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


her house alive; her sorrow turned to mel
ancholy, then to depressed languor, then
came illness, doctors, and lastly death. She
lived in her love-that dead, she died too.
Que coulez-cous? But she had not forgot
ten her promises. Caron received secretly
large sum Of money; the servant, inde-
pendent for life, now lives at Villevorde on
property of her own; nor was ] overlooked
this splendid diamond was my reward,
and would not part with it for millions
no, nor ten of millions--it is riveted to
my finger.
The Count left Paris and after years of
travel in all parts of the world, he retired
to Dalmatia, where he had large estates,
and settled at last in Trieste. Lonely,
melancholy visiting no one, he had only
one pleasuTo-the opera; music alone SEEM
cd to have the power of tightening the bur-
den of sorrow he bore with him wherever
he went
One evening he heard his wife's name
mentioned by q French tourist, who was in
the adjoining box; the gentleman was de-
scribing to his companions the extraordi-
nary likeness between the prima donna and
the Countess of B., lady formerly
wellknown in Paris, who, suspected by
her husband of being faithless was poison
ed by him, although it was given out that
that she had died of consumption. He
further entered into other details of the
most painful description to the Count,
who at the end of the act knocked at
the door of the adjoining loge, formally
handed his card to the talkative tourist,
and, bowing low, returned to his own place
where he quietly remained till the end of
the opera. On the card both time and
place were fixed for the morrow, swords
being the weapons chosen by the Count
whose reputation as fencer was known
both far and wide.
After woundng his adversary slightly
and disarming him two or three times, the
Count suddenly threw himself, perfectly
uncovered, on his opponents's sword, which
transfixed his heart He had wished to
commit suicide by another mans hand.
After slight pause, Balzac spoke; 81
do not like that finish; it is not equal to
the rest; there is something wanting.
should have desired-in fact, if the Count
knew nothing of the death of M. de Karls,
wife, and he could not know that unless
the Prefet, you, or Honorine had been in
discreet enough To-"
Ono, no." protested Vidocq interrupt
ing; no one has spoken a word-no one.
tell you to-day b ecause / have right to do
so, since the only person who could COM
plain are both dead"
"Then," continued Balzac, this duel,
this suicide by the hand of another, as you
ca il it, is not sufficiently justified Were
to take this domestic drama as ground
work, and relate it after my own fashion,
would seek, invent, imagine better con-
clusion-one more logical and complete
Not that disagree with the kind of death
chosen by the Count, which is not only
possible, but true-nay, very true in its
originality; but still; come back again to
the old fault-th Count knew too little to
Justify his great dispair So you see, after
AL, that your story is not complete, as you
thought it wants something and something
very important.
"Dame ~ answered Vidocq, somew hat
staggered by Balzac's triumphant manner,
'if it is not complete it is not far from it.
| did not intend it as q lesson of literature
for you no, my idea was more modest
one than that, and originated in this man.
ner: on my way here took cab, and, as
| was stepping in, l recognized in the
coachman the cabman of the Pont Neuf."
"Strange ?"
"Not at all; cabmen don't generally get
promoted to colonelcies-they die cabmen.
The sight of him called forth the old recol-
lections, and determined to amuse myself
by telling you this portion of my life, think
ing that perhaps you would be able to turn
it to account
"You say this cabman brought you
hereP" asked Balzac, who had not heard
single word of Vidocq's explanation; "did
you take his number"
"Why should ~"
"You--you great
Great what?'
"Anything you like
"But why should l take his number
He's at your door waiting for me-"
The man was sent for Immediately, and
Balzac, in great glee, filed all the glasses
within reach. Soon the clatter of sabots
was heard on the stairs, and in another