Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-02

finger Of the bride the ring-symDoii'
link OF the chain that unites them--in
stead of giving her left hand, as is thu
custom, Matilda suddenly passed 10 th'
Counts right and gave him her right
hand. The Count was about to make
an observation and take her hand but
Matilda drew it back again and extend
ed to him her right hand, lowering her
eyes, but with that air Of flrmness and
determination which is not to be mis-
taken. The Count saw 1t at once, and
fearing q scene did not insist, but put
the ring on the right hand which Matil'
da still held out TO him.
The Count was Of jealous nature,
as Jealous as Othello. A fatal suspi-
cicn had taken possession Of his mind,
The ring which Matilda wore on her
left hand gave him much uneaslness. -
He told Matilda that he looked upon 1t
with aversion and begged other TO wear
it no longer Matilda renlied that she
would never be separated from it, CIV
ing 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-
vlously only been a suspicion 10 the
Counts mind became a certainty. He
determined upon being revenged, but
dissembled his feeling and purposes. A
system of surveillance was organized
around Matilda. Soon there came q
letter from Napoleon. The poor youth,
ignorant of Matilda's sacrifice and the
ruin of his dearest hopes, spoke Of his
future happiness, Of their speedy mar
riage. He reminded Matilda that her
hand belonged to HIM, and he requested
her to lock often upon the ruby Of bis
mothers ring whilst thinking Of him.
He concluded by announcing a happy
tlding. He was charged by his Ambas'
sador to be the bearer Of important dis
patches to Paris. Before month was
over he would again see his beloved
Matilda.
This letter was put into tho Counts
hands. He saw through all. He went
to Matilda's apartment with the open
letter In his hand, and, handing 1t to
her, said coolly:
Il can imagine your scruples, buI
why did you not explain yourself soon
er? You have sworn that your hand will
belong only to him! Very well! as
soon as he arrives 1 shall take it upon
myself to make your promise good,
added he. with a frigh!lal smile.
Matilda did not even shudder-she
seemed to have nothing more to fear
upon earth.
In short time Napoleon returned
to Paris but he was very much alter
ed, grief and despair had preyed upon
his heart. for he had heard Of his mlsfor.
tune.
The day after his ARRIVAL small ebo.
ny box was presented to him, which had
been brought by a servant In livery.
He opened it. His horror and his an
guish might more easily be imagined
than described. That casket contained
a bloody hand-the hand Of a woman
MATILDA's HAND! On a paper, stalh-
ed with blood, he read these words !:
So does the Countess de- keep her
word Roaring with rage aud lndlgna'
ton, he took his pistol and flew to the
Counts house.
The Count and Matilda had disap-
peared during the night, few hours
after the bloody deed, and no one knew
whence they had gone.
On the night Napoleon had rccogniz-
ed 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
antagonist met in the wood Of Vincen.
mes. The doctor received severe
wound below the armpit. He lay long
IN danger, but hopes were entertained
for recovery. Before leaving bis ad-
versary, 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 humanity.
However, added he, Matilda could
not haye suffered much, sublime exal'
tation sustained her courage, AID | 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 MUIR
muring from behind the curtain that hid
her from my sight: Tell him, 1 be-
seech you, that my heart will go toward
him even as my hand Had it not been
for the ring, could not have fulfilled
her wish.'
o. -
A GIRLS COMPOSITION on BOYS
Boys is strange things. Boys is OF three
kinds. The baby boy, the little boy
and the biz boy, I don't like the baby
boy, because he squalls and kicks, and
I have to rock him with a cradle. iBut II
the big boy squalls or kicks can rock
him with stones. like the little boy
the best when it SHOWS, cause he can
haul me on his sled. A boy is a little
man. if he behaves himself, and If he