The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-05-13
A PARIS HOME.
A Woman. Tries to Destroy the Husband
who has Dissipnted her Fortune.


We have in Paris, says the 7ribune's
correspondent, great lady, foreigner,
who goes in society with an unblushing
front, and who, nevertheless, has COM
mitted that inhuman crime-a woman
who has set her husband ON fire. The
story may be worth telling. The hus-
band did not love his wife. Why did he
marry her, then2 In America man
sees a pretty girl with no money and
marries her, saying that beauty is the
same as specie; and he is right. In
Europe he sees an ugly woman draped in
banknotes and marries her, saying there
is no happiness without money; and he
is wrong. This is what Count II. did:
He took Mademoiselle Armande o. be-
cause of the million she incumbered.
But he had reckoned without his host.
Mile. o. was a character. She was not
to be trified with. She at once took
high ground with her husband. "Mon-
sierlr," she said to him in full honey
moon, " will let you know you are not
to control me. If you behave as gen.
tleman will pardon you for the sums
your conduct has already cost you and
me. But if find you only married me
for my million 1 will be revenged." "
The husband accepted all her revenges
with philosophic calmness. and continued
to waste her substance. When dignity
has fled from q house its inmates are no
longer man and woman-they are merely
criminals and maniacs. In this unhappy
marriage they came-shall l say it q
even to blows. Violence took the place
of insult. The husband talked of q
separation of persons and goods. "Ah,
yes p said the lady, 81 understand.
You wish separation of persons, hav-
ing made way with the goods" "Yes,
said the husband, coldly. "That does
not suit me, " said the wife. "You have
killed my heart, my reason, my honor;
and now shall have your life."
Count d'H. tried to laugh at her.
"But, madame, why should You wish
my death when 1 ask nothing better than
to leave you3' because that is my
only possible revenge" Nonsense,
my dear. Cowards and women revenge
themselves, and you are neither. 1t
must be that you want to marry again. y
"Why not, sir? have been very little
married with YOU" This conjugal con-
versation ended with the usual climax
of endearment. The wife had the
bitterer tongue, the husband the
heavier fist. The lady retired, beaten
but not satisfied, and resolved to be rid
of her husband. But how to go about
it9 She was not strong enough to Use
the poniard, and she revolted at the
cowardice of poison. This is what took
place. One evening she found him in
bed reading letter in woman's hand
writing. In sudden rage she set his
curtains on fire and ran away, locking
the door on the outside. He
screamed fire, but the servants were toe
far to hear him. 1t was horrible. The
chamber was upholstered in Louis XIV.
cretonne, which instantly took fire from
the bed. NJ. III. at last gotto q window,
and as he was about to throw himself
out, his wife took pity and opened the
door, asking what was the matter with a
look of Innocent surprise. The hus.
bands life was saved, but his disfigure-
ment was complete.
The case has been much talked about,
and there are those who do not hesitate
to defend the wife. They accuse the
husband of having tormented, deceived,
and ruined his wife. When the court
ordered their separation there was only
left to her some three OF four thousand
francs year of her fortune, with which
she can make very little figure in the
world. But the husband will show to
still less advantage with his SCARED and
scanned cheeks and forehead. 1t is sad
to carry into the world the scars received
at home