The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-02
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.


been at the other end of the world. She dared
not go up. She stopped, suffoeated with the
beating of her heart. If it was already TOO
late-the thought nearly paralyzed her with
horror. If she were q minute too late!
Finally, when on the stairs she wept. Then
she dared ring.
81 have wept," she thought; I" he is saved"
Taught by long and singular experience, the
young girl knew that tears were for her the
mysterious and certain sign that her prayer
was granted. She rang A servant-giri,
without speaking, led her to bed, and
uttered a single word" Dead and then
added "The funeral will take place in two
hours. He threw himself into the Seine from
the bridge of Austerlitz." ls
"He is not dead" said Marie.
"The registration of the death has been
made, ," said the woman.
"Without replying Marie looked iixedly at
him, and said to herself:
she is not dead. l have wept he is not
dead. Paul |" che called. Silence. "Paul"
Silence.
She seized n mirror, and hold it to her
brothers lips. At the moment she took it in
her hand she burst into tears. You will see
that he is sayedw she said
The woman thought her crazy. Marie still
held the mirror before PauPs lips. Dead
silence her own poor heart nearly stopped
the mirror was tarnished!
III.
Seven years afterwards NJ. le Baron de
Brienne was conversing in numerous and
choice circle. 1t was at grand dinner. The
women were crowned with flowers and spark
ling with jewels. The conversation turned
Il. Il l,ol L.,
committed, the details of which filled two
columns of every paper. Suddenly the Baron
de Brienne became singularly agitated, and
then, in a voice which he endeavored to keep
calm, but whose trembling was still further
shown by the effort to subdue it, said:
"It appears that the police have not yet dis
covered any trace of the assassin..
al don't know" replied guest.
81 believe not" said another.
Excuse me-" replied third person; "ac
cording to the latest accounts, the police if
not positively sure, had at least great hopes.'
The Baron de Brienne was as white as
his napkin. He tried to overcome and con-
ceal his excitement, and attempted to eat; but
the effort was too great. He swooned, and fell
heavily to the ground
Every one rose and crowded around hun
Water was thrown in his face, salts ere held
for him to inhale. The hostess neglected none
of the ceremonies usual in such cases. Fortu-
nately, there was ysician among the guests.
Every attention was lavished upon NJ. le
Baron. His carriage was called, and he was
taken home.
The next day he was better ut the end of
three days he was WELL lie made them bring
any quantity of papers, aud read them to him.
Nine In Baronne, who was tho reader sud
denly paused, and said:
Here is more of the horrid crime of which
We were all talking when you were taken ill.'
"Well ~ said the baron in n singular tone
"Well," continued the baroness, the muir
derer has been arrested. But what strange
interest you take in the affair.""
"Ir replied the baron. "Oh ! not at all
can very truly say that. Why do you think
Otherwisef
because you are so strangely excited when
ever the subject is mentioned"
"What do you mean, talking about my rx-
element 7" he replied " Can you possibly
imagine, like those stupid people at dinner the
other evening, that this affair interests me in
the slightest degree They were all there
looking at me, looking at me- with eyes,
with eyes Are you, too, going to stare at
me now with those eyes with those eyes
---."
Nine. 10 BAronne rose, and wrote two lines:
Dear doctor, come inStGHHy7
Garry that to the telegraph office" she said
to the servant.
"She did not count the words" mnttered
the man in astonishment, as no Withdrew. " 1t
must be something very serious"
Three months had elapsed, and the baron
had resumed his ordinary lifo, when one cve-
ming, in q sd'on in the faubourg St. Ionore, n
gentleman remarked, in the course of CONVEX
sation, that it was astonishing the number Of
crimes one daily heard Of Aud he related the
last murder that the daily paper had brought
under his eyes.
Said the baron: "Why do you make such
an assertionf Never were crimes so rare rs
to-day; manners and customs so much
softened, we can almost say there arc no
longer any criminals. None can be found in
the higher class of society and when we
sneak of the aristocracy IL means tho entire