New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER "a 1875


Poor thing! imprisoned as she might be,
she was far freer than any of those bedi-
zened women.
II repeat" said the Marquis, who, to do
him justice, no doubt believed the poor girls
agonies to be assumed, "your sister shall be
found aud brought here. Blind as che is,
she will not not have stIayed far from the
spot whence you we're taken. Give Inc your
hand and sit down by me-"
II will not give you my hand, and do
not desire that my sister should be brought
to this place of iniquity"
The guests murmured; but the Marquis
laughed outright, and, in fact, found his
new acquisition the more desirable the more
she resisted her capture,
Stand away from me!' she cried, in a
high voice. What! ia there not one man
of honor among all you gentlemen who will
say word for wretched girl, seeking to
save blind sister from the streets"
"Oh,' observed the Marquis, smoothly,
there we are all men of honor; but not one
of us will help you again TO what you are
pleased to call your liberty!'
There you are mistaken. Marquis" in
terposed the Chey slier; "for l will y
You, Chevalier p
Yes: let the girl 60! She looks upon this
place as disgracetul y
MY good Chevalier, did Won hear the
bell of the chateau sound, even while you
were speaking"
Yes: it sounded midnight"
.'You are quite right. and you ought also
TO know that once midnight has passed no.
body who is here leaves until dawn
There will be exceptions tonight
Indeed" replied the Marquis, imperi-
ouslv.
Eyes: myself and this LADY,
Lady ~ whispered the fair persons, who
had now crowded about the antagonists.
"You will not dare to insist !" cried the
irate Marquis.
his sword. "Will you, Marquis, dare re
sist !"
"Assuredly - replied the Marquis, slip
ping his rapier from its scabbard.
In a moment, amidst the low-sounding
cries of mixed alarm and curiosity, the
swords of the two men crossed.
But the Marquis, who was mere de-
oauchee, had no chance against clever.
active man, training himself to fight in the
battle of life after the crash should come.
Two or three passes, and the Marquis
Uuvered back into the arms of his nearer
friends, disabled flor some weeks at least)
from doing further mischief by thoroughly
effective sword thrust through the muscle of
his sword arm.
"Ths wayr' said the Chevalier, who
was troubled by no further opposition, and
OHeTluS MS arm " LILO pOoT ILLS way
Do not be afraid. You see there was one
man OF some honor here. after all. If / do
you some service, you have taught me a
good lesson. Let us leave this place to-
gether. am as likely to return as you are,
and certainly you will never see it again.
Come"
III.-THE SECRET ARCHIVES.
The scene is the official residence of the
chief minister of police, and under that
roof the bureau of the high functionary
himself a terrible, severe looking man, with
an iron will, and of ceaseless pride.
He had that day obtained the post for
which he had been thirstiDg for years. He
was now in possession of the power he COW
eted, and yet he dared not so fall before
himself as to use it after the mode in which
he had contemplated his power while he
was still far from it's existence.
But this should be understood; he was a
Just man in his way, and one desir0us of
helping the world rather than injuring it,
He was, however, stepped in that belief in
aristocracy which was soon to be its own
destroyer. Good and honorable to degree
was this gentleman, the Count de Liniere,
but still cursed with the insane belief that
the people only lived for the benefit of the
mere aristocracy and the King.
He was examining certain papers at the
table, while an officer of police, of high
tientiy standing before him awaiting his
orders.
So he said, 'still no information as to
the place of concealment of the girl called
Henriette, who was carried off in open day
by minions of the Marquis de Presles p
mo, my lord
Il repeat it is monstrous that such an
outrage should have occurred! l am sorry
to have to EXPIRE 50 myself so distinctly on
this, the first day of my accession to power.
but it must be thoroughly understood that
the King himself is at last alive to the Sc
rious nature of such proceedings, and, es-
pecialy, he wishes to know who are the
frequenters Of these midnight revels, which
are disgrace to the city! We mobiles should
set an example to those beneath us, and not
permit our interiors to point the finger of
scorn at us! Have you learned with whom
the Marquis de PIesles was fighting when
wounded in his own gardens some weeks
sincel'
Yes; we have ascertained the name of
the Marquis opponent
who was he!'
81 have considerable hesitation in nam
ing the gentleman"
'Why9'
because, my lord. you will probably be
distressed to hear it,"
Nevertheless, insist upon knowing it."
The subordinate bowed, and replied:
THE Marquis opponent was your neph-
ew, Armand, Chevalier de Vaudry."
The new minister of police was evidently
shocked, aud for a few moments he APP
peared to have no power of speech; but re-
covering himself, he said
"Sr, my nephew forms no exception to
any rule / lay down should he choose to
violate it. II ne err, arrest him as you
would any other culprit."
The officer bowed.
"You may retire."
The obedient subordinate was about to
do as he was ordered, when the minister's
voice, in softer tone, arres ted his steps,
informed that there is a complete record
among the police archives of all the lives
and doings of the great families through
out France!"
"That is so, my lord"
"Even of my own"
Gwen of your own, my lord"
"And my wife's!"
"of the Countess also, replied the grave
"And am at liberty, as the chief minis.
ter of police, to see these archives at any
moment"
SAT any moment"
II am obliged, sir. You may retire."
When the official had retired, the cold,
blank expression on the Counts face passed
away, tno lips uulForou, Tue eyes ull6u WIN
tears, and the powerful minister paced the
room.
'She has never loved me-" he said. "She
has ever hidden her secret from me-that
secret which has stood between us from the
first hour in which / called her my wife.
She can not love me, despite all my tender
ness; and that look of mingled fear and
humiliation which l saw at the altar, have
marked daily from that hour to this, when
sixteen years have passed away. have