The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-03-13
MisfsllanRuns.
r,...l.i.d J,s- IA. Evening Gs'''''
Fernando or tho Broken Medal.

r,sss,si.d JSs~ ns Evening Gazette.
Fernando or tho Broken Medal.
Pedro Gomez, intendan. Of the Marchion'
ess of Alva, being at the point Of death,
prayed his mistress to draw near him, that
be might reveal to her, at that awful moment
secret of which he had for more than TWEEN
ty years been the depository.
al had sworn to the Marquis, your hus'
band never to reveal the terrible mystery he
confded to me; but, on the point Of appear
ing before God pursued by the remore OF
conscience, have consulted the holy father
who received my confession and II is by his
advice speak to you. My strength does
not permit Of q long recital. Take this pa
per, 1t will teach you all you have need to
know. The object in this little book will
furnish you the means Of proftins by the
advice have given you. I hope that, in
view Of my avowal, too late, perhaps, you
will pardon me and commend my soul to
Heaven.n
With these words, Pedro Gomez expired.
The Marchiones, after short prayer tor
the deceased, returned to her own apartment
to examine the mysterious paper.
The box only contained a half ofa silver
medal bearing the efhgy of Ferdinand VII,
and the sight of that object did not seem to
awaken any remembrance in the mind OF
the Marchioness. 1t was not thus with the
letter at the first lines, Mme. d'Alya was
prey to the most lively agitation, then u
cry Of horror escaped her, and abundant
tears interrupted her reading. Then she
looked again at the paper, a joyous hope
sparkled in her eyes, and seizing the frag-
ment of the medal she pressed it to her lips.
Instantly she summoned valet and ordered
him to make the necessary preparations for
a long journey.
Tomorrow" said she, al shall set out
for Paris; let nothing retard my PROJECT. J"
After the valet left, she remained for q
long time in profound meditation. When
she removed her hands from her forehead, u
serene JOY seemed imprinted upon it, and
happy tears glistened in her eyes.
This happened at the commencement OF
the year 1916, in one Of the finest palaces oi
Toledo the Marchioness was forty.6ve years
of age, and fve years before had buried her
husband, Don, Jose Alva, grandee ofSpain.
He dying without direct heirs, his estate re.
turned to his family; but the Marchioness
enjoyed considerable personal property tc
which was added her dowry. At sixteen
she married her husband, being twenty
years the elder. During the first years o.
welded life, Jose d'Alva lived at Madrit
with his wife. In 1896 diplomatic mis-
sion took him to Portugal, and for some
months his wife remained alone at Madrid
Shortly after his return from Lisbon, Don
Jose set out abruptly for Paris with his
wife. They sojourned there about 81,
months, then returned to Spain, and in {
chateau in Andalusia the two led life y
comfortably, retired that at last they slmos
forgot each other-quite u change from tn
former complaints ofthc wife at the caprice
of her husband. Don Jose died in lSil
and the widow Quilted Audalusia for Toledo
where all her family resided.
This was all that was known Of husband
and wife. The Marchioness, after her re
turn to Toledo, said nothing, either good O.
i'll of her late husband. Suitors sought he
hand, but she declined a second marriage.
The unexpected news Of her departure 70
France excited much curiosity in the saloon
of Toledo but no one assigning any partic
ular reason for it, il was ascribed to q desir
for change, and q wish to vary the drcar.
monotony other existence.
Well, let us SOC what the writing Of Pcdr
Gomez contained. We suppress the ccre
monious formula Of which every Castilial
...r,n, :. rrod;cal IN writing TO a superio,
g. -. ), . .;mn,. o,ros;t;o,
g ,.s s..,s
"Tr Aha ;o,r,sv which the MARQUIS an,
u..l;"..'. a,Iiv. m,d. n ,soG 7 va
then first valet de chambre of Don jose, an
.,o,. had ,hs honor Of ACCOMPANYING tbei
r-.S,,..o;o. % rr,r.. Tho M,rouis ai
80, won ,v;.h ~ ,ate anv or the chamber
-. orM,d,ms On arriving nj pari. h
,..1 an .nor,m.nt in tho Cbamps Elysecs
- r..,oh doms.,;c into hi, service. and
,;,,,. -h;,. .r,o, .,nourcod 70 the Ma,
.h;.1.. Aha, ,ho.Id rs,urn 70 snoin !,
Sc, I Omitted the house and only resume