The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-10-04

ofiice-quick! and with the creates
deference.'
at was the Countess Helene d.
, B., one Of the most remarkable
, women of Louis Philippe's reign, dis.
tihguished by her beauty and eleva.
, ton Of mind; one of those women
! who, rightly or wrongly, were con-
I sidered to carry in the folds Of then
: dresses the fate of ministries-nay,
even war or peace.
"The Prefet, on joining the countess,
} attempted to excuse himself, but the
!, lady gave him no time for explana-
ton, for her case was too pressing to
al Ow Of fOrmalities. Her voice broken
and quivering, che thus addressed
him -
, "'Sir, have come to you because
because dreadful misfortune has hap
} pened to me, such ms no other woman
has ever knOwn-so dreadful you can
form no idea. Monsieur, save me
You csn-you must.' she gasped with
q despairing cry. 'Yeu know my hus-
band left for Bordeaux Q week ago?
1.-THE magistrate inclined his head,
and the lady, after making q great
effort to subdue the involuntary terror
in her voice continued her story: Dur
ing his absence she had been visited by
person-a young man-whom she
became acquainted with at the Aus
trian embassy. Her husband, whose
passions would sometimes border on
delirious frenzy, had noticed the atten-
tions of this Hungarian officer, who,
although she did not encourage him,
would continue his visits during her
husbands absence, sOmetimeseven late
very late-in the evening. That very
night NJ. de Karls (such was the off,
GERS name) would insist on seeing her
home, much against her will, for her
husbands return was expected every
hour; and then occurred that fatal
event. This word let loose the flood of
sorrow 70 long pent up, and the coun-
tess, losing all control over her feelings,
buried her face in bcr hands and sob
bed forth passionately:-
"'He is my lover-my love; yes, for
six months I had been his Mistress
"This confession placed the magis-
trate more at ease. He knew now
what was wanted-saw exactly what
had hsppened-at least he thought so :
unexpected arrival of the husband,
surprise Of the lovers, duel ALREADY
fought or to be fought, and the lady
flying to him for assistance in order to
thwaft her husbands revenge-or at
least to prevent the scandal from be-
coming known. But he was wrong.
Her husband had not even come back,
asserted the countess.
"'Then what is this dreadful misfor-
one wounded-no one killed.?
| H;11nd nor wounded IL
you say, Monsieur lie Prefet? Wounded
there is none yet? but dead there are
two-first, myself flor 1 shall never
survive this, and then he, who is in
my carriage.
"tYes-M. de Karls; he died two
hours ago in my house, and his corpse
Is now below in my carriage"
"At your house ?-assassinated "a
corpse =?
'"'No, no; not murder, thank God
He died from q sudden rush of blood to
his head while he was with me-with
; mel Oh it Is horrible, terrible, that I
should have to think OF my reputation
my honor, my worldly name, of that
world that will soon know all, OF my
husbands honOr-when 1 would he
alone with my SORROW, my tears, and
the dear one who is dead! But no,
that cannot be; and to you I have
come for help. You Canyon must
assist me-
"How, madame, how? My re-
sources are not infinite. A case SO
nparalled-what can doT
"tYou mustv cried the countess,
rising, and speaking with the authority
partly of a powerful and influential
woman, partly of one who implOres,
till you have designed some means /
do not leave this place. Surely-you
of the secret police
"'It is impossible, madame, impos-
sible!n
"In three hours my husband will
be here ?'
The Prefet rose and rang the bel.
! There is but one man in Paris, nay, 1
might say. in the world, who can save
you, and 1 have called him. Will you
| cOnfide in him ?-tell him all q
| "'You answer for his secresy"
| "Yes.'
| "'Then let him come
"As soon as entered the room the
Prefet addressed me brusQuely: wi
docq, q great parsonage died suddenly,
a few hours ago, at msdame's house,
"'Very well, Mr.. lie Prefet, we will
| cay lie died sudden DEATH
'Madame's husband Is away, but
| returns tonight
"'At what hour?'
! "'Any moment
"'Then We may as well say he has
returned
"Just as well. The body of the
young man is below in madame's car
riage,' continued the Prefet.'
"I waited, listening.
"'Vidocq" r
| "'M. le Prefet.'
"'You must get rid of this man for
u.s.
"Which one? Husband or lover"
The dead man. said the Prefet,
curtly.
"I understood well enough. but the
joke was too much for me. Then /
said that will be more difficult affair.
| It's easy enough to get rid of living
man, but dead one, ah 4! But let me
see; you wish me TO spirit away, be-
fore daylight, the corpse in Madame
la COuntesse de B. IS carriage?
"The lady started. You know me?'
"'I have that honor, madame. Now
there is one way of getting rid of this
corpse :
"'And that is p
"tWhat do you say madame, to the
| body being found in the streets, this
morning, about three or four o'clock,
pierced with several dagger wounds?
"Assassinated p
"Yes, madame. Three stabs in the
stomach and one i'm the heart; it shall
be well done. The body if found
nothing on it, not even watch or rings
murdered by thieves. Great excite
ment for twenty.four hours; inquest,
which will end in nothing, and in a
week the whole affair forgotten
'Murderedp
(" But since he is dead, madame,
where is the crime or wrong to stab
him 1? 9-s-.. ...-xE .-...
tEnoughv ccied the countess, her
face buried in her hands; enough,
monsieur, enough. Horrible, horrible
1t can never be-never!
az could not understand her; but
some people are delicate, you see.
What can one do?
." 'Then what do you say, madame,
to the body disappearing suddenly
from the face of the earth, SO that even
the most rigorous search should fail to
recover it? 1t shall never be found