River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-04-17

10 heaVenWard soar, yet never leave the
rouno;
II Love thou ART not, what and whence art
thouy
The Spectator.
Revenge and RetributiOn.
The Countess de la Floret was one of the
most beautiful and accomplished women in
France, and the count, her husband, was of
the very flower of the old noblesse.
Before her marriage she had the misfortune
to become acquainted with young officer
named Pierre Duhem, who at once conceived
for her the most passionate attachment.
His attentions were of course discouraged
by the lady, but nevertheless he insisted upon
making her tender of his hand, which she
declined with firmness but, at the same time.
great kindness and consideration, and hoping
that he would yet find one more worthy
than herself to become his bride.
Duhem listened with apparent calmness to
her words, but keen observer would have
been prepared by the deadly palor that over
spread his brow and the nervous twitching Of
the thin, bloodless lip, for the fearful out
break that followed.
as this yonr final, irreVocable determine
ton" he asked, in low. kissing tone, at the
same time selling her white arm roughly.
at is" she answered, and would havepro.-
ceeded still further in her attempt to concili
ate him, but he interrupted her fiercely.
Listen to me-" he cried, and she shrank
back, trembling, from The cold, flashing gray
eyes. Listen to me. You triumph now, but,
mark me, my day will come yet. ! curse
you from the bottom of my heart, and my
own hand and brain shall work out the fulfl-
ment of that curse. If you ever wed, / will
gloat over the dying agonies of your hus-
band.''
"Leave me, leave mem was all she had
strength to say.
| He only held her white arm tighter in his
| iron grasp, and Kissed closer in her ear.
| You think these are idle threats, but, so sure
| as the sun is in heaven, will make them a
| terrible truth. Woman, you have made de-
mon of me! Tremble, tremble at the fend
| you have yourself raised up!' So saying, he
dashed her from him, and rushed from the
| the house.
Time passed on, and as the happy wife of
the Count de II Floret the terrible scene that
so shortly preceded her marriage was al
most erased from her memory, and nothing
occurred to mar the serenity of her every
day life until the outbreak of the Revolution
that fearful saturnalia of blood that spread
terror anu QeSOldJlOH over d1I Europe.
In common with others, the young count
and his lovely wife were forced to fly before
the fury of the exasperated populace. As
sisted by devoted friend, who, though a
warm republican, remained true to them,
they succeeded in effecting their escape from
Paris, and, aided by the passes he had secured,
reached unframed, the little village of Col
leure. After passing night in this place
they once more set out ON their journey to-
ward the coast, when suddenly at the out
skirts of the town, the carriage was stopped
by platoon of soldiers drawn up before the
horses heads.
Count de la Floret spoke word of 'encour-
agement to his terrified wife, and was about
to spring out to inquire why they were
stopped when they carried passes from the
National Assembly, when suddenly the coach
door was torn open, harsh voice command
ing both to alight.
Perceiving that resistance was worse than
useless, the count stepped out, and assisted
his wife to follow. Almost instantaneously
he was rudely seized by two soldiers, while
he who had conducted the outrage, approach
ing close to the countess, threw aside his
plumed hat, brushed the tangled masses of
hair back from his dark brow, and standing
full in the light of the rising sun, demanded
of her If she had any recollection of ever
meeting him before? She looked up earn
estly in his face for one instant, and then, with
a cry of anguish, fell on her knees before
him. "Yes-yes; we have met before. Spare
usl O, spare u.s."
The wretch answered, with brutal laugh,
$50 the beautiful Countess de la Floret kneels
--kneels to me! 1t was | who knelt when we
last met"
She only replied, through her tears, "Do be
generous; forget the past, and save usn
'My name is Pierre DuIlem, once a poor
captain in the kings army; now general un-
der the glorious republic. | swore an oath
that if you ever married mortal man except
me, would revel in his dying agonies. The
time for the fulfilment has arrived
so, unsay those terrible words. Have
mercyl" shreked the countess, clasping his
knees, and turning her streaming eyes up to
him.
'Rise, love; do not debase yourself by suing
to such wretch" the count said, struggling
in vain as he spoke to free himself. 1--WE are
protected by letters from the National Assem-
ly; let him violate them at his peril"
Duheru looked around at the speaker with
fierce sneer. THAT fer your passf' he cried,
swapping his fingers. Soldiers, away with
the aristocrat; obey the orders gave you an
hour ago.
At the word, the wretches who painted for
the blood Of a noble, dragged the count a
short distance toward frame barn, ant hav-
ing torn his clothing from his body, they actu-
ally in broad daylight, and before the face of
his agonized wife, nailed, or crucfed him on
the wall of the barn; and company of
solder-citZens amused themselves firing at
him as target for eight hours before death |
made him insensible to their atrocities. For, |
bv their commanders stern orders, they took |
aim only at the counts legs, thighs, feet,neck,
and rigat side of the breast, and to make the |
agony more lingering, ten men We're only |
permitted to fire during each hour, and dis. |
lance of eighty steps.
During all this time, Duhem remained seat |
ed on a pile of stones exulting in the exc |
ciating fortunes he caused to be inflicted upon |
his victim. Now he would delibel ately smoke |
his pipe, and anon drink his wine, or eat his |
food, which he caused to be brought to him |
in order that he might not lose one throe; |
and, to add to the horror, the wretch caused |
the agonized wife to be forcibly detained in /
full view of the fearful sight, until utterly |
Frustrated both in mind and body, she was |
borne insensible from the scene. and placed |
in the care of her faithful waiting woman, |
who did everything IN her power to mitigate |
her cruel sufferings.
Nearly q week elapsed before the miserable |
wife seemed to recall in any manner the hor- |
rors she had Witnessed; but at length, on |
awakening from sound sleep, she related |
minutely all that had occurred, saying that |
she had Just dreamed it, and thanked Heaven |
devouteiy that it was but vision of Der dis |
turbed fancy. She then asked Ii any letters |
had arrived from her husband, who, she said, |
had been dispatched on foreign mission of |
great importance.
one day she insisted on visiting Paris. in |
order that she might discover how much long |
er the count would be detained abroad; moth |
ing that could be urged by her friends could |
induce her to forego this journey, SO she set
forth 1t was a glorious morning that on |
which the Countess de IN Floret approached |
Paris; the sun shone bright and clear and |
the verdure of early summer clothed the /
trees and meadows Before reaching the /
gates, however, the vehicle was stopped
by long procession of soldiers.
followed BY crowds OF excited people. |
It soon become apparent that military
execution was about to take place, and that |
49, - 20 sitr,afed as 70 otnfain fill uinyu of