Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-07
M0reester 9ailp Sun.
THE SHADOWS.


is match for the sketch of "Bernandin St Pierre's
Three Strange Visitors" by the same handl
Last winter was in the habit of going ev-
cry wednesday evening to a reunion in the
"Maris," over which lady, belonging to an
old legal family, presided with exquisite grace.
l had consulted rather my tastes and quiet
habits than my age, in seeking an introduce
ton amongst the grave spirits and solemn
characters which composed this society. You
met there very few young people of the world;
rarely any females who had not accomplished
their forty years. If accident brought one of
less certain date, they never returned a second
time. They carried away with them the re-
collection of long yellow candles, shedding q
yellow light over yellow figures of sofas on
the backs of which the hands OF Justice were
embroidered in black and white silks, of ia
pestry of "Aubussion," apple green, and upon
which might be distinguished, in faint mark.
ed squares, first the fatal duel of the Baron
de Boutevie with the Marquis de Bouveron,
in the centre of the Place Royale Further
on, you saw the Baron de Bonneville arrested
by the Provost and his officers at Vitry-le-
Brule. Further still, upon square which
marked door, assisted at the Baron's execus
tion upon the Place de Greve.
No one could ever forget the high gray win.
dows the pictures, out Of all proportion, from
which frowned iearfully the dark portraits o
Judges, and presidents a Mortier; all sur
mounted by wigs of size which gave them
the appearance OF black lions growing be-
meath their mighty names.
After few months, however, you began to
grow familiar with these terrors. Gradually l
da ed TO look upon the portrait of tie great
ancestor of the family, standing upright in his
frame, which was at least foot thick, and
dressed in the costume of judge OF the
"Chambe Ardente." ] even dared to touch
it.
The mistress of the mansion had described
to me the characters aid habits of the lew
persons who made up her Wednesday even
ings. They were the remains of old families,
who were unreproached by even the slightest
coudescension towards the empire, with all its
seductions, aud who had demanded OF the res
toration nothing more than the innocent privi.
lege OF resuming their early habits.
Madame de Hacquevle permitted me TO
come carly in order to introduce me one by
one to the persons who honortd her mansion
with their presence.
One evening, as usual, took my place
near her, an opposite large fire place, in
which the flames, lighting up the back playe
figure of Louis XII, metamorphosed into a
Pluto.
Pointing to tie clock, she showed the exact
minute at which each OF the habitual ire
quenters of her saloon made their appearance.
'At three minutes after nine clock, said
she, "you will see M. de Guemarac make his
appearance. He is a descendant of that mag
istrate who, forced by his father and the ira
diions Of his family to assume the robe, Tor
which lie had the most profound distaste,
vowed to decidea always against his conscience.
Faithful to his tacit engagement, he 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 alter the innocence Of The three was
fully established. NJ. de Guemarec had been
right in violating as judge both his reason
and his conscience. The father of the young
magistrate insisted no longer, and the place
was sold.
Three minutes past nine NJ. de Guemarec
entered
SAT twenty minutes past nine we will push
up the fatiel for NJ. the Baron de Grignoelles, /"
continued Madame de Hacqueville. She was
right. With the same exactitude she indi-
Gated the precise moment at which Madame
Casa Blanca. the President de Page, and in
deed each one of her guests, would appear.
noticed that Madame Casa Blanca con-
stanly concealed her right hand. Madame
de Hacqueville was speaking in very warm
terms OF her. "Ah Madame Casa Bianca's
art is full of noble qualities" said she, II
counsel you tC appreciate them"
"But why does she always conceal her
right hand-do you know 2"
Il do not nor have l ever asked. Since
she has not foresaled my curiosity upon this
point, it is probable that it would have wound
ed her; and / preferred rather to keep a
friend, than to learn a secret, which, after all,
might but little interest me-"
Excuse my indiscretion," l replied "but
you have told me so much concerning your
friends that was valuable here, that l was
embroidered to ask this explanation of fact
which struck me so much"
Madame de Hacqueville leaning good hui
moredly upon my shoulder, here rose to wei.
come Casa Bianca-the lady of the hidden
hand Whilst she was thus occupied in wei
coming her, the habitaeS of the reunion were
entering, group after group. The card tables
were set out and the players snuffed and dealt
like phantoms playing upon the borders of the
Styx.
Everybody played except Madame Casa
Blanca and Madame de Hacqueville. The
right hand OF the former was hidden, as usual,
the left Eand might be seen covered with a
white glove, and must have once been beau
tiiul. The same remark might have been
made of Madame Casa Bianca's foot and figure
She appeared now to be about fifty years old ,
although i'll r-ality much older but natural
ly strong constitution and an adventurous
life, following the fortunes OF her husband,
soldier Of the Republic aud the Empire, had
firmly tempered, so to speak, the features of
Madame Casa Blanca. There are generations
OF women, as OF men, energetic, as the times
they called to live in. Under the Empire
the women who amidst cannon, drums and
banners followed the army, the "Grand Army"
took from their associations singuarly origi
HlaI ond mill lnCin titn
graces of womenhood, they gained much of
the strength and energy of the manly charac'
ter
During these evenings, it was the custom
for each of the convives" to relate some in
cident of his life.
Directly it was the turn of President de
Page to relate He related well, and silence
almost mourniul fell upon the old room and
the strange guests as he told his story
eve will go back" said he, ito tile days of
Louis XVI. was one of the kings Judges.
But before that l was a scholar at the Uni
versity. My road was not smooth. / had
many trials But had counselor. Fran
cose, my foster sister, came not once, but
often, from far away in the provinces, to com
fort and cheer me. / loved her as il she had
been sister of my blood. During her last
visit terrible circumstance occurred. / lost
a valuable diamond snuff box. l spoke loudly
of my loss, and every place was searched.
"The diamond snuff-boX was found.
Gone of the people of the court discovered
it hidden in the paillaisse of the bed in which
FRANCHISE, my foster sister slept"
A general movement OF interest showed it.
self in the saloon of Madame de Hacqueville.
The President de Page paused The recit'
al evidently panied him.
"Francose, my foster sister, the fresh.
checked peasant of Montereau; she who had
trudged wearily through the frost and snow 20
come and throw herself upon my neck upon
the steps of the Sorbonne Franchise, whose