Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-07-02
WARI&7 7rW.
A Strange Retribution.

pcCdinc eh"llloTcu OF tnc onIN daughter OF
wcllto do owGcrgiStc, in the town Carcas-
some, in the south of France Lucille
Montaignc had beauty and money, and
Henri Du Barre had wit and talent but
these latter were no fair equivalent for the
former in the eyes of the purse proud "a
ther, who declared that no daughter of his
should marry poor man, though he were
blessed with the wisdom of Solomon.
Now Lucille loved Henri hut she was
too prudent to cope with him and risk dis
lnhcritancc; for, after =, nat was love
without money poverty, coming in at
the door, would send it flying through the
window.
Poor lIcuri was in despair. He really
did love Lucille, whether she did him or
not-lovcd her madly; and his was one of
those dark, fiery natures which make love
wild, terrible passion.
How much money was necessary to make
him her equal in the eyes of her worldly
father The ombcryistc named the sum.
1t was large and Henri sighed and felt
more despair at his heart than ever. Sud
denly he frightened up with the rccollcc-
tion that he had youth and genius, and that
IN some large city, Paris perhaps, where
the latter would be Appreciated he might
acquire both fortune and fame.
But would Lucille wait ?-Well, Lucille
was willing to wait awhic-for Just then,
as she admitted to herself, she could think
of no one she liked better than the poor ar
tist; but everything earthly must have a
limit and the fair coquctte thought her pa
ticncc ought not to extend beyond year.
year is a very short time for man to
acquire fame and fortune, with the latter
depending on the former but Henri was
young, and youth is sanguine and at all
events he would make trial, hoping great
things, and knowing he could do no worse
than fail.
SO he finished his engagements hurried
ly, declined any new ones, sold the few
pictures OH hand, for a moderate sum, gath
cred his scanty effects, badc his friends and
Lucille adieu, and with a hopeful but hca-
w heart, set off for the great metropolis of
France
1t was a long long journey from Carcas-
some to Paris, in the slow conveyanccs of
the period when Henri Du Barre made it
and it was nearly two weeks before lie rca-
chcd the gay capital. And then began his
struggles with poverty; which clung to
him, in spite of his hopes, his oxcrtions
and his prayers for six weary months
when he gave up in despair, secretly left
the city, to beg his way back to Carcass
some, to see his Lucille once more, bid her
an eternal adicu, and end life no longer
of any value to its posscssor.
Henri Du Barre set out from Paris afoot
and alone, depending solely upon charity
of French peasants for food and lodging.
lie had six sous in his pocket when he
started, and these he invested in deadly
poison, which he carried as dcnicr re-
sort, determined not to suffer beyond what
nature might reasonably bear, but which
1T was his hope to retain till he had again
neen Lucille
In this manner he reached and passed
through Lyons. foot-sorc, ragged, and dis
heartencd-an object indeed for commiscr
alton. Twenty leagues beyond Lyons, in
passing through long, dark lonely wood,
he met Jew carrying heavy pack on his
back: The poor artist asked the Israelite
for charity; his appeal was answered with
few coins, for which he thanked the Civ
or, and then offered to carry his pack for
him
ooh, no-itis nothng-t is nothing
a few old clothes only !" returned the Jew,
burriedly-so hurrcdly, and with such cv-
idcnt uncasncss, in fact 80 as to awaken
suspicion in the mind of the young artist
CHAT it contained something Of great value.
Then it was that wild, vague, undoin-
cd desire to possess it first took possession
of the man who was now going home to
die wrctchcdly, but whom two thousand
francs yet bless with life and happiness. -
When the mind of man takes highly
criminal bent, it seems as if some evil de-
mon whispers in his ear the most plausible
reasons for wicked course to happiness.
Henri Dn Barre, who had never before
thought Of harming human being, now
glanced furtivsly aud shuddefingly around
Sin. With the dark and wicked thought in
his brain, that if this old man were dead,
and he possessor of his pack, he might yet
have bright and glorious future. 1t was
dreary, dismal spot in the thick wood
where they both stood, and no human eyo
save theirs was looking upon tho scope
Why should this old man be cumbefod with
sSakb, ,'whih H'lh abs t<ipsl,im t,st tsshS