of their border difficulties, had very nice
times in quiet way--such as card parties at
the palace. 1t is not to be supposed that Ban
quo's ghost came unlimited to all of them. And
to their more immediate friends, acquaintances
and dependents, they were considered very
good sort of people, and most abominably talk.
ed about.
Poor Margaret Fuller, Madame Ossoli, was
astonisbed On finding in the outcasts of society,
she once ventured among, so much of gentle
touching humanity. There was but slight
difference between those she saw and the bet
ter society she had left behind. The most
hardened wretch, brought to the bar of Justice.
has a weeping wife, or mother, or sister, or
brother, perhaps children, who cling to him,
and vino look upon the world as a very cruel,
heartless, prosecuting world crowding the poor
man unjustly down. Indeed, Mr., the Judge, if
you could get into the inner being of this Grim
inal, and look at it from his stand point, it
would seem very excusable crime, after all.
This, however, is not getting on with my lit
tie drama After long time, Percival was able
to leave his room, and Madame Carnot, with
her ponies, drove the invalid over the fashiona-
BILE road. The young man, with his PALE in
teresting face, and arm in a white handker-
chief suspended from his neck, swinging along
by the side of this dsshing, beautiful woman,
attracted much attention. Their drives were
followed by walks and the two were almost in
separable. But, all this while, another practice
before limited at, prevailed without cessation.
l mean the gaming. Every evening they sur
rounded the table, and, late every night, the
two young gentlemen retired losers.
So the seeso;., all TOO Drief for lovers hopes
and lovers happiness, was drawing to o close
Drayton, having some remnant Of prudence
left, demonstrated with his companion ut these
heavy expenditures.
81 say, Pussy" he eyclsisaed one day, "this
fat old Erencpraan, that you keep me dry
nursing so much, plays very strong game
and that pretty wife of his, by dove, isn't much
BETTER
"Drayton," said Dungleson, gravely, "this
man Carnot is a wretch, capable of anything
and that he may swindle at cards, am pre-.
pared to believe; but not word against Mad !
anne Carnot; she is as pure as she is heauti. !
full"
"Very well, ] shan't say, word touching
her Immaculate. But / do know that old |
hound shan't walk into my sub-treasury again,
as he did last night. / say to all whom it may
concern, look out. That's ALL"
The evenings grew too cool for either walks
or drives; and the fashionable birds of passage
were either on the wing, or preparing for fight
The table was being deserted; through the
long halls of the shsky hotel, stiff winds, with
the smell of the sea, swept drearily. The little
drama must approach its close. The denoue
ment came somewhat suddenly. True to his
promise, the evening after the conversation |