The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-05-21
THE WIFE OF LAFAYETTE.

In the bloody days of the French
revolution, Marech2le'de Noallles. the
d uchesse d'Ayen and the Vicomtesse
de Noailles were executed on the same
day. A priest of the Oratory, the Alb
be Carrichon, was the confessor of the
Duchesse d'Ayen and her daughter
One day when he was exhorting his
penitents to prepare for death, he said
to them: "lf you go to the giillotine,
and if God gives me strength, | will ac-
company you there" they took him
at his word, and cried OH with vivacity,
''will you promise us ?" "Yes," he an
swered, ''and in order that you may re-
cognize me, i shall have on blue coat
and red vest" The day when the
three victims mounted the sfatal cart,
the Abbe Carrchon, disguised as he
had promised, threatened with certain
death if he was discovered, ming led
with the crowd and followed them on
foot up to the scaffold. He had trouble
at first to make himself recognized, in
! spite of all his efforts to put himself in
view, but a storm having broken out
| hepeople dispersed, and the priest re-
manned alone. Nine. de N Noailles per-
ceived me, and smiling, seemed to say
| to ne: 'Ah! there you are at last
All how sad we are. We locked for
you for long time. Mama, there he
is.' Nine. d'Ayen revived, All my ir-
resolution ceased. 1elt in myself an
extraordinary courage. Bathed in
sweat aud rain, continued to walk
near them,
"The storm was at its highest point,
the wind more impetuoHs. The ladies
IN the first cart were very much trou-
bled by it. particularly the Marechale
de Noailles; her large cap was thrown
back, letting her gray hair be seen; she
t9ttered on her miserable seat, which
had no support, her hands tied behind
her back, We arrived aU the open
place where the Faubourg Saint An
tome begins. / went before, / exam
ined ir, and said to myself, this is the
best place to give what they wish so
much to receive. The cart was going
slower. | turned toward them; made
slgn to Nine. de Noailles. which she
understood perfectly. "Mamma, NJ.
Carrichon is going to give us the abso-
luton. Immediately they bowed their
heads with an air ofrepentance, Of con-
tfltioh, OIL emotion, of hope and piety.
falsed my hand. and with my head
covered pronounced the formula of alb
solution and the words viii IN follow il
very distinctly, and with a preternatu-
raj attention. They joined il better.than
ever. shall never forget that charm
ing picture. From that moment the |
storm went down, the rain diminished. |
and seemed to have existed only for |
the success of that which was so much |
desired on both sides. blessed God |
they did Also"
What picture. in fact the good
priest calls its charming. and such
word in such moment is sublime
The details of the execution are related
with the same eloquent simplicity.-
''The Mareehale de n oailles assembled
on the altar of sacrifice. The top OF her
dress had to be folded in that her neck
might be uncovered. | was impatient
to go away, and yet wished to drink
the cup to the dregs and to keep my
word, since God gave me the strength
to contain myself in the midst of so
many emotions. Six ladies' next pass
ed. Mime. d'Ayen was the tenth. How
pleased she seemed to me to die before
her daughter. When she assembled the
scaffold, the chiet eXecutioner took Off
her cap. A Il was fastened by pin
which he had not taken out, the hair
was pulled violently, whica caused her
some pain, which showed itself In her
features. The mother Disappeared
her worthy and tender daughter took
her place. What emotion felt on see
ing this young lady all in white, SEEM
ing much younger than she was, like a
sehtIe little lamb going to be slaugh- !