The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-23
NUMBER H..


ring to her lips, then fell fainting and
desolate upon couch.
Napoleon departed. His absence IA
cilitated the projects of her parents
The general then made an appeal To
Matildas devoted heart; he exaggerated
his poverty-he invented tale about
debts and engagements which he would
not be able to meet; he pointed out to
her the horrors which would surround
his miserable old age, beggared and dis
honored; he even limited to her that it
would be far better to cut short his
troubled life. She alone had power to
save him-she must forget Napoleon and
wed the Count de --, whose hand
some and manly face, whose noble soul
she well must know how TO appreciate
4 little seltishness, and Matilda would
have been saved but it is the weakness
ofelevated minds not to shrink from sacri-
fees. Matilda, in despair, threw her
self in her fathers arms and promised
ALL He blessed and thanked her for her
devotion.
He was yet speaking when Matilda
had left the room, unable longer to con-
troll her overcharged feelings. Pale, ex-
hausted with the struggle, she FASTENED
to her apartment, and, sinking on seat,
gave way to food of silent but bitter
tears.
Flow, flow, cruel tears! Weep, thou
noble creature, upon thy dream so bright,
SO short lived! Happiness, alas, was
never made for souls like thine
The banns were published, and on the
10th of January, IS, in the church of
St. Thomas d'Aquinus, Matilda was
welded to Count de --. The gen
erals face was radiant with satisfaction.
AT the moment Of the nuptial blessing,
when the bridegroom puts on the finger
of the bride the ring, symbolic link of
/ the chain that unites them, instead Of
giving her left hand as is the custom,
Matilda suddenly passed to the counts
right, and gave him her right hand.
/ The count was about to make an obser-
walton, and take her hand but Matilda
drew it back and again extended to him
her right hand, lowering her eyes, but
with that air of firmness and determine
ton which is not to be mistaken. The
count saw itat once, and, fearing scene,
/ did not insist, but put the ring on the
right hand which Matilda still held out
to him.
! ne COUNT WIS Vi Il lCdlOuS HdiuIG5 IL
/ Jealous as Othello. A fatal suspicion
had taken possession of his mind. The
ring which Matilda wore on her left
4 hand gave him much uneasiness. He
told Matilda that he looked upon it with
aversion, and begged her to wear it no
/ longer. Matilda replied that she would
never be separated from it; giving her
answer with much sweetness, but with
the same determined air which she had
shown at her wedding.
From that time, that which had pre-
viously only been a suspicion in the
counts mind became certainty. He
determined upon being revenged, but
dssembled his feelings and purposes.
A system Of surveillance was organized
around Matilda. Soon there came a let
ter from Napoleon. The poor youth,
ignorant of Matilda's sacrifice and the
ruin of his dearest hopes, spoke of his
love, Of his future happiness, of their
speedy marriage. He reminded Matil-
da that her hand belonged to him, and
he requested her to look often upon the
ruby Of his mothers ring, whilst think
ing Of him. He concluded by announc-
ing happy tiding. He was charged by
his ambassador to be the bearer of i'm
portant dispatches to Paris Before a
month was over he would again see his
/ beloved Matilda.
! This letter was put into the counts
/ hands. He saw through all. He went
to Matilda's apartment with the open
! letter in his hand, and handing it to her,
said, coolly:
q can imagine your scruples, but why
did you not explain yourself sooner?
/ You have sworn that your hand will be-
/ long only to him! Very WE'LL as soon
as he arrives | shall take it upon myself
to make your promise good, added he,
with faithful smile.
Matilda did not even shudder-she
seemed to have nothing more to fear on
earth
In a short time Napoleon returned to
! Paris but he was very much altered.
Grief and despair had preyed upon his
! heart, for he had heard of his misfor-
tune.
The day after his arrival, a small ebo-
ny box was presented to him, which had
! been brought by a servant in livery
| He opened this horror and his anguish
might more easily be imagined than des-
cribed. That casket contained a bloody
hand-the hand Of woman-MATILDAs
HAND! On a paper, stained with blood,
he read these words: " So does the Coun-
tess de--keep her word" Roaring
with rage and Indignation, he took his
pistols and flew to the counts house.
The count and Matilda had disappear
ed during the night, few hours after
the bloody deed, and no one knew
whence thew had gone
On the night Napoleon had recognized
his mothers ring on the doctors chain,
he had gone to that ball because secret
presentiment had urged him thither.
The next day DIR. Lisfranc and his an
tagonist met in the wood of Vincennes.
| The doctor received a severe wound be-
low the arm-pit. He lay long in danger,
| but hopes were entertained for recovery.
Before leaving his adversary, the doctor
related to him the incidents Of that cru
| ell night on which he had been compelled
to commit crime for the sakeOf humani-
| ty.
However" added he, Matilda could
not have suffered much; sublime exal-
tation sustained her courage, and am
sure she was happy in her suffering, in
the thought that her hand at least, would
be returned to you. And when it was
over, heard gentle voice murmuring
| from behind the curtain that mid her
from my sight; Tell him, | beseech you
that my heart will 60 towards him even
as my hand Had it not been for the
ring, l could not have fulfilled her wish.
From Oppisite Points in View.