The mountain Democrat., 1864-06-04
NJ. lie COmte de POntis de sainte-
Helene.


brilliant uniforms Of the officers, who, as
is their wont on such occasions, marched
busily about without appearing to notice
the admiration of the spectators. Had
they only deigncd to cast pitying glance
ou the gaping civilians" they must have
remarked that one of their number, the
lieutenant.colonel Of the 72nd legion, was
obstnately watched by a miserable tat.
terdemaliOn, who had managed to wriggle
into the front ranks Of the crowd. Squal.
id, half-starved. seemingly, thiseDertina-
cious watcher might have been merely a
beggar but two minutes examination oil
him would have convinced Vidoq, then at
the head Of the French police, that he was
a convict at large. In fact Darius-s SO
was our tattered friend called-if he were,
as We might suppose from his name, q
dcscendent of the royal house of the
Achamenida, had indeed fallen from bis
high estate; he bad only just left Toulon
after an imprisonment Of twenty years for
forgery. 1t can't be- said Darius; how
could he be here, and in this company
Blazing with decorations, tco-I'm mis-.
taken Yet still he watched the brilliant
soldier as he walked proudly about -
'Ah!' he said, presently, I'm right after
all; there's no mi>taking the old nervous
witch. But what's he up TO hcrc?' Da.
RUS had no difficulty in learning from the
bystanders all about the lieutenant colo.
mel few men were better known in Paris
than the Count de Saint Helene.
In 1893 Marshal Soult had received or
dcrS from Napoleon to march into Spain,
with which country France had recently
gone to war. Men 18th a know ledge of
the country were wanted, and when the
Count de Sante. Helene offered his ser.
vices they were gladly accepted, for he
had served as an officer in Spain, in party
warfare, and with distinction, too, for he
bore the decorations Of Alcantara and OF
81. Vladimir, conferred on him for his
bravery. He had, besides, shown to Soult
papers on which he cstablishei / his claim
to his title, and which testified to his hav.
ing seen service, not only in Spain, but
also in America. Soult made him a ma.
jor, and everywhere the respect due to
their rank was paid to the count and
countesS-for the gallant soldier was mar.
ricd. He served we'll under Soult, and
when the first restoration came returned
10 France and obtained private audience
Of Louis XVIII. The King received with
every mark Of respect the last Of an old
and noble race; listened with sympathy
to his account Of his family and their
msfortunes; and promised his lasting fa-
vor and protection. When Napoleon re
turned from Elba, the king retired to
Gand, and among those who were faith.
(ul or discerning enough to follow him
was the inIcfatigaGle count, whose devo,
ticn 10 the royal cause could as yet be
paid only by promises Of what should be
done when the tyrant was once more
driven out. At the end Of the Hundred
Davs the king and his followers returned
to Paris, and the count returned to his
wife, whom lac had left in the capital -
The King dill not forget his promises; i,
was at his express desire that the court
had been made lieutenant colonel of the
72nd legion. lie lived with his countess
in grand style, and was received into the
highest society he increased in favor
with his royal master; was made a men,
her Of the Legion Of Honor, and, at the
time Of our story, it was asserted that he
was about to be named aide dc. camp to
the Dukc of Angoulemc, the kings neph.
CIV.
This is what Darius might have learnt,
had ne had leisure to make full inquiry :;
but keeping his eye constantly on the Of
hccr, he lost not a moment in following
him on his return home at the end Of the
review. But the convict was not satisfied
with merely learning the address Of the
officer; following him closely, he entered
the house almost at the same time with
him. DO you recognize me9' said he
as he stood face to face with the count in
his drawing. room. Recognize him! And
the question asked. too, in n way that
implied long familiarity! No wonder
that the count replied by counter Ques
ton, scarcely polite, indeed Who's this
fellow:' I'm Darius, said the convict :;
and we were in the same chain at Tou
lon. DO you know me now?' The
/ Count de Sainte. lIclenne has nothing to
say to a scoundrcl like you; get out Of
this directly, or | will tell my footman to
turn YOU out You're the scoundrel, ,
says Darius. Count, indeed! you're no
more count than | am. You're Peter
/ Coignard dye hear? Peter Cognard, i
say, who got fourteen years for house.
breaking! Without further noticing Da.
rius. the count rang bell. Mind what
you're at said Darius. i don't want to
hurt you, and wouldn't have split. I'm
hard land want little help-thats all :
| ut if you turn me out, you'll repent it, ,
b. ka.l
sign from the count, the tattered man
with the royal name was bundled out Of
doors. No: at all dishcartened with the
result Of his first attempt TO enter polite
society, Darius waits a few minutes to get
himself together after his election, and
asks to sce the Minister of the Interior, on
business Of the greatest importance. His
reception here was more polite; the Min
lister listened, aghast. to the revelations Of
! the convict; and, notwithstanding that he
found, as men in office will sometimes
find. that it was not in his department,
he gave Darius an introduction to the
governor of the military division, who in
his turn heard the strange story, told
with an earneStness which left no doubt
OF the good faith Of the narrator. What
proofs have you 2 at lest asked the stern,
upright old soldier, his face crimson with
rage at the thought that convict held
high rank in his own honorable profess
ion. Keep me here, my general, replied
Darius, and fetch Coignard. and bring us
face to face but first Of all, for heavens
sake. give me something to at-Ihaven't
touched morsei of meat to-day While
Darius was dlspatching n hearty meal,
under heck and key, All orderly ~as sent
to the lieutenant. colonel with an invita-
ton to come to head. quarters.
NJ. le Comte de Sainte- Helene said
! thn Urafhful Oanpuol xyhan tha oonucod