New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-06-25

created from her hand with iis black TIngy yand her
siender wrist With its black bracelet. This was iii
be had seen of her, but this he conid mol paiut
SO composing bis picture as 70 veil The angels face
he extended The hand over the cradle as in the act
Of blessing it. and SO began 10 paiDt.
On nc worked. Every day brought him that ~. |
lent memorial oS her refncusbYance-~the bunch oi
vfniets but that Was ali. In vain had he waited |
In the Bois de Benlagpe she had never returned |
Leon worked With renewed ardor at bis picture; I
In his heart he bad c0nsecEated IL to har. i war
for her he worked. When he shonld be dead. she /
alone of all the living would understand the pic
would san be 4 link between them. A. I
he painted on, concentrating his genius on the /
woud ous hand and arrn~-0n which, with c1nceit |
and inconsistency the ancient masters were gulty
Of, he had portrayed the exquiaite grace and DELI |
cacy Of that hand and arm as he had seen IT, |
when, one morning - be turned from his picture,
held kneeling on the very steps Of the altar, her
head stili hidden by her veil, the object Of hi |
Thoughts Her hands were clasped--she wore the |
same ring and the same bracelet. She appeared
absorbed In prayer. Leon dared not interrupt her
but seizing his pencil and palette, he re-paintets
his angels hand and arm from the mode, before
hlua. At last the lady arose; eagerly Leon ad
sanced toward her. and pressing her veil stiil
closer to her face, abe advanced toward him. A
nouuet OF vioets fell at his feet he picked 1t up
there was paper wound round il, and On 1t wert
tnese saras: /" Pity lne-pray for me-" Lecn'-
isnagihanon from these words evoked O whole bis
tory. he had worshipped this being who had ere
ated him from q chaos Of sorrow /: now he loved
the woman who like hmaelf, had trusted and been
deceived. He felt now that one day she would Ee
revealed TO him, and bending over the words shs
had written as though he hoped each time 10 iind
in them new meaning, Leon felt the desire 70 live
the power to hope, return TO his heart
Some days after this, Leon, having spent whole
morning at bis picture repaired to s sfsvorite scar
in the Beis de Boulogne. To his surprise his ae-
customed seat was occupied BY a gentleman. The
bench was, however, large enough for two: and
theuob he felt snDoyed at what he considered Hi
Intrusion, lie could not disguise from himself but
that being in public park, the stranger had q.
much right to the seat as himself. He was abou
TO scat himself beside him, when the gentleman
bowling with great politeuesS, requested him in The
most courteous manner TO leave the place.
Leon looked at him with amazement, and then
In tone which vas not as courteous as tho one ne
had been addressed in, declined to grant the gen
-tiemalis request.
Al this the gentleman drew bouquet OF yioleta
from his bosom and extended it toward him.
"sr. !" said he, perhaps you will grant me the
favor ask, and understand | wish to be alone
when tell you she is coming here.'
!" Not to meet your asked Leon.
:. Excuse me, sr-to meet me!
=" 1t is not true, sir. . responded Leon ,t can
not believe you; know she will not come !!
| "Sir,n replied the stranger. your first word-
| are those which man Of honor never tolerates !
| but the way in which you speak of the lady, by
proving what have long suspected, ohliges me to
seek revenge: Here, sir. i my card"
IL will send my friend to arrange the time and
place. said the stranger and as he spoke, he
lifted his hat bowed and walked away.
| Poor Leon sunk On a scat. He did not care that
| he was about to risk his life; he was too brave
| for that but he was overpowered by the thought
that a woman had again deceived him, or, rather
that he had once again deceived himself, and that
she, his last idol upon earth, loved him not. He
was utterly overwhelmed; all his physical suffer
ings appeared TO return in an instant; again iif
receded from him; when, looking up, he beheit
the object of his thoughts coming toward him.
