The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-31
MADAME.

/ b4AOGAh4As
| Madame was born in Baltimore, and
at the age of eighteen she became &C
| quainted with Baron R, who &C
companied the French minister to this
country. She was younger than the
| handsome foreigner by three years, and
such was her beauty and wealth that he
| loved her devotedly at once. Amid
much stir and golden hustle they were
married with Protestant rites, and the
happy girl departed for France with
train of her worshiping school mates.
The day on which they bade their
| adieux was one of the rarest OF the
year. The air had a Sicilian softness,
the sky was unblemished by single
cloud, the glowing expanse Of the sea
invited, and a whole city came to bid
them godspeed. Her name was upon
every lip, and theywho beheld her upon
the deck of the ship always remem-
bered her radiant face. 1t was a pic
ture which filed their eyes and their
hearts. The young republican was full
of serene ecstacy, and her warm glance
fell now upon her brave husband, now
upon her throngin9 friends, and upon
her beloved land. People brought
their children to be kissed by the
baroness :" the gardeners adorned
her surroundings with flowers the
mothers and grandmothers prayed for
her in secret.
In the interval between her depart
ure and her return there occurred the
coup d'etdt of Napoleon III. The hus-
band, the Baron R, was an Impe-
rialist; therefore his star was in the
ascendant. People in America reIoiced
at the splendid fortunes of the wife, and
the glory of those marvellous days was
transmitted across the ocean. 1t was
gallant news to hear that Of feteS,
Journeys, and royal excursions, and of
splendid preferments. The name of
the beautiful American was always
prominent; it was constantly coupled
with that of the empress, and 1t seemed
that they were good friends. IIav-
elers who returned from abroad brought
accounts of the exile, and it appeared
that her career was what might be
called luminous one, so filled was 1t
with the delights of happy and pros
porous court.
The interval I have referred to IVES
one of twenty-five years. At the end of
that time the baroness returned to this
country, arriving in New York. She
was bent, she hobbled with cane, and
she brought two trunks.
A policeman procured a carrige and
she begged him to purchase a news
paper for her. She examined its
crowded columns, and she thrust a pin
INTO notice of lodgings to let IN a pIi-
vate hotel. She bade the driver hasten
thither and draw up opposite the house
SO that she might examine it,
Then she sank back into the farthest
corner of the carriage, and drew her
shawl about her. The day was stormy,
the street was sombre, and the pave
ment was covered with mud. Now and
then the horses came to a stop in the
midst of a mob of drays, and the shouts
and oaths of the drivers filled the air.
The feeble and unresisting lady was
tossed here and there by the rude col
lIsIOns, and she was stunned by the
noise. The terrible clangOr of wheels,
bells, and voices benumbed her ears,
and her thoughts, distracted and frag-
mentary, overwhelmed her brain and
made child of h r.
Her destination was three miles off,
and on the western side of the city.
When she arrived she lowered the win
dow-sash and contemplated the house.
1t lad several excellent qualities. 1t
was retired /; that is, it was in a quiet
street. 1t had a low basement, which
would Obviate the necessity of climbing
a long flight of steps-an important
advantage. Several of the blinds were
closed, which indicated that the house
was not throDged. Two neat maids
were cleansing the windows;
proof that the landlord was par
ticular two men were Just fin
ishiDg the storing of a load of coke
instead of coal under the sidewalk; an
Indication that he was economical and
his prices were not great.
The lady installed herself under this
roof. She occupied a parlor on the
first floor she would have gone higher,
had she been young and had she been
richer. She at once established her
self.
She sent out and purchased two or
three prints and two or three vases and
a handful of flowers. She also pur-
chased one of those bedsteads which
may be folded up in the daytime. She
secreted her SinlneaU and her trunks
behind a screen of figured baize, and
thus she eked a chamber out of her
drawing room.
She procured the services of a maid
en- gagged her meals from a neighborinG
hotel ; rarapged that carriage sbould
come at eleven o'clock on each warm
day, and made list of the best pbvsi.
clans upon a bit of paper which she
kept in the fy-leaves of her book of
Common Prayer. She contracted this
routine. She arose at nine, listened
while her maid read the lessons of the
day, ate breakfast of rice and toast
and marmalade, was dressed for Ont.of-
doors, and after her return from ride
she rested and dozed before a fire untiI
dinner time at six, when she ate frr-
gally, and then retired to bed again.
Now and then a splendid eouinaoe
would arrive with aged visitors for her
and it was always noticed that tbey
wept as they went away, and that tbey
never came again. 1t was also noticed
that after these calls Madame walked
for awhile without a cane, and that she
walked great deal. They seemed to
arouse her and quiken her spirit.
One day she received a letter from
AeANSs IL as III a OluS GuNGlODH
Presently the wife of the Landlord wss
sent fer. She had never entered the
room before.
She beheld her lodger seated in a deem
chair which almost touched the ground
laughing heartily. Tears ran down her
wrinkled cheeks, and the lace upon her
cap trembled as if agitated by breeze
She cried out suddenly with harsh and
penetrating voice.
- He is coming He is cominer'
"She shook the letter. The maid
stood behind her, nervously knottinp
the fringe of the chair. The Woman
who was shrewd and experienced di,
verted her attention to something else.
Il don't think your seat can be a
comfortable one, Madame. 1t is too low.
think it would be easier if you we're to
raise it with a cushion"
"Yes--yes, sthat is true. Give me
your hands and will get up"
She was assisted to her feet and her
cane was given to her. She fixed it on
the floor and cndeavored to steady her.
self, but her arms and limbs trenbled.