True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-09-29

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uielle nOblesse checked him, but not be.
fore the threatened Blow had crushed the
last lingering spark Of love in Leonie's
bosom. Hers was no spaniel nature. AT
first she bore his taunts aud insults in
indignant silence but finally the fiery
vehemence Of her character prevailed,
and, strong in conscious innocence, she
confronted him with flashing eye and
naughty mien. .
She sat for some time absorbed in
thought, then, drawing towards her a
jewel casket which stood on the table
before her, she opened it and commenced
listlessly to turn over its contents. The
diamond crescent was the first thing she
saw, but she threw it aside with shud-
der. A small crucifx of antique work.
manship next met her eye, and drawing
it from the casket, she pressed it TO her
lips, and burst into an irrepressible pas
sion of tears. 1t Nd been her mothers,
and feeling of agonized longing swept
over her to lay her head on the gentle
breast whereon that crucifx had lain,
and to be at rest. At this moment the
door opened, and the Marquis entered the
room.
''In tears, madame |" he exclaimed,
bitterly, care you weeping for the joys Of
Fontainebleau, or for the smiles of its
master 7"
II weep" answered Leonie, turning
on him her indignant eyes, "for some
kindly voice to console me in this most
miserable life. Let me return to the con-
vent where was educated, and from
whence you took me; for rather, far
rather would I become the lowest lay
sister Of the order than remain as am,
your most wretched wife,"
"Hypocrisy !" sneered D 'Essars, with
la frown, as he turned away.
81 am weary, oh =! how weary Of this
strife," cried Leonie, rising "yet-auswer
me this: were | indeed the vile creature
you deo.n me, why am here, your slave
now, your victim perchance hereafter 3
Why am | not now beside my royal
lover, the faltered, titled, and honored
favorite of the court? D'Essars, well
you know that, had | loved Louis, | would
not now be here, the victim of your jeal-
Gus fury" o..
"And so," he answered, "because the
king chose 10 tire in day of what he had
won in an hour, you would have me be.
leve you spotless. Well argued truly u
LeOnie laid her hand on the little gold
crucifx. "Monsieur d Essars," she said,
in deep low tone, "once more and for
the last time, assert my innocence
With my hand upon my mothers cruci-
fix, I call on God and the Holy Virgin to
witness that never, in thought, word, or
deed, was aught but true and faithful
wife to you" .
There is something all.convincing in
the accents of truth. d'Essars looked at
the fair girl who stood before him, heI
face irradiated with the earnest fervor oil
her words, and his expression sofIened,
Leonie saw it, and sprang toward him;
but before she reached his side. his eye
fell on The diamond crescent, which still
remained on the table. In an instant the
old ferceness returned TO- his look, ant
he repelled her violently.
"Back, wretch u he cried, "and pray
to Heaven for forgiveness for your many
SINS"
To save herself from falling, Leoni,
caught for support a! the ebony cabinet
In The shock, the secret drawer few opel
in which lay the forgotten wedding gift
the tortoise.shell box. In an instant tn
circumstances under which it had beel
given to her flashed across her mind, an,
she seized il eagerly.
"You are breaking my heart; you ar
killing mel" she cried. "Here is tn
talisman which you once said would re
store me from misery 10 happiness; le
me now prove its virtue"
D'Essars took the box from her hand
! and death.like pallor passed over hi
features. Sinking into chair, he GOV
, cred his face with his hands, and RENAME
for some moments molionless; then rising
] still pale but perfectly calm, he took II
. the box and approached his astonishe
e wife.
3 "Leonie," he said, solemuly, "if yo
are guilty, may God forgive you! If no
e may he forgive rne!!'
8 He pressed his lips to her forehead
i and then, ere she could detain him, qui
b ted The room.
n The remainder Of the day was passe
It by Leonie in anxious expectation Of hi
n husbands return, as she hoped, from b
n altered manner, that he was on the poll
II Of acknowledging the injustice of h
d suspicious. But the day faded into tw
h light, twilight deepened into night, an
l. still be did not come. AT length, aft
G much hesitation, she resolved, even
n the risk Of exciting his anger, to SCI
4 him in his own apartments, and TAXI
) a light, she rapidly traversed the corrid
'e and opened the door Of his dressing roo
at at once, fearing, if she paused to ask
3, admittance, that it might be refused
10 her. The next moment wild shrek raj
ID through the chateau, startling the servaI
is and causing them to rush in body
10 their masters apartment, from whence