Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-02-06
NAPOLEON took her hand in his, and

Napoleon took her hand in his, and
covering it with tears and kisses,
Remember" said he, remember that
thou art my betrothed, and that this
hand is mine, forever mine."
Saying which he put a ruby ring on
her finger.
1t is my mothers," murmured he.
Matilda could only answer by pressing
the ring to her lips, then fell fainting
and dosolate upon the couch.
Napoleon departed. His absence ia
cilitated the projects of the parents.
The general then made an appeal to
Matilda's 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 handsome
we'll must know how to appreciate.
! ~ 1lIllS ScluSllllcsS tllO alilll(ld WOulu
have been saved; but it is the weakness
of elevated minds not to shrink from sac
ritices. 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. He fastened
to her apartment, and, sinking on seat,
gave way to flood Of silent but bitter
tears.
Flow, flow, cruel tears! Weep, thou
noble creature, upon thy dream 50
bright, 50 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. Tho mas d 'Aquinus, Matilda was
welded to the 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 righ hand. The
count was about to make an observation
and take her hand; but Matilda drew it
back and again extended to him her
right hand, lowering her eyes, but with
i that air of frmness and determination
which is not to be mistaken. The count
saw it at once, and fearing scene did
not insist but put the ring on her right
hand which Matilda still held out to him.
The count was of jealous nature, as
,, jealous as Othello. A fatal suspicion had
! taken possession of his mind. The ring
which Matilda wore on her left hand
gave him much uneasiness. He told Ma.
tilda that he looked upon it with aver
sion and begged of 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 mad pre-
viously only been a suspicion in the
counts mind became certainty. He
determined upon being revenged, but
dissemb]ed his feelings and purposes. A
system of surveillance was organized
around Matilda. Soon there came let
ter from Napoleon. The poor youth,
ignorant of Mati)da's sacrifice and the
ruin of his dearest hopes, spoke of his
love-. OF his future happiness, of their
speedy marriage. He reminded Matilda
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 ANNOUNCE
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:
II can imagine your scruples, but
! why did you not explain yourself soon
er? You have sworn that your hand
will belong only to him! Very we'll! as
soon as he arrives l shall take it upon
myself to make your promise good"
added he, with a rightful SMILE
Matilda did noteven shudder; she SEEM
ed to have nothing else to fear upon earth.
In 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 misfortune.
| The day after his arrival small
ebony box was presented to him, which
! had been brought by servant in livery.
He opened it. His horror and his an
guish might more easily be imagined
than described. That casket contained
bloody hand-the hand of woman
MAT1LDA's HAND! On paper stained
with blood, he read these words: $50
does the Countess 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, a few hours after
the bloody deed, and no one knew whence
they had gone.
On the night Napoleon had recognized
his mothers ring on the doctors chain,
he had gone to that hall because Sc
cret presentiment had urged him thither.
The next day DR.. Lisfranc and his
antagonist met in the wood of Vincennes.
The doctor received = severe wound be-
low the armpit. Helay long in danger,
but hopes were entertained for recovery.
Before leaving his adversary, the doctor
related to him the incidents of that cruel
night on which he had been compelled
to commit a crime for the sake of hu.
manity.
However" added he, matilda could
not have suffered much, sublime ex-
altation sustained her courage, and I 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 murmur-
ing from behind the curtain that hid
her from my sight: Tell him, I beseech
even as my hand Had It not been for
the ring, l could not have fulfilled her
WISH"
The st. 0othard Tunnel.