Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-04-17
Revenge and Retribution .

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
Tor 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 frmness, but, at the same timo.
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.
Ills this your final, irrevocable determine
ton" he asked, in low, Kissing tone, at the
same time Selling her white arm roughly.
"1t is" she answered, and would havepro.-
ceeded still further in her attempt to concili
ate him, but he interrupted her tiercely.
Listen to me-" he cried, and she shrank
back, trembling, from the cold, flashing gray
W. u.
mark me, my day will come yet. l curse
you from the bottom of my heart, and my
Own hand and brain shall work out the fulfil
ment OF that curse. If you ever wed, will
gloat over the dying agonies of your hus-
band"
leave me, leave mel" 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 q
terrible truth. Woman, you have made de.
mon of me! Tremble, tremble at the fiend
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 fiy before
the fury of the exasperated populace. As.
sisted by devoted friend, who, though 8
warm republican, remained true to them
they succeeded in effecting their escape from
Paris, and, aided by the passes he had secured
reached, unharmed, the little village of Col
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 a platoon of soldiers drawn up before the
h.rses' 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 coact
door was torn open, a harsh voice command
ing both to alight.
Percelvlng that resistance was worse than
useless, the count stepped out, and assisted
his wife to follow. Almost instantaneousl7
he was rudely seized by two soldiers, while
he who had conducted the outrage, approach
ing close to the countess, threw aside hi
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 evel
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
us! 0, spare us!'
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 u.s."
my name is Pierre Duhem, once poor
captain in the kings army; now general I'M
that if you ever married mortal man except
me, would revel in his dying agonies. The
time for the fulfilment has arrived"
30, unsay those terrible words. Have
mercyp shreked the countess, clasping his
knees, and turning her streaming eyes up t
him.
"Rise, love; do not debase yourself by suing
to such wretch" the count said, strIggling
in vain as he spoke to free himself. I'VE are
protected by letters from the National Assem-
ly; let him violate them at his peril"
Duhem looked around at the speaker with
fierce sheer. THAT for your pass!" he cried,
swapping his fingers. "Soldiers, away with
the aristocrat; obey the orders gave you ar
hour ago."
At the word, the wretches, who painted fol-
the blood of noble, dragged the count s
short distance toward frame barn, AM. hav.
ing torn his clothing from his body, they actu
ally in broad daylight, and before the face O.
his agonizcd wife, nailed, or crucified him or
the wall of the barn; and q company o.
soldier-citizens amused themselves firing al
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, feet,neck
and rig:t side of the breast, and to make the
agony more lingering, ten men were only
permitted to fire during each hour, and dis
lance OF eighty steps,
During all this time, Duhem remained seat
ed on pile of stones eXulttng in the exc
ciatirg tortures he caused to be inflicted upon
his victim. Now he would delibel atelv smoke
bis 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
- Soo .f,,1
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 week elapsed before the miserable
wife seemed to recall i'll any manner the hor
rors she had Witnessed; but at length, or
infinitely all that had occurred, saying thai
she had just dreamed it, and thanked Heaven
devouteIy that it was but vision of Der dis
turbed fancy. She then asked if any letters
had arrived from her husband, who, she said
had been dispatched on a 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 tn journey, so she sci
forth. It 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
by. a long procession Of soldiers
followed by crowds of excited people
It soon become apparent that military
execution was about to take place, and tina,
they were so situated as to obtain full view Of
it. The soldiers we're formed in line. the
drums beat, and presently man With head
bare, and dressed only in pantaloons and
shirt, was led by two gand'armes into the
field. As he passed the coach the countess
started, passed her hand over her eyes, and
looked forth intently.
Great Heaven" she murmured, what
does all this mean have seen that man be.
fore; it was not dream, thenl'' -. .:,3-.
With a wild, heart-rending shrek, she
broke from her friends and gsprang from the
carriage. By this time the criminal had been
forced to kneel down before the platoon Of
soldiers, and a bandage was being placed
over his eyes. Breaking like q tigress
through the barrier, the countess darted for
ward and tore away the handkerchief from
the doomed mans face; then gazing at him
for one instant with fxedness absolutely ap.
Pierre Duhem, it is you! Heaven be
praised, We meet againl' Then without
i,a.lsing she crossed quickly to the command.
inc officer and asked in an excited voice