The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1872-03-27
From the New Orleans Sunday Times. !
Giles De Retz;
. OR, BLUE Boards WIVES.

Beard caused but little surprise, al.
though it was sudden and mysterious;
for in tho:e days az we'll as in our
own, people died # di cases which
puzzle the invention of mau for
names Some thought it pity for one
so young to leave this pleasant world.
Others that it was blessed interpo-
sition Of Providence, viewing the fife
she might have dragged on with her
irascible and moody iord--considering
the peouniary benefit, he reaped by
her demise, his show Of grief was rath.
er remarkable he shut himself I'D in
his gloomy ABIDE iu the most iuconso-
liable and sullcn woe. But in time
there was q nritIgation-the boreaved
one set out upon q journey, the pur-
pose of which was little known. In.
ferences, subsequently became con.
cluslons that it was to search for
Lady De Retz's successor. 1t seems
that this monster had, in his earlier
life, tinge of romance, like better
natures, in his character. That he
was very impressionable may be sup.
posed by the credence which he gave
to hclf-corstituted soo,hsayers,
eorcerers, etc. This vein of the ideal
led him into very serious blunder,
as the second marriage, inst cad of be
ing one that would enhance his gain
by the first, WAS, on the contrary, u
qualification Of fancy or rcaprioe which
the renal kable loveiiuess of the lady
Of whom he hecame enamored oroa.
ted. Setting ont upon bis journey
without paEcantry or routine Of any
kind, mounted simply as as knight,
uutrammeled hy show, he had the
wide field IF romance to roam upon as
his own. Taking ,efuAe one day,
from the glMe md day sun in the
shaded aisle Of the Cathedral St.
Croix, during funeral service, casu-
81 though the circumstance may brve
seemed, yet it was one fruitful with
cveuts bringing to him anutbor vic.
tim, marking the fate Of one of the
most beautiful women Of the day
1t was during se,vicc, priest was
officiating Mt the altar, and around
the railings which incloscd it were
kuceli"g many devotees, with gorgeous
and glit,ering robes. A c,ffin, with
the black pail and the mou,ners kneel-
ing at the side like statutes, go mo-
tionless III the dim aisle, the solemn
silence, tho antique gr.nduer of the
temple-aIt had effect, deep and i'm.
Pressive, upon De Rr'z. To Il Id to
this, low, mourutul chant f;om the
priest, followed by q response trum
invisible singers broke the dead still.
ness Of the solemn scene. From be-
hind an immense black drapery, near
the altar issued the most sublime
strains of melody. A voice of un.
earthly beauty and pathos arose
above all tho rest. The curiosity of
De Retz was aroused. He would be-
hold the being gifted as the angels to
thus rinse his thoughts for the moment
above mortality.
This fair being dwclt at the Cha
teau Of Chambord, q league from the
Loire, and four leagues from Biois.
She was of noble bi,th, but at that
time a dependent or com panion of the
lady of the castle. As she mounted
her white palfrey to follow in the
funeral train, De Retz took in at onr
glance all the exquisite Low eliness uf
her face and form even the beauti.
fully rounded ankle displayed on the
occasion "as lost upon him. II. re-
solved TO win her. a desire and its
fruition were always close upon the
heels of each other with this man. In
month from the day Of their meet.
ing be departed with his fair but por.
tionics, bride to his castle upon the
Erdre. II the geutle creatures who
were in succession the wives of this
cruel and relentless monster, united
their lives with his, from affection, it
leaves the laws of affiuities open to
debate. But then many Blue
Benrd of the present day renders this
belief mythical. The most delicate,
sensitive, high-mioded beings asximi-
late and, for aught we know, find
themselves very happy with the
ooarsest, groveling natures. The
law of harmony would perhaps make
the matter clear c"unterac,ing ibhu-
enccs, the good softeuiDg tho evil
Sunshine upou shadow It was not
many months, even before the falling
leaves had strrwn the ground, when
the mistress Of tho domain wandered
IN her beauty and innocence, happy
In the belief that she wac beloved,
ere she perished. Even thus early
before the blush of maidenhoed had
ceased to warm her fair cheek,
she fell victim to the snare that was
lain for her. The sordid nature of
DE Retz 40 soon measured the disnd.
vnntag.s Of this union and conceived
the diab"lIoal idoa of Kidding himself
OF his beautiful bride.
The castle was gloomy, but when
left in its solitude. how iusuff.rable !.
must have been-and thus it Was. for,
though her husband seldom went