The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-07-28


The French papers are full of So
ciety scandal or divorce in high life,
Of the Count di Mello from his wife.
The case was begun, three years ago,
in Portugal, and came up in May last,
before the Court of Appeals. which
denied the motion for a separation.
As the Count and lovely Counters
were we'll known to many Americans
in Nice, during the winter of 1872, .
few details of the cause of their do
nestle troubles may not prove unin-
teresting. The rich Russian Prince
de N gave a grand soIRRE at his
elegant villa, and invited several
American officers, who were then
with the feet at "Villefranche.
Among the invited guests were the
Count and his wife. During the even
ing they we're both introduced to the
young and popular Vicomte Gustavus
Lilo, an officer with a glorious record
for one SO young and belonging to one
Of the most illustrious families of
Belgium. He was the beau Of the
evening, aud the pet of the ladies', but
suffice it to say, Lilo fell desperately
in love with the beautiful Spanish
Countess, and she with him, though
her pride forbade her to admit the
possibility Of such thing. Yet she
was proud of her conquest, and ac-
cepted marked attention from the
handsome officer 1t was her first
meeting, though they were not un-
known to each other. During the
evening the foolish wife wrote few
lines on slip of paper, which she in
tended to give the young ViscOunt to
caution him against her jealous hus-
band. During the dancing the enam.
ored pair stole into one of the fairy
bouldoirs, and TETE. A.TETE was
pleasantly progressing, and a rendez-
vous passionately solicited by the
Viscount, when with trembling hand,
she handed him the few lines she had
written, wrapped in her handkerchief.
Read this little later" she said,
and started to enter the ball room,
but was met, face to face, by the in
furiated husband, who had missed
them from the room. An ironic smile
| was ON his lips. My dear Viscount.'
said he, ''if l mistake not. my wife
quite monopolizes your society. 1t is
nearly two hours since you left the
ballroom, and the guests began to in
quire for you" While thus speaking
| he reached his hand to take the hand
| kerchief, which he recognized as his
wife's. when Lilo drew back in in
diguation, exclaiming, This hand.
kerchief is not yours" Pardon me"
said the Count. iii bears such strong
resemblance OF that Of my wiie's, and
if hers, she must have given it to
you" You are mistaken" said
| Lilo; 1T was not given to mel took
! it. The handkerchief is worth two
| hundred louis, and if you took it you
the row began: hot. angry words were
exchanged. The result was chal-
lenge and duel, arranged TO take
place the next day. During this dis
pute the poor Countess tainted on a
sofa. Two American officers went as
seconds for the Count, and the antag-
onists met short distance from
Vllleffanche As the moment drew
near, the young Belgian asked as a
special favor to be allowed TO wear his
white vest. giving as pretcxt his
fear of taking cold, and the contest
began with swords. AT the first
pass Lilio's sword fell from his
hand, the saber of his adversary hay-
ing pierced him to the heart. He fell
without uttering word-dead. His
seconds" in examining his wound,
found the fatal handkerchief pierced
by the sword OF Mello, and saturated
with hearts blood. These are the
details of the cause for which the
Count asked separation, on sus-
picion Of his wife's infidelity, and was
denied by the highest Court of Por-
tugal.-Paris Letter.