The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-28

1 D..
her mother, and mis- cousin John. The first lines,
letter from the Comtesse De Nevers (Lucile, }
Lord Alfreds former fancee, to that fortunate
nobleman, which we print without the distinguish
| ing marks of verse, in order that our readers may
| exercise their ingenuity in detecting the metre
and the rhyme.
a. hear from Bigorre, you there. am told you
are going to marry Miss Darcy. OF old-so long since
you may forgotten it (when parted friends,
strangers to grow your last words recorded
| pledge-what you villa promise, the time is now
come to fulfil The letters ask my lord to return,
desire to receive from your hand. You discern my
reasons which, therefore, need not explain The dis
lance TO Serchon is short. ] remain month in these
mountains Miss Darcy perchance VIII orego one brei
spare you one day from place at her feet in the
light of her fair English face desire nothing more and
| trust you will feel desire nothing much
Your friend always,
LUCILLE"
This letter becomes subject of discussion be-
tween Lord Alfred and his prudent Cousin john
| useful, conservative Englishman, who extracts
from him confession of his former relations with
Lucille, and advises him strenuously not to 60
| to Serchon, which of the other resolves
to do, simply, perchance, because it was the
last thing he should have done. This resolve is
thus announced:
COUSIN JOHN.
Bref you mean then to go?
LORD ALFRED.
Bret 1 do.
COUSIN JOHN.
One word. Stay
Are you really in love with Matilda2
LORD ALFRED.
Love, eh?
| What a question: OF course
| COUSIN JOHN.
Were you really in love
| With Madame De Nevers?
LORD ALFRED.
What! Lucille? No by Jove!
| Never really.
COUSIN JOHN.
She's pretty.
| LORD ALFRED.
Decidedly so.
| At least so she was, some ten summers ago.
| So Lord Alfred takes horse to Serchon, over the
Pyrenees, and late in the day falls in with another
cavalier, also vending thither. They enter into
| conversation about the company at Serchon and
Lord Alfred hears with interest the alert and ee-
giant Frenchman at his side become eloquent over
the charms of the Comtesse de Nevers and de-
nounce the folly of some Engshman who
loved and deserted her, years ago. On reach
ing Serchon Lord Alfred finds a note from Luz
ce, regretting that she is obliged, by previous en-
gagement to go to the ball, and after some hesita-
ton resolves to follow her there Arriving verv
late he just sees lovely woman, leaving the ROOM
the arm of his late companion, who proves to be
the young Duke of LouYos. Around him, on all
sides, he hears expressions of admiration for the
beautiful Countess just vanished, and learns that
she had lately refused Castemar, a Prince,
and richer even than Louvois. One of the
loungers offers a bet that she will also
refuse the duke. The bet is taken, and nv
Lord Alfred, in a strong fit of jealousy, quits
the ball. Next day he has an appointment with
Lucille at her hotel. Her boudoir is thus cleverly
described
"Ths white little fragrant apartment, tits true,
Seemd unconsciousy fashion d for rendezvous;
But you felt by the sense of its beauty reposed,
Twas the shrine of life chaste and calm Half I'M
In the light slept the flowers all pure and at rest,
All peaceful; all modest; all seemed selfpossessed,
And aware of the silence. No vestige or trace
OF young woman's coquetry, troubled the place
Not scarf, not shawl; the mantel piece merely
nosegay of flowers all withered, or nearly,
And little white glove that was torn at the wrist
long interview ensues, in which Lucille by her
calmness and selfpossession, obtains the complete
mastery of her quondam lover, whose passion
rapidly revives under the spell of her charms.
They are interrupted by the Due de Louvois, to
whom Lucille wishes to deny herself, but Lord AL
fred, becoming madly Jealous interposes, to beg he
may not interfere with a more pleasant engage
ment, &C., &C., and, as the Duke is admitted, my
Lord walks out of the easement into the garden.
After some reflection he decides to remain there
till the Duke should take his leave and then the
Countess again. Suddenly, however, he hears
steps, and perceives that Lucille and the Duke have
also entered the garden. By sudden impulse he
hides himself in an arbor, and becomes unwitingly
an ear-wness to the Dukes offer of his hand. The
lady asks time for reflection, and begs the Duke to
leave her. In a few minutes she re.enters her
house alone-and Lord Alfred follows her in.
