Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-02-04
4 Wife's Devotion.

II was during the progress of the war
Of 1853 that the accidelt am about to re-
late occurred.
The Count de Brimont, young noble
man scarcely five and twenty years of a-e,
had, with his wife, the bride of a week.
been taken prisoner and held in close Gus
tody in town of Burgundy.
DE Brimont belonged to one of the old
est families in France, was accomplished.
enthusiastic, and exceedingly handsome,
and his wife was all that the wife of such a
man should be; in fact, her hand had been
solicited by no less than five princes, but
undazzled by the brilliant future she might
have secured, she chose to ally her fort
unes TO her hearts first choice.
Though prisoners, the young couple
were treated with every courtesy, and sur
rounded by every luxury, debarred only Of
their liberty. About u month after they
had been taken captive, and when in fact
a treaty depended upon their safe keeping
until its conclusion, news reached De
Brimont that his beloved mother was lying
at the point of death, eager to see him
once more before she departed He repre-
sented the state of things to the comman-
der of the city, and beSought him by the
affection lac entertained for his own mother,
to send him, accompanied by a suitable
guard, TO his parents death bed. In vain,
however, were his pleadings, too much de-
pended upon retaining him at present in
captivity, and the commander courteously
bu; firmly refused his prayer. De BrimOnt
was in despair; he felt as though willing
to give the best years of his life TO prison
walls. so he could now spend hour with
his 50 dearly loved mother ere she went
hence and was no more.
Nearly heart-broken, he once more re-
newed his entreaties, and once more re-
ceived denial when suddenly his young
wife appeared, and threw herself before
the feet of the commander. LET him 90
to his mother" she said, land keep me here;
fix upon day for his return, and if he
is not here at the very hour let me die. -
''Upon these terms permit you to depart
unattended" the commander said.
At first De Brimont absolutely refused to
accept the offer; but upon the eager per-
suasions of his wife, and the absolute GER
tainty of being able to return long before
the day fixed, he al last consented, and
with many embraces bade aGieu to his
devoted wife.
He was obliged to travel many leagues,
but the horse he rode was good one, and ! Y
nightfall of the day he set out he reached
his ancestral home. He found the countess,
his mother. very low indeed, but the sight
of her idolized son appeared TO revise her
somewhat, and she fingered On until even
ing of the day Immediately preceding the
one appointed for his return.
De Brimont had only time to kiss her
cold lips and give hasty orders concerning
the funeral, and leaving he: 10 be followed to
the grave BY every relative save the nearest
and dearest, he set forth on his return, hav-
ing ample time to accomplish the dis
tsnce, even allowing for serious delays.
He had proceeded about half way on his
journey. his mind absorbed in grief on the
one side at the loss of his parent, and joy
on the other at once more beholding his
bride, when suddenly ne was set by a furi-
GUS wolf of an extraordinary size, which
darted out from q wood that skirted one
side of the highway. The ferocious beast
first seized the horse, and tore and mang-
led the poor animal so terribly that De
Brimont was forced to dismount.
No sooner had he touched the ground,
and before he had time even for thought
tie wolf left his prey and sprung upon him.
and would certainly have torn him limb
from limb had he not with great presence
of mind seized the animals tnogue with
one hand, and with the other laid hold oi
one of his paws. After struggling while
with the terrible creature, the tongue slipt
from his hold, and his right hand was fear
fully mangled by the beast; but, notwith-
standing the pain he was in, he leapt upon
the VOLTS back, and pressing his kness
hard into its sides, callded aloud for succor.
1t was not for his own life he fought, but
for his poor wife's. Who can realize the
terrible thoughts that rushed through his
mind during those fearful moments; to his
own fate he gave not a thought, save so far
as it affected that of his wife; he would
perish miserably on the road; the world
would say he had purposely fed to some