The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-10

he read the billet ; and after giving orders
TO his servant to conduct the young stran-
ger without the gates, and inform him
that he might consider himself fortunate
that he received no chaslisement for his
daring folly, the Marquis laughingly asked
his gusts what they ,liought of the sang
tro'd of surgeons apprentice, who had
the impudence to demand that he should
on the instant lea, his courtly guests, to
ride post haste TO Paris, and marry his
sick sister" The shout of merrimenl ,ha,
followed ibis question fell like n thunder
bolt on the ears Of Leonard as he Quilted
the gates of tho Chateau de Verneuil
The young student returned to his sis
ter's deathbed-with what tdinCs? To
tell her that her last prayer had been
mocked--tbat her name had been scofied
at by the author Of ler suiferings-had
served to point Jest for his heartless
companions! Leonard rejoiced that when
he again saw Eulalie, she was beyond the
consciousness Of wrong or Of woe. She
did not even know her brother rs he knelt
beside her, weeping bitter tears an long
before sunrise Ealalie had sunk into tho
arms Of death.
y
1t was nigh noon upon bright day in
October, when a brilliant bridal company
WAS issuing from the church of St. Eoah.
II consisted OF many of the rohIes Of Paris
and DANES whose beauty vas dazzling
even amid the splendor of their attire (;
who possessed the gift more rare even
than loveliness-the aris,ocralc mien. the
higl,-hred delicacy Of air, that compelled
the crowd about the church doors to fall
back invountatily rs they advanced. In
the rear Of the gorgeous train came the
Marquis de Verneuii and his bride, the
most admired beauty in tue fashionable
circles Of Paris. The magnifcence Of her
dress, and the proud bearing of the Mar
quis, excited expressions of delight and
homage es they moved. He bowed grace.
fully TO the saluta,ons Of his friends
more distantly to mere acquaintance, and
:ook the hand Of his fair blide to assist her
into the carnage IN wsi'mg. Just then
there was sudden movement in the
crowd, and young man, his face pale as
death, and his eyes glaring like those oi
a maniac, sprang into the space sacred to
the approach of aris,ocracy, and confron-
ted the bridegroom. lie had drawn
sword in his hand.
marquis de Verneuil!'' cried he, ms
the noble stopped, alarmed at this wild
apparition, 81 do not seek your life |
have sworn an oath to the dead, aye, the
dead Eulalie, to do you no harm, and
well il 1t for you that | hold my vows
more sacred Than YOU do yours! But
YOU shall not pass without "a memorial
from me. Take this aud remember lie.
onard Rosier"'
As he spoke he struck the Marquis on
tie face with the flat of sword, then turn
ing away, rushed into the throng. Stung
10y the insult, De Nerneuil shouted 10 his
friends to cut him down, or secure him {;
but in vain. There was little affection a,
that time among the populacs for the cor.
rupt and selfish aristocracy. The discon-
tept which preceded the days Of the Rev
oiut'on, had beea loug at work; and on
the first fash of quarrel between no.
b'e and one Of their own order, most Of
the inferior class were ready, without in
quiry, to espouse the cause Of the lat.
ter.
The young surgeon had insulted one of
the hated class Of The nobility; he was
borne of in triumph 10y the crowd. When
some of his ccquaintances recognised linn
and proclaimed his wrong, shouts Of def.
ance were flung l'y the inccnsed people in
the faces Of Leonard's parsuers, and the
disturbance became so great that it was
thought cxpedient 20 let the offender
esca g. De Nerneuil stepped into his
carriage apd took seat by his bride,
with his face glowing with rage and
shaspe, and mGttering curses and threats.
The bridal eaytegs wac pursued as il de.
pasted by execrations and taun,s from the
multitude, glad OF any opportunity to give
vent to the hire that had so long burned
secretly and sullenly, and was soon TO
harst .oHh and amaze the woyld with is
dreadful devastation.
Years had passed. The Revolution was
at its height. Its horrors were enacsed
daily-honrly and the guillotine stream.
cd with the blood Of noble victims.
Il was stormy winter night in 1903.
The door Of house in the Rue Nicaise
was besjeged by party Of sans. culoites,
who weEe dragging along With them q
prisoner, whom they had seized coming
out Of the house Of the Prince V.
they Knocked loudly at the door,
"Open--Caizens Rosieri open the doos
we have new snlject for youy
a window abov1 was thrown open,
and the figure Of nan with lamp in
his hand, was visible. lie wore dress
ing'gown, which the wind black from bis
meagFe limbs, and a soiled velvet cap,
decorated with tri-colored cockade.
"a subject repeated he with hoarse
voice.
"A subject! and his head not OFF,
"Not yeti" cried one Of the men,
I" You must give him quarters fop al hou,
or two--till moEnipg; for the guil.otine
~ 60.