Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-05


 did not myself believe it-is nevertheless true
 to the letter. One of the parties resides at J. Brussels, where he fed when the affair came to 7. light
 n The young Matilda dc-;s daughter of g one of the most illustrions soldiers of the em : pire her father had won high and glorious s rank but he was one of the few generals whom the Emperor had not enriched. Matilda de l - therefore could bring her husband no = portion.
 ; Napoleon de-is the grandson of the 3 noble Duchess of-.who has distinguished name and title, but no wealth. However the 3 Duchess and the General, long united by warm . friendship, has engaged to unite their children. ] They soon repented their engagement. ) While Matilda and Napoleon were both resign ing themselves to the happiness of love, the Gen. eneral and Duchess, alarmed for the interests of } their children, and little for their own, were plrying different game
 If my daughter says the General, "marries
 this poor devil Napoleon, farewell wealth and happiness" n .: 2, and no fortune, how shall I restore the noble E house of -?'
 The General therefore endeavored to detach Matilda from her lover, and the Duchess to alien-
 ate her son from Matilda. But neither succeed cd. Though young and experienced their love : was too strong for afl the wiles of the older
 heads.
 The parents fatlng to secure voluntary sep , araticn, were at last able to compel the depart ure of Napoleon and secure his absence for some , time. Pecunlary eXigencies demanded it.. Ma
 poleon must obtain situation The minister had made him First Secretary to distant enl- , bassy. If he refused to go, he closed against himself brilliant career. The sacrifice he owed ! to Matilda herself, for whose happiness he was soon to be responsible Napoleon yielded.
 He sees Matilda for the last time, and an-
 nounced his departure. A cry of grief bursts
 from the haart of the young girl. In vain he
 sets forth his p:oects-in vain he forces himself to console her by pointing her to his return full
 of wealth happiness and love. Matilda was un-
 consolable d sad presertiment fofbade her to believe the tracherous promises of an uncertain } future. What more could she gain in exchange , for the present happiness about to be sacrificed } to duty? She saw that her dream of happiness
 war ended-that the beautiful vision had taken } wings.
 2 Napoleon took her hand and covering it with : kisses and tears exclaimed, Remember, Matil- < da remember you are my afianced and this hand remember is mine p
 : With these words he put upon her finger a small ruby ring. 1t was my mothers" said
 be-
 Matilda could only reply by pressing tho
 ring to her lips when she sank into a chair ut : teEly overcome.
 Napoleon left. His absence facilitated the ! objects of the parents. The General soon made
 ar appeal to the fiiial love, ofhis daughter He exaggerated his poyertyEinvented a long list
 of debt and obligations which he could not meet, and drew frghtful picture Of his wretch . cd and dshonorcd old age he oven suggested } saicidea as preferable to such fate. She alone : could save him and to do that sine must forget /. Napoleon, and marry the wealthy Count de f --whosc masculine face and commanding 3 form she well knew. -s
 A little selfishness had saved Matilda, but it /; is the weakness of sublime natures to anticipate } instead of avoiding sacrifices. Matilda threw 5 herself into her fathers arms, promosing every
 thing, and he gave her his blessing and thanked 5 her for her ffal devotion. He was still speak
 ing when Matilda unablc to command herself 7 longer escaped from his arms. Pale and exhaus- ted, she hastened to her room, and abandoned herself to flood of silent teers! Weep noble ; creature for this phantom glimpse of happiness
 Happiness. alas there is no happiness for souls like thine!
 However, the banns were published, and the l 10th of last January, at the church of St. Thom-
 as d'Aguin, Matilda married the Count de--
 The General was completely happy.
 At the moment of the nuptial benediction when the husband was about to put upou hen
 finger the symbol of their union instead of preI senting as is usual her left hand Matilda passed , suddenly to the other side, and offered he right.
 The Count with slight remark, would ha9 taken her left, but she withdrew it, and agai presented the right with an alr of quiet decisid that is indisputable the Count understood ], , and to avoid notice, placed the ring upon tb the hand she offered him.
 Jealous as Otheo. dark suspicion immed.
 ately seized his breast. Pretending that te
 ring was not to his taste,he begged Matilh {, to lay it aside. She replied, with mildness, bt with the same decision she had before shoM, that she should never part with it.
 The Counts suspicious were, from that tinr, fact; but he dissimulated to secure his reveHe } Matilda. A letter soon arrived from Napoled. lgnorent of his misfortune, he spoke of his lde his future plans, and their approaching marriage He reminded Matilda that her hand acas Is, and entreatea her to let her to let his mothts ruby remind her often of him He closed with , the joyful intelligence that he was entrusted
 with important communications for Paris, md that in less than month he should see Ter. : The Count received the letter and immedilte-
 y understood all Entering the chamber ofhis wife and giving her the open letter, "I unler-
 ~ ivy "ooiy' you' oeiuPIeo NhS
 did you not explain yourself before You lhve 7 sworn that your hand belonged to none butIim. l Very well,' said he, with threatening snile,
 ':when he comes, will see that you keep kour p
 , Matilda trembled not. There was noshing
 more for her to fear on earth. l A month afterwards, Napoleon arrived atPar- ; is-but how changed! He knew his misfortune! f The morning after his arrival, they handed him , a small ebony box, which servant in livery had just brought. He opened it. Judge his terror } his grief! The box contained bloodyhand
 "a lady's hand -Matilda's! Upon paper stained with blood, were these words: See how the Countess of - keeps her oaths P Burning with indignation, he sezes his pistols
 flies to the Counts. The. Count and Matlda had ; left on the terrible event, but no one knew where
 they had gone.
 The Doctor and Napoleon fought in the wood
 of Vincennes. The Dr. yielded the bistoury
 better than the small sword, and received a wound , under his arm, though it is thought not to be
 dangerous.
 l Before leaving his adversary, the Doctor re- counted to him the events of the cruel night } when he was forced by humanity to commit crime. However, Ee added, she did not suffer much a sublime enthusiasm seemed to sustain her courage, and I am confident that she rejoced
 at her suffering, thinking that her hand at least, 5 would be restored to you. As l finished I heard r in low voice behind the curtain" Besu.e and teN Kim Mat nsy heoat goes aeiM nag handr'- r Without the ruby should have been unable to , fu|fl her reuuest'