The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-11-21

1
summarily shot down everything that
stood in their path; everything that might
stand in their path or that could IN any
way afford ground for mistrust and sus-
| picion. The streets were covered with
mEngled bodies of men, women and
children, end the spokesman of public
opinion in France, after having lamented
and bemoaned themselves in the first is
sue of their journals, had not failed In
the second issue to call the worlds at
tenti0n to the fact that the French army,
in consequence of the victory it had ac-
chieved, had once more reinstated France
in her proper seat of power in the van of
civilization. Everything was again in
exemplary order. / availed myself OF
this favorable moment of rare tranquility
to execute at last the commission entrust-
ed to me so many months before. had
no difficulty in finding the house that
| had been indicated. 1t was q beautiful,
spacious ediice. The porter who struck
his head from out the concierge box had
a dignifed, sedate appearance.
| Does Mademoiselle de ViIliers live
here?" | asked.
g Mademoiselle?" answered he. emo
doubt you mean Nine de Villers?"
/ suddenly remembered that it did, in
deed, sound unbecoming to ask for a
young lady, and replied:
"Of course, I mean Mime de Villers. "
g Second story, left door," and the lit
tie window was shut again. A pretty
servant maid, wearing a snow white,
coquettish little morning cap, opened the
door and looked at me inquiringly.
g I wish to speak to Nine de Villers, +"
said l. The servant maid inspected me
for a moment then courtesied and ushered
me in. 1 followed i'll some embarass-
ment had pictured quite otherwise
my entrance into the house of poor
Jacques's beloved. The parlor into which
the maid had led me was of striking ele-
gance.
" Whom have the honor of announc-
ing p asked my conductress.
| handed her my card. ''Mme de
Villers does not know me-" / added.
g Tell her, please, that / am here on an
GRAND from friend of the family"
The card was taken from me, and the
bearer disappeared behind the heavy silk
hangings which covered the floor. 1 was
kept waiting a long time. | examined
the room in which found myself. Never
had seen such extravaganza and luxury.
A costly Aubusson carpet covered the
floor; curtains of heavy antique stuffs
concealed doors and Windows, and yelled
the room in a mysterious twilight. A
richly ornamented rosewood piano, such
as is generally seen at expositions, attrac-
ted my eyes. The comfortable seats and
touches were covered with silk damask
| The clock and candelabra on the mantel
| were perfect works of art. On the tables,
the chimney piece, the piano, wherever
one looked, lay or stood art treasures OF
every Chinese vases, antique
Sevres cups; japanese caskets and chests,
ivory cases and carvings, curious wea-
pons (among them a dagger whose hilt
and sheath were adorned with precious
stones), and hundred other similar OBJ
iects. / noticed with some surprise, that
an onyx bowl stood on the mantel, in
which were Russian par yri of different
sizes. A single picture orDamented the
parlor, and at once arrested the gaze. 1t
was the portrait of a lady, and was pain
ted by one of the most famous and exor-
bitafst artists of France. The original
| must have been of conspicuous beauty,
Unless the picture had been inOrdinately
fattered. It represented woman in the
fairest bloom of her years. Probably
the mother of Jeanne" / said to myself.
g Jacques Fromentin was apparently on
| the lookout for rich relatives and hand
some mother in law. It is only a pity
that people make so much display of their
wealth and their beauty. Modesty and
simplicity are not seldom trodden out by
the reigning generation. What a won
derful glance the picture bends on me !
1t must have required a certain courage
to marry the original, and if Monsieur
Villers succeeded in binding his wife to
him he must have been no ordinary man.
She scarcely looks like French woman.
The auburn hair, the dark eyes, recall
portraits of the old Italian masters" /
started suddenly and rose from the seat
which had taken opposite the picture.
Near me stood a tall, beautiful woman,
with auburn hair and dark eyes, who had
evidently entered the room through one
of the tapestried DOORS She was no older
than the picture before me represented,
and the resemblance to this was perfect.
" She cannot possibly be the mother, !"
said I to myself. 8. This lady is at most
thirty years old" She was holding my
card still in her hand, but she now laid it
on little table that stood near her, seat
ed herself on couch, and motioned me
at the same time to be seated. | felt,
without seeing it, that her glance meas
ured me from head to foot.
May I ask what has given me the
honor of this visit ?"
Her voice was the deep, full, mellow
voice of the Southern races.
g came in fulfiIlmentof melancholy
duty, answered I. Il promised dying
man to perform an errand for him to
Mademoiselle Jeanne VilIers. May I
request of you the honor of an introduce
ton to the young lady y
The young lady, Mmeselle Jeanne
de Villers, is myself" replied she, en-
phasizing the words young lady" and
smademOisselie" with a smile.
/ sat speechless for some seconds. Then
| experienced a feeling of repugnanoe,
almost of anger, and without taking
pains to conceal it, / said harshly:
Then my errand is easily accom-
plished. On the 18th of October there
was skirmish at Montmagny, and the
French were repulsed, and were Obliged
TO leave their dead and wounded in our
hands. Among the first of these was q
young officer who had fought gallantly,
and who had been carried dying in the
field hospital of Ec0uen with bullet in
his breast. There, in the course of the
day, he breathed his young life away. I
sat by his death bed, and saw that only one
thought lived within him-the thought
of her he loved. ] received bis last
words Give her this ring and this key,
said he /; tell her that have died Ia the
performance Of my duty, faithful unto
death. / bless the hour when / saw her
I bless the hour when I was loved by her,