Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-01-22
A Romantic Story.

At Il short distance from Fort de
France, the seat of government of Mar
Unique, rise the celebrated hot mineral
springs known as "Fontaine Chaud." F"
These springs are said to possess great
curative properties. They flow in large
streams from the ground, and the
waters are conveyed to bathing-houses,
to which great numbers of invalids re-
sort. A romantic history is connected
with this place. In the year 1887 the
springs were visited by a party, con-
sisting of Monsieur, and Madame La
Rossare, Mile. Adele Monery, the maid
servant, and several other persons. One
day, while they were enjoying the bath,
and entirely unsuspicious of danger,
the enbankment at the head of the
springs, where the waters were confined
in large reservoir, gave way, the tor
rent overwhelmed the bathIng-houses,
and bore the inmates to destruction.
Among the victims was the beautiful
Mile. Adele. This young lady was con-
sidered the most beautiful maiden on
the island, and we can not refrain from
relating a story which illustrates the
power and fascination of her charms.
Her brother, who was engaged in ex-
tensive commercial enterprise in Mar
Unique, suddenly found himself in
volved, by the dishonesty of man
with whom he was connected, in Pc
cuniary difficulties, from which he was
unable to extricate himself, and he
failed for the large sum of one million
francs. Unable to make a true ex-
hibit Of his affairs without involving q
person whom he was unwilling to drag
befole the public, he determined to
sacrifice himself, and fled from the
island without attempting to justify
himself to his creditors. Criminal pro-
ceedings were commenced against him.
He was summoned to appear at court,
and Oh his failure to do so, he was pro-
nounced guilty, and sentenced to be
burned in effigy i'll the public square.
This sentence was carried into effect.
His sister, the beautiful and fascinating
Adele, knowing him to be guiltless,
brooded long over the disgrace and
sorrow which had clouded the konor of
the family, and atlength she determined
to make an effort to clear her brothers
character. Obtaining an interview
with the governor, she sank upon her
knees before him, and made an i'm
passioned appeal for clemency toward
the fugitive, who, she urged, had never
been heard in his own defense. Moved
by her beauty, her eloquence, and Sis
terly devotion, the gallant old governor,
whose heart was still young, gently
raised her from the ground, and prom
ised full pardon for her brother il on
new investigation it should appear
that he had been too severely dealt
with. In few weeks she had the hap
piness to send her brother full pardon,
and permission to return to the island.
Nor was the old governor content with
this simple act of justice. He gave the
young man q post of honor and respon-
sibility under government, which he
held for many years. But after the
tragical death of his sister his own life
was destined to end under a cloud. He
held position in the Treasury, and on
one occasion, when required to produce
a large amount of gold, he discovered
to his horror that the money had been
stolen from the vault in which it had
been stored. Stung to desperation, and
knowing too well that tn. old story
would be revived, he shot himself
through the head. A short time after
ward the real thief was discovered and
brought to punishment. The memory
of the beautiful Adele and her un-
fortunate brother is still tenderly cher
ished in Martinique.