81. ff,r naofh anHfz rad am
Desperate he arose aud advancing, abruptly &C
| costed her:
You are too late, Madame said he " he Il
i gone.a
tanned there by that beautiful hand, with its pc
4 cular ornaments, meekty bowed her head, ant
with slow step, passed on.
~ am brute to treat her thus said Leon, dis
armed By her gentleness and resignation ~ wha
| right have i over her? And then To condemn he
without even hearing her
Leon rushed after her, but as he was about t,
overtake her, he beneld the gentleman on who's
| card he had read the name of Henri de Primarion
again returning towards him.
The lady evidently saw him, too, for she paused
, then suddenly turning round, she came to Leon
and placing her arm through his, walked forwar
with him at rapid pace.
At that moment Leon felt the courage of q lior
! He could have defed a thousand deaths. He fe
: that hand resting on him. His heart beat againt
that round and lovely arm.
! /" Never fear, Madame, Y said Leon, - will PR
tect you; am your slave; my life is yours-iea
y me wherever you please"
) She replied no, but continued to walk till,
9 a few yards distant, Leon perceived her carriaG
r waiting at the end Of the road. They. both MAJ
!. toward it. When she arrived at it, the seryai
I opened the door, and the lady darted rapidly il
4 She did not speak word to Leon, neither did 81
raise her veil; but just the carriage drivr
! Off she snatched hastily the ring from her fnge
breaking it from the chain. and thrust ftnto Leon
q hand.
Q lie pressed it first to his lips. II seemed to hi
r a portion Of herself. Then he gazed curious
g upon it. On the inside was engraved one wor
a and that was 's Hope
e Monsieur de Henri de Primarion had continue
a | to advance, and now accosted Leon, with I'll
q | greatest courtesy as before.
7, aSir,' said he, I'll have been watching yo
y and ascertained that my suspicious were inco
4 rect. am ready to retraet my words and to 70
ID give youFs.n
sir, replied Leon, 81 cannot see that there
l. anything changed between u.s. l wish no Wor
: retracted; Iretract none; we will meet when "
y please. ~
e tlenan, sis it worth while to sacrifice your life
:. a woman who. though beautfu-n
Y '.she is, indeed, beautiful ~ eagerly interrupts
e Leon.
{ !" Beautiful, exceedingly ly-beyond all compa
e "Then what?
81 NO. replied Henri. 81 will not reveal her so
q row or her shanie.'
~ co shylHB, HS lurucu away, anu Leou WIN tct
Il ings of hate and bitterness, returned home.
q lone woman destroyed my happiness, my geni
?, and my health. For another am now about
y sacrifice the few months have yetta live-for or
j. toe, who il not worthy Of either love or pty-o
:, whom hate and despise!a
N But Leon did not either hate or daspise this m
ne isterng angel (for she had been more an ans
u than q woman In his tboughts.) He was mi
le wretched than ever. His days and nights We
ID f-verish and agitated and the disease which "
n destined to destroy him made in few days, raj
~ inroads.
I'd He received message from the Court, and "
a. awaiting the day of meeting, almost as rel
th from his present agony, when one morning witho
a having heard her enter, he behel the lady OF
id thoughts standing before him, and extending
Id hand toward him.
ITS Her face was still entirely hidden by her We
ne but Ia spite OF all his bitterness against her LIE
lis mechanically approached her. She seized
nd hand and placed it for q moment on her hea
e, then drawing her vail partly aside, she put
by finger to her ear and shook her head with nell
M choly air.
sudden light flashed upon Leon. "A Il
lot dumb fair creature-dumb! ls that the .=ha
ed and sorrow of which he spokeg"
ot She bowed her head.
his What right has NJ, Primarion over you Is
In your husband?'
Oh No,'' replied, by signs, the lady.
,r- "Your brother!'s
he Tho lady replied in the affirmative.
TO And he has rights over yon-rights to eont
nt yonr actions?n
of Again she bowed her head sffirmatiyes,