The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-09-18

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the brown complexion and the aquiline fea
lures of Henri. The vigorous elegance o
Georges person was well displayed in tn
| Vecino costume.
"If we had encountered each other acros
the ocean, in these hostile uniforms" said tn
yiscount, zone of US would be lett dead il
the grass may dear Mr. Leslie
| cit is probable" replied George.
The viscount looked at him for moment il
silence, and said:
sHere, at least, we are allies"
George bowed Henri rang bell and call
ed for his carriage. Before leaving he looked
at himself in the mirror; and disposing thu
chain to which was attached his golden dagger
at the top of his belt, he said: "You see that
l bravely accept the wager. Notwithstand
ing my mask, our man must recognize me al
the first glance Of the eye"
"And, besides" added George, with sin
guar smile, 'sseeing you thus costumcd, he
will certainly conclude that you have no fear
Of him"
A minute afterward they were in the car
riase, which drove rapidly toward the Brazil
ian embassy.
CHAPTER XIII.-THE DUCHESS oF RlFAs.
Ii was grand fete, and had long been an
nounced. 1t was the welcome which madame
the duchess paid to the European world. CAN
Paris" was there-as say the writers On fash
ionable life in the columns of the papers. 1t
was stipulated in the tickets of invitation that
all costumes would be admitted, except back
dress for gentlemen and bail dress tor ladies.
The courtyard of the hotel, brilliantly
lighted, disclosed to the poor devils who were
collected in the street of the Faubouag ST.
Honore what seemed to be mountain OF
flowers In the centre Of the parterre wide
path, covered with carpet led to the vestibule.
The vestibule appeared like the peristyle of
fairy palace, with its bright garlands and its
thousand Jets of light. The poor devils in the
street who looked at this had their feet in the
melting snow A cold rain was falling, but
they remained.
On the grand staircase there were more
flowers yet-thosc beautiful flowers from other
lands, which, Notwithstanding the artificial
warmth Of our reenhouses, sigh for the
radiant sun of the tropics. The air was
fragant with their perfume.
At 3 distance, in the saloons, could be
heard already the preludes Of Tolbecquc and
his orchestra.
That dutter Of pleasure which hearts |. !
eighteen feel that anguish Of the dance I l
are old if you criticize this Word-old and with
out memory was felt all along the gilded ba-
lustrades The house seemed alive, with Its
colored marble, its sparkling crystals, and its
heavy and splendid draperies
The ladies had not yet arrived. There was
no tumult, and no smiles but at the bottom
of the cup, yet empty, intoxication already
concealed itself.
The cup is beautiful before being touched
before having upon its brink the furnishing
trace of the lips. But it is sad to see that
cup humid and overturned in the somber and
cold hall, where the opening morn finds no
thing but vitiated smells under the e1tin-
guishcd lights, and nothing but disorder re-
mains. .t'
It was eleven o'clock The master of cerc-
monies, at the head of his assistants, threw
scrutinizing glance of the eye around the sa-
looms, and seemed satisfied.
The toilet of madame the duchess vas finish
ed. She was a woman twenty OF twenty-five
years Of age, and in all the splendor OF her
sovereign beauty. She was, tall, but her
splendid figure had an Incompatible grace
Her features were finely and boldly chiseled
The golden pallor Of her cheeks was lighted
up by the reflection Of two large eyes, black
as jet, sweet in repose, but fierce when passion
Illuminated the pupils; two eyes, the look
from which knew we'll how to accompany the
adorable smile ola mouth which had, at other
times, an imperious closing Of the lips; two
eyes Of the Spanish creole, ardent or languid
by turns, under their long and black fringe
Of eyelashes, when a sudden gaiety made them
brilliant or their splendor was .obsctred by a
reverie; two eyes which made one think in
voluntarily of the tender and proud heroines
of the Castilian drama.
The duchess had short hair, dressed q Ii
Ninon. It was of a brilliant black, and of
such luxuriant thickness that one wondered
why those rich ringlets scarcely reached to
her shoulders, and would have desired to see
them waving in long tresses. There was a
sort Of dissatisfaction about it, as when one
sees that the wing Of beautiful bird is clip,
ped. To cut of such beautiful ringlets could
not be called caprice-it was proclamation.
Those who knew her well said everything
in her praise. The poor and unfortunate
knew that she was good.
The duke of Rivas was yet young, and pos
sessed a prineely fortune.
It was scarcely remarked, by those whose
business it is to remark everything, that ma
dame the duchess of Rivas so brilliant, so
envied, in one word, SO happy, bore sometimes,
on the noble beauty Of her face, certain traces
Of melancholy.
Whence came this sadness? No one had
risked a supposition on the subject-no one.
not even Madame Dalmas and Mademoiselle
Suzanne, waiting maids Of madame the du
chess. But on this day of the fete circum-
stance occurred which excited the curiosity
Of these two waiting women.
The duchess had brought from America as
a companion girl named Isabelle, who had
married in France an attache Of the embassy.
Isabelle was fashionable, and well received
everywhere, by reason Of her intimacy with
the duchess. On the morning Of this day
Isabelle had come, and the two servants had
heard a little Of the conversation which pass
cd between her and the duchess.
Isabelle had passed the night at the Hotel
de Boistrudan. This was plain:
Then the names pronounced: the Viscount