New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-24
"Do you think can not save myself from

mo; she who gave me that saved me
from the river, and forever. But there is
another lneaps-repentance!
Repentance ~ he laughed.
A guard of armed police were passing.
She turned to the brigader.
Sir she cried, II am thief, and give
myself upl'
Think twice ~ said the officer
"a thief she cried. ARREST me ~
She placed herself among the armed men,
Aud then it was that jacques was uneasy,
for he saw that he should lose her, and in
his brutal way he lover her
Marianne ~ he cried, in voice that was
almost human.
TOO late" she replied; .'too late. told
you that would be rid of you, and thus
keep my word y
u.-'THE MOST NOBLE"
II any one had suggested to the proprie.
tor OF the chateau and estate of Bel-Air, the
most noble the Marquis de Presles, that he
was not a gentleman, in two moments he
would have whipped out the rapier he car
ried, have called upon the speaker to be on
guard, and then he would have done his
best to run him through and leave him dead
upon the ground, and without the least
c0mpunctiOn in the world.
BY the law of those days. which have
happily passed away, the Marquis would
have proved in this way chat he was a gen
tleman.
But so far from being one, he was as
elegant scoundrel as any in France. which
is saying good DEAL for the French no.
bility of those times managed to gid sin as
no men had ever before gilt it, as nc men
ever will again.'L
It was the chief pleasure OF these men TO
destroy an honest girl, body ami soul-to
make her callous. insolent. cynical.
They followed the example Of the then
almost expiring Louis XIV, and he had said
After me, the deluge."
The Pavilion of Bel AR and its surround
ings were like a hundred others between
Paris and Versailes-a mass OF gold, velvet
and crystal, of clipped trees and fountains;
while the jewellers were dressed in silks,
satins, and laces, and neither men nor
women were fit for any useiul" occupation
or vigorous exercise.
IL was some hours after sunset, on the
dav when Henrietta was abducted in the
full blaze of the setting sun that, at the Pa
lion of Bel Air, a fete of the usual charac.
ter was progressing. The worthless of the
place were congregated and lounging about
among number Of elegantly dressed wo-
men, all OF whom had once been happy, and
equally all of whom tried to fancy they
were still so, in state of grandeur to
which they had not been born, and which.
in great measure, had been forced upon
them by the mysteries Of want and tempta-
ton.
In such society comrade who arrived
had no welcome; comrade who stayed
away was asked after with irritable cugios-
ity; while a comrade who died was forgot
ten before his body was placed in the
ground.
Upon this occasion the absentee was re-
presented by one Armant, Chevalier de
by more than one or two of those who were
present.
Said the Marquis de Presles, the host .'It
is impossible to avoid the conclusion that
the Chevaler can scarcely be considered
one of us. He believes, for instance, that
the creatures in the cutters, that the tat:er-
donations feel as we feel, are as we are in
their wretched existences. The fact is, the
Chevaliar is degeneratDg, and if he does
not soon make sonnet progress toward re-
covery, we shall have to avoid him, and
leave him to his own company"
(which he will be able to ENDURE" was
replied in clear, soft voice.
1.-The Chevalier," said several of the splen-
didly dressed women.
Yes, replied the speaker, "she Chevalier
himself, who, having done his days work,
has come here for his evenings amusement,
and to learn his lesson of life'
He talks like a good book" said the
Marquis. my dear Chevalier," he contin-
ued "shall We never hear the last of your
proverbsl Why study or wOrry9 You are
rich and noble. and the world is, therefore,
open to yor upon pleasant paths. Why la
Dor, when your work was done for you be-
fore you were born?'
My dear Marquis" replied the Chevs-
lier, sit may happen am binder than most
of my order, but it may also chance that |
am better sighted. For my part, antci-
paIe time when the people will reform us,
and l should not wonder if, while they were
about it, they went little too far, and tried
to reform US off the face of the earth.
Therefore, am preparing for the coming
crash, when l may have nothing left be-
yOnd what l have learned, and when nv
knowledge shall console me for the loss of
all those things now possess and you alone
value-wealtn, station, power, pride and
scornr'
The princesses of the hour began to
laugh, and the gilded mobiles present fol-
lowed their example.
Nay, let us talk of pleasant things"
cried the Marquis, in ecclesiastical voice.
II have surprise for you, ladies'"
"A surprised" the brilliantly dressed
women cried.
Yes; my new acquisition; one of the
prettiest women ] ever saw. And bril-
liantly carried off by my people in the
broad daylight"
"Only a woman" said one of the gaily-
dressed crowd Of young girls.
rs she really pretty" asked a second,
''or does she only pretend to bel'
''Yon shall judge" said the Marquis,
"for l have ordered them to bring her
here"
"Ha! the usual comedyr' said fair rev.
eler, in a mocking voice. '.She wanted to
be carried off, and pretended she wished to
be free. Sac will give herself a few airs
and grsces, ask where she lie, then demand
to be sent home to her mother, and finally
forgive everybody, and find herself as
happy as we are"
"rhen all l can say is-poor thing !, said
the Chevalisr, in satirical voice.
Armand obtained no reply, for the an.
proach of couple of men, carrying what
peared to be sleeping or senseless woman,
obtained the general attention.
Under the Marquis direction she was
placed upon garden seat, and cold water
sprinkled upon her face.
She was not sleeping, but senseless.
Coarse face ~ remarked one of the fair
jewellers; Poor complexion " urged a sec.
ond; while third added, "HideOus hands!v
ION the contrary" said the Chevalier,
who was standing apart. ''her features are
delicate, she has fine complexion, and her
hands are we'll shaped"
"Wby, Chevalier," observed Julie, "you
have not looked at the person ~
mo; but heard the amiable remarks of
you ladies, and, therefore, l was able to
draw nv own conclusions. am sure am
correct"
"She has opened her eyes," whispered
some one, ,H HUH
The unhappy girl had done so, but there
was no consciousness in the sight. Sud
denly, however, there was intelligence in
her countenance, as she uttered the word
rT.ouiaeu : :,