Sacramento daily record-union., 1880-12-07
A PARTISAN SCANDAL.
A Husband Tries to Starve to Death His
wife's Lover.
(Paris Correspondence Cincinnati Enquirer ]


A Husband Tries to starve to Death His
wife's Lover.
Paris Correspondence Cincinnati Enquirer
Last night, at the Comedie Francois, the
box at our right was occupied by very
distinguished. looking couple, who, from
the mods and smiles that greeted them
from the different parts of the house, were
evidently well known. The lady, not
more than 25 years of age, was tall, supple,
and elegant in figure, and wore toilet OF
dark green velvet, embroidered about the
corsage and sleeves with gold, as is now the
fashion, and which was peculiarly becom-
ing to her delicate complexion, just tinged
with pink, and to her dark. blue eyes and
golden hair, which was worn low on the
neck, and terminated with a few long care
less curls. Her vivacity and grace could
be seen in every movement, not one OF
which escaped the jealous eyes of her COM
panion. He was at least fifteen or twenty
years her senior, short. rather stout, and
with face that would be called handsome
as far as features and color go, but brutal
in its expression. His iron-gray hair fell
in short, thick locks over his low forehead,
almost shading his intensely bright black
eyes, and his iron.gray mustache sharply
pointed at the ends rather added to the
effect of
HIS sARDoNIC SMILE.
Convinced that they were " somebody, .
your correspondent Inquired in regard to
them, and was greeted with expressions of
surprise that in a fortnight the heroine of
a lamentable scandal had not been pointed
out. It seems that the iron. gray gentleman
with the jealous eyes was M. Edmond B..
refrain from the full name until finding
out how much protection the English Ian
guage is against suit for libel. Mon
sieur B. married five years ago the beauti-
full daughter of an impoverished physician.
Mademiselle being without dot, and
therefore, in France, most unmarriageable,
was esteemed fortunate in having capti-
waited the affections of wealth. man, and
received the congratulations OF her friends
when established in handsome hotel in
the Faubourg ST. Honore, with means to
entertain luxuriously and to dress extrava-
gantly if she wished. 1t is hardly neces-
sary to say that she wished and did dc
both, but that being at perfect liberty to,
in time she grew weary and longed for
more diversion than could be found in balls
and elegant gowns. Being adorably pretty,
she did not lack for adorers, and the
wished-for diversion presented itself in the
shape of dangerously handsome anu
dashing young officer. The affair was one
of coquetry and gallantry, say the friends
of Nine. B., who call her
AN ABUSED ANGEL,
But love to talk of the matter; while his
,nf he
recounted, but at any rate Monsieur B.,
jealous, vindictive and determined on re-
venge, resolved to bring affairs to a crisis.
French people love to do things dramati-
cally, so Monsieur B. laid clever little
plot. When it was time to leave for Trou.
VILE, the favorite watering place, and
where they owned charming residence,
he ordered all his domestics, except his
wife's maid, to go first and get the villa in
readiness for their arrival. When they
were fairly out of the way he suddenly
announced to the golden-haired Madame b.
that business dispatch summoned him to
Lyons, where he would probably be de.
tanned couple of days, and that mean.
while she must await his return and escort
to Trouville. Madame smiled an angelic
assent, and after the apparent departure Of
her iron. gray lord proceeded to enjoy her.
self, unsuspecting of the trap laid for her.
Naturally the theater suggested ITSELF
She went in her carriage, accompanied by
an ancient lady friend, and enjoyed the
first night of ''Daniel Rochat." Riding
home she left the duenna at her residence
and proceeded alone; but when she left
her carriage at the door of her establish
ment, she saw pacing up and down in the
moonlight
THE pASHIsG YOUNG OFFICER,
Who awaited her appearance, having seer
her at the play that evening. He begged
for an interview of but five minutes. She
hesitated, and. of course, consented, fol
five Minutes only. She rang the bell, and
her maid, the only creature in the house.
and half asleep, slowly unlocked the pom
derous doors that make French hous,
secure as citadel They entered and
passed up into the richly. furnished draw
ing-room, where Madame B., throwing
aside her mantle and hat. bid the young
officer be brief in what he had to say, a.
she felt she was committing frightfu
imprudence in allowing his presence at thai
hour. What he did say nobody seems tt
know, but at any rate it took him almost
an hour, and it is possible that his elo
quence was getting exhausted when the
great door below was heard to open anG
close with dull clang, succeeded by foot
steps on the stairs of polished wood. Know
ing her husbands disposition, and terribly
alarmed as she saw the impossibility o
any explanation being accepted, Madame
B. yielded to her first impulse, and hal
dragged the young officer through hel
sleeping-room into the dressing room ad
joining, and, pushing him in, shut ant
locked the door. Scarcely had she re.en
tered the drawing-room when her husband
entered, amiable, smiling, and with brie
explanation that, having found his presence
quite unnecessary in Lyons, he had re
turned on the first train. He asked NJ
questions, and was SO unnaturally pleasant
that
HIS wIFE's HEART SANK.
Suddenly he exclaimed ga delightfu
idea occurred to me coming from the sta
ton. SO kept the voiture waiting at the
door. Ring for your maid, put on youl
hat and mantle, and we will go right Oh tc
Trouviile tonight While you are doing
that will lock up the house." 1t was in
vain Madame B. declined and excused her
self. Her husband insisted, and began tn.
locking.up process by trying the door Of
her dressing-room. "Ah {! it is locked
That is well, but give me the key" and
Monsieur B. quickly drew it from tbt
pocket of his wife's dress and put it in his
own. Then he locked the door of the bed
room beyond, and SO on through the house
his wife accompanying him in dumb fear
but her horror can be imagined wher
finally, attended by her maid, he hurried
her hall. fainting down stairs through the
marble hall and heavy oaken doors, which
he fiercely fastened behind him. They
went on the train to Trouville. The gal
liant young officer was caught like 8 rat In
a trap. Such situation, either morally
or architecturally, would be difficult in ar
American house but these in France are
built like vaults, with such walls and case.
ments that to burn one even is an impossi
bility. Nine. BIS dressing-room faced or
the deserted court, and was of such high
from the ground as to render descent i'm