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

So fierce and terrible was the aspect
of the stranger, and 50 implacable and
relentless his observation-disclosures prayer
of the poor lady so poignant and despair
ing that the doctor felt impelled by hui
manity itself to obey the command.
He took his implements, implored
with last look the heartless stranger,
who merely replied by pointing signii-
cantly to the ak With broken spirit,
and a cold perspiration bathing his no
BILE brow, the doctor recalled all his
energy and presence of mind. Twice
his arm trembled, and he paused. At
length the blood Spouted forth-a shrek
burst from the alcove, and to that cry
of agony succeeded dead silence
The stranger stood by, apparently I'M
moved, Nothing was heard but the
noise of the horrible work Soon the
hand and the instrument fell together
The doctor, ivid and exhausted, gazed
upon the stranger with haggard eyes.
The latter stopped, picked up the SEVER
ED HAND, and, drawing the ruby ring
from off one of the fingers, presented it
To the doctor
Take it, DOCTOR said he; cit is a
souvenir; no one will claim it from
you" He then added, in low voice,
''It is over!"
Immediately the other two masked
men came in, aad, bandaging his eyes,
again led him away. The same carriage
that had brought him there set him
down again at his own door, Doctor
Lisfranc snatched the bandage from his
eyes in time to see the carriage rolling
away and disappearing in the darkness.
1t was 5 o'clock in the morning
1t was in vain that, day after day, the
doctor exhausted every means he could
imagine for penetrating the mystery of
this terrible adventure. Had it not
been for the ring (indisputable proof of
the reality of his recollections), he
would have thought himself prey to
an hallucinatiOn.
Hoping, however, that the ruby ring
would, sooner or later, lead to some
revelation of this mysterious affair, he
was in the habit of wearing il suspend
ed to his watch chain.
About two months after the events
just recorded, Doctor Disfranc received
an invitation for a ball, given by the
Countess de -, in her magnificent
mansion in the Rue de Varennes, Paris
He accordingly went.
All the fashionable elite of the French
nobility, as well as the most iIlustrious
personages of the German diplomacy,
thronged the saloons, which were radi-
ant with light and beauty.
A young man, with a pale face and
melancholy eye, had been, during the
evening, the object of particular re-
mark by many of the guests. He
walked, from time to time, through the
suite of apartments, with an anxious
look and then, with a sorrowful de
meanor, separated from the crowd.
1t so happened that this young man
found himself, for an instant, opposite to
Doctor Lisfranc. His eyes mechanical
ly falling upon the doctor, soon assumed
an earnest stare, then glittered with a
fearful expression on the ring that shone
on his chain. With sudden and rapid
movement, the young man passed
through a group that separated him
from tho doctor, and walking directly
up to him e.J7yed him rudely and in
tentionally. The doctor politely re-
monstrated; but instead of answering,
the young man struck him repeatedly
in the face.
1t may easily be conceived what ex-
citement and CONSERVATION this scene
produced.
The next day was appointed for a
meeting, and the company soon after
dispersed in confusion.
The young Matilda de --, (the
names are too iiiustrious, and too well
known, for us to point them out, even
by initials) THE young Matilda de --
was the daughter of one of the most
illustrious soldiers Of the empire. Her
father had acquired an elevated rank,
great glory, and high station in the
army; but he was one of the few gem
erals whom the Emperor had not en-
riched. Matilda de -- had, there
fore, no fortune to bestow upon the one
who should call her his.
Napoleon de was the grandson
of the noble Duchess de -. The
duchess had a great name, an empty
title but no fortune.
Notwithstanding this, the duchess
and the general, long bound together
by the ties of friendship had mutually
agreed to unite their two children in
marriage.
OF this determination, however, they
soon repented. While Matilda and Ma
poleon gave themselves up to the sweet
charm of their mutual affection, the
duchess and the general, alarmed for
the interests of their children, and a
little also for their own, played a scene
of high comedy.
@ If my daug hter," said the general,
g marries that poor devil, Napoleon,
adieu to luxury and pleasure"
eff my son, soliloquized the duchess,
" should we'd a girl and not fortune,
how could we ever restore the lustre of
the noble house of -"
The general, therefore, sought to
wean Matilda from her lover and the
duchess exerted herself to divert Napo-
leon from thinking of Matilda. But
neither could succeed Napoleon and
Matilda loved too sincerely, too devot-
edly, to fall an easy prey to the snares
spread out to entrap their youth and
inexperience.
Unable to disunite them, the general
and the duchess insisted upon the de-
parture of Napoleon, and on his absent
ing himself for a while from Paris
They told him that the smalness of their
fortune required it. It was indispensa-
BILE for him to acquire a position in the
world. The minister had just offered
to provide him with place, as secre-
tary to some foreign embassy. Should
he refuse to go he would shut out him.
self from brilliant career. He must
accomplish this sacrifice, were it but
for Matilda's sake; as her future well
fare depended upon it; and he was to
become responsible for her happiness.
Napoleon, at length, unwillingly con-