Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-08-01


falling snow-she to be his at last
bought, bought-with a price-she, to
whom all the mobiles of the land had sigh
ed in vain, reserved at last for him
At the corner of the street in which
stood the Hotel Montifore, he stopped
and gave the reins into the hands of his
valet. He told him he was going on
business to the Duke de Montifore; that
if the nobleman was from home, he
should wait until he returned; that he
expected his carbriolet to be at the same
spot in two hours time, and that, if he
was not there to meet it, he wished his
servant to take it home, and he would re-
turn on foot, and on no account to men
ton where he had left him, or to give
any clue as to the proceedings and des-
tination of that evening.
The valet obeyed these orders to the
letter. Monsieur Achille reached the
Hotel Montifore, and pausing at small
side entrance into the court, gave low
whistle. The door was Immediately
opened by a figure so mufied that in was
impossible to distinguish either its sex or
age. With a silent movement it beckon-
ed him to follow; they crossed the court,
and resched small and dark apartment
they pansed.
Il have brought it all, my most lovely
duchess. And now" he took ten
derly the extended hand of the figure
the grasp that met his was of iron.
''Is it all gold?"
'AU gold" he answered; and this was
the last word he ever uttered.
Monsieur Achille was missing for two
days, and great excitement prevailed in
consequence. On the third day, his body
was found in the river, some miles from
the place where his valet stated he had
seen him last. His pockets were rifed,
his jewels gone. A ghastly wound in
his breast showed how he had died.
His servants were all strictly exam
ined, when the valet made his statement ;
in consequence of which visit was in
stantly paid by the commissioners of the
povice to the Hotel Montifore, the result
of which visit was that the valet was ar
rested and tried for the murder and rob-
berry of his master. Want of evidence
led to his acquittal but while in confne-
ment, nothing could exceed the kindness
of the duchess towards him, or his lib
erality after his release. She, so beauti-
ful, so beloved, she was still the same
as calm, as proud, as apart as ever !
Made to adorn the world, to her that
world was nothing-over her it had no
power!
Among her intimate friends, she was
heard to lament the death of Monsieur
Achille, as the means of depriving her
husband of large loan which he was
to have received on the night on which
the murder was committed, and of which
it was supposed Monsieur AchilIe was
robbed while in the act of bringing it to
the Hotel Montifore. She also regret
ted having been obliged to part with
some of her splendid diamonds in order
to raise sufficient to pay her husbands
debts of honor.
All these debts aoere paid: and, after
a time, those matchless gems again bIazeG
amid the pale gold of her rich hair, anc
spanned the snowy circle of her arm =
the tresses were like sunlight, the arm
like Parian marble, the diamonds with
out price. None saw or dreamed of tht
blood-the blood-that bound them round
that bright head, clasped them on tha
arm, chained them to each other.
Monsieur Achille was soon forgotten
The Duke and Duchess de Montifiort
lived long and happy lives; no cloud ev.
er seemed to shade his gay and oper
brow, or dim the lustre of her glorious
beauty. His debts once paid, no futur,
embarrassments darkened their pros
poets. One bright path of unbroker
prosperity alone remained for them =
they died as they had lived, honored, re
spected, admired, and bequeathed to thos,
around and beneath them the almost sin
gular example of great rank, unblemish
ed descent, unbounded wealth, unite,
with all perfections of mind, character
and conduct.
ca Every eye loves beauty, and Their