The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-12
VOL. XV.-NO. 80
A DAUGHTERS MEMORY.

"Did you ever realize the fascination
that one hears SO much talked of and
written about, possessed by the Empress
Josephine, until you looked on that lovli.
est of women, this Nine. Vernier, thai
people are gathering rOund?'
MADAM Verner? have heard moth.
ing but that name ever since entered
this room. Where is she, and who i.
she ?"
SIN answer to your first question, lool
there under the shadow of that crimson
satin curtain; there the Marshal is leaning
over her, and the English lord, forge,
his name, looks as if he would like to ge,
in a word but hadn't the courage to try
his bad French
Monsieur de Lacy looked over in the
direction indicated by his friend, and tLer
turning away, forgot to ask for an answer
to his second question; but in few mo-
ments, pushing the timid lord aside, Ernest
de Lacy was bending over the beauty OF
the room, introduced by the old Marshal,
who had seen so many beauties in his
time, that they were all conglolnerated in
his heart in one general admiration for the
whole sex.
Ernest de Lacy, the accomplished man
of the world, had a slight shadow of en-
barrassment as he spoke the first few COM
mOn-place words of greeting; but his
presence had a strange effect on the beau
tiful Nine Vernier, for with one hand she
clutched the curtain near her for support,
and turned so pale that the Marshal Or
dered one of his aid-de camps to open the
window near which she stood.
Nine. Vernier, however, soon recovered
herself, and the smile that irradiated her
face as the color returned to her cheek,
increased her beauty, aud of course the
admiration of all around her.
'sNow,' exclaimed Ernest de Lacy, two
hours afterwards, as he left the ball room,
having watched Nine. Vernier's carriage
drive out Of the court of the British En-
bassy, ''now, my dear Paul, tell Inc who
Nine. Ve. nier is?'
"Mme. Vernier, my dear fellow, is the
most beautiful woman in Paris
But who is she?"
"She is the wife of Mons Gontier Ver-
nier, great Bordeaux merchant formerly,
now banker and millionaire capitalist
more or less connected with politics, and
in great favor with FOuld and the En-
peror."
"Was Mons. Vernier there toni ght ?"
"Of course he was; it was he who got
into the carriage with her-did you not
see him?"
"No--yes L did see gaunt, thin old gen.
tleman get into the carriage; is that her
husband, why be is -"
Twenty-Five years older than his wife,
of course"
"Well, who was Nine Vernier, that is
what l want to know; for you have told
me more about her husband than herself
asyet", ;,
terry; no, that is not it, but she belongs
to no family that has either money or
birth As far as we know, this marriage
was love match on the side of the hus-
band, at least Nine. Vernier is said to
have been an orphan brought up by the
charity of the Ursuline Sisters in Bor-
deaux. l cannot even tell you what coun-
try has the honor of Nine. Vernier's s
birth; but she always denies being French,
though French is the only language she
speaks without an accent"
"She is very beautiful, but her beauty
would scarcely indicate her BIRTH" said
de Lacy, almost thinking aloud rather
than talking, Tor the benefit OF Ills friend !;
she has the grace and abandon have
seen in the true descendants of the creoles
of Louisiana; her hair, so deeply brown,
yet in its waves golden as the light glances
on them; her deep black eyes so heavily
yelled with their long lashes, giving to
them almost the expression of the loveliest
of all eyes, the Jewish, and the clear, pale
complexion; all indicate nothing more
than a woman who would be lovely every
where, and in all countries"
eyes, and her small feet and hands
would indicate high birth; but nothing is
known of this star that has risen this sea.
son on the Partisan horizon"
"Mme. Vernier has many admirers, u
said Ernest, "but--
"But has she one admirer? Is that
what you mean? is there in the saloons
she frequents man who never dances
with her? who bows cOldly to him when
she meets him? who stands at the further
end OF the room, but always within sight
OF her, who leaves the ballroom when she
leaves it, and by some strange chance al
ways stands on the steps as her carriage
ar YES away. catching the last glance the
beauty carelessly casts on the scene of bel
recent triumph. Is there such man, &
man to whom the events of the evening
barren as they have seemed to all. will
furnish subject for four closely written
pages, anc whose last thoughts as he lays
his head ON his pillow, will be for Julliette
FOR that is Nine. Vernier's name In 8
word, you want to know has Nine. Yer
nier lover to which implied onest;on