Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-13
Revenge and Retribution /.

most beautiful and accomplished women in
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
for 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 firmness, 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 keen observer would have
been prepared by the deadly palor that over.
the thin, bloodless lip, for the fearful out
break that followed.
us this your final, irrcvocable 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
eyes. Listen to me. You triumph now, but
mark me, my day will come yet. 1 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
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
terrible truth. Woman, you have made de-
mon OF me! Tremble, tremble at the fend
you have Yourself raised up!n So saying, he
dashed her from him, and rushed from the
the house.
lime 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 exasperated populace. AS
sisted by devoted friend, who, though a
warm republican, remained true to them,
they succeeded in efecting their escape from
Paris, and, aided by the passes he had secured,
reached, unframed, the little village of Col
leure. After passing night in this place
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 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 suddeoly the coach
door was torn open, q harsh voice command
| ing both to alight.
| Perceiving that resistance was worse than
useless, the count stepped out, and assisted
he was rudely seized by two soldiers, while
he who bad conducted the outrage, approach
ing close to the countess, threw aside his
plumed hat, brushed the tangled masses of
hair back from his dark brow, and standing
full in the light Of the rising sun, demanded
meeting him before? She looked up earn
cstly in his face for one instant, and then, with
a cry OF anguish, fell ON her knees before
him. "Yes-yes; we have met before. Spare
US! O, spare usn'
The wretch answered, with brutal laugh,
$50 the beautiful Countess de la Floret kneels
-kneels to me! It was I who knelt when We
last met"
She only replied, through her tears, ''Do BIZ
generous; forget the past, and save us :"
| My name is Pierre Dullem, once pool
captain in the kings army; now general un
der the glorious republic. 1 swore an oatl
that if you ever married mortal man excep
time for the fulflment has arrived"
20, Hnsay those terrible words. Hav.
mercyp' shreked the countess, clasping hi
knees, and turning her streaming eyes up t.
him.
"Rise, love; do not debase yourself by suine
in vain as he spoke to free himself. I'VE ar
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 fer your passp' he cried
swapping his fingers. ''Soldiers, away will
the aristocrat; obey the orders gave you al
hour ago."
At the word, the wretches, who painted 70
the blood of a noble, dragged the count
short distance toward frame barn, anl: hav
ing torn his clothing from his body,they actu
ally in broad daylight, and before the face G
his agonizcd wife, nailed, or crucified him o.
the wall of the barn; and company {
soldier citizens amused themselves firing a
him as target for eight hours before deaf
made him insensible to their atrocities Fo1
by their commanders stern orders, they too
aim only at the counts legs, thighs, fee, necl
and riglt side of the breast, and to make tn
agony more lingering, ten men were onl
permitted to fire during each hour, and dis
+ lance of eighty steps.
During all this time, Duhem remained sea-
ed on pile of stones exulting in the exc
] clatlrg fortunes he caused to be inflicted upo
his victim. Now he would delibel atelv smok
his pipe, and anon drink his wine, or eat hi
r food, which he caused to be brought to hir
ID order that he might not lose one thrOe
and. to add to the horror, the wretch cause
8 the agon:zed wife to be forcibly detained
! full view of the fearful sight, until utterl
! Frustrated both in mind and body, she wa
| borne insensible from the scene, and place
2 in the care of her faithful waiting woman
0 who did everything in her power to mitigat
her crre1 snfferinos
Z Nearly week elapsed before the miserab
, wife seemed to recall in any manner the no
4 rors she had Witnessed; but at length, Q
0 awakening from sound sleep, she relate
j. infinitely all that had occurred, saying TIL
9 she had just dreamed it, and thanked Heaye
$ devouteiy that it was but vision Of her di
turbed fancy. She then asked if any ]ette
' had arrived from her husband, who, she sal
: had been dispatched on a foreign mission
great importance.
;, One day she insisted on visiting Paris,
J order that she might discover how much Ion
er the count would be detained abroad; not
s ing that could be urged. by her friends cou
b induce her to forego this journey, so she s
+ forth. 1t was glorious morning that
e which the Countess de la Floret approachs
u Paris; the sun shone bright and clear al
e the verdure: OF early summer clothed Il
0 trees and meadows. Before reaching Il
n gates, however, the vehicle was stopp,
+ by long procession of soldier
L followed by crowds of excited peopl
c It soon become apparent that militia
d execution was about to take place, and tn
q they were SO situated as to obtain full view
, it. The soldiers were formed in line, t
:. drums beat and presently man with he
IS bare, and dressed only in pantaloons al
n shirt, was led by two gend'armes into t
q field. AS he passed the coach the counte
. started, passed her hand over her eyes, al
:, looked forth intently.
"Great Heaven!" she murmured, "wh
8. does all this mean? have seen that man b
is fore; it was not adream, then!''
q. With a wild, heart-rending shrek, s