Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-12-22
The Last Trick of the
Pare.

In ITO lived the Marquis of Charnay at Vsr
sailles,--a gallant nobemsn--who fony-fv,
years before had been one Of the pages Of Loui
XIV. -
The Marquis,in his youth, had been one of thu
most dissipated mobiles ofthe Court. He hac
been favorite with all the various mistress e
OF his sovereign; had been q friend of Madame
de Pompadour, and a afollower Of Dubarry; and
having grown gray In pursuit of pleasure
grew weary of the constant chase, aud reform
ed.
By way of aleviating the hardships of refor
nation, he married young and beautiful wo
man, whose union with so venerable b spouse
afforded much merriment to the court Of thai
excellent monarch, Louis XIV, who, like his
subject, had grown old, unlike him, had not
grown vlrtuous.
Doubtless the Marquis ran the same risk as
all men who mate their bleak December With
beauteous May; but he was still handsome, &C.
complishsd and witty, and, to gain the afiec-
tion of his young wife, he was determined to
put forth all his attractions.
Happily tor h III she was disposed 10 be pleas
ed; aud he being neither jealous, nor careless,
succeeded in inspiring her, If not with passion
ate love, ith sincere and respe tful attach
ment.
lie ma lie no stern regulations for her deport
menii she was allowed to receive visitors with
as attractive rs youth, beauty, ealih a nd sta
iion could make ii; while the tone of the socie-
y that frequeuted its halls was iu perfect har.
mony with the age and dignity of her devoted
husband
Among the lordhngs admitted to the Hotel
de Charnay was the Baron de Breteuil, Young
officer who was making his entrance into So
ciety, and who, for the very reason that he had
no record wherewith to frighten tho scruples
nf "A mi in ri mi Nv tha u.aru =
man (should he undertake to grow sentiment
tal) that might also grow to be vely DANGER
Gus.
He was tall and graceful, had melancholy
eyes, conyersed in meloaiOus detni tones, and
was given to gentle piessures OF the hand.
The Marquis de CharDay saw with terror
that the Young officer was In love with his
wife; and his heart beat with apprehension,
when following this discovery, he perceived
that the Marchioness was losing her appetite
and her sem bon point" and was looking weary
and disprited.
Her husband was quite as much concerned
at her detection as at his suspicious OF its cause
He was Just as anxious to make her happy as
to be happy himself
After revolving in his head fifty schemes,
each one leaving him more perplexed than be-
fora, lie conceived the novel idea of making an
appeal 10 the Breteuil, and, by generous can
heart Of the young man himself.
With this intention he drove to the Blton's
lodging He had Just finished the elaborate
toilet with which he was accustomed to arm
himself for conquest in his daily visits to the
Hotel de Charnay, and, In the fnlness rat
isiacton, Was thiuking that he was more at
tractiye and mslaucholly looking than u5ual
IN. de Breteuil;" began the Marquis, ''you
ale falling in love with my wife. You are vi
olating the sanctily OF happy home, and In
the thoughtessuess Of extreme youth, are i'm
perrillng the happiness OF an excellent wo-
man.
Were | younger man, my tone would be
different, perhaps; but 1 have lost agility as a
swordsman, sir, and cannot measure weapons
with you. The years that have robbed ME OF
strength, however, have taught me, hope, dis
cretion.
My dear wife's home shall be compromised
by no word or act of mine be you equally
generous, and spare her reputation by leaving
this place at once. Join your regiment at
Stenay, and let me owe 10 your honor the res.
torstion OF my domestic happiness"
Instead of denying his love for the Marchlon-
ess, anu swearing after the manner of the
gallants of the day, that he had never presum-
ed to give her thought, de Breteu burst
into tears, vowed that he loved her to distrac
ton, and poured tie whole story of his in
tense passion into the ears of lhe astonished
husband.
"What" sobbed he, task me to Danish nv
self from her presence Why, banishment to me
were death! What care l for my regiment? The
world contains but one being lor me-life but
one aim. To breathe the air that she breathes
to die al her feet! | ask that but one sad
privilege. DO not deny me so small boom"
This was the very last thing the Marquis ex-
pected to hear. In spite of his own vexation
he felt sorry for Breteuil for, being very young
he was very much in earnest, and was fully
persuaded at that moment that simultaneous
with a separation from Madame de Charnay
would be the sundering of his soul from his
body.
"Neyerheless" thought de Charnay, " the
separation must take place" and feeling that
words would be wasted upon such. moon
struck oddity, he contented himself with for
bidding de Breteull the house, aud returned
home TO sec what effect he could have upon
the Marchioness.
He came upon her in her boudoir, half sitting
and halflying upon the downy cushions OF a
satin lounge, the very counterpart of Smin-
brides and his bed Of rose leaves. Those of
his wife, de Charnay saw, were very much
| crumped indeed, so he began his task with all
possible gentleness.
With consummate tact he led the conyersa.
ton TO the subject OF de Breteuil; wondered at
his frequent visits; spoke Of the,imprudenee of
those married women who suffered one nan to
be more attentive TO item than others; and f.
nally drew from his pretty Marchloness the
confession that de Breteuil had addressed to
her several notes.
Madame de Charnay was quite young and
thoughtless; but she was a woman of principle
She had allowed herself to grow sentimental