The cry of alarm
And surprise which escaped her, as now on her arm
Alfred Vargrave let fall a hand Jelly cold
And clammy death, all cruelty told
How he had been from her thoughts. All his cheek
Was disturbed by the effort it cost him to speak.
at not my fault. have heard all, ," he said
''NOw the letters-and farewell. Lucille. When you
May" The sentence broke short like weapon
that snaps
When the weight of a man is upon it.
Thinking all over with Lucille, Lord Alfred,
like sensible young man, resolves to re-
turn to Bigorre and Matilda. By curious chance
his guide Bernard lie Sauteur, taking another route
than the one Vargrave came by to Serchon, leads
him directly into gay cavacade of pleasure RI
ders, among whom is Lucille The encounter is
thus spoken of:
''He found himself close to Lucille. She ookd scared
faint cry escaped her. Her horse slightly redred
He requests permission, as their way for the time
is together, TO ride beside her, which is granted.
Soon there are indications of a mountain thunder
storm. peal of thunder frightens the horses
that of the Duke runs off, and the rest of the party
alight.
"Next moment from bastion to baston all round.
OF the mountains there tumbled the sound
OF the batterng thunder's indefinite peal,
And Lord Alfred had sprung to the feet of Lucille.
She started. Once more with its hickering wand
The lightning approached her. In terror her hand
Alfred Vargrave had seized within his and he felt,
The light fingers that coldly and lingeringy dwelt
In the grasp of his own, tremble fauty-'Seel seel
here he w stricken Strangled Won
She eScaimd-lke the passion that brings on its breath
To the being it embraces destruction and death.
Alfred Vargrave the lightning is round your Lucille
hear see-nought but yourself Lean feel
Nothing but presence pride fights in vain
With the truth that leaps from me- We two meet again
Meath yon terrible heaven that is watching above
To avenge if lie, when swear that love
And beneath yonder terrible heaven, at your feet
| humble my head and my heart. entreat-
Your pardon Lucille for the past-Iimplore
For the future, your mercy-implore it with more
OF passion than prayer ever breathed."
In short, Lord Alfred proposes to the Countess
in form. there and then-and turns back with her
to Serch on that night.
AT parting she whispered him low
You have made me Lord Alfred an offer know
The worth of believe me. cannot reply
Without time for reflection Good night-not good bye
Alas It's the very same answer you made
To the Due de FL Louvois but day since he said
Her voice shook. If you love me obey Abide
My answer tomorrow, )
Tomorrow, however, he gets letter from her
which begins ono! Alfred" In short, Lucille
declines, and gives most excellent reasons for doing
so. "Grief, resentment, SURPRISE" take such
strong possession of Lord Alfred, who walks ou
on the heath, that for a moment he does not per
ceive the Duke, who comes where he stands il
rapt meditation, to endeavor to fix quarrel OF
him-having by this time learned that Lord ALFRED
was certainly the DID, and suspecting strongly tina
he is the present love of Lucille. The EnglishmaI
is cool enough to decline the quarrel, but while
| the two young men in the midst of an angry
discussion courier arrives in hot haste and presents
| letter to the Duke, who tears it open, look
| happy and hands it to Lord Alfred. 1t is a noti
from Lucille, who has suddenly left Serchon, en-
| treating the Duke to follow her to st. Saviour
where she has stopped for the night. The now
| joyous Freuchman departs for the rendezvous an(
Lord Alfred, stung by jealousy and rage, walks on
he neither knows cares whittier When the
Due de Louvois comes into Lucile's presence al
the Inn, he finds that her object in writing to him
was TO prevent his meeting with Lord Alfred
| whose life he had threatened, in a letter to her
upon her rejection of his (the Duke's) offer
| Selling the opportunity, the Duke madly renews
| his addresses again repulsed-and then forpets
himself and attempts great crime--but
i'He had thrown and had missed
His last stake TRANSPORTED rose from the nace
Where he rested o'erawed saints scorn on her face
Such dread rdde retro was written in light