Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-04
A STRANGE MARRIAGE.


It was at the commencement of the
reign of Louis XVI. The pure morals of
the new king ban,shed the vices of the
cour: as the sun in the early morning
disperses the dark fog arising from the
marsh.
Among the many gentlemen who earn
Z estly seconded the good intentions OF the
king and queen, was the yonng and
handsome Count de Laguy, who was
distinguished attache of the court of
Marie Antoinette. 1t was the day after
the exile of Nine. Dubarry, and he was
for the first time to draw his sword in
duel. 1t was with champion of the
tavorite, and ended in de Laguy leaving
six inches of steel in his body.
NJ. de Cernac-such was the name of
his ntagonist--recOvered from his
wounds, but thought Of nothing but re-
venge. Aided by certain Chevalier de
NainVille, an old friend of Caligostro,
who passed for trickster, induced the
count to join party at faro, and succeed
Ell in running him the same day that he
= should have paid a regiment which he
had purchased.
Louis XVI. scolded NJ. de Laguy a
little and pitied him sincerely. Then,
as the court could not pay his debts, he
offered to assums them himself. But the
count refused the kindness and quilted
the court, ruined, desperate, and regret
ed by all.
A month after, languishing with ennui
and remorse IN an humble
manor in Normandy which
belonged to his parents, he received from
an unknown NJ. du Perrou letter, call
ing him to Paris on business of the ut
most importance He left at once and,
upon arriving, found in NJ. du Perrou a
- very distinguished young magistrate who
smiiingly apologized for troubling his
etreat and read to him the following let
er, to which de Laguy listened with the
most profound attention:
paris. March 25, 1874.
''MY DEAR Dc PERRoU This letter is
my will. 1t will be given to you when
shall be no more. leave behind me
fifty thousand livres de rentes, and a
niece whom you know to be charming
Mile. Louise de Lirol. Be, after
me, her guardian and my executor. Tell
her she will find all her fortune in her
'corbrielle de Marriage When will this
marriage take placer I will arrange it
even from the other world.
''There is q gentleman to whom have
never spoken, but whom l know for the
bravest sword, the noblest spirit. and
most generous heart in France. 1t is M.
lie COmte Hector de Laguy. | have seen
him twice; the day he fought the conrtier
of the Dubarry and the day he refused
the acQuitment of his debts by the king.
Il know none but he who has done as
nobiy, and have never forgotten HIM
since that time. Send for him when you
have read this letter. Announce to him
that leave him the half Of my fortune il
he will marry my niece. 1t is the gift of
the dead; he should not refuse it. He
has never. l believe, seen Louise de Liroi
Arrange theiI meeting and if in a month
he will offer her his name, assure your.
self that he has fulfilled the conditions
that impose on him, which you will find
in the attached codicil, to be opened the
twcnty-ffth day of Al ril.
II permit you all three, after that time
to call me an original. Remember thai
my niece knows nothing until the time
designated
'~--7t7zs $ Signed. MARQUIS DE SUvIGNE."
You may imagine if you can the sur.
prise Of Hector de Laguy. He re-read
The letter-he was moved even to tears
He hesitated TO accept alegacy SO strange
To be brief, he was presented to Mile
s. de LiroI NJ. du Perrou had forseen thai
this last would facilitate his decision.
Mile. de Lirol was young girl of thu
most exquisite beauty. This was the frs
quality which struck the count; it gave
him the most lively desire to become &C
quaintcd with the others. The interview
took place at the house of kinswom al
of M. du Perrou, at a reunion of eight O
ten persons, gathered simply to concea
his purpose from his young ward.
N. de Laguy gazsd long at her befor
approaching. She was seated on one o
those pretty .fduteuils des medalIiOns 70
which our time SO envies the latter part q
the nineteenth century. Her hair masses
at the back part of her head, displaye'
all tho delicacy of her features, all tn
brightness of her eyes. all the charms c
her figure. She wore two skirts, on
opening over the other, and trimme
with ribbons and puffs, interspersed wit
symbols of mourning. Her alabaste
neck and arms emerged from cloud {
lace; those of Venus were not MOI
beautiful when she arose from the foar
the sea.
Assuredly, had the count met her will
out generalization, his first impuls
would have been to have thrown himse
at her feet. But the more right he ha
to do so, the moro he wavered. He dare
not possess himself of this treasure, ii
right to which he would have dispute,
AL at once he saw appearing a cava
Ter whom he recognized, trembling.
was M. de Cernac, his old adversary an
the author Of his ruin. He had come
play, and pay bis court to the rich hei
ess. He approached Mile. de Lirol Wi
an injured and conceited air, uttered
thousand Compliments in bad taste, al
seated himself near her with the air OF
privileged adorer.