The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-11-18

Fies, more conquests, and that empe-
} rors, kings and princes would hum
p bly, sue for favors at his hands
/ Nothing was said of defeat, disap
Pointmentor sorrow; all was rose
hued and full of brilliant promise.
One year passed rapidly away.
Then there appeared at court a new
star, fresh exotic amid the bouquet
of rare dowers-one whose dark, rich
beauty far outshone the cold, state
! ly lily, Blanche Deveigne. Ali rec
ognise in Madame, the Countess de
Lisie, Tara the gipsy. All but the
empress. She knows her as the wife
Of one of the haughtiest and most
powerful mobiles of the empire, and
his romantic meeting with the beauty,
love at first sight, the marriage sane
toned by the emperor, etc; all these
facts were known, but the infatuation
Of the emperor for the giPsy countess,
his daily interviews, her predictions
and her influence, these facts were a
secret even from the vain old count,
who fondly imagined his fair wife
was a pattern of prudence and virtue.
One night masked ball was given by
the empress.
The costumes were all that wealth
could make them, perfect and costly in
the highest degree. Among the
maskers the emperor could be distin-
guished by his air of naughty reserve,
and his favorite attitude when stand
ing apart from the crowd. lowering
near him was lady in the garb of a
Spanish dancer, the short orange satin
skirt, gold embroidered bodice and a
tiny velvet cap making a charming
costume. While the merriment was
at its height man, wrapped in long
dark mantle, and masked, stole to the
side of the monarch, who stood in an
alcove watching the dancers, and in
another moment the flash of dagger
was seen by the Spanish dancer, who
threw herself between the would be
assassin and the emperor The blade
passed through the rounded arm, and
the Countess de Lisle sank fainting at
NapOleOn's feet, while the man who
attempted the murder was secured.
He proved to be one of the many en-
emies Of the great conqueror whom he
styled a "tyrant and murderer"
From this time Tara the gipsy's lucky
star was in the ascendant, and even
Josephine began to notice the atten-
tions and favors that were lavished
on the beautiful Countess. At length
the eyes Of the old count were opened.
Under a pretence of failing health he
asked leave to travel, and permission
was granted. The countess accom-
panied him. When they arrived in
Wales, where even to this day can be
seen ruins of old castles and strong
holds built centuries ago, the count,
who had property here, left by rela-
tives who had emigrated from La Belle
France to this rugged, hardy spouse
in one of the gloomicst castles, that
was situated iii an isolated spot, far
away from any other habitation.
Here day after day the beautiful wo-
man languished, seeing only her stern
unrelenting husband and her keepe-.
At length, after two months had pass
ed, Tara, with fierce light in her
dusky orbs and smothered wrath dark
ening her fair face, resolved this tyr
amy, as she termed it should end.
All the long gloomy day she had sat
at the barred window Of her room, her
face pale but determined, until at twi-
light her husband entered, telling her
this was his farewell visit, ''for," said
he, q am about to return to France;
soon the tyrant, the despot, the one
man who has wronged me so deeply,
viii feel my vengeance. L have con-
cocted a plan for his death that viii
not fail of being achieved, and 1 shall
rid myself of a dangerous enemy.
Tonight I leave Wales. You are to
remain here until my return, and un-
til the death of your lever, the empc-
ror, is accomplished, then, madame,
you will retire to convent there 10
pass the rest of your days repenting
of your SINS"
Tara answered not a word. but
clenched her little hand together and
muttered softly. "My mind is made
up, 1 viii endure no longer" and
while the count arose TO ring for sup
per to be brought in, his wife, taking a
box of ivory from her bosom, conceal
ed it beneath her handkerchief, await
ed the advent Of the meal. When the
count as was his nightly custom, drank
a glass Of mUlled wine prepared by
his valet, he did not notice the slight
" bitter taste, but in few moments
! he complained Of dizziness and ftinb
ness, and being carried to bed lie be
came deIirious, and before day dawn
ed was no more.
"Hc brought it on himself" said hi.
& wife a. She oazcd nnnn him :