The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-15
Curious French Story.
Your obd't servant,
Hon. +. L. Ially.

A week or ten days ago. says Paris let
ter writer, young man from tho country
became engaged to marry a lady equal to
him in ago and fortune. She was Partisan.
He occupies a lucrative place in one OF the
railway Offices there. His father lives on the
old family estate, which issItuatcd in one OF
the mountain gorges near the Franco-Span-
ish frontier, and dsepcratcd almost completely
from the world. lie passed for u widowcr
above twenty years. The young man paid a
visit to the old country seat. where indeed he
was accustomed to spend his summer yaca.
tions. to collect tho innumerable documents
the French law requires the officer who per-
forms marriages, to have In his hands before
he stamps the civil contract made before him
with its Medean and Persian character. lie
asks his father for his mothers burial ccrtiii.
cate. The father was extremely embarrass.
ed ut this appeal, but Ms no bans could be
published until the burial certificate had been
lodged ut the Mayors Office where the mar.
riage was to be contracted, the father ut
last broke silence by saying: " My dear
boy, have for great many years concealed
a secret from you, because its possession
would prove painful burden to you, and
because the honor Of our house is interested
in its maintenance, and your tender years
have hitherto rendered you incapable OF pre-
serving il. Your mother lives. She is q
lunatic. Come with me and Ill let you see
her."
IIo carried his son, who was trembling
with emotion, into an old tower, which
formed part OF the architecture Of the cha
teau, and they went TO the top Of it. The
chamber on the last floor was the lunatics
cell. lie opened the door, the son entered it,
and kneeling at the poor woman's feet, sob
bed. " Mother mother !" in most heart
rending manner. These touching appeals,
which would have moved some idols, almost,
made no impression on the poor lunatlc. Her
stare continued us vacant and her lips rs
speechlcss rs ever. The son, his soul sick Mt
the sad spectacle, then gently upbraidcd his
father for denying him the melancholy so-
lace of sharing the attentions he, the father.
had bestowed upon his wife's wreck Tor 20
many wears. The father repeated the ex-
cuscs he had first given, rs his sons youth
and the importance of the secret TO the lam
ily's happiness. II became necessary to
ayow this misfortune to the brides family,
and they naturally desired to Zee for them
selves. rs the story that the vile was dead,
and the story that the wife was crazy seemed
something awkward. which needed explain
alton. Several members Of the family went
down TO the distant chateau, and the poor
lunatic wns introduced. As soon as she saw
herself surrounded by witnesses she said in a
calm tone am not mad.-My husband,
becoming tho prey Of most unreasonable
jealousy, and I being alone in this secluded
mansion, to escape from his continued scenes
of violence, and to avoid the fear | was con.
stantly in of being assassinated by him, The
more than once TO kill mel /
saw, ieigned madness, in the hope Of enjoy
ing something like quiet. l preferred Ian.
gushing in prison all my life, to being hour
ly harassed by these scenes Of jealousy"
You may imagine the effect Of the declsr.
alton thus made. The persons assembled
thought this accusation was but an additional
evidence Of the distracted state OF her mind,
far madness often borrows reasons mask,
and wear. Il 40 well as to deceive even the
most practised physicians Of the mind. The
Paculty were appealed to. Before 1t could
n, decided. her husband, who had been In
state of great agitation ever since his VILE
charged him with her scquertmiion, became
a raying nan. Ills paper were insPs tH, anu
n appeared that he had for yoars been crazy
"A mopomania-his frenzy arising from
;.aJou,v. He was carried to q mad.house,
= nd b;s wife signed the marriage-contnct
. g.. h.s @ .on ,-isn't that Venetian enough !
for you To think Il occurred IN France
this very year OF grace