The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-10-28
Selert Storv.
From the Overland Monthly.l
THE CORNELIAN CROSS.

From the Overland Monthly
THE CORNELIAN CROSS.
Henri Cardone was young French
artist of distinguished promise His
neat little domiclle and his pretty little
wife were situated in suburban Paris
One early twilight in the month of No
vember of a certain year, as he entered
his home, his wife ran unto him, twned
her plump arms around his neck, bestow
ing full blown kiss upon his respon
sive lips, and Immediately exclaimed -
"Oh, dear Henri 1 had such surprise
such an odd visitor. this AFTERNOONS
man with such an inexplicable fancy that
fhavs been waiting two hours for your
arrival, and (bestowing playful cut
thereupon) your ears"
"And now the ears have arrived, Irene,
my pet, l suppose yoar merry tongue
will rattle away as merrily as newly
wound up music box; and, once started,
l shall not have an opportunity to put a
word in edgewise, until you have run
down completely But for this odd man,
with the 'inexplicable fancy Did he, ut
terly regardless of the divine set of his
trowsers, GO down upon his knee. and
beseech Of you to fly with him to some
intensely rural retreat, there to subsist
upon moonshine and his adorable nous
tache? :? and was it his 'inexplicable fancy
that you should be accompanied by such
little articles of available value as this
poor hovel might afford? Or, was he a
wandering gypsy lord who predicted that
you were to be queen of all proud
France, instead of one humble French
heart :? And did he, just as he was about
to surround your august brow with the
imperial crown, suddenly suspend it and
take an 'inexplicable fancy to have his
dirty palm first crossed with crown of
silver2 Or"
"There, there! do cease your bandin-
age" said the pouting little woman, ,stam-
ping her small foot impatiently. "You
will never become wise listening to your
own wisdom" G
Nor weary listening to yours, my
charming sage" laughed the vouble
Henri, caressing her soft, brown hair
fondly; ''proceed-from this on am all
ears" @ 81 .gas-s. ..s4
"Well, let all ears listen. At about 3
O'Clock this afternoon, as / was sitting
intent upon taking the finest possible
stitches in the border of your finest cam
brio, there came sharp rap at the door.
FASTENED to open it, and found myself
face to face with man Of middle age,
who bowed politely, and inquired if he
were on the Rue de Chalons. On being
informed that he was, he thanked me very
affably, and was turning to depart, when
his glance chanced to fall on this little
cornelian cross, which then, as now, was
lying on my bosom. He stopped short,
gazed axedly at it, as though it possess
ed some terrible fascination, turned first
deadly pale, then livid purple, and in a
hoarse whisper articulated, 'Madame,you
will pardon me, but it is no ordinary Gu
riosity that prompts the question, but
might venture to ask how that trinket,
pointing trembling finger at the cross,
came into your possession-under what
circumstances ?''
''Well," qneried Henri, in low, inter
ested tone, "what was my little wife's re
ply2'
Your little wife told him, sir, that it
was present from her husband,a land that
it had been in my possession about four
years. How or where You came by it
she could not inform him.
"Then he departed satisfied? ?"
"No, indeed"
"Then he inquired your name, ge,and
profession 2"
"Did he? I do not know whether I
ought to feel complimented or insulted.
Did you tell him p
"I hesitated, and told him."
81 wish that you had not hesitated, land
then not told him Something Of mo.
ment may grow out of this curiosity
But it will not matter Then he depart
edm
"No; he stood absorbed in troubled
thought few minutes,as though weigh
ing deep problem, and then said he had
taken very strong and eccentric fancy
for the trinket, and asked if l would for
a consideration. part with it," a...
"What was your reply to that very bu-
siness like proposition"
That being your gift l should much
dislike to let it go
"Of course, that must have terminated
the conversation I" s1a . ta
"Of course, but it did not, though. 1t
became more pointed than ever"
"Well, well! am eager to learn the
denouement," said Henri IF am not
at fault in my surmi.es, something will
shortly grow out of this affair that will
interest very wide circle. Give me the
exact particulars. What followed p
"He said he was wealthy and did not
value money; and that he had conceived
so strong desire to possess the cross
that, wild as the offer might seem, he
would not demur at giving 500 francs
for it,"
"Five hundred parbleu! The trinket
is not worth five francs,'' said Henri, ex
citedly "The man is either lunatic, or
what | more strongly suspect him OF
being" a -s,s
Sand what is it possible for you to
more strongly suspect him of being
| asked Irene. su'
"a knave. In spite of the temptation
of 500 francs, see thatyou still bear the
cross. would have thought the sum suf-
icient to buy all the crosses in Paris,
and all the women bearing them. How
did you resist?''
''If did not know that your slur on
women and their crosses was said more
in humor than earnest, would not give
Iyou another word of information. told
the man that the offer was very tempting,
but that could not possibly accept it
without first consulting YOU"