St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-01-03

a STRANGE ST0EY.
Some week or ten days ago young
man, originally from the country, be-
came engaged 10 marry lady equal to
him in age and fortune. She was a Pari-
sian. He occupies a lucrative place in
one of the taiiEay companies Offices
here His fatlsr lives on the old family
estate, which Is situated in one of the
mountain gorges near the Franco Span
lsh frontier, and separated almost COM
pletely from the world. He had passed
for widower above twenty years. The
young man paid visit to the old family
seat, where indeed he Wa, accustomed to
spend his summer vacations, to collect
the lnnumerable documents the French
law requires the officer who performs mar
riages to have in his HANDS before he
stamps the civil contract made before
him with its Mclean and Persian char
ac:cr.
He asked his father for his mothers
burial certificate. Tue father was ex-
tremely embarrassed by this appeal; but
as no banns could be published until the
burial certificate had been lodged at the
mayors Office wL.re the marriage was
to be contracted, the father at last
broke silence, saying: Ny dear boy.
have for great many years concealed
secret from you. because its possession
would prove a painful burthen to you aud
because the honor Of our house is inter-
ested in Its maintenance, and your tender
years have hitherto rendered you inca
pablc of preserving it. Your mother
lives. She is u lunatic. Come with me.
and Ill let you see her"
He carried his son, who was trembling
with emotion, into an old tower which
formed part of the architecture of the
chateau. and they went to the top of it.
The chamber on the last floor was the
lunatlcs cell He opened the door. the
s"n entered it, ard kneuiing at the poor
wonans feet, sobbcd: Mother moth
err" in most heart rcndiug manner.
These touching appeals, Which would
have moved stone idols almost made no
Impression on the poor lunatic. Her
stare continued as vacant and her lips as
speechloss as. .eSer. The son, his soul
sick ut the SAD spectacle, then gently
upbraided his father for denying him
the melancholy soiacc Of sharing the at
t"ntons he. the father, had bestowed
upon his wfcs wreck for so many years.
The father repeated the excuses he had
irst given of his sons youth and the
Importance of the secret to the fan.ily's
happiness.
1t became necessary to avow this mis-
fortune to the brides family, and they
naturally desired to see for themselves. as
the story that the wife was dead and the
story that she Was crazy. seemed some
thing awkward, which needed explana-
ton. Several members of the family went
down to the distant chateau, and the poor
iunatic was introduced. AS soon as she
saw herself surrounded BY witnesses she
said i'll calm tone: Il am not mad Ny ,
husband becoming the prey of a most un- |
reasoning jealousy, and |, being helpless
and alone ill this secluded mansion, to es-
cape his continual scenes of violence. !
and to avoid the fear | was continually !
under of being assas>inatcd by him. Che I
threatened more than once 10 hill me. }
! say. ! fcigned madnc.s in the hope Of
S''J'rr''S ''ht'hihs i!he tuitt. pre- [
frrrcd lansuishirg in prison all my life !,
to bling hourly harassed by these dread '
ful scenes of jealousy
You nay imagine the effect ,hs dccla-
ration made. The persons assembled
thought at first this accusation was but
an additional evidence of the distracted
state Of her mind, for madness often bor-
rows reasons mask. aud wears it so well
~ to deceive even the most practiced ply
sicans OF the mind The Faculty were
appealed to. Before it could decide, her
husband, who had been ia a state of great
sgitaiion ever since his wife charged him
with her scqucstration, became roring
mad His papers were inspected, and
it appeared that lie had for years been
crazy--a monomaniic--hi pbrenzy rising .
from jealousy. He was carried to !
madh'usc, and his wife signed the mar
riage contract Of her son, Isn't that
Venetian enough for ye? To think it
occurred in France in this year Of grace.