New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-09
TEE s:YaDOws.


Last winter was in the habit of going every
Wednesday evening TO a reunion in the 50 Maris,
over which lady, belonging to an old legal family
presided with exquisite grace. ! had consulted
rather my tastes and quiet habits, than my age, in
seeking an introduction amongst the grave spirits
and solemn characters which composed this So
ciety. You met there very few young people OF
the world rarely any females who had not ac-
compshed their forty years. II accident brought
thther one of less certain date they never returned
second time. They carried away with them the
collection Of long yellow candles, sheddinga yellow
light over yellow figures; of Sofas on the backs
| of which the hands Of Justice were embroidered in
black and white silks of tapestry of " Aubusson,'
| apple green, and upon which might be distin-
gnished, in faintlymarked squares, frst the fatal
duel Of the Baron de Bouterville with the Marquis
| de Bouyeron, in the center Of the Place Royale.
! Further on, you saw the Baron de Bouteryille ar
rested by the Provost and his officers at Vitryle-
Brule. Further still, upon square which marked
door, you assisted at the Baron's execution upon
| the Place de Greve.
No one could ever forget the high gray windows;
the pictures, out Of all proportion, from which
frowned fearfully the dark portraits Of judges and
Presidents a Mortier,'' all surmounted by wigs
of size which gave them the appearance OF Black
lions growing beneath their mighty names.
| After few months, however, you began to grow
| familiar with the terrors. Gradually dared to
| look upon the portraits of the great ancestor Of
| the family, standing upright in his frame, which
was at least foot thick, and dressedsin the cos
|
| even dared to touch it.
The mistress of the mansion had described to
me the characters and habits of the few persons
who made up her Wednesday evenings. They
were the remains of old families, who were unre-
preached by even the Slightest condescenson to-
wards the Empire, with all its seductions, and who
demanded of the restoration nothing more than the
innocent privilege of resuning their early habits.
4 Madame de Hacqueryille permitted me to come
early, in order to introduce me one by one to the
persons who honored her mansion with their pres
ence.
One evening, as usual took my nlace near the
| flames lighting up the back, displayed figure OF
| Louis XII Eletamorphosed into Pluto.
Pointing to the clock, She showed the exact
minute at which each of the haBtues of her saloon
4 made their appearance.
'sAt three minutes after O'clock said she
you will see NJ. de Guemeree make his appear
ance. He is descendant Of that magistrate who
forced by his father and the traditions Of his family
to assume the robe, for which he had the most pro
found dstaste, vowed to decide always against hi,
Conscience Faithful to his tacit engagement, be
dismissed three times an accusation against three
men whose guilt was proved to him, and whose
crime carried with it the punishment OF death
Six years after, the innocence Of the three was
| fully established. NJ. de Guemaree had been right
in violating as Judge both his reason and his CON
science. The father Of the yonng magistrate in
sisted no longer, and the place was sold.'i
Three minutes past nine NJ. de Guemarec
/ entered
''At twenty minutes past nine we will push up
the fauteuil for NJ. the Baron de Grgoelles,'' con
/ tinued Madame de Hacqnervilie.
She was right With the same exactitude she
| indicated the precise moment at which Madame
Casa Blanca, the President de Page, and indeed
| each one of her guests would appear.
| j noticed that Madame Casa Blanca constantly
| concealed her right hand. Madame dc Hacquer.
vile was speaking of her in very warm terms.
"4Ah. Madame Casa Bianca's heart is fall of no.
BILE qualities, said she II counsel you to appre-
eiate them.n
"But why does she always conceal her right
hand--do you know?"
~ do not, nor have | ever asked. Since she
has not forstaled my curiosity upon the point, il
is probable that 1t would have wounded her; aud
I prefer rather to keep friend than to learn a
secret, which, after all, might but little interest
| me. .'iZs
Excuse my indiscretion, = replied, s4but Won
| have told me SO much that was valuable concern
| ing your friends here, that was emboIdened to
ask the explanation of fact which struck me so
much.f'
Madame de Hacquerville leaning good humor.
edly upon my shoulder, here rose to welcome
Madame Casa Bianca--the lady Of the hidden
| hand. Whilst she was thus occupied in welcom-
ing her, the babitnes Of the reunion were entering
group after group. The card tables were set out
and the players shutfled and dealt like phantonls
playing upon the borders of The Styx.
Everybody played except Madame Casa Blanca
and Madame de Hacqueville. The right hand o
the former was hidden as usual the left hant
might be seen covered with d white glove, ami
must have once been beautiful. The same renlarl
might be made of Madame Casa Banca's foot AMI
! figure. She appeared row to be about fifty year.
DID, although in reality much older; but naturall,
strong constitution, and an adventurous life follow
ing the fortunes Of her husband, a soldier Of th
Republic and the Empire, had firmly tempered 5.
| to speak, the features of Madame Casa Blanca
There are generations of women as of men ener
getic as the times they are called to live in unde
the Empire, the women who, amidst cannon drum
and banners, followed the army the I. gran
/ army took from their associations a singula
| original aud military tone. Without losing th
graces of womanhood they gained much Of III
strength and energy Of the manly character.
/ During those evenings, it was the custom 70
each of the " coapiuesi to relate some incident o
his life.
Directly it was the turn of the President de pag
to relate. He related we'll, and silence aimos
mourntul fell upon the old room and the strang
guests as he told his story.
We will go back said he e to the days o
| Louis NVI. was one Of the kings judges. Bn
before that was scholar at the University. Ms
road was not smooth. had many trials, But
had counsellor. Francois, my foster sister, came
not once but often, from far awayin the provinces
to comfort and cheer me. Iloved her as II she hat
been sister of my blood. During her last visit
terrible circumstance occurred lost valuable
diamond snuif;box. spoke loudly of my loss, and
every place was searched
g The diamond snutf.boX was found.
Zone of the people Of the Court discovered i
| hidden in the pallasse of the bed in which Fran
eoise my f0ster.sister, slept
A general movement OF interest showed itself il
the saloon Of Madame de Haeqneyile.
/ The President de Page paused The recital ,,i
IDENTIFY panied him.
. FRANCHISE, my foster sister, the fresh checked
| peasant of Manterau she who had trudeef YEARLY
/ through frost and snow, to come aud threw hersei
| upon my neck upon The steps Of The SoFbonne
Franchise, whose skin WAS soft as velvet and 5hel
eyes so tender aud oviug'
The Marquis took pinci Of sn,if;, bi1+ so,y tbf