The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-05-21

go ~
He went; how could he resist Timor-
ously he set about his task and at last sue
ceeded; while the Magistrate irritated and
savage at being thus disturbed, sprang up
in bed with a sudden bound.
"Scamp scoundrell' - he stormed.
"What were your orders?'
"A-a-a lady, SIR" stammered the unfor-
tunate huissier.
"Well, even then ?'
"Most urgent and important reasons,
sir"
GA lady-at this hour and in such
weather Let her go to the devilv'
"The lady knows Monsieur lie Prefet?"
"Of course-who doesn't? But sufficient;
l want to sleep; and the next time you dis
obey my orders you march. Now 60"
The huissier retired crestfallen; but the
lady was not to be discouraged. "He
must not be allowed to fall asleep again,
she urged. "Run back at once"
"No Madame" interrupted Pere Caron.
/" l should lose my place, and l have wife
ana CnllureD 10 support
"Is that all ?'' cried the lady. ''If you
lose your post through me promise on my
honor that you shall have an annuity of
two, three, four thousand francs settled on
you and your family. Take these, as earn
est;' and handing him two thousand francs
in notes, she continued: "Tell Monsieur lie
Prefet that tomorrow, at the Tuileries,
Louis Philippe, King of France, will
thank him for what he does for me to night"
The words, "King," "Tuileries," I" "four
thousand francs annuity" whirled through
Caron's head as he again confronted his
master, whose rage this time was almost
uncomfortable.
What is the woman's Nance
"She has not told me, Monsieur"
Fool that you are go and ask at once;
and if this business be not finished in three
minutes, you past the rest of the night in
the cells"
The lady, however, would not disclose
her name, and the huissier gave himself up
for lost; but the Prefet, struck by this
strange persistence of a nameless lady, who
dared to promise the Kings gratitude, felt
that the case must be an extraordinary one,
and at last decided to give way.
"If the lady won't give her name, ask
her then TO send it under SEAL was the re-
suit of his deliberatiop.
With a deep-drawn sigh of relief, the
strange visitor acceded to this request, and
inclosed her card in a sealed envelope The
Prefet started up in astonishment when he
saw the name and after a second glance to
assure himself that he had read Alright he
turned to Caron:
"Show the lady into my private Office
quick and with the greatest Difference"
1t was the Countess Helene de B., one
of the most remarkable women of Louis
Philippe's reign, distinguished by her
beauty and elevation of mind; one of those
women who rightly or wrongly, were con-
sidered to carry in the folds of their dresses
the fate of Ministrics-nay, even war or
peace.
The Prefet, on joining the Countess, at
tempted to excuse himself but the lady
gave him no time for explanations, for her
case was too pressing to allow of formali-
ties. Her voice broken and quvering, she
thus addressed him:
"Sir, have come to you because-be-
cause a dreadful misfortune has happened
to me, such as no other women has ever
known-so dreadful, you can form no idea.
Monsieur, save me You can-you must, I"
she gasped with a despairing cry. You
know that my husband left for Bordeaux a
week ago"
"The magistrate inclined his head, and
the lady, after making a great effort tc
subdue the involuntary tremor in her voice,
continued her story: During his absence
she had been visited by person, young
man, whom she became acquainted will
at the Austrian Embassy. Her husband
whose passions would sometimes border on
a delirious frenzy, had noted the attentions
of this Hungarian officer, who, although
she did not encourage him, would continue
his visits during her husbands absence
sometimes even late, very late, in the even
ing. That very evening M. dc Karls (sucl
was the officers name) would insist on see
ing her home, much against her will, fol
her husbands return was to be expected
every hour; and then occurred that fata
event." This word let loose the flood o
sorrow SO long pent up, and the Countess
loosing all control over her feelings, buriet
her face in her hands and sobbed forth pas
sionately.
"He was my lover, my love;