Litchfield enquirer., 1874-08-06
From the Atl,ntic Month:v. MADAME

Madame was born in Baltimore, and at the age of eighteen she became nc- quainte,l with Baron R, who accom- panied thes French minister tn this conn- try. She WAS younger than the handsome foreigner by three years, anal srch was her beauty and wealth that he loved he, devotedly at once. Amid much stir ard golden hustle they were married with Protestant rites, and the happy girl .ie; parted for France with train of her wor- shlplng schooi-mates. The day on which they bade their adieux was one of the rarest of the year Thc air had a SiciliaD softness, the sky was unblemished by ! single cloud, the glowing cxpanse of the sea invited, and a whole city came to bid them godspeed. Her name was upon every lip, and they who beheld her upon the deck of the ship always remembered her radiant face. It was picture which filled their eyes and their hearts. The young republican was full of serene ocsta- cy, and her warm glance fell now upon her brave husband, now upon her throng- Ing friends, and now upon her beloved land. People brought their children to be kissed by the "barOness;" the gar,len- CTS adorned her surroundings witl. flowers: the mothers and grandmothers prayed for her Ill secret.
 In the interval between her departure and her return there occurred the cou,, C etat of Napoleon III. The husband the Baron R--, was an Imperialist. therefore his star was ill the ascendant l People n America reJoicetl at the splen- did fortunes of the wife, and the glory of those marvellous days was transmitted across the ocean. It was gallant news to hear; that of fctes, journeys, and royal ex- curslons, and of splendid preferments. 1 The name of the beautiful American was always prominent; 1t Was constantly coup led with that of the empress, and it seem ed that they were good friends. Travel CTS who returned from abroad brought accounts of the exile, and it appeared that hef career was what might be called lu- mlnouS one, so filled was it with the de lights of a happy and prosperous court. The interval have referred to was one of twenty-five years. At tho end of that tune the baroness returned to this coun try, arriving in New York. She was bent. she hoDbled with a cane, and she broupht two trunks.
 A policeman prOcnrad Q carriage and sho begged him to purchase newspaper for her. She examlned its crowded col umns, and she thrust pin into notice of lodgings to let in private 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 shawls about her. The day was stormy. the street was sombre, and the pavement 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 paths of the drivers filled the air. The feeble and unresisting lady was tossed here and there by the rude collisions, and she was stunned by the noise. The terrible clang- or of wheels, bells, and voices benumbed her ears, the hurry of everything confused her eyes, and her thoughts, distracted and iragmentary. overwhelmed her brain and made a child of her.
 Her destination was three miles off, and on the western aide or the GUY. When sne arrived she lowered the window-sash and contemplated the house. It had sev- eral excellent qualities. It was retired; that IS, 1t was Ill quiet street. It had a low basement, which would obyiate 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 thronged. Two neat maids were cleansing tho windows; a proof that the landlord was particular: two men were just finishing the storing of a load of coke instead of coal under the sidewalk; an indication that he was eco- nomical and that his prices were not great.
 The lady installed herself under this roof. She occupied parlor on the first floor: she would have gone higher, had she been younger and had she been rich CT. She at once established herself.
 She sent out and purchased two or three prints and two or three vases and hand full of flowers. She also purchased one of those bedsteads which may be folded mp in the day y-time. She hesecreted her sosaneau 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 maid: en- gagged her meals from neighboring ho- tel; arranged that a carriage should come at eleven o'clock on each warm day, and made list of the best physicians upon a bit of paper which she kept in tho fly 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
 
 out-of-doors, and after her return from ride she rested and dozed before fire un- til dinner-tlme ut six, when she ate fru- gally, and then retired to bed again.
 Now and then a splendid equipage would arrive with aged visitors for her. and 1t was always noticed that they wept as they went away, and that they never came again. It was always noticed that after these calls Madame walked for a while without cane, and that she walked great deal. They seemed to arouse her and quicken hex spirits.
 One day she received a letter from France. It was in a blue envelope.
 Presently the wife of the landlord was sent for. She had never entered the room before.
 Shc beheld her lodgcr seated in a deep chair which almost touched the ground, laughing heartily. Tears ran down her wrinkled checks, and the lace upon her cap trembled as if agitated by breeze. She cried out suddenly with harsh and penetrating voice.
 ''He is comingi He is comingp' She shook the letter. The maid stood behind her, nervously knotting tho fringe of the chair. The woman, who was shrewd | and experienced, diverted her attention to something else. 'I don't think your seat can be a com fortable one. Madame. It is too low. I think it would be easier if you were to raise 1t with cushion"
 ''Yes-yes, that 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 endeavored to steady herself, but her arms and limbs trembled. This was something new. A deep gravity over- spread her face while she was thus strug- gtlng with herself. She looked down and attentively regarded the involuntary agi- tatiOn of the skirts of her dress. The steel point of the cane which touched the hearth beat a tattoo. Presently she look cd up with significant smile and said to the landiadyr
 "You see that I want another cane. One is not enough; Imust have two."
 Thereafter she walked at snail's pace and like quadruped. The landlady heard no more of the letter from France,