New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-05

cheeks and peculiar pallor exhibited the lavages of
life of dissipation. Seeing carriage with attendant
and very charming lady in it at his porte cocher
he FASTENED forward. e $8ae L.a tG Egs
a" There is Monsieur lie Comte," said the groom
and then turning to his master, he exclaimed--th
name having been communicated to him by the foo
man Madame la Marquse de Beauyoisin desros t
speak with monsieur
Yes monsieur said the lively marchioness, il
Ginning her head as the count bowed low before hel
7I"1 have come expressly to ask some impertinen
questions '455.zsss.s. sss{a 7r:-I 3D. a.7s34. h
/ " shall be only too happy to answer any question
madame may do me the honor to ask, said the count
/ politely opening the door of the carriage and hand
ing the warehouses out. ''Pray step into my poo
house. 1t is not we'll appointed, for we seldom com
here hess ne nc, but at any rate we may find
| They passed into the house, and entering one
the rooms opening from the entrance hail. the coun
placed a chair by the window for the marchoness
and drawing another for himself exactly opposite, sa
down and prepared himself to hear what she had t,
say, with gravity which in slight measure discom
posed the warehouses who all the time was full,
conscious that her visit was solely prompted b,
curiosity and, indeed, rather fearful that some
the questions she intended to ask might be of {
somewhat hazardous sort.
+" am exceedingly anxious to know, monsieur
she commenced, who it was that was thrown from
his horse last night"
!" Thrown from his horse, madame! How-when--
where y asked the count in surprise.
e" Well, that is what am come to learn" said the
marchioness. at large black horse the gentle
man had been. riding, and the accident happened
somewhere IN this immediate neighborhood.'
IL is the first have heard of il" said the count
looking at his fair visitor with peculiar smile which
might have expressed grave surprise, and perhaps
some other feeling " am extremely sorry that it is
not in my power to afford any information on the
subject, but you will forgive the shortcomlng when |
assure you that know nothing about it myself"
Possibly" said the marchioness, 'syour groom
may know something aboutit."
My groom has not been away from the house
these two days, madame, and is not likely to know
ANYTHING of what happened ont of doors last night
!" And your other domesticsW
" Are ali in Paris
What! only one grom? ?"
Only one groom madame-as | am here to-day
and gone Tomorrow
Very well, monsieur Excuse my questions. I
warned yon they would be impairment The fact is,
my servant saw horse bridled and saddled running
up the avenue last night, as if he had thrown some
one and ran away; and the affair has made me so
uneasy that have not been able to think Of anything
else ever since.'
That anxiety does great honor to your kind heart,
dear madame" said the count al can assure you
my horse myself, so that might be able to answer
your inquiries, and have the honor and the pleasure
Of your compassion
This was spoken with great gsllantry, and the
marchioness could not forbear little blush; but she
moved restlessly in her chair if annoyed at the
thought of being baked in the calculation of ro-
mantle mystery.
Excuse me, monsieur, for my persistence she
went on, g but as am Informed this horse saddled
and brided, but without rider stopped its headlong
course at your gate, Of all places in the woodland
the gate was opened, and lie vas let in. It was the
fact OF the creature running hither indeed that made
me rear some one belonging to the house had met
With the accident.
IL must be all mistake, madame said the count
smiling again. % Your servants oversight must have
l &c him in the gloom of the evening. And-a
'laeK morse, too-did you not say black horse:''
es monsieur, perfectly black
have not such am animal. I have only one
lorse here in fact at present. and he is more white
han black
me marchioness flushed it seemed as if she were
doomed to be baffled.
Well" said she, rising from her chair, there is
certainly something mysterious about this attair-cx
eedlngly mysterious for on one occasion saw this
lorse running up the avenue myself: and my servant
eur?''
So remarkable that am altogether at loss what
% say or think about it. But that yor may be salts
led tha the horse in question is not mine, will have
ny moslnante brought out for your Inspection.
Three times, monsieur lis it not stranger" re-
1eated the marchioness with emphasis, looking into
the face of the count.
Sometimes in our lives we find it impossible to
comprehend what we see and hear" said the count
With shrug, but still with the impernrbable smile
which the disappointed marchioness found so intolera
DE s. However, | am well content to remain in
wonder and ignorance since the phenomenon has
procured ne the honor and pleasure of this visit"
All, monsieur, did not come with a disposition
% joke and am still inclined to regard these cir
,nmstanees very seriously" the marchioness said as
he moved towards the door. 9" shall take some
urher steps to clear up the mystery for one cannot
endure the thought of such things occurring in ones
'wn neighborhood and nobody able to make head or
all OF them. Depend upon it, | will soon know what
$ the meaning of it all, monsieur"
"Good-luek to your endeavors, my dear madame
md when you have the discovery, may ask that you
viii honor me with communication for | also have
'een very much struck by what you have told me-
lightly"
:" regard this mystery of mysteries as altogether
,iece of good fortune for myself"
=" For yourself, monsienr?n
Yes, madame, for otherwise who knows how
ong might have remained in ignorance of the most
harmins neighbor it was ever mans happiness to
AVE-" |
All you are welcome to your badinage, monsieur"
reclaimed the marchoness, moving away towards her |
ariage with switter step, though she could restrain
either laugh nor blush.
In the courtyard, on one side of the gateway, she
aw Antoine examining, with great steadfastness,
eautitul horse, which the groom was leading to and
!" There is the only animal have here at present."
nd the count that, suppose is not the one you
ave been abiding tor
:. 1t is certainly not the same horse I saw said
he marchioness, cnrtly, for she was considerably |
iqued at the thought of her inquiries being all in
ain.
And you, sir, said the count to Antoine, " is this
lie animal you saw last night?h
He's exactly the same size, your eXcellency, and |
as exactly the same swing of the head answered |
ntone, looking at the creature s0lemnly. " But he
ant be the same by reason of his breast and legs be-
lg white, whereas the other all over as black as
Omebodys back
" All, ha we are all involved in an enigma cried |
he count, laughing, as he handed the marchioness
ato her carriage. It's the most surprising thing |
ave heard tor many day and must own myself
ldebted to your adyship for the excitement Of new
ensation 1t is quite refreshing to hear of q right
own good mysteryin ones immediate neighborhood."
" AT ones door you might have sad monsieur.
However, not long shall it be a mystery, mark my
lords," cried the marchioness, with a reloubtabe |
hake of the head. q
"surely hope not, since you have set your heart
pon an ecclairecisSement;' said the count
lie mounted his horse and as tho charming
widow, the Marchioncss de .Beauvoisa rode home to
Ter chateau the Count d. Foinvert rode b; her rar-
iage, talking gaily and thanking his stars that the
,nantom horse had been (he mea,Is of making him
acquainted with the most desirable of all possible
,eghbors.
few days after this, the count rode to the chateau
u the marchioneSs to pay his respects to her and
leore he LETT he was conducted round her beautiful
title estate all the fine qualities of which he scanned
With very observant eye. When he depaltcl, he
oade her adeu, saying he was obliged to return to
Paris, but should hasten back to the country again as
soon AS he was at liberty, and humbly hoped he might
be permitted to improve further the acquaintance he
had been so happy as to make.