Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-06-06

cOulu nOI lalI w uHueiopo"u AZ ~
now.
At last the crisis came
And Fate-horrible and grim Fate
Wrote in it's awful book the fulfill
ment of my destiny
One evening was left alone with
my lover.
We were at St. Petersburg, and
the duke was absent somewhere, busl-
ed with the affairs of his vast estate.
1t was the gay winter season, and
the frozen snow that night was alive
with the tinkling bells.
I was alone with Count Ivan in
the great reception chamber Of the
palace.
He was sitting beside me on a
divan, the red velvet covering Of
which was but pale compared to the
crimson flush that was on my cheeks.
We spoke in low whispers.
We talked of love.
God the delirium Of delight | ex-
perienced.
lie drifted back to the regions Of
CLASSIC fable.
He spoke of the amours of the
divinities Of Mount Olympus.
.Ah, so glowingly, so passionately
he spoke
listened, I hung upon his breath
enraptured -entAralled !
The dark angels that were battling
for my soul held victory balanced in
their hands
I was afraid.
l trembled.
/ almost wept.
The Count Ivan looked into my
eyes and seemed 10 read my very
soul
| shook Ikea leal
l buried my fac in my hands.
Suddenly the Count Ivan clasped
me in his arms, and, imprin'ing u
burning kiss upon my lips, drew my
head upon his shoulder.
Mine now, forever +
But suddenly, oh, horror heard
the we'll known voice Of the duke
upon the stair outSre.
The Count Ivan sprang to his feet,
and in il second thrust him into Il
large wardrobe, and was just turning
tue key when my husband entered
and stood before. Inc. He was pale
as the face OF corpse. Great dis
torted purple veins stood out on his
forehead, and his lips were twitching
with a terrible convulsive motion
He knew all
We had been betrayed
He spoke no word whatever, but
went silently to the wardrobe and
turned the key l had left sticking in
the lock in my fright, twice, and then
withdrew it and put it in his pocket.
Then for the first time he spoke.
He simply said
Follow me j
More dead than alive, l obeyed,
and we went down the stairs and out
into the bitter, biting air.
A travelling britzka stood waiting
near the place.
was hurried into it, and after a
few words to the coachman, the duke
turned to NE and gave me the key.
keep this, SAID he; Z" must 60
back +; l have forgotten something!
He disappeared in the darkness,
and was absent perhaps ten minutes,
when he returned AID got into the
carriage by my side.
We moved slowly away, and as we
went, my husband, pointing from the
coach window, uttered.
Look there =
l looked, and O, God! the palace
we had just left Was sheet OF litme
And the Count Ivan was perishins
there locked i'll the wardrobe Of which
/ had the key
With u wild, eart-broken cry, !
fell back in IL swoon, and lay l know
rot how long. When l revived |
was alone in the britzka. [ felt a
weight about my neck.
| | touched it.
1t was II massive gold chain
Attached to it was the key oil that
fatal wardrobe The chain was
riveted to its place, and l could not
remove it.
A second time | swooned.
When l again recovered was in a
compartment Of a railway carriage.
The coachman was with me.
1 inquired our destination.
"Paris," he said.
In due course we arrived, and Twas
taken to set Of furnished apart
ments, where I was left. l determined
at once ON suicide, and was about to
carry my project into Immediate exc
cution, with the aid of small pock-
et-knife I had in my possession, when
my hand was arrested by my hus-
band, who ct that moment entered
the chamber.
He bouAd me by the most terrible
oaths never to make the attempt
again while he lived, under pain that,
if violated the compact, he would
instantly pubEeh my shame and
bring dishonor upon my family
Twas thus forced sorrowfulfy to
live on and to submit to his visits,
which took place regularly each