The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-16
Revenge and Retribution.


Before her marriage she had the misfortune
to become acquainted with O 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 u Don
making her a tender of his hand which she
declined with tirmness, 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 a keen observer would have
been prepared by the deadly palor that over
spread his brow and the nervous twitching of
the thin, boodless lip, for the fearful out
break that followed.
"Is this your final, irrevocable determine
tion% he asked, in a low Kissing tone, at the
same time Selling her white arm roughly.
ut is" she ans wered, and would hayepro.-
ceeded still further in her attempt to concili
ate him, but he interrupted her tercely.
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 I curse
you from the bottom of my heart, and my
own hand and brain shall work out the fulfil
gloat over the dying agonies Of your hus-
band"
Leave me, leave met! 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 tiend
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 Il 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 and desolation over all Europe.
In common with others, the young count
and his lovely wife were forced to fly before
the fury Of the e1asperated 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 a night in this place
they once more set cut 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
h.rses' heads.
Count de Ia Floret spoke word of s'encour-
agement to his terrified wife, and was about
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
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
Pluned hat, brushed the tangled masses of
hoi acl- FROM h Wv
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
acry Of anguish, fell on her knees before
US! O, spare usn'
The wretch answered, with brutal laugh,
so the beautiful Countess de la Floret kneels
last met"
She only replied, through her tears, DO be
generous; forget the past, and save US :"
My name is Pierre Dullem, once q poor
captain IN the kings army; now general I'M
der the glorious republic. I swore an oath
that II you ever married mortal man except
me, would revel in his dying agonies The
time for the fulf]ment has arrived'
80, unsay those terrible words Have
mercy!' shrieked the countess, clasping his
knees, and turning her streaming eyes up to
him.
hlse, love; 90 not debase yourself by suing
10 S van T T the count SAID struggling
protected by letters from the National Assem-
y; let him violate them at his peril"
Duhem looked around at the speaker with a
fierce sheer. THAT for your pass !" he cried,
Swapping his fingers. >"soldierss, away with
hour ago"
At the word, the wretches, who painted for
Inc blood OF noble, dragged the count a
short distance toward a frame barn, anc hav-
ing torn his clothing from his body they actu-
ally IN broad daylight and before the face of
his agonized wife, nailed, or crucified him on
the wall OF the barn; and company of
soldler-citizens amused themselves firing at
him as target for eight hours before death
made him insensible to their atrocities For,
by their commanders stern orders, they took
aim only at the counts legs, thighs, feef.ueck.
and rigrt side of the breast, and to make the
agony more lingering, ten men were onlv
permitted to fire during each hour, and dis.
lance Of eighty steps.
During all this time, Duhem remained seat
'ed On pile OF stones exulting in the exc
clatlng fortunes he caused to be inflicted upon
his victim. Now he would delibel atelv 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 sutferings.
Nearly week elapsed before the miserable
wife seemed to recall in any manner the hor
rors she had Witnessed; but at length, on
awakening from a sound sleep, she related
minutely all that had occurred, saving that
she had just dreamed it, and thanked Heaven
devoutey that it was but a vision of Der dis.
turbed fancy. She then asked if any letters
had arrived from her husband, who, she said.
had been dispatched on foreign mission of
great poItance.
One day she insisted on visiting Paris. in
order that she nigh 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 tn: journey, so she set
FORTH 1t was glorious morning that on
which the Countess de la 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
Dy long procession of soldiers,
followed by crowds of excited people,
1t soon become apparent that a military
execution was about to take place, and that
II they were so situated as to obtain full view of